Nonfiction Mini Review: Naked Prayers: Honest Confessions to a Loving Creator by Mara Measor

Naked Prayers: Honest Confessions to a Loving Creator by Mara Measor

In Naked Prayers, singer-songwriter Mara Measor shares a series of authentic prayers through words, doodles and songs. Imagine the book of Psalms penned in New York City, that the writers liked to doodle, and that they had access to a professional Manhattan recording studio to lay down these songs of intimate meditation.

When starting a prayer room on her college campus, Measor encountered many students who would confess with dismay, “I’m not good at praying.” In this book Measor fights the notion of “bad prayers” by suggesting that prayer is simply about getting naked before God: no frills, no pretend, just honest confessions to a loving creator. Her doodles tell the story of an earnest sojourner following God through a big city, and her evocative songs take you along the ride. 

There are a million and one books on prayer floating around Christian circles, but according to Measor, “This is not a how-to-pray book, this is a how-I-have-really-prayed book.”

Naked Prayers contains 86 prayers taken from 13 months of Measor’s life, and is framed by four stages:

Following God through making a home in NYC
Fretting about the purpose and direction of her life
Falling into a period of depression
Finding her way back to freedom

Rating:

✮✮✮✮✮

Review:

Naked Prayers: Honest Confessions to a Loving Creator was very inspiring. I feel like it takes a lot to sometimes be that honest with God. We have a tendency to not want to admit when we do wrong or when there are barriers that are between us and God. I think it also takes a lot to share these struggles with others. The book is exactly what it says it is... you can see the honesty in Mara's prayers to God. I also found some of the prayers relatable, and once I started reading I definitely couldn't put it down because it was so relatable.

I also very much enjoyed all of the cute little doodles as you read through the prayers.

*I received this book free in exchange for an honest review through the Goodreads First Reads program.

Fiction Review: Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman

Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman

In light of her father's death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father's farm, the only home she's ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father's rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Frederick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.With the ranch now under Slade's careful eye, he will unearth more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal and murder threatens more than the well-being of the ranch, endangering the lives of those who hold it dear. With days dwindling until the rest of the Donovan clan arrive to the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed alters their futures forever.

 

Rating:
✮✮✮✮✮

Review:
Claiming Mariah is one of those stories that stays with you long after you have put it down. The plot is exciting and unique, and the story is beautifully written. There are many characters that you connect with as you read through the story, like Mariah and Slade. The story follows Mariah and the Donovan families as their lives and that of the ranch, Lazy M ranch, get mixed up together in a way neither expected.

Mariah is such a strong person with an amazing personality, who loves God, with a burning passion. Slade was another strong character who was set in his ways, and it's amazing as you see him grow throughout the story. I also couldn't help but love Buck, who I wish had a stronger role in the story because his character was really interesting, and even though you don't get his perspective, he is definitely my favorite character. And this story wouldn't be complete without Mrs. Malone - she's the kind of lady I want to be when I get older.

I was satisfied with how the book came to conclusion, although saddened that the story was over and there was nothing else for me to continue reading. I, personally, cannot wait to read more by Pam Hillman, and I definitely recommend checking this book out because it was that amazing.

Back?

So I posted back in January that I was finally back - well as it turns out, I wasn't back. I still had a lot going on that prohibited me from posting anything throughout the year. So instead of aiming to meet some of the goals that I had set, I'm just going to post when I get the chance.

So the next review that will be posted will be about a book that I just got done rereading - I didn't write a review the first time, but this time, I decided I would.

Hope to post more soon!