Forever Friday by Timothy Lewis

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Press in exchange for my honest review.
This is a story of true love that lasts.  It is the story of a young woman and man who fell in love at first sight, Huck and Gabe.  Gabe decides that he never wants to have their marriage lose its spark so he begins on their honeymoon sending Huck a postcard once a week with a photo relevant to some part of their life and a short poem he composed just for her.  She saves these postcards through the many, many years of their marriage.  The story switches from their relationship at its different stages to a present day man who happens upon the postcards which are hidden among photo albums at an estate sale at the couple's home.  He is intrigued and investigates the story, trying to find out more about these two people who found true love that lasted a life time.  His own marriage has failed and he is seeking the answer to how to maintain love for a lifetime.
This is one of the best love stories I have read...and it is not trashy.  It is passionate with modesty maintained throughout the telling of the story which  is a rarity.  I think it is in the similar vein of Nicholas Sparks.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  The characters were unlike any I had "met" in any other story I have read, which was delightful because many times characters from book to book seem the same.  Huck and Gabe were characters that seemed brand new to me and thus it was exciting to get to know them throughout the book.
It touched my emotions and I thought it very well-written.  The best kind of a story in my mind is the one that you lose yourself in without even realizing that you are no longer sitting somewhere reading a book.  You are in the story.  That is the kind of book that Lewis has written.  Excellent!!

Fearless by Eric Blehm

I was given this book by Multnomah in exchange for my honest review of the book.
I have been trying to read more books that might appeal to men lately.  I have two sons and a husband and thus live around men.  I thought by reading a few books written to appeal to men I might gain more understanding.  What I did not expect was that this book does not only appeal to men...it is appealing to women as well.
The fact that the office of the Navy Seals did put their seal of approval on the book, and they do not usually endorse books about their organization, also intrigued me.
it is about a young man Adam Brown.  I learned about who he was as a child, as a teen, the difficulties he went through and overcame and how the Lord Jesus became his Strength and his Hope.
I learned how he worked his way up to becoming a Navy SEAL.  That was very interesting to me.
The title "Fearless" truly described this man and his way of living.
It is an inspiring book and I believe anyone would enjoy reading it but especially if you are military.
This is one of my favorite quotes from the book that describes Adam:
" Adam's devout Christian faith matched his toughness and fearlessness.  It was the cornerstone upon which he built his life and the compass that he turned to for guidance.  To truly live one's faith, in word and deed, is a mighty, and a daily, struggle; and Adam embraced that struggle and devoted himself to it. "
His story is one of overcoming addictions also which makes it very powerful and inspiring for others going through the same thing in life.  Highly recommend.

Every Waking Moment by Chris Fabry

Chris Fabry is one of my favorite authors so I was very excited to have the opportunity to review his book, Every Waking Moment.    Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book to review.

It seems that Mr. Fabry is one of those authors who writes books that speak to me personally in one way or another.  Every one of his books has touched me in a different way.  From Borders of the Heart , which spoke to me about a calling to ESL ministry, to Almost Heaven, which spoke to the musician heart in me.
Now he has written a book that has spoken to me in my calling as a social worker who works with the elderly and disabled.
I love doing book reviews but I also do not want to spoil the book for those who will read it in the future!
This book was 5 stars!!!  A nursing home is the setting with a caring lady who is preparing to leave the job she has there.  She has discovered in her time working with the elderly a very unusual worker who is somewhat disabled in her own ways but who has a gift for connecting with those who have dementia or Alzheimer's and being able to bring back the person who is "lost" inside.

Of course, there had to be a "bad guy" and the new lady who takes over the nursing home had me just aching for her to do something wrong so she could be fired from the place!  The character development in this book is excellent.

The main character Treha is an enigma from the beginning.  She has a special connection with others but seemingly an inability to express her own emotions.  She is smart and yet simple at the same time.

The residents in the nursing home love her.  I loved getting to know the residents.  Part of my job is visiting the elderly and disabled and hearing their stories of life is one of the favorite parts of my day.  Mr. Fabry is able to combine stories within a story by giving us individual stories of the residents as a part of the whole picture.  He shows how the elderly, the disabled and those who we may overlook or dismiss as "slow or simple" have their own life story as we do....if we put ourselves in the other person's shoes and listen to them share about their life, we come away from the conversation with more love, respect, and understanding.

