Book Review: "Powerful Prayers for Your Son" by Rob and Joanna Teigen

Powerful Prayers for Your Son: Praying for Every Part of His Life by Rob Teigen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


“Powerful Prayers for Your Son” is the second book I have read by Rob and Joanna Teigen, and I was even more blessed by this one. I read “101 Prayers for My Son” a couple of years ago, and enjoyed and appreciated it immensely. When I saw the newly-released “Powerful Prayers for Your Son”, and “Powerful Prayers for Your Daughter”, I knew I wanted to read them, and have not been disappointed in the “Son” version! “Powerful Prayers for Your Son” is like an expanded, fuller version of the pocket-sized book “101 Prayers for My Son” by the same authors.

Full of meaningful and heart-felt prayers, and including encouraging stories and helpful advice, this book is a wonderful companion to Bible study or personal prayer time for the young men in one’s life. Even if you have no personal sons, this book is still excellent to use as a guide in how to pray for any boys or young men you may know. This book covers thoughts and prayers on almost any topic or challenge a young man will face. I will be recommending it to my friends who are parents of sons!

I received this book from Revell Reads free of charge, in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: "Breaking the Power of Negative Words" by Mary C. Busha

Breaking the Power of Negative Words: How Positive Words Can Heal by Mary C. Busha

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Mary C. Busha does an admirable job at both challenging and encouraging her readers in this quick-moving, easy-to-read, helpful book. I began it a little skeptically, not wanting to wade through the false flattery of another ‘you are so wonderful’, ‘you deserve better’, ‘you can just surround yourself with positive thoughts and things will all be turned into sunshine and roses’, ‘you are a fabulous human being and are in control of your own sparkling destiny’ ego-fluffer of a self-help manual. Though Ms. Busha does weave in the message that all human beings are wonderful creatures, she does it from a carefully Biblical standpoint, noting that humans are wonderful because of the skill and love of their wonderful Creator, not because of some natural goodness’ of their own. I appreciated how Ms. Busha continuously pointed her readers back to God, using teaching from the Bible as foundation stones and reasons for every message she sought to convey. The words we speak to others, the words we speak to ourselves, the words others speak to us, the mindset we have towards those who have hurt us with their words, forgiveness, wisdom, choices – all these issues she presents and discusses from both a practical standpoint and a spiritual one.

There were a few negatives that I found with this book. First, in spite of her seemingly extensive experience with scripture, Ms. Busha mis-applies several verses. In one example, she cites Proverbs 3:15 as if it speaks of a beautiful woman, when by reading a few verses before, we can see it is metaphorically describing the attribute wisdom. The beautiful description in this verse can most certainly be obtained by a Godly woman, but I feel that Ms. Busha is hasty/careless, or even intentional in her misuse of several verses, perhaps being more concerned with finding scriptures that seem to support her points, than with finding verses that actually support her points.

Second, I also was alarmed and saddened to come to the last few pages of the book, and find that Ms. Busha used a story involving a woman ‘pastor’, with no hesitation or acknowledgement of the fact that the practice of women pastoring goes directly against Biblical teaching.

Third, Ms. Busha uses a story to portray ‘sympathetic words’ (versus ‘faith-building’ words) as negative words. In this particular story, perhaps sympathetic words were not the best choice, but in general, words of sympathy certainly have an appropriate place in efforts to lift others up! Perhaps it appears I’m splitting hairs, and that readers should be able to make the connection automatically, but I feel that she should have been more careful of her presentation if she was trying to make the point ‘be discerning about what kind of encouraging words to use for individual situations’. The point came across more as, ‘speak words of strength, don’t speak words of sympathy, to those who are suffering’.

Lastly, and least important (but still necessary to mention to complete my honest review), there were a small handful of grammatical and punctuation errors, as well as instances of incorrect term usage.

Overall, I would recommend this book – I just would recommend it be taken together with a Bible and a dictionary as helpful references.

I received this book from Revell Reads free of charge, in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: "The Wounded Shadow" by Patrick W. Carr

The Wounded Shadow by Patrick W. Carr

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is the third and last book in Patrick W. Carr’s ‘Darkwater Saga’, but the second that I have read.

‘The Wounded Shadow’ jumps right in where ‘The Shattered Vigil’ left off. Literally. In the middle of a scene. This technique can be both a positive and a negative one to use in a book series. For a reader who just finished one book and has immediate access to the next one, it creates a wonderful feeling of expectance. But it can also be very disjointing and confusing, causing an unfamiliar reader to have to read whole chapters before gaining any kind of idea about what’s going on.

Overall, this was an intriguing and enjoyable read. It was a well-crafted story (complex characters, intricate world-building), quite a page-turner, with many interlocking parts and weaving details that the author was able to keep straight admirably! However, there were a few aspects I found unpleasant.

