Book Review: Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of the Husband and Wife by Bishop Ken Giles & Pastor Sheila Giles

In this slim book, Bishop Ken Giles and Pastor Sheila Giles share their decades of combined experience of counseling others with readers.

Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of the Husband and Wife helps married couples and those considering marriage to learn the important role prayer plays in creating a healthy marriage and also encourages men and women of God to secure their leadership positions.

It's doubtful one could argue that time in prayer is necessary to our Christian journey. It is how we communicate with God: it allows us to give Him thanks and praise; it allows us to confess our sins; and it allows us to ask Him for help. The authors are spot on in stating that prayer and marriage go together.

In some ways, however, this book could be considered controversial. In this modern world, the traditional view of marriage with the man as the head of the household and the woman taking care of the kids and the household chores seems outdated. While the reader might not necessarily disagree, it's possible by the time they get to the Christian Marriage and Family Structure Assessment Inventory quiz at the end, some women might be lighting torches on fire and carrying pitchforks

Now, we have a very traditional marriage and it works for us, so little about what was in this book bothered me. My only concern is that this heavy-handed approach could make some people turn away from a God who is more about love for us than anything else. He is mercy. He is compassion. He wants us to be in relationship with Him. It is in knowing and experiencing the abundant love of our Heavenly Father that makes obedience to His Word easier. I truly wish more of that could have been communicated throughout these pages.

If you are looking for ways to refocus your marriage or to learn more about leadership roles of men and women in marriage according to His Word, then you may wish to explore Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of the Husband and Wife by Bishop Ken Giles and Pastor Sheila Giles.

Publisher: BishopKenGiles.org (2016)
ISBN-10: 1948951010
ISBN-13: 978-1948951012

I received a copy of this book from the authors. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts - July 25

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts is hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. This is a chance for book bloggers to dabble in areas besides books (but those are welcome too). Share your plans for the weekend, a rant on people not using their turn signals in parking lots, or your love of Sunday morning mimosas.

Bookish Thought: I need to finish a book.

Not so Bookish Thought: Wouldn't bed feel good right about now?

Bookish Thought: Why did I sign up for all these book reviews?

Not so Bookish Thought: Can I really function on only three hours of sleep?

Bookish Thought: One day I am going to be totally caught up on book reviews.

Not so Bookish Thought: One day this office will be clean.

Task it Tuesday - July 24

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Here was my list from last week:

• Clean out most of my in-laws house on Thursday. Dumpster is coming so hope to get a lot done. Heat might be an issue. Living areas and shed are done. Cellar and my hubby's old bedroom are the big ones that need to be tackled. I moved everything out of his attic, so that's a good start. Filled one dumpster, but I think we will need a second. 
• Post a review of The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse. Loved it! Can't wait for the next book in the series. Posted yesterday.
• Schedule a time to get the old furniture out of the house. Not that I have bought the new furniture yet, but I don't want to deal with taking it out while getting the new pieces in. I think I need a few days of empty, clean space. Talked to the contractor, but haven't set a date yet.
• Make my plan to clean out my own house: donate, trash, and clean. That might become my new mantra. The minute I am finished with my in-laws' place, this is happening. Next dumpster is coming here.

For this week, I have a few things I'm working on:

• Schedule my blogs posts. I want to schedule them on Wednesday for the rest of the month. We will see how it goes.
• Pack up items to donate when Hartsprings comes on August 2. I have three boxes so far. 
• Clean my office. I've been moving my in-laws' paperwork and filing cabinet into my tiny office and now I have too much stuff in here. Time to declutter.

How about you? Are there any tasks on your to-do list this week?

Mailbox Monday - July 23

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

Somehow it is Monday again. We had a nice rainy day on Sunday so my garden is very happy. Finally put the fence up around it to keep the critters out. Think the rabbits are stealing my peppers and beans.

It was a totally crazy week. Just got back into the swing of things after vacation and had appointments up the ying-yang. My mother-in-law was here for a few days so I could bring her and my father-in-law to the doctor. The Lil' Diva's senior picture photo session was this week. The Lil' Princess took off for a vacation with a friend on Friday--but not before we had to go shopping for stuff--and I spent two days tossing things into a dumpster at my in-laws' house. At least the end is in sight.

No books arrived in my physical mailbox, but I did download these Kindle freebies:

What was in your mailbox? Anything good you were waiting on? 

Contemporary Christian Romance Free on Kindle Today: Finding Love in the Low Country Box Set

After the Storm

Sharon cannot face her future until she has dealt with her past. When an accident takes everyone in her family except Sharon Martin’s grandson, she is forced to face the secrets of her past. For decades she has protected herself and "his family" from the damage this secret could cause. But when Bobby’s well-being depends on her honesty, will she have the courage to speak the truth? When tragedy strikes, can love and honesty save a life? 

Catch of a Lifetime 

From an early age, Adella believed that love brings only pain. First her mother dies, and Adella struggles to deal with her grief and care for her younger sisters. When the young girls decide they don’t need Adella anymore, she concludes she can’t trust anyone but herself. With few options, she determines she will use her good looks and intelligence to catch a handsome, wealthy man who can give her the security she craves.

