Benny's Angel - BLOG TOUR/BOOK REVIEW/GIVEAWAY (Holiday Gift Guide) - Giveaway US through December 5, 2011

Title:  Benny's Angel
Author:  Laura Allen Nonemaker
Publisher:   Tate Publishing
Release Date:  November 8, 2011
Paperback, 24 pages
ISBN 10:    1613460090
ISBN 13:  9781613460092
The Book Depository / Amazon

Goodreads description:

Who stole the flowers in God's Secret Garden? Find out in this delightful tale, which uses animals, nature, and a visit from an angel to teach the importance of prayer and the value of trusting God.

My Take: 

What a lovely little book with a wonderful message on not letting others steal your joy.  This book is written especially for younger children and offers a message of love and hope in a way that is simple for them to understand.  With lovely illustrations and characters,

Meet the Characters

children will see the value of prayer in action. 

Short and sweet, it's just long enough to hold young children's attention without giving them time to get restless.

My grandbebes loved it at Gigi Storytime, and I think your children and grandchildren will, too.  It would make a lovely and meaningful addition to the Christmas gift list!

BOOK RATING:   4 out of 5 stars

Author bio:

Laura Allen Nonemaker’s desire to write took root as a child in Bermuda. Since then, Laura has written in a variety of genres and her work has appeared in Essence Treasury: Celebrating the Season, Alive! and Kentucky Monthly Magazine.

Laura has been involved in short-term missions, including trips to Russia, Poland, and the University of the Nations in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Three years ago, her interest in the arts motivated her to join the planning team for Artful Missions, which conducts juried art shows and donates to outreaches in the U.S. and India to rescue women and children from human trafficking.

Feel free to contact Laura at lauranonemaker(at)gmail(dot)com.

BLOGGERS:  Have you reviewed this book? If so, please feel free to leave a link to your review in the comments section; I will also add your link to the body of my review.

Author website

Video Trailer

BUY IT:  At Amazon, The Book Depository, through the publisher's website,  and through other on-and-off-line booksellers.

WIN!

Now for a very special giveaway!  One winner from across the blogs participating in this tour will win this grand prize:

• 1 Vivitar Camcorder with Camera and 2X Zoom
• 1 Benny's Angel Picture Book
• 1 Benny's Angel 3-D Book
• 1 Benny's Angel Coloring Book
• 1 Benny's Angel Audio Book
• 1 Benny's Angel T Shirt 
• 1 Benny Christmas Ornament
• 1 Marietta Christmas Ornament
• 1 96-Count Crayola Crayons

HOW TO ENTER:

Comment:  Let me know in the comments what your favorite children's book is! Please remember to include your email address kind of like this: user(at)domain(dot)com or something similar to prevent spambots from picking your email address up.

Extra entries:

You can get an extra entry for following Knitting and Sundries (email/Twitter/GFC) - TWO extra entries if you are an old follower or subscriber.

Connect with Laura at These Social Networking Sites (follow/like/etc.):

facebook: Laura Allen Nonemaker
twitter: @DigInGodsGarden
Linkedin: Laura Nonemaker
Blog: www.diggingingodsgarden.com

Make a separate comment for each entry and include your follower name or the email address you subscribe under.

Eligibility:  US through 12/05/2011

Visit the other blogs on the tour!
 
Disclosure:  I  received a  complimentary copy of this title from Kathy Carlton Willis Communications to facilitate my review.  No other compensation was received and I was not required to post a positive review.

When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley - BOOK REVIEW

Title:  When Sparrows Fall
Author:  Meg Moseley
Publisher:   Margaret K. McElderry, a division of Simon and Schuster
Release Date:  April 5, 2011
Hardcover, 320 pages
ISBN 10:    144240339X
ISBN 13:  9781442403390
The Book Depository / Amazon

Goodreads description:

Freedom. Safety. Love. Miranda vows to reclaim them--for herself, and for her children.


A widow and mother of six, Miranda Hanford leads a quiet, private life. When the pastor of her close-knit church announces his plans to move the entire congregation to another state, Miranda jumps at the opportunity to dissolve ties with Mason Chandler and his controlling brand of “shepherding.” But then Mason threatens to unearth secrets only he knows, and Miranda feels trapped, terrified she’ll be unable to protect her children. 

University professor Jack Hanford is more than surprised when he gets a call from his estranged sister-in-law’s oldest son, Timothy, informing him that Miranda has taken a serious fall and he has been named legal guardian of her children while she recovers. Quickly charmed by Miranda’s children, Jack brings some much-needed life into the sheltered household. But his constant challenging of the family’s conservative lifestyle makes the recovering mother uneasy and defensive—despite Jack’s unnerving appeal.

As Jack tries to make sense of the mysterious Miranda and the secrets she holds so tightly, Mason’s pressure on her increases. With her emotions stirring and freedom calling, can Miranda find a way to unshackle her family without losing everything?

My Take: 

As the book opens, we find Miranda Hanford, a widowed mother of six children, finding out that her church pastor has called a meeting of the single women of the church.  He informs them that the church and its flock will be moving to another state and that the parishioners with property are expected to sell, pull up stakes, and donate the proceeds to the move.  (Obviously, this set up warning bells in THIS reader's mind!)

Ever the black sheep of her strict fundamentalist group (no caffeine, homeschooling with no science or fiction books included), Miranda determines that she will not sell her property OR move with the church.  The problem is that the pastor holds a secret over her head and threatens her with calling children's services and having her children taken away.  Her dilemma is now how to avoid moving with the church while keeping the pastor silent.

As she is taking pictures one morning, Miranda takes a serious tumble down a steep slope and ends up hospitalized.  Some time ago, she changed her children's guardianship from her church pastor to her husband Carl's half-brother Jack, a literature professor.  When Jack is called to take care of the children while Miranda recovers, he drives up from Chattanooga and re-acquaints himself with the nieces and nephews that he was not able to know while Carl was alive.  He brings a touch of modernity to the Hanford household, sometimes against Miranda's wishes, but in a gentle fashion, taking the children to the library to pick up real books to read, making coffee, and falling in love with the children whose lives have been so circumscribed that the girls dress in basic shift dresses only.

As Miranda recovers, she finds an unlikely ally in the pastor's own wife Abigail.  Will Miranda be able to break away from the church and still keep her children?

