Friday, December 26, 2008

For These Tough Times


For These Tough Times by Max Lucado is a little book that is packed full of good stuff. There has never been a time in all of history that people haven’t faced heartache in life. Whether death of a loved one, the failure of a marriage, the loss of a friend or even a battle with depression, hurt is nothing new. Questioning God through the tough times is nothing new. This latest volume from Max Lucado reassures us that God is on His throne, where He’s always been and that He is still in control. It reminds us that He is our creator, He knows us and He loves us. It points us towards Him and encourages us to cling to Him when all hope seems lost. The book closes with a prayer that sums up the entire book and backs it up with passages of scripture. Max Lucado once again pulls the reader in through his own personal and relevant reflection. Bottom line, it reminds us that God loves us and always will. This is a great book for anyone who doesn’t like to read (it’s short!) and for those who are facing things that they never thought they would. It’s new and it’s from Thomas Nelson.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

House of Dark Shadows


I don’t normally read fiction for young adults or juvenile fiction but thought that the book House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo (2008 Thomas Nelson) looked like an interesting one. It was much more than I’d anticipated. This book tells the story of fifteen year old Xander and his family who move from their happy life in L.A. to a small town no one has ever heard of. At first glance their new home seems like any other abandoned house but then strange things start to happen and before he knows it Xander is finding secret passages and rooms with doors that lead to strange (and dangerous) lands. When something happens to one of the family members and Xander learns the truth about the house will it be too late to change things?
This book kept me on the edge of my seat and the end kept me wanting more of it. The only thing that I didn’t like about this book is that it’s supposed to be written for juvenile readers but many of the film references are older movies that today’s teens may have never heard of. All in all it was a very good book and I look forward to reading the rest of the series (and in sharing them with my own teenager).

Book winners!

The winners of the When the Soul Mends books are Heather and Kathy. Congrats ladies & everyone else, hang in there another giveaway next week!

Monday, December 8, 2008

When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall


When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall is the satisfying conclusion to the three book series Sisters of the Quilt. It follows When the Heart Cries and When the Morning Comes. In this installment we follow Hannah Lapp back to the Pennsylvania Amish country where she meets up again with the man she gave her heart too years ago, before her nightmare began. Now she must decide whether to pursue Paul or to stay with Martin, the man who captured her heart when she began her new life. Add to that the mystery of her sisters mental illness, Hannah's ache deep within because of what she once had and what was stolen from her and her struggle to be the person she has become and not who her family wants her to be and you've got one good read. Perfect for a cool winter night.
Or win a copy!

I've got TWO copies of this book to give away. Leave a comment in this section by Saturday morning and you'll be entered to win.