My Review of Mercy Come Morning

Mercy Come Morning

Written by: Lisa Tawn Bergren
Published by: WaterBrook

This is a story about a woman who has never felt her mother was all she longed for. Neglected as a child by a mother who developed a case of Alzheimer’s when her daughter was just a teen, Krista must now face the fact that her mother is dying. Throw in an old boyfriend and you have a pretty good plot for a novel.

Who the book is for:

Those who have hard relationships with their parents, those dealing with someone who has Alzheimer’s.

What I liked:

Parts of this story were interesting and enjoyable to read…

What I didn’t like:

…While other parts were a bit boring.

I felt like I should have known more about the characters than I did.

My conclusion:

I feel like this book had a good plot that could have made for an interesting (and touching) read, but it wasn’t written the best.

I give Mercy Come Morning 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Blogging for Books. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Love Lifted Me

Love Lifted Me

Written by: Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck
Published by: Thomas Nelson

I read the previous book in this series and enjoyed it, and that is why I choose to read this one as well.

This is the continuing story of Jade and Max. Max is a recovering addict who leaves his lawyer career to coach football. Jade is enjoying being “mom” to Max’s illegitimate son, and hoping to one day have children with Max as well. There are people in the town where Max gets his coaching job, who don’t want him to be coach. There are those in the town who are excited for their new coach.

Who the book is for:

Woman, those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

What I liked:

The story was interesting.

What I didn’t like:

Parts of the book were just a bit boring.

My conclusion:

This was a pretty good book, though not the best I have ever read.

I give Love Lifted Me four out of five stars.

I received this book free to review from BookSneeze. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Lead For God's Sake

Lead for God’s Sake!

Written by: Todd G. Gongwer
Published by: Tyndale

I chose to read this book thinking it was a non-fiction book on leadership, I found that it is actually fiction book on basketball… and leadership.

Who the book is for:

This book seems like it was written especially for men, perhaps they would enjoy it more than I did. Fans of basketball would probably enjoy this book.

What I liked:

It was fiction, yet it had a message, I found that kind of nice.

What I didn’t like:

The book was too focused on basketball, so it started to bore me.

Okay, this may sound weird… but I don’t appreciate how the title of this book is - in a way - taking God’s name in vane. I just think that it was used to draw attention to this book, which seems really unprofessional and kind of stupid. In the book multiple times, curses are used.

My conclusion:

Lead for God’s Sake is a so so book. Nothing too horrible about it - other than the title - but also nothing great about it.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Tyndale. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of A Good and Perfect Gift

A Good and Perfect Gift

Written by: Amy Julia Becker
Published by: Bethany House

This book is about a family blessed with the birth of a “special” child.

Who the book is for:

Anyone looking for an inspiring read.

What I liked:

Amy Julia Becker was very open and honest about all her feelings in relation to her daughter and her life. I felt that Amy truly shared her heart, and I liked knowing about the good and bad that she faced. I appreciated that Amy didn’t just share the pretty parts.

What I didn’t like:

I don’t know if this fits under “what I didn’t like”, but I would have enjoyed the book more if it had contained photos. I felt like I got to know the whole Becker family pretty good, yet I didn’t know what they looked like. The addition of photos in the book would have completed things for me.

My conclusion:

I enjoyed reading this book, and I recommend it.

I give A Good and Perfect Gift 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Bethany House. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks

Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks

Written by: K.D. McCrite
Published by: Thomas Nelson

I chose to read this book, despite the fact that it was written for children, just because it sounded like an interesting story to read.

This is the story of an eleven year old girl whose life is filled with little bits of craziness… such as a Grandma with multiple boyfriends, a good friend turned snobby, and a pregnant mother.

Who the book is for:

I don’t really know what age would enjoy this book the most… I don’t think kids who are in the same age group as the girl the book is about would have the attention span to read the book, but I don’t think those who are older than that (teens and adults) would enjoy it either.

What I liked:

The cover is cool

What I didn’t like:

Boring… I found it really hard to finish reading this book.

My conclusion:

This is a blah book.

I give Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks 2 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from BookSneeze. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Intercession

Intervention

Written by: Terri Blackstock
Published by: Zondervan

I somehow read Vicious Cycle, the second book in this series, without knowing that there was a book that came before it. When I found out that I had missed this book - after loving Vicious Cycle - I had to read it. I wish that I had read them in the correct order, as the stories in this book would provide good history to go along with the tale in Vicious Cycle.

This is the story of: Emily, a drug addict. Her mom, a widowed parent. Her brother, a hurting teen. A murder. Blame. Confusion.

Who the book is for:

Those who enjoy suspense, or anyone who just loves a good story.

What I liked:

There was never a moment in this book where I got bored or wanted to stop reading… I enjoyed reading every bit of this book.

What I didn’t like:

Nothing.

My conclusion:

Terri Blackstock writes amazing books. She has become one of my favorite authors. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

I give Intervention 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Zondervan. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Reclaiming Lily

Reclaiming Lily

Written by: Patti Lacy
Published by: Bethany House

I thought this book sounding interesting… the story of a birth family and adoptive family colliding. The story of love between birth family and adoptive family and a hurting teenager. The story of a clashing between cultures. This story could have been something great, but as it was, I was not able to enjoy the book.

Who the book is for:

I can’t really recommend it for anyone, as I did not find it worth reading… but if it is for anyone I guess adoptive families and birth families (of adoptive children) would probably enjoy it the most.

What I liked:

The story sounded like it could have been good.

What I didn’t like:

The story was way too boring and descriptive for me.

My conclusion:

I don’t recommend this book, as I was unable to get into it at all. Others enjoyed the book, I didn’t. Whether or not you will, I guess I just cannot say.

I give Reclaiming Lily 2 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Bethany House. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of When God Created My Toes

When God Created My Toes

Written by: Dandi Daley Mackall
Illustrated by: David Hohn
Published by: WaterBrook Press

I love reading any children’s’ books, and was excited to check this one out.

The story of this book, how God made each body part is kind of cute, and kind of weird.

The illustrations:

Aren’t as cute as they could be, but are okay.

How strong is the book?

This book is a typical hard cover book, and seems to be pretty sturdy.

Who the book is for:

Babies or young children. Would make a good present to be given at birth.

What I liked:

The story was fun to read, and I like the message of it.

What I didn’t like:

I found parts of it to be a bit strange.

My conclusion:

When God Created My Toes is an okay book, but I think there are better children’s’ books on similar topics out there.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Blogging for Books. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of A Whisper of Peace

A Whisper of Peace

Written by: Kim Vogel Sawyer
Published by: Bethany House

This book is the story of two troubled women, and a anxious missionary, who all are living in Alaska in the late 1800’s.

Who the book is for:

Those who enjoy historical fiction, specifically women.

What I liked:

The basics of the story were good, would have been a good read if it had been written better.

The messages were all positive and applicable to me.

What I didn’t like:

The book was kind of boring and hard to read.