One of the most irritating aspects of the story itself was the shameless way that the character Gael presented herself in several situations. It seemed that she possessed very little dignity, decorum, or self-respect in her provocative mannerisms, as well as little respect towards her fiancé’s desire for decency and honor in their relationship, or compassion toward his struggles. Though supposedly one of the ‘heroes’ of the story, she seemed to have a lot to learn about being a real one.

A couple of other negatives I found were the many women in religious leadership positions, the vaguely nagging ‘danglers’ left at the end (What ever happened to Lelwin? Why did Ealdor reach out to Willet in the first place, and were Willet’s unanswered questions to him ever answered? Was Modrie’s ‘mind’ ever restored and the sentinel race reestablished?), and – at the risk of sounding like I’m splitting hairs - the font size was small and painful to try to read, as in the previous book (I would rather be able to read the words without squinting, even if it means a thicker book).

All of the above aside, there were quite a few positive points. Allegorical tints to the story were much more evident in this book than in the previous one. Also, the development of young Mark’s character and Elieve’s redemption were probably my favorite aspects of the story. Their interaction was a fascinating and well-written situation. Mark’s determination that Elieve be rescued, his honorable conduct, and his unwavering dedication to her recovery in the face of huge odds, represent some of the most lacking (and yet most desirable) character traits in young people today. Perhaps we would see more ‘miracles’ happen now, if there were more people willing to sacrifice for others, work hard, and stay committed until the goal is accomplished, as Mark did.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.




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Book Review: "Quick Tips for Busy Families" by Jay Payleitner

Quick Tips for Busy Families: Sneaky Strategies for Raising Great Kids by Jay Payleitner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Mr. Payleitner writes with a fun and engaging style that is as effective at keeping his readers turning the pages as the short, quick, and straightforward ‘strategies’ (instead of ‘chapters’) are.

I am not married, and so therefore do not have children of my own. However, I work at a school and consider my students ‘my kids’ to a large extent. I chose this book hoping to use it as a reference and aid in discovering how to better help, serve, and deal with my students’ issues and needs. Some of the tips and advice are obviously more applicable to home life and/or ones’ own children. But much of the material can also be adapted to be useful in settings and situations like my own, for adults simply wanting to be a blessing to children they spend a generous amount of time with – baby sitters, grandparents, day care workers, Sunday School teachers, school staff, etc.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books for my honest review.

Book Review: "Wings of the Wind" by Connilyn Cossette

Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Once again, Mrs. Cossette delivers a fascinating story. Good descriptions, fast-moving scenes, and believable characters make this another thoroughly engaging book.

The author’s imagination is displayed in vivid detail through her creative writing, though the convincing evidence of thorough research is probably the most valuable point in ‘selling’ her work.

That having been said, there were a couple of negatives for me. One was the graphic and disturbing nature of some of the events described. I recognize that this period of history in this area of the world was extremely dark and demonic. However, there were scenes that it seemed could have been a little less graphically descriptive, but still gotten the point across. The second was the interweaving of some of the fictitious characters’ lives with those of actual Biblical/historical figures. This, I suppose, is just a personal preference, but there seemed to be an excessive amount of liberty taken in how the imaginary and the real people were related.

Overall, I enjoyed the second book in this set better, but, if you are interested in Biblical history, or (like me) enjoy romances between husbands and wives, this was a story worth reading.

I received a free copy from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.

Book Review: "Tough as They Come" by SSG Travis Mills

Tough As They Come by Travis Mills

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


“Tough as They Come” is the inspiring story of one of only five soldiers to survive quadruple amputee injuries as a result of his service in Afghanistan. This story is another reminder of why the title “hero” is so incredibly appropriate to describe our servicemen!

Sergeant Mills writes with an openness, honesty, and humor that keeps the pages turning. Coming from a family that has several servicemen in it, I was both humbled and encouraged – Sergeant Mills’ selflessness, positive attitude, and the love and support between him and his family were wonderful to witness throughout the pages.

At one point, someone asked him, “I hear you’re doing a lot of public speaking lately. What do you have to speak about anyway, dude?!”
He replied, “Nothing really. All I do is walk into a room full of people and say, ‘Hey, everybody, snap your fingers and wiggle your toes.’ They snap and wiggle, and I say, ‘Okay, your life’s not so bad.’”
Great mix of humor and humble challenge!

Negatives: Though Sergeant Mills stated that he believes in prayer, God, right and wrong, the Bible (“at least as it pertains to helping a person live his life better”), and that “faith can help a person along in life”, I was saddened that his Faith did not seem to go much deeper than those simple acknowledgements. He mentions a verse that helped reassure and inspire him during his recovery, but the Lord was plainly working in his life in such larger ways than just through that one Bible verse! Perhaps he simply chose not to speak about his Faith in greater detail; I don’t know. I do hope and pray that he knows Jesus Christ for himself, in more than just generalities.

