Nearing Home, by Billy Graham

I'm the first to admit that I'm not the target demographic for this book. I'm in my mid-twenties, whereas the book was written for those who are much older than me, and preparing to go to their heavenly home. However, I had never read a book by Billy Graham, and I thought it looked interesting.

While I'm not the target demographic, I still appreciate what Mr. Graham has to say. A lot of the subjects that he covers, such as living a life that matters, staying strong despite your circumstances, and most importantly, the hope of Heaven, are subjects that span all generations.

This book has also helped me to appreciate what is going on in the lives of the elderly people in my life. I’m ashamed to say that many people of my generation don’t stop to put themselves in another’s shoes, so to speak, and this book has helped me understand more of what happens as you age.

I did glean a few morsels from this book, and I believe that the demographic it is intended for will gain true peace, comfort, and perspective from it.

Lonestar Angel, by Colleen Coble

I'm a big fan of Colleen Coble. She's written some great books, that all have the perfect blend of romance, mystery, and Christian values. Lonestar Angel is no exception. In fact, I found this book so thrilling that I have barely put it down since receiving it in the mail.

Coble jumps right into the story with Eden and Kent having a romantic dinner. Eden knows Kent has every intention to propose, and she has every intention to accept. But right in the middle of their dinner, her ex-husband, Clay, interrupts them. He says that their daughter Brianna, who was kidnapped a six weeks old and presumed dead ever since, is in fact alive and Eden has to come with him immediately so that they can go get her. She's on a ranch with four other girls, and they're all foster children who have been taken from bad situations. It's up to Clay and Eden to figure out who their daughter is, and quick, because the kidnapper has come back and wants revenge on the couple.

Like I said, I couldn't put this book down. Coble weaves a fantastically intricate story, and leaves her readers constantly guessing at what's going on. Clay and Eden are both wonderfully written characters, and seem to leap off the page at times. Additionally, the five little girls are at times both heartbreaking and hilarious. I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially for fellow fans of Colleen Coble.

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.”

There You'll Find Me, by Jenny B. Jones

In short, "There You'll Find Me," by Jenny B. Jones, is a fantastic book. I was immediately caught up in the story from the first sentence, and couldn't/wouldn't put it down until I was finished. It's the story of Finley, who goes to Ireland not only for a year of a foreign exchange program, but also to escape her past. She brings along her late brother's journal, and is determined to follow along in his footsteps and feel closer to him in the process. On the plane ride over, she meets Beckett Rush, a handsome twenty-something actor who stars in vampire films. She immediately hates him, and he's taken aback and amused by this woman who doesn't automatically throw herself at him. Of course, a friendship blooms, and then romance.

This book has a little bit of everything - romance, travel, humor, sarcasm, a little bit of reality, and a great Christian perspective. I really appreciated that the author didn't try to make the characters perfect - a main character deals with loneliness, bitterness, bullying, and even battles an eating disorder. It felt real enough to truly invest myself in the characters, which I didn't expect. Additionally, the romance that buds between the two main characters has its share of problems, and it feels as though you are actually experiencing every bump in the road with them. I loved Beckett Rush especially - his charm, wit, sarcasm, and level-headedness made him a character to cheer for.

While I recognize that I'm a little older that Jenny B. Jones' typical audience (I'm in my mid-twenties, and I believe she usually writes for teens), I nevertheless enjoyed this book thoroughly. I would recommend it to any teenage girl to read, partly because it has a very honest look at some harder issues that teens face. I'd also recommend it for anyone who wants a breezy, fun read - you won't be disappointed!

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.”

Surprised by Oxford, by Carolyn Weber

I thought Surprised By Oxford would be the perfect book for me: spiritual journey, a little bit of romance, and it takes place in Oxford, a huge plus for an Anglophile like me. The book centers around Carolyn Weber's search for Truth, and her eventually finding faith in God while she pursues a Master's Degree at Oxford.

