Yay for the sun breaking through the thick winter haze, for warming my soul and gifting me sweet kisses from Christ!
With warmer weather came a renewed spirit and definitely put the pep back into my step, as in my moving feet and not so much my writing. Since the thawing of spring has begun, I’ve been taking full advantage of long walks with my two youngest and taking the time to do some spring cleaning. All in all, my poor novel only earned an addition of 2000 words and I finished reading and reviewing 3 books (more to come in April).
All in all, I am happy. I’ve embraced the duty of the moment, meaning I needed to be more present to my children and to some soul-healing time of contemplation in nature versus time in front of my iPad.
This April, I hope to get in at least 6000 words for my novel, knowing that my life needs balance in all areas and not just through literary progress.
Now for my March reads and reviews:
*Disclaimer: these reviews are my personal opinions and I receive no monetary compensation for their endorsement*
Where the Forest Meets the Stars
by Glendy Vanderah — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
“Where the Forest Meets the Stars” was a pleasure to read. The characters were endearing and the plot was unlike anything I’ve ever read.
From a writer’s perspective, Glendy Vanderah did a splendid job enriching her descriptive passages through her evident love of nature. I was so mesmerized by these vivid passages, I honestly wished there’d been more of these sparkling sentences sprinkled throughout the book. I literally reread a number of these lines in awe. However, based on my personal taste in literature, the stellar prose lacked in frequency only.
All in all, this book is fresh and totally endearing! Oh, and the cover is gorgeous!
Fierce Marriage: Radically Pursuing Each Other in Light of Christ’s Relentless Love
by Ryan Frederick and Selena Frederick — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
If I wanted to gift someone a marriage manual, this would be it. There is an endless list of marriage books out there but this one draws the wisdom of all into one.
Not only is it well written and easy to understand, it is also full of the fierce truths regarding marriage and what it means to love as God created us to love.
I enjoyed the colourful portrayal of wisdom through Selena and Ryan’s life experience. The only reason I couldn’t give this book 5 stars is because I’ve personally heard much of the content before in various scattered works. However, it’s great to have an ultimate go-to reference now that wholly summarizes my Christian view of marriage.
Great job, Ryan and Selena!
Trim Healthy Mama Plan: The Easy-Does-It Approach to Vibrant Health and a Slim Waistline
by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
I’m a fitness and health nut. I’ve gone low-fat, wheat-free, Paleo, I’ve counted macros, counted calories, cut to a catabolic state, I’ve feared food, turned to bulimia and obsessive exercising, and on and on. I love nutrition and healthy movement but, like Pearl and Serene say, we live in a fallen world and sadly my quest for health had turned into a destructive lifestyle. Then I found healing through prayer and Intuitive Eating. This was great for healing my food fears but I was getting too comfortable around sugar, beginning to crave again, feeling enslaved by sugar cravings…
Enter: Trim Healthy Mama! A dear friend gently recommended THM to me. I was initially hesitant after so many diets and eating disorders, but she was persistent and I decided to read the book.
This book has it ALL! It is sound and can be so easy. Imagine all the diet truths collected into one book, but without the diet. I’m talking true food freedom: like Intuitive Eating but with purpose and a little guidance. This is it! I’ve finally found a comfort place, a solid foundation and have successfully gone sugar free! THM is a delicious and guilt-free lifestyle that celebrates health, stimulates the tastebuds and honours our bodies, the way God intended that we shine.
Read this book! Take your time, have fun with it and make it your own. I’m forever indebted to my friend for her patient persistence and to Serene and Pearl for answering God’s call and sharing THM with the world.
Keep your eyes out for these reviews coming end of April 2019: “Soul of my Soul” by Catherine Doherty and “The Forgotten Children” by Isabella Muir.
Thanks for reading and God bless!
—VanessaMarieCaron
Vanessa Marie Caron, Author 