Sharon R. Paavola

Life moments and Book Reviews

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Stars in the Grass – A Beautiful Novel of Loss and Family

June 2, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment

Stars in the Grass is a tender story of one family’s journey after a tremendous loss. It’s told by the nine year old daughter, Abby McAndrews. Each member handles the tragedy with different emotions, actions, and faith in God. Abby’s curious mind, growing vocabulary, and sense of humor makes this book poignant, insightful, and moving.

Having grown up in a minister’s home I related to Abby’s familiarity to her father’s church with particular hiding spots, and places to play or find solace. I, also lived in a parsonage and understand the dubious situation of not owning your own home.

The turmoil in their home is heightened by Abby’s brother, Matt’s secret escapades. “Dad frowned and exhaled slowly, the receiver in his hand. He was used to answering other people’s problems not phoning with the problem.”

Doubt in God, anger, and grief fill their relationships with unexpected outcomes and may tear them apart. Will they find a way to pull together? What happens to a family whose loss is unimaginable? My heart ached for the McAndrews. Would they seek the God they thought they knew before tragedy hit?
I hope you will chose to put Stars in the Grass on your “to be read” list.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. I want to thank them for the opportunity to read this fine novel by Ann Marie Stewart!

The Stars in the Grass – A Beautiful Novel of Loss and Family!

February 12, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment

Stars in the GrassStars in the Grass by Ann Marie Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stars in the Grass is a tender story of one family’s journey after a tremendous loss. Told by the nine year old daughter, Abby McAndrews, each member handles the tragedy with different emotions, actions, and faith in God. Abby’s curious mind, growing vocabulary, and sense of humor makes this book poignant, insightful, and moving.

Abby’s dad, John is the minister of a Presbyterian church which adds to the dynamics of their upheaval as a family. The turmoil in their home is heightened by Abby’s brother’s secret escapades. “Dad frowned and exhaled slowly, the receiver in his hand. He was used to answering other people’s problems not phoning with the problem.”

Doubt in God, anger, and grief fill their relationships with unexpected outcomes and may tear them apart. Will they find a way to pull together? What happens to a family whose loss is unimaginable? My heart ached for the McAndrews. Would they seek the God they thought they knew before tragedy hit?
I hope you will chose to put Stars in the Grass on your “to be read” list.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. I want to thank them for the opportunity to read this fine novel by Ann Marie Stewart!

View all my reviews

Deceived by Irene Hannon Full of Suspense and Intrigue!

November 27, 2014 by admin Leave a Comment

Deceived (Private Justice, #3)Deceived by Irene Hannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Irene Hannon delivers a fantastic suspense novel with Deceived! I was drawn into this read immediately and could not stop until the end. Kate Marshall thinks she has moved on with her life after a tragedy three years ago. She finds fulfillment in her job in a new city and has a routine. Then, she sees a little boy on an escalator at the shopping mall who looks exactly like her son; her son, who was never found after a boating accident on a lake in New York. He turned around and looked at her, too. How could it be? What should she do now? Her sleep won’t let her forget his face. The police had shut the case. Would they take her seriously, now? She chooses a private investigator. Will Connor believe her? Will he think she is crazy? Kate must rely on her faith as this is the biggest challenge she has ever faced.

The book flows with intrigue, surprise, and even romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend Deceived by Irene Hannon. It is one of her Private Justice novels.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley for my honest opinion.

View all my reviews

Braver Living

July 29, 2014 by admin 4 Comments

 

Two weeks ago, my son, Matt, 40, sat me down to chat. He lives in Walnut Creek, California and I dwell in San Diego so our opportunities to talk face to face are few. He wanted to know how I was doing, concern etched in his face. Eventually, we arrived at a pointed question, “Mom, when was the last time you were happy with your life? Wow, how do I answer that? After a long pause I proposed that the years I was teaching a large Bible Study at church and caring for my elderly parents simultaneously would be when I was happiest. Of course, he had to ask why? Well, I was using the gifts God gave me. I loved teaching, speaking, and shepherding. I was also needed by my parents in almost every area of their lives. “Okay, Mom so is doing what makes you happy?” I saw where he was going and tried to help him understand that I felt more alive during those years. Yet I knew something was blocking me, now.

