Seek Me with all your Heart

By Beth Wiseman

For Emily Detweiler, a move to Colorado represents a new life away from the painful memories of a tragedy that deeply affected her life and her faith. While settling into a new Amish community she meets David Stolzfus, a kind but mysteriously aloof young man with secrets of his own. A growing friendship with a crabby old widow brings these two together, but both fear what will happen if their secrets are revealed.


This is a story of redemption and restoration. The author deals with some very difficult issues in this book, and handles them well. The characters are endearing and well-developed.

While overall I enjoyed the book, it wasn’t without some disappointments. Though it is Amish fiction, there was very little detail about their Amish heritage. It really almost didn't seem Amish at all. And, as is the case with most Christian fiction today, it is full of personal messages from God – outside of Scripture.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through their BookSneeze program, but that in no way influenced my opinion of it.

Mine is the Night

By Liz Curtis Higgins




Set in Selkirk, Scotland in 1746, this is the story of newly widowed Elisabeth Kerr and her mother-in-law, Marjory. After losing their husbands in the Jacobite rebellion the once-prosperous ladies are forced to return to Marjory’s homeland with little to their name. Depending heavily on a cousin with little to share, Elizabeth’s abilities as a seamstress, and the grace of God these two women begin their lives again. While they heal from the past they begin to find hope for their future. When an Admiral in the Kings Navy moves to the area they fear that their Jacobite ties may find them facing charges of treason.

I found this book to be easy to read and enjoyable. The characters are easy to relate to and exhibit exemplary faith. The historical details appear to be very accurate. I would have liked to have had a little more detail in the description of Selkirk, but that didn’t detract from the overall appeal of the book. This book is the last in a series, but I read it alone without much difficulty.

I found the story to be very reminiscent of the book of Ruth and the elements of faith to be glorifying to God and refreshing. At time when so much Christian fiction is watered-down and full of misapplied Scripture and personal messages from God, this book stands out as an example of how Christian fiction should be.

You can read the first chapter here.

I must mention that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from Waterbrook Multnomah. I did not receive any other compensation and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The Goodness of God by Randy Alcorn

Subtitle: Assurance of Purpose in the Midst of Suffering

In this book best-selling author Randy Alcorn takes a close look at suffering and evil in light of God’s Word. Pain and suffering will strike us all, and the issues are complex, but by examining the nature of God and His Word we can prepare ourselves to face these difficulties knowing that God is in control and His purposes our higher than ours.

I found this book to be incredibly comforting to read. This is not a book filled with trite sayings and feel-good sentiments, but rather is filled with biblical truths the reader can use to prepare himself for tribulation. There are many powerful stories of how God has used difficult circumstances for good, and how those who lived through them grew in grace and their knowledge of God. These stories are real, and they don’t all have what this world would call a happy ending – and I like that. Real life is hard, and this book is a valuable resource for understanding suffering. I also appreciate that it is full of Scripture to encourage and exhort the reader.

This is a book I will keep in my library. I’m sure there will be dark days in my life when I will need to cling to the truths presented in it.

You can read the first chapter HERE.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”





Pujols: More than the Game Book Review

By Scott Lamb and Tim Ellsworth

“At the end of the day as long as I glorify Him and those 45,000 people know who I represent out there every time I step out on the field, that’s what it’s about. It’s about representing God.” –Albert Pujols (p. II)

I think this quote very adequately describes both Albert Pujols and this book. It’s about glorifying God. From humble beginnings in the Dominican Republic to his meteoric rise to fame in the US, outstanding athletic ability, strong work ethic, and faith God make him one of the most easily likable celebrities of our day. This book covers it all.

I really love a biography that doesn’t just outline a person’s accomplishments but really digs deeper, revealing the person behind the image. This book delivers. Pujols is more than just an outstanding ball player – he is a man of integrity. While the authors cover the details of his rise to fame in baseball, they also cover his conversion, his devotion to his wife and kids, and what drives him most – his faith.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but particularly to people with teenage boys. I think this is the type of book that may help young adults see how to be a man of integrity in whatever they do, and that serving the Lord is the most important aspect of their life.

I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Thomas Nelson’s BookSneeze program. That in no way influenced my opinion of it.





