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Showing posts from 2012

Bold As Love by Bob Roberts, Jr.

Bold As Love: What can happen when we see people the way God does by Bob Roberts, Jr. is a book that is definitely needed for our current time. It encourages us to examine ourselves and break out of our comfort zones to reach people with Christ whom we might not otherwise reach, due to fear, discomfort, etc. This book encourages to launch out and build engaging relationships with people of every type, culture, and religion, and ultimately see lives changed. Bob Robert's stories were engaging and interesting and this book was an exciting read. I had trouble putting it down. From meeting a Saudi Arabian prince to lunch with a rabbi, the stories in this book will entertain, encourage, and inspire you to reach out to everyone you encounter. The bottom line of this book is that Jesus' love transcended all cultures, religions, and languages, and our love for others should, too. I highly recommend this excellent book. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for

A Voice In The Wind by Francine Rivers

A Voice In The Wind is the first book in Francine Rivers' Mark Of The Lion trilogy. This trilogy is one of my favorite sets of books. I was thrilled to receive the 20th Anniversary Edition. It came packaged beautifully and includes a foreword from the publisher, a letter and Q & A, color map, an illustrated glossary, and discussion questions. It truly is worth it to get the Anniversary Edition. This trilogy is an epic saga that takes you through life in the Roman empire with great attention to detail and a very authentic feel. You can tell Francine spent a great deal of time and effort researching this book. It is brimming with detail and truly brings you back to the time period it is set in. This is the best historical fiction I've ever read. Yes, it is also a romance novel, but it's a rich historical book as well. You will not regret reading this book. It's a page turner from the start. I highly recommend this book and this entire series. I received a copy of th

Though The Bud Be Bruised

Though The Bud Be Bruised by Jo Wanmer is the true story of a family's grief and anguish while dealing with the sexual abuse of their daughter. The book is heartfelt and well written, and a book that is difficult to put down. The story draws you in and makes you want to continue reading it. Although written about a difficult subject matter, this book is very interesting, inspirational, and does have a happy ending. It deals with the difficult issue of how churches tend to sweep things like this under the rug rather than bringing them to light - and how dangerous that can be. Churches everywhere should take heed to the lessons from this book in how to deal with sexual abuse within the church. I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it. I received a copy of this book from BookCrash in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Dreams And Visions

I believe that Dreams And Visions by Tom Doyle is an important book for our time. The world has been extremely divided (Christians vs. Muslims) since September 11th. I believe that this book is an excellent way to show us what is currently going on in the Muslim world and a great guide for Christians to reach out to Muslims and share our faith. This is one of those books you won't want to put down - I read it in two days. The stories related are thrilling, and proof of God's power even in a place where conversion means an almost certain death. I was touched and moved by reading all of these stories, and in awe of God's working through dreams and visions to show Himself to the Muslim people. It also gives practical help and ideas for how to witness to Muslims here in America. I found this section very helpful and critical in knowing how to properly share Christ in these situations. I highly recommend this book. It will open your eyes and change your heart! I received a c

Read the first chapter of Unstoppable for free!

Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic (Chapter 1 Excerpt)

The Fourth Fisherman

The Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack is really two stories intertwined. The first story is Joe's story, a man who "has it all" in a material sense, but is lacking in the spiritual sense, and having marital problems. The second story is of three Mexican fishermen who were lost at sea. I did enjoy both of the stories portrayed, however the intertwining of them was a bit awkward at times in the book and I felt like not quite enough information was given about the fishermen and a little too much information about Joe. However, this book was a good, interesting read and I did enjoy it a lot. It was inspiring to read Joe's journey to faith and overall, this is definitely a book worth reading. I received a copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The River

The River is Michael Neale's debut novel, and it didn't disappoint. I was skeptical at first about reading this book because I have literally no interest in whitewater rafting, camping, or farming, which are the main themes this book seemed to center on in the description. However, the moment I opened the package when I received this book, I knew this was going to be a special one I would enjoy. The book itself is a work of art. The cover is beautifully textured and made to look like an old fashioned journal. The pages have rough, uneven edges which add to the effect. As I opened the book and read the prologue and first chapter, it was confirmed - I was instantly hooked. This book details Gabriel Clarke's childhood and young adulthood and his growth from a traumatized boy to a freed man. I enjoyed the allegorical storyline of "The River" and the oft-repeated line "you were made for The River". Once I started this book, I could not put it down. I read it

