Book Review: Crater

Crater by Homer H. Hickam
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

"Crater" was an enjoyable adventure/sci-fi book. The story takes place on the moon where settlements have been established as people on earth ("earthians") need the Helium-3 found in the crust for an alternative energy source. Crater is a miner who is chosen due to his honesty and mold-ability for a secret mission that he accepts, even though it is not fully explained to him.  The book follows Crater on his adventure as he travels with a group of truckers as a scout through a solitary road and his dangerous encounters with the various peoples along that road. I enjoyed this book as I enjoy sci-fi where the author gives a perspective on what the earth (or in this case, the moon) may be like in the future.  It was a young adult book, so is not very graphic though there is some violence.  The ending was a bit strange however... a lot was tied up very quickly and the package, though made out to be some hugely important thing that people were dying for, didn't really seem all that important. So while it was an enjoyable ride, I wish the ending had been a bit different.  Even so, I would read the following book in the series when it is published, and would recommend it.

I recieved a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


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Book Review: Call of a Coward

Call of a Coward: The God of Moses and the Middle-Class Housewife by Marcia Moston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book Call of a Coward: The God of Moses and the Middle-Class Housewife by Marcia Moston was an excellent book.  I read it in an evening because I enjoyed it so much!  The book details Marcia, her husband Bob, and their daughter Lily's call to serve the people of a small village in Guatemala.  It begins in their comfortable life in New Jersey and follows their struggle to follow the call to missions, their time there, and their return home.  I lived in Central America in Honduras (right next door to Guatemala) for several years and the author's stories really struck home with me even though the timing was much different as well as the fact that they were in an extremely rural area and I lived in one of the two largest cities in HN. Despite these differences, so much made me laugh and remember experiences in my own journey. The author has an easy, humorous writing style and does an excellent job of relating her experiences and struggles.  I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to see the world outside of our small bubble and especially to anyone considering moving to Central America as a peek at both the difficulties and the joys.  Though she definitely doesn't push missions as necessary for every Christian, it made me want to think about missions in my family's future.  Again, this is a great, short read that will make you laugh, be grateful for the little things, and maybe even shed a tear or two.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


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Book Review: Serpent of Moses and Almost Amish

Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book had an interesting premise but the writing just didn't grab me. The characters seemed rather extreme and many things that happened seemed unrealistic. For example, the character of Susan is always grumpy, a super perfectionist, and completely blind to what is happening in her life. Yet somehow, Gary is attracted to her? There are also inconsistencies with the supposed filming. At certain times they are so worried about what the cameras will film and other times it seems that no one is filming. And again with Susan: she is embarrassed to be I front of Gary in her pajamas but not worried about the rest of the country on tv? There were just too many little quirky inconsistencies for me. It did definitely do its job of making me think about how I'm using my time and about what is important to me. If you generally enjoy Christian fiction and aren't too picky,  you will probably enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


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Serpent of Moses by Don Hoesel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an enjoyable archaological mystery following Jack as he finds an historical artifact and is subsequently kidnapped by others after the same artifact!  The story tells of his journey through the aftermath of his find and also follows two other sets of characters, his girlfriend and her brother and a ex-CIA friend as the attempt to follow in his footsteps in order to help their missing friend.  It is a well written, wholesome adventure, and while it is a "Christian" book, the faith aspects are not overwhelming so would  be excellent for any adventure reader, including non-Christians and younger readers. The character's faith definitely influences his decisions at the end in a somewhat surprising conclusion. I did not realize until later that this is the sequel to another novel, Elisha's Bones, though it is quite obvious through the novel that some rather large events had occured before, and they do influence the progression of the novel.  However the author does an excellent job of sharing what is necessary without retelling too much. I was satisfied with this book (didn't feel like I missed out) and yet am interested in reading the first book to get more of the story. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure and mystery without all the unnecessary violence and language of mainstream novels.

I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.


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Book Review: Your Heart's Desire and Building Family Ties

Your Heart's Desire: 14 Truths That Will Forever Change the Way You Love and Are Loved by Sheri Rose Shepherd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Your Heart's Desire by Sheri Rose Shepherd was an excellent book for Women at any point in their relationship. She discusses different themes of marriage and married life including a chapter on raising your son to be a man of God. Each chapter includes a related bible verse, a love letter "from our groom", a prayer, questions for small group discussion and a QR code that links to the authors thoughts on a related question. I really appreciated the author's writing style as she shared the ideas of the chapter intermingled with stories and examples from her own marriage and from the bible. She honestly shares from her own panful experiences. The ideas in the book really spoke to me personally as she discusses how we should respond when we aren't  happy with our husband's leadership and/or actions and how. We can lift up and support them instead of tearing them down. I also liked that at the end of the book she shares "chapter highlights to hold on to" and summarizes very briefly the main point of each chapter. I think this is an excellent book for married women as well as for singles as they prepare for their future relationship.


I received this book from the publisher in return for my honest review.


