Friday, April 6, 2012

Great book about the Resurrection of Christ

Lifted, Experiencing the Resurrection Life is written by Sam Allberry and published by P&R Publishing.

There are not many books on the Resurrection so when I saw this book I was very interested in reading it. It did not disappoint! After reading this book you will never doubt the significance of the resurrection of Christ. Easter will not just be another holiday but a day to reflect on all Christ has given you by rising from the dead.

This book was laid out in a very easy to follow format. The language was very understandable and all the content was relevant. I liked the ample usage of Biblical references to help make his points. I especially enjoyed his writing style, as it was direct as well as instructional. I gave this book 5/5 stars because it was a well written and informative book about a subject not often written about.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

We were all created for a purpose

Frequency, Discovering Your Unique Connection To God is written by Eric Parks and Casey Bankord. This book is published by Worthy Publishing.

Do you believe that you were created for a purpose? How do you stay on course once the Lord points you in a certain direction? This book is a great tool to use when answering these questions and many more. The concept of the book is that we have been given a frequency or a certain spot or area on this earth at this particular time to be a witness for Christ.

I liked that this book stresses how we each are here for a reason and do have a purpose. I liked how it offered ways to stay focused on your "God-given frequency." Although there was helpful information there were also parts that were redundant and I found my mind wondering. It has enough positive and useful information to help any Christian seeking his purpose on earth and that is why I gave this book 4/5 stars.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.


This book has some real funny parts in it!

Cowgirl Trail is written by Susan Page Davis and published by Moody Publishers.

This book is part of the Texas Trail Series and is set in the late 1800’s. The story is about Maggie Porter and her struggle to keep the family ranch. The story itself is interesting and will keep you turning the page to find out what happens next. The characters are unique and keep you guessing about how they will react to the next difficult situation they encounter.

I liked how the women of the town stepped in and helped Maggie. I especially enjoyed the journey to sell the cattle. I actually laughed out loud a few times. All the main characters are well written and develop over the course of the story. The relationships are believable and don’t slow the story down. Overall it was a good Christian western book and I gave it 5/5 stars.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.


Want some ideas on how to read the Bible with your children?

Together, Growing Appetites For God is written by Carrie Ward and published by Moody Publishers.

This book is a good book for any mother who is trying to decide how to implement Bible reading with her children. The author is funny and gives some great ideas on ways to make reading the Bible interesting for your children. Her personal examples are what make the book worth reading. I enjoyed her sense of humor and also liked her simple ideas. Seeing the effect of reading the Bible with your children is the goal the author asks you to set. Although that sounds easy, after reading this book you will understand that it will take some effort on your part. I especially enjoyed the discussion questions available for each chapter. I thought they were well thought out and really made you think about what you had just read. I only gave this book 4/5 stars because although I liked all the personal stories, I think there was just too many of them. Sometimes less is better!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.


Wednesday, April 4, 2012

A great book on understanding your husband

Why Can't He Be More Like Me, is written by Poppy Smith and published by Harvest House.

The subtitle to this book, 9 Secrets to Understanding Your Husband, expresses just how simple and easy to understand this book is! It is a very organized and practical book with loads of helpful advice on ways to have a better relationship with your husband. I want to stress that this book is not just for wives but would also be great for any woman who is engaged!

Understanding where you both come from and what you want out of the marriage are two of the most helpful pieces of advice in the book. Seeing how our parents were together can influence how we treat each other. Understanding that concept will change how the two of you relate to each other. Making sure to frequently talk about where you want to be in the future also helps keep you walking down the same path at the same time!

I gave this book 5/5 stars because it was easy to read and understand. Each chapter had helpful and practical advice and would be a great present for any woman in a serious relationship.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.


An action filled mystery

Cuts Like a Knife is written by M.K. Gilroy and published by Worthy Publishing.

This story takes place in Chicago and centers on the main character of Detective Kristen Conner. The action in this book was excellent. I liked how the main characters interacted with each other. I really enjoyed the conversations throughout the story and felt they all fit in and helped move the story along. The story itself was well written and I liked the mystery and conflict that the story contained.

