Submerged, by Dani Pettrey

Overview (from Goodreads): A sabotaged plane. Two dead deep-water divers.
Yancey, Alaska was a quiet town . . . until the truth of what was hidden in the depths off the coast began to appear.
Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey again. She has a past, and a reputation--and Yancey's a small town. She's returned to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash and is determined not to stay even an hour more than necessary. But then dark evidence emerges and Bailey's own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.
Cole McKenna can handle the deep-sea dives and helping the police recover evidence. He can even handle the fact that a murderer has settled in his town and doesn't appear to be moving on. But dealing with the reality of Bailey's reappearance is a tougher challenge.
She broke his heart, but she is not the same girl who left Yancey. He let her down, but he's not the same guy she left behind. Can they move beyond the hurts of their pasts and find a future together?

Review: This one grabbed from the beginning, from the Prologue to be exact. It starts right in the middle of the action before settling to a slower pace as we discover the main characters and get a sense of who they are. This is a novel with the rare characteristic of having very interesting secondary characters. Of course, these characters will later become main ones in their own right, as the series progresses, but for now, they just keep you wanting to get to know them better.

However, as nicely written as the book and the characters are, it sometimes feels as if you’ve started reading book 2 or 3 of the series, instead of the first. The author brings forth many characters in a short time and assumes you know or remember (from a previous mention) who they are and that gets confusing. It’s very obvious that the author knows really well who her characters are, but does not realize that the reader is just getting to know them now. But this does not take away from the experience as whole; it was just a little confusing at first.

The novel is very interesting; the mystery, engaging. The romance makes you ache for the leads, for who they were 13 years ago, and for who they became. It is, in fact, a Christian novel that does not shy away from the mention of God and His grace through Christ. Because, you see, this is a fiction book with a great teaching on God's love, what it means to be a new creation in Christ, how He sees us, and how we can heal from our past hurts and from the shame we carry even though we have been forgiven. And that makes for a great read: entertaining, wise, fun and profound.

It is very well written; the plot, the characters, and the mystery will keep you wanting to read more, to go faster to get to the resolution. And in the end, I wanted badly to know what's going to happen next between Landon and Piper... This side story (and the others you see slowly forming) is enough to carry my interest on to the next book in the series, Shattered. So, yeah, the author did a great job of piquing my interest with a nice, sort of cliffhanger that did not leave me unsatisfied, but, sure enough, made me want to know what's going to happen next.

4 out of 5 stars

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

Shame Interrupted: How God Lifts the Pain of Worthlessness and Rejection, by Edward T. Welch

Overview (from Goodreads): You can't bury it beneath big accomplishments, dress it up with fancy clothes, or drive it away in a shiny car. Shame lurks beneath the surface of anger and fear, beyond the reach of all the superficial remedies you've tried.

Shame has a long biblical history that starts with Adam and Eve's story of nakedness, rejection, and contamination. It was violently displayed again in Christ's crucifixion, and it has probably showed up in your life today.

But Christians do not have to tolerate lives dominated by shame and worthlessness, according to Edward T. Welch. We can learn to think differently and to live differently in the world that Christ purchased for us-a world where shame no longer controls our identity and relationships.

Welch guides readers on a journey through Scripture to discover the one enduring remedy for shame: the blood of Christ. By bringing shame into the light, where it can be addressed by the Bible, Welch helps readers to understand and receive the acceptance of God in Christ and experience the relief that comes with freedom from shame.

Review (in part): Through this book, Mr. Welch will help you dig deep, deeper, and deepest into your heart and soul to unearth the shame that’s hiding there, so that you may be able to acknowledge it, describe it, and confront it the right way. Just as the author wishes, this book is a safe place where you can identify shame, acknowledge it in your life and bring hope to it by receiving comforting words from God.

At first, it feels as if the author spends too much time describing and identifying shame, but I believe he does this based on his experience, knowing how difficult it is for us to acknowledge shame in our life, since we become masters at hiding it. The author goes to great lengths to help us understand the need for being clean and holy, and how this is something that, although we might try to do it by ourselves, God is the only one who can accomplish it.

