About book reviewing: A round-up

I realize that, since most of my book reviews are for books received from NetGalley, it may be difficult for some to believe that these books are really worth their money. First of all, let me explain something: when I choose a book to review from NetGalley, I do so because either I like the author or I like what the book is about, which means that most of the time I'm reading a book that I'm fairly certain I will like. It not always works out that way, but, as you may see in my blog, most of the time it does.

I try to be honest in all my reviews, try to, as bad as a book may have been, look for something positive because, let's face it, sometimes a book appears to be terrible, but almost always they have a redeeming quality. Now, out of all the books I have read in the past months, there a few that stand out as amazing for me, so much so that I'm buying them either to read again or to give as a gift; books that I have gone to great lengths to recommend because I think they are worth reading and sharing. And here they are:

Non-Fiction

Beyond Bath Time

A Woman's Wisdom

The Fruitful Wife

The Work of Christ

Fiction

Submerged (not from NetGalley, but from the publishers)

As you can see, only one book of fiction has made it to this list. I have read quite a few that are actually pretty good, but Submerged stands out above them all. All of these books have been given to me in exchange of an honest review, and I'm more than grateful for that. If you have the chance and the time to read them, you are in for a great time, a wonderful read and a great growth in your knowledge of God, His Word and His will.

Before I go, I cannot leave out a great author that has become my favorite fiction writer: Vannetta Chapman. The books I've read by her (A Simple Amish Christmas, Falling to Pieces, A Perfect Square) have been wonderful. I highly recommend this author. She really does write fiction full of grace.

The Keeper, by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Julia Lapp is once again stunned by Paul Fisher, the boy she has planned on marrying since she was a girl, when he tells her he wants to postpone the wedding again. But she is not taking his change of heart siting down: she will do whatever it takes to change his mind, even confronting the man she knows is behind Paul's decision: Roman Troyer, the Bee Man.

Roman is a mysterious man who never shares information about himself, his family, his life. He travels through Amish communities renting his bees to farmers. Never one to settle down in one place for long, he is now intrigued by Julia, who confronts him for his part in Paul's decision. Will Julia be able to change Paul's mind and have her wishes come true?

This is much more than a love story with sort of a love triangle. This is a story about family, about sharing one's heart and giving ourselves completely for love, about conquering our fears, living in faith and trusting God.

Julia has held on for so long to her dream of marrying Paul that she has lost respect for herself and has lost sight of what God's will is for her. She will grow, she will learn, and she will know by the book's end what real love is.

She has a family in need: a shy sister, a special needs brother, a trouble maker 12 year old sister, a sick father in need of a heart transplant but refusing to have one. The stories of each character are compelling, funny at times, sweet and heartbreaking at others.

However, the way the story is told did not work for me. There were too many different points of view that did not make sense. It was enough with Julia's, Paul's and Roman's.

I did enjoyed it. It was a nice read, predictable but very sweet. The Choice was the first book I read from Suzanne Woods Fisher, and I was actually afraid of how many deaths there would be in this one. One, just one, but, although expected, it is painful to read. It will not distract from the love story or the enjoyment of the book in general, but it's still sad.

The character I enjoyed the most? Fern, a stern, wise, and in her own way sweet woman brought in as a housekeeper to help the Lapps. She has  proverbs (I'm guessing Amish proverbs) for everything and that will make you want to go back in the book just to write them down and memorize them. Excellent character.

This is the first in the series, and it is a very good start.

3.5 stars

Something Blue, by Dianne Christner

Megan always dreamed of marrying a preacher or a missionary. Now it seems that her dream may come true as her boss' brother, a handsome and charming missionary pilot named Chance, starts working alongside of her. However, Micah Zimmerman reappears in her life as a pastoral candidate in her church. She thought she didn't want anything to do with Micah, but immediately he starts to prove to her that he is not the same tall and gawky guy she knew in college. Now Megan has to choose between the life she always thought she wanted and the life she never knew she dreamed of.

This is a novel about second chances, the struggles we face in terms of our faith and our love life, about making good decisions, about trusting God to lead our way and the importance of understanding when God is the one doing the leading, not our own desires. Megan is a pretty strong character, very set in her beliefs and very straightforward. Micah is sweet, strong-minded, and somewhat needy but in a good, you want to reach out to him kind of way. Chance is likable, fun and interesting. 

I like when a novel gives us not only the girl's point of view, but also the guy's, and in this case, guys'. Here we get to see things from Megan's perspective, but also from Micah's and Chance's. And I love to have an insight into the guys' mind, how they feel, what they are thinking. It makes for a more interesting and compelling story. However, as nice and well written as both guys are, I think that you will gravitate more towards one depending on your personality and type, which means that a few of you may be disappointed with Megan's choice in the end. But it will not come as a surprise, since the story, although nicely written, sweet and touching, is highly predictable, at least the romantic side of it. 

Aside from the romance, we have a few side stories —Micah's possible job as a minister in Megan's church, a gossiping widow, changes in friendships— that are well told, keep you interested  and make the story advance. However, I thought that the side story for Megan's mom was much ado about nothing and Megan's reaction to it was disappointing and exaggerated. 

