Before Amen by Max Lucado Pre-Pub Offer and Giveaway

Some people excel at prayer. Lucado wasn't one of them. He was a prayer wimp. Now he calls himself a recovering prayer wimp. Pocket prayers made the difference.

Lucado shares a pocket prayer. Here is the prayer:

Father,

  You are good.

    I need help.

      Heal me and forgive me.

        They need help.

          Thank you.

            In Jesus' name.

              Amen.

He expands on each part of the prayer, explaining how we can use it continually in our day. When the need arises, we pull out the pocket prayer and put it to use.

The last half of the book is the Study Guide where we are encouraged to put the pocket prayer into practice. That guide could be used personally with a journal or with a group of friends. There are questions on each chapter of the book centered around Personalize, Reflect, Abide, Yield. Other aids are at the back of the book, such as identifying your prayer strengths.

Lucado has taken a very difficult subject for many, communicating with an unseen God, and made it a very doable action. He encourages us to have the same enthusiasm as children do for their “Daddy.” He has great chapters on healing, on guilt and forgiveness, on praying for others (“I can't but You can.”), and on giving thanks. He supplements his teaching with stories told in his unique style.

This is a very encouraging book on prayer. If you think of yourself as a prayer wimp, this book will help you. Even if you excel in prayer, this book is a great reminder that it is not how we pray that counts but the One who hears it.

There are loads of other materials associated with the book so it can be used in a classroom or for sermons.

Food for thought:

“This much is sure: God will teach you to pray.”

I am taking part in a blog tour of this book and you can read other reviews here.

Max Lucado has more than 120 million books in print. He and his wife live in San Antonio, Texas, where he ministers at Oak Hills Church. Find out more at www.MaxLucado.com.

Thomas Nelson, 192 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through the Litfuse Publicity Group for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

Tried and True by Mary Connealy

This novel starts a new series about three sisters who are each homesteading a portion of land in the Idaho Territory. They are all supposed to wear trousers and pose as men. They've spent time fighting for the north in the Civil War and are using their two

year government exemption to complete the homestead process in three years instead of five. Only men can homestead so keeping up the ruse is important. They are doing this for their father, as a memorial to their brother who died in the War.

This novel centers on the youngest sister, Kylie. She's a woman at heart, loving her long hair and wearing dresses. It takes only one visit from the land agent Aaron to spot her as a woman. He threatens to rescind her land claim because of fraud. And then her life gets even harder when she is attacked at her cabin. Her land contains a valuable watering hole previously used by an aggressive rancher. Someone wants her gone and is willing to cause serious damage to see that happen.

This is a delightful cowboy comedy. I found it amazing and a little crazy that women could have served in the Civil War. It seems there were actually around 400 women documented to have done so. It serves as a great background for these women who need to be tough and capable to homestead on the frontier.

There are loads of interesting characters in this novel. The homesteading sisters have a pa described as a sour old goat. He is so ornery I wanted to slap his face. The sisters are amazing women, learning how to build homes and raise animals. They really epitomize that pioneer spirit women of the era had to have.

Aaron and Kylie get off to a rocky start but it soon become apparent romance is in the air. It will be interesting to see which of the sisters is conquered by love in the next book.

Connealy has a way with words. Here's an example: “The hammer rose, and her attitude fell. The sky was as sullen as her mood...” This novel is a fun and relaxing one yet contains a very strong Christian message.

I'm taking part in a blog tour of this book and you can read other reviews here.

Mary Connealy is an award winning, bestselling author of fun and lively historical romantic comedies. She and her husband live on a ranch in eastern Nebraska. Find out more at www.maryconnealy.com.

Bethany House Publishers, 320 pages. Please visit your local Christian bookstore to purchase this book.

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

The Legend of Sheba by Tosca Lee

If you're like me, you've probably read a story in the Bible and not given it much thought. I've read 1 Kings 10 and never wondered how she came to be queen in a male dominated world. I never gave it much thought as to how she heard about Solomon and his wisdom or what her visit was like.

Lee has done an incredible amount of research an has crafted a thought provoking fictional account of the queen's visit. She gives us a plausible story as to how she became queen with her mother dying and her father remarrying. The cruel step-mother has her exiled to Punt. When the king finally dies, those loyal to the kingdom come to her to make her queen.

She wants to excel as queen and refuses marriage. Men from her kingdom who trade, taking spices to the north, tell her of the new kingdom there and the king. She is amazed at the influence and power of such an upstart king of an infant kingdom.

She is stunned when she hears that Solomon is building a port city at Ezion-geber. “Solomon, the Israelite king, meant to neutralize Saba's trade and render our caravans obsolete.” (126) Who was he to presume to challenge the queen of a land as old as time itself? Her counselors advise war but she wants to send an emissary to negotiate with the king. With the very future of her nation threatened, she decides to go herself.

