Jesus is __________________

I received a copy of JESUS IS __________: FIND A NEW WAY TO BE HUMAN by Judah Smith from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze.  The foreword is by Bubba Watson.   It is a great way to open the novel.  It really spoke to me, as a human, with its strong, down-to-earth quality.  In it, Bubba mentions connecting with Judah via Twitter.  My literary agent has been pushing me to become more involved in social media.  The foreword proves again how you can build an audience for yourself using Twitter, and other online sources.

JESUS IS __________ tells the story of Jesus in different lights, such as “Jesus is your friend” and “Jesus is grace.”  Each section starts off with “Jesus is ______” and the rest of the sentence is filled in using a different font.  The sections are quick and easy to read.  I shared this with family, who also found great enlightenment.  In our hearts, we know how to live meaningful lives, but sometimes it takes someone telling us for it to really sink in.  On page fifty-eight, Judah Smith says, “Make rules and follow rules as needed, but don’t focus on rules.  Focus on faith.  Focus on grace.  Focus on Jesus.”  Sometimes rules become overpowering and we, as humans, focus solely on them, becoming blind to the things around us. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone hoping to revitalize his or her life.  

Heaven's Lessons

I received a copy of HEAVEN’S LESSONS: TEN THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT GOD WHEN I DIED by Steve Sjogren from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze.  I found it fascinating from cover to cover.  It’s a short book of only one-hundred-sixty pages, but there is a lot packed into there.  The book opens with Steve Sjogren explaining about his near death experience.  Near death experiences have always snared my attention, as they probably do for many people.  Steve Sjogren mentioned that people might just not talk about them; therefore, they are more common than the populace believes. 

Steve Sjogren died during surgery.  His doctor had recommended the removal of his gallbladder.  However, when the surgeon operated to remove it, he struck vital organs instead, for Steve Sjogren was born without a gallbladder.  By the time the mistake was realized, he had bled to death.  Luckily, the professionals were able to revive him by pumping in fresh blood.  While he lay dying, Steve Sjogren looked around to realize he was surrounded by transparent people.  They had their hands linked as they prayed.  He understood them and saw only their goodness.  He believes that they were people who had passed away at the hospital, urging him to live. 

The rest of the book focuses on what Steve Sjogren learned in his new “life.”  He developed a new and more personal relationship with God.  I enjoyed reading about his inner thoughts regarding his new perspectives.  I highly recommend this book to everyone. 

Legend of the Monk and the Merchant

I received a copy of THE LEGEND OF THE MONK AND THE MERCHANT: TWELVE KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL LIVING by Terry Felber Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze.  Overall, I found it an enjoyable and fast-paced read.  The book starts with a foreword about material possessions by Dave Ramsey.  It reminded me of my mother’s philosophy on goods:  only have what you need and use them for the betterment of the world.  You don’t need eights cars.  Stick with one, and whenever possible, use it to help someone who isn’t able to get a ride somewhere important.  Dave Ramsey also mentions that everyone in a business helps out, even those who just answer the phones.  My job is like that – making appointments, answering the telephone, and directing students to their advisers.  I am able to calm them, give them a pleasant experience, in a world that otherwise might not be friendly to him or her.  It helped me to appreciate my job more, and to believe in the role that had once seemed insignificant. 

Now, to the actual story – it reads like a child’s book, but with complex thoughts.  I loved the fact that it was religious and historical.  The storyline occurs during the Renaissance in Rome.  The characters travel through the world meeting people, spreading wisdom, and learning how they can better themselves and humanity.  

Fire Prophet

I received a copy of FIRE PROPHET by Jerel Law.  It’s the second book in the Sons of Angels: Jonah Stone series.  I haven’t read the first book yet (but will when I run across it).  I was attracted by the fact it is a fantasy series – you know me, total fantasy lover.   

