A Perfect Square by Vanetta Chapman

A Perfect Square by Vanetta Chapman is another novel in the Shipshewana Series and like the rest is a mystery.

A young Amish woman is found floating face down in the pond owned by Tobias and his cousin, Reuben.  It is clear from the dress that this woman is not from the same Amish community as theirs but the local Amish had no idea that the local police department would blame Reuben for the crime.  Surprising to the local Englishers was that Reuben would not speak to the officer in his own defense even though the Amish community professed that they knew he would not have done it.  Esther, who is engaged to Tobias, and Deborah Yoder and Callie, an Englisher who owned the local quilt shop try out their sleuthing skills to solve this mystery—sometimes working with the police and sometimes alone.

I love this series and so I really liked this story.  Ms Chapman moves the story along nicely and adds interesting tidbits along the way to introduce Amish life without making them sound backwoodsy or too perfect.  It is a nice little mystery and a quick read.  Even if the reader has not read the rest of the series this story stands alone and can easily be read without having advance knowledge of the individual characters.  That being said I think that once you have read one of the series you will want to read them all.

This book was provided for me from Sondervan for this review.

Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day by Garry R. Morgan

Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day by Garry R. Morgan is a book promising the reader to have a better understanding of the major world beliefs in just minutes per day.  It has 40 short reading which one is suggested to read one per day.  The first 2 chapters describes religion and further informs the reader why the reader  should be interested in learning of the majors religions such as your local neighborhood, workplace and your child’s public school may expose you to them and therefore needing to understand at least a passing acquaintance with the religion.  It helps to clear up any misunderstandings of the religion and report how they differ from your religion.

Understanding World Religions is a quick daily read to give a very superficial understanding of each religion.  It is not for in-depth study and so the reader should not expect to learn everything there is to know on each religion but it does a very good job of helping to understand the basics of each religion.  It seems to start slow in the first 2 chapters but after that I enjoyed learning of each religion as introduced.  It seems to flow well from chapter to chapter.  I would recommend reading for anyone wanting to have a quick education on the various religions one might encounter in America or while traveling abroad.

I received this book for this review from Bethany House which is a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Searchers by Joseph Loconte

The Searchers by Joseph Loconte takes the reader to the Israel of Jesus day—into the valley of despair.  We are taken back to the Road to Emmaus on a day after Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross.  We join the walk with Cleopas and his friend where they meet a stranger who walks with them and strangely warms their heart.  They begin the walk in despair following the death of their leader and Messiah and end the walk realizing that they are eating with their friend, Jesus, and that they once more have hope.

 I liked this book.  It holds the reader’s interest as it offers a look at the major religious of today—Jewish, Moslem, and Christian.  He offers commentary both good and bad for all of them.  Mr. Lonconte forces the reader to look at themselves with a critical eye in order to accept the incredible grace offered to us by God.

I was provided this book for this review by Booksneeze.

The Orphan King by Sigmund Brouwer

The Orphan King by Sigmund Brouwer is the first book in the Merlin's Immortals series.   Young Thomas was raised by his mother only to the age of 10.  Even during this time though, both he and his mother had to pretend that she was his nurse.  His mother also made him promise that for his safety that he would always have to protect this secret.  He knows nothing of his past and only that he is meant to fulfill a destiny as an immortal.  He knows he must leave the monastery where he was raised by monks who felt more about themselves that the small boy who did their slave labor.
This book is set in medieval England.  This book is a fantasy that strives to bring to light the druids life of immortality.  There is some Christianity views in the book through the storyline but generally follows a fantasy druid view.  It is somewhat difficult to follow but that is part of the draw of the series to bring the reader back to read the next book in the series.  I would say this is a book for middle school and up readers of fantasy.
I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Press for this review.

The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer

The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer is a good read. 

Sarah Shelter has lived her Amish childhood with her best friend, Patty.  She had a great childhood right into young adulthood when Patty was killed in a freak boating accident at a local lake.  Sarah not only went into mourning at that time but also quit living her life and started living over and over in her past life with memories with Sarah.  She wanted to move forward, meet an eligible bachelor and get married but everything reminded her of Patty and something that they had done while she was alive.  But that was before Jathan Schrock visited their little town for a hiking vacation in their mountains.

I liked this little quick read.  I enjoy reading of the Amish lifestyle and this one does not disappoint.  It is a quick read that is hard to put down.  Read this one, you won’t be sorry.

I received this book from Zondervan for this review.

Running for my Life by Lopez Lomong with Mark Tabb

Running for my Life by Lopez Lomong with Mark Tabb is an amazing true story of the life of Lopez Lomong from his childhood kidnapping during church services in his home village in Sudan to his life in the USA as an Olympic track star.  Lopez, no matter the kidnapping, the starvation, or the hard work never gave up.  When he was in the refugee camp he made the decision to be baptized and the chaplain renamed him Joseph.  Lopez identified with Joseph of the Bible who was also kidnapped from his family and placed into slavery but God had meant it for good.   Lopez also believed God had a better plan for him and believed that God meant his life for good.  This book bells of that better plan that God had and how hard that Lopez worked to get there.  He always appreciated it whenever anyone helped him.  Though he has much materially in America he never forgot the Sudan village from which he spent his first 6 years.  He now helps provide precious water, food, education, and medical needs for that village which they so desperately need. 

I loved this book.  It is the best.  It made me proud to be an American and sorry that I don’t appreciate my country as much as Lopez does.  Thank you for reminding me just how truly blessed that I am to have spent my entire life in the USA.  Because of reading this book may I never take for granted my many blessings.  You’ve just gotta read this book.

I received this book from Booksneeze for this review.

Beyond the Farthest Star by Brodie and Brock Thoene

Beyond the Furthest Star by Bodie and Brock Thoene is a great story of young Anne Wells and her family.

Anne Wells has in her 16 years had better times than many and worst times than most girls her age.  She is currently living one of her low times of spending time trading off with her mother sitting with her dad, the local pastor, who is now on life support in the local ICU and has been for the last two weeks.  The ventilator keeping her father breathing reminds her of Darth Vader’s breathing.  This story is Anne’s family story leading up to this point in her life.  Anne and her family love each other and this is their story of how they learn to love and support each other and lean of the support and love of God.

I love this author duo so I expected to like this book and I sure was not disappointed in the story as written.  It tells of how we as a society treat our children and then expect them to grow up ok.  Our children are strong and flexible but they most of all need to know the love and unconditional support of their family and a strong background of love and belief in God.

I received this book for this review from Zondervan.