I gave this book 5/5 stars and would recommend it to anyone who likes a good action filled mystery staring a strong woman character.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.


Very practical advice

Doing Well at Being Sick, Living with Chronic and Acute Illness is written by Wendy Wallace and published by Discovery House.

Wendy Wallace knows what she is writing about! Using her very personal experiences of dealing with health issues over many years, she writes very practical advice for anyone that is dealing with an illness or knows someone who is. You will take away many lessons from this very realistic book. From what to expect at the doctors’office to what to say to those going through an illness, this book is filled with valuable advice.

The best advice the author offers is to draw closer to Christ while dealing with your illness. For those who have a family member it is important to lean on the Lord and remind your loved one that the Lord is their best friend, especially during these hard times.

I enjoyed this book and gave it 5/5 stars because it is has very practical advice and is written in an open and loving style.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.


Some helpful ideas

Twilight's Last Gleaming, How America's Last Days Can Be Your Best Days is written by Robert Jeffress and published by Worthy Publishing.

Feeling discouraged about what you are hearing in the news? This book will direct you to what the author says is the answer, living a life more about Christ and sharing your story with others. The author stresses his idea that the current problem the nation is dealing with is not only a bad economy but is really about the spirituality or lack of it in America. He offers ways to help change the course of the nation in a very simple format. His style of writing is simple and easy to understand. You can tell he writes from a concerned heart and not a judgmental one. Although you may not agree with all the author says in the book you will still walk away learning some great ways to change yourself and therefore your nation. I only gave this book 4/5 stars because I felt it did get a bit preachy at times.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.


Tuesday, April 3, 2012

This author is very direct

The God Who Sees You: Look to Him When You Feel Discouraged, Forgotten, or Invisible is written by Tammy Maltby and published by David C. Cook.

This author is very direct and I especially liked how her personality came out in her writing. If you are feeling lonely or lost in the crowd this book is perfect. Our relationship with Christ should be our most important one and understanding how much Christ loves us can change our whole perspective on life.

I thought the book was very encouraging and will really help you in your thinking. You will realize that mattering to Christ is what matters, not how many names you have listed under "friends." Understanding that Christ loves you and no person can care for you as much as Him, is one of the major lessons in the book. There was not a page in the book that I did not find something to think about or learn from.

I found the book to be entertaining without haughtiness. I liked everything about the book and think it is perfect for every woman to read, especially those going through a difficult time or feeling discouraged.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 5/5 stars.


I enjoyed the authors approach when writing this book

The Jesus Life: Eight Ways to Recover Authentic Christianity is written by Stephen Smith and published by David C. Cook.

I enjoyed the approach the author took when writing this book. This is not your normal step by step take on what it means to follow Christ. This book teaches you from the life Christ led while here on earth. How did He serve? Did He have time for others?

With most of our lives being full with responsibilities we need this book to remind us of what is important in life. Living our life like Christ so others can see Christ in us should be our first priority. This author reminds us how to do that by using Christ life as our perfect example.

I like the writing style and simple language used in this book. I thought it was very easy to understand and follow. If you need a lift in your Christian walk today this book is for you!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 5/5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book

Playing with Purpose: Baseball is written by Mike Yorkey and published by Barbour Publishing.

The subtitle to this book is Inside the Lives and Faith of Major League Stars. The author writes about the lives of some influential baseball players. He shows how they have used their faith to help them through difficult times. He also shows how they share their faith with others.

Two of the athletes highlighted are Albert Pujols and Marino Rivera. I enjoyed all the chapters but these two were the highlights of the book for me. The writing style in the book was fast paced and I was never bored. I liked how the stories moved quickly and kept my attention enough to see what would happen next.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to picking up his other Playing with Purpose books for Football and Basketball.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 5/5 stars.


A very personal story

The Secret Life of a Fool: One Man's Raw Journey from Shame to Grace is written by Andrew Palau and published by Worthy Publishing.

This is a very personal story told by the author about his life. The author is the son of an evangelist and spent some of his life running from his family and their beliefs. After reading this book you can’t help but see how much the Lord loves each of us and walks with us through life.

