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.

Book Review - The Silent Governess

This is the first book I have read from author Julie Klassen and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Silent Governess blends romance with a hint of mystery and the result is a very interesting story. It caught my attention in the first chapters and I never lost interest. I usually don't enjoy books set in nineteenth century England but this one was an exception. Although it deals with British titles you don't have to understand the peerage to enjoy the story. The plot has several twists and turns and although I wouldn't consider this a mystery there is an element of mystery to it.

A copy of this book was given to me by Bethany House publishers.

Book Review - Tithing Test Me In This

Tithing has long been a controversial subject within the Christian community, and most Christians have a very strong opinion on it one way or the other. I believe that tithing, while it began as an Old Testament practice, is also clearly a New Testament directive (see this book for several good Scripture references to back this up). Now you know my mindset as I began to read Douglas Leblanc's book. I was excited to read about fellow believers' attitudes toward tithing.

Each chapter is the result of an interview with one person/couple/church and outlines how and why they have chosen to tithe. In and of themselves the stories are interesting and well written. But - and for me this was big - there seems to be no cohesiveness to the book. Yes, there is an overarching theme of tithing, but nothing ties these stories together, nothing grabs the reader by the collar and says, "This is the reason you should tithe, too!" . It seems that the only reasons you would read a book like this are if you 1) already tithe or 2) don't tithe but are seriously considering changing your stance. The book certainly did not change my opinion of tithing and I agreed with most of the reasons the interviewees chose to tithe. But if I didn't already choose to tithe I don't believe anything in this book would make me change my opinion. It's a good book, but it seemed to be missing something.

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

Book Review - Regret-Free Living

I had no preconceived notions of what to expect when I picked up this book by Christian counselor Stephen Arterburn. I have never listened to his talk show so I didn't know what to expect. What I got when I read the book is sound, practical advice on how to approach relationships from a Christian perspective, offering ways to heal difficult relationships and make good relationships better as well as how to recognize when an unhealthy relationship cannot be mended.

Regret-Free Living is a broad based book that covers relationships in general. You can apply the advice to close relationships such as husband/wife or father/son but the advice also works well for relationships with coworkers, friends, etc. This is NOT a marriage book but much of the advice is very applicable for anyone interested in improving their marriage relationship. I would not recommend it as the only book to read if you have serious marriage problems. I found the book most helpful in taking a good look at my relationships with those who are close to me and finding places where I can improve the way I relate to them. One of the most meaningful quotes for me was,

" What we should be doing in life - our highest purpose as humans and followers of Jesus - is to be a conduit of God's love."

This applies not only to our relationships with people we already know, but to people God places in our lives on a daily basis - whether their lives intersect our for a few moments or for the rest of our lives.

Book Review - How to Reach Your Full Potential for God

Are you ready to experience God's best? This book is an excellent place to start! Charles Stanley's newest book flies in the face of the prosperity gospel so popular in America today. But if you want to truly prosper as a Christian you would do well to not only read but also act on the information outlined in this book.

As always, Dr. Stanley backs up everything he writes with copious solid scriptural references. In each chapter he outlines a principle essential in reaching your full potential as a follower of Christ. I especially enjoyed the chapter on on using your gifts, and the distinction Dr. Stanley makes between your gifts from birth and your ministry gifts (given by God when you become a Christ follower) and how they work together. This chapter very clearly outlined how to recognize your gifts - so much more clearly than any aptitude test or spiritual gift assessment I've seen. For the first time I believe I understand how God has gifted me and how He intends for me to go about His work while utilizing the gifts He has given me.

This book does not have the power to change your life - only God will do that. But I believe He will use this book as a tool to show you where He wants to make changes in your life to draw you into a closer walk with Him. Your life can be so much more than it currently is - and God does want the best for you. The best not by the world's standard but by His.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book to read and review by Booksneeze.

Book Review - The Rose Legacy

As a fan of inspirational historical fiction, I was excited when Bethany House publishers offered me a free copy of this book to review, and I was not disappointed. This is the first book of a trilogy and is set in the late 1800's in a mining town in the west. This book grabbed my attention from the first page. It is fast paced with plenty of action and suspense in addition to the romantic story line. The characters were compelling and "real" and at the end of the book I was left wanting to know what happened to them next. This book is an excellent and quick read but if you pick it up plan on reading the entire trilogy back to back.