There were also several instances of crude or foul language.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: "The Shattered Vigil" by Patrick W. Carr

The Shattered Vigil by Patrick W. Carr

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


First thing: Read the first book first. I started this book (the second in the series) without realizing how horrible it was going to be as a stand-alone. I’ve read the second book in several series and, though it would have been nice to know what happened before, those stories were able to be picked up and enjoyed without any trouble. This is not that kind of series! This second book was full of common words used in completely uncommon ways - and meaning completely different things - than usual. That’s okay, just as long as the author gives the reader his story’s definitions and usages of those words in the beginning. I can only hope that the first book explains what’s going on, and gives the reader a good sense of context.

Aside from the confusion over word usage, I found this book rather difficult reading. For starters, the print was very small. I’d much rather have a thick book with normal-sized print, than a book of ordinary thickness with a font size that you need a magnifying glass for.

Also, the story seemed to move in spurts. Either I seemed to be struggling to get through the tedium of a scene, or things were moving so fast that I could barely read quickly enough to keep up.

The ‘religious’ elements seemed very weak for the strength of the story itself. There were some thought-provoking points made, and concern was expressed in a couple of places for the spiritual well-being of some of the characters. But much of their ‘theology’ was just off, and the dangerous war-like atmosphere of the setting called for some death to happen, in which cases much of the solemnity and concern was largely passed over, and sometimes lost altogether.

Though the story was interesting and the author obviously has a great imagination (the book is a creative mix of allegory, fantasy, mystery, and sci-fi), I would only be able to say it was “okay” if someone asked me whether I would recommend it.

I received a free copy from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.

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Book Review: "Shadow of the Storm" by Connilyn Cossette

Shadow of the Storm by Connilyn Cossette

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Mrs. Cossette captures her readers almost from the first page, with vivid descriptions, a quickly-moving story line, and characters that make you root for them right from the first. I appreciated the story even though I have not read the first book in this series.
Her imagination and, by all evidence, detailed research make the section of Biblical history come alive by presenting how the events may have appeared and been experienced by someone who lived through them.

The author touches many emotions and important issues - loss, betrayal, forgiveness, emotional and physical pain, joy, healing, change, trust, adoption, love, sacrifice - and presents them with a Biblical and undeniably redemptive goal. Even though this is an Old Testament setting, Mrs. Cossette points a clear picture to the future and the coming Savior. I loved how she wove Salvation symbolism in at every other turn.

I think my only real drawback (or reason I would not recommend this book to young teen-aged readers) is because of a few somewhat-graphic descriptions. The occupation of midwifery is a main part of the story, and several scenes are pretty descriptive.

Overall, if you love the Bible, enjoy history, or just like a good story, my opinion is that this is a pretty good choice.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers, in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: "Shaken" by Tim Tebow

Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms by Tim Tebow

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In “Shaken”, Tim Tebow weaves Biblical principles with real-life stories that back them up. Some of the stories are from his own life and experience, and he tells them with a refreshing blend of humility, fun, and sober openness. This book reminded me somewhat of the Harris brothers’ “Do Hard Things” (a five-star read)! It both encourages and challenges the reader – yes, life is difficult, yes, there will be people and circumstances determined to discourage and bring you down; but there will also be encouragement. And it’s the ‘hard things’ that strengthen and grow us. Our power in overcoming difficulties or attaining high goals lies in the all-powerful One. For Christians, our identity is in Christ and His love for us. Therefore, even if (or when) our world is shaken, in Him we can remain strong.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books, in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: "Hope Prevails" by Dr. Michelle Bengtson

Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor's Personal Journey Through Depression by Michelle Bengtson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a very encouraging and refreshing book. People in general, even Christians, seem unaware of the fact that so many of the causes and/or aggravators of depression are spiritual issues. Dr. Bengtson wisely understands that depression is not going to be cured by a pill or a therapy session, if the heart is not right with the Lord.

Packed with Biblical principles, this book is full of encouragement and advice from someone who has been there, and who can now look back. I loved that Dr. Bengtson included suggested Bible verses to memorize at the end of each chapter. Also, I appreciated the ‘playlists’ of music she’d found encouraging in her own journey, and the personal prayers for those reading the book.

I only had a couple of issues with this book. The first was that it seems to be advertised as a book to help ‘anyone’ who is going through depression, but when reading, it was clearly a book for those who are already believers in Christ. Many of God’s promises covered in this book are for His children only. They would not apply to someone who does not know Him as Savior and Father. Farther into the book, Dr. Bengtson clarifies that salvation through Jesus is the first step towards freedom; while I am thankful that she did clarify, this clarification should have been nearer the beginning.

