Mrs. Miracle

"Some marriages are made in heaven, but they all have to be maintained on earth." ~ Mrs. Miracle.

For Seth Webster, his life might be defined as the perfect picture for chaos. Left alone after his wife died in a tragic car accident with two twin boys and a busy job, he was completely at odds with what to do. Now four years later he can't seem to figure out a way to move forward and even manage the life of two overly-active boys who need him as much as he needs help. He was given a four year reprieve when his parents Sharon and Jerry offered to step in and move the twins in with them. Only in four years, he still had no better clue in how to handle them then he did when his wife was still alive. How could he when he could barely take care of himself. Ever single housekeeper/nanny had been exhausted and the longest any one of them could stay was 6-weeks after dealing with the Webster household. What he needed was a true miracle. And that is just what showed up at the front door.

Mrs. Emily Merkle claimed to have been sent by the agency that employed every other housekeeper/nanny ever sent but there was something oddly comforting about her, think Mary Poppins but quite a bit older. She possessed a quiet sense of order, yet offered a sense of peace and comfort that was sadly missing in their chaotic lives. The boys instantly adapted to her quite quickly and soon Seth learned that she could sense what was needed before it was ever asked for. She got the family back to church and much like Mary Poppins began to shape their lives into one that had been missing for so long as if she had been heaven sent. It's funny that the twins being unable to pronounce her name, called her Mrs Miracle instead.

Reba Maxwell needed to find her faith again. She simply attended church because it was something she knew she needed but unable to find forgiveness for her sister that stole the only man she had hoped to love and marry. She didn't even end up marrying him either, she simply wanted to ensure that her sister, Reba didn't either. For years, they remained at a distance even though Reba's sister wanted to end the ongoing feud that kept the family apart. She just didn't know how to let go of the anger and pain that now came up immediately whenever her parents brought it up, especially at Christmas time, when they wanted the family all together again. But Reba wasn't ready nor did she think she ever would be. All she knows is that for some reason, she is attracted to a man that comes by the grocery store and looks about as lost in his life as she is in hers. How can she find a way to make a connection so they can talk? The miracles are about to begin.

I received Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers. This has so many wonderful surprises tucked inside this novel, like all the comfort foods that Emily makes the family. I simply can't wait to try them all. This is a Hallmark Channel movie as well, but for me, you can't fit all the wonderfulness of a novel in a simple movie. I would encourage you all to pick up a copy of this novel. I absolutely LOVE all the quotes at the beginning of each chapter like the one that opens this review. What a wonderful gift to someone who might be needing their own Christmas miracle. Perhaps that is just the point. I easily give this book a 5 out of 5 stars in my personal opinion.

For more information about Mrs. Miracle, Debbie Macomber or where you can pick up a copy of this book today.

Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

You can find Debbie Macomber on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Mrs. Miracle, please visit Harper Collins Publisher's website. 

Merry and Bright

Online dating. It seems to be the "in-thing" when it comes to finding love these days. Gone are the trips to the local watering hole after work or searching the personal ads in the paper. For Merry Knight, Christmas was the time of the year she looked forward to. Spending time with family, celebrating the joy of simply being together and participating in all the traditions her family embraced is what kept her focused on the month ahead of her. Working as a temporary data input employee for Matterson Consulting, she knew just how many days she had left to deal with an overbearing boss, Jayson Bright. He was someone who did everything by the book and even had the employee handbook so memorized he could tell Merry exactly where her current violation of company standards of decorating her cubicle or even eating lunch while she worked was frowned upon.Clearly the Christmas season was not allowed within her workplace or even at her cubicle location.

Jayson Bright had a lot to prove to his father who expected him to fail at every turn. Not one for being together as a family, he watched his father move from relationship to relationship without questioning what caused all those failures. It seemed as if the apple didn't fall far from the Bright tree and now Jayson could see that he was slowly becoming his father. He didn't have time for family or even socializing as with this upcoming potential contract proposal for Boeing, he might just prove to his father, he is able to take on the role of leading the company. While he watches his best friend find true love through an internet dating service, Mix and Mingle, one he strongly advises Jayson to try. But all he can see it work and more work, if he ever hopes to find acceptance in his father's eyes.