I was not “touched” by this book at all, though I felt that I should have been, based on the story.

My conclusion:

This is an okay book. If you really enjoy historical fiction, you may enjoy it more than I did.

I give A Whisper of Peace 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Bethany House. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Softly and Tenderly

Softly and Tenderly

Written by: Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck
Published by: Thomas Nelson

I have to say, I chose to read this book because it was written by a popular singer and I was curious to see how it would be.

This is a soap opera in a book. Jade, struggles with the fact that her and her husband have been unable to give birth to any children, then finds out that her husband has a son - born through an affair before they were married - Jade also must deal with her mother being on her death bed, as well as marriage drama with her in-laws.

Who the book is for:

Women. Fans of soap operas.

What I liked:

The story is interesting and kept me wanting to read.

What I didn’t like:

Nothing.

My conclusion:

This is a good book, and you may enjoy reading it - especially if you like soap operas.

I give Softly and Tenderly 4 out of 5 stars.


I received this book free to review from BookSneeze, through Thomas Nelson. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of As Silver Refined

As Silver Refined

Written by: Kay Arthur
Published by: Waterbrook Press

I had heard Kay Arthur’s radio programs many times, but had never read any of her books, so when I got the chance to read this one I thought I would give it a try.

This is a book about a variety of topics, all with the purpose of “refining” us.

What I liked:

I like how Kay Arthur shares quite a bit of Bible passages right in the book.

What I didn’t like:

Kay Arthur speaks of her divorce - before she was a Christian. She mentions that her and her husband had a fight that ended with him being abusive, and that she left after that fight… which makes sense to me. But then she states that God wouldn’t have wanted her to leave her husband. She goes on to say that her husband committed suicide a short time later, and it sounds as if she blames herself for his death. I don’t think that God would want us to live in an abusive relationship, and I don’t think that any book should ever suggest that we should as this one did - especially since Kay was the mother of young children at that time. This whole situation was enough for me to decide that I would not recommend this book to anyone.

Kay Arthur talks about depression as if it is a spiritual problem, not a medical problem - something that can be (and has been) argued about - something I disagree with.

This book was hard to read, and I had to force myself to finish it - taking much longer than I normally would for a book of it’s size.

My conclusion:

I disagreed with Kay Arthur on a few different points, I had difficulty getting through the book, I don’t recommend this book.

I give As Silver Refined 1 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from WaterBrook Press through Blogging for Books. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Roadside Assistance

Written by: Amy Clipston
Published by: Zondervan

Emily Claire Curtis is a car loving teenage girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. She lost her mom just months ago, and now is “forced” to move (along with her dad) into her rich aunt and uncle’s house - no longer having a garage of her own to work in whenever she wants. Emily struggles with her faith, and with her relationships with her relatives and friends.

Who the book is for:

As an adult I found I enjoyed this book, though I think teens (the target audience) would enjoy it more.

What I liked:

I liked that Emily had a unique hobby, fixing cars.

This book kept me interested.

What I didn’t like:

The parts of the book where Emily wrote in her journal to her mom were a bit boring and repetitious of what had already been said in the book.

My conclusion:

This is a good book, I enjoyed reading it.

I give Roadside Assistance 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Zondervan. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of A Heart for Freedom

A Heart for Freedom
Written by: Chai Ling
Published by: Tyndale

Since childhood I have known that China was place where humans were not given all of the rights that they deserve. When I was young I joined my family in boycotting products that were made in China, but eventually I stopped caring and just started buying whatever - it is so hard to find things that aren’t made in China these days! Recently I have again been hearing of how China needs to change, and I received this book at the perfect time to go hand in hand with what I am hearing… China needs to change.

I must admit, before reading this book, I had never even heard about the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

Who the book is for:

Everyone should read this book, if you want to lose your any respect you may have for China. Anyone who wants to learn some history about China would be interested in this book.

What I liked:

I love how Chai is so open and honest in her sharing.

This book was interesting, and I didn’t have to force myself to read it.

Informative.

What I didn’t like:

There’s not much I didn’t like about this book.

My conclusion:

I’m glad I got the chance to read this book, and to learn more about China’s extreme government. I hope that I can find some way to help those in China, perhaps through Chai Ling’s organization All Girls Allowed.

I give A Heart For Freedom 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Tyndale. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Thank You, God, for Blessing Me

Thank You God, For Blessing Me
Written by: Max Lucado
Illustrated by: Frank Endersby
Published by: Tommy Nelson

I love Max Lucado as an adult author, but I don’t always like his children’s books, as they tend to be really long and kind of boring… I decided to check this one out and see if it was any good.

The story:

Is cute and simple, basically a little worm thanking God for all the blessings he has received.

The illustrations:

Are colorful and cute.

How strong is the book?

This is a padded board book, which is my favorite kind of children’s book. It feels like it will be very strong, but the true test will come when my nephew has had a few weeks to use it.

Who the book is for:

Babies through toddlers.

What I liked:

The story seems like it would be fun to read, and I think that my nephew will enjoy it.

What I didn’t like:

I liked this book, and couldn’t find anything about it that I didn’t like.

My conclusion:

This is a fun, cute, little book. I give Thank You God for Blessing Me 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Tommy Nelson through BookSneeze. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Out of Control

Out of Control

Written by: Mary Connealy
Published by: Bethany House

Although I enjoy contemporary fiction more than I enjoy reading historical fiction, I still like reading some historical fiction now and then, and this is one of those books that I chose to read.

Who the book is for:

Historical fiction lovers, and those who appreciate some historical fiction, such as me.

What I liked:

Reading this book I was able to imagine what life was like for those who really lived back in the “olden days” - and I must say I would not have liked to live then!

Some of the characters were interesting…

What I didn’t like:

…While others were just plain grumpy.

The beginning of the book didn’t hold my attention, and if I hadn’t already agreed to review it, I wouldn’t have kept reading.

My conclusion:

I finished this book confused about my own opinion of it. It was definitely unique from other books that I have read, but I don’t know if that was good or bad or a little of both.

I give Out of Control 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Bethany House. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Love You More

Love You More
Written by: Jennifer Grant
Published by: Thomas Nelson

I am always interested in reading real-life stories, biographies and memoirs, etc.. I am also interested in adoption, and a story of someone who has adopted, such as this one, sounded like something I would be interested in.

Who the book is for:

Those interested in adoption.

What I liked:

This is an interesting story of a woman who adopts a little girl into her family.

What I didn’t like:

You can tell that the author is a journalist. I would have appreciated her telling the story in a more personal way than the way she choose.

Parts of the book seem to suggest that the author supports abortion/birth control, and I since I oppose both I didn’t appreciate her including those opinions in the book.

I don’t know if this necessarily counts as something that I didn’t like, but the author’s writing makes it sound as if it was solely her who adopted her daughter, not as if her and her husband shared the experience.

My conclusion:

This wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read, and it also wasn’t the worse. It wasn’t all I had hoped for, but it was, perhaps, worth reading once.