The Widow Of Saunders Creek

The Widow Of Saunders Creek by Tracey Bateman was unexpected and different in several ways to me. First off, the title. To be honest, the title was rather unappealing to me. It sounded like it was going to be a cheesy romance novel based on the title. However, I decided to give it a chance even with the less than appealing title, and it proved to be a wonderful book, and not a cheesy romance novel at all. Corrie Saunders has just lost her husband, Jarrod, in the war in Iraq. She is struggling with her feelings and grief and decides to continue their plans to restore his grandparent's old home in Saunders Creek. While there, she has experiences that lead her to believe that her dead husband is communicating with her from beyond the grave. However, Jarrod's cousin, Eli, who is restoring the home, doesn't believe in ghosts. This novel sensitively deals with spirits and ghosts from a Christian perspective and is very refreshing and different from anything I've ever read.

Song Of The Brokenhearted

Song Of The Brokenhearted by Sheila Walsh is an inspiring novel that you will find hard to put down. Ava is a woman who has the "perfect" life - financially well off, a good position in her church, great kids. But one day it all comes tumbling down as her world falls apart around her, and suddenly she is the one in need of prayer. Not only that, she's forced to go back to confront issues she's kept hidden from her childhood. This book details how quickly our "perfect" lives can be turned upside down without a moment's notice and how we have to trust God with our circumstances in good times and in bad times. I loved the message behind the storyline about having faith whether our lives are going well or not, and how God can make us better through difficult circumstances. I received a copy of this book from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Girl's Still Got It

The Girl's Still Got It by Liz Curtis Higgs was a very good book. When I received the book I thought to myself that the title of the book described Liz Curtis Higgs as well as it did Ruth. I've read many of Liz's books and was glad to see with her newest book, she's still "got it". Liz has the uncanny ability to take stories from the Bible and transform them into vivid pictures that all women can relate to and enjoy. The main message of this book is that no matter where you're from, what you've done, or what you've been through, God can and will still use you. The book is encouraging, enjoyable, and at times, hilarious. The message touched my heart and I highly recommend this book to all women. It includes a study guide in the back as well to be used on your own or with a group. I received a copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Found Missing

Found Missing: A True Story Of Domestic Violence, Murder, and Eternity by Linda Slavin was definitely an interesting and exciting book to read. In it, Linda details her abusive marriage to Vincent and his ultimate murder and what happened in her life afterwards. I had trouble putting this book down, the story was compelling, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. However, there were a few things I didn't like about this book. First of all, the story jumps around a bit and I sometimes had trouble following it. Secondly, this says it's a nonfiction book, but then refers to itself as a novel and there's a disclaimer saying names have been changed, characters have been merged, and some of the stories were fabricated to help the flow of the book. This confused me - I wasn't sure if it was a memoir or a novel. However, even with these minor flaws, the story was excellent and it was a very enjoyable read. I was impressed with Linda's unwavering faith and com

Call Of A Coward

Call Of A Coward by Marcia Moston was an excellent and engaging book. I couldn't put it down and read it in one day! Call Of A Coward describes Marcia's journey from a comfortable New Jersey housewife to a missionary in a primitive village in Guatemala and beyond. I loved the stories she told about her experiences in Guatemala and appreciated her love of God and faith and trust in Him through many difficult and scary circumstances. This book inspired me to trust God more in my daily life and be more aware of His calling and leading. My only "complaint" about the book is that it ended rather abruptly and I wanted to know where Marcia and her family are today and a little more followup to the ending. I hope she writes another book, I would love to read more about her! I received a copy of this book from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Perfect Lies

