Learning to Embrace Strangers is One of Marriage’s Best Lessons

July 25, 2019 by 2 Comments

Man drinking coffee

Sometimes the person who needs you the most is the one you haven’t met yet. (Photo by Neil Moralee, Flickr)

When you’re married for nineteen years, you tend to learn a thing or two from your spouse. Anyone who knows us will readily tell you that Heather is the demonstrative one in our relationship. She’s widely known for just grabbing people and giving them a hug, even if they’re a complete stranger. Although I know this now, I didn’t always, and the concept of doing this in public used to unsettle me. I’ll give you an example. Read more of this post

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It Takes Courage to Be Empathetic

August 14, 2018 by Leave a comment

Hug

We can’t take away the pain of the world, but we can make it more tolerable when we are empathetic. (Photo by Arwen Abenstern – KWP, Flickr)

Those of you who follow along with us on a regular basis may have realized that we frequently introduce books that celebrate people, whether real or fictitious, who make a difference in the lives of others. Three of our diamond reviewed books come immediately to mind: My Glory Was I Had Such Friends, The Trick, and our most recent volume, What Blooms from Dust. What is it that these volumes have in common? The answer is easy: empathy.  Read more of this post

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♦ Hope and Redemption are ‘What Blooms from Dust’ in James Markert’s New Novel [REVIEW]

July 17, 2018 by 3 Comments

A huge dust storm moves across the land during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.

A prodigal son. A child for sale. Both get a second chance in the midst of the 1930s Oklahoma Dust Bowl in James Markert’s What Blooms from Dust. (Photo courtesy US Department of Agriculture, Flickr)

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I have always loved survivor stories: those tales where people beat the odds, transform their lives, and wind up with something better. So it brings me great pleasure to bring you our latest Diamond Review title, James Markert’s What Blooms from Dust. In this redemptive story set against the 1930s Dust Bowl, we are introduced to what may likely become two of modern literature’s most unforgettable characters.
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‘Daily Kindness’ is One of Our Favorite Things for 2018 [REVIEW]

November 7, 2017 by 4 Comments

Water Lilies

Blossom where you’re planted in 2018 with a little help from National Geographic’s inspiring new book, Daily Kindness. (Photo by likeaduck, Flickr)

We are always looking for new ways to help us live kinder, gentler, more compassionate lives, and apparently, so is National Geographic. They have created a wonderful gift-sized book that is one of our favorite things for the new year. It is simply titled, Daily Kindness, and you’re going to love it!
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Debbie Macomber’s Latest Reminds Us of the Power of Kindness [REVIEW]

December 19, 2016 by 1 Comment

Woman drinking Starbucks

A young Seattle woman decides to kill her new neighbor with kindness in Debbie Macomber’s latest novel. (Photo by Tracey, Flickr)

When an obnoxiously rude neighbor threatens to steal her joy, a perky retail clerk decides to turn the other cheek and kill the guy with kindness. But what happens when her scheme doesn’t work out quite the way she planned? Find out in Debbie Macomber’s latest novel.  Read more of this post

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