You can find the rest of this review at www.thechristianmanifesto.com, and while you're there look through this great website that has great movie, book and music reviews, among other goodies. So enjoy!

4.5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

The Work of Christ, by R.C. Sproul

An excellent, excellent book on the work of Christ, His active obedience and what it means for us. The chapters are short (this is, in fact, not a long book), very appropriate for an individual weekly Bible study, and also a great tool for a small church group. Dr. R.C. Sproul does a great job of presenting Christ and His work at various points in His life, explaining its meaning and importance for our life.

What is the importance of Mary’s song when she first learns God had chosen her to bear His Son? If Christ was perfect and sinless, why did He insist on being baptized? Is there any relation between the temptation of Christ and the temptation of Adam? What is the importance of the transfiguration? Was it even necessary? Why is the resurrection important to our justification? These and many more questions find their answer and simple explanation in this book.

If you are like me, you don’t only read books on theology and doctrine just because you like to read; you read them to learn, to grow in your knowledge of God and His Word, with the hope of retaining everything you’ve learn, so that you can remember it, make reference to it, and apply it in your life. If you’re like me, you will love the Study Guide at the end of each chapter in this book. It is very obvious that Dr. Sproul is much more than an author or theologian: he is a teacher. He takes great care in explaining even the most complex doctrinal issues in such a simple and understated way, that you find yourself amazed that you didn’t understand it before. And to make matters even better, Dr. Sproul not only writes with the intention of making things clear, he includes these great Study Guides with learning objectives, quotations, wonderful and detailed outlines, Bible studies, discussion guides, applications, and recommendations for further reading at the end of each chapter that drive the point home, in case you didn’t understand it the first time around. You are sure to understand, learn, and retain all this great information.

If you are not like me, and you have not read a theology book in your life, The Work of Christ is a good way to start. It is profound, but never difficult to understand. And you will grow in your understanding of Jesus, His work, His intentions and our need for justification.

5 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, David C. Cook, through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. 

Where's the Nearest Day Spa?, by Emily Smith

Overview (from Goodreads): Where’s the Nearest Day Spa? Renewing the Anxious Heart offers a fresh perspective on worries and fears. Short, easy-to-read chapters—overflowing with humor and insightful Bible-based encouragement—will inspire a new outlook, as you begin to embrace the spiritual and emotional R&R that only the heavenly Father provides.

Review: Great, great book. Author Emily Smith has the fine ability to write as if she were talking directly to you, so you feel as if you were listening to her at a conference, which makes you feel so at ease and comfortable that you just don't expect what's coming.

This is one of those books that makes you look deeper into your heart, your worries, your fears and your excuses. It’s written so lightly and uncomplicated that it will take you by surprise. How plain and simply worry is called a sin and fear is called its identical twin! I have to admit: I’m a worrier; a worrier of the worst kind. The kind of worrier who worries if her husband doesn’t answer the telephone once or twice in a row, thinking he’s been in an accident or he is in the middle of a robbery. Yes, I think of many ridiculous and almost implausible scenarios. And I know I’m sinning because of it. And Where’s the Nearest Day Spa has brought this to light in my life, has made me face it, confront it, and ask God’s forgiveness and strength to fight it.

Many books say they can change your life. Few actually do. This book, very unassumingly, will bring you face to face with your worries and your fears; it will guide you through God’s Word, His promises, what He expects of you, what He says about the futility of worrying. And that will move you to actively make changes in your life, in your outlook of life, in the way you see and trust in God; and it will change your life. Yes, this book will inspire you to change your life.

Also, at the end of each chapter you will find discussion questions that will guide you through the Word of God and deeply into what He says about worry, fear, and being anxious, and what He promises to those who let go and let Him work: peace. The discussion questions are great for individual study or for a small group.

I highly recommend to this book to any woman or any group of women or church group.

Quotes I loved from the book:

"Fear feeds worry." (Soooo true!)

“[Bravery is] living with the full knowledge of God’s sovereignty and trusting that.”

4 stars out of 5

*I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

Good times of stress

Well, well, well. These past weeks have been pretty hectic: too much work, too much paper work, too many minor problems, one rather big problem and a few misunderstandings; you know. the days in the life of the typical average person. I'm tired, somewhat frustrated, a little sleep deprived and hurting all over my neck, my shoulders, my back and my head. Yes, I am stressed. Very, very stressed. I haven't had time to read, let alone write reviews, and lets not talk about how I went a week and a half without internet... It has been a very interesting few weeks.

