Dance With Jesus: From Grief to Grace, by Susan B. Mead

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Grief hits each one of us and can come from so many different directions…

Have you lost someone dear to you? A brother, sister, parent, grandparent, family member, friend or a child? A relationship? A body part to cancer or an accident? Do you want to experience the joy of moving from broken to blessed? From GRIEF TO GRACE? Do you want God to take your hand and teach you how to dance…with Jesus? Yes?

Then devour the words in Dance With Jesus: From Grief to Grace! Expect to laugh through the tears and experience a deepening of your faith.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Susan B Mead is a woman in AWE of God and how much He loves each one of us. Her desire - share stories of hope so we can see God's hand at work in our lives. Dance With Jesus: From Grief to Grace was written as her answer to "What does God want you to do right now?" in the Experiencing God Bible Study.

Susan spent 22+ years with Johnson & Johnson prior to losing her youngest son. She realized that things get broken, discarded or replaced, yet people matter. She chose to retire early to make time for the people who matter most to her, including you, a dear reader.

Susan's credentials include BS, MT(ASCP), MBA and IFOC Sr. Ordained Chaplain. She holds certification from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) for Individual Grief, Group Grief and Grief following Trauma.



MY REVIEW: This little book actually has 22 chapters, but each chapter is only a few pages long. Written as an encouragement to others in similar circumstances, it leaves out details that might otherwise bog the reader down and, instead, gets right to the point. We meet the author in the first chapters and learn that she has experienced deep grief in the death of her son.

Each chapter opens up a new window in what their family went through, in tiny little snippets small enough to keep the attention of someone who may not feel like heavy reading material. At the end of each chapter are discussion questions, sometimes quite deep and sometimes light, but always meant to inspire the reader to think about where in the grief process he might be and where he can see God at work.

To be honest, there were parts of this book that left me feeling like I'd been abruptly interrupted. I wanted to know more. I wanted longer chapters that filled in the details. But I realized that in the midst of grief, one's attention span is not as long as normal, and sometimes getting bogged down in someone else's story is too much. The short little chapters could be perfect for someone in that situation, someone who just needs to open the pages and find hope.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

As Soon As I Fell, by Kay Bruner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION: What happens when being radical for God brings you to the edge of disaster? When Kay Bruner and her husband, Andy, took their young family to live on an island in the South Pacific, she found the purposeful, adventurous life she'd hoped for-along with isolated living, dangerous sea travel, tropical illnesses, and a floundering marriage. As they worked on a Bible translation project with a local language group, Kay sank into burnout and depression while Andy medicated his stress with a pornography addiction. Bringing life back from the brink required a radical reinvention of life, from a ministry and marriage built on high performance and spiritual heroism, to a nourishing daily walk of grace, freedom, and intimate connection. This is a story about going to extremes for spiritual acceptability and failing dismally, only to find that love and grace transcend failure. For anyone who's ever asked, "When will I be good enough for love?" this book resoundingly answers: "Right now. You are loved, right this minute, in this mess." While few of us will live on a tiny island in the South Pacific, many of us will find hope and healing in this story of a painful fall into the arms of love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kay Bruner was born in Buffalo, New York and grew up in Brazil, Nigeria, and the wilds of Kentucky. She and her husband have raised their four children in Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and the great state of Texas. Kay divides her work days between counseling and writing. She blogs at www.kaybruner.com.

MY THOUGHTS: As a missionary, I identified with the culture shock, the inadequacy, the loneliness, the pressure from without and within, the feeling of being overwhelmed by it all and not seeing how God could possibly make something beautiful out of the mess life on the field turned out to be. I was riveted to this book and thought Kay's story couldn't possibly get worse, when each page seemed to prove me wrong.

I have found that my time on foreign soil has served to help me grow far more than those I came to minister to, and that God has shined light on all sorts of misconceptions and untruths in what was forming the foundation of my beliefs, not only theologically but in who I was at my core. Kay went through a similar journey--maybe we all do--and I found hope in how God patched up those cracks to fix the faulty foundation.

I applaud Kay and her husband for their willingness to share such personal details, not only because I know so many people will find themselves in their story, but also because their happy ending offers hope and encouragement.

**The author offers a free study guide with great questions for reflection, which are appropriate both for personal use or group study.  Download it here.

Facing the Music, by Jennifer Knapp

Facing the Music: My Story by Jennifer Knapp

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Jennifer Knapp’s meteoric rise in the Christian music industry ended abruptly when she walked away and came out publicly as a lesbian. This is her story—of coming to Christ, of building a career, of admitting who she is, and of how her faith remained strong through it all.

At the top of her career in the Christian music industry, Jennifer Knapp quit. A few years later, she publicly revealed she is gay. A media frenzy ensued, and many of her former fans were angry with what they saw as turning her back on God. But through it all, she held on to the truth that had guided her from the beginning.

In this memoir, she finally tells her story: of her troubled childhood, the love of music that pulled her through, her dramatic conversion to Christianity, her rise to stardom, her abrupt departure from Christian Contemporary Music, her years of trying to come to terms with her sexual orientation, and her return to music and Nashville in 2010, when she came out publicly for the first time. She also talks about the importance of her faith, and despite the many who claim she can no longer call herself a believer, she maintains that she is both gay and a Christian.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Today, she performs and tours extensively and actively engages in advocacy work alongside religious communities and leaders that seek to create an open and affirming spiritual home for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people of faith. 

MY THOUGHTS:  I am one of those fans that wondered where Jennifer went when she fell off the map years ago, seemingly in the height of her success. Reading the behind-the-scenes account of how she was suffering, how her music was really a reflection of the struggles she was facing, reminded me of how often we put famous people in a super-human category. 

In Facing the Music, Jennifer paints the picture of a childhood scarred by her parents' separation. After a young-adult conversion, the world of Christianity became her focus. She found therapeutic solace in her music, and her passion and talent soon developed into a career in the contemporary Christian genre. But on this journey where what should have been developing was a relationship with God, instead, she was sorting through a set of rules and legalism that left her empty and confused. On top of that, she was burning out from all the stress of touring and recording, but those within the industry ignored her pleas for help.

When she began to question her sexual orientation, those Christian friends who should have come along beside her and walked through this with her weren't available. She no longer fit into the picture of what she'd been taught a Godly person must be. 

This book left me feeling very sad. Sad that she isn't the only person struggling alone. Sad that we, as Christians, have dropped the ball at meeting people where they are. Sad that a person's worth is measured so inaccurately within our spiritual family. Sad that we value what the superficial over the real. And sad for the damage all these things did to Jennifer Knapp. 

We expect that in the world, there will be trouble. There will be divorces and children excluded and painful traumas to live through. However, somewhere in my mind, I view all Christians as a sort of collective family that together, form a tower of security, a place where we can open up and find help and comfort. When we fail at that, the suffering is infinitely worse and God's name is so badly misrepresented.

Judging Miss Knapp for the choices she has made and the road she has chosen is beyond the scope of this book review, but I will say that I pray she finds real peace and healing. I would recommend you read this book if you step out into the real world at all, because I think it's important that we understand the real feelings of the people behind the LGBT label. 

**I was provided an arc of this book by netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Girl at the End of the World, by Elizabeth Esther

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Elizabeth Esther Henderson lives in Southern California with her husband and their five children.  She's a blogger, freelance writer, and her dreams include hosting her own TV show, adopting more rescue dogs, planting a garden, keeping chickens, having a pygmy goat, and adopting children.


BOOK DESCRIPTION: 

I was raised in a homegrown, fundamentalist Christian group—which is just a shorthand way of saying I’m classically trained in apocalyptic stockpiling, street preaching, and the King James Version of the Bible. I know hundreds of obscure nineteenth-century hymns by heart and have such razor sharp “modesty vision” that I can spot a miniskirt a mile away.

Verily, verily I say unto thee, none of these highly specialized skills ever got me a job, but at least I’m all set for the end of the world. Selah.

