The Newsmakers by Lis Wiehl with Sebastian Stuart

Erica Sparks is an obscure television reporter in Maine. She's been through a divorce and rehab for alcohol abuse. She's trying to get her career back on track, even letting her ex-husband have custody of their eight year old daughter for a year. When Nylan Hastings, billionaire founder of Global News Network sees a trailer of her reporting, her life changes forever.

To Erica, it is the chance of a lifetime. She is hired to be a field reporter for the network. She witnesses a tragedy on her very first assignment as a ferry crashes into a bulwark. Her live coverage results in her skyrocketing popularity. Then tragedy strikes again when she is doing a live interview with a potential presidential candidate. Her quick response and on air presence results in the offer of a daytime show. She has reached the place of her dreams.

Or is it a nightmare? Why do her fellow workmates warn her about the eccentric network owner? How can there be so many “coincidences” pushing her career? If she continues to investigate loose ends, is her own life in danger?

This is another good novel from Wiehl. I really liked Erica as a flawed heroine, trying to get her life back together. We share in her struggles to rise above her dysfunctional childhood and her alcoholism. She is a tenacious investigator and I look forward to the next novel.

There is a good deal of psychological suspense as the story unfolds. Erica seems to be on her own in pursuing the truth and the situation gets tense at times. I found the ending to be a little rushed and a little too neat. But other than that, a good suspense novel that gives us some insight into the workings of a network news station.

Just a warning that there is mild swearing in the book. It was only one individual and was totally in character.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Lis Wiehl is the legal analyst and reporter on the Fox News Channel. She is also a Professor of Law at New York Law School. Her column “Lis on Law” appears weekly on FoxNews.com. She lives in New York. You can find out more at http://liswiehlbooks.com/.

Thomas Nelson, 352 pages.

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

I Hope You Dance by Beth Moran

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Moran has given us another well crafted story that includes humor, suspense, romance, and wonderful character transformation.

The novel centers around Ruth. Her partner, they had never decided to actually marry, had unexpectedly died eighteen months ago. He had left her and their teen-aged daughter with a mountain of debt. Ruth decides to move back home. She knows that will not be easy. She was a tomboy in a family of dancers and had disappointed her parents. Her only future is to go back and face her troubled past.

While the story line is great and worth reading the novel on its own, the characters are what make this novel stand out. Ruth is despondent when she returns home. Her mother, a busy woman doing good for everyone in the village, tries to lift Ruth back to the realm of actually living life. Her father, from whom she's been alienated for years, is being enticed by the friendship of a woman he met at a senior center activity. Her sisters are gregarious mothers who continue to point out Ruth's failures. Ruth's daughter, Maggie, is a fourteen year old suffering a world of hurt and acting out to show it. I loved how Ruth muddled her way through this swamp of problems.

Ruth's support characters are delightful. Ruth gets included in a group of women, each of whom is an unusual character. There are childhood friends willing to help Ruth live through this hard time. There's a new woman, rising above her childhood surroundings of violence and poverty to make a new life. The relationship these women have is amazing. Listening to their prayers is a theological education. Observing their interaction is a lesson on the true meaning of friendship and encouragement.

But the characters in this novel are not all friends and hugs. There is a sinister element included when Ruth is stalked. That added the reality of Ruth's situation and her being vulnerable to the attentions of the wrong man.

Along with great characters and creepy suspense is the theme of troubled romance. Ruth's parents are going through a tense time, her father being sidetracked by another woman and her mother not knowing how to handle it. Maggie is in the midst of a teenage infatuation with a foster teen who may, or may not, be turning his life around. And Ruth herself must deal with her feelings about David, her childhood best friend. There might be hope of a renewed romance except that Maggie is totally opposed to her mother even thinking about replacing her dad.