This was an involving read.  From the beginning, I had my fingers crossed for Miranda, who was isolated from everything by her husband Carl.  The women of the church are not even allowed to vote, and Miranda was banned from making money from her photography by the church council.  It may be hard for many of us to imagine a life so "backward", and I, for one, would have told the pastor in no uncertain terms to stick it where the sun doesn't shine (but that's just me).

In this novel, however, we see how easily a woman married young to a controlling man and brought into a similarly controlling church society could be placed in this position.

This is Christian fiction, so it is a clean read, but it could be considered a general fiction read as well.  The fundamentalist church that Miranda belongs to is not portrayed in a good light, and Jack has a quiet, understated faith that makes him a wonderful person to read about.

QUOTES

He still spoke softly, but this wasn't the genial pastor who preached on Sundays and prayed for the sick and made a mean chili for potluck suppers.  This was a different man.  A hard, unreasonable man.
"What's right for the church as a whole isn't necessarily right for me," she said, quaking inside.
"Remember, Miranda, 'rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft."

Jack asked more questions and learned that the children had never set foot in a school building or a McDonald's or a mall.  A trip to the grocery store was an unusual event.

He gave himself a mental slap.  She was his sister-in-law.  Mother of six.  Weird homeschooler whose religion forbade nicknames, fiction, and attractive clothing.

Writing:  4 out of 5 stars

Plot:   4 out of 5 stars

Characters:  3.5 out of 5 stars

Reading Immersion:  3.5 out 5 stars

BOOK RATING:   3.75 out of 5 stars

BLOGGERS:  Have you reviewed this book? If so, please feel free to leave a link to your review in the comments section; I will also add your link to the body of my review.

Read an excerpt

BUY IT:  At Amazon, The Book Depository, through the publisher's website,  and through other on-and-off-line booksellers.

Disclosure:  I  received a  complimentary copy of this title from the publisher through Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program to facilitate my review.  No other compensation was received and I was not required to post a positive review.

Destined to Live, Despite Me by Yolanda Shanks - BOOK REVIEW

Title:  Destined to Live, Despite Me:  Biblical Truths for Suicide Survivors
Author:  Yolanda Shanks
Publisher:   Whitaker Distributors
Release Date:  June 7, 2010
Paperback, 144 pages
ISBN 10:    057805468X
ISBN 13:  9780578054681
The Book Depository / Amazon

Goodreads description:

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
Psalm 118:17

In the United States it is estimated that 91 people will commit suicide this very day. This is equivalent to one successful suicide every 16 minutes.

Maybe a loved one or someone you know has attempted to take his or her own life? At some point perhaps you struggled with depression or the nagging thoughts to end it all? If so, please know that you are not alone.

With warmth and wisdom, attempted suicide survivor and Bible study teacher Yolanda Shanks offers practical solutions and scriptural truths for the many painful questions suicide survivors face:
• Why me?
• Does God still love me?
• Will this pain last forever?
• How can I shake the embarrassment, guilt, and shame from my past?
• What's needed to rebuild my life from here?

While this book is not intended to replace medical counseling, Destined to Live, Despite Me is instead a powerful resource for those determined to live and find true joy, peace, hope, confidence, and freedom through meaningful, and deliberate living in Christ Jesus. Escape the shadows from your past and begin to build a new life according to God's design today.

My Take: 

Someone close to me suffers from borderline personality disorder, which, prior to getting on a strict medication protocol, caused her to be severely depressed and even suicidal at times, which is what made me interested in this book.

The author herself survived a teenage suicide attempt, and has since become a true believer.  This novel is her attempt to offer guidance to others who are dealing with the shame and guilt of their suicide attempt. It makes the point that simply going to church and accepting Christ as your savior is not enough; you must walk with God at every step in your life.  It offers Job as an example of someone who went through extraordinary trials and tribulations but did not lose faith.  Some of the chapter headings and subheadings consist of suicidal thoughts, i.e. No one truly cares about me and offer Biblical thoughts that belie that particular thought.

I must admit to being somewhat disappointed in this book.  It reads rather sermon-like in its enthusiasm. It is very exclamatory, and also contains an exploration of the Trinity that I felt wasn't pertinent to the message it attempted to convey.  Rather than dealing specifically with and being addressed to those with suicidal thoughts or even to survivors of suicide attempts, it is basically saying, "Get saved, walk with God, and leave everything in His hands."  While that may be true depending on your belief system, I was hoping for something more concrete, more focused on the specific issue it is meant to deal with.

While I didn't feel that it offered any real guidance (other than the back of the book, which lists resources for those thinking of suicide), it may be helpful for some who need the message of salvation and hope.

QUOTES

Choosing to deliberately live a meaningful life is just like preparing for that hurricane.  Our belief system must already be established on a solid foundation of hope in God, through the person of His Son, jesus Christ.  Such hope will keep us rooted despite and future trials and tribulations (hurricanes) that we will encounter on this journey called life.

Hope keeps us assured that despite the enemy's attacks, we are not on this journey alone, our current afflictions are only temporary, and we now have God as our defense!

The truth is, we cannot claim to have unshakable faith if we internally agonize about things over which we have no control.

BOOK RATING:   2 out of 5 stars

BLOGGERS:  Have you reviewed this book? If so, please feel free to leave a link to your review in the comments section; I will also add your link to the body of my review.

BUY IT:  At Amazon, The Book Depository,  and through other on-and-off-line booksellers.

Disclosure:  I  received a  complimentary copy of this title through the Goodreads First Look program to facilitate my review.  No other compensation was received and I was not required to post a positive review.

Lost Island Smugglers by Max Elliott Anderson - BOOK REVIEW (Middle Readers)

Title:  Lost Island Smugglers
Author:  Max Elliot Anderson
Publisher:   Port Yonder Press
Paperback, 150 pages
ISBN 10:     1935600028
ISBN 13:  9781935600022
The Book Depository / Amazon

Goodreads description:

Sam Cooper had just moved to Harper’s Inlet where he met Tony and Tyler. While Tony’s father was away on a buying trip, the boys took one of the rental sailboats out for a diving adventure. Everything went well until the biggest storm Tony had ever seen blew up from out of nowhere, and the boys found themselves stranded on Lost Island. But, if they thought the worst had happened, they were wrong. The boys discovered a secret hideout that was used by men in high powered speedboats. Sam and his friends knew the men were up to something, only they didn’t know what. They had to find a way to stop them, but how? And, even if they did, the boys could never tell anyone about it. Lost Island Smugglers is a story with danger, excitement, and heart-pounding action. Author Bill Myers reports, "Sam Cooper Adventures are like good, family movies . . . as an ordinary kid finds himself in exciting and extra-ordinary adventures!" And author Jerry B. Jenkins adds, "Max Elliot Anderson brings a lifetime of dramatic film and video production to the pages of his action adventures and mysteries." Young readers report that reading one of Anderson’s action-adventures or mysteries is like being in an exciting or scary movie.

