The Perfect Cast by T. K. Chapin

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This novel is a good young adult romance, suitable for high school age.

Jess, an angry eighteen year old, is our main character. She and her younger brother are being “dumped” for the summer at their grandfather's farm near Spokane. She is not excited. No Internet. No cable. It is going to be a terrible summer.

Roy is the godly grandfather. He is still grieving over the loss of his wife of so many decades. He is getting more fragile, having periodic chest pains. But he doesn't let on. He just keeps going.

Levi is the young man from a near farm who helps Roy with the farming tasks. When he sees Jess, he likes her a great deal. And Jess likes him. Perhaps the summer won't be so terrible after all.

So this is a summer romance book about teenage love. Jess and Levi do have troubles as Jess gets swept off her feet by another fellow and Levi goes to Nashville to audition and try to make it as a country singer. And to make matter worse, Jess' father comes on the scene. Roy doesn't like him, and he has good reason.

I think this would be a good teenage novel. It has strong Christian themes. Chapin has captured well the hurt and anger Jess expresses because of her parents breaking up. Jess sort of comes of age during this summer. She experiences love and disappointment and comes through a better person in the end. My favorite character was Jess' younger brother, Henry. He is a great young man, wise beyond his years.

The ending of the book goes really fast with much happening quickly and kind of out of the blue. The earlier pace of the novel was slower so the end seems out of the style of the rest of the book. Readers will see the characters develop positive traits rather quickly as the book closes out.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

T. K. Chapin writes Christian romance books designed to tug at the heart strings. The majority of his novels take place in and around Spokane, Washington, his hometown. He and his wife and their daughter live in the Pacific Northwest. You can find out more at www.tkchapin.com.

Branch Publishing, 266 pages.

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

Eve by Wm. Paul Young

Young is guaranteed to stretch my imagination and he does it again in this novel.

We are taken to an island between worlds. A battered and broken young woman, on the edge of death, is rescued and cared for by John, a Collector. Lilly will become a Witness, one who sees and yet mysteriously becomes a part of what is seen. What she sees is the beginning of the world and the creation of Man.

His description of creation is breath taking. “Behemoth of matter squared off against leviathan of chaos, sending sparks of play and power outward, creating space, energy, and time.” And that's just a small part of the first day.

There are so many thought provoking ideas in the novel. One is the concept of Adam turning from face-to-face with God, casting a shadow, the beginning of the darkness of sin. We turn too, not believing Adonai will meet all our longings. Another is the reality of what is not seen. Does existence depend on perception or the ability to touch or are invisibles like hope, love, and angels as real as mountains and oceans? And yet another is the absurd idea of God creating Man and God putting His image in something so weak. Another concept is the Bride and how much she is loved by God.

This is a fantasy and yes, Eve is a back woman and the Holy Spirit is a “she.” As I thought about my imagination being stretched, I realized that C. S. Lewis cast Jesus as a lion. This novel is much in the same style. And the end, well that just brought it all together anyway.

I was moved by reading this novel. I realized all over again the great love God has for me. I also realized how important it is to remain face-to-face with God, trusting and waiting and not turning away.

I would recommend this novel to those who like the style of Narnia fantasy. This is a well crafted fantasy that takes us to the very creation of the world and brings that reality before us.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Wm. Paul Young is the author of the New York times bestsellers The Shack and Crossroads. He lives in Oregon. You can find out more at http://wmpaulyoung.com/.

Howard Books, 320 pages.

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

The Columbus Code by Mike Evans

This novel is very entertaining but I would encourage readers to check the accuracy of some of the statements in the novel. We must remember, this is fiction.

The plot is something like a Dan Brown thriller. A Secret Service Agent, John Winters, is on administrative leave because of an operation that went very wrong. He finds out at his mother's death that she believed they are descendants of Christopher Columbus. She has left him her information with the request to pursue the genealogical connection. Winters goes to Barcelona and connects with a beautiful academic specialist on Columbus and both look for a secret journal Columbus wrote.

A secret society wants to financially control the world. They must get control of that journal and its revelations at all cost, including murder. Embroiled in the adventure is Winters' somewhat estranged daughter, Maria, also in Barcelona as a legal aid working on a business deal with a conglomerate controlled by the most powerful member of the nefarious secret society.

On the positive side, the plot is a reasonable one about the Antichrist attempting to financially take over the world. There is lots of action and intrigue in this novel. It is a page turner. The characters are well developed and realistic.

