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Want Games? *** Confessions of a Bookworm Anyone who has read any of my reviews will notice something suspicious–they’re all positive. Oh, they might mention something I wished was different or something that bothered me, but the overall tone is usually one of endorsement. I very rarely don’t recommend a book. Now, there are some reviewers out there who think there needs to be negative in every review, some whose thumbs-up is so rare that it’s like winning a prize to receive it. So why, they might ask, do I mainly dish out praise, and do it so generously? Read the column * * *
As always feel free to email us
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review@christianreviewofbooks.com with any suggestions on how we can make
the CRoB better! View the most recently uploaded reviews Feature Reviews - Taken from the CRoB Print Edition
Feature Reviews - Taken from the CRoB Print
Edition
Fiction
General Christian
Fiction This book
tells the story of a high school boy falling in love. The author does a great
job letting you into the mind of the main character. Dante, the teenage boy and
main character, feels things deeply but quietly. He notices a girl in class and
is drawn to her. I love how the story centers on the young mans viewpoint and
yet you get to know the other characters as well. Even as an adult reading this
story you can relate to the emotions the characters feel. The girl Dante is
attracted to is Helen. She comes alive in the pages with her well written
responses to Dante’s advances. Her family life is an intricate part of the
story and helps you understand her character even better. She has an adorable
younger sister, Maristella, whose interaction with Dante is priceless.
Read the full review Andie and Melanie both lost their teenage sons in the same accident. When
Melanie decides to defend her son’s legacy, things start turning sour. Andie
blames herself for her son’s death. Will both learn to forgive each other and
themselves? Read the full review
Alex Donnelly, a twenty-one year old man,
receives news that he is to receive a substantial amount of money from a trust
his birth mother set up for him years ago before she deserted him. Upon learning
the source of the money, the anger Alex feels toward his mother for causing him
to grow up in an abusive foster home surfaces. He begins a journey on which he
must deal with his past and learn how to forgive those who have wronged him.
Read the full review
One of the most fascinating and memorable
books I’ve read in a long time. Occasionally a heart-stopper, and often bringing
me to tears, Family Secrets was impossible to put down. Yet the story is
so intricately layered, I found myself rereading some portions – not for
clarification, but because I had become absorbed in the drama of the narrative
and wanted to relive each spell-binding layer.
Read the full review In a world that’s obsessed with
celebrity and reality TV, Allison Bottke brings a new novel on the scene that’ll
satiate the appetites of those American Idol lovers, and nurture their
souls a little too. And it all starts with One Little Secret. . .
Read the full review Click here for more General Christian Fiction
Biblical Fiction Haunting and powerful are two
words that come to mind at the close of reading Roseanna M. White’s debut novel,
A Stray Drop of Blood. Not since Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion
trilogy has a book and its characters captured me so completely. From its rich,
historical prose that depicts the era of Christ with startling reality, to a
compelling love story that will both jolt and seize your heart, this is one of
those rare novels that haunts you centuries beyond the last page. Read the full review Book #3 in Francine River’s
Sons of Encouragement series, The Prince is the retelling of the life
of Jonathan, son of Saul, first king of Israel. While most
church-goers are familiar with the story, Francine has taken a look at this
historical character in an eye-opening new light. John, the disciple Jesus loved most, is the only disciple
left. All the others have been killed for their beliefs. Currently in prison
awaiting his sentence, John wants to get his story about his life with the
Messiah out to the rest of the world. When an attempt to boil him in a pot of
oil fails, John is sentenced to exile on Patmos. Before he goes, he dictates his
story to Polycarp in hopes that others will listen to it and believe. Read
the full review The Da Vinci Code
There are a lot of mysteries in this world that most
of us don’t often think of, and Brown does a remarkable job of pulling
them together in a thought-inducing and compelling story. His
short-lived and long-reaching Louvre curator introduces the challenge
that the main characters and the readers follow–don’t let the truth die.
Through an infinitely complex series of symbols and codes, iconographer
Rober Landon and cryptographer Sophie Neveu follow the clues left by the
curator, the latter’s grandfather, through unfathomable secrets that
arise in the search for none other than the Holy Grail. With each step
of the way, the searchers come against information that challenges the
general public’s preconceived notions about everything from the
foundation of the Catholic church to the interpretation of artistic
masterpieces. Without a doubt, this book is an eye-opening experience
and a scintillating read. Read the full
review
Click here for more
Mainstream Fiction
Romantic Suspense Dani Richards thinks she was
getting a night off from journalism when she takes her aunt to the theater—but
that’s before she discovers a dead body in the next box. And before her old
flame Caleb arrives, now an investigator for the local police. She gets to cover
the case by default—but the deeper she digs, the clearer it becomes that the
killer won’t rest until she backs off. And that’s something she just can’t do. Read the full review Clint Rollins never expected that a gunshot wound could
save his life—until a trip to the hospital for treatment reveals a cancer
already well progressed. An agent in the FBI’s Crimes Against Children Unit,
Clint is used to standing strong and tall against evil and adversity. So
how is he supposed to handle being weak from chemo? Is it going to keep him from
tracking down the serial kidnapper on the loose? Read the full review
It was supposed to be a routine
job: steal an artifact from a Mexican museum to prove to the board members that
Desi’s security company could protect it better. And it starts out well
enough—she gets the goods and makes her escape. But questions crop up soon that
make her wonder what’s really going on in Mexico and whether she wants to accept
the President’s request to help them figure out the archaeological espionage.
