More Book Reviews

I am thankful for the opportunity to review books for Bethany Publishing and Tyndale. I am an avid reader under normal circumstances.  But during this pregnancy, reading puts me right to sleep! I struggle reading more than a chapter at a time. So, I've had to force myself to keep reviewing and keep reading. My pile of books got a little bigger than I'd normally like. Last week, I got the newest book from my favorite author. I told myself I had to catch up on all my other books before I could begin Dee Henderson's latest mystery. 

The first and last books I've mentioned in this post are ones that other mothers of boys should definitely check out! Although I haven't read these two word for word (meaning, I hope there is nothing wrong or un-scriptural mentioned that I haven't seen yet), I am impressed and encouraged by what I have read so far. 

And, if any of these titles look likes one you might want to check out, the pictured book includes an affiliate link to Amazon. I love trying to find a cheap used copy through Amazon! 

Praying for Boys - Asking God for the Things Things They Need Most by Brooke McGlothlin

Since I grew up without any brothers, I was a little nervous as to how I would raise Hudson - I mean, I knew how to feed him and cloth him. But I also knew there were certain things a boy would need from his mother, certain truths I needed to instill in him, certain things that only I could teach him or affirm in him. I also knew I would have to research what these areas are. This book seemed to be a great place to start. 

At this point, I just skimmed the book, looking at the different areas mentioned to pray over boys. From integrity, gentleness, obedience, pride, purity, and much more - this book seems to cover a wide spectrum. I will read this book more intently (and probably re-read and re-read) as Hudson gets older. It isn't a read it and forget it book. I want my children to grow up knowing they were prayed for. I look forward to coming up with a specific plan for praying for Hudson by using this book. 

The author emphasizes the importance of mom spending time alone with the Lord - I know that I learned so much from seeing my mom have her quiet time every day. The reader/prayer is encouraged to find a good way to pray over these areas regularly. For example, it might work best to pray over an area over and over again for an entire month. The advice is practical and doable, just encouraging me to keep praying. Also, I love that the author works hard to give the reader Scripture to pray over sons. I always appreciate when a book points me back to the Word of God. 

If you have a son, this may be a book you need to check out! 

Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke/Laurel Oke Logan

I must say, I was surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. It didn't fit my typical "favorite" type of book filled with mystery and a predictable romance. In fact, I wasn't even sure if there would be any romance until the last few chapters. 

I found myself enthralled with the main character, sharing in her triumphs and challenges. It reminded me a lot of the Christy book by Catherine Marshall. The book concluded in such a way that I look forward to reading the next part of the story. If you're looking for an easy, interesting book - this might be the one for you. 

Death by the Book by Julianna Deering

Book two in this series was just as entertaining as book one. The character development and mystery storyline kept me engaged. I enjoyed picking up the main characters from where we had left off from book one. 

The cover art work, for some reason, always makes me think these books will be boring and stiff. The content inside, however, is quite the opposite. I find these mysteries to leave me guessing right along with these amateur detectives. I love when a story is unpredictable and well thought out. 

Start with Book One: Rules of Murder. If you like a good, clean mystery, I think you will enjoy these books as well. 

All Things Hidden by Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse

I've read other titles by Tracie Peterson that I really enjoyed. For some reason, I had a hard time with this book. I tried to read this book on several occasions but only got about half way through. If I am not into a story by the 5th or 6th chapter, it is hard to motivate myself to continue reading.

The historical elements may have made the storyline a little hard to follow. I also had a hard time keeping a few of the characters straight in my mind - I understand that the author was trying to wait to reveal certain details until later in the book, but the lack of info made it hard for me to remain interested.

Knowing God by Name by David Wilkerson

This book, although not written as a daily devotion or Bible study, would be perfect for an individual or small group looking to learn more about some of the names of God. I appreciated that Scripture was used throughout the text, as well. 

This book doesn't cover every name of God - however, it is written in a way where these names of God seem personal to the reader. I've found different names of God to be a great comfort to me at different times in my life. The author mentioned this as well, highlighting the fact that God revealed his name to his people as they needed them. During times of discomfort or in the midst of hopeless situations, it was good to be reminded of the characteristics of God that can bring me hope and comfort. 

I received a complimentary copy of these books from Bethany House Publishers, but I was not otherwise compensated for these reviews. All writing, thoughts and opinions are my own.

In the Secret Service - The True Story of the Man Who Saved President Reagan's Life by Jerry Parr with Carolyn Parr

My husband found this book a lot more interesting than I did - but that was no surprise to me. I'm more of a fiction reader and this book is an accurate, detailed account of a historical event. If you love military details, historical accounts and eye witness testimonies, you will also love this book. It is a very detailed retelling by the secret service agent who saved Reagan's life. From his training to the events of the assassination attempt, Parr leaves the reader with enough details to truly get a feel for the situation.  I did enjoy the photos included in the center of the book. 

Rumble! Zap! Pow! Mighty Stories of God 

I am constantly trying to find more ways to point my son towards the Lord. This Bible story book, written much like a juvenile comic book seems to be just the thing to capture the attention of active little boys. I love that it emphasizes the Bible stories where God's mighty power is evident. Each of the forty stories has an activity to help the child apply the story they have read. You will also find "Power Words" or a key Bible verse for the story depicted. I look forward to reading this with my son and then watching him read it on his own in the future. Our God is mighty! 

I received a complimentary copy of these books from Tyndale, but I was not otherwise compensated for these reviews. All writing, thoughts and opinions are my own.

This post does contain affiliate links.