Invisible

Author Ginny Yttrup did a great job in her book Invisible. This is the first story I have ever read in this unique writing style. Yttrup wrote a flowing story from the first person view point of 4 different people. The reader gets a glimpse into the minds of the four main characters, Ellyn, Sabina, Twila and Miles. I loved the way I could feel the story flowing even though the character telling the story changed.
I enjoyed the entire book, and when I put down the book after finishing it I debated picking it up and starting all over. The book itself deals with lots of issues that many people face today: loneliness, depression, body image issues and many more. The main characters were relatable and loveable. I enjoyed reading each story (but Ellyns story might be my favorite). It was an interesting experience reading from the varying minds of the characters, one that I would love to have again quite soon. Invisible made it on my read yearly list (which isn't that long!)
The story of a large chef, a widower doctor, a woman struggling with depression and a girl who is starving as they struggle to find God is what invisible is all about, and Yttrup does an excellent job on the story. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5!

A Matter of Trust

Whiel did great in her latest book A Matter of Trust.  The murder mystery begins and in the first chapter there is already an unexpected twist. As the story continues to unfold the reader is taken around twist and turns in the plot line. I am excited for the next book in the Mia Quinn series to come out.
The main character is a district attorney named Mia Quinn. She has a son and daughter, and her husband passed away recently. While trying to hold together the family she has left and also maintain some order Mia works two jobs, one as a district attorney, the other at a local college teaching law students. In the midst of all this chaos Mia is put on the case of a brutal murder of another district attorney.
Whiel wrote an excellent story including family struggle, murder and the chance of romance. I enjoyed reading this story and will continue to read Whiel's books in the future. On a scale of 1 to 5 I would rate this book 4. It was excellently written and I look forward to the next book from Whiel.

Truth Stained Lies: Terri Blackstock

Blackstock did excellet work in her newest book Truth Stained Lies. The story had me hooked after the first chapter, and I was on the edge of my seat until the end. Jay Cramer has been framed for the murder of his x-wife, but the police only see the evidence left by the real killer. Cramer's three siblings take up the task of finding the evidence that can get Jay off the hook. Meanwhile Jay's sisters are facing their own struggles. Holly just found out she was pregnant and doesn't even know who the father is. Juliet has a faltering marriage. And finally Cathy is recieving threatening letters because of a blog she writes. With all of these issues combined how can the family come together to find who the real killer is.
The story was full of suspense, I was constantly trying to figure out who was responsible for the murder. There are hints throughout the story who the actual perp is, but it is not until the final chapters in the book that it all becomes clear. Blackstock did a great job continuing the suspense even after the identity of the killer was given. With hostages, dying children and shoot-outs the stories conclusion is just as intense as the beginning chapters of the book.
I thought this book was extremely well written, and I am very excited to see where the next books in the Moonlighters Series will lead. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery story. I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars, I enjoyed virtually everything about this story. Well done Blackstock!

Loves Complete

This book was a children's book about adoption. I thought it would be interesting considering my families personal desire to adopt. It was not an awful book, and I think the message behind the book was good, however I felt like it was written and thrown together very quickly. The pictures looked like poor computer animation, while the writing inside was also poor. It was written in a poetry style, but I found it hard to find the flow of the book. The poem was also very simple, some words in sentences were simply left out to make it rhyme. I was hoping for something a little more meaningful, and I am sure the author and his family find this poem meaningful, but I am not sure that applies to the rest of the world. The book does however outline the adoption process that families went through to adopt children from Russia, in the 1990s. I would not really recommend this book to anyone, but I am not saying it is useless. It serves a purpose, and if it is needed then great. I would rate this book a 2 out of 5 stars. I like what it is trying to do, I just don't think it did what it wanted to successfully.