After all, she has a wedding to plan, and her FBI fiancé will be none too
thrilled if she finds herself in trouble!
Read the full review Janna McAllister had thought
coming back to Snow Canyon Ranch was a good idea—a fresh start for her and her
daughter. And she and her sisters all agree that someone has to keep an
eye on their mother, who might be facing the beginnings of Alzheimer’s. But
when someone lurking in the woods behind the cabins she’s fixing up for
vacationers escalates into the discovery of human remains buried outside one of
them, Janna begins to wonder if this was such a great idea after all.
Read the full review After moving around, Beth Gunnar comes home to teach English at Seaton
Preparatory School in Hockessin, Delaware—her old school where she graduated in
1977. Her parents have long retired to Asheville, North Carolina but actually
Beth feels she’s come home. Of course it brings back the old memories of times
spent with her group the Barbarians and her favorite teacher, Mr. Dutton, who
taught English. But it brings up bad memories too: like why did Mr. Dutton
commit suicide in her senior year?
Read the full review
Historical Fiction
Well, I finished a great book
today. My Heart Remembers by Kim Vogel Sawyer. It was a story of three
siblings who are orphaned during a tenement fire in NYC. The eldest, Maelle, has
promised her father that she would take care of her siblings. She does not want
to see them split up. But unfortunately after spending a short amount of time in
the city's orphanage, the three children are carted o to a train heading west,
the orphan train. And inevitably the three children are split up to three
different families. Read the full review
Hours after
Catherine Newbury meets an intriguing American architectural student, Carter
Danby, at her home in England, her father, a wealthy merchant, is wrongly
accused of a heinous crime. Newbury is imprisoned, but not before he bundles his
daughter off to America with two trusted servants. Five years later in
Philadelphia, where Catherine has been posing as the daughter of her servants,
she desperately works as a dress designer and seamstress with hopes to prove her
father’s innocence and gain his freedom before it is too late.
Read the full review Before
Nazi forces invaded and occupied Anni Neumann’s beloved Luxembourg, she had
enjoyed an idyllic life while traveling with her father, a professional gymnast.
But in mid-1940, the fourteen-year-old and her family were suddenly thrust into
a terrifying world fraught with constant uncertainty, severe hardship,
humiliation, poverty, and an oppressive existence under Nazi domination.
Read the full review
Fanny is an orphan left in the care of her widowed
grandfather. When he dies, she is left with part of the estate. Will her family
survive the greed? Read the full review
Once, Charlotte Lamb was a
well-respected vicar’s daughter. Once, her father considered Daniel Taylor—a
mere doctor—an unsuitable suitor for her. But now everything has changed.
Charlotte finds herself with child and sent to a lying-in hospital in London,
where none other than Dr. Taylor is to be her physician. The shame is nearly
unbearable—but not nearly as unbearable as the knowledge that she will be
forever scorned by polite society because of the babe she bears.
Read the full review
Suspense/Thriller Jazmin’s parents have created a program that allows them
to hear the Voice of God, a program that they have been kidnapped
for. Jaz is only thirteen years old, a very grownup thirteen-year-old and
has run to the one place her parents always told her to go if there was trouble:
to her Uncle Charlie. Read the full review Emily Benton is on the verge of becoming the first female
to be elected President of America. Her campaign manager Kate Rosen is doing
whatever it takes to make Emily's lifelong dream come true. This means making
Emily look to be the best candidate possible and proving to the voters that she
has what it takes to run the nation. However, there are those that want to stop
Emily with threats and shootings. Kate also has to face the dilemma of what to
do when her faith conflicts with the dark side of politics.
Read the full review Reading this fast legal suspense story, Blood Brothers was like being buckled into an intense thrill
ride. You know the kind. The extremely amazing roller coaster ride with all
its surprises, twists, turns, ups and downs. I just couldn’t put this book
down. I kept reminding myself “This is just Fiction” (breathe)! What was so
unnerving to me was the story line about the pharmaceutical companies and
how they rule the world! (or would like to). It was fascinating and scary
all at the same time when Rick Acker describes the internal workings of a
large pharmaceutical company and how they interact with the FDA. All the
court room drama in the story was just as powerful. It reminded me of the TV
show Law and Order “Criminal Intent” on steroids, very vivid and deep. Read the full review Katie James is a Paleontologist from the University of New Mexico, and she is
also a Christian, the daughter of a Baptist minister. When the scientific
community gets wind of this fact, they all but excommunicate her. Katie has
proven herself and her facts many times over, but the fact that her last
artifact was destroyed before she could get it out has left many to assume that
she was destroying it to hide the data that it would have uncovered, data they
think may have proven evolution rather than creation—and they believe that as a
Christian, she couldn't let that happen. Read the full review Ron Ortega is an undercover cop in a world of drugs and
violence. He’s infiltrating one of the most dangerous gangs in Miami, and
things are going according to plan. The boss trusts him. He begins to learn the
secrets he needs to bring them down. And that’s when things start to go wrong. Read the full review
Sci-Fi/Fantasy This is the fourth and
concluding book in Karen Hancock’s fantasy series, Legend of the Guardian King.