As I have found with Lee's previous books, she is meticulous in her portrayal of the ancient world. She describes well the caravan and the journey north that takes months. Lee has also written a very thought provoking lengthy interchange between Solomon and the queen. It was thought provoking for me because I hadn't given much thought to Solomon's spiritual state at this time in his life. Lee explores the many wives Solomon had and what that meant. 

Lee has combined the biblical account, extra-biblical accounts, and legend into a very readable and enlightening novel. She provides a plausible reason for the legend that the ark of the covenant ended up in Ethiopia. She adds drama to the fact that Solomon knew his kingdom would be divided.

I am again impressed with Lee and her ability to craft excellent historical fiction. I highly recommend this book. It brings to life a portion of Scripture I have too often quickly read through without thinking.

Tosca Lee is the award winning New York Times bestselling author of several novels including some written with Ted Dekker. Find out more at www.ToscaLee.com.

Howard Books, 330 pages.

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

Nowhere to Turn by Lynette Eason

Eason knows how to create suspense and there is plenty of it in this novel. If you like well written suspense, you'll like this one.

Dani has planned and is finally ready to take her eleven year old son and escape from her abusive husband, Kurt. She knows she has to do this right because her husband is an FBI agent and could find her. When Kurt is shot and killed, she thinks her terror is over.

But it has just begun. Her husband was involved in some dirty activities and now others are after her. They want something Kurt left behind and she has no idea what it is. Adding to the tension is the obsession of her brother-in-law, Stuart, also an FBI agent. He and Kurt were fiercely competitive and Stuart wants the final win – Kurt's wife.

The suspense in this novel starts right at the beginning and does not let up. Dani turns to Operation Refuge for help and Aaron comes to her rescue. Taking her to a safe house is the only answer, but how safe is it when FBI agents are the ones after you?

Eason has done a great job of combining a tension filled plot with well developed characters. I really liked Simon, Dani's deaf son. He is a gutsy kid, even if he did make a bad decision or two. When I found out his deafness had been caused during one of Kurt's violent outbursts, it made me root for Dani and Simon all the more.

When I say there is suspense from start to finish, I mean it. Just when I thought all the bad guys had been dealt with, there was a twist in the plot and one last tension filled scene.

There is a little romance included too. All around, a well written and well plotted novel. I highly recommend it to lovers of suspense. (While this is the second is a series, it reads very well on its own.)

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series and the Deadly Reunion series. She is a member of ACFW and RWA. She has a master's degree in education from Converse College and lives in South Carolina. Find out more at www.lynetteeason.com.

Revell, 320 pages.

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

The Greatest Comeback by Patrick J. Buchanan

Nixon was elected president of the United States in 1968. The question is how that could have happened when most of us were sure his political career was over just a few years earlier. He had lost his bid to Kennedy in 1960 and hadn't won an election since. He'd lost the election for California governor in 1962 and then had called a press conference to let us know he was finished with politics.

So how did a man with no political future, who said he was through with politics, become president of the United States just a few years later? That is what Buchanan covers in this book.

Buchanan came on to Nixon's team in 1966 at age 27. He would be with Nixon through August, 1974. Buchanan began cleaning up Nixon's backlog of mail, doing research and writing daily memos. His job, Buchanan writes, was “to use my position to make Richard Nixon President of the United States.” (35) He was soon writing for Nixon and traveling with him.

Nixon had his eye on the presidency and was willing to pay the price for it. He worked to make friends and allies in the Republican Party, endorsing particular candidates and making certain comments. By the fall of 1966, Nixon “was the lone national Republican acceptable to all factions.” (101) In addition to the hard work, opponents gave Nixon a break. Of the 1968 candidating and nominating process, Buchanan writes, “To my surprise, our opponents never really went after Nixon's character as the Kennedy crowd had in 1960.” (210)

This is a very personal account of the political comeback. Buchanan has included many stories of his own role and involvement in the comeback. There are also many revealing anecdotes about Nixon. “When Nixon trusted you he would let down his guard, and I got to know him better than any other boss I ever knew.” (188)

One really gets a sense of the history of the time, including the political issues, the war in Viet Nam, and the civil rights issues. Anyone interested in the ways of politics will find lots of information about the late 1960s in the book. It certainly reveals the drive of Nixon on his way to the White House. Buchanan really admired Nixon and that comes through in this book.

Patrick J. Buchanan, America's leading populist conservative, was a senior adviser to three U.S. presidents, ran for the Republican nomination in 1992 and 1996, and was the Reform Party's presidential candidate in 2000. He is the author of eleven books and a syndicated columnist. He lives in McLean, Virginia.

Crown Forum, 392 pages.

