I've read Bob Goff's work before so it was really interesting to see their lives through his wife's eyes this time. This was a really encouraging book that reminded me to take it slow and appreciate the small things in life. I want my home to be one that people describing as a life of love.

Maria is nice, and I only wish I were friends with her. The essays are a nice read, friendly reminders of what you already know. It shows glimpses into the Goff family, and if you don't know this already, they are something else. I enjoyed getting to know them, her, the quieter one of the Goff couple.

However, I had trouble reading more than 1-2 essays at a time. Maybe it was because I needed time to process them, or maybe because the pattern of each chapter was the same: an anecdote from her life followed by a "what we can learn from this" moment. Mind you, Bob's book follows the same pattern, but his books have a different pace to them, they are more energetic. It's not fair comparing the two authors, I know, but having read them one after the other I couldn't help seeing the similarities and differences.

Maria's book is more slow-paced, it invites to conversation, to rest, to taking your time to read and ponder. I can't say I've learned something I didn't already know, but gentle reminders of what you already know are always welcome.

It was a good book; different from her husband, Bob Goff's book in many ways but was an easy, light, encouraging read.

This book is written in a friend-to-friend conversational style and I love learning from it. A couple of my take-aways ~ I like how Maria talks about the different personalities she and her husband have and how they've learned to embrace and appreciate their differences and complement each other and play off the strengths they bring together.

Another thing that resonated with me is when Maria talks about learning to find and listen to the voices of a few trusted friends, family and mentor figures. She notes that there are a lot of opinions and voices and it can become deafening and overwhelming. She found if she focused on the few that spoke into her life and meant much to her and her family values, it meant a million times more.

Great read. Very warm and friendly voice making you feel as if you are going through Maria's trials with her. Great author, can't wait for the next.

Common subject today, well handled, easily readable, will be recommending to others as thought suitable.

I will admit that it seems like I'm the only one who hasn't read a book from someone in the Goff family, so I went into this one not knowing what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. Maria Goff writes with an authenticity that is straight from her heart and the wisdom she shares about seeking and receiving love left me thinking long after I finished the book. This is one of the first faith-based books about Christian living that I've read in several years that was not written as an instruction manual and I can appreciate that. I was very pleased with the book.

*I received an advance reading copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Loved Maria's approach to life! The personal narrative combines perfectly with the nuggets of wisdom she provides.

Maria Goff surprised me. I fell in love with her family as I read her husband's book. In it he showed us what love does. He wrote the forward of his wife's book and to be honest, it I had ONLY read that, it would be enough for me to know that Maria is the kind of woman I want to be when I grow up.

And then I read the rest of the book, each chapter made me realize that this woman knows how to love and be loved which reinforced my first notion- she is DEFINITELY the kind of woman I want to be when I grow up. She taught us where love LIVES.

I am grateful to the Goff's for giving us a peak into their lives and in doing so, helping my family
love better. My husband and I are holding out hope for the day we receive our key in the mail!

We have handed out countless versions of her husband's book and I know that we will be stocking up on Maria's book to give to everyone we know as well!

Very real. Heartwarming. Honest. enourages you to seek God in ALL things.

Love Lives Here is the most poignantly beautiful book that I've read in some time. My heart was captured from the foreword by Maria's husband Bob Goff. His words echo what every woman wants to hear about themselves from their man.

Each chapter that follows stands alone yet a theme of love and grace winds through the entire book. While reading through Maria's thoughts about past experiences I found pieces of my own story woven in. I've had many of the same experiences and I'm sure that you have too. Some of the stories made me laugh and others made me weep. But regardless of the emotion that was brought forth the leading hand of God was present.

The theme of the book is obviously love. That love is manifested in the lives of the Goff family. The way that they love each other and others will stick with me for some time. They leave no doubt about where their ability to love comes from. It is a gift from God. As you read through the book it is abundantly clear that this gift is readily available to you and me.

I heartily recommend this book to everyone. Whether you are in a hard spot or not this book will speak to you. I think it would also make a wonderful gift for a friend that needs a little lift in their spirit.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

I knew nothing of "Sweet Maria" before reading this book, but I felt like I found a friend, as she lovingly wrote about her life in these pages. It was warm. comforting, and undergirded in wisdom. There is so much noise right now in our world it seems. Maria's book felt like a gentle nudge to step back from the noise and remember what is true and beautiful.

Maria Goff's book is essentially a series of stories related in a wistful and lyrical voice, through which she shares wisdom about life as a Christian. This isn't Christian teaching, or a self help or 'how to' book, so I initially thought it was a bit light and didn't have much to say. However as I read on I came to see that this book is like sitting down with an older, wiser friend who shares stories without ever being preachy, and I really enjoyed reading it. It also took me a while to realise that Love lives here works as a great counterpoint to Bob Goff's book Love Does, reminding us that love is shown through presence and faithfulness in the small things as much as in action and adventure.