My Take: 

This is our second Max Elliot Anderson title; the first was Barney and the Runaway (click the title to see the review).

I say "our" because Mr. Anderson writes books for boys, specifically books that like adventure books. and this was a read-together for Bebe Boy James and I.

Sam Cooper is 11 years old.  His dad is a research biologist, which means that they move a lot.  In the beginning of the book, they see a news article about a drug raid only three blocks from their house, which makes Sam think that maybe their NEW move to Harper's Inlet (a town north of Miami) is going to be a GOOD idea.

On the drive to their new home, Sam overhears a conversation at a rest stop which puzzles him, a snippet about "running boats with shark's teeth and blood".  He is put off by the appearance of the man holding the conversation, and "almost" tells his parents about it, but decides not to.

Once they're settled in, Sam meets some new boys in Sunday school:  Tyler and Tony.  Tony's dad owns the marina, where he rents boats and runs a scuba diving school.  When Tony's dad offers free lessons to Tony and two of his friends,  Sam persuades his parents to let him attend.

As Sam's friendship with these two develops, he realizes that he has some misgivings about Tony.  Tony is rather brash and arrogant, and likes to take chances, which gives Sam the feeling that he can't trust him.  This feeling only intensifies when Tony tries to talk the other two into a solo scuba diving trip, which Sam knows his parents would not allow.  Despite his misgivings, he allows himself to be talked into it, and he heads off into what will be a dangerous adventure.

The theme of drug running flows through this book, as does the theme of family.  Sam's family is very supportive, doing simple things such as taking their meals together (his friends tell him he's lucky).  Sam's struggles with some of his decisions, going against his first inclination just to fit in, and we see how peer pressure can easily be succumbed to, and also how doing what you know is right is better than going along.

Parents:  This is a wholesome book that boys will relate to and enjoy.  The lessons that are included as part of this adventure are fully integrated into the story, unlike many books where we see a "preachy" sort of lesson which just pops up out of nowhere. Bebe Boy James and I discuss chapters as we go along, and some of his remarks were:  "I'D want to get rid of all of the drug dealers, too!" and "If you know it's wrong, you shouldn't let someone else talk you into it". 

We enjoyed it, and James was so caught up once the boys got in their fix that we ended up reading past our planned reading time just so he could find out what happened.

QUOTES

He had never made friends this fast before, and nowhere in the rest of the United States, not in all the places he had lived before, had he ever been friends with someone like Tony.

"Mom and I do lots of things for special reasons.  That's because we only get one shot at being your parents and showing you what we think is important.  Right now, you're one of the most important things in our lives."

"We need to go down for a better look," Sam said.
"You mean you need to," Tony said.  "I need to stay right here."
"Yeah," Tyler added.  "My mom would want me to hide behind this log; I know she would."

Writing:  3.5 out of 5 stars

Plot:   4 out of 5 stars

Characters:  3.5 out of 5 stars

Reading Immersion:  4 out 5 stars

BOOK RATING:   3.75 out of 5 stars

BLOGGERS:  Have you reviewed this book? If so, please feel free to leave a link to your review in the comments section; I will also add your link to the body of my review.

Author Blog

BUY IT:  At Amazon, The Book Depository,  and through other on-and-off-line booksellers.

Disclosure:  I  received a  complimentary copy of this title from the author to facilitate my review.  No other compensation was received and I was not required to post a positive review.

"Big Red" Holy Bible (The Translation Children Can Read and Understand) ICB - BOOK REVIEW

Title:  ICB (International Children's Bible) "Big Red" Holy Bible
Publisher:   Thomas Nelson
Paperback, 1152 pages
ISBN 10:    1400316669
ISBN 13:  9781400316663
The Book Depository / Amazon

Goodreads description:

A full-text of the International Children's Bible translation with bright Red cover and ALL NEW contemporary art, that was created especially for children ages 6 to 12. "Big Red" has been updated with an all new collection of beautiful full color pages, illustrating treasured Bible stories.

Inside the type is big and readable for this age group. Kids will love having a Bible to take to church that's easy-to-read and understand!

My Take: 

This full version of both the Old and New Testaments has been translated in a clear prose that children can easily understand.  Some of the features:

• Children's dictionary/index, with more than 200 entries, explains difficult words and phrases
• Simplified footnotes explain Bible names, customs, and phrases
• Colorful maps show key cities and lands

Designed for Grades 3 and above, there are groups of insets containing beautiful illustrations of key Biblical characters and scenes, and the language IS much easier for younger readers.

Bebe Boy James recently started wanting to read the Bible on his own, and this is the Bible he takes down for his Bible reading.  He doesn't take it to church or to his youth group, as they use a different version, but he DOES sometimes use this one to help him better understand what his memory verses mean.  In this translation, John 3:16 reads: "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son.  God gave his Son so that whosoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life."

If you have a reader who is up to "chapter books" (as Bebe Boy James calls them) or middle readers, this would be a good Bible to have on hand for them to read for themselves. 

BOOK RATING:   5 out of 5 stars

BLOGGERS:  Have you reviewed this book? If so, please feel free to leave a link to your review in the comments section; I will also add your link to the body of my review.

BUY IT:  At Amazon, The Book Depository, through the publisher's website,  and through other on-and-off-line booksellers.

Disclosure:  I  received a  complimentary copy of this title from the publisher through their Book Sneeze program to facilitate my review.  No other compensation was received and I was not required to post a positive review.

Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry - BOOK REVIEW

Title:  Almost Heaven
Author:  Chris Fabry
Publisher:  Tyndale House Publishers
Publish Date:  October, 2010
Paperback, 400 pages
ISBN 10:     1414319576
ISBN 13:  9781414319575 
The Book Depository / Amazon

Goodreads description:

Billy Allman is a hillbilly genius. People in Dogwood, West Virginia, say he was born with a second helping of brains and a gift for playing the mandolin but was cut short on social skills. Though he’d gladly give you the shirt off his back, they were right. Billy longs to use his life as an ode to God, a lyrical, beautiful bluegrass song played with a finely tuned heart. So with spare parts from a lifetime of collecting, he builds a radio station in his own home. People in town laugh. But Billy carries a brutal secret that keeps him from significance and purpose. Things always seem to go wrong for him.

However small his life seems, from a different perspective Billy’s song reaches far beyond the hills and hollers he calls home. Malachi is an angel sent to observe Billy. Though it is not his dream assignment, Malachi follows the man and begins to see the bigger picture of how each painful step Billy takes is a note added to a beautiful symphony that will forever change the lives of those who hear it.

MY TAKE: 

First sentence:  Becky Putnam stepped onto Billy Allman's front porch, a camera strung over one shoulder and a reporter's notebook in the other hand.

This was my favorite book during the week that I read it.  For those of you who shy away from Christian fiction (too preachy, too sappy, too ... whatever ....),  this one will make you think twice.  Yes, God is in here, and Billy has a deep reservoir of quiet faith (he has to; he goes through some very difficult and trying times), and there is an angel, a questioning angel named Malachi, who watches over Billy as well.

Malachi is called away from Billy during what we (and he) later find is a particularly rough spot in his teenage life, and he mentally battles with devils who try to work on his doubts.   He finds himself questioning why God would call him away during a period of great crisis in the life of the one he is looking out for, and even why so many trials happen in Billy's life.

Billy loses his older and much-loved brother Harless to the war, making him an only child.  On Billy's 10th birthday, he and his family go through a terrible flood, the Buffalo Creek disaster, where the dams gave out, causing "a wall of water that deposited bodies in trees".  While trying to outrun the flood, they realize that their neighbor and her children have no way to get out.  Alexander, Billy's father, parks the car on a hill and runs down to the neighbor's trailer, where his family sees him snatched away by flood waters while exiting with children in his arms.

Billy ends up in Dogwood, West Virginia.  Billy has great electrical skill and a natural ability.  He is also a musical prodigy of sorts, having managed to grab his father's mandolin while escaping the flood, although he keeps his talents under wraps until a teacher at the high school catches him playing.  Another family tragedy makes him rather friendless, but one girl, Heather Blanch, who lives in a nice house and wears nice clothes, is the only one that talks to him.  This rather sad, one-sided friendship circles through the novel. 

After some time, and a stint playing with a traveling gospel band, Billy returns home to care for his aging mother.  Here we have a finely-drawn chronicle of dementia/Alheimers, the sadness, craziness and loss that it brings.

We also find Billy working towards his dream, as he feels called to start a bluegrass radio station out of his home.  With lots of begged, borrowed, inexpensive, and salvaged parts, and a whole lot of sweat, he makes his dream a reality.  The audience is small, and the station doesn't have a distant range, but Billy pours himself into it, running it by himself with small stretches of sleep and only his dog for company.

With the disappearance of his friend Callie, a postal carrier who carries an unrequited torch for him, Billy uses the radio station to broadcast for help.  He gets a clue from a little girl named Natalie, and what follows is a harrowing. heartbreaking, edge-of-your-seat tale.

Excellent writing, teamed with so many losses and trials, will keep you turning the pages.  This is an extraordinary story about an ordinary man with exceptional gifts.  I absolutely loved it.

QUOTES

I believe every life has hidden songs that hang by twin threads of music and memory.

I don't know if the death of my father triggered it, or if it was going to happen all along, but somewhere in the long trail of her DNA, something came loose like laundry from the clothesline.

Some people think that when you begin telling the stories, it's like a dam breaking and everything behind it just spills out and keeps flowing until the lake of memory is dry.  It's not that way at all.  It's more like poking and prodding at a backup along a creek.  You have to pull at some sticks here and a jumble of leaves and trash over there and get the water flowing, and pretty soon there's something else that stick and you have to work on that awhile.

Writing: 5 out of 5 stars

Plot:  5 out of 5 stars

Characters: 5 out of 5 stars

Reading Immersion:  4.5 out 5 stars

BOOK RATING: 4.75 out of 5 stars

BLOGGERS:  Have you reviewed this book? If so, please feel free to leave a link to your review in the comments section; I will also add your link to the body of my review.

Read an excerpt (PDF file)

watch on tyndale.com

BUY IT:  At Amazon, The Book Depository, through the publisher's website,  and through other on-and-off-line booksellers.

Disclosure:  This is a review of my personal copy, downloaded for free as a Kindle version.

A Woman and Her Workplace by Rosemary Flaaten - BOOK REVIEW

Title:  A Woman and Her Workplace
The Book Depository / Amazon 
Author:  Rosemary Flaaten
Christian Self-Help
Publisher:  Beacon Hill Press
Paperback, 192 pages
ISBN 10:    0834125234
ISBN 13:  9780834125230

Goodreads description:

Why is it often so difficult to build healthy relationships with our coworkers? The grumpy boss, the arrogant team member, the lazy employee, or the backbiting woman may be part of our workplace reality, and it may be easier to blame them for our workplace woes. But, the easy blame isn t always the best solution.

A Woman and Her Workplace shows women how God can perform a deep heart transformation within us that will allow His love and care to flow through us to the people in our workplaces. By delving into the issues that wreak havoc on our workplace relationships, author Rosemary Flaaten provides readers the help they need to develop and apply strong biblical principles of humility, integrity, forgiveness, grace, and celebration in the workplace.

Through discussing relationships such as boss to staff, woman to man, woman to woman, and teamwork, Flaaten guides women on a transforming journey through the common workplace difficulties as they develop healthy interaction in their workplace.


My Take: 

This book is written as sort of a handbook for the Christian woman at work.  With the use of real-life modern parables and examples, it serves as a guide for bettering your attitude towards the workplace as well as your relationships within the workplace.

Esther is used as a Biblical example of a woman who showed humility and patience in her role and ended up triumphing.

There are good pointers here:  Do not compromise your values; don't make assumptions, don't try to change others-change your reaction to them, and others.

At the end of each chapter, there are included verses to study and reflective questions.

I personally didn't take away a lot from the book, as I'm not humble enough to let others take credit for my work without complaint, and I'm pretty much not going to be uber-nice to someone who treats me and others horribly.  I just don't have it in me. Many of the other pointers I've picked up on my own through years of work experience and just experience in dealing with many different types of people.  I don't gossip; I don't toot my own horn; I don't treat people badly (and I don't let them get away clean with treating ME badly either); and I'm never really envious of other people, so many of the situations that are described simply don't apply to me.

For other types of women, though, especially those who are just starting out or who are striving to find a way to not let their troubles at work intrude into their overall feeling of well-being, I think it would be a good book to have.

QUOTES

Pray?  Can I pray that she gets hit by a bus?  Okay-maybe that's a bit extreme.  Christ tells us to pray for those who desire to do us harm. ....if we can pray for others, we'll be much less likely to slander or gossip about them.

When given a chance to say something unkind about someone, especially someone we know has been spreading slander about us, we can choose to find something good to say about him or her, or we follow or mother's adage "If you can't say something nice about a person, don't say anything at all."
Reviewer note:  I'm pretty much the "I'm not saying anything at all" type.


BOOK RATING: 3 out of 5 stars

Author website

BUY IT:  At Amazon, The Book Depository,  and through other on-and-off-line booksellers.

Disclosure:  I  received a  complimentary copy of this title from Kathy Carlton Willis Communications to facilitate my review.  No other compensation was received and I was not required to post a positive review.

The Brotherhood by Jerry B. Jenkins - BLOG TOUR/BOOK REVIEW/GIVEAWAY with full author bio - open to US/CANADA

Title:  The Brotherhood
Author:  Jerry B. Jenkins
Publisher:  Tyndale House Publishers
Publish Date:  February 1, 2011
Paperback, 384 pages
ISBN 10:    1414309228
ISBN 13:  9781414309224

Goodreads description:

Boone Drake has it made. He’s a young cop rising rapidly through the ranks of the Chicago Police Department. He has a beautiful wife and a young son, a nice starter house, a great partner, and a career plan that should land him in the Organized Crime Division within five years. Everything is going right. Until everything goes horribly, terribly wrong. His personal life destroyed and his career and future in jeopardy, Boone buries himself in guilt and bitterness as his life spirals out of control. But when he comes face-to-face with the most vicious gang leader Chicago has seen in decades, he begins to realize that God is a God of second chances and can change the hardest heart . . . and forgive the worst of crimes.

My Take: 

Boone Drake is a young probationary police officer in one of the most dangerous precincts in Chicago.  He has a great partner, a wonderful wife, and a healthy, gorgeous baby boy named Josh.  Within two years, as he begins to make a name for himself, he and his family buy a house with "just enough grass to mow" - their dream starter house.  Life couldn't be better, and even though his pastor would like him to be more active in witnessing for God, HE would like to be more active in fighting the bad guys, the grown-up equivalent of the "schoolyard bullies" he protected other kids from in high school.  Then tragedy strikes, and everything and everyone that he loves is lost or put in danger.

This is my second Jerry Jenkins' title (you can read my review of The Last Operative here).  This proves that sometimes even when you don't particular care for one novel, the next novel can grab you.  I was immediately pulled into this story and felt such sympathy for the main character.  It's a well-written, multi-dimensional look at the life of a police officer, the crimes and criminals he deals with, his co-workers, his family, and his search for faith after his faith has been shattered by a profound loss.  A wonderful police thriller, the reader will gain much appreciation for the world our police officers live and work in.

Not just a great story, but a lesson is here as well, one that should help all of us in faith.  Although we can't always understand why God allows bad things to happen, He will never turn from us, even when we turn from Him.

QUOTES

One moment he had been enjoying the life and marriage and family and career he had always dreamed of and striven for, and the next he had lost everything that mattered to him except his job.  And even that, at least for now, held no appeal.

These gangbangers were little more than grown-up versions of the bullies Boone had taken care of as a schoolkid.  Oh, for the chance to do that again now, these days, when it really counted.

Writing: 4.0 out of 5 stars

Plot:  5 out of 5 stars

Characters: 4 out of 5 stars

Reading Immersion:  4.0 out 5 stars

BOOK RATING: 4.25 out of 5 stars

Author Bio

Jerry B. Jenkins, former vice president for publishing at Moody Bible Institute of Chicago and currently chairman of the board of trustees, is the author of more than 175 books, including the best-selling Left Behind series. Twenty of his books have reached the New York Times Best Sellers List (seven in the number-one spot) and have also appeared on the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal best-seller lists. Desecration, book nine in the Left Behind series, was the best-selling book in the world in 2001. His books have sold nearly 70 million copies.

Also the former editor of Moody magazine, his writing has appeared in Time, Reader's Digest, Parade, Guideposts, Christianity Today and dozens of other periodicals. He was featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine in 2004.

His nonfiction books include as-told-to biographies with Hank Aaron, Bill Gaither, Orel Hershiser, Luis Palau, Joe Gibbs, Walter Payton, and Nolan Ryan among many others. The Hershiser and Ryan books reached the New York Times Best Sellers List.

Jenkins assisted Dr. Billy Graham with his autobiography, Just As I Am, also a New York Times best seller. Jerry spent 13 months working with Dr. Graham, which he considers the privilege of a lifetime.

Jerry owns Jenkins Entertainment, a filmmaking company in Los Angeles, which produced the critically acclaimed movie Midnight Clear, based on his book of the same name. See www.Jenkins-Entertainment.com.

Jerry Jenkins also owns the Christian Writers Guild, which aims to train tomorrow's professional Christian writers. Under Jerry's leadership, the guild has expanded to include college-credit courses, a critique service, literary registration services, and writing contests, as well as an annual conference. See www.ChristianWritersGuild.com.

As a marriage-and-family author, Jerry has been a frequent guest on Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family radio program and is a sought-after speaker and humorist. See www.AmbassadorSpeakers.com.

Jerry has been awarded four honorary doctorates. He and his wife, Dianna, have three grown sons and six grandchildren.

Check out Jerry's website at http://www.jerryjenkins.com

BUY IT:  At Amazon, through the publisher's website,  and through other on-and-off-line booksellers.

WIN IT:  Tyndale House was generous enough to allow me to give one of my reader's a certificate for their own copy of this title.  

MANDATORY ENTRY:  Leave a comment with the title of another "Christian" book that you liked a lot - OR - Leave a meaningful comment on this review.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

Follow Jerry on Twitter

Like Jerry on Facebook

Follow Knitting and Sundries via GFC (left sidebar), follow via Twitter, subscribe via RSS, subscribe via email, enter another giveaway that is current. (1 entry/comment per method per giveaway) 

Current subscribers/followers receive 2 entries - please leave 2 comments

Include the name or email address you follow or subscribe under

Spread the word!:

Tweet (maximum of ONCE daily - include @jewelknits and @jerrybjenkins in the tweet. To make it easy, you can use the "Share" button at the bottom of this post! 

ALL ENTRIES:  Please leave your email address in all comments like this:  knittingandsundries(at)gmail(dot)com or even knittingandsundriesATgmailDOTcom (this discourages spammers).  If I can't reach you, you can't win!

ELIGIBILITY:  Open to US and Canada

End Date: Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST

Disclosure:  I  received a  complimentary copy of this title from the publisher  to facilitate my review.  No other compensation was received and I was not required to post a positive review.

The Shack by William P. Young - BOOK REVIEW

Title:  The Shack
Author:  William P. Young
Publisher:  Windblown Media
Paperback, 248 pages
ISBN 10:   0964729237
ISBN 13:  9780964729230

Goodreads description:

Mackenzie Allen Philips youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

My Take: 

I read the Foreword on this and immediately thought to myself, "This is going to be a book for the ages."  The description tells as much of the plot as I'm going to get into.  This review is not about the plot, but about the feelings that this book stirs up for me.

There were times during Mack's visit to the shack where the conversation made me say, "Huh?" as Mack did.  Other times, however, a deep chord was struck within me, as I recognized a universal truth or a personal truth.  I read some reviews in-depth after having read this book, and saw "drivel" (from a non-believer) and "that's not how God is" (from some who are steeped in the "you must go to church every week and follow a strict dogma to be Christian or 'saved'" belief).

For me, personally, I believe in God.  I believe that Christ came down to the earth to suffer for us.  I cried my eyes out when I went to see "The Passion of the Christ" (never mind that Mel Gibson is almost as far removed from a believer as it is possible to be - how can you hate your fellow man as an anti-Semite and still call yourself a believer?)  I ALSO believe that just because someone doesn't follow my own sets of beliefs doesn't mean that they're doomed for eternity.  I think that the universal belief in a Creator means that I'll see Muslims and Buddhists and Hindus and others right up there with me.  I believe that the truth goes far more deeply than "the church".

I may lose some of you with that, and for that I'm sorry, but I believe that faith encompasses all people and cultures.  I choose not to put my own faith above anyone else's.  It's my own, and it stems from my own personal truth.

This book was not written for the masses; it was written by a man who suffered great losses as a gift to his children to bolster their faith and help them understand how he could continue on in his own faith despite the tragedies he himself suffered.

Is it life-changing, as some say?  It may be; it depends on what step of your faith journey you are on.

If you are a non-believer or on the edge of faith, you should read this book.  If you believe in a Creator, you should read this book.  If, like me, you have suffered the tragic and unexpected loss of a loved one and still find yourself suffering from grief and the sense of "why did this have to happen?", you should read this book.

When Bebe Boy James asks me how to pray, I say, "Just talk to God.  Talk to him like you're talking to me.  You don't have to use fancy words or dress anything up; he knows what's in your heart."

This book is like that. It's a conversation with God and a true gift from the writer to the rest of us, even if it was only meant for his children.

QUOTES

He hoped he hadn't come all this way for nothing.  If God was really meeting him here, he was more than ready to get a few things off his chest, respectfully, of course.

What should you do when you come to the door of a house, or cabin in this case, where God might be?  Should you knock?  Presumably God already knew that Mack was there.   Maybe he ought to simply walk in and introduce himself, but that seemed equally absurd.  And how should he address him? Should he call him Father, or Almighty One, or perhaps Mr. God, and would it be best if he fell down and worshiped, not that he was really in the mood.

"Those who love me come from every system that exists.  They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims, Democrats, Republicans and many who don't vote or are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institutions.  I have followers who were murderers and many who were self-righteous. Some are bankers and bookies, Americans and Iraqis, Jews and Palestinians.  I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved."

BOOK RATING: 4.0 out of 5 stars

Read the excerpts

Visit the website

BUY IT:  At Amazon and through other on-and-off-line booksellers.

Disclosure:  This is a review of my own personal copy.

A Rush of Wings by Kristen Heitzmann - BOOK REVIEW

Title:  A Rush of Wings
Author:  Kristen Heitzmann
Publish Date:  October, 2010
Publisher:  Bethany House
Paperback, 382 pages
ISBN 10:   0764208454
ISBN 13:  9780764208454

Goodreads description:

When fragmented images and unfocused panic force Noelle St. Claire to flee her wealthy, sheltered life in New York, she gains sanctuary on a ranch in the Rocky Mountains. There Noelle finds solace in the breathtaking scenery she paints. But as the attentions of two brothers, Rick and Morgan Spencer, breach the wall she hides behind, the past she yearns to escape becomes a menacing threat from which she can no longer hide. Award-winning and bestselling author Kristen Heitzmann has skillfully created a story resonating with emotion and depicting a poignant spiritual journey.

My Take: 

We first meet Noelle at a bus terminal, fleeing from ... something ... she can't quite remember.  The images are fragmented and broken, but it appears that her former fiancee Michael, her father's protege', has something to do with it.

Noelle eventually finds her way to a Colorado mountain town that appeals to her.   She inquires at a local shop, and is told of two places that may have space to rent to her.  The first is a rundown house.  The second entails a hike up the mountain to a horse ranch, where she meets two brothers, Rick (the owner) and Morgan.  Rick runs a Christian ranch, and his guests arrive by word-of-mouth.  Unfortunately, the cottages are booked up for the season, but Morgan talks his brother into letting Noelle rent a room at the main house, which goes against Rick's policy of letting rooms to single female guests; however, for some reason, Rick feels that Noelle is in need of a safe place.

As Morgan attempts to woo Noelle, she welcomes his friendship, but rejects his advances.  Afraid to use her credit cards or pull money from the bank for fear of being traced, Noelle finds a way to make her own way by selling her artwork at a local shop.

Michael Fallon, her ex-fiancee', is enraged that Noelle would leave.  In his mind, he loves her, and what happened between them was an isolated incident. He sets one of his former clients to work tracking her.

William St. Claire, Noelle's father, is worried, but Noelle HAD left a message for him letting him know she was all right.  He can't figure out why she was calling from a small town in Ohio, but she is twenty-three, and old enough to make up her own mind.  He keeps this information to himself, as he puzzles over how much Michael had to do with her decision to leave.  He has kept Noelle safe and sheltered since a frightening incident when she was five years old, but maybe it's time for her to spread her wings.

