Your People Shall Be My People, Don Finto

An eye-opening book into the true identity and importance of Israel and her place in the Christianity of today. Truly more American Christians need to be taught about Israel and her place in history and future events in the plan of God that has been lain out in the scriptures.

This is one of those profoundly thought provoking books that makes a person reevaluate what we have been taught all our lives. It further causes the reader to explore the Jewish foundation of the Christian faith and become more passionate about Ruth's statement and the implications of this statement found in the book of Ruth. Truly she was a Gentile adopted into the chosen children of God - and we are no less.

This is a book that the reader needs to take time to read and not just rush through. It will cause the reader to look more closely at what we call Christianity.

Thank you Gospel Light for this review copy.

A Mother's Guide to Praying for Your Children, Quin Sherrer

I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down. In fact it became a central part in our Monday Night Moms prayer meeting. This book is filled with helpful advice as you begin to pray the scriptures over your children. I found it to be more than just a book of prefabricated prayers to follow but an instruction guide and encouragement for mothers to pray about and seek out specific scriptures for their individual children. Sherrer addresses the importance of praying the Word over your children for specific things stating that God likes to hear the power of His word released into the believers life.

This book is a powerful addition to the Christian mother's library and is one that will be revisited time and time again.

Forgiving Our Parents, Forgiving Ourselves; David Stoop

Forgiveness is central in the Christian life and walk, yet it is one of the most complex things for us to grasp and come to terms with. Often we believe that we have readily confronted our past and pain and that we have forgiven ourselves and others only to find that somehow we are still carrying it around. In fact many of us live in a sort of self-induced denial, trying to deal with life the best we can yet not fully understanding why we are prone to bad decisions or thought processes.

This book deals with just that. It helps the reader to look objectively at their life and line it up with the scriptures to reveal the areas of work needed. It is difficult at times as the reader must dig up things they would rather not deal with and confront these issues head on in light of the scriptures. However the end result is one of true healing as the power of forgiveness is fully revealed and lived.

An excellent read for all people.

Thank you Gospel Light for this review copy.

Raising a Soulsurfer

This is a great book about this family's journey of faith and the enduring love of Christ. Bethany Hamilton has a book written in her words, however this is written by the mother. This makes a great read for all ages, but is especially appreciated by mothers. Written with a transparent heart the reader is invited into the Hamilton family to walk this valley of fear and hope. My daughter enjoyed this book very much and it has become a welcomed addition to our library.

Thank you Gospel Light for this review copy.

Missiolife

This is an excellent curriculum for small groups our Sunday School settings. I would even venture out to say it would be good for home school situations. I really appreciated the vision of this because it focuses on learning about trusting God so , that you can help others and spread the gospel. This is a very mission minded, outreach program that helps people discover their place in Christianity and to use the talents given to them by God. The format is easy to use and understand. The cd is packed with resources - this makes it great for the one preparing the lesson. Over all this is an excellent program. I hope to see it in use in our church in the future and will be recommending it.

Thanks to B&B for this review copy.

Deeply Devoted, Maggie Brendan

Maggie Brendan has done it again. This is the first book in a new series that promises to be just as engaging as the last series she wrote. It will draws readers in to the story and leaves them wanting to see more of the story unfold.

Catherine Olsen is a beautiful lady touched by tragedy and heartache living in Holland. She has struggled to hang on to her life as it is turned upside down. However, after the sudden and unexpected loss of her parents the finally tragedy shatters Catherine's heart. Left with the charge of her two sisters Anna and Greta, and longing for a new start in life Catherine answers an add for a mail-order bride. Through the correspondence with Peter Anderson Catherine falls in love with the caring and tender Peter Anderson.

Across the world in Wyoming Peter Anderson is the only son of a doting and controlling mother. Clara, Peter's mother, has his life planned. She has given him the farm that was once her and her husband and she has chosen the "perfect" bride for him. Dorothy is a Cheyenne socialite and is deemed a perfect match despite the fact that Peter has no feelings past friendship for the beautiful lady. Wishing to find someone to share love with Peter places an add for a mail-order bride and begins correspondence with Catherine Olsen. In her letters he finds a woman that truly is his answers to prayers. Not telling his mother his plans, Peter brings Catherine to Wyoming to be his bride.