I loved this book. There were great characters all around. It was amazing to see how they developed through the experiences in the novel, even the crotchety old woman Maggie must visit as part of her school discipline. There was humor that made me laugh out loud. There was the support of godly women and an active church. There was suspense that made me cringe. There was the possibility of romance that made me hope for the future. This is an entertaining and rewarding novel I highly recommend.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Beth Moran lives in Nottingham with her husband and their three children. When she's not writing, she helps with a women's network. You can find out more at http://www.bethmoran.org/.

Lion Fiction, distributed in the U.S. By Kregel Publications, 380 pages.

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

Defying Normal by Skip Heitzig

Heitzig wants us to rise above the mundane and defy what is popularly described as normal. He gleans principles from the life of Daniel to encourage us to do so.

Daniel is a role model for people who desire to be a counter-cultural force in a hostile political structure. Heitzig has identified eight characteristics that allowed Daniel to defy the normal of his day: self-control, faith, humility, integrity, dependence, courage, hope, and balance. Each of these qualities is explored in depth as Heitzig encourages us to develop the kind of character Daniel had.

This book is more than just theory. Heitzig wants us to apply these characteristics so he gives us prompts at the end of each chapter. The first ones are invitations to think about the points he has made in the chapter – deliberate. He then gives invitations to actually apply the principles to our lives – defy normal.

Heitzig explores a few other topics in the book too. I like his teaching on prayer. He uses the example of Daniel to identify the four fold strand of humble adoration, honest confession, heart felt petition, and holy motivation. Another aspect of this teaching I really liked was identification of what to pray for in the face of spiritual warfare.

The background story of how Daniel arrived in Babylon is given so this would be a good book for those unfamiliar with the story. This is a good all around book to help Christians live life with integrity in an adverse situation. The application sections at the end of each chapter make this a good book for individual or group use. I highly recommend this book to those desiring to rise above the normal of this day and live their Christian life with integrity.

You can find out more about the book here.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Skip Heitzig served under Chuck Smith at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa until 1981. He then founded Calvary Albuquerque, which today ministers to 15,000 people. He has authored over two dozen books. He and his wife have been married over thirty years and live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Find out more at http://skipheitzig.com/.

Worthy Publishing, 240 pages.

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

The New Vintage Family by Drenda Keesee

I remember those TV families of the 1950s. The dad was a strong but compassionate father, the mother stayed home, and all the kids worked together and got along well. Is it possible to have families like that today?

Keesee says it is. To have that kind of family, however, one must have the principles that go along with it. She has written this book to share the vintage family model and the principles that make is possible.

There is a great deal of information in this book that modern families could use. We start by focusing on what really matters. There is an emphasis of turning to God and focusing on Him. He has the wisdom needed so we must prioritize a relationship with Him. We must also understand how Satan is working to destroy the family.

The four building blocks Keesee uses are discipline, love, faith, and example. She has a great chapter on discipline, why it is needed, and how it can be done in today's society. It is not a popular topic today but it “has the power to make or break a family” she says. She gives plenty of suggestions on how to establish discipline and stick with it.

I really liked her section on example. Kids model what they see and they should be seeing evidence of God in our lives. Keesee home schooled so her children saw their parents and how they lived their lives every day. Part of that was an entrepreneurial spirit and the children grew up being involved in the parent's business. There is a chapter emphasizing how that worked in their family.

Developing a family the way God designed it to be will not happen by accident. I can tell from reading this book that parents must put much prayer, thought, and action into it. It takes work to set boundaries and stick with them. It takes conscious effort to model the kind of adult you want your children to be.

This book is not a “how to” manual for developing a godly family. It is a revelation of how the Keesee family did it with plenty of stories and examples of how principals work. You'll still need to decide whether to home school or not, whether to allow your kids to date or to encourage courting, etc.

I recommend this book for parents of all ages - there is even a chapter on grand parenting and one for the parent of a prodigal. Reading this book is an encouragement. It is possible to develop a family the way God intended, raising godly adults. Reading this book will help you get on the right path.

You can find out more about the book here.