The books are geared toward middle grade readers.  Jonah is in eighth grade.  The other main characters are his siblings, Eliza and Jeremiah.  Their mother is a nephilim, which means she’s the child of a human and a fallen angel.  It makes Jonah and his siblings quarterlings, meaning one-quarter angel.  Cool, huh?  I haven’t seen many middle grade novels about angels, so this will definitely fill in that gap.  In this, the second book, quarterlings are being attacked so the children learn how to better use their abilities.  The religious aspects are strong – prayer can conquer evil. 

This book left me feeling invigorated and uplifting.  I highly recommend it for classrooms, middle grade readers, and family read-aloud time.  My only issues with the story was the simplistic writing style.  I couldn’t always picture everything well, and the author used a lot of adjectives and Telling phrases.  However, it should work fine for a younger audience.  I approve of the strong family dynamic.  I didn’t see much of that in the middle grade novels I read when I was substitute teaching in sixth grade classrooms.  

THE REASON

I received a copy of THE REASON by William Sirls from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. I normally whip right through books, but this one took me a while to read.  It wasn’t bad, but I had trouble getting into the voice.  I couldn’t put my finger on anything in particular; it was just a personal preference. 

I did enjoy the characters.  I found them realistic and the dialogue reminded me of talk I hear every day.  The descriptions were excellent.  I could picture everything as if I was there.  The use of lightning in the story really stood out to me as well – but shh, I don’t want to give away any spoilers.  The cover of the book is pretty breathtaking, though.

Basically, the story is about a community that comes together to help rebuild after lightning strikes.  I was worried it would be bogged down with preaching, but instead, the belief and religion was gently woven into the character development and fast plot.  Think of it as Christian and Fiction perfectly blended into a delicious cake.  I never found a dull moment.  There are happy times and sad times.  Be warned.  You might need to have a tissue box nearby.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for inspiration and hope.  Fans of Christian literature will definitely delight in this.  

THE RIVER

I received a copy of THE RIVER by Michael Neal from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze.  I was excited to start reading.  Based on the reviews and back cover, I expected a book that would change my life, filled with mystery and courage.  By the time I finished, I had mixed feelings.  Unlike the reviews, this book didn’t change my life.  Yes, it did have powerful messages, but I didn’t look at the world through new eyes.

Gabriel Clarke is raised by his father beside the River.  When Gabe is five, his father drowns and Gabe moves to Kansas to live with his mother.  He grows up frightened and insecure, until he eventually returns to the River.  He faces his fears while coming to terms with his father’s death.  I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has had something traumatic happen in his or her life.

A few writing techniques in the book bothered me.  The author used simple, almost childlike sentences that made the story awkward to read at times.  There were also a lot of exclamation points and passive sentences, not to mention moments of Telling rather than Showing; I’ve learned from numerous writing websites not to use those techniques.

As a final note, the book’s cover is very eye-catching.  It holds the old world elegance of a diary.  I read THE RIVER at work and left my copy on my desk.  Many people came over to ask me about it.  Normally, no one questions the books I read.

TROUBLE WITH COWBOYS

I received a copy of THE TROUBLE WITH COWBOYS by Denise Hunter from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze.  It’s the third novel in the Big Sky Romance series. 

Now, I am a sucker for good books.  I’ll tell everyone I know that they have got to read it, then I rave about it on websites.  However, I don’t always give five stars.  This book deserves five stars – no, maybe six stars.  Looking back at it, I can’t find a single thing to criticize, and that’s saying a lot coming from me.  I started reading this on my lunch and almost forgot to go back to work.  As soon as I got home, I finished it. 

From the first time Dylan Taylor spoke, I fell in love with him, madly and deeply.  He knew exactly what to say at just the right moments.  Even if they weren’t said to me, my heart still fluttered.  Oh, I wish he were real!  He’s now one of my favorite male heroes.  (I may not have crushes on movie stars, but I do have crushes on characters in novels)  Back to the story: his favorite horse has gone blind so he asks Annie to help him retrain the horse.  Annie’s twenty-four, my age, so it was easy for me to insert myself into her character, even if we aren’t alike in other ways.  Annie thinks Dylan is a player, so she tries to avoid him, but she asks for his help when she has to write a lovelorn column. Their mutual affection grows in a beautiful, smile-provoking way.