The second fault I found was a collection of statements regarding one’s perception of individual worth. A couple of quotes such as “…you have infinite worth because Christ paid the price of his life when he died on the cross to save us,” and, “If you were the only one living, God would have done that just for you because he found you worthy,” bothered me. Christ did not die for us because we were so valuable and worth saving – He died for us out of HIS own goodness and mercy and kindness, and His love is what gives us our value. Before He redeemed us, we were despicable; He and His love are what have cleaned us and made us new and beautiful. He didn’t buy us because we were/are valuable – we are valuable because He bought us. While there are certainly people who struggle with understanding their value in the Lord’s eyes, I think Dr. Bengtson could have done a better job of encouraging them scripturally in this case, judging from her excellent level of communicating in other areas.

Lastly, though I loved how she used large amounts of Scripture throughout the book, I did wish Dr. Bengtson had used the King James Version (or at least the New King James) which, based on research and study experience, I have personally found to be the most true translation of the original text.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to Christians struggling with areas of personal darkness and discouragement.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: "Hello, Bicycle" by Anna Brones

Hello, Bicycle: An Inspired Guide to the Two-Wheeled Life by Anna Brones

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This compact little book was, for the most part, a wonderful read for the bicycle enthusiast. It is packed with a plethora of bike-related advice, facts, (charming!) illustrations, resource lists, recipes, activities, careers, etc. It seems to at least touch on – if not thoroughly cover – almost any subject or question that might come to the mind of a cyclist. Best suited for those just starting out. A great encouragement to just get on and ride!

There were some negatives. First, the author did not have any qualms about throwing in a curse word or bit of foul language here and there. This is unprofessional, unnecessary, and unwanted. Also, she really liked her alcoholic beverages. I expected a bicycle book, not a beer commercial. It is very discouraging to have to read a book with a bottle of White-Out in one’s hand. And least, but still annoying, while clever with her words, the author was not great on grammar in a few areas.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: "Intercessory Prayer" by Dutch Sheets

Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth by Dutch Sheets

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


As a firm believer in the power of prayer, I was very excited to get this book! As I began to read, I got more excited - this was great! There were insights presented and areas explored that took the significance and meaning of prayer in a Christian's life to an amazingly deeper level. However, as I progressed through the book, I began to come across statements and ideas that bothered me, that did not ring true when held up against the Bible, and some that even seemed to border on blasphemy.

Put simply, the 'good' in this book was 'excellent'; the 'bad' in this book was 'really bad'.

I would NOT recommend this book to a new Christian, or to one who is not mature in the Christian faith; certainly not to one who is easily swayed or gullible. I would highly recommend this book to a well-grounded Christian; someone who knows the Bible, who has a discerning spirit, and who is able to 'eat the meat and spit out the bones' of an idea. As I said above, the good parts are REALLY good, and it is worth it to glean from them.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers, in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: "The Field Guide to Sports Metaphors" by Josh Chetwynd

The Field Guide to Sports Metaphors: A Compendium of Competitive Words and Idioms by Josh Chetwynd

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


While Mr. Chetwynd has given us an interesting look at a selection of expressions and where they came from, I found this book to be somewhat disappointing.

For starters, unless you have a decent familiarity with a variety of sports, much of what is referenced simply does not make sense. Mr. Chetwynd uses a lot of sporty jargon, seemingly assuming anyone who picks up his book is an avid and knowledgeable sports fan. If someone unfamiliar with sports, but interested in words and where they come from, reads this book, many times throughout it they will be struggling to follow what he's communicating. Add to that the fact that the author seems to have a fascination with using distracting puns, annoying satire, pointed sarcasm, and lots of metaphors in general, it makes for difficult reading.

Secondly, in many of the entries, there seemed to be a focus on how the word or phrase came to be used in the world of sports, instead of how the expression began to be used outside that context. Several times, there was not even a definition of how the expression in question is even used outside of sports, just a statement that it is. By reading the descriptions of this book, one is led to believe that the opposite is what they will be experiencing.

Also, Mr. Chetwynd persistently used the notation "BCE" when referencing relevant sports facts from ancient times, when "B.C." is correct.

Lastly, while the small font size possibly enabled the book to be contained in a compact, almost pocket-sized little volume, I am afraid the tiny print was another drawback for me.

The best thing about this book was it's design. The cover's navy, rich green, and bright white color scheme was refreshing and eye-pleasing, and the vintage artwork agreed with the "Field Guide..." title.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books for my honest review.

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Book Review: "Rawhide Down" by Del Quentin Wilber

Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan by Del Quentin Wilber

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


A nearly moment-by-moment account of the day of the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan. Riveting; I could hardly put it down! I would definitely call it a must-read for Reagan enthusiasts and/or lovers of American history.