Elizabeth Esther grew up in love with Jesus but in fear of daily spankings (to “break her will”). Trained in her family-run church to confess sins real and imagined, she knew her parents loved her and God probably hated her. Not until she was grown and married did she find the courage to attempt the unthinkable. To leave.

In her memoir, readers will recognize questions every believer faces: When is spiritual zeal a gift, and when is it a trap? What happens when a pastor holds unchecked sway over his followers? And how can we leave behind the harm inflicted in the name of God without losing God in the process?

By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Girl at the End of the World is a story of the lingering effects of spiritual abuse and the growing hope that God can still be good when His people fail.

Includes reading group discussion guide and interview with the author.

MY THOUGHTS:  I plowed through this book in record time.  The author's free-flowing, conversational style makes reading her story feel like she's my best friend sharing about her past at a pajama party while I hug my pillow.  Except I didn't feel like sleeping when I turned that last page.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to cheer for the fact that Elizabeth escaped or vomit to think about what she'd been through. More than once while reading, I was thankful that the title of the book alerted me ahead of time to the fact that she did eventually get out.

There were times I was overwhelmed by what she went through, by how adults had misinterpreted scripture or taken them out of context, resulting in a childhood filled with fear, confusion, and abuse.  And unfortunately, I recognized myself in the pages of her story. I recognized how easily I have trusted well-meaning people who understood something different than what I now believe the original intent of the Bible to be.  How easily I have adopted as a principle some parenting tactic, sure that the Word of God compelled me to mother in that way.  How easily I have fallen into a pattern because others around me, seemingly more spiritual or more enlightened said this is how it should be.  How easily the voices of powerful men can be confused with the voice of God.  How easily a movement can become a cult.

Several things really stood out to me:  I appreciated the author's honesty, not only as she shared what happened to her, but in sharing her doubts, her mistrust, her challenge to God.  Her viewpoints on the Catholic church were especially helpful, considering where and how I work right now.  Hidden in the embers of the fire of what she lived through is also a precious love story, not only of the God who never let go of her, but of a man who saw her for who she really was. She also voiced something I've felt for a long time--the similarity between many mega-churches and cults.

This is just good stuff.  It's real, and unfortunately, it's real common.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review of this book.

Running for Recovery, by Arthur W. Coffey, Jr.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Doctors told Arthur Coffey, Jr., that he’d never run again. Like a marathon runner wanting to give up, Coffey looked deep inside himself, relying on his faith in God and spirit. Though the race was long, Coffey learned to run again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Arthur Coffey has served as a parish pastor for fifteen years, an Army chaplain for twenty-three years, and a Veterans Affairs Medical Center Chaplain for twelve years. He was mobilized for Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Joint Endeavor, and the Humanitarian Aid tour to Guatemala.Coffey is the recipient of the Witherspoon Award for "most creative use of Scripture," presented by the National Bible Association and the Armed Forces Chief of Chaplains. He is also the recipient of a Veterans Affairs National Chaplain of the Month award for "outstanding service in the promotion of the Bible in ministry, healing and research."

MY THOUGHTS:  The theme throughout the book is redemption--how God uses our failures, our disabilities, and our shortcomings for something positive. In chapter 1, Coffey sums it up by saying, ""God loves to use or wounds to build 'wounded healers.'" In the words of the author, "Much of this book is my desire to talk things through with my former wife and the children." Lt. Col. Coffey reflects on the many regrets that plague him after the infidelity that led to his divorce. He lays bare the guilt, shame, and heaviness of what he's done, and then shares with us how God brought about the slow process of healing. We follow the progression of physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery that often are occurring on parallel paths, whether it be in his runs, retraining his mind in memorization, or forgiving himself and allowing God to change him from the inside out.

In the first chapter of the book, the author walks us through his first year of training, when he is not only recovering from a very serious motorcycle accident, but also preparing to run a marathon. Each month of this year has a theme, such as April--remember "April showers, May flowers"?--as the month of water. These themes show up in the intense conversations that take place between the author and God during his runs.

