Linspired, The Remarkable Rise of Jeremy Lin is written by Mike Yorkey.
This book is about Jeremy Lin and is written by Mike Yorkey. Mr. Yorkey has written the well liked Playing with Purpose books and this new book about the famed basketball star will also not disappoint.
This book follows the beginning of Jeremy Lin’s basketball career. It talks about how he got into the NBA and how much his family history and his family influenced him. The author does well at writing about sports. He holds your attention without boring you. Even if you don’t like basketball you will still enjoy reading about this young man’s journey. I found this an interesting story and thought it was an easy read.
I gave the book 5/5 stars because the book is not just for fans of Jeremy Lin and basketball but also those who enjoy a good human-interest story. I would recommend this book for any sports fan and especially those who enjoy 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.
That’s Why I Am Here, The Chris and Stefanie Spielman Story is written by Chris Spielman.
What an inspiring story! Chris Spielman explains what has happened in his life thus far in this very open and loving book. The author is a very well known football player but not many know about his personal life and the tragedy of his wife Stefanie’s death from cancer. This book follows Chris’s football journey and their journey together through the cancer.
This book is easy to read and flows well. There is a lot of football in it but also spiritual insight and encouragement for those going through the cancer battle. You can feel the love in the husband and wife relationship and will be encouraged by it. I gave this book 5/5 stars because I thought it was well written and the author did very well at explaining the real journey couples go through when dealing with cancer.
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.
Sifted, Pursuing Growth Through Trials, Challenges and Disappointments is written by Wayne Cordeiro.
This is an excellent book for those involved in starting and leading a church congregation. You will read this and take away some very simple advice and also be encouraged as you work each day for the Lord.
There were many parts of this book that I found enlightening. I thought the authors’ view that you have to have a vision to really grow your ministry was a very good one. His practical advice on handling issues that come up in a congregation was well written. The author’s writing is simple and easy to understand. He offers clear advice and encouragement.
After reading this book you will realize that being called to the ministry is just as much a job as any other work you might try to do. I gave this book 4/5 stars because although it offers excellent advice and words of encouragement I thought some of it was tedious.
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.
Downfall is written by Terri Blackstock.
I love any book by Terri Blackstock and found this book to be as well written as her others. She is superb at writing suspense filled stories that keep you guessing till the end.
This is book three in the Intervention Series and is just as good as the others in the series. This particular book follows Emily Covington. You will not be able to put this book down till you see if Emily remains safe. The twists and turns keep you turning the pages and make this a great mystery.
I will say that you do not have to read the others in the series to enjoy this one but it helps you to understand the family better if you do. I gave this book 5/5 stars because I liked the characters and the story line itself. The suspense is great and I look forward to reading more books by this author!
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.
From Across The Ancient Waters is written by Michael Phillips.
This is another great book written by Michael Phillips. The particular book is the first in the new series The Green Hills of Snowdonia. I have to admit I had some late nights while reading this book. I did not want to put it down and walk back into reality! There is so much great detail in this story that you feel like you are right there with the characters.
The author does an excellent job at description and character development. How the settings are described helps you feel like you are right there! The two main characters in this book, Percy and Gwyneth both change and grow as their story progresses. You can read some books and not really see this but this author in this book does it flawlessly.
I liked the adventure, romance and drama found throughout the story. I especially look forward to reading the next in the series. I gave this book 5/5 stars as it is one of the best books I have read this year!
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.
What’s The Least I Can Believe And Still Be A Christian? A Guide To What Matters Most is written by Martin Thielen.
I was so looking forward to reading this book. I thought it would have all this helpful easy to understand information. I put the book down discouraged and actually even more confused on certain subjects. I think the idea of the book is great but the author just does not deliver.
The author lists 10 things that he says we don’t need to believe. You will agree with some and disagree with others. I found no real support for what he was saying. He did not really back up his opinions and therefore left me feeling like they were just his opinions and not necessarily the truth. I will not read this book again and do not really recommend it to anyone. If you do decide to read it be sure to have your Bible handy so you can look up the subjects for yourself and see if you agree with what the author says! I only gave this book 3/5 stars because there really was nothing I liked about the book but gave the author credit for taking the time to write it.
