Lies by T.M. Logan

Lies by T.M. Logan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, digital, ARC copy of this book.

Joe was at the wrong place at the wrong time - or was it the right place at the right time? If Joe had not stopped at that red light, if his son had not had a sudden asthma attack, if ....... One event set off a chain of events that led Joe to wonder if his whole life was a string of lies.

This book was a definite page-turner. I love books that leave you wondering with lots of plot twists and turns. This book was just that - a page turner from first page - to the last!

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The Myth of Perpetual Summer by Susan Crandall

The Myth of Perpetual Summer by Susan Crandall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to have a free, digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I would compare this book to To Kill a Mockingbird. This has got to be the best fictional book I have read in a long time. Tallulah James ran away from her southern home to escape a dysfunctional family. She ends up in San Fransisco. She has not intentions of returning until she sees on the news that her baby brother has been arrested for murder. Intent on trying to save him, she goes back home and relives her past along the way. Her past is filled with a father with undiagnosed manic depression, a mother who would rather save Africa than be a mother, and many past family secrets. The book goes back and forth between what Tallulah is discovering on her journey back home and her encounters when she ran away from home. At the end, Tallulah discovers that the myth of perpetual summer (in the south and in California) is truly a myth.


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Unbound: Finding Freedom from Unrealistic Expectations of Motherhood by Jamie Sumner

Unbound: Finding Freedom from Unrealistic Expectations of Motherhood by Jamie Sumner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a free, digital, ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not what I was expecting, but to quote the author, "Expectations are just that - what you expect. They are ideas. God's reality is much richer than that. God will always give you the right version of your life."

I did not know that this book was mainly about the author's struggle with infertility and then the birth of her special-needs son. If I had known that, I probably wouldn't have chosen to read it, because I would have thought that her struggles weren't the same as my struggles as a mom. I was shocked when I discovered that although our circumstances were different, she learned the same lessons that I needed to learn as a mom and a Christian.

Each chapter tells a portion of the author's struggle tied to a character in the Bible. The author does a wonderful job of choosing just the right characters to emphasize her spiritual truth. I have bookmarked several pages in this book that I know I will go back to often.

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Fierce Faith by Alli Worthington

Fierce Faith: A Woman's Guide to Fighting Fear, Wrestling Worry, and Overcoming Anxiety by Alli Worthington
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free, ARC digital copy of this book.

I would have to say that this book is one of the best Christian non-fiction books I have read in a long time. The author, Alli Worthington, tells it like it is - faith is the opposite of fear! She provides a candid look into her own struggles with fear even when life crashed down on her. She also provides practical steps to overcoming fear in your life.

Highly recommend!!

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34 Days by Anita Waller

34 Days by Anita Waller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to preview a free digital ARC of this book.

Lately, I have had a hard time finding fiction that I really enjoy. I finally found a winner in this book! The characters were just relatable enough. The plot was extremely original and kept twisting! It wasn't a lengthy book, so it didn't give a lot of boring unnecessary details.

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Your God is Too Glorious: Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places by Chad Bird

Your God Is Too Glorious: Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places by Chad Bird
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to review a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a gold mine! Do not let the title fool you - when I first saw the title, 'Your God is Too Glorious' - I immediately thought... No He's not!! He is completely glorious! - What kind of heresy is this??? But then the rest of the title says, "Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places". I would say that the 2nd part of the title is the true title. The author takes the reader through his own broken experiences, the broken experiences of others he has met, and some Bible characters to show us what most of us Christians already know - that we really experience who God is during the trials and the "yucky" times of our life. I spent time both laughing and crying while reading this book. I think Chad Bird is an amazing author. I look forward to reading more of his books.

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Understanding your Child’s and Teen’s Behavior: Simple Steps and Resources to Guide You Through the Journey - Read!

Understanding your Child’s and Teen’s Behavior: Simple Steps and Resources to Guide You Through the Journey by Angie Rumaldo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to have a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.

I think every parent wonders if their child is "normal". This book gives a good assessment of normal and not so normal behaviors that children exhibit in all stages. The author is an experienced licensed social worker. She explains very clearly what steps you, as a parent, can take if you are concerned about certain behaviors in your child. She even explains what you can do to advocate for your child in school. I found the section on 504 plans and IEPs very informative.

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Wicked River by Jenny Milchman - Don't read

Wicked River by Jenny Milchman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to review this book. I am torn with this book. It was semi-interesting. The plot was pretty interesting, but the big drawback is that the characters are pretty shallow. I have a hard time getting into a book when I don't feel connected to the characters. If you like a good fast-moving plot, you may enjoy this one.

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Enough by Sharon Jaynes

Enough: Silencing the Lies That Steal Your Confidence by Sharon Jaynes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book very slowly. I loved the way it was organized. The author listed the popular lies that women believe and then countered them with truth from the Bible. She used numerous personal testimonies as well as testimonies from people she has encountered along her ministry.

