Tag Archives: Book Review

Storm by Jim Cymbala – A Good and Important Read

Posted in Book Review, BookLook, Storm by

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It was my privilege to read Jim Cymbala’s newest book Storm – Hearing Jesus for The Times We Live In, coauthored with Jennifer Schuchmann.  I’ve never read a Jim Cymbala book before, but after reading this one I look forward to reading more of his work.

In Storm, Jim Cymbala Pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle came across as humble, concerned and broken over some of the trends he’s seeing in today’s Christian church in America.  He also wielded authority as he spoke truth and warnings from scripture.

This book was well balanced.  Too often I’ve read books in which Christians share their concerns about the church, but they seem judgmental and lack grace and mercy and aren’t speaking the truth in love.  Jim Cymbala came across as the man who after removing the log from his own eye, he gently helps the reader to remove the speck from their eye.

Jim speaks, not only to Pastors and church leaders in this book, but also to congregants and challenges each of us to live in the light of Jesus soon return.  He knows the power of the Gospel to change hearts, minds and lives of those who truly repent and receive Christ as Lord and Savior.  He also conveys the importance of daily reading and studying God’s Word for yourself and being a prayer warrior dependent upon God.

Jim shares warnings that there is a storm approaching and we need to beware of the tempest within the church and prayerlessness.  I especially appreciated the personal stories he shared about the radical transformation of some of the people in his church.

I’m one who likes to underline and make notes in my books.  I did a lot of that in Storm.  I found myself convicted, challenged, corrected and encouraged.

I highly recommend Storm by Jim Cymbala with Jennifer Schuchmann.  It’s a book you will want to read, reread and share with others.

I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

The Coming Islamic Invasion of Israel – by Mark Hitchcock – Interesting and Informative

Posted in Bible Prophesy, Blogging for Books, Book Review, The Coming Islamic Invasion of Israel, Uncategorized by

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to hear Pastor Mark Hitchcock preach a message on Ezekiel 38 and 39.  It was a riveting and fast-paced hour.  So I jumped at the opportunity to read his book The Coming Islamic Invasion of Israel and I was not disappointed.  He wrote this book to expand upon a chapter in an earlier book What on Earth Is Going On.  With radical Islam in the news on a regular basis readers may also wonder how Islam fits into Bible prophesy.

Mark helps the reader to understand who the players are, their ancient Biblical names and the corresponding countries and locations in today’s world.  He takes what can seem like a puzzle and helps put the pieces in place to reveal how these nations may play into God’s end time events as prophesied in Ezekiel and Revelation.

Mark also delves into God’s prophetic timetable:  How close are we to the Rapture and when will the Battle of Gog and Magog occur?  He is mindful that only God knows the day and the hour when the church will be raptured and when the Tribulation will begin.  But Mark closely examines the signs of the times and admonishes Christians to live in light of the Lord’s soon return.

I appreciated his clear presentation of the Gospel message and reinforcing biblical theology that God has not given up on Israel or replaced His chosen nation.

Whether you have a good understanding of Bible prophesy or are new to the study, I believe you will benefit from this book.  I highly recommend Pastor Mark Hitchcock’s book The Coming Islamic Invasion of Israel.

I would like to thank Blogging for Books for the opportunity to read The Coming Islamic Invasion of Israel.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

The Spirit-Filled Life by Charles Stanley – A Great Resource – Convicting, Challenging and Encouraging

Posted in Book Review, BookLook, Charles Stanley, The Spirit-Filled Life by

The Spirit Filled Life

It was my great privilege to read Pastor Charles Stanley’s newest book The Spirit-Filled Life in which he shared how a Christian can discover the joy of surrendering to the Holy Spirit.

Wow…this was a great read and a valuable resource to understand the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.  I found the book to be biblically sound and Pastor Stanley doesn’t mince word or back down when confronting people who misinterpret what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  But he does so in a winsome manner.  He goes through the Scriptures that address being filled with the Spirit and presents a strong argument that the phrase does not mean being able to speak in tongues.  He also exposes an issue that arises with an incorrect interpretation, that of second class Christians, the haves and the have nots.

Pastor Stanley also goes through the Fruit of the Spirit and helps the reader to better understand what it means to Abide in Christ.  I’ve got to warn you, this book is very convicting and there were times I felt like he had read my diary and was expressing what I feel when I see a lack of the fruit of the Spirit in my own life.

