Andrew Smith's Blog

My name is Andrew. Come and have a look inside my life and watch me share what is on my heart.

Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska By Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss Book Review


 
Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska is about the journey of a famous singer, Ginny Marshall. Ginny is pursuing her singing career full speed in Los Angeles, California. Music producer, Danny Kingston decided to surprise her with a new recording contract from a label to record a new album. Ginny is torn on if she should accept or not so she decided to travel to Alaska to meet an old lover. She fell in love with Brett Miller and got engaged but she broke it off. She chose to follow her dream of a recording career and move to LA. She hasn’t spoken or seen him since the break up and she mailed back his engagement ring.

 

When she arrived in Alaska, Brett is off on a wildlife adventure to clear his head. Ginny meets Brett’s Grandma, Ethel and stays at her house until Brett comes back. Grandma Ethel reveals and tells Ginny to read these love letters. These letters contain a written love story between Ellie and Clay. Ellie became Clay’s children governess and she watched over the children daily. Love and friendship eventually begin to develop between Ellie and Clay but the trials and conflicts of life initiate to come against them. You will have to read the book to see if Ellie and Clay fall in love.

 

Brett returns from his trip and they have a choice to make will they heal and let forgiveness happen or will they go their separate ways.

 

I would recommend this breathtaking fiction novel to anyone who enjoys romance and the thrill of falling in love. The novel was very descriptive in displaying how Alaska looked and the community that existed in the rural area. I immensely enjoyed how this one book had two different stories tried together to convey that love still exists and is possible to find. No matter how far or how long the expedition to love may take for someone to find their true love, it’s viral to keep believing. The novel was a true complexion of forgiveness and having the courage to mend and move forward despite your heart from being broken. I especially loved how the story had a major decision to be made. Would Ginny choose a career or love? I believe everyone at some point has to choose which one they care more about. This story will inspire you to give love another chance and to never give up on finding it!

 

Summerside Press has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for being a part of Tricia Goyer 2013 Launch Team.

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska check it out on Amazon.com:




Check out the behind the scenes trip to Glacier Bay:


 

Gustavus Inn at Glacier Bay Recipe: Halibut Caddy Ganty

 

Beyond Ordinary: When a Good Marriage Just Isn’t Good Enough By Justin and Trisha Davis Book Review



 

Beyond Ordinary is a memoir from Justin and Trisha Davis about striving for an extraordinary marriage. Most of us struggle and settle for an ordinary marriage. We tend to think we’re doing just okay in our marriages it’s not really that bad. But meanwhile we’re longing for a better marriage. Justin and Trisha Davis got engaged shortly after dating for about six months. They both were in love and had high anticipations of how their marriage was going to be different from most. Over time their love for each other was beyond tested in ways they never saw coming. Justin was very determined to pursue ministry full time and he was very driven to reach out to the community and bring people to Christ. They eventually started arguing more and the resentment and bitterness slowly crept into their marriage. They both struggled to let offences go in their marriage. A big part of marriage is being intimate and sharing your concerns instead of hiding and stuffing our emotions and shortcomings. Justin made a decision and chose to have an affair with Trisha’s best friend, who also was active in the church. Justin came clean to Trisha and this book shared in details how they had to seek God for their healing and forgiveness. Trisha had a choice to make either to forgive him or to get a divorce.

 

 

I would recommend this magnificent book to anyone who is single and hoping to eventually get married and to anyone who is already married. Singles and married couples would greatly benefit from learning how Justin and Trisha Davis overcame a lot of their brokenness and how they began to forgive and heal from the wounds inflicted in their marriage. The book is more geared towards marriage couples. Let me just say that, I’m not yet in the target audience and I’m single. But I reviewed this book because I’m trying to gather and learn as much as I can before I find someone to marry. And I read it to acquire how to become a better husband and father. This book has helped me to see where some of the problem areas occur in marriage and how the little things over time erode and try to destroy the marriage and prevents intimacy from happening. I believe this book has assisted me into becoming a better husband and father for whenever that time might be. I am also planning to re-read this one together with my future wife.

 

I loved how transparent Justin and Trisha were in this memoir. Justin revealed many times in the book the bad choices he made and how he had to let God change him. Justin had to face the fact that he gave into temptation and had an affair. He also learned at his core that he got his value from his work in ministry and he feared failing. He also cared a great deal of what people thought of him. I personally connected with Justin because I also have fears of failing and I care what people think.

 

I immensely loved the suggestion of praying for your spouse and most importantly praying with your spouse daily. Justin and Trisha stated that only a small percentage of Christians pray with their spouse, which I personally think would help marriages feel closer to God and their spouse. This is something I plan to begin in my marriage and I want to teach my children that it’s extremely important to pray to our Heavenly Father. Justin and Trisha also included a chapter on sex and how they had to have “the talk” to their boys. They wanted to pass down the important of sexual purity and the need to only be one with your spouse. This chapter infinitely instilled in me the significance of discussing sex to my future children and why it’s imperative to wait until marriage.

 

This book covered multiple topics that will benefit your marriage if you apply the knowledge and work towards an extraordinary marriage. You don’t have to settle for just an okay marriage, go for the marriage that God created! Even when you’re broken and hurt keep striving for oneness with the person you committed yourself to. If you’re looking for a book to help you improve your marriage, then read this one that contained real stories from Justin and Trisha to support you in your journey!