This book was very easy to read. The stories flowed well and will have you wanting to keep reading to see what happens. The best parts of the book are when the author directs you to the Lord. You will see over and over the Lords hand in his life and hopefully feel encouraged that the Lord is helping you as well.

I was very impressed with the authors’ openness in sharing his life experiences. He holds nothing back and because of that, really makes this book a page-turner. If you know someone who is struggling with a prodigal child or if you know a child who has walked away from Christianity this would be a great book for them to read!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 5/5 stars.


Monday, April 2, 2012

Learning how to live with a purpose

Whatever Is Lovely is written by Marsha Maurer and published by Carpenter’s Son Publishing.

Learning how to live your life with purpose is how I would describe the theme of this book. Using examples of design from the world around us she displays principles we should be living our life by. From opening our homes to others no matter the design of our furniture, to praising those around us instead of criticizing them, you will learn how to be a more lovely person and therefore have a more purposeful life.

The authors writing style is easy to read and you will feel like a friend has written you a special letter to read. She is open and funny with her personal stories that are the highlights of the book. I did feel it was a little eliquent at times, perhaps a little less in some paragraphs would have made the book flow better. However, I did enjoy her writing and felt she did a great job of highlighting some basic principles that we could each apply to our lives today.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 4/5 stars.

I loved, loved, loved this book!

What a lovely book! My Story My Song is Lucimarian Roberts thoughts on her life so far. The book tells of her life growing up and how singing and music played an important role. Her marriage to Lawrence Roberts, a United States Air Force officer and their life together are also highlighted.

Mrs. Roberts is the mother of Robin Roberts, a current coanchor of Good Morning America. Robin Roberts makes a few comments in the book but it is mostly the thoughts of Mrs. Roberts as she reflects on different times in her life. The influence of music played an important role in her life. All kinds of gospel music but mostly hymns have helped her through many lonely and difficult times. Reading her stories of playing the piano and how it encouraged her is a real encouragement to the reader as well.

It was fascinating to read about the times in which she dealt with the issue of segregation. Her perspective was thought provoking and a must read for anyone wanting a first hand view of what those times were like. This book is a very easy to read story. I felt like I was sitting on the couch next to a sweet woman who was telling me her story and offering excellent advice on how to learn on the Lord during hard times.

I enjoyed the book so much I did not put it down until I had finished it! Just reading this book has been an encouragement to me and I hope to someday meet this strong woman and tell her what a positive influence her life has been on all of us!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based solely on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 5/5 stars.


Loved the adventure in this book

Lady Anne’s Quest by Susan Page Davis is one of the books in the Prairie Dreams series. You do not have to read the others in the series to enjoy this book.

Lady Anne Stone is in search of her Uncle David whom she has not seen since she was a child. She has news about the family estate in England and must find him. So far her journey has not yielded much information as to his whereabouts. She finally finds a ranch that is titled in his name but the man saying he is her uncle is not her uncle! So starts the journey written about in this book.

Daniel Adams loves Lady Anne but she does not reciprocate his love. He accompanies her on her search for her uncle in hopes he can win her heart. The adventure that follows is not what he is expecting but will it bring the two of them closer?

The love story between Lady Anne and Daniel is a large part of the story but the search for her uncle is what moves the story along. There are thieves, rain storms, and mistaken identities that help make this story an adventure just as much as a romance.

It took me a bit to get into the story. However, after a few chapters the story picked up its pace and I enjoyed the adventure.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based solely on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 4/5 stars.


A great historical novel

Irish Healer by Nancy Herriman is set in the 1830’s in the city of London. Taking place during the times of cholera epidemics the story follows a doctor and an Irish healer.

Rachel Dunne decides it is better to flee her home in Ireland then stay where she is not wanted. She arrives in London and takes a temporary position with a Doctor. She does not tell her new employer of the recent charges she has been acquitted of. Being accused of murder is not something you talk about when you desperately need a place to hide away from the scandal.