I loved the Christian theme that was carried through the novel.  It added the perfect amount of morals and grounding for the characters, while not being preachy.  Denise Hunter (one of my new favorite authors) also shows what happens when you don’t stick to those morals.  For example, Dylan had premarital sex with his last serious girlfriend, but he was ready to marry her.  He didn’t, when he discovered the baby wasn’t his and she would rather marry the father, but it made him seem more human. 

This isn’t a typical romance novel.  It blew me away.  I recommend it to teens and adults, horse lovers, ranch lovers, romance lovers…actually, to anyone looking for a fast, enjoyable read. 

SNEAK

I received a copy of SNEAK by Evan Angler from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. It’s the second book in the Young Adult, dystopian Swipe series (which starts with SWIPE, which I also read, courtesy of BookSneeze, and loved).  While I do love reading, only a few actually get me so excited I can’t wait to read.  This was did as soon as I opened the packaging.  SWIPE left me anxious to learn what happened to the main characters, Logan and Erin.  This quenched my thirst while still leaving me eager for what I hope will be a third book in the series.  I literally read SNEAK in one day; I couldn’t put it down for long. 

While I do read dystopian novels, that genre isn’t my friend.  I’ll often read them because one of my friends loves dystopian stories, so we can discuss them.  SNEAK actually made me want to write a dystopian.  Evan Angler is an outstanding wordsmith.  Without being too wordy, each sentence packs a punch and leaves you reading onward.  Despite the futuristic setting, the characters and adventures are realistic. 

The people in Evan Angler’s world must be Marked by the government.  After they are Marked, they can buy groceries, go to concerts, etcetera.  The Swipe series follows a group of the unmarked through danger, twists, and turns.  Since Erin and Logan are main characters, boys and girls will both enjoy SNEAK.  It would be a great addition to a middle or high school classroom library.  

CRUEL HARVEST

I received a copy of CRUEL HARVEST: A MEMOIR by Fran Elizabeth Grubb with Bryan Reardon, from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. This is one of the most gripping memoirs I have ever read.  Once again, this was a book that captured me from page one and left me breathless by the time I finished reading in one sitting.  It reads like a novel, very smooth, with realistic dialogue.  Many times, I had to remind myself that these horrific events had really happened to an innocent young girl.  I imagined the students I have taught in the past and I cringed to picture them, or anyone, in such situations. 

The memoir involves Fran Grubb’s childhood, a twisted nightmare she had to endure without help.  So many parts left my mouth gaping; other sections made me shudder.  Her family members fled her father, but for a long while, Fran was stuck with him.  She watched him kill her sister and sexually assault them.  I wept with Fran during many of the heart-wrenching events depicted in the chapters, and at the end, I cheered for her hopes.  To have become such a wonderful Christian woman proves what a strong person she really is.  I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a though-provoking read. 

GRANT: SAVIOR OF THE UNION

I received a copy of GRANT: SAVIOR OF THE UNION by Mitchell Yockelson, from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze.  It is part of The Generals, a series about powerful Christian leaders.  As soon as I got it, my dad and uncle both requested to borrow it when I finished.  My mom also asked to read it, so it isn’t just a “boy” book. 

Prior to reading, I had known only a little about Ulysses S. Grant: a Civil War General who fought for the Union with great success and later became a United States President.  This biography makes him out to be so much more.  Yes, he did fight for President Abraham Lincoln, but he was also an ordinary man, who loved fishing and his family.  Spread out over sixteen chapters, the reader gets to experience Grant’s struggles with him.  I would have liked to learn more about his home life and childhood, though – these topics were rushed.  The biography focuses more on his part in the Civil War.  It is written in a simple way for anyone to enjoy, making it a fast read.  It will especially appeal to Civil War buffs and past war enthusiasts. 

