This lovely little book really spoke to my heart - especially now as I am battling cancer. Each devotion is so encouraging and uplifting! I was reading them one after another because they reminded me that there is hope when we trust the Lord with our circumstances.

Each devotion is short but so powerful. They begin with a Scripture regarding the topic which include trust, attitudes, silence, giving and more. The author then has an encouraging devotional that uplifts the spirit and gives a feeling of peace. The devotions are Biblical and because they are, they bring about a sense of comfort that only God can give.

I highly recommend this devotional. It's such an encouragement and will bring about hope and comfort in your quiet time or when you need to be reminded of the hope of Christ. I give this 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me by Revell. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book. ( )

“Words of Hope for Women” by Carolyn Larsen has 90 inspiring devotional readings for all occasions. They’re short one page (double-sided) readings originating from biblical passages, taken from the New International Version (NIV) bible.

This book helps guide women in finding hope when they get discouraged, through the pain of the past, uncertainties with their future, or a through a challenge in the present. There are passages for almost any situation – whether it is battling temptation, needing guidance in general, handling stress, or in finding peace.

This book can be read over multiple days as a self-help guide, a single worship day to reflect, or as a situational reading.

It’s also perfect for teens and young women as well.

Perfectly sized to store in a desk drawer for reference, in a purse for reference on the go, or beside the bed for evening readings to rest easy and/or morning readings to get the day going.

It is a wonderful book to have on hand as a pick-me-up or to give as a gift and could easily pair with Larsen’s “Words of Comfort for Women” for additional reading. ( )

In an effort to deliver a clear analysis of this book for potential readers, and because it is very similar to “Words of Comfort for Women” by the same author, my review here will include the same information as my review for the latter, with some details changed to reflect the different focus between the two devotionals.

Within the wide variety of Christian devotionals, there is an offering for just about every need. As with Bible reading plans, selecting one depends upon specific needs and focuses. Whereas reading the Bible in a year or straight through from Genesis to Revelation may suit one person, another’s heart may be craving the particular message in a certain book of the Bible or spending more time digging deeper. The same can be said of devotional materials. What a blessing to have such a diverse yet Bible-based selection available!

Carolyn Larsen’s “Words of Hope for Women” ministers to the heart of the woman who is disheartened and discouraged. Each of the 90 readings is brief yet gratifyingly concise and delineated by numbers rather than by days or dates. As such, it is appropriate as a daily devotional or as a reference to pick up on difficult days for comfort and encouragement. Its compact size also makes it easy to fit into a purse or handbag. For the purpose of this review, I read it in large sections, and that works as well, truly giving a godly confidence boost! Beginning with a Scripture verse, each reading has a title, which is quite handy for locating whatever may be on your heart at the time. Every Scripture also clearly connects to the reading, and most are well-known, comfortably-familiar verses that remind us of God’s truth. I did appreciate that there are some verses taken from the Old Testament, because while the New Testament may be more noticeably hopeful, the Old Testament also contains great hope as it points toward and leads up to Jesus, the greatest hope of all.

While I recommended “Words of Comfort” foremost to women whose walk with the Lord has had time to grow and mature, I feel that “Words of Hope” is fit for both established and new Christians. “Words of Hope” is more firmly tied to Biblical accounts rather than more broad, inherently understood truths, which lends to it being more easily grasped because readers can refer to specific stories in the Bible itself. Also, there is a greater emphasis on the foundational theme of hope, both in the titles of the readings themselves and as a continuing concept throughout. This begins with the title of the first reading, “Hope of Heaven”, which is so fitting because that is what we long for and that is what Jesus died to give us. Our hope begins and finds its fulfillment in Jesus and His sacrifice. All we have to do is accept it, and Larsen provides a great summation of this: “Without trust there is no hope. Without relationship there is no trust…Keep your hope level high as you trust the One who promises to help you.” “Words of Hope” will encourage you and inspire you to “Depend on God. Talk to him. Tell him what you need and go forward with courage knowing that he is protecting you!”

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own. ( )

This book is proof positive that good things come in small packages. Words of Hope for Women is small enough to fit in most purses but it is overflowing with hope and inspiration. Author Carolyn Larsen shares ninety hope-filled devotions, each with an appropriate Bible scripture, that cover such subjects as grief, stress, forgiveness, your Christian witness, and your family. One that especially appealed to me was Hope in a New Attitude and Larsen reminds us that "You are his handiwork. He made you with a special job in mind through which you can serve him, and he's already equipped you to do that job. You are special to him because he made you" (p. 56)

Words of Hope for Women features a beautiful cover and attractively illustrated pages and it would be a perfect gift. Just be sure to keep one for yourself!

I received a copy from Revell but a positive review was not required. These are my own thoughts. ( )

Words of Hope for Women holds much of the same concept as its companion devotional, Words of comfort for Women, in that the devotional readings are short, simple, and potent. I love the straightforward design of each devotion—a title, a Scripture verse, and a 2-3 paragraph reading. And I love the floral watercolor cover art.

Dedicating a few moments reading this book makes our Hope very evident. We all become discouraged from time to time and need a reminder that God has a plan and purpose for everything, and we can trust Him.

This book makes a wonderful gift for someone who may be dealing with some hard times. It fits nicely into a purse for convenient reading on the go.

Source: I received a complimentary copy of from the publisher with no obligation to post a review. ( )