Del Quentin Wilber, in his first book, gives us a fascinating look at each of the key players, their motives, values, and reactions to the events of this key day in Reagan's presidency. He also takes time to explain some of the history of the times, and orient us to what events mean in relation to worlds like the Secret Service and the George Washington Hospital ER and OR.

I also greatly appreciated Mr. Wilber's reporting style - he didn't seem to criticize, condone, or report with a particular bias, he just did extensive research and told the story.
Which does bring me to my only objection, and my reason for giving this book 4.5 stars, instead of 5: Wilber does include foul language in recording dialogue of reactions and events, but only when relating direct quotes.

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Book Review: "Courageous" by Dina L. Sleiman

Courageous by Dina L. Sleiman

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Several characters in this story wrestle with spiritual issues, attempt to discern what is God’s will in various situations, and seek truth, faith, and the peace of God. Initially, since the story touches on differences in religions and spiritual beliefs, I was hopeful that it would have a powerful message of redemption, a loving presentation of the truth of the Bible, and a clear distinction between the Christianity of the Bible and the heartbreaking errors of belief held by the other religions in the story.

While all three of these hopes were partially realized, I was severely disappointed overall. First, there was only a very vague and shallow description of redemption in the lives of a couple of the struggling characters, and the ‘peace’ they received came to them supposedly simply through attending a ‘prayer meeting’ held by a group of children. Receiving of the Lord’s peace and forgiveness is certainly possible to anyone who expresses true repentance of sin! But since it is a personal matter, it must be dealt with personally - must be taken up by the individual and settled between the Lord and them alone. This type of scene was not related. Second, while the Gospel (the fact that Jesus Christ made the atoning sacrifice for mankind by dying on the cross, then rising from the dead, and that faith in Him and belief on Him is the only way a man’s or woman’s sins are covered and they can get to Heaven) was presented/touched on in a couple of places, it was vague and unclear; it was certainly not stressed, though there were several excellent opportunities for the characters to do so, even enhancing the impact of the story. Third, a clear distinction between the religious beliefs of the characters was just not there. There were even conversations among the characters, discussing how their religions were different, then stating that they were ‘not so very different from each other’. I found this disturbing. Either you have the truth, or you do not. Either you are believing the truth, or you are believing a lie, no matter how sincerely. And sadly, so many believe lies.

Overall, I felt that the author’s stand on the fundamental teachings of God’s Word was shaky, at best. This is the primary reason I must say that I was disappointed in this book.

There were a few other issues that I personally did not appreciate. One was that, though intimate immorality was discussed and portrayed as wrong, there were several kisses shared by an unmarried man and woman, and this was treated as if it was fine. The other was that there were ‘women knights’, and women actively involved in battles. Even the author concedes that this is not historically accurate – traditionally, while women sometimes were trained in self-defense skills or as archers, the men were the knights, the protectors, and the guards for the women and the children precious to them.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: "A Flight of Arrows" by Lori Benton

A Flight of Arrows by Lori Benton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


In order to fully appreciate and understand the significance, depth, and meaning in the lessons and struggles of this story, you should first read book number one in the Pathfinders' set, "The Wood's Edge". Book two is much more powerful if you understand where the characters have come from - their 'paths', so to speak.

I have mixed feelings about this book, as I did about the first one.

(minor spoilers below)

The book started out (about the first 1/3 of the book) rather tedious... Sequence of events: crisis, relief, crisis, relief, crisis, relief - and it was the same 'crisis' over and over. It just got a little too dramatic. Maybe I'm being overly critical, but I work at an academy, and it was beginning to remind me of the social 'drama' of high-school.

In the area of romantic relationships, there seemed to be a lot of importance put on 'following your heart', versus taking in the whole picture and making the best choice overall. As if it's more important to struggle against the 'obstacles' (circumstances, people, etc.) so that you can eventually get your own way, instead of realizing that maybe it would be better for those around you, for future generations, and even for yourself, if you sacrifice what you want now for something later.

There are several instances of unmarried couples kissing.

A young man accidentally walks in on a young woman taking a bath. He retreats as quickly as he can, but before he does, she sees him and unashamedly rises out of the tub. She (the young man's sweetheart/girlfriend) is unfair to him in several other similar instances (though the one above was the worst). She acted in ways that were alluring and tempting to him, without seeming to realize (or care) the pain and struggle it is for a young man to remain in control of his desires while being alone with the girl he hopes to marry. He was definitely the honorable one of the two, reminding her of the importance of their purity, and respect to her father. Her father had not given his blessing to their relationship. The girl demonstrated disobedience, rudeness, and defiance of his wishes several times throughout the beginning of the story.

(end of spoilers)

Overall however, I'd say this second book was better than the first one.