You can watch the book promotion video here.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Drenda Keesee is a television show host, author, speaker, entrepreneur, and pastor. She and her husband have created several successful businesses and are the founders of Faith Life Now. They also pastor Faith Life Church near Columbus Ohio and are the CEOs of Forward Financial Group. You can find out more at http://drenda.com/ and 

http://faithlifenow.com/ministries/. 

Faith Life Now, 271 pages.

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

Love's Gift: A Collection of Eight Christmas Novellas

Love's Gift is a collection of eight Christian Christmas novellas of romance for the Christmas season. There is a variety of authors so the quality of the novellas varies a bit but it is still a great collection for a very reasonable price.

Mistletoe in Montana by Belle Calhoune 84 pages

Brenna had left Montana and the man she loved to seek her fortune in Hollywood. Now, eight years later, divorced and broke, she's back. She finds out that her family is making plans to sell their beloved ranch. Brenna's old love, Luke, is set to buy it. Her head questions his motives while her heart is stirred by the only man she ever truly loved. He is still hurt from her dumping him, but he's never loved another woman. Can the two of them overcome their hurts and the misunderstandings to find true love?

I enjoyed this novella. Brenna and Luke had much to overcome to come together. It made me wonder if God has one particular person in mind for true love, despite decisions to go another way.

A Match Made for Christmas by Debra Lynn Collins 130 pages

Seirra had recently been dumped by the fellow she'd been dating for a while. The church woman's singing group she is a part of decides to cheer her up by arranging for single men in the church to ask her out. Corbin is part of the security team at the mall where Seirra works. He fell for Seirra the first time he saw her. Now that she's available again, Corbin begins to talk to her and invites her out. When Seirra overhears her girlfriends talking about their arranged dates, she is heartbroken. She thinks Corbin, the man she really trusted, is part of the plan and wants to never see him again.

This is a delightful novella. I really liked the author's writing style. It's a good story of trust, love, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Merry Kisses by Valerie Comer 114 pages

We are back in the shopping mall where Sonya works for a grinch as a toy store clerk. She catches the eye of Heath, the mall Santa. Romance sizzles in the air but there is a problem. Sonya thinks anything to do with Santa is taking away from Jesus as the focal point of Christmas. When she gets fired for saying “Merry Christmas,” the situation goes from bad to worse.

While the romance aspect of this novella was good, I was fascinated by the issue separating Sonya and Heath. As a child. Sonya's father had preached the evils of everything about Christmas except Jesus. She, Heath, and their friends have some interesting discussions about the origin of Santa and how children are told about him.

There are a couple of loose ends in this novella I'd have rather seen tied up. It left me feeling a little dissatisfied.

Unwrapped by Christina Coryell 88 pages

Trina's parents want her to go to Florida for Christmas – again. No snow and awkward relatives. She'd much rather go with her roommate Camdyn to Missouri and accepts the invitation. She hadn't bargained for Camdyn's brother. Charlie is everything a woman would want. But Camdyn says he is off limits.

What a quick romance – just a couple of days. Granted, he's had eyes for her since he first saw her in a photograph. Still, it went very fast. I felt Camdyn was left at loose ends at the end, but other than that, a nice romance.

An Informal Christmas by Heather Gray 150 pages.

Rylie is the Child Life Specialist at a hospital. She is surprised and a little perturbed when Zach appears at her office, donating large amounts of gifts for the hospitalized kids. For some reason, he seems to bring out the worst in her. She senses he is hurt, and even though they meet several times to arrange donations, he's not talking. But when Rylie finds out from a relative of Zach what has broken his heart, the ice between the two begins to melt.

I learned a great deal about children and how they are cared for in hospitals. It was fun to see how Rylie tried to make their lives bearable under such circumstances. Kids are such troopers, I even learned about chemo pee. This is a fun romance and informative too.

Operation Mistletoe by Elizabeth Maddrey 112 pages

Victoria is an investigative reporter with a small time newspaper when she is offered a story that just might be her break into a better job. She's been asked to write an article on Gabe, one of the owners of a successful intelligence contracting company. She remembers him from college as a popular guy with a reputation. But he's changed. He claims he a Christian now and everything she sees bears that out. He's so wonderful that she starts to like him. When her positive article about him is published, he doesn't welcome the publicity and it looks like their budding romance is over.