On the negative side, I don't like it when a novel mixes truth with speculation. The novel suggests Columbus was at least half Jewish, something I did not know but many apparently think this the case. Columbus wrote prophecies later in life and the novel makes use of them. It also makes use of the 2014-2015 tetrad (four lunar eclipses on Jewish holy days). But this is where caution needs to be applied. Hirsch, a secondary character, says, “The tetrad [Columbus] experienced while on his first voyage was, in fact, the first tetrad following the destruction of the Temple.” (264) A web search shows that there were apparently several tetrads between the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD and Columbus' voyage (162-163 AD, 795-796 AD, 842-842 AD, 860-661 AD). I don't like that. I like it much better if authors are accurate when their characters make those kinds of statements.

In a novel of this kind, I would appreciate an author note identifying which parts of the novel were based on historical evidence and which were purely speculation. None was included, however.

This is an exciting novel dealing with prophecies potentially for our current time, especially since there has been much written about the 2014-2015 blood moons. End times prophecy buffs will like it. I would remind readers that this is fiction, as have been all previous predictions of the rise of the Antichrist.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Mike Evans is a #1 New York Times best-selling author with more than 25 million copies in print, including Christopher Columbus, Secret Jew. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

Worthy Publishing, 384 pages.

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

Live Love Lead by Brian Houston

Living fully, loving completely, leading boldly – these were the hallmarks of Jesus' life on earth. Houston wants them to be the hallmarks of our lives too.

His teaching is based on Matt. 7:13-14. He writes about how to enjoy a big life, ways to overcome obstacles, what it means to go through the narrow gate of Jesus, and then the glorious future. He uses examples from his own life and stories from the Bible to illustrate his teaching. He shares the good stories and the difficult ones, like having to confront his father over sin. He has good suggestions on dealing with shame and maintaining a focus on one's vision. We learn about the expansion of their ministry by planting a church in New York City and going into Europe. There are stories about some of the songs that have come out of Hillsong Church and how Darlene Z. came to lead worship for their Shout to the Lord release.

Houston believes the best is yet to come – for each of us. Reading this book is a good encouragement to keep believing God for the future. We have been given a brand new start in Jesus, and with his Spirit living inside us, we can live wide open, the life we were meant to enjoy.

Food for thought: "We are all born with God-given potential to change the world around us.”

You can watch the book trailer and download the first chapter here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Brian Houston is the founder and Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church, a global family of congregations comprising more than 100,000 weekly attendees. He is also the Executive Director for Hillsong Music. He and his wife have three grown children.

FaithWords, 272 pages.

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

Who Killed My Church? by R. James Shupp

Sometimes an author can say more in a novel than can be said in a nonfiction book. That was the case here.

The skeleton upon which the message of this book hangs is the story of Green Street Baptist Church and their pastor, Pete. Pete's been there five years, having taken over after the retirement of his very successful predecessor. Despite his tireless efforts, the church is now in decline. At a board meeting, Pete is asked to resign. He's shocked but has the sense to remember a conference he attended. He finds the old business card and gives an invitation to the man whose call it is to help dying churches.

On that skeleton of a plot is quite an informative book. I was amazed at the amount of information I learned about churches. As a church board member and ministry leader, I've read tons of books about church – but nothing like this one. I read about the life cycle of a church: Movement, Monument, Museum, Morgue. I found out that every day ten churches close their doors for the very last time. I saw an example of real revitalization of a church. I read about the characteristics of a thriving church: Attractional, Invitational, Missional. I learned how nostalgia is a powerful force that quenches the urge to dig new wells and is a threat to the vitality of the church. I read about the power of unleashing the force of sacred imagination. I saw the possibilities of ministry outside of the church building. I found out what happens when men lead the charge.

With some humor and a great deal of insight, Shupp has crafted a novel that taught me more about the vitality of church than most other books I've read. I highly recommend church pastors and board members read this book – yes, a novel. There are some thoughtful discussion questions provided and an additional section at the end that really explains the life cycle of a church.

The concepts in this book are essential to maintaining the vitality of church today. I highly recommend it.

Food for thought: “Being the church and going to church represent two radically different philosophies of ministry.”

My rating: 5/5 stars.

R. James Shupp is the CEO of BriarPatchConsulting.com whose mission is “Helping Churches Thrive.” For nearly three decades, he's pastored churches in Texas and Oklahoma. He currently serves as the founding pastor of the Movement Church in San Antonio.

Elk Lake Publishing, 336 pages.

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

The Forgiveness Project by Michael S. Barry

Is there a relationship between cancer and hatred and unforgiveness? Barry believes there is.

Barry is part of the pastoral care department at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia. He shares what they do there and why. He believes, “The stress of unforgiveness negatively affects the immune system.” (14) Forgiveness, on the other hand, has a wholesome effect with long term health benefits.