Thus begins the tale that will bring the reader to the edge of their seats. Brendan has done an excellent job at making her characters real and believable. Will the things left unsaid by Peter and the secret heartache that Catherine has hidden tear the two apart. Or will their individual faith and their united love be enough to overcome these things and begin a healing process for Catherine. Is love really enough?

This story is written so well that it is an easy and quick read. I found myself in tears when the fullness of Catherine's heartbreak is revealed. I then found myself angry at those who dared to meddle in the matters of the heart. I wanted more than anything for the truth to come out before it was too late. Truly this is one story that does keep the reader guessing until the end what the ultimate outcome will be.

Excellent job Maggie Brendan! I can't wait to read the following stories in this series.

Thank you Revell for this review copy.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Sifted, Rick Lawrence

"People who have been sifted and revealed see God's heart
more clearly, and therefore understand His goodness
more deeply, and therefore give what they have
more freely."


Have you experienced deep pain that has left your world in shattered pieces around you? Have you looked up to find that some cataclysmic event in life, some unexpected storm has left your world turned upside down? Or are you the one who looks up one morning and feel as if the weight of the daily grind has pulled so much from you that you just don't know if you can handle one more of life's "little aggravations" because if your honest you've just had too many of these little events to juggle with lately. Your broken, your empty, your all poured out, your exhausted and the road you are walking is suffocating darkness. You look up and wonder what your faith has really done for you - who is this Jesus that you've loved and served - where is He now - and if He loved you so much why isn't He helping you?

This is one of those rare books that you pick up that has the power to cause you to stop and reevaluate your life and your beliefs. It is one of those books that on the outside seems absolutely harmless, maybe even interesting - then you crack the cover and what you begin to realize is this is a book that reflects some of your deepest questions about God - that known thing that you are too "religious" to admit out loud; the thought that God seems filled with contradiction - deep a passionate love, and then a "brutal" terrible side that conditions us and allows sifting that will shatter us so that we better understand Him.

My copy of this book is already separating from it's binding, it is dog-eared, tabbed, underlined and has thoughts and revelations written in the margins. It has been re-opened time and time again to certain passages and cross-referenced with scriptures. It is in a sad shape for a book, but it bears the evidence of one that has already been well read - as I am sure every copy sold will.

Dealing mainly with the topic of Simon Peter's sifting experience this book explores what on the surface is the contradiction of God's loving side. This is eventually exposed as our misinterpretation of God's deep, intense, personal love for His creation; and His driving desire to have His creation conformed to His image.

I am adding this book (a new copy of course) to my shelf to recommend to those going through a sifting process. Almost a year ago we lost an infant son at 4 months of pregnancy due to a Subchorionic hemorrhage. This condition is usually resolved, however just when we got the confirmation that it was resolved just a few days later it reappeared. I will say that of all the sifting experiences in my life this was by far the most devastating and most life-changing. I can personally relate to this book. As in the middle my only hold to life when my faith became thread-bear and I began to wonder how much more can I bear. In the midst of the darkness I cried out for God to just show me the cross - I knew if I could just focus on that I would somehow survive this great ordeal. Continually I prayed for the survival of Caleb Levi - but on the other end of this prayer was a mother's heart broken plea, "Father, please give me the courage, the strength to accept Your will no matter what it is. Please give me spiritual eyesight to see past this numbing pain and recognize Your glory". Needless to say we lost our child - but in an essay labeled "The Sacrifice of Praise" I explained how this very experience brought to me a deeper more intimate knowledge of Christ and my identity in Him. In the wake of this loss my husband and I learned of the need for a new ministry, our raw hearts longed to comfort those who did not have the same tie to Jesus - to introduce them to the calm waters of His land even in the midst of a crashing world and shattered dreams. I remember telling my when he said he did not know if he could go through this again, "Who are we to say what we can or can not go through - these things are in God's hands and are for our good. I must believe and hold to the fact that He said He has good thoughts toward me - even in the bad. Therefore He will sustain me again and again...I must trust that He will not crush me completely".

