Love means never having to say you are sorry
356155
I rented this movie from my local library yesterday and I really enjoyed it. It is simple but there is a certain charm to this chick flick. I believe it mostly has to do with Ali MacGraw's performance and character.

Many people call this a tearjerker, but to me it almost gave off a heartfelt and warm feeling. Watch for yourself and see what you get out of it. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a GOOD and FRESH chick flick - this is coming from a reviewer who hates your typical slapped together romantic comedy. I might be watching it again before I return it to the library.
4466137
It is so easy in this life to avoid certain situations that we wish would never happen to us but that is just wrong. The bad moments will inevitably come around I think the true beauty is in how we react to this moments that make us who we are and how we deal with them. Forgiving My Daughter's Killer: A True Story of Loss, Faith, and Unexpected Grace by Kate Grosmaire with Nancy French is an emotional acceptance of such a horrific event that happens to Kate and her family. I have never cried so much while reading a book like I did reading this amazing families journey to forgiveness. This book is pure proof that in order for those of us left behind after such tragedies we have to forgive to be able to live. Forgiveness is probably one of the most difficult attributes for many of us to have but it is one of the most liberating to attain. Gosmaire and her family exemplify the beauty of forgiveness in the face of so much loss and pain. I did not think this book would be so revealing and inspiring but it was and I could not put this book down. Have tissues ready because you will cry, I did. I received a copy for this review from booklookbloggers.com and all opinions are my own.
1062146
His love endures forever  Amen !!  Beth Wiseman has laid out the plan of salvation in a story of forgiveness and undying love. This beautiful story about Danielle a pregnant teen age girl with a bitter past, and Levi an Amish young man who is led by the Lord in a vision to marry and care for her no mater where circumstances lead them is a parable of how God chases us down until we can submit to his faithfulness His mercy,& His love. A wonderful story
4504744
Bittersweet .

I am in awe. I am a mess. I am honored to have read this amazing book.  A bittersweet story of life. This is one of the most amazing and well written stories that I have read in a very, very long time. Author B N Toler has this amazing talent to pull you in, twist you up and rip out your heart.  All the while you're loving every single word of it.

I will have to say that the quote she opens with in the book,

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
~Mahatma Gandhi

Says so much.  This story is about love found, love lost, losing yourself, finding yourself, saying goodbyeand so much more.  Its about being perfectly imperfect. Its about living life to the fullest. Its about LIFE! This book will have you thinking. Seriously thinking about what you take for granted on a daily basis. It is a reminder that every single moment is a gift.

A fave quote:
She wasn't perfect, and she never claimed to be, but she did what made her happy. She demanded happiness

I believe that most of us will find many things in this book that we can relate to.  But remember, its about love, forgiveness and remembering that every single minute of your life is worth living to the fullest. This story is bittersweet in the best of ways.

B N, thank you for taking us on this journey. I was honored to have read it and promise this is one book that will stay in my heart forever.
1768292
Let the hurt go and invite love in.  You might be surprised at how good you can really feel when you love completely.
4767798
Imagine being loved without restriction, limit or boundary.  Additionally, nothing you have ever done, or will do, can cause that love to decrease, or go away.  That love is there for you right now.  The one who loves you like this is God, and it is not based on anything you have ever done.  His love is there for you even if you never love him back.  He will love you deeply even if you never love him back, or accept it.  That is the message in this book:  each of us is loved by God with abandon.

The author uses the story Jesus told about The Prodigal Son to illustrate the love God has for us.  A man had two sons, the younger told the father he wanted his half of the inheritance now, he didn't want to wait for his dad to die.  Surprisingly, the dad gave it to him, and the son took off for the big city.

It didn't take the son long to blow it all--on riotous living, as the King James Bible of my youth called it.  When the money was gone, so were all his new found friends, and the son soon found himself starving.  The only job he could find was feeding pigs, and he was so hungry even the pig food looked good.  That is when he realized his father's servants were treated and fed better than that.  He decided to return home, beg for forgiveness, and ask to become a servant.