 

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Beyond Ordinary check it out on Amazon.com:

 


 

Justin and Trisha Davis also have a program called MentorUs to assist couples in getting closer and improving intimacy in their marriage. The program is a subscription based package that is only $10 dollars per month and the lessons are a total of twelve months. You can choose to pay $79 dollars one time for the membership and you get 35% off. Each month contains a RefineUs Principle and you will be emailed an assignment that will benefit and transform your marriage. You will also have access to video and audio downloads and be emailed a video message once per month.  

 

For more information about MentorUs check out it on the link below:

 
 
Meet the Authors: Justin and Trisha Davis

 

Read Chapter One:


 

Check Out What Others Are Saying About the Book:

 


 Check out the Beyond Ordinary Trailer:


http://www.tyndale.com/x_products/videos.php?flv=BeyondOrdinary_1.flv 

Follow Justin Davis on Twitter:


 

Follow Trisha Davis on Twitter:


 

“Like” RefineUs on Facebook:


 

Check Out RefineUs for More Information to Help Benefit Your Marriage:

Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine By Max Lucado Book Review


 
In Grace, Max Lucado explains the concept of grace is undeserved forgiveness from a God who loves us completely. He sent his only Son to die on a cross for our sins and to display unconditionally love to the world. One example of grace that Max Lucado shared was the story of when the Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus and stated that they caught her in the act of adultery. The Pharisees pointed out to Jesus that Moses law told them to stone her and put her to death. Jesus didn’t say anything at first but just squatted down and began writing in the dust. The Bible doesn’t say what he wrote. They kept asking Jesus what they should do to the woman. Jesus finally said, “All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!” (John 8:7-8 NLT). Everyone that was condemning her turned to leave. Jesus extended compassion and told her to “go and sin no more” (John 8:11 NLT).  Max Lucado goes on to describe how Satan is here to destroy our lives and he likes to condemn us when we sin. Thankfully, Jesus is able to forgive us when we repent for our sins.

 

God can forgive you when you were unloving to another person or maybe you told a lie to another person. Maybe you even fell into temptation and you had sex before marriage and you know you should have waited but you choose to do it anyway- God can still forgive you. Maybe you got pregnant and chose to have an abortion- God can still forgive you. And you’re awake every night in regret because you know you should have raised and been a part of your child’s life but choose not to. Maybe you committed a crime and you know it was wrong- God can forgive you. God can forgive anything that is sin, but we have to first confess that we know we messed up and admit that you’re truly sorry. The next step we must take is to turn from our mistakes. If you can right a wrong, then go ahead and do it! But it’s extremely important to know that this isn’t a free for all opportunity to sin just because you feel like it. If you know you’re sinning, then change it, and stop! And when you fall short always remember that grace is there.

 

I would recommend this fantastic book on grace to everyone, especially if you’re having a hard forgiving yourself for past mistakes and failures. Grace is something God gave to us and it didn’t come without a price. I found the chapter “Chosen Children” to be an enormous benefit for adults to remember that God chose us as His children and he is our Heavenly father. He is a father to the fatherless and it’s important to never judge that God is like your Earthly father. God will never reject you as His child and he isn’t surprised when you make a mistake. Satan is the liar that gets satisfaction when he can make you wear the coat of shame. God will give you forgiveness no matter how deep your scars are or how many times you’re ashamed of what you have done. I immensely enjoyed how Max Lucado kept reminding readers that God adopted them into His family when we confessed that He is Lord and we need a Savior. So if you’re a believer in Christ, we’re family! Grace happens when we receive it and this book is an excellent reminder that God truly does call you His son or daughter and He loves you!

 

"I received this book free from the publisher through the Book Sneeze book review bloggers program.”

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Grace check it out on Amazon.com:

The Ring Makes All the Difference: The Hidden Consequences of Cohabitation and the Strong Benefits of Marriage By Glenn T. Stanton

 
In The Ring Makes All the Difference, Glenn T. Stanton has written a book about cohabitation and living together without having to say I do. This book explored the science behind relationships and cohabitation and one static stated that “more 60 percent of all marriages are preceded by some form of cohabitation” (Page 11). Research is showing that many women in their thirties are intently getting pregnant because their biological clocks are ticking. And they desperately want children but they are unable to find a man who wants to be married first. So women are settling.
 
Most of the people who are living together are hiding behind the excuses and the fear of what if we get married and get divorced. They reason that wouldn’t it be easier to live together and test drive the relationship before we actually get married. This could include sex whenever we desire it and we believe cohabitation is the fastest way to fall in love. But cohabitation doesn’t guarantee a person won’t cheat around in the relationship or have sex with somebody else. Without the ring and the commitment of marriage people are free to do whatever they please. With marriage there is a commitment of their word.
 
People who participate in cohabitation before marriage have higher divorce rates when/if they get married. They also have higher rates of “adultery, alcohol, drugs, and independence than couples who did not cohabit” (Page 61). Children also suffer from cohabitation and research displays that they will have more problems in school if their parents allow their unmarried partner to move in with them.
 
I would recommend this astonishing book to anyone who is considering and wondering what is the importance of waiting until they’re married to live together. This book will stress the research behind not cohabitating before marriage.  This book is for teenagers, college students, and adults who are pondering the benefits of marriage. If you’re thinking that test driving the relationship would be easier to promise that the future marriage would work out. Then this book will change that belief. I personally have never cohabitated or let someone move in with me. I won’t until we are husband and wife. Trusting and committing to marriage is a huge risk but it’s an even bigger risk cohabitating and hoping that it will one day lead to marriage.
 
"I received this book free from the publisher through the Moody Publishers book review bloggers program."
 
 
 
If you would like to purchase a copy of The Ring Makes All the Difference check it out on Amazon.com or ChristianBook.com: