A Teen's Guide to the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman with Paige Haley Drygas

I remember the insight and understanding I gained the first time I read about the five love languages. Teens really need the information and I'm glad to see it presented in a book written especially for them.

If you're not familiar with the love languages, here's a synopsis. It's been found that each person receives messages of love and appreciation in a particular way. Some accept spoken (or written) words. Some recognize love by the amount of quality time you are willing to spend with them. Others recognize love through gifts. Others need to see acts of service. And some accept love best when expressed through touch.

I like how the authors expand on each of the languages. For example, with the love language of time, that can be expressed with quality conversation (with tips on communicating), quality listening (with tips on listening skills), and quality activities. The authors have included some suggested ways of expressing love in each of the languages. They also include how to recognize the love language of another. And, especially suited for teens, there are warnings for each language as to how it can be misused (such as the most misused – touch).

The method of presentation and the graphics are great. I really like the emphasis on feeling loved and how the feeling is created when the right love language is used. We tend to use our own love language and that may not work with someone else. Recognizing another person's love language and expressing love in that way may take some effort. But teens will really see the benefit in relationships.

The authors give examples of each love language and how the message is received. They also include cautions, like not being phony. This book will help teens understand communication and relationship problems. Recognizing differences in communication languages, teens be better able to make good relationships. The authors even include tips for family relationships (parents and siblings) and a chapter on anger and forgiveness.

Tips and questions are included at the end of each chapter. This would be a good book for parents to read along with their teens as the questions would provide good discussion. Everyone in the family could work through the love language profile and determine their own. Those results would make for good family discussion too.

I highly recommend this book for teens and parents. Even if you've read about the five love languages before, this is a good book to refresh your memory. If you've never read about the love languages, this is a good place to start. You're in for a treat and a future with better relationships.

Food for thought: “Learning to speak love and appreciation in a language the other person can receive is the key to enhancing all human relationships.” (16)

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Gary Chapman is the author of the New York Times bestseller The 5 Love Languages, a speaker and counselor. He travels the world presenting seminars and has a radio program. You can find out more at 5LoveLanguages.com.

Paige Haley Drygas has helped edit and develop a line of teen Bibles. She has also partnered with many other authors. She is the President of Peachtree Editorial Services. She lives in Peachtree, Georgia with her husband and sons.

Moody Press, 144 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson

I enjoyed this novel that is sort of of a coming of age story of a young southern woman. It also explored the themes of spousal abuse, divorce, and restoration.

Lily Rose had an idyllic childhood in the south. Her father doted on her and she glowed under his attention. But then he died when she was sixteen and her life was in shambles. A handsome man promised the attention she craved. His facade soon fell to pieces, as did the marriage. Abused and broken hearted, Lily Rose has a decision to make.

Lily Rose is an interesting young woman. She is naive and is forced to face a situation she never dreamed of. I was disappointed in her character growth. She is able to make a difficult decision and escape the harmful marriage but it was really others who saw her through to a better life. Even at the end of the novel I did not think Lily Rose was a mature character. She still needed the strong support of others.

Although there was no discussion guide included in this book there would be much to discuss. One topic is spousal abuse and how it relates to divorce. Lily Rose has a brother who thinks divorce is never allowed according to Scripture. Considering Lily Rose's situation, that would make for some lively discussion.

Another topic for discussion would include honesty. Lily Rose is less than honest about her situation when she lands in a safe place. When a man shows interest in her, she does not tell him she is married. I lost some respect for Lily Rose, especially when she allowed the man's interest to continue.

The plot is perhaps a bit predictable. There is a little suspense as we anticipate the abusing husband finding out where Lily Rose has escaped to. How that aspect of the plot worked its way out to a resolution I thought was a bit unrealistic.

In general, I enjoyed the book. I recommend it to those who like a novel taking place in the south a generation ago. You'll be entertained and given some weighty subjects to think about.

I'm taking place in a blog tour of this book. You can read other reviews here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Rose Chandler Johnson has had her devotions, poems, and articles appear in numerous Christian publications. She has worked as a counselor, librarian, ESOL teacher, and for the last twenty years has been a French and English teacher. She is from a small Georgia town and now lives near Augusta, Georgia. This is her first novel. You can read her blog at http://writemomentswithgod.blogspot.com/.

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 314 pages. You can purchase a copy here.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Litfuse for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

A Daily Invitation to Friendship With God by Bill Johnson

This is a collection of writings from Johnson's previously published book, Dreaming with God. There are 365 of the writings so this can be used as a yearly devotional. Some of the writings are more what one would consider a devotional – a near page of writing. Others are merely a sentence.

Some of the writings are informative or encouraging. Some of them I had a little trouble understanding. Here is an example: “A person's heart is more clearly seen by what they're willing to embrace without offense than by their expression of faith only in what they already understand.” (78) I am sure in the context of the original writing that statement was clear. To me, I wonder what I am supposed to be willing to embrace without offense.

Sometimes the writing does not seem to have a very positive message to me. For example, “The Church has often fallen to the notion that darkness is stronger than light,” (164) That's the entire reading for Day 145. I am not sure how I am supposed to be encouraged by that day's reading.

Sometimes it seems Johnson goes out on a limb. “The voice of the Lord is not an impression that we have to find language for. It is a direct word-for-word communication from God to us.” (111) That certainly has implications for those who claim the prophetic word and make a prediction that does not come to pass. It was interesting that Johnson, writing about the prophetic voice, emphasizes that it is “the responsibility of the hearer to discern whether or not a word is from God.” (115) What, then, is the responsibility of the person who claims to have a word from God?

There are some very good readings in this devotional and there are some that left me wanting more. Charismatic Christians who embrace the prophetic word and want to dream with God will find some inspiration here. These writings do not have the depth that some classic devotionals exhibit.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Bill Johnson is a fifth-generation pastor and is, along with his wife, are senior pastors of Bethel Church in Redding, California. He has a vision for seeing all believers experience God's presence and operate in the miraculous. Johnson and his wife have three children and nine grandchildren.

Destiny Image, 384 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through The Book Club Network for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

Reset by Nick Hall

It started with a college English assignment to write a proposal. That led to the forming of PULSE ministry with the goal of Christ being the pulse of this generation. Over the years, Hall has seen the lives of many reset by Jesus. He wants readers of this book to have a similar experience.

He has included lots of stories from his own life, the lives of others, and stories from the Bible to illustrate his principles. We see that meaning in life is not found in earthly pursuits.

He has stories and suggestions for resetting our lives in the areas of faith, plans, self-image, relationships, purity, habits, affections, and resetting this generation. He includes action items at the end of each chapter for journaling or for discussion in a small group. Some of these resets, such as purity, require making choices and sticking with them. Having some accountability in the form of a small group would be helpful.

The subtitle of this book, “Jesus Changes Everything,” might be a little misleading. With Jesus in one's life there is the potential of everything changing. There is nothing automatic about the resets Hall is writing about here. We still need to make decisions, have good habits, etc.

This book would be good for career age people or younger. Hall uses many examples of lyrics from contemporary songs as well as some contemporary people. It is his desire that people of this generation would say “yes” to Jesus and allow Him to reset everything.

Food for thought: “With God, nothing is wasted. The tests God has carried you through will become the testimony he uses in someone else's life.” (113)

You can find out more about the book and watch videos here.

You can find out more at http://resetmovement.com/ and https://reset2016.com/.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Nick Hall has shared the reset Jesus offers to millions around the world, with more than five hundred thousand publicly responding. He is the founder of PULSE, the leader behind the Reset Movement, and one of the coordinators of the Together 2016 gathering. He and his family live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can find out more at http://pulsemovement.com/nick-hall/.

Multnomah Books, 208 pages.

I received a complimentary galley from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

Traces of Guilt by Dee Henderson

This is a different kind of mystery There is no suspense and no intense action. We readers gently follow a detective with the Illinois State Police as she works to solve a couple of cold cases.

Even though this novel is not the type of mystery I usually enjoy, I found it compelling reading. It centers on Evie Blackwell. She is a dedicated detective who has taken her two week vacation to work on a couple of cold cases in a small Illinois town. The plot consists of following Evie as she goes through all the evidence files of decade old missing persons, a young girl, and a family of three.

I found two aspects of the novel interesting. One is getting to know Evie. We learn much about her as she relates to the local sheriff and his brothers. The other aspect is how Evie thinks through the evidence and finds new possibilities. She is very methodical and imaginative. Much of the novel is thinking about the cases or discussing them. Reading the novel is like being present in the scene. Nearly every action is described.

So this is very much a character driven mystery. The characters in the novel are woven well into both the present and the past. How some of the characters deal with what is discovered is a major aspect of the novel.

There is one aspect of Henderson's writing style that irritates me a bit. When characters are in dialogue, each addresses the other by name several times in the conversation. I just do not see that regularly happening in a short exchange.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy a character based mystery. You'll learn how a cold case is resurrected, discussed, and investigated.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Dee Henderson is a best selling author of a number of novels. You can find out more at www.deehenderson.com.

Bethany House, 400 pages.

First and Goal by Jake Byrne with Holly Michael

Can there be spiritual lessons in football? Byrne shares what he has learned from his experience in the NFL and his struggle with diabetes.

The format is an A to Z collection of a football terms, definition, then devotional. The devotionals are spiritual truths related to experiences he has had on the field and off.

For example: a blitz in football is when the opposing team sends more than the usual defensive linemen after the quarterback. Byrne experienced a blitz when he was diagnosed with diabetes. He had to learn to control his diet to keep his system regulated during practice and games. He felt overwhelmed on occasion and found his strength in the Lord.

