About Me I am a retired librarian and I now support books and authors through my reviews.

I have always loved to read and I was able to share that love through my work as a public librarian for 22 1/2 years. I now promote literacy by reading, and then writing reviews. I love to support authors by sharing my reviews with others!

Sunday, March 2, 2025

I Want to Trust You, But I Don't: Book & Study Guide by Lysa TerKeurst




ABOUT THE BOOK

New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst shows you what to do with your skepticism and distrust so you can heal from past betrayals and move forward with strength and resilience.

Trust is the oxygen of all human relationships. But it's also what trips you up after you've been burned. Maybe a friend constantly lets you down. A leader or organization you respect turns out to be different than they portray themselves to be. A spouse cheats on you. A family member betrays you. You're exhausted by other people's choices and starting to question your own discernment. And you're wondering, If God let this happen, can he even be trusted? 

How can you live well and step into the future when you keep stumbling over trust issues? Lysa TerKeurst says it's not simply about finding better people to walk with. It's about developing the stability you long for within yourself and with God, so you don't become cynical and carry a broken belief system into every new relationship. In I Want to Trust You, But I Don't, Lysa shows you how to

  • identify which of the eleven relational red flags are stirring up distrust, so you can pinpoint why you're feeling uneasy;
  • stop having more faith in your fears coming true than God coming through for you by asking crucial "what if" questions to better process your doubts;
  • recognize when a fractured relationship can be repaired by considering a reasonable list of characteristics necessary for rebuilding trust; and
  • understand the physical, emotional, and neurological impact of the betrayals you've experienced and start healing from the inside out.

In a world where so many things feel alarming, this book will give you a peace that isn't dependent on unpredictable people, circumstances, and experiences. Instead, it offers practical and biblical ways to make real progress toward healthier perspectives, relationships, and a future you can authentically look forward to.


Learn more about this book by visiting this link: https://bit.ly/IWTTYBIDFG

Purchasing information can also be found at https://bit.ly/IWTTYBIDFG

 
MY THOUGHTS.....

Author Lysa Terkeurst shares her deepest hurts in 'I Want to Trust You, but I don't', and she doesn't spare any punches. This emotionally charged book is often gut-wrenching, but there is also a beacon of hope! Terkeurst uses her own experiences to help others navigate their trust issues with ten chapters that relate her journey. Each chapter ends with 'One More Thing I Want You to Know', a section that urges readers to remember, receive, reflect, and pray.

I appreciate that Scripture is abundant throughout the book and in the bonus section at the end. '10 Scriptural Truths to Remember God's Faithfulness' provides even more scripture and prayer prompts. Is there anyone who doesn't need more of God's Word?

I confess that I haven't endured the betrayal Terkeurst describes, but most of us have been hurt by someone we trusted. This book is filled with nuggets of inspiration, and I recommend it to all dealing with trust issues.

I received a complimentary copy from the author via FrontGate Women's Blogger Network. There was no obligation for a positive review.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#iwanttotrustyoubook @proverbs31ministries @lysaterkeurst @harperchristianresources @nelsonbooks



Wonderful advice for all of us!



This is what I can control: making wise choices right now, knowing God is in control.

This is what I can't control: all that happens in the tomorrows to come. 










There is also a wonderful companion guide to Lysa Terkeurst's book. The I Want to Trust You, but I Don't Bible Study Guide has six sessions filled with discussion questions and study pages. This journal provides more insight and offers a place to record your thoughts and chart your progress. There are also videos to enhance your understanding. These videos are accessible by using the QR code shown in the front of the Study Guide.

I received a complimentary copy from the author via FrontGate Women's Blogger Network. There was no obligation for a positive review.


My rating: 4 of 5 stars




Learn more about this Study Guide by visiting https://bit.ly/IWTTYBIDFG

#iwanttotrustyoubook @proverbs31ministries @lysaterkeurst @harperchristianresources @nelsonbooks



ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Lysa TerKeurst is the president and chief visionary officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries and the author of seven New York Times bestsellers, including Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, and It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way. She enjoys life with her husband, Chaz, and her kids and grandkids. Connect with her at LysaTerKeurst.com or on social media.

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Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Beside the Dead by Mary Alford

Beside the Dead
ABOUT THE BOOK

Harrison Troyer has been a ghost for over a decade. . . His future silenced by the threat of prison. But now, the secrets that haunted him can no longer remain buried.

Now living in the shadows as a private investigator in Alaska, Harrison is sent to Evergreen Falls, Maine to find a desperate mother’s missing daughter.

But when a terrified woman stumbles into his remote hideaway in the North Woods of Maine, pleading for his help to escape a killer, his fragile anonymity shatters.

Eden’s story of survival is harrowing—and eerily connected to a case Harrison is chasing. As they team up to unravel her abduction, Harrison realizes Eden may hold not only the key to exposing a dangerous predator but also answers to his missing persons.

Deputy Sheriff Samantha Baker is relentless in her search for answers about her sister Mae’s disappearance twenty-three years ago. When Eden’s escape mirrors Mae’s case and another missing woman, Sam suspects the same monster has returned to prey on Evergreen Falls.

Forced into an uneasy alliance with law enforcement, Harrison and Eden plunge into a chilling web of lies, secrets, and deadly truths. With each step closer to justice, the lines between their hunt for the killer and their fight for survival blur. And as their growing bond threatens to thaw hearts long frozen by grief, they must face a final can they stop a killer before the past destroys them both?

Beside the Dead is a gripping tale of love, redemption, and the unrelenting pursuit of truth. Packed with pulse-pounding suspense and heart-stopping twists, this romantic thriller will keep you guessing until the final page.

Grab your copy of the long-anticipated follow up book to Among the Innocent today and find out what happened to Harrison!






MY THOUGHTS.....

So many questions emerged in the first few chapters of this book, and the answers didn't come easily. At least not for me! It took me a while to grasp who was evil enough to hold young women in an underground prison and methodically eliminate them. Author Mary Alford took me through a gamut of emotions while reading Beside the Dead. I was terrified, shocked, and often repulsed, but I couldn't stop reading! I had to learn more about the intriguing characters, mystifying setting, and good-versus-evil theme that plays such a strong role in this story.

I read the book that introduced Harrison Troyer several years ago, but don't worry if you haven't read Among the Innocent. Alford does an excellent job establishing the background so that you're immediately caught up in the mysteries surrounding a young woman who disappeared several years ago and another young woman caught up in a present-day nightmare. Could there be a connection?

Beside the Dead is a compelling thriller, and the scenes that relay the villain's point of view are absolutely chilling! I recommend this book to all who enjoy romantic suspense novels, and I hope there will be more books with these characters!

I voluntarily read a digital copy that I received from the author. There was no obligation for a positive review.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Alford is a USA Today bestselling author who loves giving her readers the unexpected, combining unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots that result in stories the reader can't put down. Her titles have been finalists for several awards, including the Daphne Du Maurier, the Beverly, the Maggie, and the Selah. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two cats and one dog. 

Learn more by visiting her Website   Facebook  Twitter     Instagram     Pinterest



Beside the Dead