Since Merry can't find time to socialize, her mother and younger brother take it upon themselves to enroll Merry in an internet dating site, Mix and Mingle and instead of a profile picture of Merry, they add one of their lovable dog. They reason if someone is willing to judge a person based on looks, they might not look far enough into someone to discover who they truly are on the inside. Funny thing is she agrees to see where it might take her, after all, once she finishes her contract at work, she will have plenty of time to see where love might find her. She just doesn't expect to find Mr. Wrong on the other end of the email conversation.

I received Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber compliments of Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley. If you LOVE the movie, "You've Got Mail," then you will love this different spin on the premise of internet dating. It is a wonderful heartwarming story of what really makes us fall in love and how we can keep those embers burning alive after the physical changes in our appearances begin to change and fade. If all we see is the beauty on the outside, we may be missing more than we hoped for by ignoring what's on the inside that truly counts. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and could easily see this being made into a Hallmark Christmas movie!

For more information about Merry and Bright, Debbie Macomber or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber

You can find Debbie Macomber on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Merry and Bright, please visit Random House Publishing Group's website.

Any Dream Will Do

"When we worry, we take reality and move it into the realm of fiction. What is real is transferred into the land of monsters and dragons, which are far bigger and frightening than they really are."

Shay Benson has dreams. Dreams of a future, being married, raising a family and perhaps finding a job in which her love of numbers becomes a reality. In fact getting a job as a bank teller is almost too good to be true. It seems as if her life is looking up now that her ex-boyfriend, Shooter has gone to jail for what could be life so now the choices she makes from now on will be her own. Until her brother Caden shows up on her front door step begging for money. She doesn't have much but she is willing to give him all she has saved. Yet when Caden tells her he needs $5000, it is out of her hands. Her brother tells her that he will be killed if he doesn't find a way to get the money and he can pay it all back by the end of the week. He tells Shay to take it from the bank, since they won't know its missing until he can repay it. Stuck between that proverbial rock and a hard place, Shay knows she shouldn't but she also knows she can't watch the only family she has left face being killed either.

Now three years later, she is finally getting another chance on life after being released from prison. She has no family and of course, once she loaned her brother the money, he took off and she never heard from his again, even knowing it would cost her everything. She has no where to go and her only hope had been from an elderly Christian woman who wrote to her in prison that told her to trust God and He would look out for her. Yeah like that would ever happen for Shay. Look where God has gotten her up to this point. Being dropped off in the middle of the day right in front of church, she at least figured she's go inside and try to think things through.

When Pastor Drew Douglas sees Shay in his church, he is immediately drawn to offer her help. He knows of a place where Shay might be able to get a second chance if she can endure their year long program. If she does, she will walk out of the Hope Center with a job and a place to stay. He just doesn't expect her to provide him the desperate help he needs after losing his wife, 3 years ago to cancer. His church is fall apart and church attendance is down, not to mention, his young children Sarah and Mark, who need a mother's touch and lately all the well-meaning women from the church just haven't measured up. Now with Shay trying to make a fresh start on her life, she needs to stay away from everything in her past if she is to make a new future for herself. She just never expected someone responsible and respectable as Drew would see her for what she is, not what she did in her past.

I received Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber compliments of Ballantine Books, Random House Publishing and Net Galley. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise. This is such a wonderful novel and would almost line up as a Christian novel except for a random profane word uttered from a church member. The theme is truly about second chances and for not judging people by their appearance, or in this case their past. Too often people hold us accountable based on our pasts and not where we are at today. As Christians it is our duty to show people forgiveness and not condemnation and give everyone a second chance at making better futures for themselves. I absolutely LOVE this novel and can't wait for more from Debbie Macomber in the future. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in this reader's opinion.

For more information about Any Dream Will Do, Debbie Macomber or where you can preorder a copy of this novel due out in August of 2017, please click on the links below:

Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber

You can find Debbie Macomber on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Any Dream Will Do, please visit Ballantine Book's website.

Once Upon A Time

If you were writing a story about your life up to this point, how would it begin? "Once upon a time," or "a long, long time ago," or "in a faraway land," or "happily ever after?" Just hearing these words offers a sense of excitement and expectation, a sense of anticipation. A story is about to unfold, and those key words tell all we need to know about the kind of story it will be. As we explore ways to see our lives as one grand story, we're going to realize that all the parts - the good parts and the bad, the trouble and the heartache, the disappointment and the discouragements we face - are important to the story, and, as we already know redemption is coming.