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Faithful Families:  Building Family Ties with Faith, Love, & Laughter by Dave  Stone

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Building Family Ties with Faith, Love and Laughter by Dave Stone is another excellent book. This one focuses on helping your family to become a strong, joyful example of Christ in our family life. It's another book with simple useful tips that we all need reminded of along with real life examples from his on family. He discusses being joyful as a family, serving, filling your home with laughter, loyalty, etc. I really appreciated his chapter on loyalty, on teaching the family that what happens at home stays at home and that we should have each others backs. It's so easy to over-share with friends and laugh at our siblings (or parents!) instead of keeping it in the family and supporting and watching out for each other. I would recommend this book as one parents should keep handy and refer to frequently!

I received this book from the publisher in return for my honest review.

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book review: Love in Disguise, "Moonblood" and Submerged

Love in Disguise by Carol Cox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thought this was a great wholesome novel with enough mystery to keep my attention and not too much cheesy romance or faith tossed in. I love well written Christian novels (though previously read too many that were just poorly written vehicles for sharing christianity). I love that you don't have to worry about the language or finding other inappropriate material.  The author writes well, and developed an interesting story and characters.  It was a quick read, but satisfying.  My only criticism would be that it is a smidgen unrealistic that the strong christian man would fall in love with the flouncy Jessie who is in every kind of place she shouldn't be and talking to all kinds of unsavory characters.  But I did enjoy it and would recommend it and definitely be willing to read more by this author.

I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


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Moonblood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Moonblood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl was an enjoyable read. It is a fantasy story about Prince Lionheart and Rose Red and other funcharacters such as Eanrin, the poet who is a man bit also a cat! There is a great deal of symbolism in the book, I felt, taking our Christian beliefs and expressing them through his fictional adventure.  There are "dragons" who are humans who have been changed into scaly dragons due to their choices and who can be saved by belief and repentance to the Prince of Farthrestshore. There are themes of repentance and sacrifice as well.  The names are a bit over the top but the story was enjoyable. I didn't realize until I had finished that this was the third in a series so I don't think it is necessary to read the others first, though I imagine they do help one understand the places and characters more. I recommend this book to those who  enjoy fantasy.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.


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Submerged by Dani Pettrey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Submerged by Dani Pettrey was an excellent book. It was suspenseful with an interesting historical mystery, romance, and faith. Though a "Christian" novel, it was not cheesy or poorly written as some tend to be. I thought it was well written and researched. Several characters are strong Christians who discuss their faith but one doesn't feel like the novel is just a method of pushing Christianity. While it is the first of the series, it definitely has a satisfying conclusion and stands on it's own. It is obvious who the next novel will be about but don't feel like you have to run out and buy it to feel fulfilled.  I would definitely recommend this book to readers who like suspense and mystery (and even romance without it taking over the book!)

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.


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Book Review! Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord

Faithful Families: Raising Your Kids To Love the Lord by Dave  Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I Loved this book!  There is honestly not much in it that is new and earth shattering, but it is one of those books I think I will keep and reread regularly to make sure I'm on the right path in our parenting journey! The main points of the book are so simple with regards to raising your children to be faithful; things like be an example, prayer, reading and memorizing scripture, etc.  However, it was well written and an excellent reminder of our role in our children's lives as Christian parents.  The author reminds us of our great responsibility in raising our children and with examples from his own family life as well as other families discusses what we can do to fulfill that responsibility.  It is not a long book, but is a lifechanging book for me.  I love that he emphasizes the importance of the husband and wife's relationship as a role model for kids, and he includes an entire chapter each on the importance of the mother's role, and the father's role.  I had recently been looking for some Christian parenting books to get myself back on track with regards to discipline, and laughed and hit myself on the forehead (duh!) when he sums it up in one word: Consistency! While there is that small part on discipline, the majority of the book focuses as the title says, on raising our children to love God.  This book is definitely staying on the home screen of my Nook, and I may just have to buy stacks of them to add to baby shower gifts!  I will definitely be rereading and hopefully finding more by this author.

I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.


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Book Reviews: My Own Worst Enemy and The Messenger

My Own Worst Enemy: How to Stop Holding Yourself Back by Janet Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm really liking this book, My Own Worse Enemy.  Now to be honest, I don't really feel like this subject is something I struggle with. That said, I really enjoyed the book, the author's style of writing, and her perspective on the stories of women in the bible.  She intersperses her own journey with stories of other women she has worked with and stories of women in the bible within each chapter. That was my favorite part of the book,  reading her comments on each Biblical woman and her story. She brings out cultural bits that I'd never known or thought about.  Even if you don't struggle with holding yourself back, I would recommend it as a Bible study.

I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher for review.


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The Messenger by Siri Mitchell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 This book was historical fiction set when the English were trying to keep control of the rebelling colonies in America. I enjoyed the book and would recommmend it as an easy fun read.  The main character Hannah is a Quaker, though she struggles with some of the beliefs and decisions. Her twin brother, who joined the rebels, is captured and the family refuses to visit or help him as that is the position taken by the Quaker church. She is unable to abide by this decision and with the help of another colonist, Jeremiah, gains access to visit him in exchange for carrying messages to the prisoners in hopes of helping them escape.  It was enjoyable and I appreciate reading books that help bring history alive as this one does.  While not overtly Christian, Hannah does struggle with her Quaker faith, and though Jeremiah doesn't profess Christianity, he shares some thoughts with her that show his spirituality.  There is no over-used romance in the story either, which I appreciated as well, as i don't really enjoy romance books. A fast worthwhile read.

I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

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