The author's attention to detail was impressive. The research required for accurate depiction of life among the peoples and circumstances of that era would have to be extensive, to say the least. Yet the tone and words of the storytelling itself (not simply the dialog), as well as descriptions of culture, events, and practices, definitely take you to another place and time. The up-close-and-personal meetings of actual historical people was also an effective tool used to pull the reader right into the events the characters found themselves in. I didn't realize until nearly the end of the book how I'd grown to love the characters almost as if they were real people - friends I'd actually walked with through twenty years (the approximate time span the two books cover) of turmoil, struggle, and victory.

There were alot of characters to keep up with. Most of them were introduced in the first book, but there were a couple of new ones in this book. A handful of main characters, and a whole army (pardon the pun) of supporting characters. But they weren't too hard to keep up with. The author initially took turns writing segments of the story from the point of view of each of the main characters, until the paths began to join - a gathering of the loose threads of each individual's journey until they all came together. She did a beautiful job of weaving all the threads to a close.

The lessons, virtues, and Biblical principles demonstrated throughout the story were my favorite element - what's a good story if you don't come away having learned something lasting? Honor, courage, ingenuity, hope, loyalty, love, trust in the Lord, faith, peace, forgiveness, patience, humility, perseverance, sacrifice, joy - all these were met by the characters and/or demonstrated in their lives. It was a fictitious story, but the human emotion, the struggles of flawed people living in a broken and sin-filled world of war and loss, and the redemption offered by Christ were true to life and oh so very real. I do not often get emotional over fiction but, at what is probably the climax of the story, I wept with the pain and the glory of the power of God's unfathomable Love and how it can completely change a broken wrath-filled man into an incredible unwavering example of His grace. The pages blurred with the heart-rending account. But though so often the paths of God's children lead through dangers, toils, and snares, His grace will lead us Home. And what Satan means for evil, the Lord can turn into glorious good.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: "Journey to Love" by Amanda Tero

Journey to Love by Amanda Tero

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Incredibly well-written; I was immediately pulled into the story through vivid and skillfully-described scenes, believable characters, and a plot that moved quickly and was woven together with some delightful little twists and turns. I felt like I was watching it all happen, yet was inside the mind of the main character at the same time. A deceptively simple story, dealing with humanity's innate need for ultimate love, acceptance, and lasting peace.

Probably ideal for a pre-teen and younger teenage audience, but I'm in my late twenties and could hardly put it down!

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Easter - 2013

The day began beautifully, with Dad, Trissy and me attending the Easter Sunrise Service in the parking lot of The Grandparents' church.  It was a lovely morning - fresh, and a little chilly. There was a deep fog overhead and curling around the trees in the woods at the edges of the church property, but the sun was coming up high behind the mist, making our atmosphere under the fog bright, cool, and full of a sort of 'wondering'.
The dear song leader, who's been at that church since my childhood, led us acapella in the hymn, "He Lives" and our lifted voices sounded small in the lovely space of the outdoors.

The dear pastor then stood to preach. He'd been a missionary in Albania years ago, at the same time Uncle Alvin and his family had been there. They'd become friends, and his family and ours never lost contact. Now he's the pastor of the church The Grandparents are members of. A Godly man, and a tall, big man; he's always struck me as one of those "larger-than-life" types that legends and stories might have been written about in the old days. And what a heart for good and for God!
He used 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 as the Scripture reference, and spoke on "the evidence, the essence, and the effect" of the Gospel.
My (somewhat limited) sermon notes:

"
Bro. _____ ______
Easter Morning - Mar. 31, 2013
1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1) The Essence of the Gospel
* What is the Gospel? The Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
* Christians have Hope.
* All other religious leaders (the creators of all the other major religions) are in their graves still.
* We serve a risen Savior!

2) The Evidence of the Gospel
* He was seen of Cephas (verse 5)
* then of the twelve (verse 5)
* then of more than 500 at once (verse 6).
* How many witnesses do you need?!
* Blessed are those who have not seen, but believe (John 20:29).
* Our present-day Salvation is just as real as their encounters with Him then.
* He's alive, and He's still 'in business' today.

3) The Effect of the Gospel
* verses 2a and 10
* What does God want for/from/through you/your life?
* None of us is living out the full effect of Christ in our lives.
"

It was the first "sunrise service" I'd been to in years; probably the first since my family moved from that church years ago. It was so good to experience one again!

When we got back to our house, Trissy and I quickly ate breakfast and hurried on to Victory Rd. - we were singing in the choir for the Easter program, and Bro. Blake wanted all the choir members to be there early. Dad and Mom would come closer to time for the service to start.

