Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst

This is, by far, the best book I have ever read on rejection. TerKeurst writes from experience. Her depth of empathy is refreshing. The practical suggestions she gives are inspiring.

There are many who feel they have been rejected by their father and this book is specifically great for this issue. TerKeurst is painfully honest with her own contemporary feelings and their roots in past experience. Those who have experienced rejection with certainly relate.

While that aspect of the book is great, TerKeurst's sharing of how she has been working through her feelings of rejection is even better. She includes suggestions for healing that come from her own journey. I was particularly struck by her ten days of prayer. As one who felt rejected by a parent, I really identified with them.

I initially listened to this book on audio. Ginny Welsh's reading of the book was great. She expressed well the feelings conveyed by the written words. She is the best narrator of a book I've heard this year (and I go through over twenty books on audio annually). I listened to the book while walking but was so struck by the importance of the content I had to get myself a copy I could read.

I highly recommend this book to those who have experienced rejection and are ready to work their way through to healing.

You can watch videos, read quotes and find other information about this book at http://uninvitedbook.com/.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Lysa TerKeurst is a New York Times bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries. You can find out more at http://lysaterkeurst.com/.

Thomas Nelson, 288 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My thoughts are an independent and honest review.

Answering the Toughest Questions About God and the Bible by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz

We shouldn't be afraid of tough questions, Bickel and Jantz write. Ultimately, questions will deepen our love for God and lead to sound faith.

The authors chose the top ten questions young people are asking today about God and what it says in His Word. Before answering the questions, however, they lay a foundation by investigating certainty, the importance of listening to others, and the role of trust.

The characteristics and intellectual nature of this book make it suitable for teens. For example, when relating the rebellion of Adam and Eve, the authors write, “Like rebellious teens, they stood smiling in agreement as the instructions for life were given, but as soon as God the Father turned around, they stuck out their tongues and ran off to do what they wanted.” (434/3274) The authors do write that they aimed their book at “young adults.” (2552/3274) I would not recommend the book for those into a college experience because of the book's lack of intellectual rigor.

Youth pastors might use this book but I would suggest additional study to supplement it. An example of why I make that suggestion is when the authors write that God is “the unmoved mover, 100 percent free to do as he chooses without being acted upon by any other force...” (565/3274) I think teens would then ask questions about prayer and why one should even pray. Information to help in that discussion is not included in the book so further study would have to have been previously completed.

It seems this book is aimed at those not very familiar with Christianity and the Bible. In describing the major themes of the Bible, the authors write, “If you are familiar with the Bible or Christianity, these six 'Acts' will likely ring a bell.” (1423/3274) I would not recommend this book to seasoned Christians.

I recommend this book to those who have basic questions about God and Christianity and are not looking for something with intellectual rigor. The authors are very personable, sharing some of their own experiences. Their writing style is very conversational.

The authors have included questions for reflection and discussion throughout the book. That would make the book a good one to use in a teen group. This book is a good starting point for teens with questions. Unfortunately, there was not a list of additional resources or books for further study in the egalley I read. While it is a good introductory book, readers will have to go elsewhere to pursue a deeper discussion of these questions.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Bruce Bickel received a degree in Theater Arts, tried performing, then went to law school. He has been practicing law for twenty years. He has co-authored 60 books. He is a popular speaker and has appeared on many radio and television programs. He and his wife live in Fresno, California. You can find out more at http://www.brucebickel.com/ .

Stan Jantz serves as the executive director of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. He was previously interim CEO of Gospel Light Publishing and is the founder of content consulting company The Muvum Group and co-founder of Conversant Media. He also managed a chain of Christian retail stores for 25 years. He lives in California.

Bethany House, 208 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Trust My Heart by Carol J. Post GIVEAWAY

This is a delightful Christian romance. There are several themes running through the story, making it a romance with a little more meat on the frame.

The plot is good. Grant is a rising New York lawyer who has just inherited his estranged grandmother's home in a small North Carolina town. He's ready to put the large home on the market and then take off for a much needed sabbatical. Until he meets Jami, new reporter for the local town newspaper. She's been assigned to do a story on him and his grandparents. Her aim is to solve the mystery behind the decades old change in the couple, going from socialites to recluses. When she meets Grant, her heart realizes he is more than she bargained for.