Page 97... " God has not promised that He's going to stop [the bad from happening], but He'll show up in the middle of it, and there is nothing so dead that He can't grow something out of it. There's nothing so broken that He can't heal it. And there's not anything so lost He can't find it."

Special thanks to B&B Media Group, Inc for this review copy.

The Virgen Mary in Light of the Word of God, Dr. Labib Mikhail

Far too long Mary has been put above her actual standing as an ordinary girl used my an Extraordinary God to accomplish an Amazing task - bringing into this world the Son of God. In fact before reading this my husband and I sat discussing the very fact that so many hold Mary in such high esteem, often taking her out of her actual roll and placing her in an exalted status. To still be a virgin this woman had only to become the bearer of the child of God (or in modern terms the surrogate mother). No part of Mary was in the Christ for if it were so then it would be against scripture as Mary herself was of the fallen creation and thus born into sin itself. Therefor she was the vessel God chose to use to accomplish a feat that had to be done in order to save this wretched state of mankind.

Dr. Labib Mikhail does an excellent job bringing out relevant scriptures to counter the current views of Mary and to set her in the correct place of mankind. There is nothing extraordinary about her except her willingness to be a part of something greater than herself. I found the book extremely informative and enjoyable to read. I look forward to more books by this author.

Thanks to the publisher Nordskog for this review copy.

Tales of Little Bear and Little Buffalo, Roy Naquin

This book is a treasure to have. Native American tales are quickly becoming scarce as newer generations are failing to pass along the oral traditions of these great people that shaped this continent. In this book the author recounts the tales told to him by his grandfather and father. In it children are immersed into a world that many people try to write about from the outside looking in but few of the insiders actually put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard as is the case today).

This book follows Little Bear and Little Buffalo on their adventures. It seems these to little Indians have no trouble finding mischief to get into, adventures are just around the river bend or over the next hill. I absolutely loved the simplicity and creativity of this book. It is easy for children to read and will spark their childish imaginations as they begin to wonder what adventure they can find in their own backyards.

I received this review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this delightful book I would encourage you to write another. My boys loved these daring tales of boyhood fun!

How To Talk So Your Kids Will Listen, H. Norman Wright

I am a fan of H. Norman Wright and was excited to finally get this book. I am a mother of four children - and as all parents know each child is drastically different. My first was a difficult baby and toddler but by far exceeds maturity and grace at the age of ten. My next to youngest however was a "perfect" baby that turned into a difficult 3 and now four year old. His quick temper and angry outburst make it difficult to talk him through things. In fact both of my boys are somewhat this way. I become so used to being able to reason with my oldest, to explain consequences and know she would choose the right path that I was, and am still to a certain extent, thrown off balance with my boys and youngest feisty girl. Being thrown off balance I began to yell or slam my hand down on a surface to get attention - then I would threaten, threaten, threaten. Over and over my husband said to follow through - but honestly I stayed worn out as a stay at home mom and home school teacher. Seemed my whole day revolved around upheaval.

This book was excellent at bringing out solid points on communicating with each child on their terms while showing respect and getting getting respect for your authority. I enjoyed this book very much and have found it helpful - Though to be honest I am having to keep it handy for review and not shelved just yet.

Thank you Gospel Light for this review copy.

Nowhere Hair, Sue Glader

Cancer changes everything in a family's life. Often children have so many unanswered questions so quietly they struggle with secret doubts and worries. This book is by far the sweetest book on this subject written by a woman that has gone through this valley. Her thoughtful poetic style presents the truth that cancer is no ones fault, it does not change the love between the parent and child, it does not change the inside of a person. This book shows that truly it is that inward beauty that counts the most and makes the biggest difference. The deep love between the characters reassures small children that even this thing can be faced with security and love. I applaud this author for taking the time to write this children's book. I think it should be one that is recommended at support groups and in doctor's offices that treat cancer patients. It should be on stand-by at cancer treatment facilities to help children understand just what is going on - to help quiet their fears and set their little hearts at ease.

Thank you Sue Glader for this work of your heart! I received this review copy directly from the author free of charge in exchange for an unbiased review of the work.