I give Love You More 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Thomas Nelson through BookSneeze. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Indelible

Indelible

Written by: Kristen Heitzmann
Published by: WaterBrook

Trevor MacDaniel is an extra special man in everyone’s eyes but his own. Despite the fact that he was a famous athlete and now rescues people as a hobby, he can’t look past his own past and respect the man he now is. When Trevor starts receiving disturbing photos of children he must find out who wants what from him. Mixed in to this whole story is also a story of a woman who looks past Trevor’s past and loves him for who he is now.

Who the book is for:

Contemporary fiction lovers. If you are a fan of suspenseful fiction, and if that is why you are reading this book, I must note that this book is not as suspenseful as some might like.

What I liked:

The first chapter introduces characters that are instantly likeable, something a lot of books don’t ever provide, and the book continues to be filled with various interesting relationships and a lot of different characters.

I did not grow bored from this book at all.

What I didn’t like:

The ending was a little too quick in my opinion.

My conclusion:

All in all Indelible is an excellent book, and I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from WaterBrook through Blogging for Books. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of The Muir House

The Muir House

Written by: Mary DeMuth
Published by: Zondervan

I thought the story of this book sounded like something that could be interesting, something that I could enjoy.

Willa Muir is searching for home, searching for memories from her childhood that she has always been missing.

Who the book is for:

Fiction lovers, especially women.

What I liked:

The chapters are short, which is something that I like.

What I didn’t like:

I had trouble getting into this book and staying into it when I was reading. It took me much longer to read this book than it takes me to read the typical fiction book. Something about this book was just off for me.

I found it odd that Willa could know that she didn’t have memories from one certain year of her life as a child… I have random memories of my childhood, from various years, I don’t have memories of every year of my life growing up.

My conclusion:

I admit, I am not a big fan of this book. The story was slow and hard to get into, there were parts that were unbelievable… I give The Muir House 2 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Zondervan. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Upside

Upside; Surprising Good News About the State of Our World

Written by: Bradley R.E. Wright, PhD
Published by: Bethany House Publishers

I am one of those people who gets really bugged when everyone starts talking about how the world is getting worse and worse… especially when they are basing their opinion on the state of one country, such as the US or A… therefore I was anxious to read this book, and perhaps find someone who agrees with me.

Who the book is for:

Those of us who need a positive view of our world.

Those interested in statistics.

Those who think that everything is going downhill and that our world (and our country) is getting worse and worse.

What I liked:

There was a lot of work put into this researching this book, and when reading it you can tell.

I like how the author doesn’t just share statistics with you, but also explains various reasons he thinks things may be the way they are.

What I didn’t like:

I, personally, didn’t like how the author focused so much on different races and how they compared to each other - we are all people and don’t need to be divided by the color of our skin.

I don’t agree with the author’s view (and focus) on global warming - I believe out earth’s temperature has been going up and down, possibly, since creation.

My conclusion:

Upside is a great book, one I enjoyed reading. A lot of the facts given in this book surprised me.

I give Upside 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Bethany House. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Sweet Sanctuary

Sweet Sanctuary

Written by: Sheila Walsh and Cindy Martinusen Coloma
Published by: Thomas Nelson

Sweet Sanctuary is the story of a single mom with a past that is haunting her, as well as current struggles that she must face - such as the possibility of getting laid off, a grandmother who wants her to throw her a birthday party, and more…

Who the book is for:

Fans of slow moving fiction, particularly women.

What I liked:

I enjoy reading books that deal with various relationships within a family, and this is one of those books.

What I didn’t like:

The story moves a bit slow, at times I had to force myself to keep reading… I was pretty much only interested in the last ¼ of the book or so.

My conclusion:

This book definitely won’t make my list of favorite books of all time, nor do I recommend it to anyone. I was very bored with it.

I give Sweet Sanctuary 2 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Thomas Nelson. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Courageous

Courageous

Written by Randy Alcorn, based on the screenplay Alex and Stephen Kendrick
Published by: Tyndale Fiction

I was not one of the many fans of the movie Fireproof, in fact I hated it… maybe I should write a review of why I didn’t like it. So why did I choose to read Courageous, since it is from the same people who came out with Fireproof? Because I saw a trailer of a movie about fathers and their relationships with their children and I thought it looked interesting, and when offered the chance to read the book I thought, why not.

Who the book is for:

You would think that this book would be for dads, but it can be enjoyed by any adult or teen, male or female.

What I liked:

Great story. Interesting read.

What I didn’t like:

The book has a little part in it about a girl in Heaven… which I found odd, fake, and a bit… I don’t know… wrong? Anyway, it struck me as weird and I didn’t like it.

All in all the book wasn’t as “touching” as I would have liked it to be.

My conclusion:

I don’t yet know if I will watch the Courageous movie when it comes out, afraid I might not think as highly of it as I did this book, but I do recommend this book.

I give Courageous 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Tyndale Fiction. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of To Be Perfectly Honest

To Be Perfectly Honest

Written by: Phil Callaway
Published by: Multnomah

I thought that the premise of this book sounded like something that would interest me, one man’s journey to tell nothing but the truth for one whole year… but to be honest, (haha) it wasn’t quite all I had hoped for.

Who the book is for:

Fans of comedians, those who want to “snoop” at someone else’s journal.

What I liked:

Basically this book is the journal of a comedian which means at times it is funny…

What I didn’t like:

…but it isn’t always focused on his goal of living honestly, and it also tends to be poorly written in some places.
My conclusion:

I didn’t love this book, nor would I want to read it again, but on the plus side I did get through the whole book no problem. I would have like to hear more details about Phil’s journey.

I give To Be Perfectly Honest 2 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Mulnomah through Blogging for Books.The opinions expressed in my review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Leaving

Leaving

Written by: Karen Kingsbury
Published by: Zondervan

I’ve read all (or at least almost all) of the Karen Kingsbury books about the Flanigan and Baxter families, and so I choose to read this start of a new series about them as well.

This book follows multiple people through various trials and situations in their lives, facing problems such as lung disease and lost love.

Who the book is for:

Those who have been following these families, as well as other adult and teen contemporary fiction readers. All Karen Kingsbury fans will especially enjoy this book.

What I liked:

The story is interesting and keeps you wanting to read it.

Follows multiple people.

Continues the story of the Baxter family, as well as the Flanigan family.

What I didn’t like:

Not much.

My conclusion:

This is another good book from Karen Kingsbury - who happens to be one of my long-time favorite contemporary fiction authors.

I give Leaving 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Zondervan. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of An Expose onTeen Sex and Dating

An Expose on Teen Sex and Dating; What’s Really Going On and How To Talk About It

Written by: Andy Braner
Published by: NavPress

I don’t really know why I chose to read this book, as I am not a teen, nor am I a youth leader or a parent of a teen, but hopefully I will be able to use something I’ve gained from it to help someone at some point.

