The Help Meet Wife

Rule of Law is the latest political thriller from Randy Singer. The last book I read of his was The Advocate, an absolutely breathtaking biblical fiction. One of Singer's many talents is his ability to cross genres! I was drawn to Rule of Law because it sounded intriguing and it's definitely something you could consider "ripped from the headlines". The description says: "What did the president know? And when did she know it? For the members of SEAL Team Six, it was a rare mission ordered by the president, monitored in real time from the Situation Room. The Houthi rebels in Yemen had captured an American journalist and a member of the Saudi royal family. Their executions were scheduled for Easter Sunday. The SEAL team would break them out. But when the mission results in spectacular failure, the finger-pointing goes all the way to the top. Did the president play political games with the lives of U.S. service members? Paige Chambers, a determined young l...

I'm going to be brutally honest: I've never been a fan of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books before. Not that there's anything wrong with them, or her writing - there isn't - they just aren't my usual fare. They tend toward the Hallmark sappy style, and while I love Hallmark movies, I don't prefer them in my reading material. However, I decided to give Bringing Maggie Home a shot because the plot sounded so interesting and is in my generally enjoyed genres (Christian, mystery, suspense, police procedural), and I'm glad I did. The back cover says: "Decades of Loss, an Unsolved Mystery, and a Rift Spanning Three Generations Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears. Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daugh...

If you know me, you know that Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love Christmas! I love everything about Christmas. The decorations, the food, the smells, the crisp air, the church services, the music, giving gifts, and more. I love Christmas books and Christmas devotionals. I was super excited for the opportunity to receive an ARC of Melissa Spoelstra's new book, Total Christmas Makeover: 31 Devotions to Celebrate With Purpose. The back cover says: "In the bustle of the Christmas season, it can be easy to get swept up in all of the things to do. But it’s important to pause and remember that our priority should be to spend time celebrating Christ’s birth and not forget to invite Jesus to his own party. Christmas is far more than a celebration of an event from long ago or a modern holiday centered around shopping. Mindfully take time to listen to how God continues to speak through the Christmas story as the Gospel narratives centered around the birth of Jesus pro...

Descriptions and Prescriptions: A Biblical Perspective on Psychiatric Diagnoses and Medications is a resource for Christians written by Dr. Michael Emlet. It's written primarily for pastors, Christian counselors, small group leaders, and ministry facilitators, but I believe any Christian can benefit from reading this. We all have a sphere of influence within our friends, families, and churches, and undoubtedly, we all know at least one person who struggles with mental illness. Dr. Emlet was a family physician for 12 years and then transferred to CCEF to be a counselor and faculty member. The book description says: "OCD, ADHD, PTSD, Bipolar Disorder . . . these are not just diagnoses from the DSM; they are part of our everyday vocabulary and understanding of people. As Christians, how should we think about psychiatric diagnoses and their associated treatments? We can t afford to isolate ourselves and simply dismiss these categories as unbiblical. Nor can we afford to accept ...

World View is a very unique book. It's a collection of columns that Marvin Olasky has written for World Magazine. I have never read World Magazine, so I went into this book blind and not sure what to expect. The back cover says: "What would our common life be like if Christians were known not only for speaking truth, but also for demonstrating mercy? Marvin Olasky, best-selling author and editor in chief of World Magazine describes this kind of salty Christianity in a far-ranging collection of columns from World. As Dr. Olasky comments on world events and also shares his personal interactions, readers will be encouraged to bring both grace and truth to every encounter. While deeply committed to standing for biblical truth in the public square, Olasky is just as interested in Christians living out the biblical virtues of humility, kindness, and mercy in all of life. His call for biblical values to include both truth and grace, makes his voice stand out in a world that often ...

I love a good legal thriller, so I was excited to read the first book in Cara Putnam's new series, Hidden Justice. This book tackles some seriously interesting (and potentially divisive) issues: domestic violence, murder, police shootings, the legal system, and more. I have a lot of interest in these topics, so I couldn't wait to dive into this book. The back cover says: "“This is the way legal thrillers are meant to be—compelling, intelligent, and deeply satisfying.” —Randy Singer, author of Rule of Law THE POLICE SAY THE WOMAN WAS A MURDERER. EMILIE WESLEY KNOWS THEY CAN’T BE TALKING ABOUT HER CLIENT . . . CAN THEY? To the world it seems obvious: Kaylene Adams killed her daughter and then was shot by police. Attorney Emilie Wesley knows a different story: Kaylene would never hurt anyone and was looking for a way out of a controlling, abusive relationship. Her death shakes Emilie’s belief that she can make a difference for women in violent marriages. Self-doubt pla...