The romance part of the plot is well done. I liked it. There were also other aspects of the novel I liked too. There is much character transformation that must happen in both Jami and Grant before a romance can blossom. Jami's father had abandoned his family when Jami was eight. She still fears abandonment by men. Grant had been convinced his grandparents hated him as he had never met them. In their house he finds evidence to the contrary, however. Had his mother lied to him all these years?

So there are serious issues which the main characters need to face and conquer. It is tough going. Lack of trust on both their parts makes for misunderstandings and hurtful situations. Only God working within can heal old hurts, bring forgiveness, and make a way for a good future.

Post has given us some support characters that are great. Bernie, an older reporter for the paper, is quite the character. She is always trying to make romance happen between others. She and Hank, the older manager of the local hardware store, always seem to be at odds. Until, that is, Jami and her friends turn the tables on Bernie and set her up for romance.

I recommend this enjoyable romance. There are good characters with great character development. There are a few good themes to think about and discuss. And readers will get to enjoy the great outdoor scenery of North Carolina.

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

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Carol J. Post has been a medical secretary, court reporter, property manager, and owner of a special events decorating company. Through it all has been her love of writing. Her books have been nominated for an RT Reviewers' Choice Best Book Award and selected as an RT Top Pick. She and her music minister husband have two adult daughters and several grandchildren. You can find out more at http://caroljpost.com. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Waterfall Press, 272 pages. You can purchase a copy here.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Litfuse. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Offed Stage Left by Joanne Sydney Lessner

This novel was my introduction to Isobel Spice, aspiring actress and accomplished sleuth. I like her character and the unusual setting of a regional theater.

Isobel had obtained a role in an upstate New York theater production of a musical based on the life of Sousa. Before the opening night, strange things happen. Are they pranks or is someone trying to stop the show? And then the action on stage turns deadly.

Lessner has crafted an engaging novel about the workings of theater. Not having read the previous novels in the series and not being familiar with theater, I was at a loss sometimes with the terminology. That did not detract much from my enjoyment of this mystery, however. I did learn quite a bit about the workings behind the scenes, including the personnel, the props and costumes, and the emotional condition of the participants.

Isobel is my kind of sleuth. She's able to keep her focus under pressure. She's the understudy for the leading lady and when that star collapses onstage, Isobel has to step up. She becomes the primary suspect when it is determined the star was murdered. Isobel is a strong character, managing to do a smashing job on stage while concentrating on finding the real killer.

This novel has lots of action with an emphasis on character interaction. I would have liked a little more description of scenes so I could better imagine the action going on. Nonetheless, I found this novel to be an engaging one. The characters are well crafted and the plot satisfying. Readers who enjoy mysteries, theater, musicals, or the opera will enjoy this one.

You can read an excerpt here.

I am taking part in a blog tour of this book. Click here to view the 'Offed Stage Left by Joanne Sydney Lessner' Tour Participants.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Joanne Sydney Lessner is the author of Pandora's Bottle, a novel inspired by the story of the world's most expensive bottle of wine (Flint Mine Press), and The Temporary Detective, Bad Publicity, and Justice for Some, featuring Isobel Spice. No stranger to the theatrical world, Joanne enjoys an active performing career in both musical theater and opera. With her husband, composer/conductor Joshua Rosenblum, she has coauthored several musicals. Her play, Critical Mass, received its Off Broadway premiere in October 2010 as the winner of the 2009 Heiress Productions Playwriting Competition. Joanne is a regular contributing writer to Opera News and holds a B.A. in music from Yale University. You can find out more at her website and follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery, Amateur Sleuth

Published by: Dulcet Press

Publication Date: Late October 2016

Number of Pages: 260

ISBN: 9780998133201

Series: Isobel Spice, 4. Each is a stand alone mystery.

You can get your copy of Offed Stage Left at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, and add it to your GoodReads list.