Since I haven’t had the privilege to read the previous volumes, I wasn’t sure
how well I could follow the events and characters as I read. While I wasn’t
always clear about relationships, connections, and events alluded to, I am happy
to report that enough information was provided that I could figure out the path
and follow the story nicely. Not only could I follow it, but I didn’t want to
leave it. Read the full review The Restorer is Sharon
Hinck’s first foray into straight fantasy and it is a wonderful read. First off,
you need to know that I am NOT a fantasy reader. I couldn’t read JRR Tolkein’s
Lord of the Rings or Hobbit until after I saw The Fellowship of
the Ring. I simply couldn’t picture the worlds he created. Finally, my love
for my husband and my sincere enjoyment of the movie pushed me to pick up those
books. I enjoyed them, but I doubt I will read them again until my kids are old
enough to enjoy them. Read the full review Flashpoint Imagine a book that combines the super-cool
action of The Matrix with a portion of Left Behind, and then mix
in a few tablespoons of Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness, a pinch of
Robocop, and the powers of your favorite superheroes. This only begins to
give you an idea of what to expect in Frank Creed’s Christian Speculative
Fiction, Flashpoint: Book One of the Underground.
Read the full review The Return proves to be the best if the Mars Hill
Classified books, providing a compelling mix of entertainment and faith.
Read the full review The Proof The Proof continues the story of John Wells, the
astronaut, husband and man of God from The Evidence (Released
March 2006). The first manned mission to Mars is about to get underway.
John is joined by his old friend Michelle and new companion Sean on this
historic trip. Their ship, unlike others these astronauts have flown, is
one of luxury but this very comfort causes hardships among crew members
that comes to a head on Mars. All the while the utterly self assured Rex
Edwards, the ship’s designer and builder watches their every move with
great interest. Read the full
review
Western MEMORIES OF A DIRT ROAD TOWN Develyn Worrell is a fifth grade Indiana school teacher,
divorced and later widowed, with one twenty-year-old daughter, Delaney. Delaney
isn’t talking to her mother because she is blaming her father’s fatal heart
attack on Develyn. Read the full
review
Wish I’d Known You
Tears Ago
Wish I'd Known You Tears Ago
is such an appropriate title for this story. The author could easily
continue this series, but if he doesn't, it was a satisfying conclusion
to the previous two books. But because there was a loose end with Mrs.
Tagley's money, I'm thinking there may be a book four in the works. If
so, I plan to read it!
Read the full review
YA/Juvenile
This is an adorable book about how God cares for
his animals. If your child is interested in animals he/she will enjoy this
book. It is meant for younger children but as an adult I even enjoyed reading
it. Read the full review This is an adorable story
set in Colonial Williamsburg. The story centers on an unhappy horse. The
setting is beautifully illustrated and takes you back to the time of Colonial
Williamsburg. The town people try to help the horse that has run away from his
owner and seems very unhappy. They try fixing his horseshoes and taking special
care of him. One character notices him snuggling with another horse and brings
it to everyone’s attention. They discover the horse is just lonely and provide
him with another horse to be friends with. The story shows caring amongst
friends. Read the full review We’re all familiar with the story of Jesus’
birth, but in Clopper and the Night Travelers the extended version is
presented to our children through new eyes: Clooper the donkey’s. With him we
see the journey to Bethlehem, the flight to Egypt, and finally the return to
Nazareth. Read the full review We’ve met Eric before as he examines his
childlike faith in the course of his everyday life, and this time we join him on
a winter adventure gone awry—when his best friend deserts him and laughs when he
gets hurt, does Eric know how to forgive him? Read the full review Things I Wonder Have you ever wondered what life might be
like if God hadn’t created you just as He had? What if you had no nose? Or
ey
Women's Fiction The feisty foursome of Desperate
Pastor's Wives are back! This time the
gals are battling new adventures in their lives of serving God and their church.
