Invisible by Ginny L. Yttrup

It has been a long time since I have read a fiction book that carried me on such an uplifting journey. I was truly blown away by this book.

::About the book::

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (April 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433671689
• ISBN-13: 978-1433671685

Ellyn DeMoss -- chef, café owner, and lover of butter -- is hiding behind her extra weight. But what is she hiding? While Ellyn sees the good in others, she has only condemnation for herself. So when a handsome widower claims he’s attracted to Ellyn, she’s certain there’s something wrong with him.

Sabina Jackson -- tall, slender, and exotic -- left her husband, young adult daughters, and a thriving counseling practice to spend a year in Northern California where she says she’s come to heal. But it seems to Ellyn that Sabina’s doing more hiding than healing. What’s she hiding from? Is it God?

Twila Boaz has come out of hiding and is working to gain back the pounds she lost when her only goal was to disappear. When her eating disorder is triggered again, though she longs to hide, she instead follows God and fights for her own survival. But will she succeed?

As these women’s lives intertwine, their eyes open to the glory within each of them as they begin to recognize themselves as being created in God’s image.

Through each character's own personal struggles they bond together in a form of friendship that, with God's love and guidance, proves unbeatable. Just when each character feels alone or at their worst, another character is there to uplift them.
Another character I would like to talk about a bit is Miles. He is a widowed doctor who shows interest in Ellyn. Despite her own condemning view of herself, Miles allows God to lead him on his journey with Ellyn and does not allow his judgement of her to be swayed by outward appearances. He seems to be some of the glue that holds things together at times.

::My thoughts::
I loved how this book spoke of very real issues that many deal with daily. Eating disorders, feelings of guilt, depression, and weight issues are very real topics. In today's society we are constantly trying to change who we are. We are constantly trying to transform ourselves so that we will be what society's ideal is rather than just be who God created us to be. We are all created in the image of Him. Even though this book is only fiction it could be anyone's journey. All the characters are awe inspiring.
The one thing we often do not see is how God works through others to bring us not only meaningful relationships, but bringing us closer to Him. This book speaks so matter of fact of his love, but in ways that we can all learn from. Life's journey is not always easy, but it is His way. He won't give us anything we can't handle, and He is always there for us.
This book was such a great reminder that we are all created in the image of God. He has created us how He wants us to be, and we only need to please Him. We should never be ashamed or feel alone because He will always be next to us holding out His hand just waiting for us to grab hold.
Although this book focused on several different characters it wasn't hard to follow. The words pulled me in from the beginning and there is a character for each individual to admire and relate to.
I mostly favored Ellyn as she was more easy to relate to. As the story progressed, however, Miles and Twila stood out the most. They each seemed to be a sort of glue that held all the characters together, and kept them all on the right path back to God.
In no way does this book preach religion. It's almost as if God is using Ginny's wonderful talents and speaking through her.
This book is a wonderful read for any individual, or any book club. There are even discussion questions at the end that you can discuss with others or read alone if you wish.
Either way this book is headed right to my favorites shelf, and this is one I will be recommending for years to come.


This book is available in:   Print   Kindle   Nook



Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Handlebar Publishing in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe ~Book Review

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 8, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400204666
ISBN-13: 978-1400204663

:::Book Description:::

"I just can't be a mother today."

These words have been whispered to God in quiet desperation by mothers who love their children to the depths of their soul, but who are struggling with how hard motherhood is.

Motherhood turns you inside out. Sometimes you feel overwhelmed by how tired you feel; the days go on and on, and you want to be a "good" mom, but you feel like a failure so much of the time. What happened to all your ideals? When did you end up feeling so...lost?

Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson have been to the edge and back. Desperate is the story of one young mother’s trials and one experienced mentor’s priceless exhortations. Desperate is not a book about despair, nor is it a rule-laden mothering manual. It is a bouquet from a friend who has been there, reminding us that we are not alone. Sarah Mae’s unvarnished account of her own struggles mothering three feisty young children is a lesson in learning patience, loving idiosyncrasies, accepting help, and—most of all—leaning on God.

Each chapter includes a brief Bible study with journal exercises to help you find your own quiet center, and get you back into the fray soul-filled and refreshed. Written with candor, empathy, and faith, Desperate is like coffee with a trusted girlfriend; one who knows how hard being a mother can be, and how to navigate the often turbulent road.