Who the book is for:

Youth leaders and parents.

What I liked:

This book doesn’t condemn dating the way so many books do.

Shares helpful advice of how parents can deal with the issue of dating and sex with their teens.

What I didn’t like:

Parts of the book are very repetitious.

My conclusion:

For a book that didn’t really apply to me at all, this one wasn’t too bad of a read.

While I don’t agree with Andy 100%, he does have some good points.

I give An Expose on Teen Sex and Dating 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from NavPress. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of The Blessing

The Blessing

Written by: John Trent, PH.D., Gary Smalley
Published by: Thomas Nelson

I am not a parent, but I chose to read this book, to see what it was all about and to, hopefully, learn some things that can be applied to my relationship with my nieces and nephew… little did I know that, not only can the message be applied to everyone I interact with, the message in this book is also for those of us who have not felt like we received “the blessing” as children.

Who the book is for:

Parents, especially, but anyone, truly.

What I liked:

Easy and enjoyable to read.

Shares realistically, how to give the blessing to people in your life.

I found it both interesting and eye opening how much physical touch actually can help a person, proven by numerous studies mentioned in this book.

At the end of various chapters throughout the book I was told to visit a page online that contained a video message related to that chapter and the upcoming chapters, I found these interesting and it made the whole book and message presented in it seem more real and personal.

Addresses our need to be blessed, as well as our need to bless others.

What I didn’t like:

I truly enjoyed this book and found it so full of helpful and encouraging information, and I can honestly say that there is nothing that I didn’t like about this book.

My conclusion:

The Blessing is a book that everyone should read and apply to their lives, to bless others and to be blessed themselves. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Thomas Nelson through their BookSneeze program. All opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Review of The Lady of Bolton Hill

The Lady of Bolton Hill

Written by: Elizabeth Camden
Published by: Bethany House

I don’t usually especially like historical fiction, but lately I’ve been open to any fiction book, and so I chose to read The Lady of Bolton Hill. The cover of this book makes you think that it will be a gentle book about easy life, rather than a book about drugs and danger. I found the story a pleasant surprise.

Clara and Daniel were great friends until they were separated as teens, now they meet again and discover that each has feelings for the other… but Daniel has demons that he must face before they can be together. In the midst of everything they are facing Clara is kidnapped by a drug smuggler and then leads that man to a new life.

Who the book is for:

Adults and mature teens.

What I liked:

The second half of this book.

What I didn’t like:

The first half of this book was kind of slow.

My conclusion:

For some reason I was constantly distracted when reading this book, either by holding a sleeping toddler in my arms, comforting a baby, or trying to read in 90 degree heat, but I still was able to end up finishing the book and finding that I enjoyed it.

I give The Lady of Bolton Hill 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Bethany House. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Review of Not a Fan

Not a Fan
Written by: Kyle Idleman
Published by: Zondervan

I am interested in books that call you to live a radical, different, kind of faith life… those that call you to actually live your life in a way different from those who don’t share your faith, and that’s what I thought this book would be about, and it is.

Who the book is for:

This book feels like it was written for teens, though I believe it is an adult book. I would recommend it to teens and young adults.

What I liked:

At the end of every (or most every, anyway) chapter there is a story of someone who is “not a fan”, I enjoyed these stories of believers who are totally committed to their faith.

What I didn’t like:

There are little jokes inserted here and there that sort of “interrupt” the book and make it hard to read, and most of them aren’t that funny, anyway.

My conclusion:

I actually found that the last chapter or two of this book were the most interesting, easy to read, chapters of the whole book.

I give Not a Fan 3 out of 5 stars.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book free to review from Zondervan. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Review of Shattered

Shattered

Written by: Melody Carlson
Published by: NavPress

I’ve long been a fan of Melody Carlson, and so I decided to read this book despite the fact that it is a book written for and about teens.

This book is about Cleo Neilson, a seventeen year old girl who sneaks off to a concert with her friend… the night she sneaks away something horrible happens… Cleo then must live with the guilt (and the secret) of what she did that night.

Who the book is for:

Teenagers, particularly girls. (Please note, there is drug content in this book, so mature readers only.)

What I liked:

This book kept me interested, I was anxious to find out how everything would turn out.

What I didn’t like:

While the book has a sad story I didn’t really feel like it “touched” me, I wasn’t really involved enough to feel Cleo’s pain as much as I felt I should have been able to.

My conclusion:

This was an interesting and unique work of fiction, but it wasn’t the greatest, and I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from NavPress. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of When Sparrows Fall

When Sparrows Fall

Written by: Meg Moseley
Published by: Multnomah

I thought this book sounded like it would be interesting and I was not disappointed.

When Sparrows Fall is the story of Miranda Hanford, a widowed mom of six, who has been keeping a secret for many years… Miranda is a member of a radical “church”, and lives her life in a way similar to the Amish (perhaps more extreme?) When Miranda falls and gets hurt Jack, the half brother of her dead her dead husband (whom she had only met once, prior), must step in and help her and her children out.

Who the book is for:

Lovers of contemporary fiction such as myself. Teens and adults. Women and Men.

What I liked:

I loved reading of how Jack introduced the kids to things they had never known, such as Frosted Flakes and car washes.

The whole book was interesting and I never wanted to put it down.

What I didn’t like:

There was nothing in this book that I didn’t like.

My conclusion:

When Sparrows Fall has to be one of the best books that I have read recently, I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

I received this book free to review from Multnomah. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of I Just Want You to Know

I Just Want You to Know

Written by: Kate Gosselin
Published by: Zondervan

I watched Jon & Kate Plus Eight here and there when I had the opportunity, and I sort of got to know the Gosselin family through it, and I admit I was never much of a fan of Kate… but I was interested enough to check this book out anyway.

Who the book is for:

Teens and adults, fans of Jon & Kate Plus Eight, parents - especially moms.

What I liked:

Kate shares her real life, she admits things that she did wrong and how she didn’t always handle each situation the best way possible. Despite the fact that I used to think Kate seemed like a grump and someone I would never like, I found myself seeing things through her eyes… I can’t imagine raising six children who are all the same age… imagine having six 2 year olds!

What I didn’t like:

I don’t know if this necessarily belongs by things I didn’t like about the book, but I find that books about large families always seem to exaggerate about how much they eat… in this book, for example, Kate mentions that their family would eat four boxes of cereal for breakfast! Really?! Cause my family is larger than her family, and we don’t even eat one box - perhaps the Gosselins are just big eaters?

My conclusion:

This is a good book that offered a look into the real life of Kate Gosselin, that I found myself enjoying. I give I Just Want You to Know 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Zondervan. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Reggie

Reggie

Written by: Reggie Dabbs with John Driver
Published by: Thomas Nelson

I’ve seen Reggie Dabbs speak multiple times, and so I was interested in reading his story of his life, thinking this was an auto-biography, instead I found this book basically just the speech that I have heard over and over.