Always True by James MacDonald

Subtitle: God's 5 promises when life is hard.

Enter to win a copy of this book HERE. Giveaway ends 2/17/11 at 10PM.

In this encouraging book, Pastor James MacDonald opens the Bible and explores five of the great promises God has made to His people. These are promises that are true in every generation, and God is by nature a promise-keeper.


This book was written following some of the darkest times of the author’s life. This is not a preachy “here’s how you should feel” type book. This is an honest, heartfelt look at the hope that God has given us and the promises that He has made to help carry us through the trials of life.

This book is laid out in such a way that it is very easy to study and apply these promises to your life. Each promise is preceded by a section called “The Theology of a Promise,” where Pastor James opens God’s Word to help us better understand God and His nature. He then explores a promise of God. The promise chapters each end with a section called “Take to Heart” which summarizes the definition of the promise and offers practical ways to apply it in our life. There is also a memory verse to go along with each promise, allowing the reader to hide God’s Word in their heart and be able to bring it to mind when troubles come. This layout makes it an outstanding resource for preparing believers to face difficulties.

I was very moved by this book. I’ve been going through a very difficult time in my life, and this book was exactly what I needed to read. This book was written after Pastor James went through the darkest period of his life, and his personal perspective makes it very relatable and comforting to read.

These promises are real. It is so humbling and awe-inspiring to contemplate these promises. God, the Author and Creator of the universe, has made promises to us and we can know that He will always keep them.

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided to me by C. Grant & Company, but that in no way influenced my opinion of it.



The Sacred Meal

I found this book to be very disturbing. Author Nora Gallagher had been asked to write a book about communion – the sacred meal- as a part of Thomas Nelson’s Ancient Practices Series. I was eager to read this book as Communion is such an important part of our life as believers, and it’s so easy to fall into the routine of taking communion, while neglecting to reflect on the significance of it.

I expected this book to look to the Scriptures to see what God has said about the practice that He ordained. Sadly, this book is page after page of the author’s thoughts and feelings, both about communion and a myriad of unrelated things that really have no bearing on communion whatsoever. There is very little Scripture used, and when it is its misapplied or misrepresented.

Here is one example is found on pages 23-24. Gallagher is discussing the last supper and Christ’s words to the disciples, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

She says,

“Instead, I think Jesus wanted his disciples and everyone who came after him to remember what they had together. What they made together. What it meant to be together. How the things he wanted them to do could not be done alone. How the things he did could not have been done without them.”(page 24 - emphasis hers)

Clearly, there are many things wrong with just this one paragraph. For one, there is NOTHING that He could not have done without them. He was God incarnate. They were lowly men. But my point in using this paragraph as an example is to show how the author completely ignores what Scripture says about Communion. The Scriptures tell us what we are to be remembering, His death until He comes (1Cor 11:23-26). Not what they did together.

It really doesn’t matter what we think or how we feel about communion; all that really matters is what God has said about it in His Word.

I received a complimentary review copy of the book from Thomas Nelson, but that in no way influenced my opinion of it.

Radical by David Platt

Subtitle: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream


In “Radical” best-selling author/pastor David Platt calls American Christians to evaluate their lives and their finances in light of the teachings of Christ.

I must admit I expected this book to be the social gospel for the Twenty-First century.

I was wrong. This is not doing good works to earn salvation, but rather doing them because of our salvation.

The true gospel is clearly preached throughout this book – he is spot on in that regard. This isn’t about the social gospel, but rather examining where our treasure is. It’s a call to Christians to carefully consider what a need is and what is a luxury. How much more could we give if we cut out the extras? How big of a house do we need? How about our churches – do we need huge buildings with comfy seats while our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world suffer?

The author admits there are far more questions than answers. I appreciate that this was not written in a legalistic manner, and it doesn’t condemn. He is just asking valid questions; questions that we must all answer for ourselves.

My one big concern with this book is that it seems to almost bring good works up to gospel level; as if they are a second part of the gospel, rather than an evidence of our faith. Please notice I said almost. He does not claim this, but I fear that it could easily be interpreted that way and turned into legalism and/or the social gospel.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

You can read the first chapter HERE.