What a Son Needs From His Mom by Cheri Fuller

Bethany House Publishers recently sent me a free copy of What a Son Needs From His Mom in exchange for a honest review.  I have a 10 year old son, plus 3 daughters and I really wanted to connect with him like I do with my girls.  Author Cheri Fuller really communicates the importance of letting your son be the male that God created him to be, and treat him differently than you would a daughter.  In the 14 chapters, she discusses ways to encourage him with his hobbies, how to build confidence in your son, how to pray for him, how to listen & communicate with him, and how to help him manage his emotions, just to name a few.  Regardless of the boy's age, she draws on her own experiences to help moms stay connected to their sons.  It's okay for a mom to be nuturing and protective, but it's vital to know how and when to let your son be independant.  Our jobs as moms are to raise our sons to be a loving and godly man who lives a purposeful life.  Sometimes it's hard to release him into God's care and Cheri Fuller understands that because she has gone through it with her 2 sons.  I really found this book helpful and eye opening to me.  I found there are many things I can do now to help my son succeed in school and in his spiritual life even at a young age.  It also helped me to understand how the mind of a male works.  I even found myself understanding why my husband says or does things now!  So even if you don't have a son, you can benefit from this book! 

Swept Away by Mary Connealy

Bethany House Publishers sent me a free copy of Book 1 in Mary Connealy latest series - Trouble in Texas.  Continuing on after the Kincaid Brides Series, Swept Away is set in Texas in 1868.  Callie Kincaid's older brother Luke is returning home from war only to find that his family's ranch has been stolen and his father killed by as evil man.  Callie is with her new life in Colorado, so it's up to Luke to find a way to get his ranch back.  Ruthy McNeil is an orphan traveling with a wagon train to California.  The family she is with treats her like a slave and wants to marry her off to their son. Ruthy wants a chance at real love like her parents had and a place to call home.  When everyone but Ruthy is swept away at a difficult river crossing, she finds herself floating along in unknown territory barely alive when Luke comes to her rescue.  Ruthy quickly finds herself hiding out with Luke and his friends as they plot how to save an abused mother with 2 children while seeking justice for Luke's family.  Ruthy is used to hard-work but she has never been around men like these that protect women and show the love of God in their everyday actions. 
I enjoyed the action in this novel as well as the loyality these man had to each other after being in Andersonville prison together during the war.  The characters were strong and believable. I liked the setting and the time period as well.  I had read the Kincard Brides Series, so I was familiar with Mary Connealy's style of writing.   Even though this is a spin-off from that series, you don't have to read it to understand the characters of this book.  Sometimes the first book in a series is slower to start because the author needs to set up the characters for the future novels.  Connealy gave a thorough description of Luke's friends that I feel like I know them in person.  I look forward to seeing how the plot develops with these characters in Book 2 Fired Up coming out in Sept. 2013.