He tells several stories, relating individual experiences with forgiveness and cancer. He also looks at studies investigating the relationship of stress to health. While it cannot be said that unforgiveness causes cancer, it does seem to create a state in the body that is more susceptible to the disease. Cancer is a complex disease and Barry suggests a holistic approach to treatment, including forgiveness.

Forgiveness is also a complex issue. It is not just saying it. “It requires a heartfelt change through which the anger and hatred are transformed into feelings of peaceful indifference or neutrality.” (149) It doesn't necessarily mean reconciliation or justice. Barry gives good insights into the process of forgiveness. There cannot just be certain steps suggested because the process is different for every person. It may require help from others in the form of counseling and support. Motivation is essential, he says.

Barry says it is reasonable to conclude that, to the extent forgiveness creates psychological stress, the immune system is compromised. That sets the stage for health problems, including cancer.

With that conclusion in mind, I recommend this book. While Barry is a Christian, this book is worth reading by those of other religions and the nonreligious too. As he points out, the concept of forgiveness is not limited to Christianity. It is a concept that those who desire wholeness and living well should practice. This book is a good primer.

Michael S. Barry (DMin, Fuller Theological Seminary) is Director of Pastoral Care at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia, where he specializes in the connection between spirituality and health. He has served in ministry for over twenty years and is the author of several books.

Kregel Publications, 201 pages.

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

The Finishing School by Valerie Woerner

Our lives should look radically different because Jesus lives in us. But sometimes we feel stuck. Sometimes we are not living an intentional life – we're just lazy.

Woerner has written about transformation, how to make progress and be refined by the Lord. The book is an encouragement to live out our faith in practical ways. She shares her own journey, revealing what God has taught her. She tells stories about her experiences and lessons she's learned from other authors. She gives practical steps to apply her suggestions to our lives. She has additional resources at the end of each chapter, including worksheets that can be downloaded from her website. (The worksheet page is password protected but the password is in the book.)

She covers a variety of topics in the book: goals, getting rid of distractions, self-control, habits, boundaries, balance between structure and spontaneity, minimalism, friendships, hospitality, waiting, joy, contentment, influence, forgiveness, awareness, peace (and fear), comparison, health, rest (Sabbath), and margin (between our load and our limit)

Woerner gives us good and basic encouragement on each of the topics. I really liked her insights on habits. She's read several books on the topic and gives good information and suggestions. Her suggestions are practical too. For example, here are the insights she has on waiting: 1. It refines our soul. 2. It demands our honesty. 3. It reminds us that with God, we are more capable than we know.

This is a good book for people who feel stuck in their life and need an encouraging boost. While this book works well for individual use, I think it would be best to read it in a small group of trusted friends. Woerner reminds us that the refining process is messy. Having some friends along for the journey is a good idea.

Food for thought: “Busyness is our answer for not making tough, moral decisions about where our time should go.”

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

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Valerie Woerner is the owner of Val Marie Paper. She and her husband and their daughter live in Louisiana. This is her first book. You can find out more at www.valmariepaper.com.

Nyree Press, 228 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.

Last Chance Hero by Cathleen Armstrong

Football is in the air. In small towns across America the bleachers are full on Friday night. But what if you are new in town and you really don't like football?

Dr. Jess MacLeod was new to Last Chance, New Mexico. The California woman had decided to leave the bustle of California and have a practice in a small town. While people seem to be excited that there is finally a doctor in town, they do not hesitate to tell her they've been seeing a doctor in the next town all their lives so don't expect them to see her any time soon. Jess' frustration at trying to fit in only increases when everyone starts talking about the coming football season. One thing Jess does know about herself – she doesn't like football.

The football issue becomes more difficult when Jess begins “seeing” Andy Ryan. He's a professional quarterback whose career being pretty much over, came back home to coach the high school teem. He's under pressure from the towns people to recreate the Glory Days of his own high school football past. A few losses to start off the season and the grumbling begins. And when Jess suggests one of his guys might consider academics a better way to get a scholarship than football, Andy wonders of if there is any hope for the two of them.

This is a nice small town romance story for the football season. Last Chance is one of those towns where everybody knows everybody else and is related to half of them. I enjoyed reading about the small town atmosphere and the football frenzy.

Jess is not a Christian and doesn't really understand the people she meets who are. I liked the elderly “Gran” who was treasured by so many in Last change. She is a great and godly woman.

I recommend this book to those who like a pleasant romance without too complicated a plot. It is part of a series although it reads well on its own. There is unfinished business at the end so I expect another in the series soon.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Cathleen Armstrong grew up in New Mexico and now lives with her husband in California. After they had raised their children, Cathleen returned to college and earned a BA in English. Her debut novel Welcome to Last Chance won the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for Women's Fiction. You can find out more at http://www.cathleenarmstrong.com/.

Revell, 288 pages.

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