Gods At War, by: Kyle Idleman

"Gods At War" is a book about what idols (or gods) are waring for the throne of your heart. Idleman lays out several key points and goes through various types of gods we come in contact with on a daily basis. His book is seperated into four sections: gods at war, the temple of pleasure, the temple of power, and the temple of love.
In the first section Idleman walks the reader through some differing ideas on what an idol truly is. Then he asks the reader to examine their life and find the idols that they bow down to, the ones that are ruling their lives. In the final chapter of this first part Idleman talks about Joshua 24 where Joshua gives a sort of ultimatum to the people of Israel. Joshua tells them to decide whom they will serve, other gods or the one true God. Idleman breaks down this passage into four main areas idols come from: parents, past, present and the one true God. He then ties these four areas back into the passage in Joshua.
In the following three sections Idleman describes common idols that we face in our world today. The section called "temple of pleasure" contains chapters about food, sex and entertainment. The next section contains the gods of success, money and power. And lastly in the "temple of love" section Idleman describes the gods of romance, family and self. He breaks each of these potential gods down into their barest forms and provides several anecdotes throughout the chapters as explainations and to give examples of real people who struggle with these gods.
The thrust of the book is to provide a good look at idolatry and a call to begin to take it seriously, as an issue we struggle with today. He is careful to say that these "gods" in and of themselves are not the issue, they become the issue when we begin to give them the glory God deserves.
I enjoyed the book, and found it challenging in many places. It was also very easy to understand and written in a user friendly way. Many stories were provided to explain or soliodify points throughout the story. I found them to be interesting and funny and I thought Idleman drew good analogies between the stories and the points he was trying to make.
Overall I would rate this book a 4 out of 5. I did not think it was a bad book, in fact I didn't have any huge complaints about it. However it is not a book that instantly became my favorite. The information within the book was presented in an interesting and engaging fashion, and at some points was challenging. but again, it does not make my top ten list. This book is an average book, rated right up there with Chan's "Crazy Love" and "Forgotten God" or Rob Bell's "Velvet Elvis"

Asylum... Great book!!

Ashley Hodges Bazer does a great job with this science fiction novel. She brings in many fanciful aspects while also making the reader feel connected to the story. The story begins with a baby boy being left with a caretaker after his mother has struggled to get him to safety and and passes away. Jumping forward about twenty years we meet the two main character Trista and Chase. Chase is a captain and Trista a computer technician for the military. The people the fight for are called the Ghosts and they are battling the legacy. Bazer does not give much detail of what has gone on before this time, but the reader knows that the legacy does not follow the Crown (the triune God), and that they often torture and kill Ghost members.
Eventually Trista is taken captive by the Legacy, and the rest of the story is about her time as a prisoner of the Legacy and Chase's fight to get her back. It is a rather epic story and I enjoyed reading every page, I was a little sad when it ended as well because it was over. However at the beginning many of the terms that Bazer uses seem overwhelming and not always explained completely. However once you pick up on some of the language the reading becomes easier. The story itself was excellent! I was impressed with the way she portrayed the emotions of all of the characters and everything they were going through. I also enjoyed the science fiction feel of the story, making it extremely enjoyable and very different from many other Christian fiction works, particularly in Christian circles.
Overall I would rate the book a 4 out of 5. I would give it a 4.5 but that is not always an option (and I reserve a five for my absolute favorite books). This is a book I will definitely read again and will recommend to anyone who enjoys science fiction.

A Just Man, by:Helen Dainel

A Just Man is the story of several generations of a family. The story itself was relatively interesting because all of the characters were connected and continued to be a part of the story even after the main character shifted. The story begins in the Revolutionary War with a child (Thomas), who must take his dad some supplies. The next section of the story is about the life of his brother (Andrew), and learning to help those in need. The boy Andrew helps becomes the main character and Andrews best friend, his name was Billy. Billy learns a hard lesson if values in the story. He goes out into the city to make lots of money and get a good job, promising to return to the family who had cared for him so well, however he frets too busy for them and it is not until the death of Andrew that Billy returns. Upon his return he falls in love with Andrews niece and marries her. Together they decide to adopt a child. They take an unwanted child named Christina and the story mirrors that of the prodigal son, until the end of the book.
The writing style was good, however I felt like some of the theological content was severely poor. The content was too simplistic. I felt that she made Christianity seem childish with the way she wrote some different spiritual events. The relationship that people had with Jesus also seemed a little too simple as well. The overall message of the story was not bad, but the content was sometimes to poor which was very frustrating to me. I would give this story a 2 out of 5, I probably will not read it again.

