The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

The Christmas Singing by Cindy Wooksmall is self discribed as a  romance from the heart of Amish country and that is what it is.  Mattie has moved from her childhood home in Pennsylvania to Ohio to make a new life for herself after her childhood sweetheart, Gideon had broken up with her.  She has made a new life for herself setting up a bakery business and getting aquainted with Sol.  Sol offers her a security that she didn't have with Gideon but she know that she will never love Sol as she loved Gideon.  When Mattie's bakery catches fire and burns to the ground she finds that she has to return to her parents home to plan her aunt's wedding.  The story is of her return to Pennsylvania and acceptance of Gideon and her new relationship.

I read this delightful book in one setting it was so good.  Cindy Woodsmall draws the reader into the Amish community and leaves them wanting more.  I sure do hope that there is more of this story in another book yet unwritten.  I was left wondering how Mattie and Gideon would marry and raise their children.  Please continue writing Ms Woodsmall.  I would recommend this story for any age group.

I recieved this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah for this review.

The Exceptional Life by Stephen Arterburn

The Exceptional Life by Stephen Arterburn is a self help book to take you from what ever your life is now to the life that God intends you to have. Arterburn identifies the 8 roadblocks to living and shares how to get the life that you want from sharing his own life experiences as well as those of his friends and relatives.  He show you how to break down the barriers and get the life you desire.  He guides you through giving up guilt, resentment, fear, anger, instant gratification, helplessness, isolation and addiction in order to recieve hope, love, trust, forgiveness, patience, power, connection/community, and freedom.

Arterburn in his book reminds us of things we already know in an easy to understand way.  In the first chapter he tells us what the book is about and in the following chapters he goes into further detail.  Since he is not giving new information one could read the first chapter and the last chapter which sums up the book and probably get the whole book.  I would probably advise reading this book if one was young and just starting out on your own but it is too slow for those of us with a lot of life's experiences.

I recieved this book free for this review from Bethany House  a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter

The Accidental Bride  is about a young hardworking woman, Shay, who is raising her daughter alone after the death of her parents and the father of her daughter, Olivia.  She is about to loose the family farm that has been in her family for generations.  She has been praying to God for help in finances but is proceeding on working as hard as she can to save the home she has always known in the meantime while the bank seems to be making preperations to foreclose within the month.  Her long lost love from 14 years ago, Travis, shows up in town and through a comedy of errors Shay finds herself married to him because of the old marrage license finding its way to the minister.  Travis the man who jilted her decides to try to make the marrage work.  He still loves her and has the money to make the financial problems go away.   He strikes a deal with her to try to make it work for 5 months and then will walk away if it doesn't.  Shay because of her money situation and also though she won't admit it still loves him agrees to the plan.
I liked this book.  It is a Christian love story between the two who are still in love teenagers 14 years later.  There are no deep plots here it is a simple love story to read just for the pleasure of reading.  I would recommend it to any female above the age of about 10 or 12.  There is only suggestion of sexual encounter so there is no need to worry about your youngest child reading this but it is adult enough for moms to enjoy also.
This book was provided free for this review from Multnomah Waterbrook Publishing.  They make no stipulations that this be a positive review.

The Promise of Provision by Derek Prince

The Promise of Provision is a book of God's promise to his faithful followers of abundance.  It is not however a book preaching to pray for whatever it is that you want/need and it will fall from the sky.  It is a book of the Bible stating not only that if one prays for abundance of whatever your needs are that you will recieve them but also stating what the Bible states what it is that God wants you to do with that abundance.  This is different from the greedy abundance books that seem to abound on the popular Christian bookshelves today.  This brings forward the scripture, "To whom much is given, much is required."  Prince takes the reader step by step into how to aquire abundance from God but also in the confines of this rather small book (175 pages) but also step by step into what your requirements are. 
I have to say that I am not much of a "self help book reader".  I am also not much of a "pray for money and you will have bushels of it readily available no matter how stupid you are about your spending habits" kind of a person.  This book however drew me in and got me with all the clear instructions and Biblical background.  This is a book that I can readily advise others to read.  It will not only increase your finances but will more importantly increase you spiritual well-being.  This is a book with scriptural background that did not pick and chose small verses on which to base a book but chose much of the whole Bible to base his theory.  I would recommend this book for reading for any Christian-a new Christian so that he would get off on the right foot and an experienced Christian because we all need to be reminded of our duties as Christians.  One of the quotes that I find most enlightening is that "God is not I was or I will but I AM.
This book was provided free to me for this review by Chosen a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack

The Fourth Fisherman is a true story of how 3 Mexican fishermen became lost at sea with only their past history of survival techniques, their faith in God and a Bible lived for over 9 months on the open ocean.  They lived on raw fish, turtles and rainwater.  It also tells the story of the author who was a drug and alcohol addicted wealthy man in Hollywood.  This man was rich in money and poor in faith.  The connection is that both were lost and that is told in the intertwined story of faith--The fishermen's continued faith and the rich man's finding and learning to live within God's loving arms.
I liked the way that this book tells both the stories together and shows how being lost in faith is much worse than being lost at sea.  Being lost at sea is only for this life but being lost from God's love is a forever thing.  I look forward to being able to see this story told on the big screen because I can see it being a story to tell to the masses in way that a book cannot.  So many young people are willing to go to see a story but are not willing to read the book and this is a story that needs to be told.  The only critique that I would put forward is that the book drags at the end where it tells of getting the story to market.  Other than that kudos to the author, JoeKissack, for having the convictions to tells a story that was not easy to tell and to his wife Carmen for sticking with him (it couldn't have been easy).
This book was provided free to me for this nonbiased review.

The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall

The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall is about Sylvia Fisher who at the beginning of the book has just had her fiance dump her for her sister.  Sylvia has always helping in the running of her father's dairy farm and to help deal with the feelings of rejection she has decided to leave the family farm and go away to work for another farmer who had placed an ad for work in the paper.  This is a big decision for Sylvia both financially, (she stands to lose her inheritance as well as her life savings) as well as she needs her father's blessing to avoid being shunned.  Sylvia pours herself into trying to revive a poorly run farm and get it back on its feet.  To further complicate matters Aaron Blank the alcoholic only son of the farmer returns after spending time in rehab with the plan to move his parents to an easier lifestyle in town.  His plan is to sell the farm and buy a business in town.
The Harvest of Grace is the third of the Ada House series.  I wished that I had read the first two books as they were probably just as good as this one and I would have more easily followed the story line but even so Cindy Woodsmall has a little 1 1/2 page catch up telling the previous story so far.  This is a delightfully well written book of life in one Amish family.  These people have the same problems as in any family but are solving them following the rulings of the Amish church to which they belong.  I loved this book and I would suggest this as good reading for any age. 

Nearing Home by Billy Graham

Nearing Home Life, Faith and Finishing Well by Billy Graham discusses getting your spirit ready to die.  He discusses heaven and being prepared for the end of life whether of old age like him or dying young especially unexpectedly.  There are the usual Biblical messages as only Mr Graham can give.  He speaks of growing up in a Christian family and growing old as a man who has lived the good life in the work and worship of God.  He is anticipating heaven and all of its rewards and being reunited with Ruth, his wife.  He speaks of the slow leaving of his life work in the hands of the next generation which includes his children.
This book has a different feel than the rest of his books.  It is not nearly so upbeat.  It has a "good-by" feel.  He is getting ready to leave this earth and he is wanting to make sure his work here is done.  It reads slower than the rest of his books.  I had the feeling that I was reading his very last book.  It will be sad to hear of his passing when it comes but it is good to know that he is ready to go in a way that many of this country are not.  This country will not soon have a man who can do the work of Billy Graham and there is never going to be a replacement for him.  May God continue to bless him at this part of his life.