:::My Thoughts:::

This is a really good tool for all mother's to have. I can't even say how glad I am that I not only got the opportunity to review it, but read it. It is sunshine for the mother's soul. To know that you are not alone in the way you can feel. Let's face it, motherhood is not exactly what any of us pictured. Don't get me wrong motherhood is wonderful. I wouldn't trade it for the world. My children are my everything, and I love being their mommy. They are my little blessings and I count myself grateful for them everyday. But the fact of the matter is that motherhood is not as easy as I thought it would be. I devoured parenting and baby books while I was pregnant. While they are chock full of good information they don't quite prepare you for all the hardships, late nights, tantrums, etc. Everyone usually tells you that labor can hurt, that you will be tired once you have the baby, but they don't delve into the details of staying up all night long with no sleep, toddlers that throw tantrums in the middle of the grocery store, how it's so easy to get swept up and lose friendships because you find yourself with much less time to devote to anyone else, that it's okay if you can't do every little thing you expected to be able to handle all at once, etc. Nobody quite prepares you for that. This book holds nothing back, however, and gives personal accounts from the authors. Advice that is so truthful it's refreshing to hear.

Another great feature of this book is that it points out how important it is to bond with all mothers young and old alike. No matter our ages we are not alone. I luckily have had my mother along my journey to help guide me in questions about my children, and within the last couple of years I was able to reconnect with some old friends that are also mothers as well. It is just so important to have a mentor that can remind you that you are not alone, and just be there for you. We were never meant to mother alone, families were created by God with us in mind. We must keep God rooted in our lives as well as our children's lives. We can't be wonder woman as much as we want to. There's only so much we can do and handle on our own. We can sometimes set such high goals for ourselves that when we don't always reach them it can bring us down.  But when we put it in God's hands, and confide in other mother's we can find kinship and a peace unlike we have known. This is one encouraging book, and I recommend it to mother's of all ages. Even if your children are grown and out of the house it can show you how you can help mentor a younger mother. It's truly a book for mothers of all ages with scriptures, reflections, journal exercises, QR codes and links at the end of each chapter that lead to videos with Sarah Mae and Sally talking about the chapter, and questions for yourself that will be sure to enlighten you.

Here is a video on the book:

This book is available in the following forms (among others):   Paperback   Kindle   Nook   a DVD companion study (coming soon, you can pre-order now)



 Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Life Promises for Couples Book Review

Hardcover:: 216 pages

Publisher:: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (12/30/2011)

Language:: English

ISBN-10:: 1414363915

ISBN-13:: 978- 1414363912

Book Description::
Everybody wants a strong, loving, God-centered marriage. In Life Promises for Couples, New York Times bestselling relationship expert Dr. Gary Chapman provides trusted words of wisdom designed to encourage and inspire couples, alongside key Bible verses that illuminate God’s plan for marriage and for nurturing healthy, happy relationships. Whether you are a young couple just starting out or you’ve just celebrated your 50th wedding anniversary, your marriage is sure to benefit from the timeless wisdom contained in this beautifully designed two-color gift book.




My Thoughts::
I had the chance to review this book, and I could not wait until it arrived. The cover, title, and author grabbed my attention almost immediately. I had heard great things about Gary Chapman and how he has helped a lot of marriages through his books.
This book was not only a joy to read, but it was a super easy read. It goes at a leisurely pace and at the same time I wanted to read on and on. You could read just a page a day, or more if you choose. It’s a great book for one to read alone or with your spouse.
The layout is so simple and to the point with one side being devotions and one side being scriptures relating to the devotion, or marriage in general.
The scriptures and passages from the bible were one of my favorite touches since it’s nice to touch base spiritually.
This book covers a multitude of topics from intimacy, communication, serving one another, forgiveness, being a better spouse, etc.
It also goes into detail about the five love languages which I found enlightening. Each of us speak a different love language and we don’t always realize this. Which is why women are often wondering why their husbands don’t understand them, and why men wonder why their wives don’t understand them. It’s inevitably up to us to learn our spouse’s love language and learn to speak it also. This will help make each other happy and make our marriage happier. By reading the book together most of the time with my husband I have learned that my husband communicates with physical touch and I communicate with quality time.
It’s a book that is enjoyable for both men and women alike, and perfect for any couple.
The book is in no way overbearing and instead of feeling like your being lectured about your marriage you will feel more like you are learning valuable tips.
The design of the book isn’t so small that it’s hard to hold, but it fits perfectly in one hand. It will fit easily into a purse, glove box, etc. I carry mine around in my purse and because the sections are so short and to the point I find it easy to read in a waiting room, doctor’s office, etc. There’s also a handy little ribbon attached that creates the perfect bookmark on the go. The cover and pages are very smooth and glossy which also creates a nice touch. Not the mention how appealing the cover is.


About the Author::

Gary Chapman

Dr. Gary Chapman is the author of the best-selling The Five Love Languages (more than 6 million copies sold) and numerous other marriage and family books. He is the director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, Inc.; an internationally known speaker; and the host of A Love Language Minute, a syndicated radio program heard on more than 200 stations across North America. He and his wife, Karolyn, live in North Carolina.






If your interested in this book it's available in Print form or Kindle form
You can also visit Gary Chapman's website by CLICKING HERE
Or you can follow Gary Chapman on Twitter and/or Facebook




Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book for review purposes from Tyndale House. All opinions expressed are mine alone.