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.
Yesterday’s Stardust is written by Becky Melby.
I found this book intriguing. I liked how the author intertwined the two stories going on, one now and one set in the 1920’s. The main character, Dani, finds a journal from the 20’s and it sends her on a discovery mission. Her life is already complicated with a story involving a local gang. There is also a romance between Dani and another main character Nicky.
All the characters are interesting and the story itself holds your interest. I did find parts to be confusing but once I got into each story and remembered the right characters for the right story it read pretty fast. I think this book would be good for anyone who likes a good mystery as well as historical Christian fiction. I enjoyed this writer’s style and will be reading more of her books. I gave this book 4/5 stars because although the story itself held my interest, I did get confused a few times on what was happing.
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.
Honoring God in Red or Blue, Approaching Politics with Humility, Grace, and Reason is written by Dr. Amy E. Black.
Not politics! Don’t ever talk about politics with family and friends right? Well this book talks about it and is an easy guide to navigating those awkward dinner table talks! This is a good instruction book with easy ways to talk about politics in a balance way. I like how the author shows that all Christians should approach these talks with respect and show love in our responses no matter if we agree with the other person or not. Her examples will help you debate issues in a considerate manner. If you know someone who is really into the politics scene they can learn from reading this book. Any person who does not enjoy politics can still read this book and learn some ways to diffuse an out of hand discussion! The idea of the book is a good one but the actual book did not meet all my expectations. That said, I still gave the 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.
Everything Happens For A Reason? God’s Purpose In A World Gone Bad is written by Paul Enns.
Why does God allow all these bad things to happen on the earth everyday? Using scripture, the author does his best to show the reader how to find comfort in the Lord no matter what is going on around them.
The author’s use of personal stories is what makes this book so interesting. He has a subject he discusses and uses real life incidents, both personal and well-known events, to reiterate what he is explaining. I thought the book was very easy to understand and could be a real encouragement to those going through difficult times. Turning over all to the Lord, no matter what is happening in your life, is the strongest lesson taught in this book.
The ending of the book talks about heaven and reminds us that the problems we encounter on earth are only temporary. The author shows how we should use the hard times to grow in our relationship to the Lord. I gave this book 4/5 stars because I felt like there was a lot of emphasis on the retelling of bad things happening and not enough on pointing to the Lord as the one in charge (no matter the circumstances).
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.
The Guilt Trip is written by Pat Simmons.
This book is about the Jamieson Family who are descendents of a royal African tribe. The story follows the brothers as they learn to face up to past mistakes and accept the Lord’s forgiveness.
This particular book is about Ace and Taleigh. The other family members do play important parts but these two and their relationship are what carry this story. The story itself does not have a lot of drama but does show how important families are. The birth of a baby changes the lives of all involved and without that pivotal incident the story would not have been that interesting.
I thought the author did a good job in writing this story, it was technically well done. I thought the characters had depth and showed real emotions. This book held my attention but I only gave it 4/5 stars because I found parts to be bogged down with details.
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.
End of the Trail is written by Vickie McDonough and is part of The Texas Trail series.
This book’s main character is Brooks Morgan. I have not read any of the other books in this series and because of that feel I missed out on some of the background of the family. I do think this book can stand alone but will say that reading the others in the series would probably make it more enjoyable for you.
The other main character is Keri. I really enjoyed her and thought the author did a good job of developing her and showing how she changed over time. I think the author did this very well with the character of Brooks too! It felt like we were watching these two characters grow up in front of us.
The story itself is in a fun setting. I like stories set in the 1800’s and in the west. I also liked how the author wrote the romance of the main characters. Their interactions were well written and I enjoyed that part of the story as much as the setting.
I gave this book 5/5 stars because of the fast moving plot, great characters and fun setting.
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.
Glamorous Illusions was written by Lisa Bergren and published by David C. Cook.
This story is set in 1913 and follows the main character, Cora Kensington, as her life is turned upside down. You will not want to put this book down as you read of her travels through America and Europe. You will watch her character develop and grow as she encounters difficult circumstances that change her thinking.
