🌹 To Love a Beast by Karen Witemeyer – A Beauty and the Beast Retelling with Heart

Karen Witemeyer’s To Love a Beast is a charming Western retelling of Beauty and the Beast that blends romance, humor, and faith into a heartfelt story.

Set in Texas, the story follows Everett Griffin, a man living in isolation after being scarred by both physical injury and emotional wounds. When a spirited young woman named Callista Rosenfeld unexpectedly enters his life, everything begins to change.

What starts as a reluctant arrangement slowly grows into something deeper, as both characters are forced to confront their pasts and learn to trust again.

Unlike some retellings, this one clearly reflects Beauty and the Beast. You can easily see the inspiration, but it still feels fresh and original.

This story carries meaningful messages about:

• forgiveness

• self-worth

• seeing others the way God sees them

The spiritual elements are woven naturally into the characters’ journeys without feeling forced.

At times, the pacing can feel a bit slow, especially in the middle. Some parts focus heavily on internal thoughts rather than action, which may not appeal to every reader.

To Love a Beast is a sweet, faith-filled story that highlights the beauty of transformation—not just outwardly, but inwardly.

It’s a gentle reminder that:

True love sees beyond appearances and chooses grace.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Yes—especially if you enjoy:

• Christian fiction

• slow-burn romance

• fairy tale retellings

A post to the saved and unsaved

This is a post for everyone, whether you already know Jesus or you don’t know Him yet.

Life moves quickly, and it’s easy to get caught up in everyday things, but eternity is real. The Bible teaches there are only two paths: life with God or separation from Him. Because of Jesus we can have eternal life. Read John 3:16.

Jesus came, died for our sins, and rose again so we could be forgiven and have eternal life. That gift is available to anyone, but it’s more than just saying you believe. It’s a real relationship with Him that changes your heart, your desires, and the way you live.

For those who don’t know Him yet, He is ready to receive you with open arms. Why are you waiting? Nothing in this world is worth missing eternity with Him.

And for those who do know Him, keep growing in Him. Seek Him daily, stay in His Word, and let your life reflect Him. Don’t become comfortable or stagnant, draw closer to Him and let Him continue to change you.

I’m sharing this because I care. Eternity matters, and I want us all to be together in Heaven.

With love and prayers,  

Breana

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✨ If the Boot Fits – Not Your Typical Cinderella Story

At first glance, If the Boot Fits by Karen Witemeyer sounds like it would be a Cinderella story. However, there isn’t a mean stepmother or cruel stepsisters.
The only elements that resemble Cinderella are the ball and the lost “slipper” (or boot, in this case).
So far, the story doesn’t really feel like a Cinderella retelling—and honestly, that’s part of why it has been a bit disappointing for me.
It leans more toward a slow-paced Western with small bits of action.
Right now, the pacing feels slow, and it’s been a little hard to stay interested. I was expecting something more engaging or more clearly connected to the Cinderella theme, but it hasn’t really felt that way yet.
There are some good ideas—like themes of truth and forgiveness—but so far, it just hasn’t drawn me in.
I actually skipped to the end of the book. I couldn't finish it because I found it very boring. But others might enjoy this book. 

⛪️Revival God's Way by Leonard Ravenhill

This book is truly powerful—one that doesn’t just inspire, but deeply convicts and calls you higher.

Leonard Ravenhill speaks with a boldness that is hard to ignore. He reminds us that what many call “revival” today often falls short of what God intends. Too often, we settle for our way of revival—something organized, scheduled, and carefully planned. It becomes a series of meetings built on human effort, filled with hype, focused on numbers, and driven by emotion. Yet in the middle of it all, one crucial thing is often missing: the genuine invitation for the Holy Ghost to move. And without Him, there may be excitement in the moment, but there is little to no lasting change.

Ravenhill contrasts this with what true revival looks like—God’s way.

Real revival is not manufactured; it is born in prayer. It is not sustained by emotion but marked by deep, sincere repentance. It is not about crowds or popularity, but about the undeniable presence of God moving among His people. When revival comes God’s way, lives are not just touched—they are transformed. Hearts are broken over sin, souls are drawn back to holiness, and there is a renewed hunger for righteousness.

This kind of revival cannot be scheduled or controlled. It requires humility, surrender, and a willingness to seek God beyond comfort and routine. It calls for believers to return to the secret place, to cry out, and to truly desire God—not just His blessings.

Reading this challenges me to examine my own heart. Do I want something that looks like revival, or do I truly want God to move in a way that changes everything?

I don’t want revival shaped by human hands—I want revival that comes from Heaven.

I want revival God’s way… how about you?