Through Rushing Waters

"Through Rushing Water" was a great book! I thought the storyline was relatively novel, and the details of the characters and experiences throughout the book were well written. I enjoyed CatherineRichmond's  writing style.
Critiques: I felt that book began a little slowly. It started by describing Sophia and her life in the girls school she was working at. This information is important, but I didn't care for the romance/broken-heart beginning. However Richmond ties this story line back in at the end. Throughout the story there were several times that I was confused about what characters the author was referring to. Richmond often used nicknames or shortened versions of names without explaining whom they belonged to, combine that with having many Indian names throughout the book and occasionally the names got confusing, She also brought characters from the beginning in again at the end of the story (clever) but by the time I got to them I had forgotten them.
Praises: I enjoyed the character development of Sophia as she grew in her faith and also in her love for the impoverished. I thought Richmond expressed very well the struggles Sophia had and how she grew from them. I also liked the character of Sophia, who was the strong-willed and independent main character. Will was also an enjoyable character, who was written in such a way that made him easy to connect with and easy to love. The other characters throughout the story gave contrast and color to the book. I was also surprised to find that I enjoyed the story line. I am not too much of a romance reader, but this book combined romance with love of the destitute and a struggle for justice with romance, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I would give this book a 4 out of 5 (I would give it a 4.5 but that isn't on the scale!) it was such an enjoyable story and I would encourage any woman (or man, but they don't typically read romance) to pick it up and fall in love with the characters.

Goodbye to Yesterday

Wanda E. Brunstetter has an interesting way of painting Amish life. I am not sure I believe that all of the aspects of the story are completely accurate, but I do enjoy a good love story now and then. Goodbye to Yesterday is the first in a six part story, and is only about 125 pages, however the story has the capability of grabbing your attention from the beginning and holding it through those pages. This part of the book ends on a cliff-hanger with one of the main character being beaten-up and the other praying for them. The story itself is about a husband and wife who have hit hard financial times. Because of this Luke (the husband) must travel to Indiana in order to learn a new occupation and return to his wife, Meredith. Meredith is expecting a child, but has not yet informed Luke of her suspicions. She is beginning to wonder if she should tell him now or upon his return. In those short 125 Brunstetter shows the love that the two share and also their pain as they are separated, for what is supposed to be only a short time.
I thought the story had a promising premise. I am not a huge fan of Fiction based on the lives of Amish people, and this one is similar to many others I have read, but the story is unique enough to hold your attention. I would give this book a rating of 3 out of 5. If you enjoy this genera then you will probably like this book, however I would not classify the book as a must read.

Darkness Rising, by: Lis Whiel

This book was very interesting. The second in the East Salem series I was intrigued to see how Whiel would continue the story that was so riveting. The second book in the series was just as exciting as the first, however the excitement came from a different place. The first book in this series has a "cop show" feel with a little bit of the spiritual realm mixed in. The second book had tons of spiritual warfare, demons and angels throughout the whole book and only a little CSI mixed in. I enjoyed both books, however I felt like Darkness Rising started out slow in the first few chapters. I felt like Whiel spent too long reintroducing characters, but that may be because I had read the first book and then immediately started the second book.
I would not recommend this book for anyone who cannot immerse themselves in the type of fiction dealing with the spiritual realm. I find that type of writing fascinating and often very enjoyable. If you are like me and enjoy that kind of story then this is a great book to pick up! A novel story about the end of the world and how the army of God is going to fight back. I enjoyed reading this book and will probably pick it up again in the future. I would rate the book 4/5 stars.

Crazy Dangerous

Crazy Dangerous is an interesting mix of spiritual struggles, mental instability, temptation and danger. Those things all mixed together could make for a horrible story, however I was impressed with the way Klavan ties all of these issues together. Sam (the main character) is struggling to fit in at school, and life in general. He has taken up running in order to join the track team, the most popular sport in the area. He did not know that running would begin the craziest journey he had ever been on. After being beaten-up and chased he begins to defend himself, as well a girl named Jennifer. As the story continues we find out that Jennifer has schizophrenia, but it seems that some of the visions she is having are turning out to be true! The story has many twists and turns and is relatively engaging. I enjoyed the story overall, and thought the topics and plot twists made the story original and well worth reading. I would rate Crazy Dangerous 4 out of 5. I would read the story again, however it was not my favorite.