This was a fun romance. I learned a bit about investigative reporting. I really liked Gabe but he had to do a little character development before the romance could progress. It's a good thing he had a wise friend.

A Bond for the Holidays by Lee Tobin McClain 86 pages

The celebratory preparations for Christmas came to a screeching halt for Emily and Robert when their son, Mark, comes home from his high school biology class. They'd done some blood testing and, how could it be? Weren't they both RH negative? How could he be positive? Robert is livid. As a doctor, he knows this means Mark is not his biological son.

This novella was a little different in that it was not lighthearted at all. It dealt with some serious issues. There are some very tense times in the novel before love, acceptance, and forgiveness prepares the way for the future. I did like how it all worked out, however.

A (kinda) Country Christmas by Krista Phillips 110 pages

This is another quick romance, happening in just a few days. Sadie is a woman who loves Christmas. Her parents had started Bethlehem's Botique in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, years ago. She still ran the store, even after her parents' death. Her college age daughter helped her – her sweet daughter conceived during one of her rebellious teen-aged moments. She loved her life and her daughter. But her world is turned upside down when a handsome bald fellow accidentally trips and pulls down her prize Christmas tree. Hundreds of dollars of ornaments lay smashed to pieces.

The relationship between Sadie and Nate is off to a troubled start. When Sadie finds out Nate is brother to her friend Kendra, the two are forced to be civil to each other. As heated tempers lose their fire, another one starts. Nate has a reputation but five years ago he met Christ and it changed his life. Now his life is about to change again.

This is a quick romance. There is not much getting to know each other and I wonder what life after such a romance would be like. This is a quick novella and is good for its length.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Love's Gift, the entire collection of eight novellas, runs 770 pages long. It is currently available for 99 cents and you can buy it here.

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

Dangerous Love by Ray Norman

Norman comes from a missionary heritage. His parents were medical missionaries in Nigeria. Ray met his wife in the Niger Republic while conducting field research for his doctoral thesis. The couple worked in Middle Eastern countries until Norman joined World Vision in 1999. He worked in Mauritania for World Vision as their national director. In a country where Christian presence is restricted and open witness prohibited, World Vision worked with the government to fight rampant poverty.

While Norman's wife was in France completing studies, he took their ten year old daughter, Hannah, to the beach. It was October 17, 2001. Their van was attacked by a lone gunman. Both the father and daughter were shot. They survived and this book tells the journey of the years that followed.

Norman is really honest about the lessons he learned from this experience. There was an immediate stress on their marriage. Many people did not know how to minister to the Norman family, including some of their closest Christian friends. They were unsure of how to follow God's will for their future. They decided to move to the United States in the summer of 2002.

Before leaving Mauritania, Norman made a public statement of forgiving the gunman and they were able to visit the man in prison, giving their forgiveness in person. He recounts the impact of that act in their area and how it opened doors.

Norman has given us a very interesting view of working for an NGO in a Muslim state during 2001 and the U. S. invasion of Afghanistan. He gives us insights into the attitude Muslims have toward Jesus and Christians. “Many Muslims regard Jesus as the prophet of love, and they readily expect true followers of Jesus to be people of love.” (47) Because of this, he notes that initial inroads into the hearts of Muslims are best made through life and actions, rather than preaching.

I appreciated the general account of his experiences, such as sending older children to boarding school. Norman also emphasizes the importance of listening to people and valuing them, regardless of their religion.