I recommend this to history fans, as well as Christian readers who are looking for a role model.  Despite his faults, Ulysses S. Grant is someone to look up to; this biography proves why.  

REDEMPTION

I received a copy of REDEMPTION: A REBELLIOUS SPIRIT, A PRAYING MOTHER, AND THE UNLIKELY PATH TO OLYMPIC GOLD by Bryan Clay and Joel Kilpatrick.  I was intrigued by this since the Olympics are coming up; however, the book really didn’t hold my interest.

I really enjoyed how this is a true story.  I love to know that I am reading is fact.  Bryan Clay took home the 2008 Olympic gold medal and 2004 Olympic silver medal in the decathlon.  I must admit that I don’t normally watch the Olympics, so I had to look up what the decathlon is – feel free to snicker at me now.  The book follows Bryan as he describes his life story to the reader.  It came across very smooth, as if Bryan and I sat at a table together, discussing his facts.  Uncomfortable topics, like STDs, are written as a matter of fact, no sugar coating or glorifying.  I found it fascinating to watch him grow and see his athletic abilities build.  Christ remained in his foundation, a steadfast reminder of who he wanted to be. 

I just, personally, couldn’t get into the story.  I am not really into sports, so I believe that distanced me from the story.  I highly recommend this to sport fans and anyone interested in the Olympics.  

MONDAYS WITH MY OLD PASTOR

I received a copy of MONDAYS WITH MY OLD PASTOR by Jose Luis Navajo, from Thomas Nelson via Booksneeze.  This true account follows the author, Jose, as he questions his life and Christian faith.  On his forty-sixth birthday, he realizes that he feel incomplete.  He isn’t as happy or fulfilled as he wants to be.  So, he visits his old pastor, who opens Jose’s eyes to the world.  They meet every Monday, and each Monday is a different chapter.  It feels as if the reader is visiting the pastor, too.  I read this in a few days so I could blog about it, but I would have preferred to read one chapter a week – on Mondays, of course. 

The book is beautifully written, many parts flowing as smoothly as a novel, while others are as informative as nonfiction.  Jose wrote his emotions with expertise: I felt his anger with him, I felt his frustration.  I sensed the beauty of the world as seen through Jose’s eyes. 

I recommend this book to anyone who hopes to improve his or her daily life.  The characters are unforgettable and the experiences moving.  At times I laughed.  Other times, I cried – which made it an interesting book to read in public! 

The cover is also very moving.  I love the sense of the wise old man sharing his experiences across the pages.

ANGEL EYES

I received a copy of ANGEL EYES by Shannon Dittemore, from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze.  It is her first novel, about a young woman named Brielle, which is short for Gabrielle.  She has always loved to dance, and happened to be discovered by a talent scout.  Using a scholarship, she left her country town for a boarding school in the city – and found deep tragedy.  I won’t ruin the surprise for you by telling you what the tragedy is, but I was disappointed in how long the secret was dragged out.  It felt like a writer’s ploy to keep the reader reading, rather than important to the story.  Knowing the tragedy right away might have enhanced my enjoyment of the overall book, but instead, I was a little irritated by how long it took before Brielle revealed it. 

Back to the story, Brielle returns home.  Her father is her only living parent, and does his best to make her feel better.  He felt a little too lenient for me.  Maybe I just have overprotective parents, but it seemed like he gave her a little too much space, acting more like a neighbor than a dad. 

Brielle meets the new boy at school, Jake.  He’s hot and warm, something she needs because she feels so cold.  His guardian turns out to be an angel.  He gives Jake his halo, which allows Jake to heal people.  When Jake gives it to Brielle, she gets to See.  I really enjoyed the angel aspects of the story.  They reminded me of the television show, Supernatural.  Then, there is a fallen angel, mysteries from her life in the city, and inner struggles.

Overall, I enjoyed this young adult novel.  Shannon Dittemore’s storytelling voice is hard to resist.  

