"Sixteen Brides" by Stephanie Grace Whitson

I have had this thing lately about wanting to read books that I would have loved to read back in junior high.  Old books about prairie brides.  So when I keep receiving offers to review these types of books, I jump at the chance and end up bored out of my mind.

Sixteen Brides is an interesting idea for a book. It is set in the late 1800's. Sixteen war widows are conned into becoming mail-order brides when promised free land and a new start out west. It is the tale of these women who sacrifice everything they have in life (which, admittedly, is very little for most) for a chance at a new beginning.

I felt like this book would have served to entertain me well at 11 or 12 years of age, but after reading books with much more challenging themes since my preteen years, I felt that it was alot of fluff, not to mention quite predictable. Now, if heritage prairie, Christian novels are what you enjoy, I would absolutely recommend this book to you. It is exactly the sort of book you would expect to find in your church library. But if you enjoy picking up on underlying themes and reading between the lines, searching carefully for what the author may (or may not) be saying, then this book is not for you. This book is written at the level on which it is meant to be understood, which makes for a great Sunday afternoon read for some, but it is definitely not for everyone.

This book was received from Bethany House Publishers and I was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge

The book Captivating, by John & Stasi Eldredge, is a good,  read that encourages you to look at your own past and deal with what you find there.  It is an easy read academically, while at the same time challenging your heart and spirit.  John and Stasi Eldredge have written this book to shed light, using Scripture, on the way that the Enemy has attacked women's femininity and to pour truth on the lies that we, as women, have been led to believe.  Every woman is captivating, and this book helps the reader find confidence in her own, unique, captivating beauty.

I would recommend this book to every woman, but especially those who have been hurt or abused, and who have a hard time finding themselves worthy or beautiful. 

I received this book from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze book review program.  I am under no obligation to provide a positive review.