By Jenny B. Jones.
about the book (from CBD)
Maggie lives life on the edge, seemingly unafraid of anything. But the image she so carefullyconstructed is coming undone.
Maggie’s job as a videographer takes her around the world. She tells people’s stories, especiallythose of impoverished children. That’s when she feels most alive, like she’s making the worldbetter.
But when a secret from her past resurfaces, Maggie gets a call that sends her home. Her daddesperately needs her help. Her estranged sister has run off, leaving 8-year-old Riley in his care.She returns reluctantly, hoping to help her neice. There she reconnects with Cooper–a onceawkward and shy, now handsome, veterinarian. Her feelings skyrocket when she’s with him, butshe’s afraid if she shows him her true self, he’ll reject her.
An honest, hilarious journey that will transform Maggie–if she just learns to trust more and fearless.
My Review
There are some books you might remember for a week, a month, or even a year or two.
However, THIS, is a book you will remember for a lifetime. No wonder it was chosen as a Women of Faith fiction pick of 2009! If you’ve read the other books Jenny has written, you know it’s going to be full of hilarious situations and dialogue. Yet Jenny still manages to maintain the mood when the scene is serious.
Yes, it’s a romance, but it’s also a bit more, it’s funny, endearing, sincere, and above all, fear-conquering. This is one I’ll be keeping on the shelf and reading over and over again.
I love the series LOST, LOVE it! It took me a while to get into the show, and I still don’t get all the mysteries of the island, but it’s still one of my favorite T.V. shows. So, when I heard about Chris Seay’s book The Gospel According to LOST, I knew I had to read it.
While it is a little strange he didn’t wait until the end of the series to write this book, it is a book I think will still have relevance at the end of the 6th season.
He discusses many of the most beloved characters, and draws parallels from within the show to the Bible, in a much more Biblical (and less religious) way than in the show itself.
Don’t worry about being literally “lost” in this book, If you’ve never seen this show before, Chris Seay is thorough and detailed, He retells the back story of every major character in the show. There are a few spoilers here and there, but not too many to worry about ruining the show for you.
Loved this book just as much as i do the Series and I’ll certainly be passing this around to the other “losties” i know.
(Side note:Scott Erickson created some amazing artwork for this book, which you can check out here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/scotterickson/sets/72157622181773453/ )
Follow the lives of three Amish families through the Christmas season.
A Miracle for Miriam: Miriam fell for Seth, but he broke her heart. Years later, after he’s nearly killed in an accident, Miriam sees him at a Christmas party and notices something is different about him—not just how he looks, but how he acts. When Seth pursues her, she must decide whether to guard her heart or accept his love.
A Choice to Forgive: Lydia has loved two men in her life. Daniel disappeared one Christmas Eve long ago, leaving only a note saying he wanted to live in the Englisch world. And Elam, Daniel’s brother, to whom she has been happily married for 15 years. When Elam dies, Lydia gives up on ever loving again. But she is shocked when Daniel wants to return to the Order and her life.
One Child: The birth of one child forever changed the world two thousand years ago. On this snowy Lancaster Christmas Eve, another child will change the world of two couples.
My Review
Amish Christmas is a collection of 3 Novellas by some of the most prolific Amish writers in the industry; Beth Wiseman, Barbara Cameron, and Kathleen Fuller.
It’s a good story collection, a very good one. Now having said that, i can state that it was not my favorite Christmas book i read during that season. It’s good, just not great. It is hard for a short story collection to strike a chord in reader’s hearts as there is only a small amount of space to write a solid story. The one novella I felt was the standout from some of the others’ “just good” stories is Barbara Cameron’s “One Child”. It was sweet and heartfelt, if a little rushed. The others were funny, sweet and entertaining but seem didn’t have quite the same amount of power to me. I’d definitely recommend this book to people i knew already enjoyed reading Amish Fiction. But, on the other hand I don’t think it’s a great introduction for those who don’t like Amish fiction.
Navpress has always been one of my top publishing houses, I can always rely on them for producing some excellent books, both fiction and Non-Fiction. They’ve published some of my very favorite books.