SWIPE

I received a copy of SWIPE by Evan Angler from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. It is juvenile fiction – a mixture of middle grade and young adult. As I read, I couldn’t decide which age group it leaned toward, but I think thirteen and up would be best. Some of the topics, such as the oppressive government, might be too mature for children, even though nothing in it was really inappropriate.




In SWIPE, whenever someone turns thirteen, the government gives him or her a Mark. This Mark, imprinted on their body, allows them to be “free.” For example, they can buy ice cream. Logan, however, is dreading his Mark – when his sister, Lily, was Marked, the government told his family she’d died. Now, he’s petrified of the dark and feels that something is watching him. Enter Erin, a Marked girl who recently moved to the city. Her dad works for the government. According to Erin, as soon as her dad solves his case, they can go home. The case leads her to Logan and the Markless, those who strive to live without the Mark.



The story explores an interesting take on a futuristic world. Most of the country is hard to live in and the West Coast has been destroyed by an Earthquake. The world leans toward a Global Union. Although I don’t normally read dystopian novels, this kept my attention from the first chapter to the end.



While I did enjoy SWIPE, a few points felt awkward. The prologue was confusing and didn’t really pique my interest. After reading the entire novel, the prologue made much more sense. Some sentences felt too 2012, such as “That’s neat.” I would have liked to see more futuristic terminology. Also, the kids in the story seemed too old for thirteen, or almost thirteen.



I recommend SWIPE to dystopian fans, as well as youthful readers. It offers an interesting take on what the world might become.

SIMPLE SECRETS TO A HAPPY LIFE

I received a copy of SIMPLE SECRETS TO A HAPPY LIFE by Lucy Swindoll, from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. I was excited, as I love self-help books. They always have interesting stories and helpful tips for living better – this book was no exception. The chapters, fifty total, are short enough that you can read them in one sitting, and then ponder the message throughout the rest of the day. My favorite chapter is Forty-Six: Invite People to Your Home. It reminded me that I really do not have company over very often, but when I do, it is always a special moment.

I was a little disappointed, however. Many of the “secrets” were obvious things I do every day, such as being kind to others and learn to organize your stuff. Do people really not know that they should treat others with kindness? Despite the obviousness of the chapter subjects, I still enjoyed reading the tidbits within.

This makes an excellent gift for someone hoping to improve his or her life, or someone who needs a boost. I recommended it to my friend, who is a high school English teacher, and she reads a chapter a day to her students before class. They then write a summary about how to incorporate that into their lives.

THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST: 1000 DAYS

I received a copy of THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST: 1000 DAYS by Jonathan Falwell, from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. This book follows the life of Jesus, mainly during his final one thousand days. It really brought the Bible to life in a very personable way. Jesus becomes a real person, rather than a powerful figure in history and religion.

The writing is very smooth. It flows well from one page to the next, and feels more like a novel than religious nonfiction. It also works well in a group setting. The chapters end with questions for individual reflection and small group discussion. This way, when my family and I read it separately, we can come together by analyzing these thought-provoking questions.

My favorite section involved Jesus’ messages from the cross. This line, from page 160, stands out to me the most: “People don’t always manage to speak profound words as their last, but Jesus’ dying words were highly important.” The messages are breathtaking.

I recommend this to anyone who wants to connect with Jesus on a more personal level. It is great for self-help and for groups. Since the chapters are short, it also works well for a daily morning read: read a chapter every morning so that you can ponder the message throughout the day.

OUR FAVORITE SINS

I received a copy of OUR FAVORITE SINS: THE SINS WE COMMIT & HOW YOU CAN QUIT by Todd D. Hunter, from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. It seemed like the perfect book to share with my friend during Lent, and indeed, we both enjoyed reading through it. The book is very easy to read. I started on chapter one, and suddenly I was in the middle of chapter three. The pages just flew by.