But enough. I'm here to talk about how in the midst of all this mounting tension and stress I have been able to be joyful. You see, joy, true joy, does not depend on your circumstances. A while back, I wrote a review for the Joy of Calvinism and I quoted one of the most reassuring lines I have ever read: "Joy is not an emotion. Joy is a settled certainty that God is in control." And this line alone has given me hope because it is true, and since it is true, in times of stress, like this one, I am not only able to be joyful, I can also have peace. This is how my life looked like last week: my husband and I wanted to buy a simple $8.00 gift for our son. We went to the nearest ATM because the vendor only accepted cash. However, my husband came back from the ATM pursing his lips and moving his head from side to side. We only had $15.00 in our bank account. And it was one of those moments when you can go either way: crazy or cool. We kept our cool. Somehow, thank God, we didn't start to think about the phone or electricity bills that would soon come our way. No, we didn't panic. We quickly gathered our jaws from the floor, walked to our car, went home and took note of the many things we could not do until our next paycheck, which, quite frankly, included everything except breathing.

Now, a couple of days ago, my husband received an unexpected call. A job he had done (as a musician) finally paid off, and he was told to go and pick up a check. And it was a very good check; exactly what we needed to get us through this next week. To us, it was God at work. To the skeptics, it was an overdue payment. But you know what? That check could have come sooner, or it could have come later. Our miracle was that it came when it did: just in time.

This is me, with stress and joy.

We can have joy in times of stress. God will see us through. We can let go, breathe and let Him work it all for our good. That is His promise. Yes, we get frustrated, sad, tired and everything else that comes with the territory of being stressed. It's normal and expected. But I have hope. I have the certainty that everything is in God's hands because He is in control. Nothing escapes Him or surprises Him. So we can be calm and have peace. I can have joy in the midst of all my troubles.

Threat of Darkness, by Valerie Hansen

Overview (from Goodreads): As a nurse and special advocate for children, Samantha Rochard is used to danger in small town Serenity, Arkansas. But when she suspects a little boy is in jeopardy from his powerful father, the danger turns on her. Her only source of protection? The handsome police officer who broke her heart five years ago. Yet after John Waltham comes to her rescue in more ways than one, Samantha must trust in him-and the Lord-to watch over her...and save one sweet little boy.

Review: This novel is about much more than what the overview says. Yes, there is an abused child, and, yes, Samantha does try to rescue him with the help of her ex-boyfriend, John. But her life is also in danger right from the beginning, a direct outcome from a very scary situation that she goes through as the book opens. And it is a great way to begin a novel: it got my attention, had me interested, and got me wondering what would happen next. 

Samantha is a character who has gone through a lot and who has an inner battle with God about what happened in her past with the man she loved, and a struggle with herself about the way she is feeling toward this man again. So she is someone anyone can relate to. John, on the other hand, is almost useless. As a cop he is always either late or getting knocked out. Cops in general here are very mediocre; they apparently don't know the first thing about doing a simple search, securing evidence or interrogating witnesses or suspects. And that is very irritating. 

The plot is actually pretty interesting, and I love the fact that, since it is written in third person, we get to see how both Samantha and John feel and think. It has mystery, suspense, romance and action, you know, all the goodies. However, the dialogues, as well as some actions, sometimes lacked continuity. For example, the characters would speak and I would read again because from one person to the next you get the impression that part of the dialogue is missing, like one person is answering something that was never asked, or another asked something that was never answered. Another example: Samantha and John would search inside the house because an intruder had been there, but they couldn't find anything, so they would say, "Let's search again, in case we missed anything the first time around." But in the next paragraph, they would go outside to search around the house, and then change their minds, get in the car and go someplace else. It's as if the author forgot her original intention.

The ending was too good to be true, and the too good part was so rushed that it would have been better to give it a fair treatment in an epilogue. 

One last note, during the whole novel, Samantha's problem and threat is front and center, not the abused child. However, towards the end, it's the child's case that gets all the action, and Samantha's case is resolved but very uneventfully. 