This book is a good one for people who enjoy football and need to be reminded (or informed) of the meaning of football specific terms.

It is also a good book for any young athlete struggling with a medical issue. Byrne gives lots of encouragement for facing challenges like getting knocked down unexpectedly. He also spurs readers on to being a cheerleader for someone else, being reliable, recovering from a fumble, busting out of your comfort zone, and much more. He also gives good information on diabetes such as the difference between the two types.

Food for thought: The NFL determines your worth as a player, but only God knows your true worth.” (45)

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Jake Byrne has battled type 1 diabetes since a young teen and has since been proactive combating the disease and mentoring diabetic youth. He played football for the University of Wisconsin as a tight end and went on to compete in the NFL. You can follow his blog at www.typewon.net.

Holly Michael has been published in various magazines and has one published novel. She has an adult daughter and two adult sons. She and her husband live in Kansas City. You can find out more at www.HollyMichael.com and follow her blog at www.writingstraight.com.

Harvest House Publishers, 174 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through The Book Club Network for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

Love in the Face of ISIS by Lorraine Marie Varela

We know we should pray for our enemies but how do we do that? How can we pray for Christians in the Middle East and those attacking them?

Varela has given us some very practical suggestions and guidelines for prayer. She structures her lessons around the names of God. We can pray for God's presence, His protection, His provision, for His armies to be released, and much more. She has included written prayers we can recite or use as a springboard.

The suggestions in this book come out of Varela's insight into the challenges faced by those being persecuted by ISIS. Some of the stories she tells are heart breaking, such as the enslavement of women and girls. We realize how import prayer support is for them.

Valera wants us to partner with the purposes of God in loving our enemies and praying for them. She reminds us of the promises in the Bible and encourages us to fix out eyes on Jesus. She reminds us of the importance of worship, including the weapons of praise and thanksgiving. She gives plenty of illustrations from the Bible for her teaching.

I encourage Christians to read this book. We know we should pray but often just do not know how. Valera has given us specific topics with sample prayers. Her prayers are bold, such as for peace and healing. She has also included organizations for which we can pray.

Whether you feel “called” to pray for the people and situation in the Middle East or not, we are commanded to pray for our enemies. This book will give you some great suggestions for doing so.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Lorraine Marie Varela is a professional portrait photographer, author and life-long follower of Jesus. She and her husband traveled to the Middle East in 2015 to meet Iraqi Christian refugees. Their stories gave her a fresh revelation of God's heart of love for the people of the Middle East. She lives in the Seattle area. You can find out more at www.LorraineMarie.com.

Chosen Books, 160 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

The Dubai Betrayal by Jeremy Burns

I really liked this novel of international intrigue. It was packed with action from cover to cover. It is like James Bond meets Mission Impossible.

The plot could have come out of today's headlines. Christine Needham, appointed by the president as Ambassador to the Middle East, had just received shocking information when she is kidnapped in Dubai. Wayne Wilkins, deeply buried in the CIA as an assassin, is sent by the president to rescue the woman. The action is intense as it becomes evident there is a plan to destroy Israel with a nuclear bomb. Wayne and his small team have a day to rescue the Ambassador and prevent a world war.

The characters in the novel are well crafted. Christine has a passion for stability in the Middle East which puts her in the center of danger. She is a capable and resourceful woman and her abilities are suited to her important position. Wayne and his small team are a motley group of different ethnic backgrounds. The periodic tension between the men parallels the frequent tension between nations. Wayne is an exceptionally capable man as a team leader and covert operator.

The technology the U.S. Government provides the team is innovative. They have sophisticated communication devices and invisible ear pieces for constant communication among themselves and to Washington. They even have “disassembled pistols disguised as fully functioning laptops.”

I think the aspect of the novel I like the best is the setting for the action and the information the author has included in the novel. Burns has included a great deal of background information on the situation in the Middle East. Just one example is an explanation of the tension between the Sunni and Shia, including the history of the conflict and the differences in their doctrine and power. This and other pertinent information about the Middle East is given in between times of action with an effective rhythm. It is a great way to inform readers of important background material in the midst of the developing crisis. Burns' writing skill makes it all work well to form a compelling novel.

I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy novels of international intrigue. It is well written and action packed. There are surprises and twists to the plot as betrayals and deceptions are uncovered. You'll be entertained while you learn essential background information regarding the current conflicts in the Middle East.

I am taking part in a blog tour of this book. Click here to view the 'The Dubai Betrayal by Jeremy Burns' Tour Participants.

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Jeremy Burns lived and worked in Dubai for two years, conducting first hand research in locations and immersing himself in the Middle Eastern culture. Wayne Wilkins is featured in his first book, From the Ashes. He and his wife live in Florida where he is working on his next book.

Book Details:

Genre: Thriller Published by: The Story Plant Publication Date: May 2016 Number of Pages: 346 ISBN: 1611881331 (ISBN13: 9781611881332) Purchase Links:

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