It was a good morning. The morning was still foggy, but bright, as choir members arrived one by one. We convened in the choir room, greeting each other and laughing as we found our formal Easter- and Christmas-Program choir robes and slipped them on over our Sunday outfits, adjusting the reversible collars so the mauve side showed and they hung straight. Bro. Blake led us in an acapella run-through of the first song as a warm-up. People began arriving and filling the auditorium, soon it was time to start, and we lined up and filed out into the choir as we do every Sunday morning.
Bro. Blake led the congregation in the hymn "Because He Lives", and then the choir began our presentation. I think it went the best it has of all our practices and everything! It's a great cantata, using strong songs like "What Held You On The Cross", "The Story Goes On", and "Crucified With Christ". The Lord blessed Bro. Blake to direct us, and our voices to blend and harmonize and soar high, and I hope those who heard it received as big of a blessing from it as I did!
When our program ended, Bro. Jeremiah preached a stirring and victorious sermon about how we, as Christians, have joy and victory and fulfillment in life because of "the third day" - when Jesus our Lord rose from the grave!!
One of my co-workers from the restaurant was there with her grandparents (who are members of Victory Rd.) and as soon as I could after church was over, I went to hug her and talk a few minutes, and say hello to her little two-year-old son. I was so glad to see her! I don't think she knows the Lord - she doesn't live like it anyway - and I want so badly to be a Christian friend and example to her. I hope and pray she soon will accept Jesus's love and peace for herself.
Dear Toby was at church, even with his leg in a brace, and though he had to hobble in on crutches. Lindy sat with him and his family, lending her sweet touch and support. Poor guy, his mom said he's been trying to not take so much of the pain medicine, and he was hurting pretty bad by the time church was over. Between him and Russell (who was home for Easter and is practically an adopted member of that family), after church that pew was pretty much surrounded for a while with church members glad to see those two boys back - wanting to say hello to Russell and express sympathy over Toby's knee.
Trissy had found out that Bro. Nick and Lydia didn't have any plans for the rest of the day, so after a brainstorm, a request to Dad and Mom to invite them over for dinner and the afternoon, and a spur-of-the-moment affirmative decision by our parents, Trissy and I swung by their house as we left the church. We caught them about to leave for lunch, but when we presented our proposition, they gladly accepted.

We had two of the local cousins (Uncle Alvin's oldest son and daughter who live only about 45 minutes away. The son's wife was sick, and the daughter's husband had to work, so they weren't there.) and their children and Bro. Nick and Lydia's family all at The Grandparents for lunch. After cleaning up the kitchen, we sat around and chatted and visited and fellowshipped, while all the kids had a wonderful time together playing in The Grandparents big yard, and in the playhouse that Dad built for Trissy and me when we were small.

Bro. Nick and Lydia left fairly early in the afternoon, but some of the cousins stuck around. Evening church services were canceled at both Victory Rd. and The Grandparents' church (which seems absolutely ridiculous to me - the most important holiday in our Christian faith and church services are canceled?! Makes no sense...), so we spent the rest of the day at The Grandparents, just spending time together.

Most of the adults found a couch or chair or a spot on the floor and curled up with a throw pillow and blanket for a nap. The kids that weren't put down for a nap played outside or read or colored quietly.
Sitting at the computer blogging, I looked over and noticed my cousin's almost-thirteen-year-old son had a thick book with him where he was curled up on the couch, and asked him what he was reading. It was "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C. S. Lewis, in one volume. We got started talking about books and authors and styles, and I found out some of his thoughts and opinions on different ones. It was a really great conversation! Come to think of it, we had several really fun conversations throughout the day! He helped The Grandmother get the TV in the living room fixed so that they could watch videos and DVDs on it, and it hasn't worked in months; and over lunch he showed me this neat math trick with nine squares drawn on a piece of paper. I remember when that kid was born, and to see him now growing up so smart and with such good tastes is just such a happy feeling!

When everyone started getting up from naps, the kids asked The Grandmother if they could watch an episode of "Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye" (she has the collection on DVD). Soon the house was humming again - some sitting around the kitchen table looking at pictures and discussing Pinterest ideas, some watching Sue Thomas in the living room (I joined this group and sat and crocheted while watching the show), some raiding the kitchen for a snack from the lunch left-overs, and some of the littlest kiddos still napping on the den floor.

It was a peaceful, fun afternoon that faded to an enjoyable evening.

Trissy wasn't feeling good, so as people began getting ready for bed (one of the cousin's and her kids decided to spend the night), I took her back to our house and then went back to help Mom finish cleaning up. On my way back, I flipped on the radio and heard "I Know My Redeemer Lives", one of the songs from one of the cantatas we did at Victory Rd. several years ago (That seems strange to say, "several years ago". Strange to think we've been at Victory Rd. long enough to be able to say it). Probably my favorite of the Easter cantatas we've done. As I pulled up to The Grandparents' garage, that song ended and the next one started. It was "Great I Am". Sigh.

