"How to Catch a Prince" by Rachel Hauck

About this book:

  “An American heiress and a crown prince seem destined to be together. Will the devastation of war keep them apart forever?
  American heiress Corina Del Rey caught her prince once. But the tragedy of war kept her too long in a fog of grief. Now she’s shifting her life forward, reigniting her career as a journalist. Still, nothing can relieve her of the secret and the love she carries in her soul.
  Prince Stephen of Brighton is one of the world’s most eligible bachelors and a star rugby player, trying to make sense of his life. His days in Afghanistan with the Royal Air Command will mark him forever. And he can’t shake their dark shadow.
  But when his brother, King Nathaniel, confronts him with a document the prince thought long buried and forgotten, Stephen is forced to face the pain of his past and the love he left behind.
  With a little heavenly help, Prince Stephen and Corina embark on a journey of truth. But when the secrets are revealed, can they overcome, move forward, and find love again?”


Series: Book #3 in the “Royal Wedding” series. {I have read book #1 and #2, but have not reviewed them on here.}

Spiritual Content- Talks about God, letting go, Him caring & being worthy; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; Church going; Prayers; A couple mentions of those in the Bible; Witnessing; Tower bells and singing; Thinking that someone might be not from this world (from Heaven); Corina’s parents stopped going to church after her brother died; Corina has a pretty strong Faith; Since returning from Afghanistan, Stephan has doubts about a kind, loving God. *Spoiler* (But near the end asks for forgiveness) *End of Spoiler*

*Note: “even the nightmares of h*ll were not strong enough to resist it.”

                                         
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘heck’, a ‘hush’, a ‘son of a gun’, a ‘sucker’, two ‘freaking’s, two ‘oh my word’s,  two ‘shoot’s, two ‘stupid’s, three ‘blasted’s, three ‘darn’s, three ‘idiot’s, three forms of ‘shut up’, four ‘oh my gosh’s, and five ‘blimey’s; Stephan swears under his breath once (Not written); Blood, war & an explosion (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of smoking & drinking; A mention of a married couple separating.  

*Note: Mentions of Celebrities (Par*s Hilton, Kardashian, Bill Cl*nton, Bush twins, St*ven Tyler) and Doctor Wh*.

Sexual Content- nine semi-detailed kisses and five detailed kisses; Wanting to kiss & almost kissing (semi-detailed); Wanting to touch & Touching (semi-detailed); Staring & Noticing (semi-detailed); Flirting; A guy is called yummy; a ‘sexy’ and eight ‘babe’s; “Corina was a goody-two-shoes. How? Gigi would never know. The girl ran with the likes of Paris Hilton when they were teens and never once got busted for drinking, smoking or s*x taping.”; eight mentions of love making or a honeymoon; A mention of trying for a baby; A mention of a gay lover; A mention of an affair (no details); A baby was born out of wedlock (the woman says they “did things backwards.”) Love, falling in love, & the emotions. 

-Corina Del Ray, age 30

-(Prince) Stephan Stratton, age 31
                                         P.O.V. switches between them & Gigi
                                                        368 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Ahh. There’s just something about royals that pikes my interest. Maybe it’s the fact I’m American and we obviously don’t have royalty. (Shout out to those reading this blog outside of the USA! :D ) Miss Rachel Hauck has written some fun novels for the “Royal Weddings” series (which I still haven’t posted my review of Book number one or two. *sigh*) and while the kisses got to be a bit much, the couple kissing were technically married. So it depends on what your opinion is of that. The Spiritual content at the end made my rating little higher. :)   

See y’all on Wednesday with another new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this ebook for free from the Author for this review.

"The Heavenly Man" by Brother Yun with Paul Hattaway

About this book:

  “It is the intensely dramatic story of how God took a young, half-starved boy from a poor village in Henan province and used him mightily to preach the gospel despite horrific opposition.

Brother Yun is one of China’s house church leaders. Instead of focusing on the many miracles or experiences of suffering, however, Yun prefers to focus on the character and beauty of Jesus. Interspersed with his personal account are contributions from his wife, Deling, made mostly during her husband's frequent periods of imprisonment. You will remember where you were the first time you read this life story. It's a watershed book that will turn the reader to prayer and praise.”


Series: Non-fiction

Spiritual Content- Over 250 Scriptures from title page to back-cover are quoted, mentioned or referenced; An huge, amazing amount of Faith, witnessing and praying; ‘H’s are not capital until the Repentance part at the end; The Lord speaks to Brother Yun many times and sends him visions as well; Many mentions of those in the Bible and book of the Bible; Many songs are sung and written out; Martyrs for the Cross and how they were killed; At very low times, the enemy would tempt Brother Yun.

*Note: Many mentions of other religions and demons; “Food was the god of the criminals in that prison.”.   

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: three forms of ‘stupid’ and four ‘shut up’s (though one I would overlook, see HERE!); Curses are said but not written; Blood & wounds (semi-detailed to can be detailed); Prison, Beatings, and Torture are all afflicted; Mentions and stories of those who were beaten and/or killed for their Christian Faith (it’s heartbreaking, and bluntly put); Mentions of murder; a couple mentions of drowning; Mentions of committing (or thinking about) suicide; Mentions of drinking; Mentions of brain out of it’s skull and feeling like your brain will explode; Mentions of human waste & prisoners urinating on Brother Yun; Pus and oozing sores;  

Sexual Content- Brother Yun calls the Three-Self Church a ‘harlot’ (it’s repeated and said a total of four times); A few mentions of prostitutes and seduction; A couple cell mates say they raped women (no details); A mention of two women who were kidnapped and used as s*x slaves; A few mentions of abortion and being force not to have any more babies; When talking about his wife, Brother Yun says “After our marriage Deling and I had thought about having a baby, but at the time my name and photo was plastered everywhere by the police so we didn’t get the chance to spend much time together. On one occasion before I was arrested I secretly sneaked home and during that visit my wife conceived.”.