Thankfully, Pastor Stanley also shares and encourages Christians how to remedy that through abiding in Christ and by surrendering yourself completely to God and recognize your own inability to live the spirit-filled Christian life on your own.  He stresses the absolutely necessity of reading the Word of God everyday, understanding it in context and gives examples of how the Holy Spirit may use Scripture to help us walk strong in Christ.

There were a couple of instances where I thought Pastor Stanley could have made a stronger argument on knowing God’s will where he addressed the question of Christians dating unbelievers and if it’s okay to continue to have relationships with people from our past when we were unbelievers and walking in sin.  He approached the subject from the standpoint of making wise choices, but there are scriptures that he could have used to show God’s will on those subjects.

I greatly appreciated Pastor Stanley’s openness and transparency from his own life, both the successes and failures, and seasons of fruitfulness and dryness.

I highly recommend The Spirit-Filled Life by Charles Stanley.  This book is a keeper and one that I will read again.  It would also make a great gift to someone who wants to better understand the Holy Spirit and what He does in the life of a Christian.

I would like to thank BookLook for the privilege of reading this book in exchange for an honest review.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury – Heartwarming, Touching, Loving and Redemptive

Posted in Book Review, NetGalley by

Angels-Walking

Angels Walking, by Karen Kingsbury, is her newest book about Tyler Ames, a talented up and coming baseball player, whose life takes an unexpected turn.  Just how would Alzheimer’s patient Virginia Hutchinson impact Tyler’s life for eternity?  How would those changes ripple out and affect Tyler’s broken relationships with his parents and former girlfriend Sami Dawson?  How in the world do angels figure into the story?  Well…you’ll have to read it to find out.

I’ve only read one other Karen Kingsbury book, but there was something about Angels Walking that drew me in.  Perhaps it was Virginia the Alzheimer’s patient or maybe I was intrigued by the thought of angels, God’s messengers, at work in our lives.  I knew I would find this book somewhat painful because my mother had Alzheimer’s but I wanted to read it and I’m so glad I did.

Karen Kingsbury is a very gifted writer and has a beautiful turn of a phrase.  She has a way of expressing feelings or a scene in a very vivid way that stays in the mind of the reader.  What came through in this book were love, grace, forgiveness and redemption.  I was reminded to never give up or stop praying and know that God is at work in our lives.  Karen’s Christian faith is interwoven throughout this book in a beautiful way.

There were a couple of times when Jesus Christ and salvation came up, but I found it fell short of a clear presentation of the gospel because sin wasn’t mentioned.  Without knowledge of my sin, I don’t know of my need for a Savior.

I recommend Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury and look forward to future books in this series.  Your heart will be touched when you read this book and perhaps some healing will also take place in those broken places in your life.

I would like to thank the publishers at Howard Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Angels Walking in exchange for an honest review.  I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.

Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good – What An Absolute Pleasure

Posted in Book Review, Putnam Publishers by

Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good

What an absolute pleasure it was to read Jan Karon’s newest book Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good!  With this new book, readers can continue to follow the lives Father Tim Kavanaugh and his wife Cynthia and a wonderful mix of characters in the lovely fictional town of Mitford, North Carolina.

When reading this book felt like I was going home and seeing the people whom I love, who are a little quirky.  But isn’t that part of what makes them so loveable?

Jan Karon’s writing is exceptional.  Characters come to life and are well developed over time.  The story is simple yet rich and complex in the ordinary adventures called life.  A composition of vignettes told through the perspective of everyone’s favorite Episcopal priest, Father Tim who is now retired.  The cast of characters is wide ranging and yet a beautiful blend of people I would like to know.

Jan Karon doesn’t strive to be edgy.  Instead she creates characters that are real and likable even with their imperfections.

My favorite thing about this book is how the characters Christian faith is interwoven throughout the story.  I loved reading Father Tim and Cynthia’s prayers.  I loved the compassion and brokenness that came through when Father Tim wept as he told of the failure and sin of fellow clergyman.  I learned that I want to have that kind of love and compassion that desires repentance and to restore a fellow sinner.  I so appreciate the sharing of the Gospel message in a simple way, but one so fitting the storyline.

I can always tell a book is really good when I’m thinking about the characters after I’ve set the book down and can’t wait to get back to them.  The only downside to this book is that it ends, but hopefully the story will continue in another book by gifted writer Jan Karon.

Even though this is the latest book in the Mitford series, it makes a good stand alone book.  I do caution you though, you will likely want to go back and read the earlier books when you fall in love with the characters.

Jan Karon is one of the best writers of her generation and I am grateful to have read her latest book Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good.