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs

Mine is the Night is a great Christian romance set in 18th century Scotland.  It is a story of riches and titles lost and how these 2 women and their poor cousin learn to live and love and trust again.  It is the end of the war and the jacobite cause has lost.  Marjory has lost her husband, both her sons, her title and the riches that go with it.  Most of all she has lost her beloved home and now with Elizabeth her widowed daughter in law she must go and beg to live with a poor cousin, Anne.  Anne has been ignored by her wealthy relatives but takes them in to live in her one room home.  Marjory and Elizabeth Kerr learn that when all is lost they must trust in the Lord.  They learn what true loyalty is and find friendships among those poor that had been previously rejected.  They learn who can be trusted and loved.  The three women find that love of family does not depend on monetary values but what is inside themselves.  They find strength in themselves and each other then they find the love of  a good Christian man.
I liked the way that this book tells a little of the Scottish poor of the 18th century.  So many of historical romance books tell of only the rich and though this one also tells of the rich the poor are the major focus characters.  I also liked that there was a Scottish glossary in the back of the book to help with understanding the language differences of the times and the country.  Great book.  It reads quickly and keeps the reader interested by all the turns of the story.  Not just a good romance a good story.
I recieved this book from Waterbook Multnomah Publishing for this review.

Reclaiming Lily by Patti Lacy

Reclaiming Lily is a novel about a Chinese family caught in the middle of  China's Cultural Revolution.  The family must make choices and one of them is to put their new baby girl,Lily, into an orphanage.  This baby grows becomes adopted by an American and is raised in Texas by good well meaning Christians, Andrew and Gloria Powell.  Joy, as the girl is named by her new parents, grows into a rebellious teen.  Kai is one of the 3 sisters left behind in China and she promises her mother on her deathbed that she will find her sister and give Lily her pearl necklace.  The mother is dying of a disease called Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).  Kai as a way into America fought and won the ability to be educated as a physician and research PKD as a way to find Lily.  Through much hard work Kai has finally found Lily and meets with Andrew and Gloria.  This book is about the love that Kai, Andrew and Gloria have for Joy/Lily and working through those difficulties and getting Joy tested for PKD which is genetically transmitted.

This is a good story of no matter how well meaning and loving of a family a child grows up in sometimes the child needs more than parents can give.  If God sends that someone else into the family's life then if you trust that God knows what He is doing then swallow your pride and accept that help everyone benefits.  It tells of some of the difficulties of raising teens as during this meeting Andrew gets the call to come meet Joy at the local jail as she is being arrested for shoplifting.  It tells how no matter how much love a parent has for a daughter they make many mistakes but they can through love and hard work be the daughter can be reclaimed.

I recieved this book from Bethany House for this review.

Behind the Veils of Yemen by Audra Grace Shelby

Behind the Veils of Yemen is a book about a missionary family who leave the comforts and safety of the USA and answer the call of God to "Go Ye into the world and teach the Gosple".  After they recieve the call and start to train for their assignment they continually are tested but God continues to call them and they answer that call and go into Yemen.  Audra and her family learn that praying is not too little to do when faced with the daily life and death decisions that they must face but is the biggest thing that one can do in any crisis situation.  God still hears one still small voice.  Audra learns the language and the culture as she goes through the 3 years that this story covers.  She learns to love these people of Yemen-God's people, and to take to the women of Yemen the message of Jesus, the Messiah.  That God loves them and sent His only Son to die so that they, women of Yemen could have life and have it abundantly.  These were women who were treated as objects by their own family.  Women who most likely had been treated badly since their birth.  Women who had no chance to ever be treated well by their family ever had a God and Messiah who loved them and wanted eternity for them.  To these women and their families Audra and her family brought hope and and planted the seeds of faith into their hearts.
I really liked this book.  It helps me to see into the lives of these Moslem women and help to understand the culture that can only be learned by close relationship with them.  It told their story from a Christian's perspective but in a loving way not filled with fate as so often is heard even on the Christian media outlets.  We cannot preach of God's love with hate filled words.  Jesus taught us through example to love our enemies and we cannot improve on that.  God does not just call us to do great things.  Sometimes He calls us to do little things and He makes them great.  We must answer God's call in our lives as He asks.
I recieved this book free for this review from Bethany House Publishing.