In the second chapter, Coffey learns to apply the Word directly to the mental disabilities he faces after the accident. He takes what he's learned to the next level by incorporating it into a study at the Mayo Clinic on the effects of scripture on memory.

The third chapter deals with spiritual recovery, as a minister whose sin destroyed his marriage, his reputation, and much of his personal life. Focusing on the work Jesus completed on the cross, Coffey walks through the process of repentance and cleansing. He learns to forgive himself and those who are judging him, stressing the importance of praising God to win spiritual battles.

The fourth chapter allows us to follow Coffey years past the initial adultery and motorcycle accident, mostly through his career as chaplain in the U.S. Army. He digs deeper into the Word as he deals with trials that threaten to move him backward on the ground he'd recovered.

Although this is an autobiography, it can be read as a devotional if the reader takes time to dig into the many scriptures quoted and expounded on throughout the chapters. An addendum in the back includes a training regimen for getting in spiritual shape.

I gave it 4 stars more for organization and grammar than content. I would have preferred reading this book in smaller chunks, with the four chapters labeled as sections instead, and then broken down further into chapters. I also found the errors a bit distracting (changes in verb tense the most frequent) but not so distracting that I didn't enjoy reading it. I did receive a reviewer's copy, so it's possible that these errors were corrected before the final printing.

I would recommend this book for those who feel sin has irreparably ruined life and for those who would like to understand more about the transforming power of God's Word.

I received a copy of this book through booksneeze in exchange for my honest review.

Snake Oil, by Becca Stevens

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION: After experiencing sexual abuse as a child, the Rev. Becca Stevens created a non-profit to help women who have survived prostitution, trafficking, and addiction find sanctuary and security. This is her - and their - story.   In Snake Oil, Stevens tells how her childhood, marked by sexual abuse and her father's tragic death, equipped her with the insight to understand other broken lives, leading her to establish the Magdalene residential community for prostitutes and, later, Thistle Farms. Wise and reflective, Snake Oil offers an empowering narrative as well as a selection of recipes for healing remedies that readers can make themselves.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Reverend Becca Stevens is an Episcopal priest serving as Chaplain at St. Augustine's at Vanderbilt University, and founder of Magdalene and Thistle Farms, a community and social enterprise that stands with women recovering from violence, prostitution, addiction and life on the streets. Magdalene, the residential model, serves women for two years at no cost to residents. Thistle Farms employs residents and graduates who manufacture, market and sell all natural bath and beauty products in over 200 retail stores across the globe.  In 2011 Stevens was named one of 15 "Champions of Change" by the White House. To date, she has raised more than $14 million for the organizations she supports. Stevens lives in Nashville with her husband, Grammy-winning songwriter Marcus Hummon, and their three sons.

MY THOUGHTS:  At a time when the fashionable stance in Christian circles is away from tradition and rituals, Becca Stevens is leaning into the past to share the comfort of these familiar things, the value of the tried-and-true.

The book blends recipes for natural balms and oils with stories of the author's life and those touched through the ministries she operates.  She pulls from the pain of her childhood in order to minister to others, drawing from generations of wisdom in the areas of herbal remedies, touch, and prayer. I found it refreshing how honestly she speaks about pain and grief and sickness, all the while sharing ideas for finding peace, healing, and wholeness.

I have highlighted and bookmarked throughout this book but feel like that to take her words out of context doesn't do them justice.  To be honest, if I'd read those same highlighted areas before reading the whole book, I'm pretty sure I would have written this off as something that wouldn't fit my theology.  It definitely flies in the face of a lot of common thoughts today.  I have no doubt that some Christians will find Rev. Stevens offensive, feeling that she tends too far toward New Age and Eastern religions.  She does advocate getting in touch with the gifts God has given us at birth and in the world around us to hone our ability to aid others in healing, but she doesn't stray from Biblical truths or add to what the Creator outlines in the Word.

I would recommend this book to anyone in ministry to women like those of Magdalene community, to anyone in need of healing, or to anyone who wants to be used to help heal others.

**I was provided an advanced copy by netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review.  This book is scheduled to be published on March 12, 2013.