This is a book that will speak to your heart time and time again. It will be a good book to keep handy to go back to in times of need.

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Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to have a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book by B.A. Paris!! I love this author's writing. It took me a little while to get into. I don't normally empathise with male characters in 1st person point of view. This book was another fast page turning novel that was extremely hard to put down near the end. I think I got a slight case of whiplash from going back and forth so much in my mind about how this one was going to end. Highly recommend!!

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Fledge by Brenda Yoder

Fledge: Launching Your Kids Without Losing Your Mind by Brenda Yoder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"To fledge" has a double meaning. First of all it speaks of baby birds who are growing wings and about to fly. Secondly, it speaks of fledging an arrow. "To fledge an arrow means to put feathers on it to prepare it to fly toward a mark." Author Brenda Yoder does a wonderful job in this book of explaining the trials and heartaches of nudging our children out of the home nest as well as how to equip them to fly toward the mark that God has for them.

She writes from her own heartbreak and wisdom. She shares her mistakes as well as her successes. Personally, as the mom of a 15 year old, I can emphathize with many of the author's experiences as well as taking to heart wisdom for the future years. This book will certainly be a "go to" book in the future as I personally fledge my own child from the nest.

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This I Know by Eldonna Edwards

This I Know by Eldonna Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to receive a free digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is going to be hard to review. This is not a book you can literally critique, this is a book that you feel. Grace is one of 4 daughters of a pastor's family living in the 70s. She had a twin brother who died during birth. Her mother is suffering from postpartum depression after the birth of her last baby. Aside from the previously mentioned hardships, Grace's life is pretty normal except for one important thing. Grace has what she calls "The Knowing". Grace believes that she can still hear her dead brother talk to her. She can see things about people that other people would not know. She can touch objects of a missing person and know what has happened to him. Some people would call what Grace has a gift from God and others think it's of the devil. Her father's opinion is the latter. There is a real struggle throughout the whole book between Grace, who only uses her "gift" for good, and her father's opposition to it. The reader is left pondering his own beliefs about "The Knowing".

As I said before, this is a book that you feel. You feel for Grace as she grows up with practically no mother to guide her through her teenage struggles. You feel for Grace as she desperately wants her father's approval, but feels like she will never get it. There are also many tragedies throughout the book that tug at the heartstrings. There is a missing girl at one point in the story, a girl who was raped, a missing son in Vietnam, and a homeless man who was wrongly accused. The reader sees all of these tragedies through Grace's eyes. As a Christian, I really don't know where I stand on such things as clairvoyance or ESP. God is a big God and it certainly would be within His power to allow certain people to be able to sense things more than others. I do believe such matters are very sensitive matters because such powers could definitely be evil as well.

I would have rated this book as a 5, but there were a few scenes in the book that I would have rather not read (I actually skipped over them) due to their graphic nature. All in all, this was a great book that will make the reader really think - which I believe is the highest qualification of a good book!

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In the Middle of the Mess by Sheila Walsh

In the Middle of the Mess: Strength for This Beautiful, Broken Life by Sheila Walsh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. "As a follower of Jesus, there is power in your story when you don't hide it. Your authority lies in your scars. I can't speak to things I've never struggled with; I can only confess my story, invite Christ into it, then invite you into it too." Sheila Walsh invites the reader into her "mess" through this book. As a woman who has had her father taken from her through suicide as a young girl, and suffered a mental breakdown, she is well-qualified to give advice to many of us who struggle day to day. Reading this book draws the reader closer to the grace of the Father and whispers "it is okay not to be perfect, you may be in a mess right now, but I can use this pain for something good. Just trust me."

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My Name is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd

My Name Is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. The best part of this book was the characterisation. The characters seem to come alive, and strangely I felt myself wondering what was going to happen to them even when I wasn't reading the book!

Venus Black is a 13 yr old girl who is incarcerated for about 5 years for killing her stepfather. Meanwhile, her little autistic brother is kidnapped. Most of the story takes place after she gets out of prison. She changes her identity so that she can start her life over. We see Venus trying to live her life as an adult woman for the first time in her life after prison. There are many twists and turns throughout the whole book. The reader finds out what happened to the brother and is taken into the life of the brother's kidnappers. Venus finds a place to live in a house with a man and his young niece. Venus develops a mother-daughter type relationship with the young girl only to have her ripped from her life by the girl's aunt. There is even a possible romantic relationship between Venus and an attractive man she meets at the diner where she works. When Venus finds out he is a cop, she thinks there is no way she can continue with him.

Throughout the book, the author never truly reveals what led Venus to take the life of her step father, although the reader is given a few hints. When we finally find out Venus' motives, we are faced with the moral dilemma of siding with Venus or the law.

All in all, this book is entertaining and full of emotion. There is suspense, laughter, and tears wrapped up in this book. Highly recommend!!