While well-told and often interesting, I hate to admit that Weber's book was a little too scholarly for me. Although I consider myself intellectually not-too-shabby, I found myself reading and re-reading pages, to try and figure out what she had been talking about. Add this to the fact that the book is north of 400 pages, and it became pretty laborious to read after a while.

Weber does a good job of describing her wrestling with questions and with God, but I found it odd for her to say that she had been so closed off to the very idea of God, and then was almost immediately open to exploring theology upon her arrival to Oxford. While I'm sure her book is an absolutely accurate portrayal of what happened, I found it hard to believe that people who all disagreed so vehemently on important issues could get along so well.

In all, I think this was a pretty good book. It's definitely suited for more intellectual types, and if you're not wanting to finish a book in less than a week, it's great.

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.”

A Reluctant Queen, by Joan Wolf

The word that kept ringing in my mind as I read A Reluctant Queen was "accessible." Joan Wolf has done a marvelous job of taking the biblical story of Esther and making the key historical figures accessible. They are not just words on a page anymore - they seem to be living, breathing people who are following the course that has been set out for them.

The story centers around Esther. In this fictionalized take on the historical Esther, Esther is portrayed as confident but shy, and fairly unassuming. Her uncle, Mordecai, enlists her to enter the king's beauty competition to find a new wife, so that she can be a secret representative of the Jewish people. As most readers already know, the king picks Esther over hundreds of other girls, and Esther unexpectedly becomes queen.

The meat of this book is undoubtedly the growing relationship between the king (Ahasuerus) and Esther. As was customary in that time and region, they barely knew each other when they married. However, Esther finds herself appreciating him more and more, and they begin to form a tentative relationship. I loved the dialogue between these two - alternately formal and informal. It was great to see the relationship take root and finally blossom, and I found myself smiling on more than one occasion.

The only downfall to the book, in my estimation, is how much political talk there is. I recognize that it is historical, and quite central to the story, but I found it to be detracting from the love story. That being said, Wolf does a great job of portraying Haman as an incredibly jealous man, and by the end (*SPOILER*), when he is hanged, the reader is glad to see him go.

I enjoyed this quick read, if for no other reason than to have these characters come alive so vividly. I highly recommend this book!

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 Lightkeeper's Ball

I have a horrible habit - I almost always read the last few pages of a book after I've read the first third of a book or so. Usually that way, I find out who the villain is, and look for clues through the rest of the book that hints at the eventual unmasking of the villain. However, in the case of The Lightkeeper's Ball, by Colleen Coble, reading the last three pages still left me with a surprise in store. I won't say what it is, but it was great to be surprised by an ending!

The story revolves around Olivia, whose sister mysteriously dies in the first chapter. She journeys west to San Francisco to find out the real story, find out if anyone killed her sister, and find out more about her enigmatic fiance, whom Olivia is leery of. While on the way to San Francisco, Olivia is attacked, thrown overboard, and left to drown. The person who saves her is an unlikely hero: her sister ex-fiance! The rest of the story revolves around finding out how her sister died, her ex-fiance's secrets, and finding out who is trying to kill Olivia.

I enjoyed this book immensely - I've always been a big Colleen Coble fan, and this one did not disappoint. I know it's part of a series, but it worked well as a stand-alone book. It takes a while for it to get going, but once you're in, you're hooked.

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

I expected Max on Life to be a certain kind of book. I expected there to be questions I had heard before, followed by the typical answers that most Christians will tell people who have these questions. Instead, I found it to be a thought-provoking, gut-wrenchingly honest look at life in the 21st century.

Few of the questions found in the book are easy questions. The questions range from questions about Jesus, marriage, and the afterlife, to genuine worries of people. Parents worried about their children, about their jobs, how they will provide for their families - not much is held back. And for each question, Lucado has a Biblical answer, with his own thoughts interspersed. I appreciated the way he handled sensitive topics, yet also was unafraid to call people out on their own faults (such as when he told the couple who are in debt because they always buy new gadgets to simple STOP BUYING THINGS).