Race Against Time, Kimberley and Kayla Woodhouse

I would love to say I enjoy the books that the Woodhouse duo write but I just can't. This book is the same book as the last, only set in a different area with different characters - and still the missing or dead father. The writing is very elementary and hard to follow. I think this duo would be better served writing a non-fiction piece of work based on their life experience rather than fiction. It seems they are kind of stuck in a funk and spin the same story over and over - Kind of like the 100 different themes of Cinderella stories and movies out on the market right now. Please restrain yourselves from writing yet another book like this one.

I would most certainly not recommend this book to anyone under any circumstances.

Thank you B&H Publishing for this review copy.

Pirate of My Heart, Jamie Carie

This story began sadly and heartbreaking with the death of Lady Kendra's mother after her birth. On her deathbed she made her husband promise to love and protect Kendra and to allow her to choose her own husband. The story unfolds with a beautiful bond of faith and love between father and daughter but quickly turns tragic at the introduction of her long gone uncle and the death of her father. Truly heart-wrenching.

As Lady Kendra's world is turned upside down her faith is pushed to the limit. The loving and caring environment she was used to is ripped from her hands. The freedom of love and choice of a husband is taken from her and her uncle arranges a marriage to someone Kendra just does not love.

Choosing to try out her own wings and explore what the world has to offer Lady Kendra begins a journey that will alter her life and change her faith. Though I expected something quite different from the cover alone the story of love and redemption is still sweet. However, there is only a brief mention of pirates.

I did not care for the cover at all. In fact to be very honest the cover art kept me from picking up this book for a long time - it is just not the most attractive or alluring cover I have seen.

Thank you to B&H Publishing for this review copy.

Fallen Angel, Major Jeff Strucker and Alton Gansky

Fast-paced intense on the edge of your seat action. This story of a satellite falling to the ground is one that will keep your attention from the first page. The author has first hand military experience yet does not incorporate the sometimes filthy language found similar novels with like themes. This book is an excellent and easy read. For those looking for an action packed thriller without an intense love story this is it! Men, you will enjoy this - women will also likewise enjoy it.

Thank you to B&H Publishing for this review copy.

Moments Together for Parents, Dennis and Barbara Rainey

This is a small gift book - but big in great devotions. This is excellent for parents - it would be great to put in a baby shower gift. This is a thirty day devotional for parents to work through together. They are short enough to finish in 10 minutes or less. I think that this is a great way to get conversation and prayer started between parents. It is vitally important that parents are in one accord in prayer for their children. This book offers a way for parents to get on the "same page" for the day and initiates biblical discussion concerning the raising of children and the difficulties that arise during this season of life.

Thank you Gospel Light for this review copy.

The Big Picture Bible TimeLine,

Okay Sunday School Teachers and home school moms - if you are looking for a fun and interactive way to make biblical history come alive this is it! I love this book! The pages are reproducible so you can make multiple time lines. Why not turn you Sunday School room into a visual timeline? Allow children to explore history through pictures and to actually see how it all fits in together. I was expecting something a little different but was very pleasantly surprised when I opened the pages of this book. I am taking this in conjunction with our world history and adding events from secular history to the coloring pages so my children see that the biblical history is not isolated but that it is directly and intricately interwoven into all history. They can thus experience the far reaching impact of other cultures and christian cultures on the war and better understand what all was happening in the world at certain times in the bible. This is an outstanding resource for home school parents and Sunday School teachers. It could also be used in a Children's church setting as you explore the bible and it's characters.

Thanks to Gospel Light for this review copy.

Just Fine the Way They Are, Connie Nordhielm Wooldridge

Although this is a non-fiction book it is extremely entertaining for elementary students. This book is all about embracing change and being ready for it when it comes. It seems there is a prevalent attitude that emerges among each generation that things are fine the way they are and that because it's always been this way (for as long they can remember) it doesn't need to change. This book explores that change can be beneficial and good if embraced and accepted. I found it very interesting to read and my children all really enjoyed it. This is an excellent book - I highly recommend it for teachers (public and home school alike).

Thank you to the author for this review copy.