When the son was still a long way off, he was amazed to find his dad rushing down the road to embrace him.  As the son was asking for forgiveness, the dad was overjoyed to see him, and took off his own coat and ring to put on his son.  Additionally, the dad commanded his servants to "kill the fatted calf," and have a big party to celebrate the son's return.

The father loved his son.  He had been vigilantly watching for him every day, hoping against hope for his return.  The dad didn't care what the son had done, or where he had been, he just wanted his son back.  With the son's return, the only thing the father wanted to  do was lavish his love on him, and rejoice at his homecoming.

The author says that is the same kind of love God has for every one of us.  Even if you have walked away from God, He will always be waiting to shower you with His love on your return.  Just like the father in the story, God will delight in your coming back to him. There is nothing that anyone can do to stop the unending love He has for you.

The author maintains that understanding the depth of God's love for us will change our lives.  For new Christians, you will be amazed by the love that is available to be poured out on you.  For those who already follow Christ, it will refresh your faith.  There are no favorites with God, His love is available in equal amounts for everyone. Mr. Early fills this book with many ways and examples of how God loves us.  He also suggests that when reading the Bible, keep your thoughts on God's abundant love, and the Bible will speak to you in a new and deeper way.

I recommend this 5-star book to anyone who has not understood the depth of God's love.  Whether you are a new follower of Christ, a long-time Christian, or someone who has no belief in God at all, this book will benefit you.

The publisher has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of The Reckless Love of God through Chosen Books for the purpose of review.  All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255.
4469767
How the inability to say I love you is transferred from generation to generation is amazing. It really captures one to realize how important family and saying I love you is. Also making sure the other person knows it, not making assumptions.
3112125
What Roshi Ellen has put in words, can not be put in words - the delicate, subtle, quiet music of Life itself. Zen Master Ellen emerges in this book as Life itself talking back to its own self - one breath at a time.
For those who have not read the book, I do want to say this: selfless love is not opposite of selfish love, as my mind habitually understands. It is the one  truth that can not be helped.
1476325
The only regret I have about this book, is that I didn't buy a hard copy to pass on. Yes, I knew this story, and yes, I am biased. But I would highly recommend this book for anyone who needs to forgive. Not forget. Holly shows that not only can you survive, you can thrive. Any victim of a violent crime, this is for you. If you love a person who has survived an attack of any kind, this book is for you. It lays out how we should ALL treat and talk to each other.  Something as simple as not treating a victim of sexual crime as we do criminals. Sitting in waiting rooms, and dark , scary places?? I never thought of this before.
But the take away for  me is how much I need to forgive and move on. I keep thinking if she can do it, I certainly can. Nothing I have lived through could have been as bad as her experience. I only hope I can have the grace and honesty as Holly.
4954149
This novel means a lot to me, not only because of the subject matter, but because of the content. This isn't a story written from the observing minds of a social worker, or read from a court reporter's notes. This is a letter of life, from a brother to his baby sister. Giving her a chance to know (when she's ready) where they came from, what they went through, and how they made it together.

MATT'S RULES OF SURVIVAL

1. Sometimes, the people who mean you harm are the ones who say they love you.
Matt, Callie and Emmy lived in constant fear of their mother, a person who is supposed to nurture and protect them, but from whom there is no escape. Though there are people who know of their situation, no one helps. No one saves them.

2. Fear is your friend. When you feel it, act.
The only way to survive such a toxic environment is to depend on your instincts, to learn to read the air and decide if it's safe to venture from the room, if you should risk getting food, if you should speak or remain silent.

3. Protect the little ones.
At the age of fifteen, Matt has learned that, more important than his own life, he has to protect his sisters from their mother. Callie, who has followed in his footsteps for thirteen years, does her best to back him up when taking care of seven-year old Emmy, raising her as if they were the parents.

4. If you coped before, you can cope now.
If ever there was a time when their mother was not completely unhinged, none of them can remember it. And without a father in the home, without someone to intervene, to stop her, the three children have learned to just get through it.