Felicia has to adapt from being a career woman to a stay at home mom. Jennifer
continues her quest to become a mother with surprising results. Lisa is battling
with a rebellious teenage daughter. And Mimi is struggling with a colicky baby
and an attraction to her
Life is by all accounts good
for Linda Revere. She’s got two gorgeous kids who are almost grown up, a
wonderful husband of almost twenty-five years, and passel of fantastic friends,
and a fulfilling job at Dream Photography. Okay, so her boss is a demanding
grouch, her daughter’s attitude is getting really annoying, her friends all seem
to have it better than her—and would it kill her husband to hold her hand in
public once in a while?All around her she sees couples in embraces and little
hearts practically floating over their heads. That’s when Linda decides to make
a plan: she’s going to wake up the sizzle in her marriage before it can fizzle
out entirely.Read the full review
The Oak Leaves is a
gripping story of two women, separated by 150 years but joined by a family tree.
Maureen Lang artfully weaves between the two stories in a way that kept me
flipping pages because I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter in each
woman's life. Read the full review Fifteen year old Dorrie has just given birth to a
beautiful little baby—a baby she hasn’t been allowed to hold. She doesn’t even
know if it’s a boy or a girl. Her mother has forbidden Dorrie to even see the
baby, saying it would be easier that way, since the baby would be given up for
adoption. Dorrie is heartbroken, and finally, a nurse breaks the rules and slips
the baby into her arms. Just for a second—a moment of bliss—then the baby is
removed as the adoptive parents were on their way.
Read the full review Beth Quinn is confident that Sommerfield is
the perfect place for her stained-glass art studio—she’s just not so sure that
the tight-knit Mennonite community will ever fully accept her, even if
her mother has rejoined the church. Can she ever belong in this conservative
place? Can she open up enough to trust others with her vision and dreams after
the betrayal of her ex-boyfriend? Read the full review
Mom Lit Whitney is now happily married to her doctor husband, Chase
Andrews, and they are still enjoying the honeymoon status. The cats have
adjusted to having an extra person in the house, and life is going on as normal.
Read the full review
@ Home for the Holidays
For this email loop of stay-at-home moms, the weeks before Christmas are
anything but jolly. Trying to balance housework, home crises and the
husband without losing your mind needs therapeutic help. Better reach
for your laptop—and your on-line friends.
Read the full
review
Balancing Act
Heidi Elliott loves being a mom. Six-month-old Nora is an angel
of a baby, and though, sure, life is a little topsy-turvy now
that a third member has been added to the family, she and hubby
Jake are taking it in stride. Everything’s all set for her
return to the job, too—daycare lined up, lesson plans ready for
her high school Spanish class, clothes almost fit... normal
stuff for a woman getting ready to go off maternity leave.
Read the full review
Chick Lit
Harriet Josephine Bisset—Harri—is a
tattooed rebel, the preacher’s kid, the ultimate prodigal son come home again
from the dark side past of cigarettes, sex and alcohol. But now she’s is back at
her old church – First Grace. Totally clean and forgiven by her church and God,
she cannot seem to forgive herself. She lives at the senior citizen mobile home
park because it’s safe. There is a new preacher at First Grace since her parents
are on the mission field, and Harri has been at odds with him since he took
over, fighting mainly for the rights of the seniors and demanding things stay
status quo with no changes, especially contemporary music! But changes must be
made if First Grace is to survive.
Read the full review
Yes, Sydney Alexander is a Christian that
dates. And she likes dating. She has dated many men, and she is still trying to
find the one. When the story picks up, she is set up with a blind date, who
happens to also start dating her best friend, who doesn't know that he's dating
the both of them. Then her ex comes back into her life wanting to start things
over again. But first she has to go to England and see where she wants to be in
life. Also her sister gets dumped by a guy who
compares her to a car, her guy best friend is in love with her, but she doesn't
know this. Yes, dating is a fun time in the life of
a single, 20-something
Christian woman.
Read the full review I picked up Sushi for One?
for a light vacation read, and it did not disappoint. From the first page, I was
hooked primarily because of the strong writing and fantastic characters. I could
so relate to Lex Saki, the heroine. Read the full review Tabitha (Tabby) Brockman is thrilled when the day-time soap
opera she starred on (before they killed her off) decides to rehire her. But
she’s been gaining weight, so her personal trainer has to get her back into a
size 8. Not to mention that the soap opera writer believes that Tabby made a
pass at her husband, so she writes in some bad scenes for Tabby to act.
Read the full review
These Boots
Weren't Made
for Walking
Cassidy Cantrell has it
happening. She’s in line for a wonderful promotion at her marketing job, seeing
this wonderful Christian man, and she’s spent a fortune on a chic pair of
designer boots to build her image. But when she finally wears the
boots her world falls apart. She is fired from her job. Her boyfriend breaks up
with her. And she discovers that her identity has been stolen. What can Cassidy
do but run home to Mama. After all, Mama’s gone through a hard time too.
Read the full review
Inspirational Romance-
Dr. Rachel Donovan has worked real hard to build a name for herself in Shady
Grove’s a town where she grew up. The people of this town voted her Citizen
of the Year because she loves them and they know it. She wants to make
people proud of her but how can she do that when the past is not far behind.
