Book Review - Hunter's Moon

When I began reading this book I had in mind that it would be filled with intrigue and mystery. It is classified as suspense. And yes, there is an element of suspense but not really until the very end of the book. It started out slowly to me, with the first hundred pages or so not really accomplishing much in the way of plot advancement. I enjoyed the last half of the book, when CJ, the main character, realizes that his current state of mind - the anger he can't seem to get past - is driven in large part by a lack of forgiveness on his part for something that happened in his childhood. The action and suspense scenes at the climax of the book are riveting. I just felt the first part of the book didn't draw me in like I want to be at the beginning of a book. Overall, it's an okay book, but not one I plan on reading again.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Book Review - Popes and Bankers

For those like me wondering, "How did America get into its current financial mess?", Jack Cashill's book will go a long way to answering your question. This book takes a comprehensive look at debt and society's dealings with it - starting with Aristotle and ending with the housing crisis in America. Specifically, Cashill links society's acceptance (and American society's current dependence) on debt with its prevailing religious viewpoint.

In Biblical times Jewish society looked very unfavorably on going into debt and, in accordance with Mosaic law loaned money only to "strangers". Early Christians held a similar opinion of "usury" (then defined by most as the practice of loaning money to be repaid with interest). This opinion was based on a combination of Mosaic law and New Testament instruction. However, as our economy became more global and the handling of money became more sophisticated in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, new concepts of investment lending, speculating, others became accepted practice. The setting was finally perfect for consumer debt to become widely accepted in early 20th century America.

I especially found the final chapters on the creation and bursting of the housing bubble in America fascinating. I don't even begin to understand the economics behind what went on, but Jack Cashill makes an excellent attempt to explain it in terms the average American can grasp without "dumbing down" the explanation. The beginning of the book was a bit of a slow read for me, but overall this book is packed with fascinating information on the link between society's religious viewpoint and its acceptance of debt.

Americans today would do well to take to heart one piece of information from this book. First, in the form of a quote from Michael Novak: "How can a people govern a whole society that cannot, each of them, govern themselves?" - referring to a lack of ability of many to restrain themselves from spending more than they earn. And second, as Dave Ramsey puts it, "Live on less than you make."

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson publishers.

Book Review Never Say Never

This new novel by Lisa Wingate takes place in Daily, Texas. Although this is the third book in a series I did not feel like I was jumping into the middle of a story. This book follows two people (one a native of Daily and the other who has never been there) as their lives intersect during a hurricane and in its aftermath. The book alternates chapters between the two characters as the story progresses in chronological time.

This book captured my attention from the beginning and held it for the entire story. Going between the two main characters was a bit difficult at times as I would just get involved in what was happening to one character then I would have to switch mental tracks and jump to the other. Overall, though, the device worked well. I felt like the ending of the story was a bit abrupt. I think the author really needed to extend the last chapter by a few pages to finish tying up loose ends that were left. All in all, it was a very interesting story. I especially loved how the lives of two people who had never met became intertwined by an uncontrollable external force (the hurricane). So many of the people in our lives arrive by seemingly random acts like this - acts which in fact are not random at all.

I was given a free copy of this book to review by the publisher.

Book Review - What Your Son Isn't Telling You

The title of this book caught my eye and, although I don't yet have a teenage boy I hoped to get a glimpse into the future and prepare myself. This book deals specifically with boys ages eleven to nineteen and covers a wide variety of topics. This book is aimed at helping mothers understand their teenage sons - why they act the way they do, the pressures they face from peers, and what they need (and don't need) from their parents.

One very helpful aspect of this book was the scripture references included for dealing with specific situations. Most, but not all, of them were very appropriate to the situation and will allow teenagers (both boys and girls) to see what the Bible has to say on the topic at hand. For a few of the scripture references (in particular the section on competition and "survival of the fittest") I didn't see quite as strong a connection as I wanted.

I also thought the emails from teenage boys were eye-opening. I was aware of many of the temptations facing teenagers but the emails gave me more perspective on their struggles as they grow toward adulthood.

Overall, I feel like this book is worth reading to make mothers more aware of what your teenager may be facing (both struggles everyone knows about, e.g. drugs, and newer issues created because of today's technology) and to give you ideas on how to approach him in dealing with those issues. It also gave me a new perspective on how my role as a mother changes as my son gets older.

I received a copy of this book to review from the publisher.

Book Review - The Clouds Roll Away

I had never read a book by Sibella Giorello before I picked up The Clouds Roll Away, but I am already anxiously awaiting the next book in this series. Written in the first person, this book is told from the point of view of Raleigh Harmon, an FBI agent with a unique perspective on her coworkers and her job.

First and foremost this book is a suspense novel with twists, turns and (for me at least) a somewhat surprising ending. The best part about character Raleigh Harmon is that she is a regular Christian and not a "super-Christian" who always makes the right(eous?) choice. Her Christianity is part of what makes her who she is, but the author doesn't attempt to make it replace her personality.

When I started reading this book I wasn't sure how I would like the first-person narrative, but it really was helpful in getting into Raleigh's head and seeing plot unfold through her eyes. It did limit the reader's perspective, but in a suspense book that is a good thing.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next one in the series.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson publishers.