For me, this story was a bit saccharine, but that's just my own reading taste.  Even understanding that Noelle had something bad happen to her didn't help me feel a lot of sympathy for a fragile personality that could so easily break apart because of one incident.  Later on, with the understanding that the incident when she was five made her fragile to begin with, I understood a bit more, but I think I'm much more attracted to strong female characters.

There is some romance and suspense, and we finally gain an understanding of why Noelle is so set against God and religion in general. 

QUOTES

Who was the real Noelle? What did Morgan hope to see?  The person she had been?  The helpless, pleasing, dutiful person others rules?  She had left her behind as a snake sheds its skin, leaves it lying useless in the sand.


Now the last of her resistance melted and she surrendered to the incredible love.  The sadness was still deep inside her and the knowledge that she might never recover what she'd lost as a five-year-old child.  But she no longer faced it alone.

BOOK RATING: 3.0 out of 5 stars

BUY IT:  At Amazon and through other on-and-off-line booksellers.

Disclosure:  I  received a  complimentary copy of this title from Bethany House Publishers to facilitate my review.  No other compensation was received and I was not required to post a positive review.

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul - BOOK REVIEW

Title:  Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball
Author:  Donita K. Paul
Publisher:  Waterbrook Press
Hardcover, 340 pages
ISBN 10:   0307458997
ISBN 13:  9780307458995

Goodreads description:

Can mysterious matchmaking booksellers bring two lonely hearts together in time for Christmas?

In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. Searching for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad's (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick. And the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball.

Every year, the matchmaking booksellers of the Sage Street bookshop host an enchanting, old-fashioned Christmas Ball for the romantic matches they've decided to bring together.

This year, will Simon and Cora discover a perfect chemistry in their opposite personalities and shared faith? Or will the matchmakers' best laid plans end up ruining everything this holiday?

My Take: 

Meet Cora Crowden, NOT so full of the Christmas spirit, who lives with her cat Skippy.  She's worked at Sorenby's for the past five years, and is in search of a suitable present for her uncle.  She walks into the Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad bookstore, where the gentleman behind the counter seems to mysteriously know exactly which book will fit the bill; he has it in his hands when she walks in.  At the bookstore, she also runs into Simon Derrick "Serious Simon", her boss's boss. also there to purchase a book for a family member.  Like Cora (even more so), Simon never socializes with his co-workers, and leaves directly after work, never having attended a single office Christmas party in Cora's recollection.

As each return home, they find tickets to "The Wizards' Christmas Ball" in their respective purchases.  There's no contact information, but the ticket does state that it is sponsored by the shops on Sage Street, a street that almost no one seems to know of.  Cora definitely isn't going, but Simon's sister Sandy, a sweet almost-24-year-old with Down's Syndrome,  sees HIS ticket, with a picture of people dressed in 'princess' dresses and wizardly outfits, and convinces Simon to take her.

Cora finds out that her cat Skippy, who is never outside alone, has unexpectedly given birth to kittens.  When Sandy visits Simon at work, Cora meets her and a new home for at least one of the kittens is guaranteed.  As Sandy visits the kittens with Simon and other family members, a tentative friendship is formed.

Cora, who is a Christian, has a horrid family that she is lucky enough to have gotten away from.  Simon, also a Christian, took over as "man of the house" after the death of his father, and lives with his extended family, including his Grandpa John, Aunt Mae (John's sister), his own sister Sandy, and his mother.  Can two people from such divergent backgrounds find something in common?  Will Cora make it to the ball after all?

This is a sweet tale with hints of magic - perfect for a light, romantic Christmas read.  For those who don't think magical elements belong in a Christian story, the book itself provides an explanation that works well.

QUOTES

"Simon's never mean now.  He grew up." Sandy paused, and with concentrated effort, winked her right eye.  "I won't grow up.  It's an advantage I cherish.  A gift from Jesus."

"Oh yes, I know.  You're too kind and generous and forgiving to actually say something negative to your mother.  But you don't fool me, sister.  You got too holy to say those things, but you still think them.  And don't think I don't know enough about the Bible and God to know you're still guilty. If you even think something bad, you're crispy critters.  Guilty as charged - thinking nasty things about your mother and your sister and the rest of your family.  You might as well give it up, Cora Belle Crowder.  You're no better than the rest of us once the paint peels off the banister.  "

BOOK RATING: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Cute Little Book Trailer:

If you are unable to view embedded video, you can view the trailer here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr3-m5YpQpU

BUY IT:  At Amazon and through other on-and-off-line booksellers.

This book is part of my Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge List

Disclosure:  I  received a  complimentary copy of this title through the Blogging for Books program to facilitate my review.  No other compensation was received and I was not required to post a positive review.

In Every Heartbeat by Kim Vogel Sawyer - BOOK REVIEW

Title:  In Every Heartbeat
Author:  Kim Vogel Sawyer
Publisher:  Bethany House
Publish Date: September, 2010
Paperback, 352 pages
ISBN 10:  0764205102
ISBN 13:  9780764205101

Goodreads description:

As three friends who grew up in the same orphanage head off to college together, they each harbor a cherished dream. Libby wishes to become a famous journalist, Pete plans to study to become a minister, and Bennett wants to join a fraternity and have as much fun as possible. But as tensions rise around the world on the brink of World War I, the friends' differing aspirations and opinions begin to divide them, as well. And when Libby makes a shocking discovery about Pete's family, will it drive a final wedge between the friends or bond them in ways they never anticipated?

My Take: 

Libby:  Headstrong, independent, and "unladylike", has a dream of becoming a famous journalist.  Orphaned at 8, she was taken in by the Isabelle and Aaron Rowley, who lovingly run a home for orphaned children.  Maelle is Isabelle's sister, married to Jackson.  Libby looks to her as a mentor, but resents the fact that although Maelle had somewhat promised to adopt her after she was married, the adoption never came through, and now Libby is a grownup, so adoption is even more unlikely.  She is impatient with other girl's ways, including those of her roommate, Alice Marie, who talks A LOT and is very aware of society's protocols.

Pete:  Kicked out of his parent's home at 7 and left to fend for himself, he lost a leg in a trolley accident a short while later and has had a wooden leg since he was taken in by the Rowleys.   His calling is to the ministry, and every now and then, he tries to talk to Libby and Bennett about accepting God.  Libby usually changes the subject, and Bennett gets resentful when Pete brings God into the conversation.  Pete harbors a lot of resentment towards his parents, whose neglect is the indirect cause of the loss of his leg.  If he ever sees them again, his goal is to get all of the resentment and anger out and cause them to feel some shame for the way they treated him.