In the latest inspiration novel from best selling author Debbie Macomber, Once Upon A Time, she invites readers to take a journey into their own story, the story of their life. Most of us would never think our own story is worth reading much worth sharing, but that is where you are wrong. As Debbie encourages the reader throughout this book to take a look at different parts of our life, back to our favorite part of growing up, our childhood home, room or town; to look at we loved most about growing up, perhaps a family tradition that even now you carry into your own family, or a memorable time in school you have never forgotten. When we look back at the smaller pieces one at a time, she encourages the reader to pick up a journal and begin to write these thoughts down. Maybe it's a place you love to go for some unknown reason, she encourages you to dig deep to understand what the draw might be. Who were the main characters in your own life? Perhaps siblings, relatives, friends or even a stranger has impacted your life so much you will never forget them.

Working her way through the book chapter by chapter much like writing her own books, she encourages the reader to spend some time looking back at their life. It might surprise you to see just how much amazing details and stories you would have to share. This is the point of this book. To encourage you to begin your own story, a legacy, a way to share what impact you have made in this life, the things that are important to you. What about your name? Who picked it out, why, what significance does your name mean? Does that have any impact on the person you are today or what the desires of your heart are?

Debbie works through this novel with the reader as if you're having an intimate conversation with her. From sharing her own stories or stories that have impacted her own life, you feel as if you're on this journey together. I even love the idea of using this book if you're thinking about writing your own book, fiction or not, to help you through the process of putting ideas together on character development or settings. This is also a great book to encourage you to begin journaling your own family stories, perhaps as a basis to interview your grandparents and see what they have to share. Life stories are important. They are important to God.

"Without memory, we'd have to relearn everything every day. Without memory, we'd forget who we are and where we've been. Without memory, we'd lose faith because we'd forget the faithfulness of God." 

I received Once Upon A Time by Debbie Macomber compliments of Howard Books, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. This one will forever have a permanent home on my library shelf at home because I plan on referring to it quite a bit. My husband and I are even now chronicling our parents lives so we can keep their stories alive long after that have passed away so we can share them with future generations. This book is an exceptional tool to use for just that purpose and perhaps for creating your own personal legacy. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and gives you insight on just how interesting your own life really and truly is. Perhaps there is even a happily ever after waiting just for you!

For more information about Once Upon a Time, Debbie Macomber or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Once Upon A Time by Debbie Macomber

You can also find Debbie Macomber on Facebook so you don't miss out on any of her latest books.

You can also visit Debbie Macomber at her website by clicking here. 

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books (May 28, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451607792
• ISBN-13: 978-1451607796
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches 

You can find this book at your favorite book retailer in Hardcover and ebook formats. 

One Perfect Word

I've been reading a book that just came out from one of my favorite authors, Debbie Macomber, called One Perfect Word. It's about focusing the entire year on just one word and making that your personal focus for the year. Praying on it, seeking God's will for that in your life and just studying it.

The book is really eye opening in that Debbie is very honest and forth coming on her journey to becoming a writer. Prior to having her books published, she wrote in journals a lot about her struggles and thoughts. Looking back at her own writing, she can see where God has taken her through each year and thus the reason why the personal focus on the "one word" has come into play.

She shares some of those word years with the reader in the book and encourages us to do the same. Along the way she shares with you how to go about picking your word of the year. Maybe it's something that keeps coming across your prayers, conversations and Bible study. Perhaps you should talk to friends and see what they believe it should be. She offers some interesting ways to go about seeing how that word will play out during the year as well from having it engraved in stone, carrying a reminder with you to pray about it during your days or having it written on a card or plaque.

I think the idea is beautiful and can help us to focus on smaller things, not bigger ones like committing a chapter or verse to memory each week but rather learn to see how God is working on your life through one simple word. Along with the fourteen words that Debbie shares with you in this book along with personal stories, are also scriptures, her written prayers from her journals, and even some practical tips on how to make the word come alive in a different mediums. This book is going to be an exciting journey for me this year and one I am so happy to be able to share with my readers.

I received this book compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster for my honest review and think it's a must read for anyone looking to enhance their Bible Studies! I rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and have started my own personal journey this year with the word TRUST! For more information on this book, the author and even where to get a first chapter sneak peek, please click on the links below:

One Perfect Word by Debbie Macomber

You can also find Debbie at her website by clicking here or on Facebook by clicking here.