Reggie Dabbs tries to encourage youth with the fact that they have a Father who loves them, regardless of who their father here on earth may be. He shares love with those who have none.

Who the book is for:

Teens and adults.

What I liked:

This book, like Reggie’s speaking, is encouraging and shows us how God is out Daddy.

What I didn’t like:

The book is a bit boring, and as I stated above it wasn’t what I thought it would be.

My conclusion:

If you have never seen Reggie Dabbs speak, or if you saw him speak and loved what he had to say, this is a good book for you. I, personally, give Reggie 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Thomas Nelson. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Review of Desert Gift

Desert Gift

Written by: Sally John
Published by: Tyndale Fiction

I enjoy reading contemporary fiction books, though I haven’t been reading as many of them lately… so I was happy to read and review Desert Gift.

Jillian Galloway is a marriage expert whose own marriage of over 20 years is suddenly torn apart. In this book you follow her on her journey to deal with this and to find out what went wrong to cause her marriage to end.

Who the book is for:

Those who enjoy contemporary fiction books, especially women. Those who are having a difficult time in their own marriage may especially enjoy this book.

What I liked:

The story was mostly interesting and had some touching parts. The characters were unique and fun to get to know.

What I didn’t like:

The book was at times a bit boring.

My conclusion:

Desert Gift is an okay book. I didn’t love it, but I did enjoy reading it once. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Tyndale Fiction.

The views in this review are my thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Review of Desert Gift

Desert Gift

Written by: Sally John
Published by: Tyndale Fiction

I enjoy reading contemporary fiction books, though I haven’t been reading as many of them lately… so I was happy to read and review Desert Gift.

Jillian Galloway is a marriage expert whose own marriage of over 20 years is suddenly torn apart. In this book you follow her on her journey to deal with this and to find out what went wrong to cause her marriage to end.

Who the book is for:

Those who enjoy contemporary fiction books, especially women. Those who are having a difficult time in their own marriage may especially enjoy this book.

What I liked:

The story was mostly interesting and had some touching parts. The characters were unique and fun to get to know.

What I didn’t like:

The book was at times a bit boring.

My conclusion:

Desert Gift is an okay book. I didn’t love it, but I did enjoy reading it once. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Tyndale Fiction.

The views in this review are my thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Review of I Am His

I Am His

Written by: Rita J. Platt
Published by: NavPress

My little nephew just turned one, and he has recently started saying a few words and, perhaps, actually knowing what they mean. “Dada” is one of those words… he loves his daddy and a lot of the time he doesn’t just say “dada”, he says “dada, ha ha”, as if bragging about how funny his daddy is. Whenever my nephew sees his daddy a big smile crosses his face. When Rita Platt mentions how “Abba” has a similar meaning to “daddy” I started thinking that perhaps it even has a similar meaning to “dada”, perhaps if we think of God as our “dada” we will find comfort in Him and we will feel we are truly His. I Am His is about finding that child to “dada” relationship, and knowing that we are God’s.

Who the book is for:

Women who need to feel their Heavenly Father’s love.

What I liked:

This book showed me how God is truly my father, and how he loves me and cares for me.

This book helps those of us who never had a special relationship with our earthly fathers to still enjoy a good father/daughter relationship with our Heavenly father.

This book uses some true stories of women to prove points and keep us interested.

What I didn’t like:

The chapters are really long.

Parts of the book are really boring.

My conclusion:

This is an okay book. It might make a good study for those who actually use it as one, I simply read it as a book.

I give I Am His 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from NavPress. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of The Chocolate Diaries

The Chocolate Diaries

Written by: Karen Scalf Linamen
Published by: WaterBrook Press

I choose to read The Chocolate Diaries actually expecting it to be like the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, in a way I guess it could be compared to those books, but I found I preferred it.

This is a book of encouragement for when we face every day difficulties and even big struggles on this journey called life.

Who the book is for:

Woman, specifically Christian women, who are facing any kind of struggles and could use a bit of encouragement. I think this book, along with some chocolate, would make a great gift for someone you know who is facing hard times.

What I liked:

The Chocolate Diaries is real. Including true stories of people who have gone through, and are going through, various trials and troubles on the journey of life. Written in a very open and honest way.

Includes recipes for various yummy sounding chocolate treats.

What I didn’t like:

In the midst of each chapter there is this little special section called “Sweet Secrets” and it kind of interrupts what you are reading, I wish that section would have just been at the end of the chapter, instead.

My conclusion:

This is a good book, I found myself enjoying it and being encouraged by it, more than I was expecting to.

I give The Chocolate Diaries 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from WaterBrook Press. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Vicious Cycle

Vicious Cycle

Written by: Terri Blackstock
Published by: Zondervan

I used to love reading Terri Blackstock’s books, but hadn’t read any for awhile before I chose to read and review this one… her writing is as good as I remembered!

Vicious Cycle is the story of the Covington family, which consists of a teenage girl about to “graduate” from rehab, a teenage boy who gets caught with an abandoned baby in his backseat, and a single mom who is struggling to be all she needs to be for both of them.

Who the book is for:

Adults and mature teens who love some excitement in their book!

What I liked:

The story was both touching and exciting and very engaging, perfect in so many ways.

Not only is Vicious Cycle a good story, but is also quite intense in the last quarter of the book or so, which I found really refreshing, because a lot of times when I am reading a book by the time I get towards the end I will be hoping for it to just end, that wasn’t the case with this book.

What I didn’t like:

I loved this book!

My conclusion:

Vicious Cycle is a great book! I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

I received this book free to review from Zondervan. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Goodbye Hollywood Nobody

Goodbye Hollywood Nobody

Written by: Lisa Samson
Published by: NavPress

So, I haven’t quite moved myself completely past teen fiction books yet, haha. I read the first book in this series when I was a teen and read this fourth book in the series as an adult.

Goodbye Hollywood Nobody is the continuing story of Scotty, a teen girl who is trying to do something “more” with her life, trying to do something for Jesus.

Who the book is for:

Teens, adults like myself, females, especially good for those who have read the other books in the series.

What I liked:

The story was interesting and unique.

I liked how Scotty gives of her time volunteering at a home for children.

What I didn’t like:

I found it hard to understand all that was going on in the book, since it has been so long since I read the earlier books in the series - and I don’t think I read the one that came right before this one.

My conclusion:

Goodbye Hollywood Nobody is a good addition to a great series written especially for teens.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from NavPress. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Another Dawn

Another Dawn

Written by: Kathryn Cushman
Published by: Bethany House

Another Dawn is the story of Grace Graham and her son Dylan. Grace has always blamed her father for her mother’s death and that has strained her relationship with him, now her father is in need of her help and Grace must take her son and go stay with him as he recovers from surgery. While visiting her father Grace’s son gets sick and soon the who town is affected and upset with Grace, how can Grace make everything turn out fine again?

Who the book is for:

This is good fiction reading for any adults, in particular women. I also think that you will enjoy it more if you are in support of vaccinating children, rather than if you are not.

