Books

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IN THE DARK - A Mother's Reflections on her Son's Addiction and Recovery

BOOK REVIEW

"This is an incredibly powerful book.

What Nancy Kuykendall has illustrated is how a mother, completely unfamiliar with addiction, must not only cope, but must move to the forefront of a twenty-year struggle to save her son. Operating on faith, and without a net, she is in for the fight of her life. How they both survived is a testament to her tenacity and her undying trust in God.

This is a painful journey. It is also a triumph." - J. M. Unrue

Linda's Morning - a humorous short story about some of the challenges of aging.

Meandering - Essays and Short Stories by Jamestown Authors

An Unexpected Love - A short story

30 Days of Inspiration - A Golden Collection

celebrating ten years of authorship with a tenth book.

Before God with an Open Heart - Daily Prayers

The Old Woman (fictional series)

The first step toward change is awareness.

The second step is acceptance.”

-Nathanial Branden

How would you feel? What would you do, and how? What would you choose when faced with a decision offering several options? Every age has its trials but old age has a set of its own. Friends and family pass on, loss of all kinds occur—bodies grow tired, strength wanes, eyesight diminishes, and disease is common.

Rose is growing older. Her world is growing smaller and isolation is creeping in. An aging widow, Rose lives alone with her cat, Dolly. Her nearest child lives five hours away. She has help from a family friend who lives nearby, but she’s needing to rely on him more and more.

A seed of thought grows as Rose struggles with how to manage her life. Rose is strong, intelligent, thoughtful, sensitive, and sometimes anxious. She has an independent mindset and chooses to sort through her situation privately. Wisdom and faith guide Rose through troubled thoughts and the possibility of another great loss.

Rose could be your grandmother, mother, or you.. The Old Woman - book three - A Time of Change is the continuing character-driven story of Rose Melton, as we quietly look into her heart and mind. This is the third book in The Old Woman series.

AVAILABLE NOW!

The Old Woman - Book Four - Full Circle

The Old Woman - Book three - A Time of Change

The Old Woman - book two- A New Year

The Old Woman- book one - Meet Rose

Rose became a widow at age 80 when her husband and love of her life died suddenly. Living alone, Rose is determined to stay in her home of sixty-one plus years. Her two grown children, who live in different cities hours away worry about her, but young family-friend Jack helps watch after Rose. As she ages simple tasks and life in general become more difficult for Rose, yet, along with her cat, she plans to remain in her home as long as possible. Rose could be anyone’s mother or grandmother living out her twilight years determined to be as independent as possible for as long as possible. This book will introduce you to Rose.

God Is Not Silent - One woman‘s encounters with God

God is never far from us. He has come to me when I’ve purposefully sought him—to answer my prayer, or to comfort, instruct, direct, or discipline. God has also suddenly spoken to me while I’m going about my day, leaving a strong impression of what his will is for me. At times I’ve understood immediately, while at other times he’s had to approach me repeatedly until I understood.
This book is about how God has made himself known to me throughout my life during tough times and easier times.
God is not silent.

Now I Lay Me Down TO SLEEP - Help and Hope for the Sleepless

Sleep deprivation is a common problem in our society. Often it has detrimental consequences. This is not a medical book and does not deal with serious medical issues. The chapters in this book bring to light and discuss common issues that often keep us awake at night. The author shares personal stories and offers practical help. Spiritual insights are offered. This book is meant to bring help and hope to the sleepless.

Our Daily Moments:

This book is devotional in nature offering 366 readings—one for each day of the year. Each writing takes a look at a moment in the author's life and how it affected her positively or negatively, pondering each, and what these moments taught her. Scripture verses are included with each reading.

Ordinary Wonders:

This is a book of short stories sharing the extraordinary that can be found in common everyday things. There are wonders all around us that we often overlook. Many examples from nature are used as well as other examples.

Mornings on the Porch:

The author shares personal short stories from her life—stories most will relate to. Many topics are covered concerning life as it touches us, teaches us, and changes us.

These books are inspirational in nature. They are uplifting books with encouraging words.

Learn More

Please click on each book photo above to link to Amazon where you will find the "look inside" feature, prices, and reviews.

Each book is available in ebook and paperback format, and in some cases hardcover.