This is a good book that reveals how Christians can live in a society that is hostile to them. The only drawback to this story is that it occurred fourteen years ago. During that time, some areas have seen Muslim faith and practice change dramatically. I do recommend it to those who want to understand more of how Christians can live within a Muslim state.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Ray Norman was raised in rural West Africa, the son of medical missionaries. After completing his formal education, he worked in Africa and the Middle East for over fifteen years as a researcher and development specialist. In 1999 he joined World Vision International as the national director in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. He and his family returned to the United States so their children could complete their education. He served as dead of the School of Science, Engineering, and Health at Messiah College for twelve years while continuing to advise and consult with World Vision. He returned to World Vision in 2015 as director for Faith Leadership for their global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene programs. He and his wife have two grown children and spend their time between Grantham, Pennsylvania, and Bonningues-les-Ardres in northern France.

Thomas Nelson Publishers, 240 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Icon Media for the purpose of an independent and honest review

Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble

When Mallory receives a cryptic phone call from her father, she knows she has to go back to Mermaid Point. She left her hometown under such a cloud she hasn't been back for fifteen years. She doesn't look forward to seeing Kevin, the man whose heart she broke all those years ago.

When she arrives in the seaside town, Kevin, now the local game warden, is there to help unravel what happened to her father. Kevin agrees that her father's death was suspicious and the two set out to find the killer. Before the investigation goes very far Mallory receives threats on her life and her home back in Bangor is ransacked. She and Kevin uncover clues but they only lead to deeper mysteries surrounding her parents. The past clashes with the present as she tries to understand who she is and if it is possible to heal the deep hurts that stand between her and Kevin.

I like this novel which is a combination of romance, mystery, and a sort of adult coming of age story. Mallory had made a decision fifteen years ago that set her on a course away from her home town, her father, and Kevin. She had made a life for herself and her daughter after her husband had died. But it was a life in which she had protected herself from facing the past. It was interesting to see how she finally dealt with her past. That aspect of the novel was huge, as was her developing relationship with Kevin, so I would describe the novel as more character driven than plot or suspense driven. There is suspense here and there but it is almost like an add on, not the main thrust of the story line.

There are important themes of forgiveness and restoration that run through the novel. There is also the issue of adoption and what that means in understanding who you are. Family relationships and alienation are big issues too.

I recommend this novel to those who like a romance based on character and overcoming past misunderstandings and hurts.

This book is the second in the Sunset Cove series. Some of the characters from that novel appear in this one but it can easily be read on its own. You can read my review of the first in the series, The Inn At Ocean's Edge, here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Colleen Coble is a USA Today bestselling author with more than three million books sold. You can find out more at http://www.colleencoble.com.

Thomas Nelson, 352 pages.

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

Philippians: Discovering Joy Through Relationship by Sue Edwards

There are a couple aspects of this Bible study I really like. The first relates to the whole Discover Together Bible Study series. The amount of time an individual can put into the study is varied. There is a basic level of participation that takes about fifteen minutes a day. For those who have more time and want to dig deeper, there are additional questions and resources exploring additional theological issues. Regardless of how busy one is, there is a level of study and participation that will work.

What I like about this particular study on Philippians is the emphasis on relationships. Edwards focuses on Paul's strong relationship with God and his deep friendship with the Philippians. She highlights the need for face-to-face community in this age of technology.

Edwards deals with issues of personal spiritual growth as well. For example, she notes that in Phil. 3:12-13 Paul is very open about his own limitations and inadequacies. She asks us if we struggle to admit ours. That could lead to a great discussion in a trusted group of friends.

There are lots of application questions in this study, taking Scripture and applying it to everyday life. There are questions like, “How can you act on this?” There are lots of good discussion and reflection questions too.

This study can be used on an individual basis or in a group. Group leaders can download a free guide to aid in leading. There are short videos to watch, linked with a QR code (or accessed at the study website). There are verses that can be memorized too.

This is a great eight week study reminding us of our need for community, using Paul as an example. You can find out more about the entire series here. You can watch a sample video from the Philippians series here.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Sue Edwards is associate professor of Christian education with a specialization in women's studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. She has more than thirty years of experience as a Bible teacher, curriculum writer, and overseer of women's ministries. She has a D.Min. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She and her husband have two married daughters and five grandchildren. You can find out more about her here.

Kregel Publications, 80 pages.

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