"Refine and Restore" by Rachel Swanson is a practical and inspiring guidebook for anyone seeking personal growth, healing, and a deeper connection with their faith. Swanson, with her warm and relatable writing style, offers readers a roadmap to navigate life's challenges and find restoration through a renewed relationship with God.

In this book, Swanson shares her own journey of refinement and restoration, openly discussing her struggles, doubts, and triumphs. Through personal anecdotes, biblical insights, and practical exercises, she encourages readers to embrace their unique stories and find purpose in their pain.

Overall this book is a heartfelt and practical guide for those yearning for personal growth and spiritual renewal. Rachel Swanson's honest and relatable writing style, coupled with her insightful guidance, makes this book a valuable resource for anyone seeking to overcome challenges, find healing, and deepen their relationship with God.

This is such a fabulous book for all women. I love this quote from her book, 'When it becomes God-directed instead of self-directed, our life suddenly takes on a true sense of meaning and purpose.' Rachel is very transparent and real in her book. She shares so many personal stories of sins in her life that caused her to get off track with God. But she allowed the Holy Spirit to refine her sins and restore her heart to a deeper intimacy with Jesus. Jesus made beauty from her ashes. This book truly spoke to me and reminded me that when I sit back and listen, I will draw closer to Him. I highly recommend this book that will give you guidance to return that fire in your heart for Jesus

As a nonreligious but spiritual person I do enjoy reading through books with concepts that are derived from certain faiths. I enjoyed reading through this book that provided relatable stories and ideas that anyone with an open mind could find themselves a part of.

Rachel is very genuine as she shares her struggles and experiences;. It is encouraging for others to understand that God is with us through the good and not so good stuff in our lives. The refining process is not so enjoyable but a growth process which strengthens us . It is God who restores us and this book will certainly encourage our faith walk..
This is a refreshing read! Rachel explains the difference in our calling and our purpose. Her style of writing prompts you to examine your heart; she draws you nearer to the great I AM. .

Highly recommend this book as the author shares about following God as he restores and refined us. Thankful for the opportunity to read this book. It has helped me to refocus my attention on the direction God has for me knowing he has a plan I can’t see but I can trust.

I can't say enough about this book. I have read it a number of times already. I highly suggest Rachel's book for anyone that needs to feel grounded and rejuvinated again. She puts things to you only another woman could understand. Highly highly recommend this book!!

Refine And Restore. A well-written story of what God can do and is doing. A book to be re-read, full of advice and information..

I really liked this book and the focus on becoming who we are meant to be fully but becoming that person through God!
I had a hard time starting with this book but found that the more I read and put into it the more I was getting back and loved it!

I greatly enjoyed Rachel’s book! I learned so much about God and myself through reading Refine and Restore. Each area that Rachel focused on was one I needed! God has such great plans for His children that we need to trust Him for more! I also thoroughly enjoyed Rachel sharing her own story of coming to Christ as well!!

Swanson felt like many Christians do some time in their spiritual life, like something is missing. The spiritual high from salvation was long gone. The Word seemed dry. Her prayers felt empty. Jesus no longer felt close. She wondered about her purpose and the meaning of her spiritual life.

Swanson shares her experiences as God was refining and restoring her soul. She has written this book with a view to helping readers go from merely surviving to thoroughly thriving. She warns readers that this kind of transformation takes hard soul work.

The book is a combination memoir and lessons learned from experiences. Swanson came out of Mormonism. Counseling helped her deal with lies she believed about God and other issues keeping her from experiencing a deeper intimacy with God. She also experienced times of anxiety and has found medication essential to her well being.

The most interesting topic in her book was her writing about the current state of the church and Christianity in the U.S. She writes of the “cruise-ship Christianity that has poisoned our church culture in the United States and some other countries...” (Loc 601/2679) We like to be comfortable and safe, not getting out of our comfort zones to engage those who need the hope we have.

Swanson urges us to be careful of what we let in our lives. She explores issues that may detract from our intimacy with God, such as money, body image, sexuality, and anxiety. She suggests establishing boundaries with that which does not build us up, including people.

This is a good book for career age Christians who have lost the fire of their faith and like teaching given in the context of personal memoir. This book will give you issues to look at and suggestions to deal with them. As an older Christian, I found the same suggestions for re-igniting the fire many previous authors have made.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Refine and Restore is a book you won’t be able to put down. Rachel shares her heart on every page of this book, and as you read (and most likely begin to feel exposed) you will realize you are not alone in your daily struggles with sin and wanting something more. Rachel shares personal stories of how she came to have such a strong relationship with Jesus, and helps us understand how we can have that too.