Perfect Lies by Jennifer Crow promises to take you through nine lies many Christians believe and how they can cause fears, anxieties, stress, and even physical illnesses in the body. The lies include I Am Unlovable, I Am Worthless, I Am Unacceptable, I Am Unable, I Am A Target, I Am Not Angry, I Am Bad, I Am In Danger, and I Am Deprived. I could relate at least in some way to all of these lies and enjoyed reading the truths behind them. Jennifer Crow suggests unique meditative prayer to overcome these lies and break their bonds, and ultimately, receive healing both mentally and physically. I am looking forward to trying this meditative prayer and enjoyed the book very much. Jennifer takes us through her own personal struggles and experiences, along with her health crisis that led her to discovering these lies. The book was interesting and entertaining and I had trouble putting it down. I definitely recommend this book. I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House publishers i

By Faith, Not By Sight

I started reading By Faith, Not By Sight by Scott MacIntyre not expecting much. I wasn't sure how much I'd like the book; I thought it might be a bit boring and just about his American Idol experience. What I didn't realize that Scott has had an interesting and very inspiring life since birth. This book basically takes you through Scott's life from birth up until the present. He was born blind, then suffered kidney failure as a teenager and had to have a transplant. His struggles, faith, and optimism were encouraging to me. His story was very compelling and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. I truly was inspired by his story and hope the best for his future. I recommend this book highly. I received a copy of this book from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

To Heaven And Back

I just read To Heaven And Back by Mary C. Neal, MD. I really was looking forward to reading and reviewing this book. It looked extremely interesting and I couldn't wait to start it. This story describes Mary's near fatal kayaking accident, near death experience, recovery, and life following the accident. The story was compelling, exciting, easy to read, and very interesting. In fact, I could hardly put the book down. I stayed up late reading to find out what happened next. I have no fault with the story itself or its readability; the book was excellent. However, parts of it made me very uncomfortable. Some of the ideas and beliefs portrayed in the book are decidedly anti-orthodox and not typical Christian beliefs. For example, she states that souls are alive before birth and they choose what body to go into and map our their life before entering their body. That belief has no Biblical support and was rather bizarre to read in this book. She also hardly ever mentions Jesus or

White Collar Skid Row

I just finished reading White Collar Skid Row by Melissa Ann Bell. This book is a true story, a memoir, that details Melissa's marriage to an alcoholic doctor and his ultimate acceptance of Christ and redemption. This is one of those gripping true stories that you will have trouble putting down. I stayed up until 2am reading to finish it and find out what happened in the end! Growing up in an alcoholic family, I could truly relate to this book and many of the incidents that occurred. I found myself almost reliving my childhood through this book. This was an encouraging read and a true testament to God's power and mercy. It took many, many years, but in the end, Jack was saved and did stop drinking. I truly enjoyed reading this family's story and think it can be beneficial and encouraging to many people, whether or not they have a personal or family history of alcoholism. Melissa's faith and grace were evident throughout the book. I highly recommend this title. I rece

Every Woman's Battle

I recently read Every Woman's Battle by Shannon Ethridge. This is an excellent and much needed book in today's society. It delves into how affairs (emotional and physical) begin and how to cut them off before they start. I liked that she gave guidelines and how to know when you're getting too emotionally attached to another man and clear boundaries to stick to to avoid progressing into anything inappropriate. I also enjoyed reading the women's stories throughout the book. I would recommend this book to every woman, married or not. Very well written and practical advice. I received a copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Accused

I was excited to receive a copy of Accused by Janice Cantore. I love Christian suspense and was excited that there is a new author and series in the genre. Not only that, Janice Cantore is a retired police officer who used to work near my hometown. This book was well written, suspenseful, and I truly enjoyed the story. It delves into Carly's professional life and personal life as well. This book was a page turner and the ending had a good twist to it. I enjoyed that it was set in an area I am familiar with. I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to the next books in the series! I received a copy of this book from the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This Thing Of Ours