Out of a Far Country by Christopher and Angela Yuan

Out of a Far Country is a beautifully written story of a modern day prodical son and his family.  Chris is the youngest son and the most understood by Angela, his mother.  Angela has married her true love but before the first month is even over her in-laws decide that they don't like her and so the dutiful son that is her husband following Chinese custom supports his mother over his wife.  She had a very lonely childhood and had decided before marrage that she would be always home for her children of which she has 2 sons.  The eldest is rebellious and she never sees eye to eye with him but Chris is very loving and caring.  Chris continues this way until he goes to college and she can no longer deny that Chris is homosexual.  She decides that she will make one last trip to see her son before she commits suicide and on the way meets God.  When she goes home after that disaster trip she and her husband make some major changes.  They start praying, attending Bible lessons and turning their life and that of Chris over to God.  This story tells simultaneously of her transformation into Chritianity and of Chris's downward spiral into sex parties influenced by multiple drugs.  With her husband she discovers hope in God.  They get their friends to pray along with them for Chris.
I liked the way that this book compares our modern day problems with those of Biblical days and how we have different problems but that until we turn them over to God we continue to have crisis after crisis.  I do however think that this book should be read by older children because of the subject content--maybe high school or even middle school depending on the child.  The book discusses multiple sex partners as well as various drugs and how to use them.
I recieved this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing for this review.

The Encounter by Stephen Arterburn

Jonathan Rush, business tycoon is told by his pastor counselor that he needs to research his birth mother to find out why he has so much anger in his heart.  Jonathan is going through his 3rd divorce and numerous business associates because of his anger but still feels that finding out about his life won't cure it.  He was abandoned to a children's home in Fairbanks, Alaska at the age of 4 years.  Back to Alaska he goes to find out the mysteries of his childhood and his anger and in the winter no less.  Jonathan quickly is met by a reporter who wants an interview from their hometown hero.  Jonathan who usually quickly can dodge the press finds himself working with her to find out his story.  The book takes the reader simultaneously through Jonathan's and his mother, Ada's emotions of their life--Jonathan's feelings of anger and abandonment at the children's home and Ada's feeling of shame and inadequacy to be a mother. 
I really liked how the book intertwines the story of mother and son with how God loves and accepts us as we are in the moment that we are in.  I read this book in just a few hours and couldn't put it down.  Anyone who does not have a perfect life will like it.
I recieved this book from Booksneeze free for this review.

Softly and Tenderly by Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck

Jade's perfect life is falling apart and not just the fact that she can't get pregnant.  Her perfect lawyer husband, max has serious flaws.  He is self-centered and self-involved.  If that were not enough to cap all that off Jade discovers his infidelifty has produced a son and that son is now 19 monthes old.  Her husband has been secretly financially supporting him but physically and emotionally ignoring him until his mother dies.  Now Max has decided that he wants to raise the boy with Jade.  Jade is disallussioned to say the least.  As if that were not enough Jade's free spirit mother is dying.
This is a great woman's book for any married woman or woman thinking of getting married.  Jade is facing life's turns and having to deal with them as they too quickly happen all at once.  I liked the way that this book looked at marrage straight in the eye and didn't pull punches.  Sometimes life just isn't fair and the only way to get through too many problems to to drop out of life and slow down and only handle one problem at a time.  This is what Jade is doing by dealing with the one problem that can't be delayed--her mother's death.  This is a good book and I recommend reading it to anyone dealing with life and marrage.
This book was provided free for this review by Booksneeze.com.

