Book Review: Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs

When I received Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs in the mail, I couldnt believe it's size: over 400 pages!  The first few chapters were pretty tough for me to get into due to the dialect used between characters; however, it got easier to read once encompassed in the story.

Mine is the Night is a novel about two widows; a mother-in-law (Marjory) and daughter-in-law (Elisabeth), that travel to the place where their son (and husband) were born and called home at one time.  Even though their recent arrival did not allow them to be the same status as they left.

The book, based in the 1700's speaks a tale of three women in Scotland, the Kerrs, and their journey of redemption for the decision they made to support their husband and son.  Once Lady Marjory Kerr, a woman of wealth and abundance, housed many servants and staff at the manor she kept with her husband.  When her husband and two sons went to war (against King George,) they were stripped of their money and possessions.

Within Mine is the Night, there are several stories that the reader can get engrossed within.  Marjory and Elisabeth Kerr, Marjory’s cousin, Anne Kerr, a handsome, wealthy new occupant to a mansion, Lord Jack Buchanan, a tailor and his son, dragoons and the like.  The book was very detailed, and made me feel I was right there watching everything take place.

Even though the book was 400 pages, it never felt dull or drawn out.  The author, Liz Curtis Higgs, put so much thought into the characters, the scenery, and the language used in the novel.  It was a great book that I could put down only to eat, sleep and take care of the house.


Disclosure:
I received this book free from WaterBrookMultnomah Publishers as part of their Blogging for Books program.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Reviews for Publishers

I have been doing book reviews by different publishers over the last several months.  I think I am going to go on hiatus.  It has gotten to the point that I feel I HAVE to read books in a timely manner and it has gotten a bit stressful. 

For me, there are times that all I want to do is read.  Other times, I could go a month without opening a book.  I am entering the month without wanting to even PICK UP a book.  So for now, I think I am putting the book review process on the back burner.  I have the list of books that I wanted to read this year for myself, and I think I will do that.  I have one more book to read and review, but after that, they will be books that I want to read.

Anyone else feel this way sometimes that reviews books for the publishers?

Book Review: What's He REALLY Thinking? by Paula Rinehart

What He’s REALLY Thinking? By Paula Rinehart is a book that proves how different men really are from women, but also that we were created this way.   Rinehart is a counselor and therapist who has been able to sit back and observe men and how they deal with certain topics and struggles, not to mention live with them (her husband and son.)  Rinehart was able to put into words for us women to understand the men in our lives and how we can lovingly co-exist with one another while minimizing conflict and/or misunderstanding. 

Paula Rinehart covers topics such as how men thing, how they communicate, deal with conflict, seek respect from others as well as their wives along with the one big one… SEX!  Why in the world do they want sex all of the time?  Rinehart covers this topic in a manner that is easy to understand and explains why men are such sexual beings.  She also covers how men deal with issues by doing instead of just talking about it.

The book was a good book, and a reference for women to help understand the men in their lives.                


Disclosure:
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Blogging for Books program.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: God Gave Us the World by Lisa Tawn Bergren

God Gave Us the World by Lisa Tawn Bergren is an adorable book with great illustrations about a polar bear cub and family.

Mam bear is trying to teach bear cub about what a beautiful world we live in.  She tries to accentuate the fact that things are different in our environment along with other animals (bears in this case.)  The book teaches children about different types of bears and that God created them all. One quote that I love is, “Every bear has a special place in God’s great, big world.”  How true that is.

What a great book to teach the little ones about God and his greatness, creativity and love.  The book is not only biblical, but also educational on different types of bears and how they differ as well as their habitats. 

Disclosure:
I received this book free from WaterBrookMultnomah Publishers as part of their Blogging for Books program.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: The Purpose of Passion by Kurt Bruner & Jim Ware

The Purpose of Passion by Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware is a great book reviewing Dante’s  La Vita Nuova, and comparing the book to what the Bible teaches us, along with real-life examples to help solidify the teachings.  The book also helps to reflect on the stage of love the reader is in at the moment, and how we can grow the love into what God wants love to be. 