Jungle Doctor and the Whirlwind, by Paul White

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION: There is a stranger in the hospital compound - his pockets brimming with money; his clothes brighter than the sunset… and Maradadi is as full of trouble as a scorpion. 

Will the staff be deceived by his charm and his smooth words of fame and fortune? As the Jungle Doctor fights an epidemic, that is sweeping the East African countryside like a whirlwind, he finds he must also fight the destructive influence of this evil intruder.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Paul White was an Australian missionary doctor in Africa who learned to clothe his Bible teaching in fables, creating stories with a timeless quality. When he returned home to Australia his stories were discovered and published to world-wide acclaim.

SERIES:"Jungle Doctor," 1st in the series

PARENTAL RATING: G.  There is some reference to drug use and descriptions of health procedures, but in the context, totally appropriate for any age, in my opinion.

This delightful book begins with a reference section, probably very helpful in print form.  The characters are introduced and common phrases translated, and we hear a brief biography of the author.  You could easily skip the sections on characters and translations, as the book is told in a way that explains these as you go.  However, don't miss the biography and important facts about Tanzania, as they really ground the story in its proper setting.

Jungle Doctor and the Whirlwind is the perfect book for car trips or family reading time, but adults will enjoy it just as much as children.  Told from the author's point of view, we get a real feel for his life as a medical missionary.  This doctor working in rural Africa weaves important health information and spiritual truths into stories and word pictures that the people will understand.  All the while, he is displaying wisdom, cultural sensitivity, and strong character.  The doctor not only faces disease, injuries, and the normal occurrences of a health clinic in this part of the world, but he also battles greed, drugs, and deception among his trusted co-workers.

Paul Michael's narration was incredible.  Each character had the appropriate accent, with a bit milder accent for the doctor as he told his story than when he actually spoke to other characters.  I checked the christianaudio several times to be sure the same man was reading the whole story, as it seemed to me that this MUST be a team narration.  The guy is that good.

Of course, I'm a bit partial to books about missionaries.  My only regret with this book is that I didn't find the series when my children were younger, before we came on the field.  It's inspiring, exciting, and very entertaining.

At the time of this writing, christianaudio is offering the first four books of the series for $5.00 each.  What a bargain!

**Thank you, christianaudio, for providing me a copy of this audiobook for review purposes.  My opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.

Return from Tomorrow, by George G. Ritchie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

At twenty years old, Army Private Ritchie was most interested in making it through med school and earning enough money to buy a Cadillac. When a bout with pneumonia took his life, he came face-to-face with Jesus and got a personal tour of some fascinating places.

Ritchie recounts what he saw, from the disembodied, tortured souls wandering the earthly plane to a glimpse of the heavenly city and some of its inhabitants. He also describes the feelings of utter peace and love while in the presence of the Son of God. As he takes in all these incredible happenings, he makes connections between what took place during these various people's lives and what they are experiencing now.

After returning to his body and miraculously coming back to life, Ritchie applies the truth he's seen to the world around him and comes to some significant conclusions, ones that each of us can benefit from understanding.

I not only enjoyed the story--a bit different than some others I've read--but the life principles gave me something to think about and put to use. This is a quick read, which is good because you probably won't be able to put it down until you get to the end anyway! And this one has no parental advisories from the Hammock Librarian, so my girls will have a new read on their shelf.

**Added bonus--This was an Amazon freebie!

Named by God, by Kasey Van Norman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I liked this Kasey Van Norman from the start, and not just because I happen to be very partial to wrist tattoos with attached meaning and she describes hers in the intro. This gal has spunk and isn’t afraid to show it, but she is also very sensitive and driven to help other Christians overcome their past.

Named by God is the inspiring story of how she overcame the hurts and mistakes of her past to step into the calling God has placed on her life. Read by the author, her passion over the conviction that we not let our present and future be shaped by the past, comes out in every word. She bares her soul and takes ownership of her decisions, and the consequences she’s paid for those decisions, while reminding us that the price Jesus paid is enough to cover our sins and give us a fresh start.

