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.