This is the third novel in the series, but it can very easily be read alone, which I really liked. I would recommend this novel to a teenage girl or an adult who wants to read a nice, sweet and endearing romance. 

3.5 stars out of 5 

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

Beauty to Die For: A Spa Mystery, by Kim Alexis and Mindy Starns Clarks

When Raven, a former supermodel who is hated by many, dies at the Palm Grotto Spa, almost everyone’s a suspect, almost everyone has a motive, and almost everyone is happy to see her gone. Juliette Taylor, a former modeling colleague who now co-owns a beauty company that makes skincare products, is at the same spa hosting a spiritual retreat, and is shocked by Raven’s death. But, since Raven had recently threatened to kill her, the police consider her one of the suspects, even more when it is discovered that Raven was poisoned by an ingredient found in one of Juliette’s skincare masks. Now Juliette, with the help of her friend Didi, Marcus (the love of her life), and a few others, must solve the mystery and find the real killer before the police close in on her and before the killer strikes again.

This novel has a few great things going for it: a nice cover, a good premise that gets the reader interested and that gives the expectation of a cozy, fun and enjoyable murder/mystery ride. It is told from different, very well written point of views that flow nicely from one character to the next. It has a very, very likable male lead, written with the perfect man in mind and it works. Marcus’ character was written so well; this is the kind of man every woman wants. The story has a nicely written romantic side for Juliette and her long lost love, Marcus, that was sweet, cute and very refreshing. I also really liked how well developed Crystal’s character was, as well as her part in advancing the story.

However, as well written as Marcus’ character was, Juliette’s was not. Although we got to know Marcus, his feelings, his emotions, and his thoughts, we mostly see Juliette as a business woman. Yes, we get to see her afraid, feel threatened, be in love, but not to the same extent as Marcus. And that is a shame because Juliette is the lead, the heroin, but by the end of the book you still cannot feel connected to her, at least not in the same way as with Marcus.

Also, I really didn’t like how dumb the lead characters were. In the beginning, Raven threatens Juliette and says something that baffles her. The reader, however, will know right away what Raven is referring to and seeing the leads racking their brains trying to figure it out is very irritating. Also, there are a few times that the secondary characters had to explain their conclusions to the leads as if they were children because they couldn’t understand. Again, the reader gets it instantly and it’s very easy to lose your patience with the main characters.

The story takes too long to advance; too much time is spent with information that, while valuable, was unnecessary in a book of fiction. Too much talk about counterfeit goods or counterfeiting in general, too many explanations about Marcus’ job, too much information about bombs, among other stuff. While I appreciate the fact that the authors did their research, they should have used that information for their benefit, not include it in the plot. The readers do not need a lecture on terrorist cells, or how a certain agency works, or what are counterfeit products and how big that problem is and how dangerous those fake products are.

Finally, I didn’t like the fact that, although it is a Christian fiction novel, there is no mention of Juliette’s faith in the beginning (or anyone else’s for that matter), and, all of a sudden, starting in the middle, it is mentioned constantly. And not only is Juliette a Christian, but also this other guy and another girl. As a Christian, I enjoy Christian characters, but as a reader, I expect consistency. If the characters are Christian, why hide it in the beginning only to talk about it nonstop later on?

The story is mostly good, but there are so many things that get in the way, making it long and sometimes tedious, making it advance almost in slow motion, that it disappoints. However, when it starts to round up nicely (around page 200), the action moves well, the pace moves quicker, the book gets a lot more enjoyable, the mystery gets more interesting and the time spent reading feels more validated. An ok start, a disappointing middle, and a very good ending.

2 3/4 stars out of 5. Almost a 3 but not quite.

*I received a copy of this book from B&H Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

The Fruitful Wife, by Hayley Dimarco

As Christians, we want to grow in the Lord. In our marriage, we want to produce fruit that is pleasing to our Father, and a blessing to our husbands. However, most of us find it hard, and sometimes even almost impossible to bear good fruit, mostly when things don't go our way, when we are mad at our husbands or frustrated with them. Why? The problem is our spiritual barrenness, our lack of the fruit of the Spirit. What is the fruit of the Spirit and how can we grow in it? Author Hayley Dimarco goes deep into the Word of God, its profound meaning, to bring us the answer.

The Fruitful Wife is a book full of wisdom. Each chapter covers a specific part of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Mrs. Dimarco, very simply, beautifully and to the point, explains what each part of the fruit of the Spirit means, what it is, what it isn't, how we can grow in it, and how we can apply it to our lives, and to our relationship with our husbands. The author draws from her life, her own experiences, failings and triumphs, which makes her more accessible, more like one of us. You will identify with her, and you will see yourself described in the pages of this book, and you will find hope for you, for your relationship with your husband, for your frustrations with yourself and with him.

This book has made a great impact in my life. It took me a while to finish it because I had to stop on almost every page to analyze, internalize it, meditate, write it down, go to the Word of God and meditate once more. It has helped me grow in the knowledge of what the fruit of the Spirit really is, why it is important in my life, in my everyday life, and how to see things through it in order to live a life that pleases God.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, married or single, because, although it does say "wife" in the title, it relates to every woman and it applies to every relationship in our lives —form our relationship with God to our relationship with our neighbors, not just our husbands. This is a really great, life changing book.

5 out of 5 stars

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

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.