Happy Wednesday Bookish Friends :)
I want to thank you all for joining me for another book review here on The Preppy Book Princess.
I hope you're all having an amazing week so far! Mine has not gone the way I'd imagined it would, as I'm still healing from the bad fall I took over the weekend that required stitches. I'm actually going away this weekend for a few days with my hubby and one of our best friends and we'll be attending an expo, and doing lots of shopping. I'm even hoping to make a big dent on my Christmas shopping list.
However, I'm going to be straight up honest with you all today and state that I went through a period of a couple of weeks of honestly not even wanting to take this vacation. I was going through a rough time where nothing seemed to be turning out the way I'd prayed it would, and I definitely didn't handle it in the calm, mature manner I'd like to be able to say I did. Sometimes I feel certain things are thrown into your path during those times to remind you of who's truly in control, and I like to think of them as "God Things," just like how Katie and Christy described them in the Christy Miller books.
What is this thing that happened you may ask? Well it was receiving some book mail that I'd completed forgotten was on the way. I had signed up to be a part of the Revell Reads blog tour program for a certain read, but with how busy the last couple of weeks had been, it's not surprising that I'd kind of forgotten about said book. However, this book showed up when I needed it the most, and it really helped to illustrate for me that I'm not alone in feeling inadequate, insecure or sometimes even unwanted. This book really resonated with me on so many levels, and helped remind me of the promises within the Scriptures that were just what I needed.
I know this weekend is not going to go the way I'd planned it to, as I'll have to take it a lot easier, and may not get to do every single thing I wanted to. However, I've decided to look on the positive side instead, and be thankful that the accident wasn't much worse than it was, and I'm grateful that I'm well enough to even get to go on the vacation in the first place.
I know this book is going to be a great help to many of you guys too, so today I'm excited to get to share my full review of it with you all.
Back Roads To Belonging: Unexpected Paths To Finding Your Place and Your People by Kristen Strong:
Source: Complimentary copy from the publisher (Revell) as part of the Revell Reads Blogger Program
Publication Date: August 6th, 2019
Publisher: Revell
Genre: Christian non-fiction
Synopsis:
At one time or another, shifting seasons in family, friendships, employment, and communities will bring each of us face-to-face with the feeling of being on the outside looking in. Because we are made for connection, this will often lead us down one of two roads. Either we will hop on the popular but crowded highway that asks us to do whatever it takes to get noticed, or we'll stand still, paralyzed by the fear that we're not important, loveable, or worth other people's time and attention.
But what if there is another way? With an understanding voice that will speak into your own circumstances, Kristen Strong walks beside you along the less traveled but more satisfying third way--the back road way--to belonging: remaining in Christ and relaxing into the unique role God has for you. Along the way, you will learn simple, doable actions that not only will help you feel and know that you belong but will welcome others in as well.
(synopsis from goodreads)
My Review:
We've all had those moments of self doubt, insecurity, and anxiety. That moment where we feel like we don't truly belong anywhere, and that we'll always be on the outside looking in. And in Back Roads To Belonging, Kristen Strong approaches these notions from a Christian perspective, and highlights the promises found in the scriptures that through Christ we will always have our place to belong.
As a military wife, Kristen knew her fair share of moving, adjusting, and starting over. Throughout her book, she talks about the hard times surrounding developing new connections and friendships, and how she handled the times when Satan sneaked in to tell her no matter how hard she tried she'd never truly belong or fit in.
While Kristen's journey includes her acknowledging that no one can ever be perfect, and that self doubt can sneak in no matter how prepared you are, she highlights the fact that recognizing these moments for what they are, and turning to Christ, and your closest friends and family during them is the best way to combat the original "terrorist" as she chooses to refer to Satan.
In our current society, where instant gratification has become something we give way too much power too, Back Roads To Belonging encourages women to step away from this trend. To find true belonging in Christ, and in His perfect plan for our lives, rather than finding it in the amount of likes and comments we receive on our social media postings.
Perhaps my favorite part of the book were the passages that focused on how no part of our life is ever an accident; God has had a plan the whole way through, even though we can't always see it during the hard times. Also, the passages showcasing that sometimes if we feel we don't belong in a situation, it's because we're not supposed to belong in that situation. We may be in a place that God never wanted us to belong in the first place, and recognizing and surrendering to this fact can often save a lot of heartache.
This book was exactly what I needed. Will it cure me of ever struggling with deep insecurities and anxiety again? No, but it will serve as a strong reminder that anytime those insecurities come to the surface that turning to God and to His reminders in the scriptures is the true way of overcoming the doubts.
Quotables:
"No one person is meant to be on the inside of every circle. But everyone is on the inside somewhere."
"as we struggled to hang on to hope for finding where we belong, we can absolutely believe that God hasn't saved his worst for us."
"We never know how one small seed of kindness could grow into a sheltering tree."
Final Rating: 4/5
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this one, and I look forward to reading more from Kristen Strong in the future.
Thanks so much to Revell Publishing for providing me a complimentary copy of this novel to read and review.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher (Revell) as part of the Revell Reads blogger program. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.