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Fearless in 21 Days: A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Sarah E. Ball

Fearless in 21 Days: A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Sarah E. Ball
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to have a free digital ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I really appreciated the author freely sharing her story of her mental breakdown. She was a very overworked wife and mother who finally reached her breaking point and suffered panic attacks several times a day. In this book, she gives very practical advice on how to overcome anxiety through good advice and scripture. She has wonderful advice on how to better take care of your physical body as well as your mind, emotions, and spiritual self.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is or has ever suffered from anxiety or has a loved one who has went through it.

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The Man He Never Was by James Rubart

The Man He Never Was: A Modern Reimagining of Jekyll and Hyde by James L. Rubart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to have a free digital ARC of this book.

Toren is a professional football player who deals with major anger issues that stemmed from his childhood. His anger went through the roof when he stopped playing football and had no where else to let go of his anger. His anger affected his two children and his once wonderful marriage. One day Toren wakes up in a hotel and realizes that he's lost about 9 months of his life. He has no memory of what happened in those 9 months. When he goes home, his wife faints and his children are in shock. They had already had a funeral for him because he was presumed dead! The rest of the book focuses on Toren's search for what happened to him during the lost 9 months as well as emotional and spiritual healing that he never would have dreamed possible.

I enjoyed this book. It was part mystery and drama. I loved the connection that this book has with the classic works of Jekyll and Hyde as well as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Much of the struggle that Toren has in this book is a metaphor of the struggle each Christian faces with the old man and the new man. There were times right before the climax of the book where I was about to stop reading it because it got a little bit too "out there". However, I am glad I kept reading, because the resolution brought wonderful spiritual truths that I will probably remember for a long time.

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Blessed are the Misfits by Brant Hansen

Blessed Are the Misfits: Great News for Believers who are Introverts, Spiritual Strugglers, or Just Feel Like They're Missing Something by Brant Hansen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to have a free digital ARC of this book to review.

I cannot begin to explain how much I liked this book! I had never heard of the author, Brant Hansen, but I am sure that from now on I will read whatever he writes! The author has a podcast called Brant and Sherri's Oddcast (I have also added their podcast to my favorites as well). Mr. Hansen has had a struggle throughout his life fitting in to society (he was diagnosed as being on the Autism spectrum as an adult) and church culture. His father was a well-loved preacher who actually had a terrible mental problem behind closed doors. Despite his childhood, the author is a Christian - but a Christian who looks at church culture just a little differently.

This book reads kindof like the Beatitudes to me. Each chapter starts out with "Blessed are the....." Some of the chapters are "Blessed are .... those who landed on the wrong planet, the unfeeling faithful, the introverted evangelical, the people who can't pray, the wounded, those who don't have amazing spiritual stories, the introverts who keep trying, the meloncoly and depressed, the unnoticed, the lonely, and misfit royalty (those with disabilities)." If you find yourself in any of those categories, do yourself a favor and pick up this book.

Mr. Hansen's writing style is brutally honest. I walked away from reading this book with a renewed confidence that although I may not be what the typical "church member" looks like, I have just as much worth as her. I have a "love-hate" relationship with my introvertism, and frequently feel very much inferior in Christian circles. "Blessed are the Misfits" was like a ice pick that gradually chipped away the ice wall that I have built up around me to protect me from my perceived inferiority in the church.

I don't typically read books twice, but I have a feeling that this book will be one that I bring out several times in the future.

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10 Things A Husband Needs From His Wife by Erin Smalley

10 Things a Husband Needs from His Wife: Everyday Ways to Show Him Love by Erin Smalley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to have a free, digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit that I procrastinated reading this book for a while. I just knew it would be a book of a lot of things I would have to do differently. Fortunately, that was not the case. The book was very insightful on just how different men are than women. It was helpful to see his perspective on different aspects of our marriage and what he needs as a man that I would not readily notice.

I would recommend this book to a wife of any age, but it would be a wonderful present for a bride - to -be!

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Steal Away Home by Billy Coffey

Steal Away Home by Billy Coffey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have read and enjoyed several of Billy Coffey's other books. This book was a little different than his other books. It is still a very deep book that challenges your beliefs.

Owen is a young boy who moves into a town that neighbors with a very poor, and shunned village called "shantytown". Even though people in his new town and the people of shantytown don't mingle, he falls in love with a shantytown girl named Marty. No one ever knows of their relationship. They meet at a hill in between their towns each evening. Owen has two loves - Marty and baseball. The story of Owen and Marty is told between innings of a very important baseball game. In the end, Marty realizes that what he loves is not really enough.

I don't really enjoy baseball, so I have to admit that I skimmed over some of the baseball scenes. Even though I skipped some of these chapters, I found the connection between baseball and the story of Owen and Marty very intriguing.

I feel like there are a lot of underlying spiritual connections that one can get from this book, the reader really needs to have time to read and think.

Even though I enjoyed the book, I felt like the character of Owen could have been developed a little more. Either I just didn't connect with him, or I feel like I didn't know him very well.

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