Additional Reviews

Mornings on the Porch (Inspirational short stories)

Official Review released Septemover 24, 2020

Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Mornings on the Porch" by Nancy Kuykendall.]
Book Cover 4 out of 4 starsShare This Review

Do you enjoy reading beautiful human stories? Do you love reveling in the little joys and fulfilling moments of others? Then, this 142-page book titled Mornings on The Porch by Nancy Kuykendall is perfectly suited for you.

The book is structured and partitioned into fifteen chapters, although the traditional title of chapters is unused. It is thoroughly steeped in the themes of God's unfailing love and grace, memories, and unforgettable life encounters with pivotal lessons to remember. Nancy Kuykendall takes the reader on a wide road of insightful experiences, including unexpected blessings, uplifting moments, unprecedented angelic encounters, poignant moments, and defining dreams. She leaves no stone unturned by wrapping them in fundamental truths and compelling stories. Read up to find out about the life stirring messages and constant reassurance of God's unwavering and ever-present love throughout the book.

This beautiful piece emanates from a place of deep introspection. The book is deeply personal to the author. The author does an impressive job with the art of storytelling by ingraining her most deep and insightful life experiences and beliefs into her stories. Nancy Kuykendall's Christian faith shines through the pages of the book unapologetically. Still, it does not entirely overshadow all her stories and memories. Although the book has thought-provoking moments of seriousness, it does not in any way suppress its charm.

The author’s writing style is engaging, vivid, and descriptive. She did not dictate to the reader but instead shared her experiences. Additionally, the stories are relatable. Whether it is the memorable joys of family or the power of emotions that accompany unforgettable moments in time, readers can relate with the author somehow. I believe strongly that this is the most powerful trait of this book. Therefore, I am motivated to rate it 4 out of 4 stars. It is a collection of glimpses into a life that is nothing but inspiring. I also found no grammatical or typographical errors that could have proved to impede my reading process.

I liked many parts of the book, but the symbolism of the dream that changed her Christian life and the insight given about savoring life's moments are my favorites because they resonated deeply and evoked raw emotions. Also, I admired the author's sheer honesty of her emotions and journey through life. It felt like a privilege to walk through the hallowed halls of her memories and all the special moments she shared. I found nothing to dislike about this book.

In conclusion, I believe that most readers will remember this book even long after they have read and put it away. Also, some readers will identify and connect with the author on a deeper level if their experiences mirror hers. These two factors succeed in making this book an unforgettable piece. The most beautiful human stories are not the ones that are necessarily retold repeatedly, but the ones that are unforgettable because of their grace and beauty.

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand the techniques needed to tell their stories through the written word's art. Also, this book will appeal to people who love thought-provoking true-life stories.

Now I Lay Me Down TO SLEEP (Encouraging words)

Official Review - Released May 6, 2020

Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Now I Lay Me Down TO SLEEP" by Nancy Kuykendall.]

4 out of 4 stars

In the context of the global health crisis triggered by the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, I hear more and more people complaining about sleepless nights. An already existing problem, sleeplessness has recently skyrocketed because of the measures of home self-isolation and quarantine the governments were forced to take in order to limit the spread of the virus. Although she could not have possibly guessed the challenges the world was going to face, Nancy Kuykendall’s self-help guide comes as a providential gift for those suffering from sleep deprivation. Borrowing its title from a classic children’s bedtime prayer from the 18th century, Now I Lay Me Down TO SLEEP is a book that tackles the major reasons for sleeplessness and gives some practical advice on the best ways to fight against its negative consequences.

Nancy Kuykendall’s guide reads quite easily. It has twenty brief chapters that symmetrically start and finish with a quotation belonging to popular wisdom or famous authors. As stated in the introduction, this is not meant to be a medical book; it merely examines the issue of sleep deprivation in terms of its physical, emotional, and spiritual causes. However, the author does not refer to temporary obstacles hindering sleep, like an uncomfortable bed, a new baby, or the temperature in the room. Her intention is to deal with more deep-seated chronic problems common to many. From pain, fear, and worry to finances, inactivity, and bad habits, each chapter focuses on the severe consequences of a specific problem.