 The book is divided up into three sections; Love Kindled, Love Gone Astray and Love Fulfilled. After each chapter, there is a summary about love that made me laugh at times, and other times, it made me contemplate a little more into the love that I am experiencing.

The book was a quick read, but a very deep, thoughtful book.  This book is something I could see reading more than once to get the full effect and learn as much as I can from it.  Also, The Purpose of Passion has made me want to read La Vita Nuova  and reflect on it as well. 

Disclosure:
I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner

Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner is like two novels in one!  The book takes you through the life of Jane Lindsay, a wife and mother who is being forced to wait for her troubled husband to decide if he wants to be with her or move away from their marriage.  The other (Lady Jane Grey) is a teenager in the 16^th century who is being married off at an extremely young age. Lady Jane Grey’s story is told through her dressmaker and friend, Lucy, where the book goes back and forth from modern-day Jane to Lucy, telling stories of two different women.

Jane Linday finds an item of Lady Jane Grey in the most peculiar way; in a binding of an old book.  The mysteries begin as to who the owner of this item really was, what the inscription on the inside meant, why and from whom did Lady Jane receive this beautiful gift?   gift and did love prevail?

The book has a lot of love and heart-break throughout, as well as mystery to keep you turning the pages in wonder.  Lady in Waiting is a great book with incredible detail, and mystery to the last page. 

Disclosure:
I received this book free from WaterBrook Press as part of their Blogging for Books program.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: Izzy's Pop Star Plan by Alex Marestaing

Izzy’s Pop Star Plan would be a great book for a girl in her early teens.  Izzy is a teenager with a plan to become a pop star in the Pop Star Challenge (kind of like American Idol.)

The book is written more as a daily blog written by Izzy Baxter about what she is going through in audtions and actually becoming a contestant on the Pop Star Challenge. The blog goes through 90 days of Izzy’s life.  Each entry has a mood meter (I love it!  Reminds me of my tween years,) the actual blog post, “My Heart,” and “Good Night, God.” 

I like the fact that the book was very real.  Izzy has been dealt with a tough deck of cards, losing her mother, but being very close to her father and her brother, Anders.  The Baxter’s live in an apartment in California where Izzy is home-schooled due to audition schedules.  Her best friend, Maggie, had been a great support system for her, as well as her Pastor and a woman who Izzy knows from the apartment building.

Izzy is fortunate enough to travel the world with her Manager (her brother, Anders,) and her father and takes the reader through her travels, trials and tribulations, meeting lifelong friends and making a difference the whole way through.  This book was very encouraging and a pleasure to read. 

Disclosure:
I received this book free from BookSneeze.com as part of their Blogger Review program.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: Double Shot by Erynn Mangum

Double Shot by Erynn Mangum is a book about 25 year old, Maya, who is getting married to a long-time friend, Jack.  I was so excited to get this book, as I've seen other books out there by Erynn Mangum that I've been waiting to read, but haven’t had a chance.

I was a bit disappointed in this book.  It is nearly 300 pages of the life of Maya and her wedding plans.  Though I chuckled at Maya's whit and humor (as well as her appetite and food choices,) the novel was a bit drawn-out and dull.  I was sick of hearing about how little time she had to plan her wedding, Jack’s non-existent help in the wedding planning, and the repetition of coming home and Calivon ‘Rooing.  Really.  We get it. 

The book had very little conflict, and was a bit unrealistic in terms of her relationship with Jack, in my opinion.  Everything was so hunky-dory throughout the book between Maya and Jack that they didn’t really seem like a real couple.  I was waiting for SOMETHING to happen, ANYTHING to happen to liven things up.  That never happened, except for the news from Jack that he has been recommended for a position in Seattle.  There were no real surprises throughout the book. No real learning experiences except for one at the very end.

These opinions may be because this is the first time reading about these characters.  My opinion may have been different if I read the other books of the series.

Disclosure:
I received this book free from NavPress as part of their Blogger Review program.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul was the perfect book to read this past week.  With Christmas coming and the snow on the ground, it was easy to get completely caught up in this book. 

