Grace by Max Lucado

My husband has been a Max Lucado fan for probably as long as we've been married, which is a little over 18 years.  Those of you who know me know I'm not a huge non-fiction fan, so I would always let DH read all the non-fiction books, like those written by Max Lucado, T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, etc.  He would share a truth here or there and that would show me the kind of writer the author was.

As I matured (notice I did not say grew older), I would read non-fiction related more towards women, especially if I was in a Bible study or ladies group for our church.  There were authors I enjoyed such as Victoria Osteen, Joyce Meyers, believe it or not, T.D. Jakes books towards women were really good as well.  I still stayed away from the mainstream authors like Max Lucado.

Or, that is I did until about two years ago.  When I started blogging and reviewing books, the first publishing house I became affiliated with was Thomas Nelson, which published non-fiction.  When a chance came to review my first Max Lucado book, I confess, I signed up to review it more for my husband then for me.  I read it, not really expecting to like it; however, Max Lucado writes like he could be a friend of mine and we are having a conversation.  He has a dry sense of humor and a way of looking at things that I greatly appreciate.

He has you look at things in different ways that are fascinating to new Christians and eye opening for older, more seasoned Christians who may have grown jaded when reading these types of books.

Grace by Max Lucado is no exception to this style of writing.  He made me smile and made me look at Grace in new ways.  Now, if you are looking for something deeply intellectual, D. L. Moody, or something constantly picking apart the Greek and Hebrew meanings of the words, then this is not the book for you.  I wouldn't call this bubble gummy, but neither would I call it earth shattering.  In my opinion, Max just wants you to look at these topics from a different perspective that might move them from head knowledge to heart knowledge.

His stories help put this in perspective as he explains that Grace is something that God freely gives, but we are reluctant to receive.  This is a solid book.  Is it one that totally rocked my world?  No.  Is it one that I would recommend to someone who was having trouble understanding that God has forgiven them and has extended Grace.  Absolutely.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers 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 Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Courting Miss Amsel by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Edythe Amsel is delighted with her first teaching assignment:  a one-room schoolhouse in Walnut Hill, Nebraska.  Independent, headstrong, and a firm believer in a well-rounded education.  Edythe is ready to open the world to the students in this tiny community.  But is Walnut Hill ready for her?

Having raised his nephews since their parents' untimely deaths, Joel Townsend is thrilled to learn the town council has hired a female teacher.  his sons could use a woman's influence.  But he sure didn't bargain on a woman like Miss Amsel.  Within the first week, she has the entire town up in arms over her outlandish teaching methods.  Of course, Joel can't help but notice that she's also mighty pretty--and just might make a good mother for his boys.

Not My Cup of Tea

This book made such an impression on me, that I couldn't remember I had read it before until about halfway through.  While I do think author Kim Vogel Sawyer is a very good writer, I couldn't get into this book.  I tried and tried to feel something, anything toward the heroine, but couldn't raise any sort of connection with Edythe Amsel.

I thought all of the characters were fairly well developed.  I understood the background behind each one, or at least I think I did.  Maybe I didn't and that's why I didn't connect.  I did like Miss Amsel's teaching methods, and wished my children had teachers like her.  I also thought the look into the Women's Right to Vote issue was very well written.

I loved the two little boys, the nephews of Joel Townsend, and thought their personalities were quite charming.  I thought Joel was a tad desperate.

There was a twist in the story about halfway through, that even though I wasn't looking for it at first, was fairly predictable, although the character kind of threw me for a loop.  I don't want to give it away, but I will say I didn't see this particular character going in quite this direction.

All-in-all, this is definitely not staying on my "Keeper" shelf, but it doesn't mean that I wouldn't love to give author Kim Vogel Sawyer another try.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House book review bloggers 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 Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &lt;http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&gt; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Courting Cate by Leslie Gould

In Paradise, Pennsylvania, Cate Miller is known more for her sharp tongue and fiery temper than her striking appearance.  Her sweet and flirty sister, Betsy, on the other hand, seems to have attracted most of teh bachelors in Lancaster County!

But the sisters' wealthy father has made one hard-and-fast rule:  Cate, as the oldest, must get married before Betsy can do so.  Unfortunately, untamable Cate has driven away every suitor - until Pete Treger comes to town, that is.

Prodded by the men of the area, Pete turns his attention to winning Cate's hand.  But is his interest true or is there a scheme at play?




Evidently being a self-sufficient, bull-headed female isn't unique to Englisch  women.  As Cate Miller shows us, there are Amish women who want to be self-sufficient and not dependent on a man.  Cate Miller is a sharp-tongued, independent woman who hides behind her temper in her attempt to shelter her heart. With a head for business, she wants nothing more than help her Da run his many businesses and maybe, just maybe, start one of her own.  Unfortunately, Cate lives in a culture where women are there to take care of and be taken care of by a man.

Due to an unfortunate and embarrassing event with a young man who she thought was a suitor she now makes sure she hurts others before she gets hurt.  The only person who seems to be able to get under skin is her sister, Betsy.  Unlike Cate, Betsy wants nothing more than to get married and will do absolutely anything to make sure she gets the chance.

The story was well told, but it ran a little slow for me.  I had a little trouble connecting with the characters, and while I understood the motives behind why Cate acted the way she did, I just had a hard time feeling empathy towards her.  I did, however, fall in love with her big, burly, gruff dad and was really hoping he would get together with one of the secondary characters.  Maybe he will in one of the following books.

All in all, not a bad book.  Probably not a re-read, but I didn't feel like I wasted my time or anything.