I thought this book was very captivating! You just can not wait until the next page to see where this characters journey is taking her. The other characters in the book are also intriguing and help make the book enjoyable. I thought the conversations and setting also helped make this book worth reading. They were definitely not just page fillers!
There are also lessons to learn while reading this book. Acceptance and forgiveness are two prominent lessons. Although this is a fiction book, the author does a superb job of illustrating some important Biblical principles. Overall this was a great story with an intriguing character and some interesting settings so 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.
Two Testaments is written by Elizabeth Musser and is the second book in the Secrets of the Cross Trilogy.
This book picks up where the book "The Two Crosses" ends. It continues this complex story. It centers on the turmoil taking place in Algeria and in the lives of the main characters.
Like the first book in the series this book is pretty heavy reading. The characters are well developed but if you haven’t read the first book you might be lost at first. The story itself moves along at a slow pace but is an intriguing one. You have war scenes and very good relationship conflicts that keep you reading. As in the first book the characters are so well developed you will put the book down thinking they are based on real people.
I enjoyed this book more then the first and because of that I look forward to reading the last book in the series too. I gave this book 4/5 stars because it was a slow read and pretty deep subject matter.
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.
Two Crosses is written by Elizabeth Musser and is book one in the Secrets of the Cross Trilogy.
This book is set in France in the early 1960’s. There are many characters in the story and I actually had to write down the names so I could keep track of who was who! It is not a fast moving book but it was a good read.
This is a very detailed and complicated book. It includes intrigue and a bit of romance. The story itself does not end in this book but continues on in the next one in the series called "Two Testaments." I liked that there was a simple map and glossary of some abbreviations at the beginning of the book. I also liked the complex characters. You will put the book down feeling like you personally know them!
I gave this book 4/5 stars because it moved a bit slow for me and the story made for a heavy read instead of a lighthearted Christian fiction story.
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.
Midwife Legacy is published by Barbour Publishing.
This is a book with four stories. They all are connected by a journal and all the stories center on being a midwife. I liked how the stories are set in a different time period yet they are all linked in some way. I thought each story was well written and could stand on its own.
One story, called A Mothers Cry, is about Adele Marley. She is a widow who keeps the baby of a mother who died during childbirth. I liked the town in Wisconsin that this was set in; it really made the story interesting.
The Midwife’s Apprentice is about Polly who decides to be the midwife on a wagon train that heads west. I liked the interaction of the main characters in this story. The connection between the minister with Polly is written well.
Birth of A Dream is written by Pamela Griffin and the main character is Christiana. Will her wanting to work ruin any chance of a romance and becoming a bride? The decision she makes to work will impact the rest of her life.
Labor of Love is about Kendra. In this story the main character is also a midwife and she decides she wants to have a place for all local midwives to work from. Will her plans work out or will they all fall apart.
I enjoyed all the stories but found Labor of Love to be my favorite. I gave this book 5/5 stars because each story is 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.
Lily is written by Diane Ashley and Aaron McCarver and is published by Barbour Publishing.
I liked the idea of this book from the second I read the description. A girl owning a steamship, what fun! After a slow beginning the book really includes some fun adventures.
Lily does not want to marry unless it is for love. Running away from a proposed loveless marriage she uses her money to buy a steamship. What she does not realize is that money has only bought her half ownership, now she shares the ship with gambling man Blake Matthews. Will they work well together? Will they find love together or will Lily be tricked into a relationship she will not be happy in?
Overall the book was entertaining. I liked the setting, as I have not read many books set along the river like this one was. I thought the characters were described well and their actions followed their personalities. I gave this book 4/5 stars because although the setting was great, some of the dialog dragged the story down.
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.
Godspeed, Making Christ’s Mission Your Own, is written by Britt Merrick.
What is your purpose as a Christian? What about the purpose of your church? Are you willing to make the sacrifices to follow your God given mission?
This book leads you to a better understanding of what it means to follow Christ. The author uses the life of Jesus here on earth as a guide. If you are a Christian then the Lord does have a certain purpose for you. According to this book finding that purpose is actually easy, you just need to use Jesus as your example.
There is helpful information in the book that will guide you to a better understanding of what you should be doing to further the message of Jesus. I found most of this book to be interesting but parts were tedious so I only gave the 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.