Off to Class, Susan Hughes

This is a wonderful book! Thank you Susan Hughes for taking the time to put together such a great children's book. I am always looking for ways to introduce my children to other "worlds" and ways of doing things so that they do not become self-absorbed thinking that every where is like here. They enjoyed all the pictures and stories of all the different types of schooling environments and techniques. I really enjoyed that the book did not have to be read from front to cover, rather you can skip around to the different schools. We spent time discussing what we like and disliked about the schools and the children noticed how the kids were dressed and the economic state of things represented in the pictures.

I highly recommend this book to teachers and parents alike.

Thank you for this review copy.

The Shooting Salvationist, David R. Stokes

Even so, this book was great. I went immediately to church to speak to some of our older congregants about it. Not being a native of Texas - I was curious if any of them had any knowledge of this man. None did, but many where wanting to read the book when I started talking about what all was covered in this book.I agreed to review this book because I am intrigued with the history of the Baptist - being a Baptist myself. Living in Texas I was very interested in this story in particular.

J. Frank Norris is a character like no other. I have to say at the end of the book that I wondered how he still had any followers left - but then often dynamic speaking and an intimidating presence will draw a crowd more than sincerity. People in this world are seeking out leaders that are uncompromising - even if they are not always the best.

I was shocked at all that J. Frank Norris was accused of and even more shocked that he got off every time - especially in the murder case that this book centers around. In fact after reading this I consider this man a dark spot in the Baptist history - it seems some of our greatest leaders in the Baptist group of Texas have been somewhat shady and questionable. I wonder how the truly great leaders of integrity feel being mixed in such influential company.

The book was filled with many, many outside sources. It is obvious that this author had a great fascination of this dynamic man. However, at times I felt bogged down with the references, especially when there where quotes but no footnotes or recognition of the quoted source. Some of these could have been done a way with.

If you are looking for a piece of non-fiction that will cause you to dig into Texas church history this is probably a book for you. I personally do not know why anyone would be willing to put this man on their list of influential men of their lives. After reading this it just opened my eyes to how easily deceived people can be when a person such as J. Frank Norris has the courage and gumption to push their dynamic, manipulative personalities off on others. This man was the picture of maliciousness, evil speech, false testimony, lack of integrity, lack of honesty, murderous rage - all exact opposites of Christ's walk on this Earth.

I will be keeping this book in our section of the library that has other autobiographies and biographies of some of the religious greats and not so greats. I think at sometime this very story will be intriguing for my children to read. For even leaders that are bad serve a purpose in God's ultimate plan for this world. If only to open our eyes as to how we should be on guard and vigilant.

Thank you to the author for this review copy.

A Lancaster Christmas, Suzanne Woods Fisher

In this touching tale of God's faithfulness and love two worlds are forever changed and lives are mended in unlikely ways.

Jaime Fiztpatrick doesn't realize that what she considers a chance meeting in a doctor's office is actually an action of God's mighty hand. Struggling with the loss of her mother and the insecurities of a father who left her as an infant Jaime is in constant search of who she is. She is now in a struggling marriage and is trying to involve her long absentee father into her life.

Mattie Reihl is overcome with grief. She feels the weight of being unable to have more children pulling her down. After her recent miscarriage she feels that there is no hope left and her life seems devoid of joy and peace. Struggling to maintain faith but also trying to control her life she feels her old self slipping further and further into a grey oblivion of desperate sadness.

Little did these women know that God intended for them to help each other find the answers to their deepest questions and longings and to rediscover His love for them.
When Jaime drives to the Reihl farm to return little Danny's whistle she finds herself trapped in a winter storm with her husband CJ.

There the two families are thrown into a weekend that will forever change them. This is a sweet and amazing book.

Thank you Revell for this review copy.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Deliver Us From Evil, Cindy Jacobs

STOP SATAN AT YOUR DOORSTEP....the heading on the back cover reads.

I will honestly say that I would not recommend this book for everyone. This is an extremely graphic book filled with many testimonies and stories of demonic activity. If read with the heart of truly wanting to understand the effects of the spirit world and wanting to break those bondage's this book is the one to read. A person can not help while reading this to become convicted in so many areas. It amazed me that I had allowed so many different demonic things to be in my house out of pure ignorance. Cindy Jacobs does an amazing job at showing just how lax we have become in today's society. Though we run a very strict home - I was still amazed at how much I had been exposed to as a child. More so this book helped me to understand some of the things that had been going on in my life.

