“A stirring invitation to wake up your soul” is the sub-title for fresh-brewed life by Nicole Johnson. I’m not sure I’ve seen a more fitting sub-title on a book.

I received fresh-brewed life over six month ago to review for Thomas Nelson’s Booksneeze program, and for whatever reason I let it get shuffled here and shuffled there. It would travel with me on trips only to stay tucked in my suitcase the entire time. I was essentially ignoring the invitation promised right on the cover!

When I finally sat down with the book the other day, I wondered time and time again why I waited so long to read it. I read the whole book in one sitting!! Johnson’s writing is caring and humorous. I found myself nodding along time and time again to her lessons. At the same time I had countless light-bulb moments where her words just made things in life come to clarity. I did indeed find my soul being awoken!

She tells stories to help bring home her points of waking up your soul through God, through yourself and through others. Little did I know, as I was too busy letting life lead me to even sit down and read a book that everything I needed to “hear” to begin to take better control of my own life was right in front of me in this paperback book I was ignoring.

Before blogging, I kept a daily journal. I loved it, and much to my surprise (and delight) journaling is heavily encouraged in fresh-brewed life. This fact is without a doubt one of my favorite aspects of the book. Writing prompts and suggestions help the reader see how they can take the advice found in the book’s pages and apply them to their own situation.

While this book is not marketed as a gift book, it would make an amazing gift for any woman in your life. Much like we sit and sip coffee to wake-up in the morning or to use it as an excuse to get together with friends, fresh-brewed life awakens the soul, and it is a perfect to get together and share its pages with friends.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”