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball is a book that takes place at Christmas-time in the life of a woman, Cora, and her boss' boss, Mr. Derrick. The book gives us a glimpse into Cora and Mr. Derrick's professional and personal lives and how their families have been and continue to be.  Cora has been born-again, and she is able to meet and truly get to know her boss' boss, to which she has worked with for the past five years.  Mr. Derrick is able to truly see Cora for who she is and what she stands for throughout the book.  

 

In my opinion, Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball is a modern-day Cinderella story that will keep you guessing from page 5 through page 205.  It was a great book that warmed my heart the whole way through.  I couldnt put this book down!

I loved the story, the ease of getting to know each of the characters, and the lessons taught ever so discretely.  I am adding Donita K. Paul's other novels to my reading list for 2011.

Disclosure:
I received this book free from WaterBrook publishers as part of their Blogging for Books program.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: Angry by Laura L. Smith

Angry by Laura L. Smith is a book geared toward teens.  When I read this book, I could completely relate to the main character, Emma, and what she was going through. 

The book is about a teenager named Emma (16,) who overheard a suspicious conversation her father was having, heard her mother sobbing one late night / early morning, found some personal items of her fathers that were hid in his closet, and then found out that her parents were getting a divorce. 

Emma is one of six children, and being the oldest, a lot of the responsibility has been put on her shoulders.  That responsibility was tenfold after her parents announced their divorce.

I feel like this book was MY story 14 years ago when my parents divorced for the same reason.  And at the same time, that is when I found God.  Emma had known God, but hadn’t felt Him in her life the year leading up to the divorce.

Through the book, you could feel Emma's hurt and anger toward her parents, her angry remarks, her storming out of the room and yelling.  But Emma learns that God is always there for her, and He knows what she is going through and how she feels.  She learns how to give it all to Him.

This book is a great book for a teen going through something like this.  I felt so alone when my parents were getting a divorce when I was 15.  I blamed everything on my father, and I hated him.  This book would have helped to validate some of the things I was doing and the way I acted.  In the end, like Emma, I turned to God and am now happy that my parents divorced.  They are better people now than they ever were together.  And they created two pretty awesome kids through the whole ordeal.  Even though we are a split family - we are closer now than we ever were before.  Even though now, it's not the four of us, it is me and my brother (25) with my mom and her husband, and me and my brother with my dad and his wife.  We are a very solid family now.  Nothing could break us apart.

Disclosure:
I received this book free from NavPress as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: Let's Do Lunch by Roger Troy Wilson

I am surprised that I zipped through this book in a day (actually, less than 5 hours which is not the norm for me.)  Let's Do Lunch is a bit misleading, if you ask me.  It says on the cover, "Eat all the calories and carbs you want to lose weight!"  Umm...yeah.  Eat all the calories and carbs you want, but try not to eat sugar, breads, potatoes, nuts, dairy, waffles, pancakes, cheese, pasta, and the like.  Oh, and if you want to slow down your weight loss, consume wine while trying to lose weight.

I was so ready to jump into this book.  After working so hard for the past few months to lose weight by portion control and watching what I eat, this book seems a bit off.  I am all for trying to get rid of the cravings of some foods (pizza, chocolate, bread,) but the solution to everything seemed to be "eat more fruit."  I want to eat "normal" foods that I love, whenever I want to eat them.

The book's title is mainly because Wilson suggests you eat your "protein-rich meal" at lunch.  I understand his reasoning behind this; however, I enjoy having dinner with my husband in the evenings after a long day's work.  I have tried having fruit-smoothies at dinner while he eats his hamburgers, or chili, and it's just not the same. 

There are so many restrictions to this book that it's not for me.  I am losing weight slowly by eating the foods that I like to eat and counting calories.  If that means I wont lose 75 lbs this year because I am eating my "protein rich meal" at dinner with my husban with a glass or two of wine or I have a large breakfast with my husband before work, sobeit.

Disclosure:
The opinions for this book are my own.