I suggest you get this book, read it and re-read it.  An awesome book!  I know I did not talk a whole lot about the story but it is one of those that you really just need to read yourself and enjoy word by word, sentence by sentence.  At the end you will be glad that I didn't spoil any details for you :)  I tried to read it slowly, to make it last, but I just couldn't...it was that good. :)

watch on tyndale.com

Sent by Hilary Alan

 The book is entitled Sent.  This book is a special book to me because it deals with a "regular" American family who willingly gave up some hopes and dreams in order to do what God called them to do.
So many times we think , "I can't do that or I can't go there."  But it just isn't true.  We can do what God calls us to do and the Alan family in this story reminds me of just that.
It was interesting to me, being from NC, that they were from NC as well.
This book is not just the good parts of following the Lord...it covers the hard parts too.  The times when you just don't understand why He called you to a certain place or a certain activity, but you trust Him anyway.
Very inspiring story.  If you are considering the ministry, considering going on a mission trip, feeling the call of the Lord on your heart to do or go...then read this book.  It will be a blessing to you!
I provided this honest review in exchange for a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books.

Upside Down Prayers for Parents

This book was very challenging to read.  As a mother, I want to pray prayers of protection over my children.  Prayers for health, wisdom, drawing closer to the Lord, keeping safe, learning well.  I will continue to pray those prayers for my children.  However, I liked the different angle that the author approached praying for our children.
In some situations I can see praying these upside down prayers.  Hard situations.
The entire book put a different light on praying for your children.  Although some of the prayers I could never bring myself to pray for my children, the message behind each one that she shares is definitely something I could pray.
I could pray for them to know forgiveness and be able to forgive...but I do not think I could pray for them to HAVE to have done something that needed forgiving.  For one thing, I know we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God...so I don't have to pray that they will! :)
I did think the book was very different from any other parenting devotional book I read, and I think it has much value if taken in the right spirit.

The Briarpatch Gospel : Fearlessly Following Jesus into the Thorny Places

When I read the first chapter of this book The Briarpatch Gospel:  Fearlessly Following Jesus Into the Thorny Places...I put it down.  It came close to offending me but I recognized that the offense was in me and not in the Holy Spirit that was in me.  I read a part of it to my husband, knowing him pretty well, expecting him to be be offended.  But he didn't say a word for a while...then he said, I think he's right.
I do too.  I think Shayne Wheeler has written a book that is really about following Jesus, not just saying the words and acting the part.  This is one of those books that you have to re-read. One of those that you move slowly through because you have to stop and pray just about after every chapter.
You will either put it down after the first chapter, or you will keep reading and keep praying on bended knee for Jesus to give you the strength to follow Him where it isn't easy to follow.
Well-written, honest, easy to read as far as reading level...but challenging to the heart.  It took me longer to get through this book because I had to stop and think and pray so much.
I would highly recommend this book, especially if you are seeking a deeper walk with Jesus.
Mr. Wheeler has a website for his book as well that you can visit http://briarpatchgospel.com/.  The website has discussion guides and helps for the book.
If you would like to read the first chapter, you can do so but visiting this link:  http://files.tyndale.com/thpdata/FirstChapters/978-1-4143-7230-3.pdf

Me??? Emotional???

Unglued was a book I chose to read and review because I needed a devotional book.  As I read the first few days worth of devotions, I thought how great it was...for those women who tend to be a little emotional.  Not me, of course.
My husband asked me what the book was about.  I told him it was about dealing with your raw emotions and that I thought  it was a great book for women who had to deal with that kind of problem, but it really didn't apply to me.
The look on his face said otherwise.  It was one of disbelief.  This was followed by hilarious laughter. 
"Not apply to you ?"  he asked in between guffaws.

Well, when something triggers that response in my husband I take a second look.  As I continued reading, I realized that maybe...just maybe...I DID need such a book. 

Women tend to be emotional creations of the Lord.  It is a good thing...as long as it is under His control. 

Unglued is a great way to start recognizing how and why you tend to come unglued.  What to do about it.  How to handle those raw emotions. 

After finishing the book, I am being led to do a small group study with other women in my church using this book.  I thought it fantastic! 

I liked the website that goes along with the book because the author offers the first two chapters of the book Unglued for free to readers (the book is different than the devotional book...I read the devotional book).   She also has a video up that is the entire first video of the DVD/ book study combination.  This is a valuable tool to help decide if this study is right for your group.
 Check out the video (first link) and the chapters (second link) and see if you don't come away helped!


http://lysaterkeurst.com/unglued-dvd-and-participants-guide/


Download Chapters 1 & 2 by clicking here. (PDF)