Again - this book is not for the faint hearted. Nor is it for someone new in the faith. Before reading it a believer must begin by taking inventory of your spiritual armor and spend time studying God's word and the promises contained therein. Do not be caught off guard - if you delve into the spirit world you will experience the enemy's attack. Satan does not want you to be aware of his schemes and he certainly does not want you to develop a strong sense of faith and authority in Christ to fight against him.

Thank you Gospel Light for this review copy.

Purging your House, Pruning Your Family Tree; Perry Stone

This book is long over due. Though there is much out there regarding the deliverance movement this book by far surpasses them all. I am most impressed with the fact that Perry Stone doesn’t just give a list of prayers but rather approaches this as a lesson in the spirit world. I think too often there is a great divide in believers – those who jump off deep into the spiritual realm without understanding it and those who just want to act as if there is not spiritual world. Either of these approaches is detrimental to the one doing so – One leads a person into a place of weakness, for denying that the enemy is there does not cause him to go away, while the other acts in pride and often without the full covering of Christ, taking on more that he is able.
This book explores the implications of generational curses, familiar spirits and spiritual manifestations. Although this very thing is what will cause many conservatives to put this book back on the shelf I would encourage that person to pick it up – they may be the one most in need of this very book. IF you have ever wondered why there are certain things you seem to battle more than others, or why you seem prone to certain things. IF you are looking at your family and wondering how you can change from the path set out, how you can be free from all that garbage. This is the book for you. I learned so much…In fact my FaceBook page was filled over the last few weeks with little quotes from this book. This is a wonderful, life changing book. I will be adding it to one that I recommend over and over in the ministry field and one that I will revisit often.

Thanks to Charisma House for this review copy.

Megan's Secrets, Mike Cope

From the opening page you are invited into a journey of joy and heartbreak. It is one of those journeys in which those along for the walk are brought closer to the throne of God and into a deeper understanding of His grace, love and mercy.

It is often those that seem most insignificant or cumbersome to the world that in that innocence of what the world labels "disability" we see the example of child-like faith. In these rare instances we are offered a personal glimpse of what heaven must truly be like - and what the heart of God is so desperately trying to communicate to the world.

Megan was one of those children. Though she spoke only a few words her silence spoke volumes. Maybe it was that very thing the world labels as a "disability" that enabled Megan to love more freely and more deeply. Maybe it was this very thing that allowed her life to be lived free of expectations and standards, religion or traditions of men - free from worry about others thoughts - free to be herself and to touch others in a profoundly deep and lasting way.

It is in this life that we are invited to throw off the weight of our expectations and to embrace the grace and love of God. To be both blessed freely and to bless freely without giving thought to what others may or may not think.

This is one of those books that when you read it your heart can not help but to be stirred to movement for Christ. It is one that reaches into the very depths of who we are as humans to touch that one place where there is a void and to open our eyes to the longing to know and experience Christ deeper and fuller.

Mike Cope has transparently lain open his heart and his life. He is honest about the struggles of raising a disabled child. He is honest about the heartbreak of that first diagnosis and the struggle to find the balance in life to cope and adjust. But more so this man is honest about the touch of God that could only have been brought through Megan's life. He reveals the deep truths of God that can only be experienced during the times of life that we so often think are difficult.

I strongly urge you to pick up a copy of this moving book and ask that the Lord speak to you as you read the testimony of this father.

Thank you B&B Communications for this review copy.

Deadly Pursuit, Irene Hannon

I would love to sing rave reviews about this book, but I just can't. I did enjoy the overall theme and story line but could have done with out all the physical descriptions of how beautiful Alison was and how handsome he was. It seemed there was a lot of emphasis put on the physical attraction of these two - a little over the top for me. I found myself skipping over entire parts when they were together because I was tired of reading about the sweet scent of her silky hair as it brushed against his strong jaw and so on and so on.

That all set aside I loved the fact that the entire family was involved in the justice system in some way. I also like the suspense as the stalker advanced and they worked to discover the person behind everything. I also appreciated how this author wove in the message of God in the different characters and the message of life-sustaining faith.