What I liked:

The story is interesting and kept my attention.

The story is emotional and really drew me in.

There is a message of forgiveness woven into this book.

What I didn’t like:

The focus on vaccinations and that whole debate was at times a little boring.

I really didn’t like how Grace’s father’s choice to smoke - which ended up leading to his wife dying of cancer - was compared to Grace’s choice not to vaccinate her son - which ends up possibly harming all those around him… Grace’s choice was for the protection of her son, not knowing that it was going to affect others, while her father’s choice was only for his own enjoyment and everyone knows that second hand smoke can harm and kill people.

My conclusion:

I must say that this is perhaps the most unique fiction book that I have ever read, the first book that was completely focused on a single issue such as vaccinations. Despite that fact, I enjoyed this book a great deal.

I give Another Dawn 4 out of 5 stars, and I recommend it.

(Although I enjoyed this book I don’t necessarily agree with all of the pros and cons in it regarding vaccinations, and I suggest that you do your own research and soul searching rather than being persuaded by a fiction book.)

I received Another Dawn free to review from Bethany House. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of The First Escape

The First Escape

Written by: G. P. Taylor
Published by: SaltRiver

I was attracted to this book because it looked unlike any book I have ever read, now that I’ve read it I know that it is very unique and unlike the books I am used to.

This book blends a regular style fiction book with pages of the story continuing comic style.

Who the book is for:

The back of the book categorizes it as “Juvenile Fiction”, I would recommend it for teens and adults as the content is a little dark for children and as I found it enjoyable as an adult.

What I liked:

It’s uniqueness!

It kept me interested.

I loved how it combined the two styles of books into one.

What I didn’t like:

Parts of the book were a little random and a little hard to

My conclusion:

This is an interesting book, I am thinking that my older brothers might enjoy reading it.

I recommend The First Escape for ages 13 and up and I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Thomas Nelson. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255,

My Review of God Gave Us You

God Gave Us You

Written by: Lisa Tawn Bergren
Illustrated by: Laura J. Bryant
Published by: WaterBrook Press

I am excited to give God Gave Us You along with God Gave Us Two to my little nephew for Easter, because they are both special, sentimental, books.

The story:

The story starts with the little bear asking the always scary question to parents, “where did I come from?” After that the book is filled with the mama bear answering his question in a beautiful child friendly way, telling of how God gave the little bear to his mommy and daddy, and how excited her and his daddy were for his arrival.

Note, I just realized I have been calling the little bear a “he”, but in actuality the book calls her a “she”.

The illustrations:

Are cute scenes of the bear family.

Pictures of polar bear angels were a little strange to me… but to each his own, I guess.

How strong is the book?

This is a hardcover book that is relatively strong, but my nephew hasn’t gotten hold of it yet.

Who the book is for:

This would make a great gift for a new baby, or for a baby shower. This book is also good for reading to children once they are old enough to start asking a lot of questions.

What I liked:

God Gave Us You is a sweet story of parental love.

What I didn’t like:

As I stated above, personally I didn’t like the polar bear angels.

My conclusion:

This is an excellent book and will make a great gift. I give God Gave Us You 5 out of 5 stars!

I received this book free to review from Blogging for Books, opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Max on Life

Max on Life

Written by: Max Lucado
Published by: Thomas Nelson

I read a lot of Max Lucado books in my teen years, and one in the past year or so, and he has always been someone who can write books that I both enjoy reading and learn from. I thought that this book would be extra interesting in that it deals with all kinds of issues and problems that way face in our lives.

Who the book is for:

Christians, fans of Max Lucado, adults and teens.

What I liked:

I really appreciated Max’s thoughts on forgiveness, as that is something that I struggle with.

Max on Life answers a lot of questions that I have always wanted answers to, and gives me a different perspective to consider on some subjects that I have my own beliefs about.

This book is packed!

What I didn’t like:

I didn’t expect this book to touch on the issue of abortion, yet it did, and I was surprised at what was said. After much talk about how tough it is for those who are facing an unwanted pregnancy, almost sounding like their abortions can be justified, Max states that he believes that “other than cases where abortion saves the life of the mother” we are to “protect the child”. I wish he hadn’t touched on this subject or had left that part out, I could debate with him or anyone who believes in any type of abortion for hours on end, and I could debate with him on other parts of this, but this is a book review not a debate, so I won’t let myself go off any longer.

Often in the book Max seems to just make up an answer without giving any Biblical support to what he has to say.

My conclusion:

Max on Life is a decent book. I would not give it to someone who isn’t a strong Christian, but I do plan on, possibly, giving it to my brother-in-law who is a big fan of Max Lucado.

I would give Max on Life 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Book Sneeze (Thomas Nelson.) The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Vanished

Vanished

Written by: Kristi Holl
Published by: ZonderKidz

I used to enjoy mystery books when I was a kid, and so I read this kid’s mystery book now as an adult.

Vanished is the story of twelve year old Jeri McKane who attends a all girl boarding school. One of her friends goes missing, along with a van full of other girls from the school, and Jeri sets out to find what happened.

Who the book is for:

I am assuming that the recommend age for this book is probably 8 - 12, but I think the content is a little too dark and heavy and - dare I say - scary for 8 and 9 year old children. I would recommend this book for girls 10 - 13.

What I liked:

The story is interesting, even for an adult. It contains many twists and turns and kept me guessing until the end.

What I didn’t like:

Reading kid’s mystery books as an adult now I sort of fear the message that they send, Jeri is fearless and does things that could (in real life) end up causing her to get hurt or killed… not necessarily something that you would want your child following.

My conclusion:

Vanished is all-in-all a pretty decent book, as long as it is read by mature children I would give it 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Zondervan/ZonderKidz. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of God Gave Us Two

God Gave Us Two

Written by: Lisa Tawn Bergren
Illustrated by: Laura J. Bryant
Published by: WaterBrook Press

My nephew is about to become a big brother, when the baby comes he will be the old age of 15 months. J I know that he doesn’t really understand what is going on and he doesn’t realize that the baby is coming, but he will face many changes once the baby is born. I thought this book was a perfect gift to get for him!

The story:

If you’ve read any of the other “God Gave Us…” books, you already know the bear family that is in them. This family consists of a mom, dad, and little girl cub, and is now going to be extended because the mama is expecting. The little girl cub worries that after the baby is born things will change and her parents won’t love her as much anymore, but her parents repeatedly remind her “God Gave Us You and now God Gave Us Two.”

The illustrations:

Are cute and well done. I love the cover picture of the pregnant mama polar bear.

How strong is the book?

This is a hardcover book that seems to be relatively strong, but my nephew hasn’t started chewing on it yet, so who knows.

Who the book is for:

Children who are about to become first time big siblings, I would think it could be applicable up until about 8 or 9 years old.

What I liked:

The story is precious, this is by far my favorite of the “God Gave Us…” books.

The illustrations are cute.

The idea is great, and I am excited to give this book to my nephew and his parents.