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

A Week of Werewolves, Faeries and Fancy Dresses by Nicki Chapelway

This short novel is a good debut effort for a teen author. Chapelway has a good sense of creating an ongoing story line. It kept my attention throughout. She has crafted some interesting characters too.

Chelsea, her twin brother and two others find out they have each been traveling to medieval Amar through a portal. They go together and are immediately thrust into a dangerous adventure. It seems their fathers had been there and had left on an important journey, never to return. (The fathers are safe in the contemporary world.) The teens will not be allowed to travel back to their current world until they have followed the path of their fathers and find out what happened to them. It turns out to be a very dangerous journey.

The concept of the travel portal has been somewhat overworked in fantasy novels. A little humor was added this time as the portal sometimes drops the teens in the oddest places, like on top of a table with one foot in a bowl of porridge.

The strength of this novel was character interaction. Chapelway is a teen and has done a great job with the dialog and thoughts teens have. There was lots of humor in Chelsea's thoughts. I really enjoyed that.

There could have been more description as that would have helped readers picture places and people a little better. I read a digital version of the book and several chapters were out of order. The ending of the book is sort of a cliff hanger but I felt it was more just a stopping point in the story line. I would have liked to see some resolution, some completion of some aspect of the story, before the abrupt stop in action.

Chapelway has great potential. The text could use a little correcting of grammar. For example, “Brothers … never appreciate the things us sisters do for them.” (456/3504) Some editing would help the flow of the work as well. Nonetheless, I applaud the author and look forward to watching her grow as a creative writer. This would be a good book for young teens.

I am taking part in a blog tour of this book. You can find links to other reviews and a guest post from the author here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Nicki Chapelway is the pseudonym of a teenage girl. She enjoys reading, writing, swimming, and watching TV. She lives in Ohio with her family of eight and two dogs. She is currently working on the next book in the series. You can find out more at http://pausefortales.blogspot.com.

CreateSpace Independent Publishing, 260 pages. You can buy a copy here.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My thoughts are an independent and honest review.

8 Steps to Achieve Your Destiny by Samuel R. Chand

If you are a leader, you will face difficulties. Chand offers insights on leadership he has gathered over the years.

He highlights eight topics. New People (identifying characteristics and dealing with them), New Pains (change creates it so get used to it and embrace it), New Places (where you want to go and how you'll get there), New Perspectives (new ways to see and finding mentors), New Priorities (defining steps to reach your goal), New Passions (rediscovering excitement as life changes), New Preparations (daily habits and skills), New Possibilities (embrace the risks and opportunities).

Chand says the biggest challenge for leaders is within them – their perceptions and attitudes. He provides insights on how to overcome roadblocks and find new ways to respond to people and situations. He includes good suggestions. He also gives great examples where leaders capitalized on ideas like he presents as well as others who totally missed it.

There is nothing in this book that will shake the leadership culture. Chand give sensible and inspiring suggestions. This would be a good book for any leader to read either as encouragement or a review of current leadership practices. Chand includes Teaching Points at the end of each chapter, as well as visuals, so this book could be used in leading a seminar or other group session.

Note: This is a reprint, under a new title, of LadderShifts, published about a decade ago.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Samuel R. Chand became president of Beulah Heights Bible College in 1989. Under his leadership, the school became the country's largest predominantly African-American Bible college. Chand currently serves as president emeritus of Beulah Heights University. He is a leadership architect and consultant, author, and change strategist. He lives with his family in the Atlanta, Georgia area. You can find out more at www.samchand.com.

Whitaker House, 176 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through The Book Club Network. My comments are an independent and honest review.

The Nearly Girl by Lisa de Nikolits

This is the most unusual novel I have read in ages. It has quirky characters, unbelievable group therapy sessions, drugged zombies, and a disjointed plot. Yet I found the novel compelling reading.

Megan meets Henry at a poetry reading. He is very, very odd yet she finds herself captivated by him. He is drawn to her and soon they are a couple in a dysfunctional sort of way. When she forgets to take her birth control pills, Megan becomes pregnant. After a stormy time of relationship, Amelia is born. It becomes quickly apparent that Amelia has some of the same odd behavior traits of her father. Perhaps group therapy will help her adapt to the world better than her father was able to do.