Over all the plot and story are well written and developed. I think that those who love a sticky sweet romance and don't mind a little action and suspense will devour this book whole. For those who enjoy action and suspense but could leave or take the romance part this book may not be for you - as it wasn't for me. I do enjoy a good love story but not one based on the physical aspects of the other person.

Grace for the Good Girl, Emily P. Freeman

Emily Freeman's new book is absolutely astounding! I think just about every woman I know could benefit from this easy to read book. I loved her writing style - it made it seem as if I were sitting with a friend having a discussion about life. So many of us struggle with being a good girl, good mother, good wife, good friend....and we don't even realize it.

In her book Emily Freeman gives the tools and suggestions to help the reader break free from this prison of "goodness" and into the freedom of a true identity and confidence in Christ. I can not think of one person I know that could not relate in some small way to this book. It seems that this author covered every angle and was transparent in her own personal struggle with being the good girl.

As a child of a broken and abusive home, to the wife of a Pastor and the mother of 4 home schooled children - I have most certainly felt the need to be every one's definition of Good. I have struggled with trying to meet every one's expectations only to be deeply frustrated at myself and angry when I could not do it.

Therefor this book was a welcomed and refreshing study. It reinforced the things I had already been applying to my life and reassured me that I am not the only one that has struggled with this very thing.

I recommend this book for every woman - I would also recommend it to teenagers. If we catch this before they are adults and give them the confidence to be who God created them to be then maybe they won't struggle with this same thing as adults.

This book was provided for review purposes only no payment was received for this review.

Available September 2011 from your favorite bookseller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Queen (Patrick Bowers Files Bk 5), Steven James

Fast-paced and intriguing. That is how I would describe this book. This is the first by this author that I have read so I am curious about books 1-4! I did have a little difficulty with keeping the "bad" guys straight since they were introduced with one name and then with different aliases. Other than that I loved it.

Patrick Bowers is an FBI agent who has had his share of tragedy and hardships. While on a case to find a serial killer he is pulled off to investigate what seems like a simple double murder/suicide. The local of this crime puts him near his brother and sister in-law. So not only will he be solving a crime that turns out to be deeper and more involved than first thought but he must also deal with some family issues that have been left too long buried and some secrets that threaten to rip apart the family at the seams. Add to this a love affair and a step-daughter who is dealing with her own demons after losing her father, mother and shooting a man and a mysterious villan by the name of Valkyrie and you have a nail-biting, page turning suspence that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

Every time I thought I had the killers figured out and the plot - I turned the page to find I really did not have it figured out at all. The one thing that stuck in my head through-out the story is Bower's constant repeating that the truth could be hiding in plain sight - and so it was at the end. The answer was there all along - but none the less it was utterly shocking.

I would have to think from the way this one ended that there will be another addition to the Patrick Bowers Files - and I am all on board for the next adventure.

Thanks to Revell for this review copy.

Safely Home, Randy Alcorn

Separated by the oceans two men live very different lives. Neither could know how the world had changed the other in the twenty years since they had been college roommates. Both lived lives unaware of the other in very different worlds.

Quan - a Chinese, Ben - an American. After twenty years the men find themselves together again in desperate situations that will test their faith and resilience. These times will tell the character and integrity of both men.

I am surprised Randy Alcorn would take on such a controversial subject such as this. In fact that is one reason I chose to read this book. After checking other reviews to see if this would be one that would interest me - my interest was immediately piqued. My husband is a seminary student and he has had class with Chinese students. They have openly talked about the persecution of Christians even sharing stories of having to meet under the ground in wet, cold caves for bible study. They told of fearful night meetings. It seems that this is a travesty the Chinese would like to keep hidden or would more like to keep a blind eye turned to. I applaud Alcorn's attempt to shed some light on a difficult subject, as I am sure it is somewhat difficult to research it. People are taught to love and defend their country, even hide or disguise its dark secrets and problems. In this book Alcorn explores this sensitive subject and exposes what faith under fire truly is. For it is in the midst of persecution that our baby faith is excercised and we begin to understand the magnitude of God's sustaining power and the depth of His unwavering love. Courage, mercy, forgiveness, love - these are the themes of this great book.

Thank you Randy Alcorn for such a fine work. Thanks you Tyndale for this review copy.