Book Review of Mondays with My Old Pastor by Jose Luis Navajo

When Jose Luis Navajo is thinking of quitting the ministry and doesn't know where to turn, his wife suggests that he go to visit with his old pastor.  Mondays with My Old Pastor is a book about Navajo's Monday visits with his old pastor and the wisdom that he gained.  The back of the book says, "In lyrical prose, Navajo shares the personal anecdotes, fables, and deep spiritual insights offered by the old pastor and his wife.  By turns funny, heartbreaking, and thought provoking, Mondays with My Old Pastor is a comfort to anyone who struggles in his or her walk with God.  As readers follow Navajo's journey from desperation to rejuvenation, they will find themselves similarly transformed and inspired.  This moving, beautifully written account is sure to reignite every soul's longing for renewal." 

If you can only read one book this year, I highly recommend making Mondays with My Old Pastor by Jose Luis Navajo that book.  The description on the back of the book said it perfectly.  I laughed, I cried and I thought about what I had read.  After finishing this book, I felt my own soul reignited.  I have so many pages throughout the book marked to go back and read again.  I plan to keep this book on my bookshelf for years to come, and I cannot wait to share this book with others.  It is an AMAZING book, and I cannot recommend it enough.  


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 

Book Review of Need You Now by Beth Wiseman

In Beth Wiseman's book, Need You Now, the reader is introduced the Henderson family - Brad, Darlene, Chad, Grace and Ansley.  When one of their teenagers gets involved with the wrong crowd, Brad and Darlene make the decision to move their family from Houston to the tiny town of Round Top, Texas.  The family faces many challenges throughout the book including Darlene working outside the home for the first time, tension in Brad and Darlene's marriage and the secret their daughter, Grace, is keeping.  A quote from the back of the book: "Experience a family’s triumph over lies, betrayal, and loss while still clinging to the One who matters most." 


This book is a very quick read.  The issues that the Henderson family face are real-life issues that many people will be able to relate to.  As much as I liked the book, I feel like the story really could have been more developed.  There were definitely some parts to the story that were lacking.  Although Layla wasn't the main character of the book, she was a key part of it.  I would have liked to see more about her story especially when she reunited with her ex.  I know that Brad's secret from Darlene (and from the reader) was kept that way to keep the reader in suspense, but I still would have liked Wiseman to have that part of the story in the book.  With that said, I would still recommend this book because I didn't want to put it down!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 

Book Review of Spirit Wars: Winning the Invisible Battle Against Sin and the Enemy by Kris Vallotton

In Kris Vallotton's book, Spirit Wars: Winning the Invisible Battle Against Sin and the Enemy, he focuses on the idea of spiritual warfare and gives the reader ways that he or she can be victorious in the invisible battle against sin and the enemy.  He also talks about his personal experiences with depression, demonic bondage, torment and deliverance.

First of all, I have to say that this book wasn't what I had expected.  From the description on the back cover, I thought that it would be more of the author's personal story.  However, it is a self help book with some of Vallotton's personal experiences.  With that said, it is a good book, and the fact that Vallotton shared his personal testimony and experiences will give hope to those struggling through the same things (fear, anxiety, depression and much more) if they are to read it.  I think this book has a lot of good information for anyone searching for more about spiritual warfare.

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for an honest review.

Book Review of In Too Deep (The Kincaid Brides Book 2) by Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy's book, In Too Deep, is the 2nd book in The Kincaid Bride series.  This book takes place in Colorado in 1866.  Out of concern for her little ones and at his big brother's prodding, Ethan Kincaid asks Audra Gilliland to marry him.  Not wanting to be a burden to her newly married step daughter and thinking of her babies safety, Audra accepts Ethan's proposal and the two of them become a family.  Ethan doesn't expect to begin to care so much for Audra, and it scares him because he promised himself never to care so much after someone he cared for was seriously hurt under his watch.  The men in Audra's life have done a poor job of taking care of her, so she has promised herself to she will take care of herself.  As Ethan and Audra learn to be a family, their feelings begin to change as well as their promises to themselves.


I found myself a bit confused about parts of the story because I hadn't read the first book before reading this one.  I found the marriage between Ethan and Audra a bit far fetched, but I did enjoy reading how their relationship developed.  I found Ethan's naivety about women and marriage quite humorous.  If you are interested in reading this book, I would highly recommend reading the first book in the series, Out of Control. 


I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for an honest review.

Book Review of Crazy Dangerous by Andrew Klavan

Andrew Klavan's book, Crazy Dangerous, tells the story of Sam Hopkins, a preacher's kid who has fallen in with the wrong crowd - car thieves and thugs - because he is tired of being "unapproachable."  When he sees one of those thugs harassing Jennifer, a schoolmate who is a little different, he defends her and gains a new "strange" friend.  Jennifer confides in Sam about scary visions of demons, the devil and voices that she hears, and she calls Sam her "magic" friend claiming that he can make them go away.  Everyone Sam talks to about Jennifer's visions tells him that she is a very sick girl and there is no truth to her visions, but Sam believes otherwise and is determined to get to the bottom of it which in the end is a very dangerous choice.

This book was a very quick read and kept me wondering what was going to happen next, but it scared me because parts of the story could and do actually happen.  As I got closer to the end, I had a good idea of who Jennifer's "demons" were in real life.  Even though this book is supposed to be for young adults, I wouldn't recommend it for teenagers.  I found parts of it disturbing, and I am not sure that the mind of a teenager can actually grasp the seriousness of those parts.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 

Book Review of Here's Lily by Nancy Rue

 Nancy Rue's book, Here's Lily, tells the story of Lily Robbins, a 6th grader who gets teased a lot at school and is embarrassed by her height, pale skin, red hair and big lips.  When Lily is invited to join a modeling class, her parents allow her to join, but tell her she has to look for where God in the experience.  However, Lily becomes obsessed with her appearance and modeling.  A tragic accident will change everything though for Lily and her family, and Lily will learn that real beauty is on the inside.

I enjoyed this book.  The author did a good job of making the book appropriate for the current "times."  I think that it so important for young girls to find confidence and realize that despite teasing, they are beautiful and special because they have God on their side.  I loved the idea of having "God-confidence - the confidence in God that allows her to trust in Him no matter what."  I think the idea of "God-confidence" applies not only to young girls, but to all ages.  It was an important reminder for me.  I highly recommend this book!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 

Book Review of The 13th Tribe by Robert Liparulo

Robert Liparulo's book, The 13th Tribe, is about a group of immortals who have been trying to earn their way into heaven by killing sinners and Jagger Baird, a former army ranger who is angry with God for an accident that claimed the life of his best friend, but left him alive.  The reader will meet many characters throughout the book, and eventually the characters lives (and stories) will intertwine.  Jagger's wife and son are caught in the crossfire of the Tribe's biggest attack ever where millions of lives will be threatened, and Jagger will stop at nothing to save his family and to stop the tribe from killing millions of innocent people.

I have one word for this book - WOW.  If you want to read a christian novel that is full of action and suspense, this is the book for you.  Not only is it full of action and suspense, but it also has several twists and turns that will surprise you.  My jaw dropped several times while reading this book, and I did not want to put it down.  I highly recommend it!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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