Always overshadowing her achievements. She was the responsible child growing
up, always easy going and someone you could rely on until that one summer
when her world was turned upside down. One bad choice, that’s all it took to
be out cast and all alone. She thought she would never recover from that one
decision.
Read the full review
Abby Warner,
editor of her family founded and operated Oak Hill Gazette, struggles with
financial pressures that threaten to destroy her 100+year old family business
and heritage. She reluctantly agrees to a twelve-week audit by Campbell
Publishing, a Chicago-based conglomerate that considers the Gazette for
acquisition. When jaded playboy and heir apparent Mark Campbell shows up to do
the audit, he insults Abby with his ignorant and condescending attitude toward
her small town and business. Although a mutual attraction flickers between them,
it can’t change the fact that in Abby’s eyes, MBA/CPA Mark is a jerk and a
slacker. Read the full review
Rebecca Seabrooke loves her job as curator
of Hollinworth Hall, one of England’s finest ancestral homes. Maybe in part
it’s because her family’s been here for generations, just as the Hollinworths
have—as their servants. It makes it a little awkward, in her opinion, when the
attractive owner, Quentin Hollinworth, begins to pay attention to her in a way
not strictly job-related, but she enjoys his company. And when distant American
cousins come into the picture with new information about the family’s history,
it gets a whole lot more interesting. What is the “curse” that one of Quentin’s
ancestors talks about in her letters?
Read the full review
What do you get when you cross a Hollywood reality TV show, a small town Texas
up and coming singer, an LA producer, a record producer, and a group of small
town women with a desire to see one of their own make it big? What you get is a
cute and fresh story that is sure to make you smile at their antics and
sympathize with the trials they find themselves up against.
Read the full review
Rafe had it all; fame, fortune, fans. At
least it appeared so from the outside. In a tragic turn of events his best
friend dies, because of him. Rafe is thrust, quite literally, into the
path of Katherine Breckenridge when he plows through the hotel where she is
holding a fundraiser. When Rafe goes to his family ranch in Montana to recover,
Kat follows him. There she finds her past and her future.
Read the full review HOT TROPICS & COLD FEET
Mystery A SUSPICION OF STRAWBERRIES Andi Clark loves her soap shop, and her new facial scrubs
are taking off. She hopes that business will be even better now that Charla Rae
Thacker and her bridesmaids are coming for a morning of pre-wedding pampering.
Andi lets Charla Rae pick out her own facial scrub and then waits on the wedding
party hand and foot while they are in her store. The last thing she expected is
for Charla to keel over dead from an allergic reaction to strawberries—when Andi
personally made a cherry facial scrub.
Read the full review
Everyone in Jenna’s Creek seems
to have a high opinion of Noreen Trimble. No one has a bad word to say about
her, and yet she is in prison after confessing to the murder of her best friend.
It was a confession that came almost thirty years after the fact, a minor detail
that didn’t help her case very much. But now a mysterious call has come late at
night to her former boss, Noel Wyatt, claiming that there was an eyewitness to
the murder. The eyewitness said it was self-defense. Unfortunately, the caller
will not identify himself or the witness. Is this a hoax or real?
Read the full review Death of a Garage Sale Newbie What could be better than a bargain? Well that would be
sharing the Gospel and the fun with your best friends and helping others to
learn to save money at the same time, all the while being a Christian example to
those you meet.
Read the full
review Stephanie Walker hadn’t seen her famous
songwriting father, Marty Walker, in 3 years. Not since her mother’s funeral, so
why has he shown up at her front door now? Marty made small talk till Stephanie
asked why he was there. His request took Stephanie by surprise: he wanted her to
go to Harrington Lodge, the family home of his famous, singing, current wife,
Monica—a place Stephanie had never been invited. He says he needs her, but that
was not like her father. Marty never needed or loved anyone. So why now? She had
never met Monica or her family, and to just show up unannounced was something
she could not do. Marty pretends to understand and goes upstairs to use the
bathroom and then leaves. Stephanie angrily realizes her father has stolen the
diamond necklace she has borrowed from her aunt and leaves a note in its place,
knowing she would come after him.
Read the full
review
Crime & Clutter The FAC—Friday Afternoon Club—is an afternoon time for six
ladies to share in each other’s lives, past and present, swap recipes, and share
some household hints. Mary Alice, a wonderful housekeeper, cook, and devotee of
scrapbooking, shares a mystery about her father, who disappeared in the 60s. Who
knew that Mary Alice wasn’t even her real name
Read the full
review
Historical Romance Elizabeth Westbrook is determined to prove
to the world—and her Senator father—that a woman can be an outstanding
photographer and journalist. She has the perfect opportunity, too: a trip to
the Colorado Rockies. All she has to do is send her work back to her employer at
the Chronicle, and she may win a new position. One where she can use her
own name. Now all she needs is a guide through the wilds. . . and to keep
control of the lung condition that had killed her mother when she was
Elizabeth’s age. Read the full review In the third book in the Daughters of Blessings series we are told the story
of Grace Knutson, the daughter of Lars and Kaaren. Because she is deaf, she has
always had to rely on everyone else, therefore earning the nickname "Grace
Always." But she wants to break out of that mold,
and her opportunity comes when Jonathan Gould arrives from the city to stay with
the Bjorklands. His city ways and her country style seem to blend well together
to the point where Grace leaves home to go to New York. Now she has to rely on
herself to break barriers and prove that she can survive on her own.
