Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor's Personal Journey through Depression

Dr. Michelle Bengtson has been a neuropsychologist for more than twenty years.  She completed postdoctoral trainng at both the Henry Ford Hospital and the University of Alabama Health Sciences Center.  She lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her husband, their two sons and two dogs.  She offers more hope at www.drmichellebengtson.com.

As a board certified neuropsychologist, Dr. Michelle Bengtson believed she was prescribing the most effective treatments for her clients who struggled with depression.  But when she experienced debilitating depression herself, she found that the treatments se had recommended weren't helping her the way she expected.  She was determined to find out what was missing.
With the deep compassion of someone who has been there, Dr. Bengtson blends her training and that vital missing piece she discovered to offer you a hope grounded in God's love and grace.  She helps you understand what depression is, how it affects you spiritually, and what by God's grace depression cannot do.  The result is an approach that offers not just the management of symptoms but the hope of true release.

My Thoughts:

"The majority of books written on the subject, as well as many treating practitioners, ignore the spiritual side of depression.  The spiritual battle is the reason more people aren't effectively treated and why individuals frequently experience recurrence after treatment.  Treatment, then, if it's to be truly helpful, cannot ignore this aspect.  I endeavor to shed light on this spiritual battle to equip you to fight this war more effectively."  (Dr. Bengtson from Chapter 1)

And equip is exactly what Dr. Bengtson does in her book Hope Prevails.  This book is weighty in that Dr. Bengtson has walked the road of depression and she is very transparent is sharing her journey with readers.  Bengtson isn't just another doctor talking to the reader, but writes as a friend talking with the hurting.  She peels back the layers of this disease and then points to the unfailing hope that is found in Christ.  Dr. Bengtson does not over-spriitualize but offers solid Scriptural support for her directives and and undeniable practical treatment components.

If you or someone you know battles depression, pick this book up today and begin your journey toward victory!

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of providing an honest review.

Blessings,
Jennifer

Starving Hearts: Triangular Trade Trilogy AND Giveaway

Janine Mendenhall teaches teens English, of all things! Sometimes she sleeps, but most nights she reads, writes, or watches movies like Pride and Prejudice and claims she's researching her next book. Splickety Love and Splickety Prime have published her flash fiction. She and her husband, Tom, live in North Carolina where they and their two golden retrievers help gratify the needs of their five children and two cats.

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Starving Hearts (Heritage Beacon Fiction, May 2016)

Since her assault, Miss Annette Chetwynd has been plagued by nightmares and worries about an arranged marriage.

She yearns to find her anonymous rescuer. Unfortunately, her health and intellect prevent it. Both repel suitors and cause Annette to doubt God's existence, at least until He answers her prayers in an unusual way. . . .

Mr. Peter Adsley is joining the clergy, and he desires a godly wife by his side. After a failed attempt to obtain one, he engages in a clandestine meeting with the bewitching young woman who keeps crossing his path. But she is so unsettling.

Destined for disappointments, Peter and Annette both endure disgraceful situations. Will Peter's faith sustain him through overwhelming setbacks? Can Annette overcome her doubts? Or will their starving hearts yield to the machinations of a mad man?

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/28OtflH

My Thoughts:
Janine Mendenhall's Starving Hearts is the first book in her brand new Triangular Trade Trilogy.  Part romance but more suspense, Starving Hearts will hold your attention.  Mendenhall writes of 18th Century England with engaging characters, time period dialogue and a steady pace moving a well thought out plot.  The cherry on top of this novel cake is that the gospel is clearly presented throughout the story.  If you love Downton Abbey or follow Jane Austen, you will enjoy Starving Hearts.  

Happy Reading Ya'll,

Jennifer

Without Warning

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, and the Hidden Identity series, as well as Always Watching in the Elite Guardians series.  She is the winner of an ACFW Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award.  She lives in South Carolina.

You can connect with Lynette at her website:  www.lynetteeason.com.

Intensity.  Skill.  Tenacity.

The Bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have it all.

Katie Singleton, a partner with the Elite Guardians Protection Agency, stumbles upon her next assignment quite by accident.  Spotting blue lights at a familiar restaurant, she stops to investigate, only to discover that owner Daniel Matthews has become the taret of someone who will go to any lengths to put him out of business.

Daniel might be concerned, but he's not convinced that a bodyguard - and a female one at that -  is necessary.  A new attack and his niece's urgings are enough to make him reconsider.  He and Katie must figure out who's behind the intimidation and threats - before a would-be killer strikes again.