I want to thank you all for joining me for another book review here on The Preppy Book Princess.
I hope you're all having an amazing week so far! Mine has not gone the way I'd imagined it would, as I'm still healing from the bad fall I took over the weekend that required stitches. I'm actually going away this weekend for a few days with my hubby and one of our best friends and we'll be attending an expo, and doing lots of shopping. I'm even hoping to make a big dent on my Christmas shopping list.
However, I'm going to be straight up honest with you all today and state that I went through a period of a couple of weeks of honestly not even wanting to take this vacation. I was going through a rough time where nothing seemed to be turning out the way I'd prayed it would, and I definitely didn't handle it in the calm, mature manner I'd like to be able to say I did. Sometimes I feel certain things are thrown into your path during those times to remind you of who's truly in control, and I like to think of them as "God Things," just like how Katie and Christy described them in the Christy Miller books.
What is this thing that happened you may ask? Well it was receiving some book mail that I'd completed forgotten was on the way. I had signed up to be a part of the Revell Reads blog tour program for a certain read, but with how busy the last couple of weeks had been, it's not surprising that I'd kind of forgotten about said book. However, this book showed up when I needed it the most, and it really helped to illustrate for me that I'm not alone in feeling inadequate, insecure or sometimes even unwanted. This book really resonated with me on so many levels, and helped remind me of the promises within the Scriptures that were just what I needed.
I know this weekend is not going to go the way I'd planned it to, as I'll have to take it a lot easier, and may not get to do every single thing I wanted to. However, I've decided to look on the positive side instead, and be thankful that the accident wasn't much worse than it was, and I'm grateful that I'm well enough to even get to go on the vacation in the first place.
I know this book is going to be a great help to many of you guys too, so today I'm excited to get to share my full review of it with you all.
Back Roads To Belonging: Unexpected Paths To Finding Your Place and Your People by Kristen Strong:
Source: Complimentary copy from the publisher (Revell) as part of the Revell Reads Blogger Program
Publication Date: August 6th, 2019
Publisher: Revell
Genre: Christian non-fiction
Synopsis:
At one time or another, shifting seasons in family, friendships, employment, and communities will bring each of us face-to-face with the feeling of being on the outside looking in. Because we are made for connection, this will often lead us down one of two roads. Either we will hop on the popular but crowded highway that asks us to do whatever it takes to get noticed, or we'll stand still, paralyzed by the fear that we're not important, loveable, or worth other people's time and attention.
But what if there is another way? With an understanding voice that will speak into your own circumstances, Kristen Strong walks beside you along the less traveled but more satisfying third way--the back road way--to belonging: remaining in Christ and relaxing into the unique role God has for you. Along the way, you will learn simple, doable actions that not only will help you feel and know that you belong but will welcome others in as well.
(synopsis from goodreads)
My Review:
We've all had those moments of self doubt, insecurity, and anxiety. That moment where we feel like we don't truly belong anywhere, and that we'll always be on the outside looking in. And in Back Roads To Belonging, Kristen Strong approaches these notions from a Christian perspective, and highlights the promises found in the scriptures that through Christ we will always have our place to belong.
As a military wife, Kristen knew her fair share of moving, adjusting, and starting over. Throughout her book, she talks about the hard times surrounding developing new connections and friendships, and how she handled the times when Satan sneaked in to tell her no matter how hard she tried she'd never truly belong or fit in.
While Kristen's journey includes her acknowledging that no one can ever be perfect, and that self doubt can sneak in no matter how prepared you are, she highlights the fact that recognizing these moments for what they are, and turning to Christ, and your closest friends and family during them is the best way to combat the original "terrorist" as she chooses to refer to Satan.
In our current society, where instant gratification has become something we give way too much power too, Back Roads To Belonging encourages women to step away from this trend. To find true belonging in Christ, and in His perfect plan for our lives, rather than finding it in the amount of likes and comments we receive on our social media postings.
Perhaps my favorite part of the book were the passages that focused on how no part of our life is ever an accident; God has had a plan the whole way through, even though we can't always see it during the hard times. Also, the passages showcasing that sometimes if we feel we don't belong in a situation, it's because we're not supposed to belong in that situation. We may be in a place that God never wanted us to belong in the first place, and recognizing and surrendering to this fact can often save a lot of heartache.
This book was exactly what I needed. Will it cure me of ever struggling with deep insecurities and anxiety again? No, but it will serve as a strong reminder that anytime those insecurities come to the surface that turning to God and to His reminders in the scriptures is the true way of overcoming the doubts.
Quotables:
"No one person is meant to be on the inside of every circle. But everyone is on the inside somewhere."
"as we struggled to hang on to hope for finding where we belong, we can absolutely believe that God hasn't saved his worst for us."
"We never know how one small seed of kindness could grow into a sheltering tree."
Final Rating: 4/5
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this one, and I look forward to reading more from Kristen Strong in the future.
Thanks so much to Revell Publishing for providing me a complimentary copy of this novel to read and review.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher (Revell) as part of the Revell Reads blogger program. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.
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