Read the full review Lily is not in the small town
of Browning City, Iowa to stay. Nothing in the world could possibly convince
her to forego her dreams of city life—people, lights, and enough noise to keep
her from ever feeling lonely again. It’s what she wants. That’s why she’s
determined to avoid Ben Purcell. The new man in town sends sparks down her
spine, but he’s made it clear he’s in Browning City is his final destination,
which means he isn’t the right man for her. Read the full review Sarah Woodward came to Kentucky as mail order bride—for a
man who’d fallen in love with another before she showed up. But Sarah’s
convinced the Lord led her to Little Hickman for a reason, and she isn’t about
to leave just because a husband wasn’t awaiting her. She has plenty of money,
and she doesn’t mind the distance between her and the man back east determined
to marry her. What she does mind is the way one Rocky Callahan is
dealing with his niece and nephew, who rode in on the stage with her. Read the full review Judith Pella's newest
book Sister's Choice was a great novel! I loved it. I absolutely
fell in love with Maggie. I had enjoyed her from the previous book,
Bachelor's Puzzle and was glad to see her as the main character in
the newest installment. The love story in the book was just so adorable.
It was filled a great many awkward moments, but you really felt for the
characters. Read the full review
“A sojourner is one who resides as a foreigner or
stranger in an unknown land.” So starts this book about our journe
Why has the cell church strategy flourished in other countries but floundered in
North America? Cell churches around the world are exploding in growth but not in
North America. Joel Comiskey takes a close look at the North American culture
and then attempts to provide a model that will work in this context. And to be
clear, the cell church strategy is not the same as small group ministry. Cells
differ from groups in their intentional emphasis on evangelism, leadership
development, and multiplication.
Read the full review Most of us
aren’t ready for it to arrive; we feel ambushed by it. For others, feelings of
panic and desperation set in. Midlife. For most men, it occurs between 40-50
years of age and it hits many of us hard. We realize that the first half of life
is behind us. Our delusion of immortality is shattered. And we begin to give
serious consideration to how we are going to live the second half of our one and
only life. Read the full review
If you’re looking for a book about trusting God, RISK: ARE YOU WILLING TO TRUST
GOD WITH EVERYTHING? is a great choice. Author Kenny Luck jumps into the topic
with both feet and almost pummels readers with the thought there’s no other way
to serve God. Read the full review
Click here for more Inspirational Nonfiction
Biographical Jesus, You are Quite the Fellow
Jesus, You are Quite the Fellow is
the remembrance of a young man by his grieving father. Mr. Cobb’s retelling is
both thought-provoking and touching. He has experienced many trials and
heartaches. I highly respect him for his courage and strength. He encourages
readers going through what he has encountered and those who have not yet lost a
loved one. Read the full review MISTRESS BRADSTREET Many people find that Anne Bradstreet’s name is familiar
because they’ve read her poems, or because John Berryman has paid a tribute to
her. But few realize that Anne Bradstreet was the first published poet—either
male or female—< href="mistress_bradstreet.htm">Read the full review
Click here for more Biographical
Nonfiction
History Pagan Christianity? Exploring
the Roots of Our Church Practices, may very well be the most important book
written on the Christian church in the last two millennia. Frank Viola and
George Barna team up to give their readers a critical examination of the last
1700 years of church history. Does the institutional church have any biblical
and historical right to exist? “Are the practices of the institutional church
(the clergy/laity system, salaried pastors, sacred buildings, the order of
worship, etc.) God-approved developments to the church that the New Testament
envisions? Or are they an unhealthy departure from it?”
Read the full review Josephus was a famous Jewish historian of
the first century. Born in A.D. 37, he compiled Jewish history from the
beginning (from Adam and Eve) to his lifetime. His history of previous
generations follows a similar structure as Scripture, but his works are not
inspired Scripture, they are history. It’s very interesting to read his accounts
of early generations. H
MONASTERY PRISONS
In Monastery Prisons Daniel H. Shubin directs the
attention of fans of Russian history to the unbearable
conditions of prisoners in Russian monasteries. The book
describes two monasteries and details life of inmates from the
time of the Middle Ages through the nineteenth century.
Read the full review
The Origin of Culture by Thomas Dietrich is a fascinating historical read. This
book presents the reader with some startling facts that might convince some to
reconsider what they had previously thought about the ancient world. These facts
encourage those who have been entranced by myths like that of Atlantis to think
that the mystery of ancient knowledge might finally be able to be unlocked.
