Unveiled Wife

About a month ago, a friend recommended this devotional to me. I went over and looked at the website and thought, gee, maybe not. You see, my husband and I are having very, very bad marital problems. Ok, let's be honest. He moved out. Told me he doesn't love me anymore and doesn't want to be married to me anymore.

But the thing is, I still love him and I'm still committed to our marriage. So I figured, I'll read the devotional and see what it has to say - what can it hurt, right?

I simply cannot believe how God has moved through Jennifer Smith to meet me where I am. Each day, I get her devotionals by email and almost every single day, she's talking about something I'm struggling with.

For example, one day when I felt particularly angry with my husband for leaving, Jennifer's devotion was on Forgiving My Husband. When trying to understand how my husband was feeling and why he choose to leave, there was a devotional on When Expectations Cripple A Marriage. When my husband told me he never felt like I supported him, there was a devotion on Working Together.

This devotional is wonderful for women who are in a stable marriage - and I have recommended it to many of my friends who are. But it is also wonderful for women who are in a floundering marriage. There is encouragement and almost a "how to" guide for making changes for the future.

Of course my prayer is that my husband will allow me a chance to show him how much I love him and how I can change and make our marriage a success with a second chance. But even if he doesn't these devotionals are a wonderful guide for how I can pray for him - and myself.

For more information on this wonderful devotional click here.

To buy a copy for yourself, click here

Highly recommended.

Jody

The Brickmaker's Bride by Judith Miller

In the clay-rich hills of the newly founded state of West Virginia, two families tentatively come together to rebuild a war-torn brickmaking business.

Ewan McKay has immigrated to West Virginia with his aunt and uncle, promising to trade his skills in the clay business for financial help. Uncle Hugh purchases a brickmaking operation from a Civil War widow and her daughter, and it's Ewan's job to get the company up and running again.

Ewan seeks help from Laura, the former owner's daughter, and he quickly feels a connection with her, but she's being courted by another man--a lawyer with far more social clout and money than Ewan. Resolving that he'll make the brickworks enough of a success that he can become a partner in the business and be able to afford to bring his sisters over from Ireland, Ewan pours all his energy into the new job.

But when Hugh signs a bad business deal, all Ewan's hard work is put in jeopardy. As his hopes for the future crumble, Laura reveals something surprising. Can she help him save the brickworks, and will Ewan finally get a shot at winning her heart?

Lots of historical details, flawed but loveable characters and a "will they or won't they" plot line make for a great read.

Focusing on a few characters who have come from Ireland, who of course face the struggles of prejudice as newcomers from another country right after the Civil War, when the United States are still struggling with the after effects - including the death of Laura's father - of the war, we get to see the difficulties of traveling far from home to make a new start.

And those here in the States are making a new start too. Can everyone work together and further a lasting and enduring company?

Jody

Many thanks to Bethany House for my copy of this book.