The God who Smokes has only reaffirmed that statement. Stoner is one of the few middle ground speakers on the topic the Emergent Church. He addresses the more debatable things Rob Bell (pastor of Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, NOOMA dvds) brings up in his sermons, videos and books. I enjoy a lot of what Bell says, but other things he believes and states, I can’t help but question. Stoner confronts those issues without attacking any person in particular or many of the good, sound theology to come from emergent pastors.
He discusses some of the hard issues in church today. He’s not some Authoritative figure turning his nose up at these problems. He shares some very personal experiences, which are sincere and sometimes heartbreaking. He shares his thoughts on justice and righteousness, not just for the “pretty people” but for the ones who are hard to love, both for us as the individual, and us as the Church. It’s written in a friendly, very accessible manner that allowed me to read it in days, never wanting to put it down. And that says a lot considering it’s the holidays!
I had the privilege of seeing Austin Gutwein speak amidst a crowd of screaming (quite enthusiastically i might add) girls at a recent stop of the Revolve tour.I was really excited when i received this book from Thomas Nelson a few days later. Conferences are always a whirlwind and it’s nice to get a “refresher” after the conference is over.
Austin gives pre-teens and teens the hope that they can make a difference in the world, whether by doing something small or by being part of something huge.
Austin started Hoops of Hope, a foundation that supports international AIDS relief, and education in Africa. How do they do it? By challenging kids to have a sponsored shoot-athon, to get a donator for each basket they will shoot. He was only a nine-year old who loved playing basketball.
And Take Your Best Shot tells that story. His book does not necessarily follow a linear timeline, but then it’s not a random order either. We read a delightful telling of his journey to being the founder of something that raised over a million dollars. I love the Austin is continually humble, and is repeated saying that none of it would be possible without other people, and most importantly, God. This book would be most impactful to teens, but it certainly doesn’t exclude adults! He provides both encouragement to get out an make a difference and the education to go about it in the right way.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson’s book review bloggers program for providing this book for me to review.
if you have never heard of these amazing shoes, be sure to check out this blog http://rebornbutterfly.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/lovely-things-i-love/
Well now you can enter to win your very own pair!
click here http://bit.ly/fDWga and tweet to win a pair (You don’t have to be a member of twitter to enter, but twitter’s fun!)
and if you use the above link that i gave you, i am entered an additional time!
I love downhere, I would say they’re one of my top 10 favorite bands. I own practically every cd they’ve put out (I don’t own any of the digitally produced albums!). They’re always among the most played cds on my ipod. When I learned earlier this year the guys were releasing a Christmas album I knew it would be great, just like everything else they’ve done!
This music truly is worthy of a listen any time of the year. There’s plenty of old favorites, some little known carols, and even some brand new tracks written by downhere themselves!
I was pleased to see a new favorite carol I discovered last year on the cd; (at least it’s new to me, it’s an old song) Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella.
Since the single How Many Kings made it’s debut on Centricity’s Christmas album Bethlehem Skyline the guys have changed it up a bit. They’ve added some strings AND in the Re-Imagined version Jason (instead of Marc) takes the lead vocals. I can’t say which I like better, both the guys bring great vibe to the song.
It’s completely different from the original and just as good, definitely a favorite on the cd.
Another song which is totally amazing is Christmas in our Hearts. Have a listen if you can!
In classic Downhere style there are a couple of surprises along the way. I’ll let you discover those 
For some of you it might be a bit early to even think about Christmas again, but trust me, when you’re ready for it, pop in How Many Kings and you’ll get in the spirit. Just start singing!
After you’re through reading this review (and a couple others *hint, hint*) be sure to check out their site. It’s pretty cool and you can read the guys’ blogs!(just click the pic!)
Thanks to the awesome people at Centricity Music for providing this cd for me to review!
Jen Hatmaker is a woman I would love to have coffee with! I can’t even imagine in what directions our conversation would go. She has some of the exact same thoughts i have and also some that have really challenged me to think beyond myself.