James Edmunds is tired of being around so much sickness and death and decides to take over his Fathers old estate in the country. He hires Rachel to help with the packing up of his London home. Not wanting to fall in love again after a loveless marriage he is surprised by the feelings his new employee is causing him to have. Will James tell Rachel about his secret? Will he be willing to forgive her for not telling him about hers? Both will have to learn to trust God and each other before they can move on in their lives together.

This story was an easy read. The characters developed throughout the book and the conversations flowed flawlessly. The story itself had enough twists to keep you interested. I thought this was a well-written and enjoyable book!

I gave this book 5/5 stars.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.


Learning how to be honest with God

Can we be honest? This book, Honest To God: Becoming Brutally Honest with a Gracious God, will guide you into a life of honesty and therefore into a better relationship with God.

The author, Josh Weidmann, does an excellent job of sharing stories of others working towards total honesty. He describes how it changes their lives and brings them closer to God. One particular story helps you better understand how God can be angry and love. You learn by applying the same principle to your situations. Can you be honest with a loved one who has hurt you? Can you say I am hurt but still love you?

Learning how to be open and honest with God is the best principle you can take away from this book. The author teaches that if you can pray and be honest with God about how you are feeling you can really grow in your relationship with Him.

This book is very straightforward and easy to understand. The author lays out simple steps to being more honest in every situation you find yourself and shows that by doing this you will have a better relationship with God.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 5/5 stars.

A great book for all Grandparents to read!

Creative Grandparenting, How to Love and Nurture a New Generation is written by Judy and Jerry Schreur. This book is published by Discovery House Publishers.

What a great book for new or experienced grandparents! There are so many helpful ideas in this you should really take notes while reading. Taking you through the different age groups the authors show you ways to grow closer to your grandchildren and ways to help them grow spiritually.

The book is written in a very friendly manner and the authors’ present very thoughtfully written ideas. I thought the book was excellent and a great resource for all grandparents to own!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 5/5 stars.


I loved the town and characters in this book!

Downtown Green is written by Judy Christie and published by Abingdon Press.

This book is actually number 5 in the series. I have not read the others and feel like if I did I might have enjoyed the story even more. I loved the town and the characters and will be sure to pick up the others in the series and read them as well.

This book centers on Lois the owner of the towns’ newspaper. Changes are coming to the town and she has to decide whether she wants to support these changes or walk away from it all. How the town people interact with each other and react to the different circumstances they all face is what makes the book a fun read. I read the book in one sitting because the story just got better and better with each page.

I gave this book 5/5 stars because of the great character development and fun plot!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.


An interesting book....

Fools Rush In Where Monkeys Fear to Tread: Taking Aim at Everyone is written by Carl R Trueman and published by P&R Publishing.

This is an interesting book. I liked the concept of the book, using humor to talk about some pretty deep spiritual subjects. Although most of the book is written well, I found some of it to be a bit much. I think some of the joking was taken a little too far. I don't think the author meant for it to come across that way. I think that sometimes we can say something one way but when it is written down it can come across differently then what we wanted. However, the book itself is not condescending in nature and the use of personal examples is what makes the book worth reading.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 4/5 stars.


Three fun romances!

Love Finds A Way is written by Wanda Brunstetter and published by Barbour Publishing.
There are three easy to read romances in this book, Blueberry Surprise, Grandma’s Doll and Matchmaker 911. Each story is set in modern times and they are all fun reads.

The first romance, Blueberry Surprise’s plot was a bit slow at times but once the main characters started interacting with each other the story really picked up. I liked how they met over food. You don’t read a lot of romances with this setting but the author did an excellent job making it believable.

The second romance, Grandma’s Doll follows the main character as she searches for an antique doll. I enjoyed the parts where they search for the doll. I found that interesting and the search is what kept the story moving quickly. The romance was cute and I liked how the main characters related to one another.

The final story, Matchmaker 911 revolves around a father and daughter and their different ideas of what her future should hold. I enjoyed this story because it moved quickly and had great characters. The plot was acceptable and the characters relationships is what made this story so interesting!

I gave this book 5/5 stars because each story was good and the book was a fun and easy read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.