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

Move On by Vicki Courtney

It's time to quite pretending, Courtney says. It's time to take off the masks – time to be real and share our messes. She did. Author of books on sexual purity, she didn't hide it when her engaged son came to her and weepingly told her his fiancée may be pregnant.

Concerned about the reaction to her blog post, others responded to her honesty with stories of their own imperfections. Courtney realized we are all a mess.

This book is for people who are tired of pretending and are ready to find the courage to move on. That means admitting to God that we can't do it on our own, that we need His help. It means coming clean with each other. Courtney admits this is a scary thing. Others might be uncomfortable with our honesty.

She reminds us that in God's economy, every struggle has a purpose. She helps us understand that our sins are forgiven. She gives teaching on how to deal with shame and legalism, about our need for approval and dealing with our idols.

Courtney's book is great encouragement when we mess up -which we are going to do! We are all prone to wander. She doesn't pull any punches. She is honest with her own messes and sincere in her encouragement to us. We all need this insightful book as we finish the messy race.

Courtney has added questions at the end of each chapter. They are good for personal reflection and would be great for use in a trusted group setting.

Food for thought: “You know you are maturing in the faith when you pay more attention to your own sins and faults rather than the sins and faults of others.” (159)

Vicki Courtney is a national speaker and bestselling author. She and her husband have three grown children and one grandson. Find out more at http://vickicourtney.com.

W Publishing Group, 224 pages.

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

All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant

This novel is a simple romance.

Kat works for her aunt making boring cupcakes, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. At home, she and her lifelong best friend Lucas, football coach, experiment with exotic flavors. Lucas believes in Kat's amazing baking abilities and to show his admiration he enters her in the Cupcake Combat live TV show. He loves her and wants her to succeed. He just doesn't want to tell her he loves her and ruin their friendship.

Kat's not so sure about the contest. She's a small town Louisiana girl, after all. But she does love Lucas, even though she doesn't want to tell him and ruin their friendship. When she finds out the winner receives a one year internship at a famous New York bakery, she's in. When she finds out she needs a helper on the set, she gets payback by telling Lucas he has to go.

The rest of the novel follows the contest. Much of the novel consists of the inner thoughts of Kat and Lucas. Both experience a great deal of anxiety as they love each other but will not express it. The internal dialog deals over and over again with the anxious thoughts. Both Kat and Lucas are very insecure in their feelings toward the other. There is some spoken dialog between Kat and Lucas but there always seems to be misunderstandings. I did get a little frustrated with repetitive thoughts and the many misunderstood conversations.

There is some drama at the taping of the cupcake competition as one contestant pulls some dirty tricks. There is some tension when Kat and one of the food judges clash. There are also some heart warming scenes as Kat gets some unexpected help.

This is definitely a novel for those who love to read the inner thoughts of characters. Readers who like snappy dialog or captivating action will need to look elsewhere. The redeeming aspect of this book is its message that life will be lived to its fullest when we submit our dreams to God and His plans for us.

I am taking part in a blog tour of this novel. You can read other reviews here.

Betsy St. Amant lives in Louisiana with her young daughter. She is a freelance journalist and a member of ACF. You can find out more at http://www.betsystamant.com/.

Zondervan, 320 pages. Please visit your Christian bookstore or go here to purchase a copy.

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

The Rules of Engagement for Overcoming Your Past by Cindy Trimm

If we want to move forward we must overcome the past. But that is not such a simple process. It requires intentional effort as well as key strategies and techniques implemented through prayer and the diligence to persevere.

Trimm gives us the tools we need to rewire our mind and retrain our thinking. She addresses strongholds and spiritual influences. She reminds us that liberty from those things that bind us is available. She also writes about repentance, defining moments, controlling our perception by digging into God's Word, having a vision for the future, healing the pain of shame, overcoming rejection and abandonment, and breaking free from the pain of abuse.

I found her writing about spiritual orphans to be especially enlightening. It was new information for me and explained much of what I've seen in people. It is encouraging to know that God has provided freedom through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reading this book gave me again a sense of how much God desires intimacy with us. Trimm has done an excellent job in giving us the tools to overcome that which hinders us from the intimacy. Her book is not a miracle fix. This is a spiritual battle of dying to the old and living to the new. Trimm does provide the techniques but we must still exert the effort, trusting in the Holy Spirit as we cultivate our relationship with God. It takes courage, the courage God gives.

Every day we get to choose, Trimm says. Will you choose to move forward? If so, this book will help you on your way.

Food for thought:

“You have God's divine power within, and that is stronger than any debilitating power without.” (12)

“True change begins in the mind.” (40)

Cindy Trimm is a bestselling author and former senator. Her books have sold more than a million copies. Find out more about her and her ministry at http://www.cindytrimm.com/.

Charisma House, 120 pages.

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