The Edge of the Divine: Where Possibility Meets God's Faithfulness by Sandi Patty

Sandi Patty has lived her life in the limelight for all the world to see. As a little girl, I spent hours singing with Sandi on the radio. I loved her music and envied her voice. In The Edge of the Divine, as a long time fan, I was able to get a glimpse at who Sandi Patti, the woman is. Sandi shares about her decision to finally take control of her weight issue through LapBand surgery. As she weighed her options, she realized she was on the edge of something--something new, different, scary, hard, and possibly even Divine.

Patty tells of her battle with food: how it started, the comfort she derived from it, and her continued struggle to keep God first.

While Patty's surgery is the springboard she uses to launch her story, The Edge of the Divine, challenges readers to look at the edges of their lives, the opportunities that present themselves everyday. Opportunities big and small, God uses to shape who we are and who we are to become. Patty's conversational style and humorous anecdotes keep the pages turning.

I appreciated her candid style. As the mother of a 1st year college student and with a new baby on the way, I'm looking at some "edges" in my own life. Some major changes that will cause a lot of minor ones as well. Patty's encouragement through scripture, her own life experience, and the experiences of those who have helped her through some of her most trying times definitely encouraged me to step off the edges in my own life and see where God is leading.

Click on Sandi Patty's picture to check out her website and to pre-order her new book and CD.

Keep up the God work,
Lori

She Walks In Beauty by Siri Mitchell

The formal dresses, the incredible balls, the fancy foods and dazzling dances of the gilded age of New York City have always captured my attention. As a young girl, I longed to be raised in those times when the men were chilvarous and the women appreciated it. But the pictures of that time only tell a portion of the story of that time.

In She Walks in Beauty, Clara Carter is the about to make her debut into New York society, whether she wants to or not. Her dad and aunt have moved up her coming out party for this season and Clara now has to take not only her training as a Debutante seriously, but she must also seriously search for a suitable suitor. Clara navigates the New York City Society Scene much like one would navigate shark infested waters, with care and trepidation, and in the process, uncovers secrets from her past that mightily affect her future.

Mitchell does a magnificent job of painting the societal pressures placed on a young girl to find a suitable marriage partner. The uncomfortable clothing, the backstabbing, and the outright dishonesty that played a role in securing the man who could provide well for you had little to do with love and romance and much to do with conniving and seduction. For more information on Siri Mitchell and her novels, click on her picture.

Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr

Women today have lots of choices. For women in the 1800's, options were limited. Especially if you were older, unmarried and plain. In Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr, Elvira Kilmer finds herself falling on hard times at the mercy of her brother as a plain older woman. While she appreciates his hospitality, she desires to make a way for herself and when the opportunity comes to do just that she is both surprised and unsure.

Jackson Smith needs a housekeeper and nanny. His track record with women isn't the best and while, he needs someone to help in his home, he is wary of the opposite sex and their wiles.

Parr does a fantastic job of keeping the historical integrity while incorporating realistic dialogue and humorous situations. I loved reading Ellie and Jackson's story and found their reparte witty and so true.

For more information on Delia Parr and her novels, click on her picture.