While this book is not one that you'll sit down and read for a story effect, I have a hunch that it will be useful as a reference book for me. I recommend it, especially if you're a Max Lucado fan. This one's a winner.

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.”

Seek Me With All Your Heart, by Beth Wiseman

Seek My With All Your Heart, by Beth Wiseman, was my first foray into the world of Amish Christian fiction. I've been resisting the trend for years now, but when I saw that this book is based in my home state of Colorado, I jumped at the opportunity to review it.

Unfortunately, I learned that, while this book was intriguing, Amish Christian fiction just isn't my favorite genre. I have no problem with the storyline itself, but it wasn't captivating enough to hold my attention for more than a few minutes at a time. The story revolves around Emily and David, who both have broken pasts that they are trying to but behind them. Emily is terrified of David when they first meet, but they soon form a tenuous friendship. Then, the attraction grows.

This book wasn't bad by any standard - it just wasn't for me. The relationship between Emily and David is nice, and I expect that fans of this genre will love this story. Also, I understand that there is a series of books on David's family/their backstory, and so it may also have been less than enthralling for me because I have not read those books. If you are a fan of Amish Christian fiction, I think you will really like this book. However, if you are looking for a first book to read in that genre, I would not suggest Seek Me With All Your Heart.

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.”

A Billion Reasons Why, by Kristin Billerbeck

"A Billion Reasons Why" is the old story of love lost, and love found again. Katie McKenna is in her late twenties, and has spent the last eight years of her life with one goal in mind: to get over the man (and the humiliation) that she left in New Orleans. She has a good life now: a fiance who is devoted to her, and a job that she's passionate about. But, she no longer recognizes herself. Then out of nowhere, Luc DeForges bursts back into her life, disrupting her everyday routine, and attempts to sweep her off her feet, all over again.

This book was written for my demographic: young twenty-somethings who watch television and old movies, wishing for a love like we see on the screen. References to Top Hat, Fred Astaire, and even Glee abound. Katie and Luc are wonderful characters, if a bit one-dimensional at times. Katie especially seems to be more realistic than many romantic heroines, as she continually wrestles with morality and questions her choices. She's a very relatable character.

The other main and secondary characters are relatable as well, but have more of a stock character feeling. Anyone who reads Christian fiction will see the ending coming from a mile away, but it's still an enjoyable read. Additionally, the city of New Orleans functions almost as a character itself, and the vibrance of the city seems to jump off the page at times.

I really liked the book. However, there were a few times when editing seemed to be an issue. There would be large chunks of dialogue, and few references as to who was doing the talking. Or, a character would enter the room, but would be glanced over, and you are confused as to where/when the character entered. With those minor changes, I think this could have been a truly great book.

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.”

Then Sings My Soul, by Robert Morgan

I have always loved hymns. At the ripe old age of 24, they stir my heart like few contemporary worship songs can. There's something very special about singing words that generations before me have sung, somehow knitting us all together through song. So, when I saw this book on BookSneeze, I was very excited to read it.

I curled up with this book, and promptly got nearly every song stuck in my head. The book is set up very simply - the hymn on the left page, and a one-page story/synopsis on the right page corresponding to it. For the most part, this setup works beautifully. It helps the reader to see where original lines have been changed (would "Angels We Have Heard On High" have been as popular if they had kept it "Harken All, What Holy Singing?"), and lyricists versus composers ideas for tunes.

What is most intriguing, though, are the backstories of the hymns themselves and the people who wrote them. Most touching, I think, is the story of Philip Bliss and his wife, Lucy, which is told throughout a few hymns. Knowing what writers were going through when they wrote the hymns also gives the words a new depth and meaning (i.e. Horatio G. Spafford wrote "It Is Well With My Soul" after unspeakable tragedy lead to the death of all his children).

My only criticism of the book is slight - I wish in some cases that there was more than one page per hymn to tell the history of the song. It feels as if you're scratching the surface of the story, but just as you're about to go deeper, the story ends, leaving you wishing for more. All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves hymns and wishes to know more about their origins.

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.”