The Pirate Bride

I fell in love when I read the first book Daughters of the Mayflower series The Mayflower Bride and am so excited to be reviewing the second book in the series, The Pirate Bride.

We begin the story with Maribel Cordoba, a 11-year-old girl that is grieving the recent deaths of both her mother and beloved grandfather.  The only family she has to speak of is her Spanish father who has brought her aboard a ship full of privateers and Captain Beaumont, a man that is harboring a vendetta for the spaniard.  Cordoba murdered both his brother and his mother years before and Captain Beaumont is ready to settle the score.  A brawl aboard the ship leads to Maribel becoming an orphan but she is quickly "adopted" by the many of the privateers and Captain Beaumont himself.

When the ship is attacked Captain Beaumont believes that the young Maribel is killed during the battle and is racked with guilt for years.  You find out that Captain Beaumont is in fact Jean-Luc Valmont from the prominent Valmont family of New Orleans, Louisiana.  No one knows that both men are actually the same person or that Maribel in fact survived the battle and has been growing up at an orphanage on a small island in the Caribbean.

I first want to say that I fell in love with the main premise of the book.  The action was intriguing and I finished the book quite quickly.  The characters were well developed and you can't help but fall in love with Maribel's tenacity.

The only fault I found with the story was the age difference between Jean-Luc and Maribel which, if you read other reviews, I am not alone in my opinion.  When the story begins you see Captain Beaumont (Jean-Luc) more like a father figure to the fatherless Maribel.  He is incredibly protective of her and his heartbrokenness from losing her is almost palpable.  When the story fast forwards to Maribel as a young adult Jean-Luc is also quite a few years older and yet the age difference is not a major concern not only between the two of them but for any of their acquaintances.

Other than that I really enjoyed The Pirate Bride and cannot wait to read the next book in The Daughters of the Mayflower series, The Captured Bride which was just released last month.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.  All opinions are my own.

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Everyday Bible Encouragement for Women

Finding encouragement every day can often be a struggle for women which is why I was so excited check out the Everyday Bible Encouragement for Women from Barbour Books.

Everyday Bible Encouragement for Women is 365 short devotions that are intended to encourage you in your busy day.  Each day is compromised of a Bible verse as well as one or two lines that coincide with that day's verse, perfect for those days when you do not have a lot of time in your busy schedule, or to use alongside with another Bible study.

With the devotionals being short it is easy to use as a companion to other, more in-depth devotionals, during your daily Bible study, those small moments throughout the day to re-foucs, or even before bed.  You will find yourself encouraged, inspired, and strengthened on a daily basis and will not regret having this wonderful resource to assist you in your daily walk with the Lord.  Highly recommend!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.  All opinions are my own.

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So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y'all Don't Even Know

Many do not know this about me but I love television shows, especially sitcoms.  Problems that are solved in thirty minutes and with everyone smiling puts a smile on my face as well.  I prefer the classics like The Dick Van Dyke Show and I Love Lucy but there are several shows that aired recently that captured my heart as well, and one of those is Parks and Recreation.  I have been an Amy Poehler fan since SNL and was hooked from the very first episode.  By the time season two began to air one character quickly became my favorite: Donna Meagle.  Donna, played by the incredibly talented Retta, had the best lines and some of my favorite parts, and the most memorable parts of the show, are because of her.  She has such a great delivery and plays off of everyone around her so well that it's hard not to fall in love with her.  When I saw Retta had written a book I couldn't help but pick it up, hoping that she would be just as funny of a writer as she was on Parks and Recreation.

Let me start off by saying this girl can cuss, as most comedians do, but I myself found that the charm of the stories and her particular style of writing helped me get past this fact (with the exception of taking the Lord's name in vain, which I cannot tolerate.  I cringed every time she used this phrase but luckily she didn't use it too often).  She is a comedian through and through and reading So Close to Being the Sh*t is like being front row at one of her shows.

There are several parts in the book where I literally laughed out loud (with a few questionable looks from my family) but I couldn't help it!  Retta's story is relatable on so many different levels and she let's you into her world with humor.  She goes from telling of her meager upbringing, and growing up in a house full of people, to studying medicine at Duke University then switching things up to becoming a comedian.

My favorite part, of course, is when she talks about her time on Parks and Recreation.  I always enjoy hearing about what goes on behind the scenes!  One thing I really loved as a fan of the show was that her and the actor that plays Jerry Gergich, Jim O'Heir, were actually incredibly close while working on the show.  Everyone always picks on Jerry, and I always felt sorry for him, so knowing Retta took care of him, as his work wife, behind the scenes, makes me feel better.

The common theme throughout the book was her obsessions.  Obsession with television, designer handbags, the Broadway musical Hamilton, Twitter, Snapchat, and even hockey!  When you finish this book, even if you didn't know who Retta was before, you certainly will afterward!  Her bright personality shines through this book and it was a pleasure for me to get to know her.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.  All opinions are my own.

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The Sorensen Low Self-Esteem Recovery Program

When you've struggled with self-esteem issues your entire life and you see a book called The Sorensen Low Self-Esteem Recovery Program it tends to pique your curiosity.  I've always known that I suffer from low self-esteem but for the life of me cannot tell you its origins.  I do know that it is a familiar trait in my family so maybe it's inherited and if so am I able to combat it and have the healthy self-esteem that I've always craved?  That's what I hoped to find out in The Sorensen Low Self-Esteem Recovery Program.

Dr. Marilyn Sorensen does a wonderful job of making sure the reader knows from the beginning that recovering from low self-esteem is "only possible if you choose to make use of what you learn," and that the road to recovery can be a long process.  This is an interactive resource so you will get out of it what you put into it.

What I loved about this book is that Dr. Sorensen goes into great detail explaining just what low self-esteem is, why it develops in so many of us, and symptoms of low self-esteem.  The steps to recovery are clearly laid out and even though I've had a short amount of time to incorporate the steps just recognizing the symptoms in myself has been life changing.  I know that I have a long road ahead but I hope that me making the necessary changes in myself will help me to not pass this horrible trait to my children.

If you struggle with low self-esteem issues, or know someone that does, I highly recommend this book.  If you really apply what Dr. Sorensen recommends I know you will be on the road to an healthy self-esteem in no time!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Wolf Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.  All opinions are my own.

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