So the action and suspense is good enough to interest you in the first place. The police mediocrity is bad enough that you may feel deflated. The problems with the dialogue and continuity is disappointing. But you will want to stick around for the resolution when the case of the abused child takes center stage and the action will hold your attention. 

3 out of 5 stars 

*I received a copy of this book from Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride, by Sandra D. Bricker

Overview (from Goodreads): Sherilyn Caine has left Chicago behind to marry Andrew Drummond IV, an Atlanta native with a family name that tops all the social registers. Landing the job as The Tanglewood’s wedding planner is a piece of cake for someone with a Type A personality; she’s the perfect fit for a wedding destination hotel known for its attention to even the tiniest details.

But when everything else is going along swimmingly, why are her own wedding plans drowning right before her eyes? One way or the other, Sherilyn is determined to make this wedding work—until the latest development threatens to call the whole thing off. Is it possible that Sherilyn is allergic to her fiance?

Review: Not as predictable as I expected: the characters' journeys had some very nice twists and turns and, although the ending is pretty much same old, same old, it was still cute and romantic. There are some pretty ridiculous things (Sherilyn possibly allergic to her fiance... seriously?), but it is well written. The author does a great job of being funny without overdoing it, which I think is a great skill.

As a Christian novel, with Christian main characters, it was strange how their faith was not mention in the first half of the book and then in the second half it was constantly brought forward. I mean, at first I doubted they were a Christian couple and thought the Christian part would come from Emma and Jackson (the friends). I am not saying that faith should have been front and center in this story; what I expect is consistency.

Other things I didn't like: the irritating movie star, which I'm guessing will reappear in the next installment of the series, otherwise why would the author give him a large (and mostly superfluous) part here? It would have been better without him, or at least with less of him. Also, aunt Sophie. I'm a little torn here because I find her endearing, but her part almost read like a filler to state the obvious —that Sherilyn is part of their family, which I think we were told every other page.

All in all, mostly enjoyable and quite funny in parts. I laughed and I shed a few emotional tears; yeah, I'm a crier. It was great, after reading the first in the series (Always the baker, never the bride), to see Emma and Jackson again, together in a stable and very nice relationship, as well as seeing less and less of Jackson's sisters, a huge plus for me. Also nice, seeing Fee and watching her get swept off her feet. And let me not forget the wonderful descriptions of food and desserts... Oh, to be invited to one of those food tastings!

This is the second book in the series, and can very well be read apart from the first. However, as with any series, true enjoyment usually comes from reading them all and in order.

3 1/2 stars out of 5

Murder on the Rocks, by Karen MacInerney

Overview (from Goodreads): Natalie Barnes buys the Gray Whale Inn, a bed and breakfast in Maine, and publicly opposes Bernard Katz's proposed resort development, which threatens a colony of black-chinned terns, and when Katz is found dead, Natalie must find the true killer in order to clear her own name.

Quick Review: Well, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. Although well paced, the author goes into unnecessary details, sort of like "I grabbed the milk from the refrigerator and closed the door with my left foot", all the time. It's not the milk part, but the left foot part that bothered me, as if she was writing a detailed movie script rather than a novel. The characters were ok but Natalie's love interest was meh. I guess he will be developed more as the series progresses, but he was so uninteresting that you wonder what she sees in him and doubt he's worth sticking with the series to find out. Natalie, on the other hand, is more interesting. However, she does some pretty dumb stuff trying to figure out who the killer is, which was disappointing.

The mystery is amusing at first but too easy to figure out. Even if you're not trying to guess it, you will instantly know who the killer is and part of the reason behind the murder. So it was somewhat entertaining but mostly forgettable.

2 1/2 stars

A Woman's Wisdom: How the Book of Proverbs Speaks to Everything, by Lydia Brownback

Overview (from NetGalley): Advice books are no short-lived trend, even though much of the advice parading as “wisdom” proves shallow in the long run. What we need is biblical wisdom, and even more than that we need hearts set on the One who governs all our practicalities. The book of Proverbs unlocks the key to both, helping us to face very real challenges such as:

• handling our material resources wisely
• keeping ourselves sexually pure
• practicing biblical femininity in a world that scorns us for it
• sustaining God-glorifying marriages
• elevating biblical priorities ahead of day-to-day pressures

Unpacking the timeless counsel in the book of Proverbs, A Woman’s Wisdom teaches us to know the very Author of wisdom and to apply his relevant, how-to riches.