5. Always remember: in the end, the survivor tells the story.
159900
Don't be thrown off by the title; this is not an episode of Bonanza. The novel reveals that love between a man and woman is boundless and timeless; it supercedes public opinion, it strengthens its resolve when attacked, and reaches us beyond our inscrutabilities.
3243690
Need a philosophy for life? N.D. Wilson's book gives young readers a chance at nobility.

"To love is to be selfless. To be selfless is to be fearless. To be fearless is to strip your enemies of their greatest weapon. Even if they break our bodies and drain our blood, we are unvanquished. Our goal was never to live; our goal is to love. It is the goal of all truly noble men and women. Give all that can be given. Give even your life itself."
3275275
The author of Rants on Love does a phenomenal job of presenting what love is about--philosophically speaking. I never thought  love was as deep as the author presents it. I always had a somewhat simplistic view of love. However, the author has convinced me otherwise; love is chaotic and humans evolve. Thus, love isn't based on rational thinking of how you view your significant other, rather love is an act of faith. This book gives me hope for love: love is all we need, yet it is not what we perceive it to be.

"I've made a choice a while back to accept the fact that love cannot be cataloged. Love cannot be reduced to words. Love should not be reduced to words. You should not merely say "I love you"; your entire existence should breathe love into every sphere of your beloved's life. You should not dissect love and dismantle it into a loveless pile of technical jargon and empirical atoms. Love should remain elusive -- even for the philosopher. It should remain even when all other questions have been answered. Love alone shall reign as god of questions. Love will remain a mystery that baffles the wise and irritates the stupid. It will give men suffering from erectile dysfunction four-hour erections and women suffering from sterility pregnancies. Love should remain a verb. It should not be talked about much -- it should merely be the very essence of our existence. Like oxygen, it must remain a given -- something no one dare mention, but something all of us could not live without, even for a second" - p. 122.
1589154
Jodi Picoult does a wonderful job of allowing the reader to see that a person CAN love the one who abuses them.  Love the sinner, hate the sin.  This is a great book to recommend to anyone going through abuse - as well as for the family and friends of abuse victims.  This story forgives the victim for feeling the way she feels - as it SHOULD, and provides a level of understanding to people who have not experienced abuse.  It also shows that it is possible to love and still walk away.
1672179
I truly enjoyed this story of Young Love unblemished by traditional ideas of Love and its validation. Because Love by intelligent design is genderless, unconditional and without prejudices it is truly free to embrace the hearts of all. There are many things I can not relate to..but I can and do relate to the Love. This story of Love and Courage to Love is a Literary Gem for generations to come. God-Speed Lisa The Great :-)
2711179
I found this book really uplifting.  I thought that their story was done honestly and tastefully while being upfront about feelings, emotions, events and realities of everyday life.  Marriages everywhere are going through similar situations and while those situations are just as tough, the fact that Alan was a superstar made it even more difficult I'm sure.

But I found Denise's advice very sound.  As one who has been through a difficult marriage, I can honestly say that it is "All About Him" and the real groundwork is forgiveness.  Christ said to love one another be tender hearted forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven you.  How could you not be forgiving and expect to be forgiven yourself.  In our humaness I don't think it possible, but as Denise said through God all things are possible.  Forgiveness and love are choices we make not based on feelings or performance but something we set out to do. Many marriages would be saved if they would choose to forgive instead of choose anger and bitterness.  As Denise pointed out, that only hurts the offended not the offender.  In her dedication she says to Alan, "To recover something of great value after it has been lost makes me treasure it even more".  Speaking from one who has been there, that sums up how it is if you make it through the firey times.

I highly recommended this book to everyone.  It it a book written straight from the heart. Thanks Denise for being so transparent with us!  May God bless your family and keep a hedge of protection around it.
2817790
A wonderful story about love ,waiting for the right time to express your feeling taking it slow and enjoying it. Thank you Anntaz2001@aol.com