Mom was still talking with my cousin, so I finished gathering our things and loading up our food and all into our van, then sat and listened to their conversation until Mom was ready to go. Not that I was anti-social or anything, it had just been a long day, I'd been missing alot of sleep lately, and I was really tired.

When we got back to the house, I helped Mom unload everything, got a couple of sheets, and sank into the recliner in our living room. I was so tired, I didn't even want to change out of my regular clothes into pajamas so I could sleep in my bed. But I went to sleep with a full, grateful heart, and slept probably the best I have in weeks.

Thoughts On: "The Hunger Games"

I love a good story. I love to read, and I enjoy movies. So any time a person or a bunch of people I know start raving about some new book or movie, I'm naturally interested.
Well, the big hype in my area right now is about this new book and movie series called "The Hunger Games". From what I've gathered through asking friends who've read the books or seen the movie, and doing some research online, the story in a nutshell is basically about a futuristic land where the rulers force the youth of the inhabitants to fight to the death for food, and one girl (Katniss) and her family's journey through the situation.
After my research, my curiosity and interest quickly changed to disbelief and disgust. The whole thing reminds me of the Roman coliseum, where thousands of people watched other human beings fight to the death, viewing it as entertainment.
I have been shocked and saddened about how many Christian people even have been sucked into the craze over these stories!
I could rant on, but I will let another young blogger express my feelings better than I probably could. The difference is that she read the book and saw the movie before deciding how she felt about it. After reading and hearing all I have on the issue, I don't feel like I should, or that I need to, experience it in order to formulate an intelligent opinion.

"There's this sick sense of irony in fanship of The Hunger Games. I've heard the argument, 'Hey, Katniss and Peeta didn't agree with the Games. All the districts had to watch them and they didn't like them either. We're not saying it's good--we know the Capitol is evil.' Well first of all--the districts, watching the games...they are fictional. Okay, glad we got that straight. But we are real, we are really watching this, and we're not even being the districts. We're being those colorful people in the Capitol with their ridiculous attire and insane love for the 'fun' which is the Games. We say how awful it is that the Capitol would force the Games plus make people watch them, and yet we're the ones in real life out supporting it and watching it for entertainment. And obsessing over it and not caring that 22 children had to kill each other out there. But it's okay because the only characters we care about survived.

Bah, the more I think about it, the more disgusted I am. Seriously, America? This is what we're obsessing over? This is the only taste we have? This is what we enjoy seeing on screen? Are we so desensitized that this no longer bothers us? What is wrong with us?

To summarize how I put it on facebook:

I read the book and was not impressed and enthralled like everyone said I would be. I was hardly emotionally involved at all.
The movie (the style of which I actually found kinda obnoxious with the whole shaky, out-of-focus, way close up deal) just took it to a whole different level and the more I think about it, the less I like it. It's not the killing itself...goodness knows I've read/seen enough of that on screen. I just think there's a strange irony in the fact that in the movie, they say 'what if everyone rebelled & didn't watch the games' and watching it we're all like 'yeah, how sick it is that they do that'...and yet in real life, we're the ones actually watching it for entertainment. Ugh. So messed up.
I gave it the benefit of the doubt, guys. I went in thinking I would like the hunger games just like everyone else. In the end it's rather sickening, and it just doesn't stack up to real, good literature.

So that's my opinion. It's rather strong, I know, compared to all the love the story gets. I know there's two more books, including a revolution against the evil Capitol. Argue with me. Tell me if there's some redeeming quality I missed. Because, the only thing I caught was a sense of sick, sad irony."

I have only published a portion of her post, but if you are interested in reading it in it's entirety, you may see it HERE.

Disney's Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader

Well, for any of you who are Narnia people and haven't heard yet, the "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" trailer has been released. I am hoping that the makers learned their lesson with the major fan dissapointment of "Prince Caspian", and decided to stick to the book for their inspiration for "Dawn Treader", instead of their own immaginations. The first one they made, "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", wasn't exactly like the book, but any alterations that were made only honored and enhanced the original C. S. Lewis ideas. Their version of "Prince Caspian" however, was such a major dissapointment in so many areas! It's only redeeming quality, I felt, was how they handled the character of Edmund. I thought they 'did' him excellently.

Now it's time for "Dawn Treader". Set to release this December, and so far, the trailer looks very familiar to anyone who has read the book. I detected only a couple of things I didn't recognize, and I'm hoping that means "Dawn Treader" will be patterned more after the quality of "Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe".

I thought I'd post the trailer here for anyone who's interested.



Once again, I would like to note that I have not viewed any of the 'related' videos whose links may be displayed with this one. Please use caution if you choose to view any of them - sometimes not-so-nice (and totally unrelated) material is snuck in to this list.