The Scroll by Grant Jeffrey and Alton L. Gansky

The Scroll is about a group of archaeologists gathered together in Jeruselem by trusted Professor Ben-Judah and a well known billionaire without regard for anything but trustworthiness and their individual abilities.  Their abilities on archeology that is.  They have reasons to both hate and love each other but they all agree that for talent there is none better than Dr. David Chambers, Dr Amber Rogers and Dr Nuri Aumann. Especially if one combines their talent with that of Dr. Ben-Judah and the ability to work with money never being a concern and all the newest scientific inventions at their disposal.  The goal of this group is to find the Copper Scroll's list of temple artifacts which has an Indian Jones sound but follows a scientific-Biblical archaeology storyline rather than the blood and snakes of the movie.  This story has a love interest but the business of the story is the archaelogy digging and proving the Bible history in acuracy.  It lets the reader in on the politics of the day and some of the reasons for the customs.
I loved the book and couldn't put it down.  It realistically takes the reader into Isreal and the mysteries of the land and the Bible.  I was on the edge of my chair many times not being able to turn the pages quickly enough.  The twists and turns of the storyline holds the readers interest in a way that just a mystery cannot.  It lets the reader know the importance of having a strong Christian faith in times of the difficulties of life.  It lets the reader know that God loves  us when we are trying our best and when we are not.  You just have to read this book.
This book was provided for this review by WaterbrookMultnomah Publishing Group.

Wings of a Dream

Rebekah is a young 19 year old women living during World War 1.  This is a time of great conflict in our country as well as a time of great hardship as they are going through the Spanish Influenza outbreak.  This great pandemic was sweeping the country and killing young and old alike.  Rebekah had been yearning for some excitement in her life to take her away from the hum drum of everyday life she lived in with her family.  Rebekah had just fallen in love with an aviator but he was gone now to Texas to train for war.  He was everything exciting that she wanted in her life--handsome and  a world traveler. Rebekah's aunt had written a letter asking for help and Rebekah had been sent by her mother to a small farm just outside of a small town in Texas to care for her.  Rebekah gets excited to be sent to Texas, a place that she has not ever been to but also closer to the base that her sweetheart has been sent.  What she  finds however when she gets there is her aunt near death's door from the Spanish Influenza and needing help not only for herself but the 4 small children under her care.  When her aunt dies the next day Rebekah finds herself growing up quickly as she learns to care for the farm and the 4 children now under her care.
I loved this book.  It appealed to me in so many ways from the historical aspect of the war taking place in our country to the difficulties of living with so much death all around from illness that could not be conquered by medication.  The stresses of everyday life in the early 1900's required one to rely on your neighbors and God as the only help in time of need.  The only part that was not time acurate was when the child fell down the well and did not go all the way to the water.  Wells in that time would have all been hand dug and therefore much too wide for a child to have been stuck in but other than that seemed good to detail.
This book was provided for this review by Bethany House Publishing.

Close Enough to Hear God Breathe by Greg Paul

Greg Paul show in his writing how to develope a deep close relationship with God.  He shows how God proves His love for us in our everyday life.  He teaches us how to listen for God whispering to us and breathing close by us everyday.  Paul calls us to hear God telling us his pleasure with us and of His happiness with calling us His child.
This book helped me walk through my our history and see God supporting me and giving me strength in times of distress and/or grief.  He reminded me that the Bible reminds me not to place myself back into the slavery of nonforgivness that only God can give me.  Rather He asks me to accept the peace and freedom that only faith in the Trinity of God the Father, the Mother Holy Spirit and Jesus the Son can give.  This analogy of the family of God helps one to understand in a way anyone can see because we all have a family of some sort.  I would recommend this book as a good read or as a personal devotional.  I can easily see it as a Bible study guide for groups of many ages.
I recieved this book for free from Booksneeze for this review.

Indelible

Trevor MacDaniel opens the books with a rescue of a child from a mointain lion.  This exciting start draws the reader into the action packed story of intregue.  We are quickly introduce to Natalie, Trevor's neighbor and friend.  Natalie has "special Gifts" which add to the story in a n interesting way wit her ability to see her incredible memories in sculptures.  Trevor attracts a "grim" admiror and Trevor and Natalie work together to fight the foe.
Indelible is a sequel to Indivisible.  That being said, the book without first reading Indivisible is difficult to follow.  I diffinately would recommend reading them in order also reading it on the computer was difficult also and possibly reading in book form would be better so you can go back and reread easier.
I recieved this book free for this review.