This novel is a look at people who don't fit into the normal categories in society. Henry hears voices, writes poetry no one understands but everyone applauds, doesn't feel cold, gets up and leaves at odd hours and disappears for days. Some call him a genius. But are all geniuses in some way crazy?

It was interesting to read how Amelia tackles life in the light of her odd father. She found “normal” life boring. Because of her government support, she attends group therapy and there meets more misfits of society. But are they really such misfits? Aren't we all unusual in some way?

There are serious themes explored in this quirky novel. One is family. Because of his odd behavior, Henry has been practically disowned by his socially correct parents. At one point he says, “This is what you and I do, Mother. We hurt each other. That is how we know we are still family. When we lose the power to hurt one another, well, then we will just be strangers.” (36) There could be good discussion around that issue.

But perhaps the major theme is what it means to be normal and accepted so in society. Amelia could not be normal yet wanted to function in society. A brilliant young woman, she was studying Joan of Arc for an advanced degree. But she just could not get on the right bus to her destination. Taking a different bus was so less boring. She is told, “You can still be singularly unique, and yet do the things that the rest of the world does.” (168) There is another good point of discussion.

I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy the unusual. You'll find unusual characters and social interactions. Unusual humor and tenderness. Unusual topics to discuss. You'll find pure quirky entertainment.

You can read an excerpt here.

I am taking part in a blog tour of this book. Click here to view the 'The Nearly Girl by Lisa de Nikolits' Tour Participants.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Lisa de Nikolits is originally from South Africa and has lived in Canada since 2000. She is an IPPY Awards Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals winner. Her short fiction and poetry has been published in various anthologies and journals. This is her sixth novel. She lives and writes in Toronto. You can find out more at her website, follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Book Details:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
Published by: Inanna Publications
Publication Date: October 2016
Number of Pages: 301
ISBN: 1771333138 (ISBN13: 9781771333139)
Purchase Links: Amazon, GoodReads, Inanna. 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tour. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Greek for Everyone by A. Chadwick Thornhill

I have good news and bad news about this book.

First the good news. It is a great resource for laypeople who want to deepen their understanding of the New Testament by gaining some knowledge of Greek. I feel Thornhill does a great job of giving readers an understanding of the basics. He covers how the Greek language works as a whole. He goes through the alphabet, pronunciation, parts of speech, verbs and nominals and how they are structured, cases, pronouns, adjectives, etc.

While he does suggest memorizing the most common 92 vocabulary words, his focus is to give skills to use information gathered (perhaps elsewhere) to exegete a passage. He does not require memorizing conjugations or declensions but does explain what each means in understanding the text. Rather than memorizing the endings in this highly inflected language, he gives many resources (books and websites) to help readers identify them. When one finds out a verb is present imperative, this book can be referenced to find out what kind of a command it is.

He has a good section on textual criticism and translations. Readers who have wondered why translations differ so will find answers to their questions here. He covers the principles involved in understanding the text, identifying the various contexts that need to be recognized. He also has a great section on how to do word studies and then what to do with them. He finally takes the reader through a suggested process of investigating a passage, providing a good list of external resources.

The aspect of this book I found totally inadequate was the index. (It's about one page in length.) It limits the usefulness of the book later on. For example, perhaps I find from another source that a verb is aorist subjunctive. That term does not appear in the index. Subjunctive mood does appear, with four page options listed. I finally found aorist subjunctive in the third listing, three pages in. The inadequate index decreases the usefulness of the book as a lay person's future resource. I suggest readers create their own extensive index as they work their way through the book so they will have easy access to information later.

I recommend this book to laypersons who want to gain a good understanding of the basics of Greek to enhance their understanding of the New Testament. If readers would create their own index as they read, this book will be a great resource for years to come.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

A. Chadwick Thornhill is chair of theological studies and assistant professor of apologetics and biblical studies at the Liberty University School of Divinity.

Baker Books, 272 pages.

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