What I didn’t like:

Nothing.

My conclusion:

This is a great book and I highly recommend it.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!

I received this book free to review from Blogging For Books (Waterbrook Press). The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of A Deeper Kind of Calm

A Deeper Kind of Calm
Written by: Linda Dillow
Published by: NavPress

I live a life that sometimes seems to be filled with anxiety, and I wanted help in finding the peace that I know God can offer me… this book didn’t really do it for me.

Who the book is for:

In my opinion, I would recommend this book to older women, those who are close to the author’s 60+ age.

What I liked:

The book is sort of a study on the Psalms, which we are also studying in my church, so I found that kind of neat.

What I didn’t like:

This book is a boring read.

This book didn’t really offer any useful information or advice or help of any kind to me.

The cover of this book is old fashioned and should have scared me off to start with.

My conclusion:

I feel bad, but I can only give this book 2 out of 5 stars.

I am hoping my review isn’t affected by the fact that I have just gone through a very frustrating online selling situation in which I ended up losing over $10 trying to earn money.

I received this book free to review from NavPress. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of The Lost Little Fish

The Lost Little Fish

Written by: Allan J. Hayward
Cover Design by: Rick Rieger
Published by: Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc

The cover of this book looks so fun to me! When I received it in the mail I was excited, hoping it would be something that I could give to my nephew… the inside of the book did not live up to the cover.

The story:

A fish gets washed ashore and doesn’t know what to do. He walks around on his tail fins and gets laughed at. Finally a dog leads him to a pond where he finds out that he belongs in water.

The illustrations:

The cover is great, the inside of the book is only illustrated with gray pencil-like drawings. Let me be clear, there is no color whatsoever in the inside of this book.

How strong is the book?

This is a paperback book which seems relatively well made.

Who the book is for:

Children aged 3 - 5 might find it funny and enjoy it.

What I liked:

The story could be funny to a child.

The cover is good.

What I didn’t like:

The story is kind of strange.

The inside does not contain any colored pictures.

My conclusion:

I give this book 2 out of 5 stars, if it had pictures in the inside to match the cover I would change that to 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from Dorrance Publishing Co, Inc.. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Tyndale House Blog Network Giveaway

I am so excited! There is a contest going on here where you can enter each day to win books from Tyndale! I can always use more books! :)

Tyndale House Blog Network Giveaway

I am so excited! There is a contest going on here where you can enter each day to win books from Tyndale! I can always use more books! :)

My Review of Deeper into the Word

Deeper into the Word New Testament

Written by: Keri Wyatt Kent
Published by: Bethany House

Have you ever wanted to dive deeper, so to speak, into the meaning and use of words in the Bible? This book helps you do just that, with reflections on 100 different words used in the New Testament.

Who the book is for:

Anyone who wants to study the Bible deeper.

I think Deeper into the Word would be a great gift for a pastor!

What I liked:

I like that I can look up words from my daily Bible reading and study them easily through this book.

The words in this book are arranged alphabetically which makes it easy to find what you are looking for - there is also a Table of Contents to make it even easier.

What I didn’t like:

There is nothing about this book that I do not like.

My conclusion:

I give Deeper into the Word 5 out of 5 stars, and I am excited to see how it will change my Bible studying habits and even my life.

Thanks Bethany House for a great book!

I received this book free to review from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Scars of a Chef

Scars of a Chef

Written by: Rick Tramonto with Lisa Jackson
Published by: SaltRiver, an imprint of Tyndale House Publishing

I love reading autobiographies, and I was excited to learn more about a famous chef, who I knew nothing at all about before reading this book.

This is the story of Rick Tramonto, a chef who worked his way up from a high school dropout on drugs working at Wendy’s to become a celebrity chef known around the world. The story of a man’s search for real faith.

At the end of each chapter there is a recipe you can use at home!

Who the book is for:

Those who share my love of autobiographies.

Those who share my love of food and of cooking shows, and celebrity chefs.

What I liked:

This book really kept my attention, Rick had/has an interesting and event full life.

The chapters were a nice length.

What I didn’t like:

There is nothing that I didn’t like about this book.

My conclusion:

This is a good autobiography and I really enjoyed it.

I received this book free to review from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of TrueFaced

TrueFaced

Written by: Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, and John Lynch
Published by: NavPress

I struggle with being fake, and not showing my true self, and so I chose this book to see what it had to say… and this book actually ended up being mostly about forgiveness, something else I also struggle with.

Who the book is for:

People like me, who don’t like others to see us for who we truly are, and who struggle with forgiving others or ourselves.

What I liked:

This book brought a lot of things to light for me.

What I didn’t like:

The book kind of jumps around and touches on a bunch of theories and subjects without getting too deeply into any of them.

The chapters are very long, something I find makes a book hard to read.

My conclusion:

This is an okay book on a subject that I feel I needed to read.

I give TrueFaced 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from NavPress. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Love Me Back to Life

Love Me Back to Life

Written by: Missy Horsfall and Susan Stevens
Published by: Barbour

This is the story of a woman who was abused as a child and how that is still affecting her life as a married mother of two.

I was able to read this book for free on my computer through a new to me site that I found called Net Gallery.

Who the book is for:

Any woman.

What I liked:

This is a moving story.

This story kept my attention from the first page through the last one.

I appreciated the fact that this book was about a family, a mother, rather than just being another romance novel or something.

What I didn’t like:

There is nothing that I didn’t like about this book.

My conclusion:

This is a good book, and a good eye opener about the effects of childhood abuse even into adulthood.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I read this book for free through Net Gallery. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of Regret Free Parenting

Regret Free Parenting

Written by: Catherine Hickem, LCSW
Published by: Thomas Nelson

I am not a parent, but I am obsessed with the parent/child relationship, and I also love to learn all I can about how to interact with children. I am an auntie and I plan to one day be an amazing mom. I was excited to read this book because it was not focused on just one aspect of parenting, such as discipline, but was about parenting as a whole.

Who the book is for:

Moms, specifically, though dads could read it too. Random people like me who enjoy reading parenting books.

What I liked:

This is a very positive book about raising children in a positive way.

I love how Catherine says that a parent needs to first show their child respect before expecting respect from their child, seems most parenting experts think it is the opposite.

This book is easy and enjoyable to read, as it is filled with multiple interesting real life stories.

This book encourages being the best mom you can be, and including God in your parenting.

What I didn’t like:

There is really nothing I didn’t like, other than one of the books listed in the recommended books section in the back of the book being a book that I don’t like and disagree with.

My conclusion:

This is a very good book, though I originally planned on passing it on to my sister who is a mother, I want to hold onto it until I am a mother and I think I will just let her borrow it.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from BookSneeze. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of God Made the Sun to Shine

God Made the Sun to Shine

Written by: Doris J. Madkins
Published by: Dorrance Publishing Company

I love to read kid's books, and I was excited to find a new publishing company to review books for that publishes books for children.