This book is honest, and passionate and full of living for the least of these. This book wasn’t a quick read for me, I wanted to take my time with it and soak it up!
At the end of the sections she made a list of what books, films or people influenced her during that time of discovery in her life. Most of them I knew of and enjoyed!
It’s just an honest portrayal of a woman finding out how to truly love people with a passion, and that passion leaps off the pages! I loved that every once in while her husband would chime in with his perspective, that really made it feel like a conversation. I can’t help being positive about this book. I really think Jen’s book will challenge a lot of people, I know she challenged me. Definitely worth reading over and over again.
If you live or at some time will be in the Austin, Tx area you should really check out her church, Austin New Church. I know i want to!
Also, if you would like to get deeper into this book a DVD group study is available through Lifeway Christian Book stores.
Thanks to Navpress’ generosity I was sent this book. I have read it in its entirity and have not been compensated in any way other than with the review copy itself. This is my honest opinion, i have not be asked to give a blanket approval of any book.
About the book:
At Last . . . The Circle Reborn
The story of how Thomas Hunter first entered the Black Forest and forever changed our history began at a time when armies were gathered for a final battle in the valley of Migdon. Green is a story of love, betrayal, and sweeping reversals set within the apocalypse. It is the beginning: the truth behind a saga that has captured the imagination of more than a million readers with the Books of History Chronicles.
But even more, Green brings full meaning to the Circle Series as a whole, reading as both prequel to Black and sequel to White, completing a full circle. This is Book Zero, the Circle Reborn, both the beginning and the end. The preferred starting point for new readers . . . and the perfect climax for the countless fans who’ve experienced Black, Red, and White.
My Review:
Ted Dekker is one of the BEST thriller fiction writers out there. Many of his books have even been turned into films and Manga comic books.
Green is the 1st, or the 4th or better yet, number zero in his circle series. It might be a bit confusing on the surface, but i promise, it’s not!
It’s the start (or end) to a great story, that’s worth curling up for and reading. As always Ted wrote an extremely engaging and fast pace story which you will not want to put down. Green doesn’t come off as an afterthought, or just a way to boost sales. It really feels like a legitimate part of the series that has been well thought out. I am really glad Ted Dekker was finally able to finish telling this story!
Some of the final scenes were a little too contrived and convenient for my taste, but it also worked out well in the end. I obviously can’t give out the exact ending, but I think longtime readers of this series are going to be satisfied.
in accordance with new rules by the FTC, this is my disclaimer to let you know i received this book for free in exchange for an unbiased review. I have not been compensated in any way other than with the review product itself.
I love C.S. Lewis, he is such a great writer and thinker! But, sometimes I’m just not in the mood to sit down and delve into one of his books. That was why I was so excited to learn that one of my favorite Lewis book was turning into an audio drama. Some books are just richer when they are read out loud and Screwtape Letters is one of those books.
Focus on the Family has an extensive repertoire of great audio dramas and so had a reputation to keep up. They have recently dramatized a fantastic drama of all seven books in The Chronicles of Narnia series, but i think they showed up everyone and even themselves with their production of “letters”. Granted, with Andy Serkis (Gollum in Lord of the Rings) playing Uncle Screwtape how can you possibly go wrong?
The actors’ voices are perfect for their respective roles, the sound quality and effects are well done. I would caution against listening to this drama while in the car, or with small children who might be frightened by loud and sudden noises.
One of the bonuses that i particularly enjoyed was a collection of 10 songs inspired by Screwtape Letters, this is the first time i have ever heard of anything like that included on the cds of a audio drama.
Also, be sure to check out the DVD that comes with this collector’s edition, it has some neat features!
On a side note, the visual artists did an amazing job on the cover and inside art, you can’t see what i’m talking about based on the cover above, but it’s awesome!
click on the picture above or on this link to learn more about this great audio drama! http://www.screwtape.com/
in accordance with new rules by the FTC, this is my disclaimer to let you know i received this book for free in exchange for a unbiased review. I have not been compensated in any way other than with the review product itself.