Review: This is so much more than a book: it's an in-depth look at the book of Proverbs and the Bible in general on the matter of wisdom; it's a Bible study for you, your Bible group, the women's group in your church that will help you grow in your understanding of who you are and who you should grow to be in the Lord. This is a great tool for any church and any individual seeking to be more Christlike. It's a look at wisdom as a result of someone who fears and trusts in God and believes in Jesus as her savior, and lives her life accordingly.

It is extremely well written. The author goes right to the point (which is a big thing for me), very straightforward, using simple terms; very wise and precise. It will lead you to take a good look at yourself, at who you think you are and who you really are, and it will guide you along the way in your path to wisdom and growing in the knowledge of God. It also explores the many blessings of living wisely, as beautifully stated in Proverbs 31. The author does a great job of explaining how you can really be a virtuous woman, what it means to be one. But I want to be very clear: this is not a step by step guide on becoming wise. It is a book on biblical wisdom, which starts with knowing, loving, trusting and fearing God and continues on with our growing in His knowledge. Wisdom is God-given but we also have to work at it.

Excellent book that I will be reading again. I highly recommend it.

5 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from Crossway through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

The Amish Bride, by Mindy Starns Clark, Leslie Gould

Overview (from NetGalley): Ella Bayer and Ezra Gundy are in love and hope to marry someday, but she is a young Mennonite woman while he is an Amish man. Though both Plain, one of them will have to forsake what they believe to embrace another way of life.

Hoping some distance will cool the relationship, Ezra’s family sends him to work at an Amish dairy farm in Indiana. But Ella disregards what her family wants and follows Ezra. In short order she finds a place to live, a job in a bakery, and an unexpected but budding friendship with a handsome Amish farmhand, Luke. When a family tragedy forces Ella back to Pennsylvania, she must face all she’s been running away from. And once she has made peace with those around her, she has an important decision to make: Whose Amish bride will she become—Ezra’s or Luke’s?

Review:This was a very interesting read. However, although the romance is what first attracted me to this novel, it is not what kept my interest. As the story opens, Ella's grandmother gives her a book, sort of a diary, that Ella's great-grandmother wrote since she was a child, right up until a few days before she died. Some parts of this diary are written in code, and Ella's grandmother is desperate to know what her mother wrote and asks Ella to decipher the code for her, since she has not been able to do so after many years of trying. Now, that got my attention. Not only because of the secrets that were obviously hidden in the diary, but because I wanted to know why Ella's grandmother needed to know what was written there. It is very clear since the beginning that it's not just curiosity: her peace of mind depends on it. I loved that; it intrigued me.

The story is well written; I loved learning more about the differences and similarities between Amish and Mennonites, and how they played out in Ella's and Ezra's romance as well as in the whole family dynamic. But the story is too long. Ella is a nice character but, although she is 17 going on 18 years old, most of the time her voice "sounds" much more older, more mature. What I mean is that it seems as if she was not written with an 18 year old in mind. I've seen this many times but in reverse: an older character that sounds like a teenager. I'm not saying that Ella acted like a mature adult. I'm saying she sounded like one: the choice of words, the phrasing.

I had mixed feelings about the romance (not in a bad way). Sometimes I loved Ezra. Other times, it amazed me how Ella could be in love with him. Luke, on the other hand, was so sweet and quiet that I sometimes wanted to shout "Speak up!" I really wanted Ella to pick one specific boy, but, strangely, I never stopped rooting for the other. Quite interesting. Both love interests were very well written, as well as Ella's mother, grandmother and brother.

It's a sweet story of love, forgiveness, faith and trusting God to lead us to what's best for us. It is the third book of a series, so there are many characters and a long family history behind it. It can stand alone, but read as a series should give the reader a better understanding of the family.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars


*I received a copy of this book from Harvest House Publishers through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.