The book centers on different forms of sin, such as laziness and procrastination. The chapters explain to us what the sin means, how it affects our lives, and how we can overcome it, but none of the words are incriminating. While reading, it is an easy transaction to put yourself into the book and realize how to better yourself.

My favorite line occurred on page 34: “Thus some people actually put themselves in the position to be tempted on purpose. It is fun to them.” These words ring so true when I look at many of the people around me. They enjoy flirting with many different guys, seeing how drunk they can get at a bar, and driving carelessly, all for that “rush” they love. I have always found that kind of behavior ridiculous.

This is an excellent self-help book, and highly recommended for anyone wishing to better understand, and improve, his or her life.

The Founders' Key

I received a copy of THE FOUNDERS’ KEY: THE DIVINE AND NATURAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DECLARATION AND THE CONSTITUTION AND WHAT WE RISK BY LOSING IT by Larry P. Arnn, from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. I love history, so I was eager to read this book.

Sadly, this book does not touch on the history of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution much. I found the writing style very dry. Rather than being a recreational, thought provoking read, it felt like a textbook I was forced to study for a college class. Information piled upon more information until I felt lost, and had to reread whole paragraphs to earn my place.

My favorite part was the first page, where Larry P. Arnn includes a letter from John Adams to his wife – a great history fix. The chapter continues by comparing America’s birthday to other countries. We don’t know when China’s birthday is, for example, but America does have one. It is an intriguing concept to consider.

The book is divided into two parts. The first is the Argument and the second is Foundational Readings. The end includes notes, suggested further reading, and acknowledgements. Overall, I concluded THE FOUNDERS’ KEY to be interesting and well researched, but not my type of book. I am passing it on to my friend, who is a political enthusiast.

THE COMING REVOLUTION

I received a copy of THE COMING REVOLUTION: SIGNS FROM AMERICA’S PAST THAT SIGNAL OUR NATION’S FUTURE by Dr. Richard G. Lee, from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. I was excited to see this book offered, because I had heard a lot about it from my father – he had read about it on the Internet.

THE COMING REVOLUTION is divided into seven parts. My favorite is part three, What the Founders Believed. I love history, so I found this to be extremely fascinating. As a whole, the book kept my interest, but I never had an “aha” or “oooh” moment. I love history, but I am not very into politic, so I understand I may not be the target audience. Parts of it seemed bias. One page one, Dr. Richard G. Lee states: “But America is not merely the world’s richest and most powerful nation.” Through history classes, I have learned to study all sides of an issue, and this book did not do that for me.

For a more rounded view of the book, I asked my dad to read it. He is very interested in politics and loved the book. One of my friends, another political enthusiast, called this “spot on.” I recommend this to anyone interested in history and politics, and anyone who would like to read about an opinion of where the United States of America is heading.

THEN SINGS MY SOUL, book 3

One of my favorite parts of attending church is being able to lift my voice in union with my fellow worshipers as we praise God through hymns. Each time, though, it seems as if we sing the same hymns. I enjoy looking through the hymnal at the hymns that aren’t sung often. So, I was thrilled to receive a copy of THEN SINGS MY SOUL BOOK 3, THE STORY OF OUR SONGS: DRAWING STRENGTH FROM THE GREAT HYMNS OF OUR FAITH by Robert J. Morgan from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. I had never heard of most of these hymns before – a great treat to have them in front of me now.

The book includes the history of hymnody, unusual hymns, six hymn stories, and a section on hymning in private and public. I loved reading a hymn, then learning the background behind it. The histories really brought them to life. Since I have little musical ability, my mother will play the provided sheet music on the piano while we both sing. Some of the hymns are “The Old Rugged Cross,” “He Giveth More Grace,” and “Joy Fills our Inmost Hearts Today.” My favorite is now “O Trinity of Blessed Light.” Not only are the music and words beautiful, but it was written around AD 100. To me, I find it wondrous that something so old has survived to today, to be beloved by a new generation.

This book is definitely a keeper and has earned a place on my bookshelves.