Book Review: Rachel’s Contrition by Michelle Buckman

Rachel’s Contrition is a book about a woman who lost a child (two if you consider her son who wants nothing to do with her,) is in the middle of a separation from her husband and in the midst of a nervous breakdown to name just a few.  I felt for Rachel from page one.  I felt like I knew her and wanted to help and comfort her through all of the hardship she’d experienced. She never had anyone to really support her through the tough times other than a quirky teenager who came and went as she pleased and was very puzzling throughout the book. A mysterious death of another person she knew well kept the mystery going in the book as well as stories of Rachel’s past.   

There are many twists and turns in this book and “who done its.” Even three quarters of the way through the book, the reader is left wondering what truly happened to her daughter.  Will Rachel learn to let go and let God take over?  You will have to read and find out for yourself!

The book was very descriptive and a pleasure to read from cover to cover.  I enjoyed it and look forward to reading other works by Michelle Buckman!

Disclosure:
I received this book free from Sophia Press Institute as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: The Grace of God by Andy Stanley

I was pleasantly surprised by the book, The Grace of God by Andy Stanley.
This book teaches through example, which is how I learn best!  The book shows the reader God’s grace through stpries from the bible.  I enjoyed reading the stories of Adam and Eve, Abraham, and Joseph to name just a few.

I did not grow up studying the bible or going to church.  I can count on one hand how many times I had been to a church before the age of 15.  I started going to church through a very difficult time in my life at the age of 15.  I started out a little later than most, and even though I sat and listened to stories from the bible, and went through a few bible studies, I never quite grasped what was going on.  The Grace of God helped me to understand the teachings of the bible in much more detail than I’ve ever been able to comprehend.  In my opinion, this book is a must-read for those new in their walk as well as the well-seasoned.  It is a terrific book.  I can see myself reading it over again.

Disclosure:
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: Growing Your Faith by Jerry Bridges

Growing Your Faith by Jerry Bridges is a book that instructs how to grow in your walk with the Lord.  Topics include discipline, praying, humility, accountability, praying with others, saying no, and trusting God among many other subjects.

The first couple of chapters did not entice me to continue.  I was extremely tempted to give up on the book.  I decided to set it aside and come back to see how I felt about continuing.  I cannot pinpoint what it was about the book that did not grab my attention.  Maybe it was my inability to absorb the information effectively.  When I came back to the book the next day, I very much enjoyed the book.  It was very refreshing.

I am glad that God opened my eyes to absorb the information provided within the pages after the second try.  I think we all want to strengthen our walk, and this book helps to give us the tools to do just that.

Disclosure:
I received this book free from NavPress as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: Awakening

Awakening by Claudia Cangilla McAdam is a book about a teenage girl (Ronnie) who goes back in time and is able to witness (and possibly change?) the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus.  Is she able to change the outcome?

It is difficult to write a review on this book without giving too much away.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book from page 1 to page 150.   I couldn’t put the book down.  There were many “a-ha” moments in the book and the suspense made me stay up late at night to see what happened next.  This book also made me feel closer to God.  Even though I know that He died on the cross for our sins, this book really made it hit home.  I am 29 years old, and I thought it was great how modern the descriptions were in this book (there was the use of the word “skank” in the book that made me chuckle a bit.)  I believe this could easily be read and understood by teenagers – boys and girls alike.

There are several favorite parts of the book, but one that made me smile is about how Ronnie was named and the meaning of her name.  I would highly recommend this book to both adults as well as High School teenagers. 

 

Disclosure:
I received this book free from Sophia Institute Press as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Your Money or Your Life

I have tried to read this book several times in the past, but it never really interested me.  Then, I got the book on audio from the local library, and it really hits home. 

Your Money or Your Life screams contentment and having “enough.”  It talks about “Working for a Dying,” which is what I feel like I do every day.  I absolutely love this audio book, and look forward to getting it again in a few months to drive home the principals.

The part of this book that I am on right now is about how much you are REALLY making in your profession.  I calculated how much I am making in my career, and it is nearly half of what my pay stub shows that I make.  For instance, my pay stub shows I make $19/hour.  When you take into account the cost of travel, the fact that I work an hour away from home, my lunch break, taxes, etc., I’m really only making $10.25/hour.  When I go out for lunch every Wednesday with a coworker, I am trading 1 hour of my “life energy” for that meal.