Vigilante by Robin Parrish

This is a great action book.  Nolan Gray is a Christian man who wants to make the world a better place by doing good.  He is well trained in many martial arts which he learned in the armed services.  He is not afraid to live his Christian beliefs.  He has friends who have made him a special suit which give him the ability fling an attachment to walls or ceilings then zip up to them in seconds which allows him to move quickly to where ever he needs to go. He also has special shoes that allow him to run faster.  He also has a building which has all the high tech materials he needs so that his friends can moniter the city and send him where he can help the most.  Like Superman he has enemies who plot to bring him down.  This is a book that young boys and men I think would love. Parrish writes a good action book and shows how "There is a better way".
I would recommend this book.  I read it in a weekend.  I couldn't put it down.
I recieved this book free for this review.

Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber

Surprised by Oxford is a memoir of the author's 1st year as a graduate student at Oxford. She is a student on scholorship which right away states that this author is a quite intelligent woman.  She like many highly intelligent people thinks deep and wide.  It sounds like dry reading but is quite entertaining as she invites the reader into her life and warms them with her wit and love.  She shares her conversion from lukewarm not quite believer just trying to make it through life to a Christian full fledged and believing.  She walks through the questions and searching while fully socializing with her cohort students.
I didn't know what to think as I started to read this rather long book.  I know I didn't espect it to be a love story of both God and man.  I more expectd it to be a diary-so I was pleasantly surprised.  This book also set me to thinking, questioning, and ended with a wondering of my own faith-something we should all do from time to time in order to refresh our spirit.  I ended up liking this book and would recommend it.
This book was received free for this review.

George Washington Carver By John Perry

George Washington Carver is a short book about the great scientist.  It tells of his life beginning to end in 154 pages. While that seems to be not enough to a true Carver lover as I am I found myself finding out things that I did not know.  It is a delightful little read that leaves you thirsting to find out more about the humble genius of a man that he was.  We could all with less cause take a lesson in humility from this man.  John Perry has made this man who was always bigger than life to me seem more human than I had read of him previously.  After reading the book I feel that I have been able to meet the man. 
I would recommend this book to anyone who has the slightest interest in history( black or white), science (interesting not dry school stuff), or a biography of an American.  This book I read in one setting as it is very short but it feels complete.  A sure 5 star book.
I was provided this book for free for this review.

Upside by Bradley R E Wright

This is a book discussing the real state of world affairs. It uses statistics to tell us of what the state of the world is rather than an alarmist view of the world. It does little predicting of where the world is heading but it does remind us that we tend to solve world problems as they come up and start affecting our daily life.

This book sounds very dry but it is instead uplifting. I read this book thinking I should but found myself feeling better about myself and the new generations coming after me. This book encourages the reader to think things through instead of just mindlessly accepting the views expressed by the media. It also tells us how stories are slanted negatively in order to get grant dollars as well as to make a good news story. Many people have quit watching the news because of way that it makes the viewer worry and many obsessively watch news and get physically sick with worry. Most are obviously in the middle. This book tells how the lives of the people of the world-not just USA is really getting better in most ways rather than how we're all doomed and there is nothing you can do about it or that it is all someone's fault. It actually tells some ways that the still young can live their life in such a way as to make it better. Get an education, don't marry too early, eat well but not too much, get some exercise, and quit watching so much TV and instead get out into society. I actually read this book in a matter of a couple of days because it was so interesting. It is short-only 222 pages (unless you read the notes which I don't). I would recommend this book to any who are concerned about the way of the world.

I recieved this book free for this review. I was not encouraged to give either a good or bad review.