*Note: A mention of a mother’s chest (“In those days I was just like a baby sleeping in the arms of his mother, peacefully suckling at his mother’s bosom.”); A couple mentions of private body parts (“The next morning the guards took me out from the cell and practiced martial arts on my body. They killed and pouched me to the ground and ordered several other prisoners to stomp on my chest and private parts.” And “As a result a horrible plague struck, causing many prisoners to die. Infection entered men’s bodies through their backsides and private parts.”)

-Brother Yun  
                                         P.O.V. told by Brother Yun and sometimes his wife, Deling. 

                                                       372 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

(and a half)

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Wow. I could start off this review about five different ways. I’m not sure which one to pick. Maybe the one where I start off saying how my heart is in China. Or how I was so excited to read this book. Or that I shockingly didn’t cry at all while reading this novel. Or that I never write or underline in a book, but in this book I did. Or that I’ve never read a book with so many Scriptures in it—or beautiful songs. Or that if I ever meet Brother Yun (who I would probably slip up and call him “Mr. Brother Yun” and pump his hand like a well. And give him a hug. For inspiring me, for opening my eyes even more, for his worshiping through the awful prisons he was in. He says on page 187, “I didn’t suffer for Jesus in prison. No! I was with Jesus and I experienced His very real presence, joy, and peace every day. It’s not those in prison for the sake of the gospel who suffer. The person who suffers is he who never experiences God’s intimate presence.” (capital H mine). I love his look on this. He was beaten horribly every time he was arrested. But yet, he rejoiced become he knew that The Lord had put him there to be a witness. (Which reminds me of Ester 4:14 “And who knows? Perhaps you have been made...for such a time as this.” (VOICE))  And he was. I loved when Brother Yun pointed out this Scripture “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good...” (Genesis 50:20 NASB). That is...perfect for what Brother Yun went through. He was tortured, beaten, attacked spiritually and physically but he stood firm in the Lord, trust and waiting on Him. I want that kind of Faith.

I want to share one song Brother Yun sings that I truly love:

  “First comes blood, then anointing oil

  First we must be clean then we receive blessing from the Lord

  First we must experience Calvary, then will come Pentecost.

  Cross, cross, forever my glory

  His blood has washed my sins away

  Only through the blood of Jesus.”

I actually did some research and found the music online; you can listen to it for free HERE. Isn’t it beautiful?  (Link to sheet musics, words and different versions).

I could go on and on about this book. It’s definitely a keeper for me. It was a harsh eye-opening book, but it showed me how the Lord works and that Christ is being shared in a country near to my heart.

  

See y’all on Monday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Monarch Books) for this review.

"The Trouble With Patience" by Maggie Brendan

About this book:

  “Patience Cavanaugh has lost hope in romance. The man she yearned to marry is dead and her dreams are gone with him. Now she is consumed with the restoration of a dilapidated boarding house in order to support herself.

  Despite her desire for solitude, Jedediah Jones, the local sheriff with a reputation for hanging criminals, becomes an ever-looming part of her life. It seems like such a simple arrangement: She needs someone with a strong back to help her fix up the boardinghouse. He needs a dependable source of food for himself and his prisoners. But as she gets to know this “hanging lawman,” Patience finds there is far more to him than meets the eye—and it could destroy their tenuous relationship forever.”


Series: Book #1 in the “Virtues and Vices of the Old West” series.  

Spiritual Content- Proverbs 15:1 at the beginning; Prayers; Bible Reading & Scriptures are quoted; Mentions of church going; Talks about God & forgiving; ‘H’s are capital when talking about God; Jed says he believes in God but doesn’t go to church; Patience writes devotionals (though none are written out); Patience has a strong Faith & witnesses.

*Note: two “what the devil”s

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’ (used as an adj.), a ‘heck’, a ‘shut up’, and two forms of ‘dumb’; Curses are said but not written; Jed tells Patience “Don’t let the door slam on your backside as you leave.”; Mentions of drinking, drunks & saloons; Mentions of smoking & tobacco; Mentions & talks of hangings; Murder, Blood & Gun-wounds (semi-detailed);   

Sexual Content- two not-detailed kisses and one barely-above-not-detailed kisses; Wanting to kiss & almost kissing; Staring & Noticing; Nearness & Touches; Mentions of wanting to snuggle; Love, falling in love, & the emotions. 

-Patience Cavanaugh, age 25

-Jedediah Jones, age not-told
                                         P.O.V. switches between them & Cody (once)

                                              Set in 1866 {With Epilogue being a few years later}
                                                        316 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

(and a half)

Early High School Teens-

(and a half)

Older High School Teens-

(and a half)

My personal Rating-

Hmmm. Overall I liked this book but it could have been a bit better, honestly. The blood was a bit too detailed; And while I liked Patience’s Faith, I felt like there could have been a bit more about her devotionals (like a couple of them written out in this book). Jedediah was a bit rough & harsh at the beginning (which I understood because of his job) but it made me not like him for the first opening chapters...though, he did get better by the end.  

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell Publishers) for this review.