Todd and I really want to go on a cruise December 2011.  I figured that with the cruise and airline ticket alone, it would cost me 80+ hours of my “life energy” to take this trip.  That does not include any additional expenses we may incur, and that is just for ME.

Todd makes just a wee bit less than I do – so it will be about 100 hours of his “life energy” to pay for the trip.

When you put things into perspective like this, it really makes you think about what is worthwhile for you and what is not.

I strongly suggest this book / audio book (only 2 CD’s). 

Book Review: Becoming A Woman of Faith by Cynthia Heald

The book Becoming A Woman of Faith by Cynthia Heald is an amazing book!  It would be perfect as a gift, for personal use as a devotional, or for study groups.  Each chapter is on a specific topic that directs you to Bible verses.  You are then able to write notes and favorite parts of a verse in the book to refer to later in the day, next week, or even next year. There is also learning material in each chapter to pull together what was learned from the Bible verse(s).

As a person who has struggled with my walk, this is the perfect book.  That being said, I think this book would be a great resource for those who are seeking our Heavenly Father or are unsure how to begin in their walk with Him.  It opens many doors of communication between believers and those struggling.  I also believe this book is a great reference to strengthen ones relationship with God.

I absolutely love this book.  It is a small book, but the content is exactly what I needed in my journey with Him.  I plan on reviewing this book over and over again to help me in my journey.  I believe many others could also benefit from Becoming A Woman of Faith and its teachings.



Disclosure:

I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Review: Sarah's Garden by Kelly Long

I had the opportunity to read Sarah’s Garden by Kelly Long recently.

My husband and I married in Amish Country (Holmes County, Ohio) nearly 4 years ago.  The Amish way of life, simplicity and work ethic has always been of interest to me.  We live near another Amish area and I still get excited when I see horse and buggy driving down the road on my way to and from work.

Sarah’s Garden is a book of an Amish girl (Sarah) slowly finding herself falling for an English man (Grant.)  Both have strong relationships with God; however, it is forbidden for an Amish to marry an outsider without being shunned from the Amish way of life.  Sarah has a natural “green arm,” as the book says and an innocence that Grant cannot let slip through his fingers.  Sarah has a choice between the English man and an Amish man she has known growing up.  The question I continually asked myself through the book is, “Who will she decide to marry?”

That being said, I enjoyed this book immensely.  My heart fluttered every time Sarah’s did for Grant, and my heart sank just the same each time she recognized that she was not to be with an Englishman.  The details of each character in this book were incredible.  I felt as if I knew each and every one of them personally.  There were several twists and turns in the story line that I didn’t expect and a mystery or two to try to figure out, but it was a great read.  I will definitely be following Kelly Long’s books from here on out.


I received this book free from BookSneeze.com to review.   All opinions are unbias and my own

Book Review: Making LIfe Rich Without Any Money by Phil Callaway

Making Life Rich Without Any Money by Phil Callaway blew me away.  It is an incredible book that I think everyone should read.  This is a book that I'd like to read every 6 months to keep the teachings in the forefront of my mind so I dont forget and take for granted all that I've been blessed with.

Book Review: Love and Respect for a Lifetime by Emerson Eggerichs

In the book, Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, it is repeated over and over that women need love and men need respect.  Every other page says this.  That was a bit redundant.  However, the message in between the simple love and respect is what God intended from a man and a woman, and I think that’s what is most important in this book. Those reminders of what He wanted from us were refreshing.

My favorite passage from the book: Together you and your mate reflect the image of God on this earth.  To me, that line is so powerful. God made women in pink and men in blue.  When combined they form purple which is the color of royalty, the color of God. 

I was in desperate need of this book 4 years ago before I got married.  I think the teachings would have made it easier for my husband and I realize what each needed through the tough times we experienced in the very beginning with these simple yet effective understandings of what each of us needs in this relationship together and to serve our awesome God.  This book would be a perfect gift for a newlywed or even those who have been married but going through difficult times.  There is nothing better than a strong relationship with your partner with understanding and the mutual love of our creator.

I received this book free from BookSneeze.com to review.   All opinions are unbias and my own.