Sweet Santuary by Sheila Walsh and Cindy Marinusen Columa

Sweet Santuary is a story of a single divorce mom, Wren, raising her musically gifted young son, Charlie.  She has a full life raising him and has just about sworn off of men since her marrage.  She has returned to her hometown to raise him because of financial difficulties and the family home being unoccupied.  Throughout the book there are hints of being the family outcast because of a childhood experience but until the end we don't know the full story.  This is a story of family trials and love. This is a story of a small community loving a young family and how they support her in the everyday life raising a child. 
I loved this book.  It is a sweet Christian love story that is not predictable.  It has the twists and turns of family life with an exciting ending.  How refreshing.  I loved the characters and felt like they seemed like someone you might meet in your own hometown (if you come from a small town in America). It does make single motherhood look doable without glossing over it or making Wren look sappy and sweet.  I like that this book has us Christians look normal and not goody two shoes.  Christians just doing the best they can with all the problems of the rest of the world.  Christians relying on God through prayer for our help but sometimes getting no for an answer.
I recieved this book for free for this review.

A place called Blessing

A Place Called Blessing is a book about the life of Josh, who grew up in foster care.  It tells of his life with the good and the bad.  It does not make out that foster care is horrible in fact it is better than the children's home that he eventually ended up in but just that there is no one who loves you best and always as in a loving family.  In that respect you grow up never learning unconditional love and trust.  Love and caring is based on behavior.  Josh truthfully never had that in his original family either.  It is a story of how Josh learned to love and trust others.
This is a beautifully written interesting story.  I read it as quickly as possible and still live my life.  If I had not been doing anything else I would have read it in one setting it was so good.  I don't think I have read many books better than this one.  There is nothing in this book that I can criticize as it is close to perfect.  I laughed.  I cried.  I learned to be a better person to those around me as I never know how that person's life has been.  Josh has changed me for the  better.  I hope that everyone has the opportunity to read this book.
This book was provided to me for free from Booksneeze for this review.

To be Perfectly Honest

Phil Callaway is challenged by his editor to tell the truth for one year then write a book about it.  He states in the beginning that as a humorist he lies for a living.
I was amazed at Mr. Callaway's honesty and how he tried to do it without being mean.  Phil also shares his honest thoughts that he has through the year--some of which maybe should have just flitted across his brain and just stayed in there.  By a third of the way through I had to read the book in a room by myself as I was laughing so much. Mr. Callaway speaks honestly of his faith and his difficulties with witnessing his faith to others and how he overcame the fears and passed on his beliefs to others.  The reader also meets and falls in love with the author's mother who has dementia.  The author does a wonderful job of describing the funny and sad parts of loving someone with dementia.  By the end I had to read through the tears as I was grieving right along with him.
I recieved this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing group for this review.

Billy Graham in Quotes

Billy Graham in Quotes is just that --quotes that Mr Graham said or wrote during his lifetime of living preaching.  It is a marvalous book for reference material though I read it with interest from cover to cover.    The quotes are divided by subject matter.  It was as if one could follow him around during his life and make notes of the things he thought and said without being there.  The book is useful for anyone writing sermons, leading class discussions on numerous issues or just wanting to know the man's thoughts on most any subject. It is informatively backed up by Biblical references so that one can easily tell the reasons behind Mr Graham's thoughts on each subject.  Any Christian, new or lifelong, young or old, would benefit from owning this book.  It is written so easy to read that a young person could easily read it but interesting on an adult level also.
I recieved this book free from Booksneeze for this review but I would have willingly purchased it--it is that good.

plain wisdom review

Though I enjoyed this book, Plain Wisdom by C. Woodsmall and M. Flaud,  it was not what I was expecting.  This book is described as an invitation into an Amish home and the hearts of two women, but I felt like I was invited over and treated very politely; however, only onto the porch instead of into the home.  I felt that the ladies could have fleshed out their stories.  This book is a group of short essays by two women, one Amish and one Protestant, on living their everyday life. This book shows the similarities and differences of living in a conservative, close-knit community and a conservative, modern community.
I liked the Amish recipes and to taste the food that is such a prominent part of Amish life.  I also liked how we see that the worries and problems of raising children are mostly the same no matter what the religion.  Both pray that God will protect and bless our home and family.
I received this book for free from waterbrook Multnomah Publishing group for this reveiw.

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