Understanding that Jesus paid it all is commonplace, but hearing how this played out in the author’s life and her advice on how to let Him redeem ours is what sets this book apart. Each chapter challenges you to look deeply into your heart, your motivations, your past, your present, and evaluate each area in light of God’s truth. It is an inspiring book, even more powerful because the author herself reads it.

You can find out more about the author at her website, where you'll also find a study guide and DVD's in case you'd like to use this in a group setting.

I received this book free from the publisher through christianaudio in exchange for an honest review.

The Heavenly Man, by Brother Yun

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Heavenly Man is the autobiography of Liu Zhenying (also known as Brother Yun), a Chinese missionary who began to spread the gospel at the age of 16, in the 1960's. From the beginning of Brother Yun's ministry, we see God's hand directing his every step. His was not an easy life, but he determined not to be stopped by threats, arrests, or torture. This level of commitment led to some remarkable miracles in his life. What a challenge to all of us!

I thought the narrator was perfect for this book. His English was a little stilted, which made me feel like the author himself was telling us his story. The mention of so many places and historical events made me want to look up maps and timelines, and I ended up learning a lot about how this part of the world evolved in their views on religion. Although I had to cringe and pause the listening during some of the more difficult passages, this was a story I really enjoyed listening to and easily found myself engrossed in.

This is a must-read for missionaries, and something that every Christian on the planet could benefit from reading. I learned a lot about devotion, evangelism, and loving my neighbor enough to risk my life so that he can hear the Gospel.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this audiobook free from the publisher through ChristianAudio.com's book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

If My Body Is a Temple, Then I Was a Megachurch, by Scott Davis

If My Body Is aTemple, Then I Was a Megachurch, by Scott Davis, is a great blend of inspiration and comedy, detailing one man’s battle with his weight, and how he lost 132 pounds in one year.  The author himself is narrating this audiobook, and his Southern charm adds to the natural feel.  It’s easy to feel like you’re sitting over a (healthy) meal while he tells the stories of his childhood and adult life. 

While sharing the embarrassments, struggles, and emotional turmoil he dealt with, Davis outlines the lies he’d come to believe and how they contributed to his obesity.  He systematically disarms each of these lies using the truth of God’s Word, without coming across as preachy.  Although I’ve never had a weight problem, the life lessons discussed applied to me in various areas, both spiritually and emotionally.  There are practical points about healthy living and eating, but also deeper truths such as allowing God to be the center of every area of life. 

Scott Davis’s honesty touched me, his natural humor made me laugh, and his discoveries made me examine my own spiritual shortcomings.  I’d recommend this book to anyone, but especially to those who struggle with their weight and want something more than a fad diet or quick fix. 

**NOTE: Christianaudio.com provided a free copy of this book to me for review purposes.

Lily Renée, Escape Artist, by Trina Robbins, Anne Timmons, and Mo Oh

(CAUTION: SPOILERS!) What a spectacular comic book!  Lily Renée is a real heroine, and thisbiographical portrayal of her life makes her story perfectly inspiring forgirls of all ages.  We are introduced to Lilyas a child, one who is privileged with a social life rich in culture and good friends.  As her homeland Austria is thrown into WorldWar II, we follow Lily to England where she escapes the Nazis but endures otherhardships.  Separated from her family andeveryone she knows, she must find a way to survive and keep hope alive.  As a young lady she is sent to America, whereshe is finally reunited with her parents. They struggle to get by until Lily is hired as an artist whose heroesbattle the Nazis within the covers of the comics she illustrates.

I was very impressed with how clearly the story waspresented, able to preserve the important details of the Holocaust and Lily’slife without becoming too graphic for the younger readers.  The illustrations were also very informativeand detailed.  I never felt like I wasreading a watered-down version of a real drama, as often happens in historicalbooks for children, but I was drawn in and even a bit nervous that Lily“wouldn’t make it out of this one.”  

While the comic book itself was wonderful, I learned stillmore in the sections added on at the end. Included were German words used in the story, events and social customsof that era, important people, actual photos of Lily and her family, andmore.  This book would be an excellentsupplement to history lessons, as well as a great discussion starter athome.  

