Barbara and Susan's Guide to the Empty Nest - Review

Book:  Barbara and Susan's Guide to the Empty Nest (Revised and Updated)

Authors: Barbara Rainey and Susan Yates

Publisher: Bethany House

Paperback, 247 pages.

For anyone going through the stage of an empty nest, there is going to be sadness.  It is very difficult when all your children have grown up and moved out into the world.  It is a painful loss, but a part of life.

In this book, Barbara and Susan encourage women from all walks of life to cheer up, and find good things to come in the next stage of mothering.

They share many stories from their own lives, and from others.  The authors explain that in these times, it is not like when their own mothers were going through this. Their mothers, and those of that generation, knew who they were for life: Mothers and Wives.  They did not have the type of empty nest we think of today.  They may have had a bachelor or maiden adult child always living with them, or perhaps an aunt, grandmother, or uncle was a permanent part of the household.  In those days, when all the children grew up, wives would focus just on continuing to be a good wife and taking care of the home.  (Personally, this is the kind of mother and wife I will always want to be.)

But for many women of today, they start a new career, begin a ministry, travel, or go back to school.
They crave more friendships with other women, say the authors. 

This book would be best for modern Christian women who want ideas and encouragement to get through the empty nest. 

*  Disclosure - This book was provided for review purposes. *

The Proving by Beverly Lewis

Book:  The Proving

Author:  Beverly Lewis

Publisher: Bethany House

Paperback, 342 pages.

I wanted to read this book because I was intrigued with the idea of what it would be like to stay in an Amish bed-and-breakfast.  I very much enjoyed reading about all the work that needed to be done by the innkeeper and staff. I loved the quiet, simple, life with the focus on God.  The descriptions of the rooms, the cozy fireplace, serving coffee early in the morning, and preparing breakfast for the guests was wonderful to read.

The story itself was a little difficult for me to understand in the beginning.  Two separate scenes were introduced early in the book, which were not related in any way. I had trouble getting through those brief portions, but the story slowly weaved itself together and made more sense. 

There is a modern worldliness surrounding the Amish way of life throughout the book.  The story mostly contained modern technology (cell phones, texting, worldly conversations, etc.) which one must expect when an Amish business is open to the outside world.  If you are looking for a peaceful book consisting only of the Amish way of life, this is not the book.

The story was wholesome, entertaining, and would make a nice television movie.

*  Disclosure - This book was provided for review purposes. *

Playing with Sunbeams

The following is a very sweet, short story written by Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss, 1879.

Playing with Sunbeams (image) from Elizabeth Prentiss story, 1879.

NOTE - this story has been moved. It can now be found at The Legacy of Home Press on the following page:


Playing with Sunbeams by Elizabeth Prentiss.

What Does Your Home Say About You?

I saw a great quote at a "Sword of the Lord" ministry page.  Here it is:

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G. Campbell Morgan said: 'My father came into my house soon after I was married and looked around into every room, and then he said to me, 'Yes, it is very nice, but nobody will know, walking through here, whether you belong to God or the Devil.' I went through and looked at the rooms again, and I thought: 'He is right.' So we made up our minds straightway that there should be no room in our house, henceforth, that had not some message, by picture or wall text, for every corner should tell that we serve the King."


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I love this!  We ought to have beautiful, cheerful things in our home that show we belong to the Lord.  What does your home say about you?

Sacred Privilege by Kay Warren

Book:  "Sacred Privilege:  Your Life and Ministry as a Pastor's Wife"

Author:  Kay Warren

Publisher: Revell

264 pages, hardcover

I was expecting this book to be a guide to how to be a good wife to a husband in the ministry. I thought it would be like a cheerleader to the readers for doing good work in the home and in the church.  But I could not get past the first chapter.

 The author explains in the preface that she is going to be "raw" and "transparent."  I didn't realize she was going to describe some of the sins and terrible experiences in her own life.  This is not what I thought the book was going to be about. Perhaps others will find help in reading this, but I found it discouraging and depressing.  I was looking for rest and peace and sweet holiness.  There was none of that in the first chapter. I cannot get past that. The title is a bit misleading.


*  Disclosure - This book was provided for review purposes. *

Never Give Up by John Mason

Book:  "Never Give Up: You're Stronger Than You Think"

Author:  John Mason

Publisher: Revell

166 pages, paperback

This is a self-help book designed to motivate and encourage.  There are three short parts (or sections) which direct the reader to look "inward, outward, and upward." Each section of the book holds chapters which are called "nuggets."  These are short devotional type messages with a bit of common wisdom and sometimes brief word-illustration- stories to get you thinking.

Some quotes include:

"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?" (p. 113) 

"Rising above mediocrity never just happens; it's always a result of faith combined with works. Want to be unhappy? Do nothing."  (p. 75)

It would be a good book for those who need a daily dose of encouragement to get up and do important things.

*  Disclosure - This book was provided for review purposes. *

The Ebb Tide by Beverly Lewis

Book:  "The Ebb Tide"

Author:  Beverly Lewis

Publisher:  Bethany House

328 pages, paperback.

I wanted to read this book because it had a focus on the beach and a vacation theme.  It is about Sallie who is struggling with finding time to join the Amish church and finally be settled in her family life and community. The problem is that she wants to travel. She craves adventure.  We read about her working in a restaurant which is owned by the "English." She then gets a summer job as a Nanny where she gets to live in a beautiful, wealthy home at the beach.  I enjoyed reading about the vacation type days she had.

There was an Amish young man, back home, who was interested in her. She also met a young man while she was a Nanny.  She could have married either one and had a good life.  However, it was a choice of either remaining Amish or becoming "worldly."  Honestly, I was very upset with her decision, but as the story came to an end, I understood better why it worked out that way, even though I didn't agree with her.

There was something else in the story that I didn't particularly like.  There were details of marine life presented in a sort of scholarly way - as if we, the readers, were taking a class in the subject. I found it boring and didn't care for it.  For me, it took away from the enjoyment of the book. 


*  Disclosure - This book was provided for review purposes. *

A Stolen Heart by Amanda Cabot

Book: Cimarron Creek Trilogy - "A Stolen Heart."

Author:  Amanda Cabot

Publisher: Revell

Paperback, 347 pages.

This is the first book I've read by Mrs. Cabot.  I thought the description of the book sounded interesting.  The main character, Lydia, moves out west. To earn her living, and with help, she opens a sweet shop and is welcomed into the home of a wealthy elderly woman.  I enjoyed reading about the fudge and other things she made. I also liked the family and the town. It was nice to see how she, a stranger, slowly became part of the community and also how she found a good man to marry.  The characters seemed very real to me.

As I read through the book, it seemed like a light entertainment, with occasional references to prayer and church. There was a peaceful feeling of occasional suspense here and there.  Towards the end of the book is where I was shocked.  The story got very intense and felt like a television crime show. I was not happy about it.  If I had known it would be this type of book, I never would have read it. It is just not the type of story I want to read. I consider this book to be more secular than religious, even though it is published by a Christian company.  It was well written, but just not the type of fiction I prefer.

*  Disclosure - This book was provided for review purposes. *

Thank you Mama for Praying for me by The Inspirations

This is a wonderful gospel song by the Inspirations Quartet.