Read the full review
True Stories Many in North America think of
Harry Potter or India when they consider the words “curses” and “occult”. After
all, it seems like something that can only happen in movies or in places really
far away. However,
Unbroken Curses reveals the contrary to be true. In civilized and
educated North America, curses and witchcraft are subtle and hidden.
Read the full review A Heart for Africa is the story of
Rafiki, told through the eyes of the Jensens' daughter, Annie (Jensen) Thorp.
This short book (62 pages) features firsthand accounts of orphans whose lives
have been changed, as well as the voices of house mothers and financial
sponsors. As an inspirational book, it also features many pictures of Africans
and the work Rafiki is doing. Read the full review While most of us
are aware of the dangers of anorexia for young girls in our society, less
attention has been given to the ravaging effects this eating disorder can have
on young men. The reason for this is simple: the vast majority of anorexia
sufferers are girls. About 10% of anorexia cases involve boys (http://www.anred.com/stats.html).
Skinny Boy is the first book published of its kind. It is an inside look
at anorexia in boys from a first person perspective. With courage and
vulnerability, Dr. Grahl has shared his own struggle and (thankfully) victory
over anorexia. Read the full review A TREASURY OF ADOPTION MIRACLES Adoption is a miracle in itself, the bringing together of
people who were strangers and now are part of the same family. But A TREASURY OF
ADOPTION MIRACLES tells stories that go beyond the ordinary. They are truly
extraordinary. Read the full review
Click here for more True Stories
Gift Ideas Looking for that perfect gift for expectant parents?
Something unique, touching, and inspiring? Then you’ll definitely want to check
out this gift book, I Know I Am Loved. Told from the point of view of
the new baby, this book gives a delightful insight into new life, family, and
love. The pictures are positively enchanting, the script heartwarming, and
together they create a memento that will thrill new or expectant parents.
Read the full review AN ORAMENT A DAY AN ORAMENT A DAY includes ideas to make 25 sparkling
holiday trims for your tree or as gifts. Patterns and instructions are included
for ornaments such as: Read the full review Celebrate Simply The holiday season is closing in fast,
and with it the panic. Who needs to be on my shopping list? What can I
get them? How much can I spend? What kind of cookies should I bake, what
meals should I try, where am I going to put up the tree? In this age of
hustle-and-bustle, it’s easy to get so caught up in the holidays that we
forget to enjoy ourselves. We over-schedule, over-spend, over-indulge,
and come away feeling empty. For a lot of us, money is a big issue and
time isn’t much better. By celebrating simply, we can cut out the
unnecessary baggage that comes along with the holidays and focus on what
really counts: our Lord and our family. In Celebrate Simply Nancy Twigg
shares her own experiences with holiday overload, from the fiasco that
was supposed to be The Perfect Christmas to the tension surrounding The
Ideal Wedding. Twigg pulls no punches about the stuff-crazed society we
all get caught up in, but right after pointing out the problems, she
offers simple solutions and a ton of great ideas to help you streamline
and simplify every holiday, from Thanksgiving
and Christmas to weddings and birthdays.
Read the full review
Devotionals
Following in the steps of the recent
Biblezine publications, this women’s Bible study is very easy and fun to read. I
guess one could call it a “Studyzine”? The true story of a woman at the
beginning of each chapter all serve to show the theme of the chapter, whether
trying to seek acceptance or dealing with an unforgiving heart. The chapters
have activities, discussion starters and some great additional resources. This
would make a good devotional for quiet time.Read the full review We all know prayer is an important part of
our Christian walk, but it’s easy to let that part of our faith slide when
things get busy. Sometimes we fail to see God answering our petitions. Of
course, other times it seems He answers our needs before we even ask. With
Christian Prayer Journal and Praise Report, you can keep track of your
prayers, choose verses to stand on, and look back over the pages so that you can
write out the answers you receive, too.
Read the full review Co-authored by D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe,
Cross Purposes is divided into 48 bite-sized portions. This devotional will
walk you through every agonizing step of the Via Dolorosa. It will spell out the
tremendous price Christ freely paid for his Cross, and it will draw you to your
knees in gratitude at Christ’s triumph over Satan and death.
Read the full review Beach Prayers - Mountain Prayers Do you need a vacation? Whether you enjoy the beach or the
mountains or both, these two little devotional books will take you there. Take
them with you if you really take a vacation or if you’re just dreaming. Spend
some time with God in your "vacation place." Both of these books are extremely
well written with seventy-five devotions in each book and each devotional only
covers two pages, which is great to be used for a daily devotional. Just reading
will take you to the beach or mountains. Each awesome devotion has a way of
capturing an aspect of the beach or mountains and comparing it to life. For
instance, in Beach Prayers one comparison is how the first time a child
goes to the beach how frightening the ocean can be—it takes Mom and Dad to help
them enjoy the ocean; then look how we sometimes are fearful of something God
wants us to do, how we lack the confidence to proceed but God provides the way.
