BOOK REVIEW: The Familiar Stranger

The Familiar Stranger (Moody Publishers, 2009)

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Craig Littleton's decision to end his marriage would shock his wife, Denise . . . if she knew what he was up to. When an accident lands Craig in the ICU, with fuzzy memories of his own life and plans, Denise rushes to his side, ready to care for him.

They embark on a quest to help Craig remember who he is and, in the process, discover dark secrets. An affair? An emptied bank account? A hidden identity? An illegitimate child?

But what will she do when she realizes he's not the man she thought he was? Is this trauma a blessing in disguise, a chance for a fresh start? Or will his secrets destroy the life they built together?

I won this book in a giveaway and was interested to read it, having never heard of Christina Berry.

Christina - WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?   lol

This was probably one of the most intriguing books I've read, in the contemporary Christian fiction genre.   Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, another unexpected twist would pop up and peak my interest all over again.

This isn't your typical struggling marriage saga that ends in happy ever after - this is some serious grit and suspense - an emotional roller coaster that kept me running back to this book to find out what was going to happen.

I will definitely be adding Christina to my "favorite authors" list and can't wait to see what she does with future books.

http://christinaberry.net/books.aspx

 

BLOG TOUR: The Value Gifts "Grab Bag" Blog Tour

99 Bible Promises For Tough Times

Everyone can use a little encouragement now and then and this little book delivers it.  Touching on a wide variety of topics such as financial difficulties, poor health, anxiety, sin, guilt and more – there’s something for everyone in this book.  Each promise has a scripture reference along with a short devotion which makes this quick and easy to read for those who are busy and on the go.   Perfect for gift giving and affordable.

How To Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong

With 50% of marriages ending in divorce, we need all of the marriage help we can get!   Here is an economical way to get insight from Leslie Vernick who has over twenty-five years of counseling experience.  This book addresses the most common “hot spots” in marriages such as how we react, how our spouse’s wrongs can expose baggage from our past, unrealistic expectations in marriage and more.   I like the fact that there are some charts and diagrams in this book, which helps visual learners make more sense of the information presented.   My favorite chapter was Chapter Ten, The Blessings of Acting Right.   Leslie offers some very good advice in this chapter which is making sure that you conduct your life in such a way that you have no regrets.  

These books were provided free for review by Water Brook Press / Multnomah

BOOK REVIEW: The Language of Love & Respect

The Language of Love & Respect

(This book was previously released as Cracking the Communication Code.)

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs believes that when a woman learns to speak respectfully and a husband learns to speak lovingly, they reflect the “Jesus Way of Talking”.   From various surveys and years of talking with couples, Dr. Eggerichs has found that the biggest problem in marriage is a lack of communication.

If you have previously read Love & Respect, then Chapter One of The Language of Love & Respect  will be a review of the Love & Respect Principles.  If you’re anxious to get started on improving your communication skills, you might want to skip to Chapter Two.

This book repeats some of the information from Love & Respect, but I think that the advice is definitely worth repeating.  It has been proven that learning is best with repetition and unless you’ve been able to perfect your communication skills, review is always good.

If you’re not aware of what the “Crazy Cycle” is, it can be summed up as this:  Without love, she reacts without respect.   Without respect, he reacts without love.   Simple in theory, but effective when you concentrate on acting Christ-like in your marriage.

While this book makes many good points, one of my favorites was that we should try to look at our spouses as Jesus sees them.  Make sure that you fairly represent your spouse’s spirit – give your spouse the same grace and mercy YOU want them to give you.  Successful marriages are those that look for and believe in their spouse’s goodwill.   When you have unrealistic expectations in marriage, you end up having problems.   Your spouse cannot meet all of your needs – only God can meet all of your needs.

I do have some theological differences from the author in regards to his view of forgiveness (in Chapter 7) but overall, this book is a great resource if you are looking to improve communication with your spouse.

This book was provided free for review by Thomas Nelson Publishers

BLOG TOUR: Treasured / God Gave Us

Treasured by Leigh McLeroy is a beautiful collection of inspirational stories, thoughts and memories.  Quick and easy to read, each story delivers a powerful message.  At the end of each chapter, Leigh has chosen certain scriptures to compliment her thoughts. One of my favorite features of this book is the informational paragraph at the start of each story which adds to the depth and meaning of her point.  At the back of the book, Leigh has included a personal reflection and group study guide.

God Gave Us Love is the heartwarming tale of Little Cub and Grampa Bear who take a fishing trip and discuss the many ways we can and should show love.   

Throughout the story, Grampa Bear constantly reminds Little Cub of God’s love and how He wants us to love others.  Easy to read text and beautiful illustrations make this book a keeper.  God Gave Us Love is perfect for parents, grandparents - anyone wanting to build character and teach their children about love.  Small children will easily understand the concept of loving even the unlovable, in this simple yet powerful story.   