Derek Goodson appears to be the man of her dreams, and at first their marriage is wonderful. After a few years, however, Adella discovers a restlessness that nothing seems to satisfy. She is bored with exclusive parties, clothing, and vacations. When introduced to a handsome stranger, she wonders if he is the answer to her secret longings.

Adele must face some tough choices, along with a tender tug on her soul. She married Derek for his money. Why can’t she love him for it? 

Somewhere a Rainbow

Brooke Haddon’s future looks gray…

After her unfaithful husband is killed in an auto accident, she faces the challenge of rebuilding her life. With most of her money gone, she takes her five-year-old son to the honeymoon cottage on Hilton Head Island where her marriage began. As a single parent, she wonders how she will manage, and once she arrives on the island, she can’t imagine how she’ll be able to repair a cottage as broken down as her life.

When local carpenter Jake Randolph offers to help, Brooke immediately distrusts him. But as the months pass, she begins to think he may be different from the other men she has known. He begins to melt the emotional ice around her heart. Then Jake admits he’s concealing a secret past. Are Brooke’s hopes of a brighter future about to be destroyed. Or is there a rainbow beyond the storms of heartbreak?

Southern Gentleman

What’s best for the baby?

Norah Brown must answer this question when Thornton Winter pushes his way into her life. Baby Camille’s parents, Thornton’s brother and Norah’s sister, were killed in a terrible accident. Now both feel responsible for the baby. But by the time Thornton comes along, Norah has already formed a strong bond with Camille. Will Thornton try to take the baby from her? 

To keep her greatest fear from being realized, Norah reluctantly agrees to move with the baby to Thornton’s family home in South Carolina, where she soon finds herself in a battle of wills with his take-charge manner. It certainly doesn't help that Norah begins to lose her heart to this Southern Gentleman.

Purchase here!

Book Review: The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse

The Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with this next exciting installment, The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse.

Faith Lytton Jackson is a friend of George Washington and staunch supporter of the Patriot cause. Living in Boston, she is holding meetings with like-minded women when the British invade. Little does she know that when she agrees to help the cause in a more meaningful--and dangerous--way, she will meet someone who makes her think she could love again.

Matthew Weber is friends with Ben Franklin and his son William, which makes him privy to information on both sides of the conflict. Acting as a spy, Matthew meets his messenger, Faith, and is quickly taken with her.

What will these two people sacrifice for the sake of their fledgling country? Can they find love despite the conflict?

The Patriot Bride is my favorite of the series so far. Woodhouse brings her masterful storytelling back for the fourth book set between 1774 and 1775 when the First Continental Congress has already met but prior to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. She brought her characters to life against the backdrop of a war that would change everything for the Colonies as the people tired of being ruled from across the pond. Next to the Civil War, this is my favorite time in American history, so it was a thrill to read this novel.

As with the other books in The Daughters of the Mayflower series, the main character is a strong, independent woman who defies conventions in one way or another. The pace of the novel is closer to romantic suspense than the typical romance novel, which may entice different readers. It does, however, stay true to its romance genre as the reader watches Faith and Matthew's relationship unfold. I must applaud the author for creating such fascinating ties for her characters to two of America's Founding Fathers. It's really quite clever.

With every book The Daughters of the Mayflower series gets better. History, faith, romance and adventure are the perfect combination. You can read only The Patriot Bride, but I encourage you to start at the beginning and go from there. You won't be disappointed.

Series: Daughters of the Mayflower (Book 4)
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books; Gld edition (August 1, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1683226062
ISBN-13: 978-1683226062

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts - July 18

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts is hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. This is a chance for book bloggers to dabble in areas besides books (but those are welcome too). Share your plans for the weekend, a rant on people not using their turn signals in parking lots, or your love of Sunday morning mimosas.

I turned 50 last week. Oh, my gosh, that was tough. It shouldn't be. Age is just a number. I don't feel 50. Well, how would I know? What does 50 feel like? Maybe I should say that I don't feel like my mother. Granted, she never made it to 50, so I already feel blessed I'm happy and healthy. My memories of my mother, though, are of this serious person who never would think of doing the Carlton in the middle of the living room--which I've been known to do. She was definitely the adult in the house.






It's also hard to imagine I've been around for half a century. Where did the time go? Didn't I just graduate from high school? How am I the mother of two teenage girls and a son who has been married for eight years? How is it I'm much closer to retirement than to starting out?

Perhaps the toughest realization of turning 50 is that I thought I would have accomplished more by now. I'm actually working harder now than I did when I was 30.

Life is strange. Now instead of taking care of kids, the hubby and I are caring for his parents. We find the girls want to spend more time with friends and less with us. In a couple of years, it's possible our oldest daughter won't join us on vacation because she will be working or off on her own. We've spent our entire adult lives taking care of kids. What will it be like when they aren't home anymore? Yes, they will still need us, but it will be different. It doesn't make me sad, really, just makes me wonder what else the Lord has in store for us.

Have you been down this road before? How did it feel for you? Any helpful tips you can share?