A great read!

So I'm breaking tradition and not reviewing a book. Instead, I'm sharing a great article with you. Click HERE to find out the "20 Best Ways to Save Money By NOT Being Normal"!

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Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado

In Cure for the Common Life, Lucado encourages readers to leave behind ordinary and pursue their sweet spot. Through analyzing your past, considering your S.T.O.R.Y., and making a big deal out of God, you can cure the common life. This book was interesting to read and causes the reader to challenge the status quo. A sweet spot discovery guide is included as well as helpful insights to decode your kid’s code. This book would be a good read for anyone who feels stuck in the day-to-day aspects of life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Life, In Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice by Kristen Anderson

Life, In Spite of Me was a gripping story of Kristen Anderson’s journey through life, attempted suicide, and the restoration brought through the grace and work of God. Anderson grabs the reader with her story, actively drawing them in to her experiences. Through it all, God is exalted and His redemptive work is exemplified. This is a great book to read, but be aware it deals with a very serious topic – attempted suicide.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review, but the opinions expressed in this post are mine.

Every Single Woman's Battle

Every Single Woman’s Battle: Guarding Your Heart and Mind Against Sexual and Emotional Compromise was an easy to read book about a challenging topic. Best done with a small group, this book tackled a hard subject and Ethridge did not shy away from asking the hard questions. Readers should approach this book with an open mind and a willingness to evaluate their thoughts and actions when it comes to sexual and emotional compromise. A compilation of quotes from Every Woman’s Battle and Every Man’s Battle are included throughout and wisdom is graciously shared. Please be aware that this is a workbook.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review, but the opinions expressed in this post are mine.

Untamed: How the Wild Side of Jesus Frees Us to Live and Love with Abandon by Lisa Harper

In this book, Harper considers the ways in which our Savior is wildly: redemptive, unsettling, devoted, tough, compelling, pro-women, confident, confrontational, unconventional, attentive, faithful, fearsome, and liberating. Whew! What a good read this book was! If you’re ready to be stretched and to have your “normal” view of God expanded, pick up this book. At times I felt that the language used was a little too modern (it seemed like a stretch in an effort to sound cool), but overall I liked the book.

Please note: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review, but the opinions expressed in this post are mine.

The Waiting Place: Learning to Appreciate Life’s Little Delays by Eileen Button

Eileen Button may be one of the best story tellers I have ever encountered. The way she draws the reader in and creates dynamic, vivid word pictures is astounding. I found myself time and time again feeling like I was there, right in the middle of whatever scene she was describing or the story she was recounting. The Waiting Place covered a variety of “waiting” seasons people often encounter. This book was easy and enjoyable to read and really gave me a lot to think about and contemplate. We’re all waiting for something, aren’t we? I will certainly be recommending this book to my friends.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me: A Memoir … of Sorts by Ian Morgan Cron

I was disappointed with Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me. The description and title caught my attention, but the book failed to keep it. In the book, Cron details the rollercoaster that was his life – in a mostly true format. The book was an okay read, but I really had to push through the rough beginning to get to the better content. Cron’s writing style was not my favorite, but other readers may really like it. Personally, I would be hesitant to recommend this book to others. This book was not a favorite of mine.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

JOLT! Get the Jump on a World That’s Constantly Changing by Phil Cooke

In JOLT!, Phil Cooke covers twenty five different “jolts.” He looks at five different categories of jolts – jolt your direction, jolt what matters, jolt your potential, jolt your heart, and jolt your future. This book challenges readers to break free of the norm and pursue their dreams and to appropriately handle the curveballs life throws. It is written in a down to earth way, but conveys a powerful, encouraging message. Statistics are incorporated throughout the book which adds to the credibility of the “jolts.” I really liked how quotes were used as well to drive a point home. Overall, I found this book challenging in its message, but worth the read. In the uncertain times in which we live, being prepared to adapt to changes is essential.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Praying for Your Future Husband: Preparing Your Heart for His by Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer

I recently read Praying for Your Future Husband and I absolutely loved it! As a twenty-something single girl, I found this book to be both encouraging and challenging. I loved the mix of personal stories from both authors, the way quotes and Scripture were sprinkled throughout, and the real life stories from other women. The fact that prayers for both my future husband and me were included was a fantastic treat that really set this book apart from other books on the topic of preparing for marriage. The discussion questions that were included were an added bonus. The topics to pray for vary widely – some are common, but others are not. This would be a fun book to read through with some girlfriends or a mentor and I would definitely recommend it.