On the whole, the book delivers an inspirational and uplifting message for all those whose lives are seriously affected by both lack of sleep and excessive sleep. With kindness and patience, Nancy Kuykendall teaches the readers how to identify and eliminate the root cause of their sleep problems. The chapters of the book can be read in any order, so you can go directly to the chapter you consider appropriate in your own case.

Throughout the book, Nancy’s tone is friendly and encouraging. The book is not about therapy and medication; it is more about spirituality and finding inner peace. What I liked the most was the fact that the author did not shy away from sharing personal experiences. She skillfully uses each experience to extract valuable lessons for those facing similar problems. A life-long musician who has taught music, served in churches, and performed for a wide variety of events, Nancy recommends quiet music, white noise, and nature sounds as good means of distraction when affected by sleeplessness from pain. Apart from one strategy or another, she suggests that her Christian faith was ultimately the main cure for her sleepless nights caused by her motor-phobia, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) that she suffered from in her youth, her financial worries, or the loss of a loved one.

As a veritable magician, Nancy finds solutions for every sleep-related problem. Despite the religious references and Bible quotations, the book also abounds in practical ideas that reveal the author’s common sense and down-to-earth judgment. On the same wavelength, she advocates honest discussion and compromise to do away with conflicts and purposeful thought and creativity to adjust to our individual circadian rhythm that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Even if Christian readers will be more likely to be in tune with the religious undertones of the book, there is nothing offensive for people of a different faith. On the contrary, I am recommending the book to all those who suffer from sleeplessness and are ready for introspection and a change of their lifestyles, irrespective of their religious beliefs.

There was nothing I found disturbing about this book. If I were to assume the role of a fault-finder, I would say people looking for more scientific solutions to sleep deprivation will be disappointed if they choose this book. In my case, its spiritual dimension touched both my heart and my mind. I am giving Nancy Kuykendall’s book 4 out of 4 stars. It delivers a great message, it is well-organized, and it has only a few minor editing errors. Hopefully, it will help many people build better habits and relationships at a time when we all ponder on our weaknesses and vulnerability.

Our Daily Moments (Reflections)

Official Review - Released April 29, 2019

Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Our Daily Moments" by Nancy Kuykendall.]

4 out of 4

Our Daily Moments is a handbook of reflections written by Nancy Kuykendall. It offers inspirational thoughts for 365 days and is filled with down-to-earth wisdom derived from her personal experiences. Written like a journal, it seems to have the following pattern: date, title, the author’s experiences and thoughts, an examination of conscience, and what the Bible teaches her to do in such a situation. However, there is no specific train of thought running from one day to another.

Here is an example: January 4, Today’s Moments, “Today I allowed myself to get irritated…when I paused to think it through…I realized each of these bad moments made me feel insignificant.” “I was feeling annoyed by those who want to tell you, in detail, about their lives and magnify their difficulties, yet their eyes glaze over if you share about your life,” writes the author. She continues, “I was bothered for a while, upset, and even angry. I thought about the times in my life when I’ve felt insignificant… whether I had sufficient reason or not. I began to think about how easily I might make someone else feel this way… I could make others feel significant.” Kuykendall ends the day with the following quote from the Bible: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV)

Every day is filled with new thoughts, experiences, reflections, and biblical quotes. The writer does not indulge in abstract thinking. She is not afraid to call a spade a spade. Kuykendall is honest to herself and God. She presents herself just as she is, without any mask. I really like her spontaneity and sharp reflections that leave a deep impression on one’s mind. The juice from the overall reflection is enough to nourish the reader for an entire day.

The book has a unique title and theme for each day: Aging, Mothers, Tears of a Stranger, A Walk with a Friend, Self-image, Dads, The Trouble of the Tongue, Birthdays, Friendships, and The Baby Hat, to name a few. One could opt to read daily according to the calendar or randomly choose a relevant theme for the moment.

The author is gifted and sincere about growing as a person. She believes that all experiences in life can be used by God for our good. I like her balanced approach towards life, and there’s nothing that I dislike about the book. Our Daily Moments will inspire people of all age groups except children because they might not understand everything. It may be read in silence while traveling to work or taking a walk. I am happy to rate it 4 out of 4 stars. The handbook has been professionally edited, and I did not find any grammatical errors. I wholeheartedly recommend it for students, professionals, counselors, and anyone in need of motivation in life.