Read the full review Click here for more Devotionals
Faith
This pocket guide has a wealth of information
about praying with your children. You will learn the best ways to approach
your children about the importance of praying. You are given helpful tips on
making prayer a two-way conversation with the Lord not just a list of demands.
You realize that by teaching your children about prayer you are giving them a
gift. The following quote from page 46 tells you the importance of prayer
in your children’s lives. Read the full review I usually don't pick up a lot of non-fiction books, but
this one looked really good to me. Boy, am I glad that it did! The very first
paragraph grabs your attention and the book doesn’t give it back until after the
last sentence. The author gives examples of God using ordinary people to do
extraordinary things. God is ready to use you right where you are. It was
amazing to read about the history of past movements, many of them I had not
heard of before. Reid sums up prayer as "intimacy with God that leads to the
fulfillment of His purposes." How true is that! When we truly stop focusing on
what we want, God begins to create a movement inside of us.
Read the full review Face it. The title, The Celebration of Discipline,
does not jump out and grab your attention. Discipline? That word doesn’t work
for today’s “feel good” culture. Paradoxically, anyone who reads and follows
author Richard Foster’s recommendations to know God and talk with Him, will end
up feeling good. Read the full review What precedes passion? When
a person feels passionate about a particular cause, what fuels that passion?
This is the question that vexed Hybels for two years. He discovered his answer
in the life of Moses. He found that passion arises out of a relentless
dissatisfaction with some aspect of the brokenness in the world around us.
Something wrong in this world wrecks our hearts and we discover that it wrecks
God’s heart, too. A holy discontent. It is this that gives birth to a person’s
passion. Read the full review Not written for the ordinary lay person,
KINGDOM TRIANGLE is geared and directed toward serious pastors and leaders who
are looking to address the crisis that we are facing in this age, of moral
drifting and confusion, etc. In KINGDOM TRIANGLE, Moreland lays out a strategy
for the Christian community to regain the potency of Kingdom life, and influence
in the world. Drawing insights from the book of Acts and the early church, he
provides leaders with the motivation to mobilize, inspire, envision, and
instruct.
Read the full review
Childrearing/Children Pumpkins is a beautifully done book for children,
ages 4 – 8. It details through photography a pumpkin from the beginning to the
final carved product. Read the full review This book is a must read for all parents, teachers and
child caregivers. It is an informative and instructional guide to raising
children to not be afraid of standing up for themselves or for others (to avoid
bullying). Coughlin suggests that
Christian children are instilled with the concept of being nice instead of being
good, which leads them to being passive in situations where they really should
be taking action. There we re several references to Bible passages to support
his points. Read the full review HEAVEN FOR KIDS Randy Alcorn is a parent and a grandparent, so he knows how
important it is to pass along the correct, biblical answers about Heaven. So, in
HEAVEN FOR KIDS Randy Alcorn has adapted his best-selling Heaven for the
8-12 crowd.
Read the full review Jazz Fletcher is serious about her art
work. Unfortunately, she gets no respect. Not from her parents who throw her art
work out with the trash. Not from her high school art teacher who thinks that
the abstract style that Jazz favors is not real art.
Read
the full review “Ouch!” was the word that kept coming to mind as I read
this book. I maintained a perpetual cringe on my face from page one and kept it
there through each painful chapter. Read
the full review
Relationships First of all I really liked the title and sub-title! From
the very first sentence, I fell in love with Stina Wilson’s writing style. She
has an incredible gift of being able to “tell it how it is” while expressing
some profound truths. The first thing that struck me was that she chose to use
multiple versions of the Bible for scripture references. Often when we use just
one translation, the awe and the full meaning gets lost.
Read the full review Boys are growing up confused and frustrated. In a
culture where men are ridiculed, degraded, and fathers are deemed unnecessary,
boys no longer know the masculine ideal toward which to strive. They are lost
and drifting. Today’s men and fathers need to rise up and unapologetically defy
the culture’s anti-male creed and fearlessly model and teach their boys God’s
design and intention for men. Read the full review In Men and Women are from Eden, Mary
Healy picks up a theme popularized by John Gray in his Men are from Mars;
Women are from Venus. Though a very popular theme, Healy felt that Gray’s
catchy phrase lacked a sound Christian dimension. Healy points out that there is
more to the human experience of love. “Both men and women desire to love and be
loved in an intimate and lasting relationship.” This desire comes from God. If
God is not involved in human love, the pursuit of love could end up in
disillusionment and conflict.
Read the full review Crazy House Sane House Do you feel like you live in a crazy house? Do you feel like you don't know who
you are married to anymore? As the years of marriage add up do you sometimes
feel that you don't even know your spouse anymore? "Crazy House Sane House" is
just the manual that will help you with your marriage. If you want to have a
stronger marriage, and a foundation that withstand the storms of life, this book
is for you.
Read the full review
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