I would like to thank Putnam publishers for providing me with a copy of Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good to read in exchange for an honest review.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Robert Whitlow – The Confession – Well Done

Posted in Book Review, BookLook by

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The Confession is the first book that I’ve read by author Robert Whitlow and I must confess, I’m hooked and look forward to reading more of books by this author.

The Confession tells the story of up and coming Assistant DA Holt Douglas as he stumbles across an old case, a murder that was quickly labeled suicide and the case closed.  But for what reason and who would stand to benefit from this cover-up?

Robert Whitlow has a very inviting style of writing.  He skillfully weaves a story through the lives and events of the characters.  He’s not in a hurry and takes time to develop both the story and let the readers learn about the characters as they go through everyday life and events that will change their lives.  Instead of a fast pace that leaves the reader exhausted, Robert unravels the story slowly.  In doing that I think he also gives the reader a chance to examine themselves and see how they would have responded when facing similar circumstances.

The Confession is not predictable; it had some twists and turns that I didn’t expect.  I appreciated the fact that Robert Whitlow doesn’t put his characters in jeopardy because they make stupid and illogical decisions.

One of the questions I have when reading “Christian Fiction” is what makes a book “Christian”.  I think Robert Whitlow has struck a fine balance of weaving faith and the Gospel message into his book.  It’s was not done in a contrived way, but faith, repentance and salvation was portrayed as several characters wrestle with their faith or recognize their brokenness and need for a Savior.  At the same time, the author doesn’t beat the reader over the head; instead he plants some Gospel seeds.

I give a big thumbs up and bravo to Robert Whitlow’s newest novel The Confession.

I would like to thank that people at BookLook for providing with a complimentary copy of The Confession to read in exchange for an honest review.  I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.

Stand Strong by Nick Vujicic – A Powerful Read

Posted in Blogging for Books, Book Review, Nick Vujicic by

StandStrong

After hearing author Nick Vujicic on a number of radio programs I jumped at the opportunity to read his latest book Stand Strong – You Can Overcome Bullying (and Other Stuff That Keeps You Down).

Nick is both a compelling speaker and writer.  In Stand Strong he shares openly about difficult people (bullies) he’s encountered, how it’s impacted his life and what he learned from those trials.  It’s incredible how Nick has taken his pain and suffering and has used it to help, strengthen and encourage others.  His compassion and desire to help other people who are being bullied come through each page.  More than survive, Nick wants people to comes through victorious and allow God to use them to come alongside and help others.

Nick’s prescriptions to Stand Strong are powerful and when put into action they can be a game changer.  Some of the steps include figuring out who you are so no bully can tell you different, taking responsibility for your life, monitoring and managing your emotions to successfully deal with bullies and seeing that good can even come from something as evil as bullying.

Nick’s personality, humor and compassion comes through this book.  He shares openly how his faith in Jesus Christ and the love of his family helped him to overcome the bullies and be used of God to powerfully impact many people.

One thing I would have liked to have seen is Nick clearly presenting the gospel message of us being lost in our sin, the need for repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ alone.  Both the person being bullied and the person who is the bully need a Savior, as do we all.   Much of what he prescribed can only fully be achieved by Christ in us.  Nick tells of the love of God for us and how He can empower and enable us.

I wish, as a young person, I would have had the wisdom and counsel of Nick Vujicic.  Even now as an adult, I can see myself implementing some of his steps to overcome the bullies because they don’t all go away when you grow up.

I do recommend Stand Strong by Nick Vujicic, especially to teenagers and children who are encountering bullies and to parents who need to know how to come alongside their child and help them.

I would like to thank people at Blogging for Books for providing me with a free copy of Stand Strong in exchange for an honest review.  I was not required to give a favorable review.

Murder at the Mikado – A Pleasant Suprise

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Murder at the Mikado

Murder at the Mikado is the first book that I’ve read by author Julianna Deering and I got off to a bumpy start with this book.

As I was reading chapter one, I found the characters to be rather one-dimensional, boring, self-focused, vapid and empty.  I hadn’t connected with any of the characters at that point and didn’t particularly like or care about any of them.  When I put the book down for the night and was worried that it might be 300 plus pages of that.

But to my pleasant surprise things changed for me starting about page 20.  I found some people that were kind and decent, characters I might connect with, like Drew, Madeline, Nick and Aunt Ruth.  As the book continued I was able to get into the story and learn about the characters and their backgrounds and what motivated them as they were all interwoven in to a murder mystery that begged to be solved before the wedding day of Drew and Madeline.