My Thoughts:

Lynette Eason is a relatively new author to me.  I've only read a couple of her books previous to Without Warning.  However, she has quickly become one of my favorites with her Elite Guardians series.  Eason has caught my attention with this latest series because each book seems to be focusing on a particular member of the Elite Guardians Protection Agency.  While doing this, she maintains the integrity of how the personalities all fit together.  Without Warning is fast-paced.  Eason draws readers in at the very beginning and keeps them turning pages.  The romance portion of this story, the relationship between Daniel and Katie, seemed to be a bit forced.  With that said, I am still a fan and can not wait for the next story in the series, Moving Target, coming Spring 2017.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of providing an honest review.

Happy Reading Ya'll,

Jennifer

Deadly Encounter

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author whose novels have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, and Carol Award contests.  When she's not writing, DiAnn is busy teaching and doing research through the FBI Citizens Academy.  She and her husband live in Houston, TX.

You can connect with DiAnn at her website:  www.diannmills.com.

Is it mere coincidence, or part of a carefully orchestrated plan?

Airport ranger volunteer Stacy Broussard expected a peaceful Saturday morning ride around the perimeter of Houston's airport.  What she encounters instead is a brutal homicide and a baffling mystery.  Next to the body is an inured dog, the dead man's motorcycle, and a drone armed with a laser capable of taking down a 747,

Though FBI Special Agent Alex LeBlanc sees a clear-cut case of terrorism, his past has taught him to be suspicious of everyone, even witnesses.  Even bleeding-heart veterinarians like Stacy.  But when her gruesome discovery is only the first in a string of incidents that throw her life into a tailspin, Alex begins to wonder if Stacy was targeted.  As a health emergency endangers Stacy's community and the task force pulls in leads from all directions, Alex and Stacy must work together to prevent another deadly encounter.

My Thoughts:

A book by DiAnn Mills never fails to disappoint, but she completely was at the top of her writing game with Deadly Encounter.  In this story, Mills delivers in masterful style a fast-paced drama with her typical "who did it" scenario involving relevant and well drawn characters.  What sets this particular book apart from some of Mills' others is the relationship between Stacy and Whitt, the 12 year old boy Stacy is seeking to gain custody of.  Be ready to fall in love with Whitt and DiAnn's writing in this book. 

*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of giving an honest review.

Happy Reading Ya'll,

Jennifer

What Matters Most

Kellie Coates Gilbert is a former legal investigator and trial paralegal and the author of A Woman of Fortune, Where Rivers Part, and A Reason to Stay.  Gilbert crafts her emotionally charged stories about women in life-changing circumstances in Dallas, Texas, where she lives with her husband.

You can learn more about Kellie's writing and connect with her at www.kelliecoatesgilbert.com.

Just wen she can't take it anymore, Leta finally catches a break. But when things seem too good to be true, they often are.

Finding her dream job went right out the window when Leta Breckenridge had to quit school to help care for her mother suffering from dementia.  When a delinquent account may force her mother into a less desirable facility.  Leta is thrilled to land a high-paying job at an Austin public relations firm.  But her seemingly ideal job turns into a nightmare when she learns the firm is a front for a political opposition organization - and that the research she's been collecting will be used against Nathan Emerson, the handsome senator she's swiftly falling in love with.

Nathan is a rising political star being pressured to run a bid to unseat the current governor of Texas. He's already in a relationship with a woman much better suited to be a politician's wife, but he's never met anyone like Leta.  Could this feisty woman hold the key to his heart - and his future?
With emotional depth and keen insight into what drives us, Kellie Coates Gilbert offers a salient story that calls us to consider what we value most in this life.

My Thoughts:
Gilbert never fails to deliver and highly emotionally charged story that seems as if it is ripped straight from the headlines!  What Matters Most is Gilbert's fourth book in her Texas Gold series and it did not disappoint.  It was certainly one of my most favorite Summer reads.  I have followed Gilbert since reading her book Mother of Pearl and I have read the previous Texas Gold novels.  Gilberts books are keeper shelf material for sure.
What I appreciated and enjoyed most about What Matters Most is the political intrigue and the way Gilbert constructs characters that are believable.  The angst and tension are almost palpable at times and kept me turning the pages.  Leta's transformation alone is worthy of the time spent reading this latest offering from Gilbert.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of giving an honest review.