**NOTE:  NetGalley andLerner Publishing  provided this book tome free of charge, for review purposes.   

The Woman Who Named God, by Charlotte Gordon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My first impression of this book was that I would be reading a feminist's version of how slighted the lover of Abraham had been, and how the patriarch had wronged her repeatedly for the sake of following his God. However, the author blended well historical facts and traditional beliefs surrounding this saga, encompassing the three major world religions. No one religion was given preference over the others, and the manner in which the documented recordings were presented was not only easy to follow, but also very interesting. I neither felt like I was reading a fictional tale nor a dry textbook. The book was very enlightening and thought-provoking.

The Noticer, by Andy Andrews

I love a good read, and I recently finished The Noticer by Andy Andrews. I'd not gotten to read his first book, The Traveler's Gift, so jumped at the chance for this one. I got this as a free e-book from Thomas Nelson Publishing (which makes it all the sweeter), and read it on my phone. (Have I mentioned lately how thankful I am to be able to do that?!)

It's technically a fictional story about a strange prophet-like old man who appears and disappears at various time periods in the author's life. However, the lessons taught by this mysterious man read more like a good self-help book, with practical advice that can be applied to many situations. The whole theme is that our experiences in life can be handled or mishandled, depending on PERSPECTIVE. There was a lot of food for thought, and the practical application of these theories through the little vignettes gave great examples of how a change in perspective can go a long way. So today, I applied that to my life and decided that instead of saying how hot it is, I'd point out how nice it was to not have to lug around a heavy coat. Thanks for the help, Mr. Andrews! ;)

Through the Storm, by Lynne Spears

Okay, let me say from the start that I've never been a Britney-fan. I love cutesy pop music (I was an original New Kids on the Block fanatic, and don't get me started on Milli Vanilli!!), but the fact that I am extremely picky about who my daughters are exposed to meant that I never got into the bare-midriff, questionable lyrics, and overly flirtacious music of Ms. Spears. So I never bothered to keep up with all the drama surrounding her life and fame over the years. However, I am a book freak, and Britney's mom just wrote one.

Lynne Spears just finished a book entitled, Through the Storm, A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World. The publishers, Thomas Nelson, offered a free copy of the book to the first 200 folks who agreed to blog about what they read, so here I am. You just can't beat a free book. (Ask the librarians of the three local branches, who know us all by name...)

If you read a lot, you may be disappointed in the style of her writing. Lynne jumps around quite a bit, with her story going from her own childhood to her adult life back to her parents' childhoods and so on, so much so that I was dizzy keeping up at times. Not a real sequential story-line. And if you're looking for the dirt on her now famous daughters, there's none of that, thankfully. (Britney's little sister Jamie Lynn, starred on Disney's Zoey 101, and is now infamous for her teen pregnancy.)

What you'll find is a really honest story of a small-town Southern family that got caught up in the hoopla of sudden fame, and had already gotten into quite a few messes before they knew what hit them. This mother readily admits that she made lots of mistakes along the way, some of which her children paid for in the long run. From the perspective of a parent, I can look back already at some times I've trusted the "professionals" rather than my instinct (I'm still so sorry that I held Camille down to have blood drawn by a quack doctor instead of going with my gut feeling that something wasn't right there). Lynne left some pretty important situations to be decided by "the pros" as well, costing some of her daughters' innocence and lots of heartache.

It's evident that she loves her children, though, and that she has a relationship with the Lord that has held her through some pretty tough times. It is refreshing in this day and age to find someone who is truthful about her shortcomings, and who is still praying and believing that her children will return to their Christian roots.

One thing I really like about this book is that the author said she wrote it for her children, to give them a look into her heritage and her life as a woman, and not just as their mom. She wanted them to understand who she was in an effort to understand some of the decisions she made. While the general feel of the book is that Lynne is defending her motherhood and trying to set the record straight on her own behalf, she repeats throughout that she wishes she had been more proactive in her children's lives. I don't feel so bad now for being called overprotective. Thanks, Lynne, and keep praying. ;)