This Thing Of Ours by Cammy Franzese was an interesting book that I had trouble putting down. It detailed how Cammy met her husband Michael and their subsequent relationship and marriage. I was shocked that Cammy could date and marry Michael without having any clue he was in the mafia. It seemed a bit beyond belief to me, however I think she was just extremely naive. The story was very compelling and kept me reading, however there were so many missing details that I wish she had included. More background into her husband's involvement in the mafia, how he got out of it alive, his conversion, and his ministry. While the book was very good, it seemed a bit incomplete. I am planning to read her husband's books now for more information. I highly recommend this book, however I hope she writes a sequel to it. I received a copy of this book from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Best Forgotten

Best Forgotten by Paula Vince is a gripping Christian thriller. Courtney Lockwood wakes up from a coma with amnesia and struggles to figure out what is going on and why everyone around him is acting strange. The plot seems like it might be old and tired, but Paula Vince shakes it up and I was pleasantly surprised by the way she took an old plot and freshened it up and made it new. It was an unpredictable storyline with several great twists and turns. This is one of those books that you won't want to put down! I enjoyed the Australian style dialogue, it made the book even more interesting for me. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy Christian thrillers, as I do. Excellent book and very intriguing. I received a copy of this book from BookCrash in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Miracles Are For Real

I recently read Miracles Are For Real: What Happens When Heaven Touches Earth by James L. Garlow and Keith Wall. I loved this book. It was just what I needed and a great faith booster. I enjoyed reading the personal accounts of true life miracles interspersed throughout the book. The authors did a great job of combining personal stories, Scriptures, and exposition of Biblical truth about miracles. This book truly inspired me to trust and believe in God and to have more faith in my day to day life. It also inspired me to focus more on my prayer life in general. I also was very touched to read about Jim Garlow's wife's struggle with cancer and his believing in a miracle for her, even though he hasn't seen it come to pass yet. I will be adding her to my prayer list and checking back to see how she is doing. This made the book much more real for me. This book is a very compelling, easy read that you won't want to put down. I highly recommend it. I received a copy of

No We Can't

I am finally writing my review for No We Can't by Robert Stearns after putting a lot of thought into it. I want to preface this review by saying that I never, ever write negative reviews. And I write a lot of book reviews. I like a wide variety of books and I always find something to like about everything. I'm not a difficult to please reader at all. With that said, I really didn't enjoy this book very much. I selected this book based on the description - it sounded great. I was really excited to receive this book and couldn't wait to start reading it. In fact, the day I got it I got in bed and decided to start reading it before bed because it looked so good. I read the preface and the first three chapters that night. I was expecting some light bedtime reading - that was the exact opposite of what I got! The first three chapters were alternately terrifying and depressing. Basically, the message was that the world is going to end within 10 years because we can't su

Glad Tidings

Glad Tidings: The First Twenty-Five Years Of Flanders Family Christmas Letters was definitely a unique book. In fact, I selected it because I had recently read a book by Doug Flanders (The Prodigal Project) and a book by Jennifer Flanders (Love Your Husband, Love Yourself) and enjoyed those so thoroughly that I wanted to learn more about this family. I was not disappointed! I picked up this book and was immediately hooked. Reading about the family's history from dating to their children beginning to get married and having grandchildren was amazing. I felt like I had sat down with Jennifer and gotten to know her personally by the end of reading this book! The adventures they went on, the funny stories, etc. were so much fun to read. This book was a very easy read, and I could sit down, pick the book up, and just read one or two letters as I had time. I also enjoyed the Christmas quotes, carols, Bible verses, and recipes scattered throughout the book. I can't wait to try the

Everything Romance

Everything Romance: A Celebration Of Love For Couples is a unique gift book that would be perfect for engaged or married couples, Valentine's Day, etc. It is beautifully designed and colorful and includes a dedication page in the front. This book truly has a little bit of everything in it. It includes Bible verses, quotes, love tips, love busters, short stories, romantic recipes, trivia, date night ideas, and much more. I had a lot of fun reading this book and reading aloud bits to my husband, also. I got some great new ideas for dates that I am excited to try out. It is more of a coffee-table type book that I would pick up and read a portion of every day or two - not a novel you sit down and read cover to cover. I learned many interesting bits of romantic trivia, and can't wait to make some of the recipes from the book. I highly recommend this book. It's a sweet book that has something for everyone inside! I received a copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in