Wisdom Meets Passion - Book Review

Author Dan Miller writes a clever and practical book as well as encouraging. The audience for the book is wide-ranged and can reach all types of demographics. I'm not a huge reader of self-help books, but this one caught my attention. The obvious wasn't overly stated, but it pointed out success, redefining security and freedom and focusing on happiness. However, not preachy or judgement, it was very authentic. This book is a good read, but it was difficult sometimes to read the words in orange text. I was given this book to review by Thomas Nelson Publishing for my honest review.

Tha Fantasy Fallacy: Book Review

This book is beyond what I expected; Shannon took the emphasis completely off of judging fantasies to exploring their meanings. It's like opening a toolbox and finding what one has needed all along without knowing it! In the book, The Fantasy Fallacy, Shannon Ethridge analyzes sexual fantasies and the reasons behind them. Chapters in the book include; Why Discuss Sexual Fantasies?, The Faces Behind Sexual Fantasies, Our Fascination With Pleasure, Pain and Power and Putting Fantasy in Its Place. The book also includes recommended resources and help for recovery. Before reading Shannon's book I had never thought about where fantasies come from or why we have them. I just thought of them as something to battle against and didn't understand why the battle never ended. It's more about how to live with them by learning more about yourself which will hopefully help the fantasies to happen less often. I love that the author is not judgmental. She takes a look at many fantasies and brings them into the light. The fantasies themselves are not evil; and when exposed to the light, darkness has no hold on them or people who have them. Shannon's research indicates that the fantasies we entertain are not always rooted in the sexual acts themselves and we don't have to act on them. We can control our fantasies instead of allowing our fantasies to control us. Disclaimer: I received a free book in order to write this review and have shared my honest opinion.

As One Devil to Another - Book Review

I rated this book a 2.5, as I believe that it will appeal only to very a specific audience. The writing is done well, but in an older style (to imitate that of the original). The subject matter is limited to those who read satire and/or Christian texts, though I do feel as though it could put off each of these readers equally. I went in for the satire and feel as though the Christian element was a bit heavy - handed. Even a Christian reader may find the satire to be heavy-handed. I felt the original was more subtle in these tones. As with many stories, I always suggest the original over any subsequent "remakes." Read the original first, if it appeals to you, pick up this one as well. With all that said, Platt has done an admirable job of updating the original. ***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

Beauty for Ashes - Book Review

This is my first Dorothy Love novel and I'm most certain and I will be reading more by her. It is not very often that I read Christian romances. Usually the storytelling isn't very gripping. They often are sweet and feel-good stories, but not one to keep me up at night for the next page; however, this one is. The author's writing is clear, concise and moving. Beauty for Ashes is a very moving story and I very much enjoyed reading it. The story itself is just delightful. Carrie's brother Henry has just married Mary, and Carrie feels trapped by Mary and her sons' intrusion to the family farm. The women fight like cats until Carrie moves out... only to move back in when Mary becomes pregnant and Henry leaves to find work in Chicago. Mary treats Carrie as a servant, as though she is there to do her bidding. When Carrie decides to do something else and tells Mary that she should take a part in caring for her family, Mary tells Carrie not to be so lazy! I kept waiting for the time in the book when Mary would see the error in how she was treating Carrie and was slightly disappointed that it didn't happen the way I wanted it to. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's sweet, honest, and a joy to read. ***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

Book Review: Beneath the Night Tree

Being a friend to several Christian single moms, this one was close to my heart. It helped me see more of what they have to deal with especially in terms of relationships and keeping it all together.

This was a great read and I found myself wanting to continue reading it, even after I chose a stopping point. I got wrapped up in Julia's love for her son, brother and grandmother. I loved how her grandmother was such a major influence in Julia's life.

Single parent Julia DeSmit is defined by the roles she fills: mother, granddaughter, sister, student, worker.... Mothering her five-year-old son and her eleven-year-old brother is the great joy of her life, but also a huge burden. Although she shares the task with her aging grandmother, Julia still feels the weight of her responsibilities. Her long time boyfriend, Michael, seems to hold the promise for a better life - security, love, shared responsibilities - but while he is in school miles away those promises remain elusive. The biggest problem that Julia faces, though, is how to maintain the closeness and love she feels with her small, unusual family once Michael becomes a permanent part of her life. Will his love hold the key to the normal life she hopes awaits her? Then without warning Julia is contacted by the last person she ever expected to hear from again - the father of her five-year-old son. With his single question - "Do I have a child?" - Julia's well-ordered life is gone. What takes its place is the answer to the prayer that she didn't hope to pray - a prayer answered beneath the night tree.

I realized after I started reading that it was part of a series, but you could read this by itself as well. I hope you get a chance to pick it up and read it.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.