This book is very well written and easy to read. If you want to deepen the relationship you have with Jesus, this is the book for you.

In Refine & Restore, Rachel charts the story of her road to faith and openly discusses her battle to live out a faithful life, day by day and moment by moment. I love Rachel’s willingness to share her real-life struggles—the same struggles so many of us share—as well as her heartfelt desire to draw readers into a deeper walk with God. Though more of a memoir than an actual Bible study, Rachel’s story will both inspire and challenge you as you travel along your own road to faith.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rachel offers compelling insights on the issues that face women who desire a closer relationship with God. Her candor and directness about how these challenges have impacted her personally are compelling. I enjoyed her writing style and I felt that I had "found a friend" who will not back away from the difficult aspects in life, but push into their faith to continue to grow and mature. Refine and Restore is the perfect title for what happens in reading his book. Rachel's desire to know God deeply enlivened my heart for the journey with God.

Refine and Restore was beyond a honor to read and a part of her lauch team #refineandrestore. The author Rachel Swanson put her honest open heart into this book. She disclosed the process that her heart went through when she left her religious background and gave her heart to Jesus. She told of how when her doubts clouded her heart with God and years of worship and didn't know what was wrong. She told the struggles she has went through and the process to regain the fire in her heart and soul for God. Rachel used common everyday struggles to show that you can refine and restore your passion in your heart for Jesus. Her book has gave me a more "anybody can do this and it doesn't matter what walk of your life you are in at this moment".Her book has encouraged me to think more of what my relationship with God should be, not just the go to church on Sunday morning and you've filled you Christian duty for the week. You must study and learn God's word so you know if you are being told correctly. Your relationship with God will mean your everlasting soul depending on what you do. Rachel's book has given me tears, joy and most of all a better way of connecting with God. If you need a pick me up then you really need to buy this book. I am grateful that God lead me to becoming a part of the lauch team because this book was sent for me to take a second look at where I am with God. God bless you all and purchase this book because you will not be sorry.

Wow, this book is real. I love how Rachel shares her personal struggles through the book a long with scripture and Biblical principles.

This was a book I needed to read at this point in my life as she addressed some things I have and am struggling with.

Why does the initial passion we have when we first come to know Christ go away? What can we do about it? Is this normal? All questions Rachel tackles in this book..

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.

A book for all ages. With her personal testimony throughout the book, there is something in it for everyone!

This book has blessed me beyond belief! Through her own experiences as well as through pointing to scripture, Rachel brings you back to a place of full connection with Jesus. I related to her stories in so many ways. She gave real, practical, scripturally sound advice for rekindling the reader’s relationship with Christ. She tackles hard topics in a very real and gentle way. If you are in a season of uncertainty, disconnectedness, or are feeling spiritually dry, give this book a read an re-ignite the holy fires while restoring your heart and mind top the truth!

Rachel Swanson roped me in with the opening words of her prologue “The Not-So-Perfect Christian Life.” Then, she proceeded to share her journey — the good, the bad, and the ugly. It is clear that Rachel writes from the heart. Her words ring with encouragement, Truth and wisdom. Her message is very much needed in the culture we in which we live today—with our social media accounts bursting with our highlight reels as we hide the scenes we wish we could delete. However, it’s also a timeless message. Timeless because the One she seeks to point us to is and was and always will be; He is timeless. Rachel brought tears and laughter through her stories and analogies (don’t go through life thinking you’re an apple peeler when you’re really a cheese grater). Her desire is to point us to our purpose, the one the Lord created us to fulfill. We will never be content in our hearts until we discover and pursue our purpose. Her passion is to equip each of us to have a deep, meaningful relationship with the Father. One of the most resonating parts of her message for me: our calling is not the same as our purpose; our calling(s) may change through the seasons of our lives, but our purpose NEVER will. Not only does Rachel offer hope to have the faith you want to have, but she skillfully guides you through what you can do to strengthen your journey today. We can all be refined and restored to our Father who’s always been there and loved us.

WOW!! Rachels book "Refine and Restore" was amazing! I felt like she knew me personally and knew the struggles of my life. She is no shy about problems we face but also helps provide a solution as well. I loved the practical advice and her encouraging tone. I will be recommending this book to all my family and friends.

This is one of those books that you will not be able to put down, will re-read multiple times and it will touch your soul in a way you didn't know was possible. Rachel weaves today stories of her life with scripture and truths from God that will impact you regardless of where you are in your life. This is a book that everyone who reads it, will be touched and forever changed by her words!