Happy Reading Ya'll,
Jennifer

The Things We Knew

Catherine West writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. When she's not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border collie for long walks on the beach or tending to her roses and orchids. She and her husband have two grown children. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram About the book:  The Things We Knew (Thomas Nelson, July 2016) A tragedy from the past resurfaces in this tale of family secrets and reignited love. After her mother's death twelve years ago, Lynette Carlisle watched her close-knit family unravel. One by one, her four older siblings left their Nantucket home and never returned. All seem to harbor animosity toward their father, silently blaming him for their mother's death. Nobody will talk about that dreadful day, and Lynette can't remember a bit of it. But when next-door neighbor Nicholas Cooper returns to Nantucket, he brings the past with him. Once her brother's best friend and Lynette's first crush, Nick seems to hiding things from her. Lynette wonders what he knows about the day her mother died and hopes he might help her remember the things she can't. But Nick has no intention of telling Lynette the truth. Besides the damage it might cause his own family, he doesn't want to risk harming the fragile friendship between him and the woman he once thought of as a kid sister. As their father's failing health and financial concerns bring the Carlisle siblings home, secrets begin to surface---secrets that will either restore their shattered relationships or separate the siblings forever. But pulling up anchor on the past propels them into the perfect storm, powerful enough to make them question all they ever believed in. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/29vkFGh To see what others are saying about the book, you can visit HERE. My Thoughts: Catherine West is a new author to me but has earned a spot on my "keeper shelf" with her latest novel The Things We Knew.  West has written a well-drawn and engaging tale of family pain.  Her characters could just as well be a reader's brother or sister.  West touches on the family dynamics that tear us apart and bind us together.  Ripe with the themes of dealing with an aging parent, sibling relationships and regrets, West draws in readers with the first sentence and holds their attention until the last.  West writes in such a way that I felt the emotion of each character distinctly.  You will not regret time spent reading this novel.  I'll be looking for future projects by this author! *I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of giving an honest review. Happy Reading Ya'll, Jennifer

When Death Draws Near: A Gwen Marcey Novel

Carrie Stuart Parks is a Christy finalist as well as a Carol award-winning author. She has won numerous awards for her fine art as well. An internationally known forensic artist, she travels with her husband, Rick, across the US and Canada teaching courses in forensic art to law enforcement professionals. The author/illustrator of numerous books on drawing and painting, Carrie continues to create dramatic watercolors from her studio in the mountains of Idaho.

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About the book: 

When Death Draws Near (Thomas Nelson, August 2016)

Death has always been part of Gwen Marcey's job. But when faced with her own mortality, everything takes on a different hue.

Forensic artist Gwen Marcey is between jobs and homes when she accepts temporary work in Pikeville, Kentucky. The Eastern Kentucky town, located deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, has been plagued by a serial rapist and a series of unexplained deaths. Before Gwen can develop a composite drawing, the latest witness vanishes, just like all the previous victims.

Turning her attention to sketching the face of an unidentified body, she discovers a link between his death and a Pentecostal serpent-handling church. Serpent-handling is illegal in Kentucky, and the churches have gone underground to avoid the authorities and continue to worship as they believe. Gwen is offered a handsome reward to infiltrate the renegade members, a reward she desperately needs as it seems her breast cancer has returned.

Joined by her digitally-obsessed, Generation Z daughter, Gwen goes undercover to a nineteenth century revival, planning to draw the faces of the snake handlers so they can be identified and arrested. Instead she uncovers a murderous plot and a festering evil.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2auSB8Y

To see what others are saying about the book, you can visit HERE.

My Thoughts:

I was immediately drawn to the character of Gwen Marcey in the previous book to When Death Draws Near titled The Bones Will Speak.  The very first book in this series is A Cry From The Dust.

Carrie Parks's (author) writing is superbly engaging.  Gwen is so relatable and genuine.  I really appreciate the humor Parks interjects into her story.  The mother-daughter relationship between Gwen and her daughter, Aynslee, is captured beautifully and true-to-life.  As in her previous books, Parks masterfully touches on several themes and brings them together fluidly: Faith, Family Dynamics, Religion, Murder, Suspense, Mystery.  I enjoyed learning about Forensic Artistry as Parks peppers the story with an inside look at Gwen's craft. This one sure is a page turner that you can not figure out with twists and turns and an unexpected ending.  Parks's next book, Portraits of Vengeance, releases August 2017.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Happy Reading Ya'll,

Jennifer