I chose to read this book in particular because the story sounded interesting. This book is about a little girl who is left alone a lot and who is mother-less. That's pretty much the story.

Who the book is for:

Umm... I honestly don't know... it's sort of written for older children, but it is about a three year old girl... it also might be too grown up for beginning readers to read on their own... maybe it could be read to children from like four to six?

What I liked:

The cover is kind of cute.

What I didn't like:

The story is strange and not much of a story at all.

The pictures in the inside of the book are just outlined in black, no color.

The book itself is really thin and flimsy.

My conclusion:

I am happy to have gotten this book for free, and I look forward to getting more from this company, but I can't really recommend this book.

I give God Made the Sun to Shine two out of five stars.

I received a complimentary copy of God Made the Sun to Shine as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

My Review of The Chase

The Chase
Pursuing Holiness in Your Everyday Life

Written by: Jerry Bridges, with Jay and Jen Howver
Published by: Th1nk Books, an imprint of NavPress

As Christians we all long to be holy, or at least we should, but what is holiness? And how can we achieve it? Or can we even truly achieve? This book answers those questions and more.

Who the book is for:

The Chase is supposed to be for teens, but it is appropriate for adults as well.

What I liked:

There is much truth in this book that will help to lead us to a holier life.

The chapters are very short, which is always a plus with me.

The book is small and light, yet packed with a bunch of information.

What I didn’t like:

The book should have been proofread (or is the font supposed to look that way?) There are many times where one word or letter would run into the next, and spots where there are spaces where there shouldn’t be spaces.

I didn’t like the version of the Bible that they chose to use when quoting it, I think that they could have used a “deeper”, less simplified version, rather than the Message, since they were explaining the verses themselves, anyway.

My conclusion:

This is a good book calling us to a holier life. I give The Chase four out of five stars.

I received this book free to review from NavPress. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Dragon and the Turtle Go On Safari

The Dragon and the Turtle Go On Safari

Written by: Donita K. Paul and Evangeline Denmark
Illustrated by: Vincent Nguyen
Published by: WaterBrook Press

I chose to review this book because I love kids’ books, I admit, I wasn’t planning on liking it.

This is the story of a dragon and a turtle who are camping out in a jungle. When they head in to bed they start to feel scared. They learn to be brave and end up staying out all night as planned.

Who the book is for:

My guess would be 4 and 5 year old children.

What I liked:

The pictures are nice.

The message, not to be scared, is perfect for the age group that I found this book appropriate for.

The book includes a discussion page for parents.

What I didn’t like:

The story is kind of scattered and is hard to follow.

The “accent” or “language” of the animals would probably confuse children and I don’t know what the point was behind writing it the way it was written.

My conclusion:

This is a book unlike any that I have ever read, but I don’t know if that is a good thing. I don’t know that children would enjoy this book. I will give this book 3 stars because of the positive message, and because of the pictures.

I received this book free to review from WaterBrook. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Review of Becoming a Woman of Influence

Becoming a Woman of Influence

Written by: Carol Kent
Published by: NavPress

This book is about being a mentor to those around you and about leading others in faith. This book is not only for those who want to formally mentor, I found a lot of it applied to me as well.

Who the book is for:

Women, obviously, who want to lead others by example, by being there for them, etc..

What I liked:

This book read easily and was interesting.

Carol Kent included a lot of real life stories that went along with what she was teaching.

What I didn’t like:

It seemed unprofessional, and a bit weird, that Carol Kent used a very contemporary version of the Bible whenever she referenced verses… since she was giving an explanation of what the verse means, I felt it would have made more sense for her to include a “deeper” and less self explanatory version, if that makes any sense.

My conclusion:

This is a good book, great for women who want to influence others. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free to review from NavPress. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Review of God Loves Me More Than That

God Loves Me More Than That

Written by: Dandi Daley Mackall
Illustrated by: David Hohn
Published by: WaterBrook Press

The cover of this book caught my attention and drew me to read it. The picture of a dandelion blowing in the breeze, nothing better than a beautiful summer day like that.

How much does God love me? He loves me wider than this, and bigger than that.

Who the book is for:

Children from infants through like five or six.

What I liked:

I like the cover, as I’ve already mentioned.

The pictures are colorful and would attract a child’s attention.

I like that the book rhymes!

I love this line, “More than the bumbles in a bumble bee.”

The story is cute.

What I didn’t like:

The pictures could be cuter, but they are colorful, as I’ve mentioned above.

My conclusion:

This is a really cute book, one that I would like to add to my own collection of books, or to pass on to my niece or my nephew. I recommend this book!

I received this book free to review from WaterBrook. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

iShine Bible Review

iShine Bible Totally for Tweens

Published by: Tyndale House

I got this Bible to review from Tyndale House and I plan on giving to my younger brother for his Birthday. I was surprised by the size of it, and it was “cuter” than I thought it would be.

Who the book is for:

This book is made for tween boys and would definitely be good for them, but I am giving it to my teenage brother and I feel it is appropriate for him as well.

What I liked:

The devotional special sections of the Bible are very good, I am excited for my little brother to read them. Though this Bible includes special sections, it is not all messed up and disorganized as some Bibles are, it is very neat and tidy and easy to read.

The Bible looks nice and feels nice, as it is made with fake leather.

NLT is a pretty good translation in my version.

What I didn’t like:

The print is very small, which I think will make it hard for my brother to read.

My conclusion:

This is a nice little Bible and I look forward to gifting it to my brother.

I received this book free to review from Tyndale House. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Read and Share Stories about Jesus

Read and Share Stories about Jesus

Written by: Gwen Ellis
Illustrated by: Steve Smallman
Published by: Tommy Nelson

I choose to review this book through the BookSneeze program because I thought that it would make a great gift. I was a little disappointed.

Who the book is for:

This is the first problem with this book. This is a board book, so I would think it would be for babies and that the stories would be simple and baby-ish, but they are not. They even include questions such as, “Have you been baptized?” It seems this book is more appropriate for four or five year olds.

What I liked:

The pictures are kind of cute.

I like the fact that the stories list the Bible reference for each one.

What I didn’t like:

The book is poorly made the edges were a bit ragged, the edge after I read it.

The stories were written too grown up for the intended audience.

My conclusion:

This is an okay book, but I don’t really recommend it, buy a better one!

I received this book free to review from BookSneeze. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255,

Review of The Case of the Missing Mountain

The Case of the Missing Mountain

Written by: Kim Jones
Published by: Master Books

I received this book to review, hoping it would be something that my younger brother would enjoy and upon receiving it I think he will!

This game is filled with various puzzles and games.

Who the book is for:

Preteens and teens, or younger children with help.

What I liked:

I like puzzles! This books looks like it will be a lot of fun.

This book is educational!

What I didn’t like:

Nothing.

My conclusion:

This is a good book for puzzle lovers!

I received this book free to review from New Leaf Publishing. The opinions expressed in this review are my true thoughts and feeling regarding this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255,