I'm a huge fan of Christian suspense, so I jumped on the chance to read Rachel Dylan's new book, Deadly Proof. Deadly Proof is the first book in her new Atlanta Justice series. Not only is this a Christian suspense book, it's also legal suspense and focuses on a pharmaceutical company (two more genres I enjoy), so I felt like this book was perfect for me. It also has a touch of romance, which was a nice addition. The back cover says: "Riveting New Series Offers Legal Suspense with a Romantic Twist In the biggest case of her career, attorney Kate Sullivan is tapped as lead counsel to take on Mason Pharmaceutical because of a corporate cover-up related to its newest drug. After a whistleblower dies, Kate knows the stakes are much higher than her other lawsuits. Former Army Ranger turned private investigator Landon James is still haunted by mistakes made while serving overseas. Trying to forget the past, he is hired by Kate to look into the whistleblower's alle...

All Things Now Living by Rondi Bauer Olson is definitely a unique book. I initially requested to read it because the plot sounded so interesting. It is labeled as YA, which is fine (I enjoy the occasional YA novel), but I didn't realize that it was classified as a "Hi-Lo book". I'd never heard of that term before, but apparently it is a book written on a very low reading level with a very interesting plot to encourage reluctant readers. This particular book has a reading level of 3.2, which is confusing to me because third graders are about 7-8 years old, while YA is generally classified as reading material for ages about 13-18. However, I definitely wanted to give it a fair chance. The book description says: "Sixteen-year-old Amy doesn't like anything to die, she won't even eat the goats or chickens her mama has butchered every fall, but she can't let herself pity the inhabitants of New Lithisle. In a few short months the dome they built to isolat...

This is part two of my review on Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner's books on sex in marriage.. Tyndale was kind enough to send me copies of two of their new books: Enjoy!: The Gift of Sexual Pleasure for Women and The Married Guy's Guide to Great Sex, both by Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner. I'm always looking for ways to make my marriage stronger and better, and I really enjoyed the unique approach of a separate book for men and women rather than a "couple's guide" to sex. Most sex books are written towards the couple together, and the writing of a separate book to each allows the books to drill down more into different areas that apply to the husband and the wife. In this first part, I'll be discussing the men's book, The Married Guy's Guide to Great Sex. Check out my previous post for the review on the wife's book. :) The back cover of The Married Guy's Guide to Great Sex says: "Keep the sizzle in your marriage. Sex matters in a marr...

This is going to be a two part review. Tyndale was kind enough to send me copies of two of their new books: Enjoy!: The Gift of Sexual Pleasure for Women and The Married Guy's Guide to Great Sex, both by Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner. I'm always looking for ways to make my marriage stronger and better, and I really enjoyed the unique approach of a separate book for men and women rather than a "couple's guide" to sex. Most sex books are written towards the couple together, and the writing of a separate book to each allows the books to drill down more into different areas that apply to the husband and the wife. In this first part, I'll be discussing the women's book, Enjoy!. Check out my next post for the review on the husband's book. :) The back cover of Enjoy! says: "Do you want a stronger, more exciting sex life with your husband? As a married woman, you have the power to increase sexual fulfillment for you and your husband―if you aren’t stymi...

I recently had the chance to read Liz Curtis Higgs' new devotional book, 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path. Hundreds of women voted on and chose their 31 favorite verses in the book of Proverbs, and Liz created a month-long devotional using one of these verses per day. The back cover says: "Take Heart, Beloved. His Light Is Shining, And Your Path Is Clear. Wherever you are on your journey, here is the wisdom you need for the road ahead. Maybe you’re stuck and want to move forward. Or you feel anxious and long to know what’s next. Or you’re ready for an uplifting reminder that God holds your future in His loving hands. Chosen by hundreds of women as their favorite verses in Proverbs, these thirty-one nuggets of truth reveal how faithfully God honors His promise, “I will instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths” (Proverbs 4:11). Best-selling author Liz Curtis Higgs examines each word with care and adds a sprinkling of humor through her honest...