Swapping time spent scrolling to reading

Recently, I made a decision to be more intentional with how I spend my time. Instead of scrolling endlessly on social media, I’ve started using that time to read books on my phone through the Hoopla app. Hoopla is a really convenient app that connects to your local library and allows you to borrow ebooks (and more) for free using your library card, which has made it so easy to get back into reading regularly.

I just finished a novel by Karen Witemeyer, and I truly enjoyed it. The story is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but with its own unique twists and setting that made it feel fresh and engaging. One of the things I especially appreciate about Karen Witemeyer is that she’s a Christian author, so her stories naturally include themes of faith, God’s love, and spiritual growth.

That aspect really stood out to me in this book. It wasn’t just a good story, it also had meaningful moments that pointed back to God, which made the reading experience even more enjoyable and uplifting for me. If you love the story of Beauty and the Beast, I think you'll love this story. Try it out. See if you like it.

I give it a 8 out of 10. I liked it, but there was some things that could have been better.

The Cross and The Switchblade by David Wilkerson

 The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson is a true story about faith, obedience to God, and how the message of Jesus can transform even the hardest lives.

1. The Beginning of the Call

David Wilkerson was a small-town Pentecostal preacher in Pennsylvania in the late 1950s. One day, he saw a Life magazine article about seven teenage gang members on trial for murder in New York City. When he saw their faces, he felt that God was calling him to go help them. 

Even though he had never worked with gangs before, he believed God wanted him to go to New York and preach the Gospel to them.

2. First Attempts in New York

Wilkerson traveled to New York and tried to speak to the boys in court, but the judge removed him, and the media mocked him.

Instead of quitting, he kept returning to New York and began meeting teenagers involved in gangs, drugs, and violence. He realized that many of them were angry, lonely, and hopeless. 

3. Working With Street Gangs

Wilkerson started preaching in the streets and visiting gang members personally.

He met Nicky Cruz, the violent leader of the Mau Maus gang. Nicky hated Wilkerson and even threatened to kill him.

Wilkerson responded with love and told him something famous:

“You could cut me into a thousand pieces and lay them in the street, and every piece would still love you.”

This shocked Nicky because he had never experienced real love before.

4. Conversions and Changed Lives

Through prayer, preaching, and revival meetings, many gang members began to change.

Eventually:

• Nicky Cruz accepted Christ
• Several gang members left violence and drugs
• Many found new purpose and hope through faith

Nicky later became a Christian preacher himself. 

5. Teen Challenge Ministry

To help addicted and troubled youth long-term, Wilkerson started Teen Challenge, a Christian rehabilitation program.

The program focused on:

• Faith in Jesus
• Prayer and Bible teaching
• Community support
• Freedom from drugs and crime

Teen Challenge later spread around the world. 

Main message of the book:

The power of the Gospel and God’s love can transform anyone—even people deeply involved in crime, gangs, or addiction.

Key themes

• Obeying God’s calling even when it seems impossible
• The power of love and forgiveness
• Redemption through Jesus Christ
• Hope for people trapped in violence and addiction

I listened to this book on Hoopla: Hoopla is a digital service that lets you borrow movies, TV shows, music, audiobooks, eBooks, and comics, all with your library card. You can stream or download right from your phone, tablet, or computer.

I love this app.

Seeking the Lord With All Your Heart

Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV)

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

What This Verse Teaches

God promises that those who truly seek Him will find Him. This is not a casual search, but a sincere and wholehearted desire to know God.

The Lord wants people to come to Him with their whole heart not half-heartedly, not only in times of trouble, but with genuine faith and devotion.

Seek the Lord

To seek the Lord means to pursue Him, to desire His presence, and to turn to Him for truth, forgiveness, and guidance.

Isaiah 55:6 (KJV)

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”

God invites everyone to come to Him.

Search With All Your Heart

God does not want only outward religion. He looks at the heart.

Searching with all your heart means:

• Humbly coming to God
• Truly wanting to know Him
• Turning away from sin
• Trusting in Jesus Christ

Psalm 119:2 (KJV)

“Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”

The Promise: You Will Find Him

God promises that those who truly seek Him will find Him. He is not hiding from those who come sincerely.

Jesus also said:

Matthew 7:7 (KJV)

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”

When a person seeks God with a sincere heart, God reveals Himself and brings them into a relationship with Him.

A Personal Invitation

God is calling you today to seek Him with your whole heart.

You can begin right now by praying:

“Lord, help me to seek You with all my heart. Teach me Your ways and draw me closer to You.”

Remember

God promises:

• If you seek Him
• If you search with all your heart

You will find Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV)

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”