Confessions of April Grace: Chocolate Covered Baloney

K.D. McCrite writes a wonderful story of a 12 year old girl from Arkansas and all of the experiences she has. April Grace (the twelve year old girl) is faced with many problems that youth face today, but the story is set in the 1980's. April Grace's biggest struggle is with change. Over the past few months her life has changed tremendously. In the opening chapter she lists off a few things that have changed including her grandmother, a new baby brother and her mother being sick. As the story continues we see how April Grace deals with the change that has already occured and how she is getting used to it, and we also see how she handles change that is continuing to occur. Throughout the story there is typical sibling interaction, family stress and struggle as well as the conveying of delightful family interactions.
This story rings true to my experience as a young girl and reminds me of stories I read when I was young, like Judy Bloome (one of my favorites). I enjoyed  reading the story and remembering what my childhood was like, including the sibling rivalries. I felt like this book was an honest portrayl of many things that youth today face, and it was a very enjoyable read. I would rate this book 4 out of 5, remembering that the story is geared for youth and kids. :)

Hope Springs

What a beautiful story of relationships, reconciliation and love. Hope Springs is a story of reconciliation as a family that was torn apart is slowly pieced back together.
As a broken relationship and the loss of a husband lead to a budding new relationship a call to follow God is given, and a difficult decision must be made.
A seperation by color of skin is taking place in the town of Hope Springs, North Carolina and the pastors of the churches are faced with the problem of reconciling it.
As a young woman runs from man to man because she fears commitment, she is faced with the fact that she is really running from God.
As a grandmother struggles with a dibilitating lung cancer she is able to see her family drawn together in a new and magnifacent way.
All of these stories are housed within this one book Hope Springs. I would reccomend this book to people who enjoy reading about lives coming back together, grace, reconciliation and building new realtinoships. This book had just the right amount of romance mixed with faith as well as real life situations. I would give this book a 4 out of  5. It would be 5 out of 5 but I struggled with sompe of the writing style, so it was not my favorite book ever. A great read and I would highly recommend it.

The High Calling Newsletter

The High Calling Newsletter had interesting articles by various authors, as well as video and audio interviews and  "talks". I found many of the articles to be interesting and understandable. Most of the articles we geared particularly for the laity in the church. Some of them were encouragements and challenges to grow in your faith, while others were meant as a form of education on various topics. I read through an article from October that was about micro-management, and I found it interesting as i have been employed by people with many different leadership styles and am myself a leader. The other articles I scanned and the audio I listened to were also very interesting.  I would give the newsletter a 4 out of 5 stars for interesting and applicable works.

Red letter revolution

Red Letter Revolution was an interesting read. I did not agree with everything the authors were saying, in fact most of it I did not agree with. However, I did find many of their ideas thought provoking, and I worked through the many different topics addressed in the book as I read.
Campolo and Claiborne present arguments for various aspects of our life, addressing them by looking at the teachings of Jesus and explaining how that determines how we should live.
Personally I am not sure they approached the different teachings of Christ in a good way. I often felt like the teachings were taken out of context and explained differently than I have ever heard them be explained.
Overall I liked reading the book simply to give me a new perspective to think about and a new way to address different issues in our world today. I enjoyed the thoughts of Campolo more tha those of Claiborne. I felt that he presented many issues but without a very practical way to approach those issues. My favorite, and most thought provoking chapters in the book were the chapter on the church and Hell. They proved thought provoking and I still find myself mulling over the ideas presented. Overall I would rate the book 3 out of 5

Soul's Gate, by: James L. Rubart

Wow! what a great story. Rubart presents an exciting, nerve-racking, and emotional view of the spiritual battles that go on around us. The story is about four people who come together in order to fullfill a prophecy given many years before. As the group grows together they learn about the spiritual realm that empowers them through the name of Jesus Christ. In His name they can understand the leadings of the spirit, teleport, and most importantly enter someones soul to battle for them. This premise sounds far-fetched and a little ridiculous, but when you think about all of the movies and comic books about superheros this storyline becomes a delightful story of action in the spiritual realms.
Although I do not think that the many things that take place in this book are real, I did enjoy the story for the fiction it was. Just like C.S. Lewis' Narnia, or Dekker's Circle series, the story Rubart paints is of a world seperated, and yet connected to our world. This story was action packed and entertaining through the entire book. I enjoyed reading Soul's Gate and I look forward to the next book in this series coming out in print. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5, it was a great story.