Please note: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review, but the opinions expressed in this post are mine.

Unleashed: Release the Untamed Faith Within by Erwin Raphael McManus

In Unleashed, McManus attempts to motivate readers to move beyond tamed Christianity and to embrace a life of faith and risk for the sake of Christ. A nice mix of personal stories, movie references, and Bible verses, Unleashed issues a challenge to readers. Will you read this book and return to your normal life or will you seek to follow the “barbarian” way? The choice is yours.

At one hundred and forty one pages, this book was an easy and fast read. McManus did a good job of holding the reader’s attention and the personal anecdotes really added to the story and drove the point being made home. Overall, I would recommend this book to someone seeking more out of life than safe, worry free Christianity.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Take Action Bible

The Take Action Bible is a New King James Version Bible that includes stories of people involved in ministry around the world and around the corner, personal note pages for reflections, and 52 ideas of how to put God’s Word in action. The added, full-color sections include the following topics: go, serve, give, heal, and teach. Overall, I enjoyed reading the stories of what people are doing to proclaim the Gospel around the world and found the ideas mentioned to be thought-provoking.

My only complaint about this Bible is that the paper is really thin, which makes underlining or highlighting impractical. Other than that, I think this is a great Bible to have personally or to give as a gift.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Max on Life: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions by Max Lucado

In Max on Life: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions, Max Lucado writes in a relaxed, conversational style. The book covers a wide variety of questions on a myriad of topics ranging from hope, to hurt, to the hereafter. One hundred and seventy two separate questions are answered with raw honesty and the occasional personal anecdote.
This book was an interesting read, as it is written in a different style than other books I typically read. Though it does not flow as a cohesive story, Max on Life offers insight and experience from Lucado’s years of ministry. The short answer style makes this book easy to read and the wisdom contained within is profound.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Fight of Our Lives: Knowing the Enemy, Speaking the Truth and Choosing to Win the War Against Radical Islam by William Bennett and Seth Leibsohn

“The Fight of Our Lives” aims to help the reader refocus on the threats America faces in the present age. To emphasize the points being made, countless examples are given from history and quotes from various Administration officials are cited. Recent events are included in the book as well. As someone who enjoys the political scene, I found this book to be an enjoyable weekend read. While I do not necessarily agree with all that the authors stated I found the use of current examples to be helpful. In the introduction the authors state that they wanted to focus on the nature of threat and response, as opposed to the specifics. I’m not sure they fully achieved this goal, but it didn’t deter from the book as a whole too much. I have two main complaints about this book, and they’re both style issues, as opposed to content issues. The sentence style used was hard for me to follow at times. However, if I re-read the par t in question I was able to understand what the authors were trying to say. My second complaint is that on numerous occasions the same quote was used multiple times throughout the book. I found that to be somewhat redundant. That being said, I found the book to be a decent read and would give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Left at the Altar: My Story of Hope and Healing for Every Woman Who Has Felt the Heartbreak of Rejection by Kimberley Kennedy

Left at the Altar is a heart-gripping read. Kimberley Kennedy has experienced something no woman wants to – the love of her life rejecting her. Kennedy walks the reader through her journey, freely sharing her personal struggles and the questions asked of God. I found myself wanting more with every turn of the page. It was a gripping read. There were times I ached for her and what she has gone through. I think the chapter covering men’s perspectives was the icing on the cake of this book. What a rare insight that chapter allowed women.

Overall, I found this book to be very interesting and an easy read. As I mentioned earlier, I did not want to put it down! My attention was held throughout and I was amazed at the way Kennedy shared her story. I know several friends who have experienced deep rejection in dating relationships and I can certainly see myself recommending this book to them.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

WC = 182

Voices of the Faithful Book 2

I loved this book! Having previously read Voices of the Faithful Book 1, I had high hopes for this book and it certainly lived up to my expectations. This book is a great devotional book. Each day has a scripture and a devotional story written by a missionary serving somewhere in the world. Each month's devotionals center around a central theme. Overall, this book is an easy read that I found to be very encouraging and I would highly recommend.

I received a copy of this book for free from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.