God Gave Us Christmas is another beautiful story in the “God Gave Us” series by Lisa Tawn Bergren.  

Just in time for the holidays, this story teaches children why God is more important than Santa.   Children will enjoy the colorful, rich illustrations as they follow Mama and Little Cub in their journey to see how God gave them Christmas.  Mama teaches Little Cub that God is everywhere from the dancing lights in the sky to the roaring river and that He gave His son Jesus as the best Christmas present of all.    This book really impressed me because it put the focus back on why we celebrate Christmas and how important the gift of Jesus is to each and everyone of us.  

These books were provided free for review by WaterBrook Press / Multnomah

BOOK REVIEW: Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas by John Blase

Little children understand how amazing the Nativity story is. But, sometimes, as we become men and women, we put away the childlike with the childish. The result? We lose something vital—the wonder of it all. 

When author John Blase went looking for the lost wonder of Christmas, he went back to the place he’d last seen it—the stories from Luke 1-2. What he found fills the pages of his new book, Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas (David C Cook, September 2009), with flesh and bone and dust and night and a baby’s cry; the intimate union of human and divine—the Incarnation. 

By boldly imagining the first two chapters of the gospel of Luke, writer, editor, and former pastor John Blase has created an instant classic for Christmastime. In a tale that reads like a novel parallel parked by the record of Scripture, Blase beckons those who could use a little wonder in their lives to step onto the stage of history and witness the long awaited coming of the Messiah. With Eugene Peterson’s The Message Bible translation as his backdrop, Blase adds his own voice and commentary to the historic events, exploring the renowned drama from an array of viewpoints. 

In Touching Wonder, readers will meet a cast of unruly unlikelies—a frightened teenaged girl, a worried carpenter, a collection of senior citizens, a disillusioned young shepherd, even an angel or two—moving toward the realization that the little one just born is the One. This imaginative retelling of the grand miracle will leave readers wide-eyed, slack-jawed, and heart-full. The Lord is come!

In this lovely and distinctive book to be read…and re-read…and pondered in the heart, young and old will recapture the wonder of the Christmas story by seeing through the eyes of those who lived it. The book’s graceful design and Amanda Jolman’s beautiful line drawings combine to make this a thoughtful Christmas gift as well as a wonder that families will treasure for years to come.

This book was provided free for review by The B &B Media Group

BOOK REVIEW: Though Waters Roar

I adore Lynn Austin’s books!    

If you haven’t discovered what a fantastic author she is by now – definitely make it a priority.   Lynn Austin and historical fiction were just meant to be.  

Grandma Bebe was a fiery woman who willingly sacrificed her freedom to take a stand for prohibition.  The man she loved was caught in the fierce grip of alcohol, and Bebe was determined to set him free, no matter if it meant her own arrest and jail time.  

Ironically, years later, Harriet Sherwood finds herself sitting in jail just like her grandmother – but for the opposite stance.   Harriet is worried what Grandma Bebe will think of her, after she finds out that Harriet has helped a friend and her husband transport illegal liquor - even though its not for the reason everyone assumes.


Even more ironically, the man who bails Harriet out of jail is her arresting officer and childhood nemesis, Tommy.  Through all of the stress and emotional turmoil of being locked up – Harriet finds herself looking at Tommy with a much different attitude than she did in school.  Harriet’s time in jail is spent remembering her conversations with Grandma Bebe and the stories of women in her family who have stood firm for what they believed in.    

Lynn Austin’s stories are so vividly told and easy to get lost in – you can’t help but fall in love with her characters and their tragedies and triumphs.  


This book was provided free for review by Bethany House Publishers

BOOK REVIEW: The Rose Legacy (Diamond of the Rockies, Book One)

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres to read and I was very happy to review this book by Kristen Heitzmann. 

I’ve read some of her other books that are more of a suspense genre, so I was interested to see what she would do with historical fiction / romance. In The Rose Legacy, Italian heiress Carina Maria DiGratia finds herself in search of a new life after suffering a broken heart and betrayal at the hands of her lifelong love, Flavio. 

Leaving California for Crystal, Colorado, Carina sets out to make a new life for herself after buying a house through the mail. Carina soon discovers that she’s been cheated yet again, when she finds that someone else holds the same deed to the property she’s purchased.

In the midst of prospectors, gold miners and cheaters – Carina isn’t sure who she can trust. When she eventually opens up her heart again to a man who wins her trust, she gives herself in marriage only to discover that her husband may not be the wonderful man she thought he was. 

Reading this emotional story of love, loss and heartache, you begin to wonder just how much this poor woman can endure. Will her marriage survive? Will she be able to forgive Flavio and her sister?  Will she ever have her dream house?

The end of the book is definitely a “cliff hanger” and it left me anxious to get my hands on Book Two, Sweet Boundless.

This book was provided free for review by Bethany House Publishers