Beginners bible app

I was asked to review the Beginners Bible App. The app itself was decent, however I only got the free version, so I was not able to review every story or aspect of he app. I thought the app itself was well done and interactive. My nieces loved to play on it after I read them the corresponding Bible story. They especially enjoyed the puzzle and coloring pages. I thought it was nice that each of the pages was interactive, including the ones with the story written on them. Overall I was very satisfied with the product. I would give it a four out of five stars.

Fix By Force, by: Jason Warne

Fix By Force is a story of loss and addiction, but it also speaks to forgiveness, redemption and new life. The themes are strong throughout the book, and a Christian emphasis can be seen at some points but is not blatant or a focus of the book.
Shane, a senior in high school, has lost his father in a car accident and his mother to a drug addiction. Feeling alone and insecure has lead to issues throughout his life, but many of his problems stem from bullying at school. One boy in particular, named Zack, consistently attacks him (physically, emotionally and verbally). Shane's relationship with his mom is tenuous, and often results in fights. And he is struggling to  continue work at the grocery store where he is employed.
After a long fight with his mom he discovers some things that his dad left behind. Unsure what the glass bottles contains he runs from his house with them and takes them to school the next day. When he is ratted out by one of his "friends" Shane gets expelled from school for bringing drugs with him to school.
If being expelled was not enough, his mom is arrested on drug charges and he has to go live with an uncle that he hardly knows. He is also given the ability to attend an "expelled school" where his life drastically begins to change.
An addiction to steroids, a relationship with a girl and the death of a dog lead Shane to the climax of the story, where he must make some decisions about who he wants to be and who (or what) he is going to let control his life.
The story was novel for me, and I enjoyed the first person style the book was written in. I thought the portrayal of the steroid addiction was well written. I also felt like the relationships and the people throughout the story were given emotion and connection to Shane, making them an intricate part of the story. Overall I would give the story a 4 out of 5, and it would be highly recommended.

The River

The River is a very well written book by Michael Neale. The oopening chapter catches the readers attention hook, line and sinker. THrough a tragic accident a boy loses his father and is left with a lifetime of fears and worries. The story of Gabriel Clarke and his battle with fear, fitting in and a desire to know his father follows in the next chapters. There are stories of his childhood, and we see him conquer many of his fears and find a way to live with the loss of his father. When Gabriel is around 20 years old he is invited to go on a spring break trip with oen of his steadfast friends. He accepts the invitation, but is nervous about what the trip will hold for him. On this trip he meets a girl named Tabitha who is adventerous and spunky, and begins to develop feelings for her. Little did gabriel know that this trip would change his life forever. The last chapters include a story of redemption and forgiveness when Gabriel is introduced to the man responsible for the death of his father.
The River was a beautiful story of pain, struggle and heartache; but it also told a wonderful story of redemption, forgiveness and happiness. I would recommend this book to anyone. An engaging story that Neale wrote in a way that made you feel like you were connected with Gabriel. The emotion of the story felt as if they were my own. I would rate The River 5 out of 5.

Garden of Madness By:Tracy L. Higley

Garden of Madness is a story of the life of Tiamat, the daughter of Nebuchadnezzer. The kings daughter desires to make change in the world, she wants to impact something. Throughout the story we see the struggle for truth, even when the truth is not something nice. In the opening chapters we find Tiamat being given away in marriage, and her father going mad. The story then picks up almost seven years later. Tiamat's husband is now dead, and there is talk of her being given in marriage to a Mede in order to make an alliance. Wanting her freedom, and desiring to stay with her father in Babylon Tiamat engines to search for a way out of the marriage. But her quest for freedom continually leads to more questions.
Throughout the story the readers see Tiamat growing in maturity as she begins to e concerned for more than just herself. She grows wiser as well, understanding that people are not always who they seem. And finally she grows in her faith in God, and begins to turn away from her polytheistic heritage.
The story was well written. I found some parts to be dry, but most were scenes were engaging. If you love Biblical historical novels then I would highly recommend this book, however if that genre is not your favorite then you might find the book a little slow. I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the plot. Overall garden of madness was a good story.