I found the book to be a little confusing, especially at the beginning.  There are so many characters and it would have been helpful to have a page at the beginning of the book telling who the characters are and little bit about them.  The book seemed a little long.  I was surprised that after we learned who the culprits were, the book continued on for about 25 plus pages as it wrapped up some loose ends with two of the main characters.

But all in all, I found this to be an interesting book and period piece.  Author Julianna Deering is good at describing the people and scenes so I could almost imagine seeing the scenes take place like a movie in my mind.

I would recommend Murder at the Mikado.  Now that I am familiar with Julianna Deering writing style I would like to read more of her books.

One last note, or a question really, what make a book “Christian fiction”?  Is it the fact that the writer is Christian or that the Gospel and faith are shared?

I would like to thank Bethany House for giving me a free copy of Murder at the Mikado to read in exchange for an honest review.  I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.

C. S. Lewis & Mere Christianity – Interesting & Insightful

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CS Lewis & Mere Christianity

It’s been my privilege to read Paul McCusker’s book C. S. Lewis & Mere Christianity.  I didn’t want to rush through this book because I was learning about C. S. Lewis, the events that help shape him and the formidable works he produced that would impact Christianity and the common everyday Christian, even up to this present day.

In the book, as the subtitle states, I was learning about “The Crisis That Created a Classic.”  I must confess I am woefully ignorant about much of World War II history.  It was very sobering reading about the long and great suffering that the people of Great Britain enduring during World War II.  I learned a lot and gained a new appreciation for the people, what they suffered, and the strength and character of the WWII generation.  How different our world would have been if they had not persevered and triumphed over evil.

One of the things I appreciated about this book is that the author interspersed sidebars with detailed information about people, places, and events that were part of C. S. Lewis’ life.  The reader will benefit and learn from the detailed research that went into this book.

I feel like I gained peek into the life of C. S. Lewis and I think that will help me as I read his work.  It was very interesting learning how some of his most well-known works came to be.

If you are an admirer of C. S. Lewis, apologetics or have an interest in World War II, I would highly recommend this book.  Paul McCusker did an excellent job of painting a picture of C. S. Lewis and Great Britain during this transformational time in recent history.

I would like to thank Tyndale House for providing me with a copy of C. S. Lewis & Mere Christianity to read in exchange for an honest review.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

A Deadly Business – Mixed Emotions

Posted in Book Review, BookLook, Lis Wiehl by

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I’ve watched her on Fox News and I’ve seen her mystery books in Christian bookstores, but this is the first novel I’ve read by author Lis Wiehl.

A Deadly Business in the second book in the Mia Quinn mystery series by coauthors Lis Wiehl and April Henry.  The main character Mia is mother of two children, widowed and a prosecutor in Seattle.

This is a fast-paced novel, filled with action from the get go.  Starting on page two, buckle you seat belts because you are on a roller coaster ride as Mia, her family and coworker are thrust into danger, mystery and intrigue.  Questions arise on her husband’s death seven months earlier, that may indicate murder not an accident.  In the middle of dealing with that duty calls as Mia is assigned a case prosecuting juveniles who critically injure a woman by dropping a shopping cart on her from two stories up.  Mia has to make the tough decision to prosecute these criminals as juveniles or as adults in a highly volatile and politically charged atmosphere.

Now what did I think of the book…well the book held my attention.  I found that I didn’t have a chance to get to know the main character early on because the action started so abruptly.  I connected with two of the characters, Detective Charlie Carlson and Mia’s fourteen year old son Gabe because they seemed good and real.  There were times I found myself put off by Mia’s thoughts and approach to the criminal justice system.  Rather than punishing criminals for their acts, the character approached it as a place to help rehabilitate criminals.  I wondered is that the authors view point or just what they wrote about the character?

Another question that came up, as I was reading this novel, is that I’m not sure what would qualify this book as “Christian Fiction”.  If a writer is a Christian does that mean what they write is Christian fiction?  I don’t think so.  There was precious little in the book about God, faith or prayer and nothing that would stand out to suggest it was a Christian book.  I wouldn’t have guessed this book was from a Christian writer unless I had known this was put out by a Christian based publisher.

Nevertheless, I did appreciate the fact that the book did not contain filthy language or promote sexual immorality, etc.