If anyone would like to read this book, please leave a comment below and I will get it out to you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House book review bloggers 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 Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &lt;http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&gt; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden

Meet Lydia Pallas.  Orphaned as a young Greek immigrant child on the Boston wharves, Lydia grew up determined not to rely on anyone but herself.  All grown up, Lydia, who is fluent in multiple languages, works for the Navy as a translator.  When her neat and orderly (OCD) world is suddenly turned upside down, she makes a deal with mysterious Alexander Banebridge who has a driving need to shut down the opium trade.

Elizabeth Camden weaves a good, solid story pulling you in to the idiosyncrasies of her main characters.  While the majority of the story was fairly predictable, I was not at all discouraged by that fact.  I really did enjoy the story and the twists and turns that it had.

One thing that I absolutely loved was the opportunity to learn.  Ms. Camden does a masterful job in teaching about the opium trade that was extremely prevalent and widely accepted by many physicians in the 1800s.  I remember reading somewhere that opium was actually encouraged by most doctors at that time.  So the great detail she went into on that subject, as well as the behind the scenes look at the Navy was very much appreciated by me.

All in all, a quite excellent book.  I highly encourage you to branch out to this author.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House book review bloggers 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 Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 &lt;http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html&gt; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Additional Views The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Expanded 10th Anniversary Edition

I received this book at the end of last year in time for the 10-year anniversary of the original printing of The Purpose Driven Life. I was really excited as I had never read this book, and my church had just completed a church-wide small group Bible Study by Rick Warren.

The content is virtually the same, but it offers some new twists for today's technologically savvy generations.  Each chapter has a QR code that will take the reader to a video introduction and an audio Bible Study to be done at the end of the chapter.  There are also two new chapters addressing the most common barriers to a purpose driven life.  The reader can also connect to other readers through access to an online community, where you can discuss your journey and receive feedback and support.

I confess, I did not try the QR codes for all 42 chapters, but for the chapters I did try, everything seemed to work just fine and the recordings were clear and easy to understand.  I will also say that reading a book for review purposes and reading it for an actual  personal study experience are two separate things.  When you're reading for review purposes, it is easy to read straight through areas that would normally speak to you and not let the words sink in and register within your spirit.  I have put this on my list for my devotion rotation so I can go back through it looking for the truth God wants to share.

I would encourage those looking for a direction in their lives to read this book with an open mind.  It's written in such a way that anyone will get direction from it whether they are in high school, college, middle age, or retired.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers 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 Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Dream So Big by Steve Peifer w/ Gregg Lewis

One of the best things about being a book reviewer is going to your mailbox and finding a package that signals a new book has arrived.  Even better is when one arrives unannounced.

Let me take a step back and tell you a little about how book reviewing works.  I have a couple of publishing houses that I work with (although I wish it were a lot more), and I get an e-mail every so often that tells me of books coming up and I choose which one on the list I want to read or review.  This time was different.  One afternoon at the beginning of March, I received a package at my door, and in it was a book from Zondervan, which I have not worked with in the past.  I needed a new book for my softball bag, so in it went.

For those who know me, you know I'm a fiction reader.  Sometimes I struggle with non-fiction.  I used to read non-fiction a lot, but so many times it's so dry or the message has been said so many times before that I have become extremely skeptical, but what the hey!  It's a free book.  I'll try anything once. :-)

What I found was a pleasant surprise.  A Dream So Big is a story of a family's journey past the pain of losing an infant to the dream of impacting a nation of children with no hope.  Written with an extremely dry sense of humor, this book takes you through a 10+ year journey in the life of the Peifer family.  In this book you will meet Steve and his wife Nancy, his children Matthew, JT, Stephen, Ben, and Katie.  You will also meet missionary children at a boarding school in Kenya where the Peifers work and fall in love with thousands of children across the country of Kenya.  You will thrill to wild animal sightings (like baboons on the front porch), live dangerously through the precarious roads and drivers in Kenya, and cry at the description of children on the dirt floor of a public school, too weak to sit up because they haven't eaten in three days.

Steve was recognized in 2007 by CNN as a CNN Hero for Championing Children.  The video that CNN made for the awards ceremony can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pLQnizF5g4 or at his website kenyadkidscan.org.  is organization provides hot lunches to approximately 20,000 kids a day during the school year, and he has gone one step further and helped build solar powered computer labs for these kids.

Steve's witty voice is carried throughout the book with actual e-mails written by Steve to their stateside supporters describing the life as dorm parents at the missionary boarding school.  You can't help but laugh at the descriptions of Steve learning to speak Swahili in such a fashion that the teachers are rolling on the floor with laughter.

With everything you will learn about Kenya and being a missionary family, the biggest thing I hope you will gain from reading this book is to not "make peace with the fact that there are hungry children".  This statement jumped out at me and kind of slapped me in the face.  I had a moment of thought about the kids here in the US that are going hungry, but then God reminded me that these precious little lives are someone's children too.  These kids don't have even a fraction of a chance that even the poorest kids here in the U.S. have.  Our kids can go to school and get breakfast and lunch for free and have 1 teacher for every 30 kids.  They get textbooks and libraries where they can read to their heart's content.   They will have access to computers and can achieve anything they want.  These Kenyan kids have 1 teacher for several hundred kids.  They have little to no textbooks.  Their parents have to pay an outrageous sum to send them to public school and then have to provide their school uniform on top of that.  There is simply nothing left, and these are the fortunate families.  Drop out rates for elementary school kids are over 50%.  Corruption and greed are abundant.

This book was a breath of fresh air for me.  Bravo to Zondervan for allowing Steve to tell his story and a great job to Gregg Lewis for co-authoring this book.  An even bigger thank you to Steve and Nancy Peifer for listening to the still small voice that wouldn't be silenced that allows the lives of so many people to be touched.

If any of my local followers would like to read this book, please leave me a comment.  I'd love to start passing this around.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan Books.   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 Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”