Monday, April 30, 2012

The Discovery

Discovery, The, Dan Walsh, 978-0-8007-1981-4

I was introduced to Dan Walsh's books through Graf Martin a while back and he has quickly become one of my very favorite authors, any time I see that one of his books is part of a review event I know that I'm in for a very good read!
In "The Discovery" we're introduced to an inspiring writer named Michael, who after loosing his grandfather inherits the Charleston home that His grandfather lived in. Though the home is filled with treasures and memories of both his grandparents, it lacks a lot of history regarding his grandparent's early years. Michael is then surprised to find an old antique box with a manuscript of his grandfather's in it. This very old looking (but unpublished) manuscript becomes the focal point of the story.
As we read into both the lives of  Michael and his wife, we also are drawn into the story of the manuscripts and the people within them. This book within a book was absolute genius! The story was very well written and literally had me glued to the book until the last page. The only disappointing part was when the book was finished, it was such a good story I just didn't want it to end!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Choose Joy

Choose Joy, Kay Warren, 978-0-8007-2172-5

I was very excited to read this book, I have great respect for Kay Warren's husband, but haven't often had a chance to hear her speak or read what she's written. I really enjoyed reading this book and it spoke volumes to me! I think this book is a lesson that all Christians need to learn, that God is good even when situations aren't that good, and that in spite of our circumstances we can choose to have joy.
I found this book to be extremely encouraging, and with so much in it that I needed to "hear" (or read, lol).
I would 100% recommend this book to every Christian, this is such an important lesson!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Prophet

Prophet, R. J. Larson, 978-0-7642-0971-0

Without a doubt, this is one of the best books I've had the privilege of reading! I'm always a fan of any book (fiction or non-fiction) that allows a female main character be have strength of character and courage. It was also heartening to see that the main character (Ela) was also both obedient unto the Lord and was so filled with faith that she journeyed forth even when faced with certain death. As I read the book all I could think of was that I want to have faith like that, I want to have obedience like that!
Ela of Parne was called  out of her home town to become the Lord's prophet (even in spite of her being the very first female prophet to come out of Parne) She didn't hesitate to respond with a yes to the call of the Lord. As she faces many dangerous journeys we see her faith grow as the Lord time and time again comes through for her and shows her that He is in control.
I love this book, its going to be a very well read addition to my bookshelf!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

The Fiddler

Fiddler, The, Beverly Lewis, 978-0-7642-0977-2
I LOVED this book, I'm a big Beverly Lewis fan and although this book seems quite different from her usual books, I found it hard to put down!
I love Amish books, I love reading about the simple culture and the importance they put on God and on family, so I was very excited to read this latest book by Lewis!
The book is mostly centered around Amelia, (also known as Amy Lee) who is a classical concert violinist, but who loves fiddling, and the country scene. As she struggles to meet the demands of her family, agent, and boyfriend Amelia starts finding herself at a loss as to what she would like. On her way home from a fiddling contest she becomes lost in the mountains and stumbles upon a mall cabin that a young Amish man named Michael was living in. After Michael had a falling out with his parents, he flee'd to the cabin for solice and didn't imagine that he would meet someone so life changing!
This was a fantastic book, it was riveting, and heartfelt, the characters were easy to identify with and had a lot of depth!
I highly recommend this book, it was one of the best one's I've read by Beverly Lewis!!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".


Heaven is now

Heaven Is Now, Andrew Farley, 978-0-8010-1438-3

At first glance this book kind of made me feel a bit cautious, it seemed a little out there (especially with the author claiming that we can experience heaven now while on earth) fortunately within the first few pages I realized that was completely mistaken with my first impression.
The book is basically about experiencing "the wonders of heaven" by having our spiritual senses awakened.
These five are senses are: Feeling God's Grace, hearing the Spirit, Seeing the work of Jesus in completion, Smelling the fragrant aroma of Christ, and tasting the goodness of the Lord.
I found a lot of what the Author (Andrew Farley) said was (or should be) common sense for a Christian believer, but too many of us (Christians) seem to forget these basic lessons!
I appreciated this book, it really caused me to open myself up more to what God was doing around me, and in me! I definitely recommend this book, it was well thought out, very scripturally based, and was interesting to read!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group".
  

The Ben Ripple: Choosing to live through loss with purpose

This book hit a lot with me, having seen the devastating effects of what cancer can have on families, it was so good to see something good come out of loosing someone to such a horrible disease.
The Author Lisa Elliott I think more than anything has effected my attitude (when dealing with loss), her courage, not only during her son's disease, but after his death as well spoke volumes to me. Its so tempting to become bitter when something so largely awful happens in a person's life, but her attitude throughout the disease, and after the loss of her son spoke volumes! (I realize that the book is about her son and his fight and the effect he had with his Christ like attitude, but I just had to say something about the author, I find her very inspiring!)
In all the book is heart breaking, inspiring, and faith evoking,  Ben Elliot's attitude throughout everything that was going on in his life is an inspiration . There was a prayer I once heard that has always stuck with me, and I found that this family really lived it out in their life. It was "In life or death, in sickness or in health, let everything be done for your glory". It takes courage to live out your life like that, especially when face with such an awful disease. I truly appreciate this book, and am very thankful to the mother, for the courage it took to write this book.
I love where she tell's of Ben singing the song "holy, Holy, Holy" and changing the words from "Lord God Almighty" to "Lord God on my team" even with it being a childish mistake, its such a truth too!
Thank you for making this book available.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Word Alive Press and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now from your favourite bookseller.  "

Monday, April 16, 2012

You're Already Amazing, Holley Gerth, 978-0-8007-2060-5

From the look and sound of the title, I thought this book would be more of a "feel good" type of book that wouldn't go into too much depth. I'm so glad I was wrong!!
This book was fantastic, so much so that it (the book) already looks like an old used book! Normally I'm a stickler for not marking up the pages of my book, but there was so much in the book that I wanted to highlight or underline, I've got dozens of pages folded over to parts I want to find easily, There is so much good stuff in this book!
I love the message of this book, that we don't need to be more, or have more, but that who we are and who we are in God is amazing. This is a book that so many young girls need, and I have already recommended it to our youth group. Its so important for every Christian to learn who we are in Christ, that He views us much differently than the world. Where the world tells us that we're not enough, God tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made! This is a message that needs to be spread!
"You're already Amazing" is a book that needs to be read by every Christian, the message of who we are in God is one that needs to be known!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".
 
 

Thursday, April 05, 2012

The Last plea bargin

Cover: The Last Plea Bargain

I love Randy Singer's books, and try to pick them up as much as possible. As someone who just isn't that into romance novels and corny stories, I find it hard to find a good Christian fiction book that isn't a romance story, and even more to find a good crime-related one that is well written. So any time I see Randy Singer's book I make sure to purchase them!
I loved this book, it followed suit of the other novels he's written, in the way that the story had a great flow to it with plenty of adventure and intrigue too!
This novel centers around Jamie Brock who is a young Assistant DA, who finds herself prosecuting a prominent defense attorney who is accused of murdering his wife. As the system begins to screech to a halt, she is forced to make compromises and do what she swore she'd never do.
I loved this book, but couldn't stand the main character (but I think that's the sign of good book, when you don't like a character, but still love the story). I felt that she was using the law to fill her own personal vendettas, which bothered me so much!
All in all though, I loved this book, like the other Randy Singer stories I've read, it was a great book that I'll be reading over and over again!!

*I received this book from Tyndale Media Center in order to review it. All opinions in this review are my own, and I am in no way required to give a positive review!