Would I recommend this book?  I would advise customers to read the book synopsis, reviews, and choose based on an informed decision if it sounds like something you might like.  I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for someone who likes to read books that include characters dealing with God, scripture, prayer and wrestling their faith.  But if you are looking for a good mystery you might like it.

I would like to thank the people at BookLook for providing me with a free copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

Critical Condition…WOW!

Posted in BookLook, Critical Condition, Uncategorized by

_225_350_Book.1168.coverIf you like mystery, intrigue and suspense, look no further than Richard L. Mabry’s newest book Critical Condition.  I love it when I find a good writer who is new to me, because that means I’ll be able to go back and read his earlier work.

Critical Condition is the first book that I’ve read by Richard L. Mabry M.D. and I wasn’t disappointed.  He skillfully draws the reader in to the storyline and reveals the characters, almost like pealing an onion, layer by layer you learn about the characters and what motivates them and what brought them to this place and how will it end.

Dr. Mabry brings a different twist to mystery novels.  The story includes characters who are doctors and the reader gets to view the events through the different lens of medicine.

The story is fast paced and more than once kept me up late because I didn’t want to put the book down.  I can tell a good book when it leaves me thinking about the characters and try to figure out what will happen even when I’m not reading the book.

I especially appreciated how Dr. Mabry has interwoven faith into the storyline through the characters as they struggle with and grow in their faith.  Faith seemed to be a natural part of the characters, not just something thrown in because this a book by a Christian author.  I appreciate a writer who doesn’t have to turn to immorality to tell a good story

I give a big thumbs up to Critical Condition by Richard L. Mabry M.D.  I look forward to reading more novels by this writer.

I would like to thank the people at BookLook for giving me a copy of Critical Condition to read and review.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

His Treasure Gems of Love from Your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd – Some Mixed Emotions

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When the opportunity to read and review Sheri Rose Shepherd’s newest book, His Treasure Gems of Love from Your King, was presented I was excited at the prospect of reading her work.  I’ve heard some of her conference messages and found Sheri to be a very compelling speaker.

Based on her writing, I would say that Sheri has a love for the Lord and heart for women.  She desires that the women will grasp the love that God has for them and the blessings that come to a woman who loves the Lord, increasingly trusts and obeys Him.

I found many of the Treasures to be very encouraging, convicting and healing as they touched tender spots where I have emotional wounds that need the Lord’s healing.

Sheri’s love and passion for the Lord comes through in her writing.

I also want to share how I struggled with this book.  My struggle is with the style or genre of this book as if God is speaking to the reader.  I would have felt more comfortable if instead the writer was praying to God.  It’s easy to not accurately represent God, because we see Him through our own unique perspective that is colored by our life and experiences.  I also felt like the sovereignty and holiness of God was somewhat lacking.  The focus seemed to be on the person to whom God was talking and less focused on God.  As portrayed, God seemed to be gently trying to persuade the beloved child or daughter and was seldom revealed as God, the absolute Authority to Whom we will give an account.  I would have also appreciated if scripture references had been given that would line up to the words God was speaking.

I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book.

Sherlock Holmes and the Needle’s Eye – Disappointing

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Sherlock Holmes_225_350_Book.868.cover

When I saw the book “Sherlock Holmes and the Needle’s Eye” by Len Bailey offered by BookSneeze I thought it would be a good read.  I love the Bible, and like mysteries and Sherlock Holmes novels.

The book brings back the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson investigating 10 Bible mysteries as they travel, via a time machine called the Needle’s Eye, to Biblical times as they watch events unfold firsthand.  The mysteries include:

Why did Ahithophel hang himself?
In John 8, what did Christ write on the ground?
Why did Jesus delay in coming to Lazarus?
Why were Christ’s birth and death considered to be at the right time?
Why were the Israelites instructed to march about Jericho one time for the first six days, but seven times on the last day?

Since I had recently studied David’s life, I was interested to read the first mystery, why did Ahitophel hang himself.  The author did a good job in bringing out the background and details of this story and presenting a case why Ahitophel hanged himself.

However, my interest in the booked quickly waned as I continued to read.  I found the book to be quite tedious and boring; the chapters seemed to go on and on.  One problem was that the mysteries being investigated weren’t clearly stated at the beginning of the chapter.  The book jumped around a lot and it was hard to track.  Some of Sherlock Holmes’ conclusions and answers to the mysteries were not clearly presented.

While the book is not entirely without merit, I would not recommend it.  If I hadn’t agreed to read and review this book, I wouldn’t have finished it.

I thank BookSneeze for the opportunity to read and review this book.