Fast forward to today

Only God knew what was headed my way – a divine appointment with a book, two authors, and multiple new friends on Facebook.

I’m now a braver living rebel – a rebel against the 4 P bullies, Procrastination, Perfectionism, Performancism, and People-pleasing. I don’t know where this will take me, but these authors get me. The book is full of pink marker. They know what I am thinking, feeling, craving. The P bullies wreak havoc in my life, my mind, and spirit.

Granted life the last five years have been hard: losing my last parent, a challenging time controlling my lifelong diagnosis of major depression and anxiety, plus dealing with chronic Fibromyalgia pain but I am frozen, paralyzed. Nothing other than myself keeps me from the things that I enjoy, my dreams, and my goals.

I invite you to come along with me on this journey.

Maybe you will relate to my struggles, my discoveries, and my hope? Maybe you seek encouragement on your path? Do you procrastinate, people please, perform for approval, crave to be perfect but fail?

I want to introduce you to The Cure for the “Perfect” Life written by Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory, two very brave women!

A book

Here are links to where you can buy the book and also receive the first chapter free:

Website Link: http://www.TheCureForThePerfectLife.com

FREE download of Chapter 1: http://www.thecurefortheperfectlife.com/downloads/chapter1.pdf

Facebook Page (aka “Braver Living Rebel Headquarters”):
http://www.Facebook.com/TinyActsOfRebellion

Barnes & Noble link (we’d like to support B&N as they’ve been VERY supportive to us!)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cure-for-the-perfect-life-kathi-lipp/1118908688?ean=9780736957007

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Cure-Perfect-Life-Trying/dp/0736957006

CBD.com link:
http://www.christianbook.com/-perfect-trying-harder-start-living-braver/kathi-lipp/9780736957007/pd/957007

Family Christian link:
http://www.familychristian.com/catalog/product/view/id/270248/

HOPE RUNS

April 29, 2014 by admin Leave a Comment

Hope Runs  –  An American Tourist, a Kenyan boy, and a Journey of Redemption written by Claire Diaz-Ortiz and Samuel Ikua Gachagua was a delight to read!

This inspiring story is told between Claire’s and Sammy’s personal accounts of their lives . Claire follows her exploring heart with her roommate Lara. After many adventures throughout the world they land in Africa where Sammy enters the picture. They stay at the orphanage where he lives and start a running group for a year.

Their worlds intertwine and the girls and Sammy become family. Sammy’s life amidst dire situations has been uplifted through miraculous opportunities. He makes the most of them, a wonderful example for all of us. His trust in God and these precious women who desire to make things better for him is transforming. A great read and a fantastic cause!

We often feel we cannot overcome circumstances that appear in our lives yet reading how Sammy continues on against many odds without the advantages that we take for granted, we need to press on.

“When I start cross-country training, I am horrible at first. I am surprised by this because I am Kenyan and I have run for years with Hope Runs, but these students are all so fast. I see that when we were running in Kenya- with Claire and Lara trying as coaches – we were not really training as seriously as I thought we were. The idea of training was so new that I thought we had a rigorous schedule, and it was amazing to watch what we accomplished over the many months of running. I realize now at MCI why Claire and Lara were always pushing us harder and telling us we could do more. At the orphanage we were dedicated, but we were not experts.
But I do not get discouraged. I have seen that with running, the more you work, the more you improve. So I keep practicing, and slowly I become one of the fastest on the team.”
His fresh attitude displays moving on in spite of the circumstances. He looks ahead instead of looking behind. He finds joy and motivation in knowing people believe in him.

I suggest reading this fine book and even participating in their cause, Hope Runs. You may find yourself running towards LIFE.

About Me

Sharon's passion to release women from their past, from depression, and from pain so they can move on to hope, freedom, and living in the present drives her to speak, write, and encourage whenever possible. Her openness allows women to identify with her own life experiences yet see where they, too can conquer their battles. She is devoted to her home life with husband, Eric and 2 Bichon mixes, PIerre and Stewart. She and Eric have 3 grown children and live in the San Diego, California area.

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