Bennett:  He was left on a doorstep when still a baby, and has no idea who his parents were.  Red-haired and muscular, he steps into a fracas on the first day of college to defend Pete, and makes an enemy of Roy, the campus big shot and bully.  Bennett is determined to get into Roy's fraternity, the most prestigious on campus, and when he finds that Alice Marie is Roy's cousin, begins cozying up to her as an "in".  Out of all of the characters, he is the one I worried about most, as he harbors a great deal of envy towards his friend Pete, who he feels is a favorite.  Even when he introduces Pete into a friendly sports game, Pete saves the day and receives all of the recognition.  He is bitter about his circumstances, and ends up causing a lot of trouble by his selfish actions.

This book follows the three characters into their first year of college.  Libby is determined to find a job, but is outright dismissed at the first two newspaper offices she goes to simply because she is a woman.  At the third, she is advised to get a couple of years experience writing for the school newspaper to show that she can meet deadlines or to write articles for women's magazines.  After picking up a magazine on her way home, she determines to do both, and starts cranking out romances that are accepted by the editors.  She and Pete are best friends, and, even though they feel an attraction, she knows that she could never be a preacher's wife.  She is unconventional and really doesn't care what people think of her, but eventually realizes that to be a caring person, she needs to change her ways.  When Pete writes editorials to newspapers denouncing exactly the type of tantalizing romance stories she has been writing, she begins to second-guess her choice of subject matter.

This book is very well-written and genuine.  As we follow the characters, we care about what happens to them, and hope that everything works out for them.  I loved that it was a good, clean read, suitable for Christian fiction without being "too" religious and preachy.  I think that anyone who enjoys a good story, with drama and a couple of nail-biting scenes (one of the characters is even shot by a murderer) would love it.

QUOTES:

"This is precisely the kind of battle that must be warred - and won!  Young women caught up in these romanticized tales could very well begin seeking a relationship based on only . . . er . . . physical attraction -" the man's jowls mottled red - "rather than seeking a God-centered, well-grounded man who will be a moral leader for his household."

Her refusal to understand his point of view reminded him of Bennett's refusal to listen to anything that smacked of spirituality.  If he couldn't convince his two best friends of what was right according to the Word of God, how could he expect to successfully minister to a congregation?

Libby dropped the paper and stared straight ahead, her heart beating so hard and fast her ears rang.  Sentenced to hang - and only sixteen years old.  What kind of boy committed murder?  Suddenly she had to know more. These simple lines couldn't possibly tell the whole story.


BOOK RATING:  4.5 out of 5 stars

Visit the Author's Website

BUY IT:  At Amazon, through the publisher's website, and at other on-and-off-line booksellers.

Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this title from Bethany House to facilitate my review.  No other compensation was received and I was not required to post a positive review.

Narcissistic Predicaments by Sister Renee Pittelli - BOOK REVIEW

Title:  Narcissistic Predicaments

Author: Sister Renee Pittelli
Publisher:  Outskirts Press
Publish Date:  April, 2010
Paperback, 368 pages
ISBN 10: 1432750445

ISBN13:  9781432750442

Description:

Pleasing God While Protecting Yourself

Adult Children of narcissistic families often find themselves stuck in predicaments that people with normal families never have to face. Featuring The 21 Rules of No Contact and 102 Questions to Ask Yourself When Deciding Whether to End an Abusive Relationship, Narcissistic Predicaments has the answers you’ve been looking for.

When you try to set boundaries, do your abusive relatives accuse you of not being a “good Christian” because:

•You are not honoring your father and mother?

•You have to “forgive and forget,” even though your abusers have not apologized or agreed to stop their abuse?

•You must forgive unrepentant evildoers because Jesus said “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”?

•You are taking revenge by enforcing consequences, and vengeance is supposed to be the Lord’s?

•The Bible says “Love your enemies”?

In this book, you will learn effective strategies for protecting yourself and find out what the Bible really says about dilemmas such as:

•Should you let your estranged relatives have contact with your children?

•Dealing with the family meddler who tries to intervene between you and your abusive relative

•Working in the family business with narcissists and sociopaths

•What to do about holidays, parties, and family celebrations, including Mother’s Day and Father’s Day

•Does your abuser’s apology automatically cover the other relatives who took his side?

•What to expect from estranged relatives who want to drag you back into their web

•Reconciling on your terms, not theirs

•If you don’t stick around, who will take care of your abusive parents in their old age?

•Visiting a dying abuser

•When your abuser or estranged relative dies- condolences, funerals, and obituaries

God does not want you to “live in peace” with evil people. A breath of fresh air for Adult Children of abusive families, this compelling book will help you find the peace our heavenly Father promised you, because you are His beloved child.

My Take: 

What it's about:  It's about how to deal with abusive families, whether they are parents, siblings, or even extended family like aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

It spells out the abusive methods that family members may use to control you, and provides you with coping strategies coupled with Biblical scripture to support those strategies,  It also provides counter-arguments against such sayings as "Forgive and forget", "patience is a virtue", "honor thy mother and father" when those are thrown at you in an effort to get you to "go along"  It is broken down into a number of chapters, each focusing on one aspect of abusive families and how to deal with them.  It provides the Biblical definition of "honoring one's parents", and lets you know that forgiveness does not necessarily equal reconciliation.  Step by step, it guides you through things that may be necessary in order for you to live your life free of the strive and stress caused by emotionally abusive families.

There are real-life examples, many taken from the author's own personal experience.

Pros:  Although this is about dealing with an abusive family or family member, many of the strategies provided could also be used in dealing with an abusive partner, including "No Contact".  All of the steps it spells out as well as the concrete examples of what constitutes emotional abuse are detailed and backed up by Scripture.

Cons:  I was sometimes taken aback at what I perceived as "bitterness" when the author provided her own examples of familial abuse.  At times, I personally just thought to myself, "Oh, my gosh; I understand that they were horrible to you, but that doesn't make it OK to wallow in it."  Having my own emotionally abusive family members, I understand how traumatizing and long-lasting the effects can be, but I don't dwell on it, and when providing examples, I just state the facts and don't go into a diatribe about how terrible this or that person was.  For me, the facts are enough that the person I'm talking to can get the picture without letting myself get upset all over again. .

Wrap-up: In spite of the few times when the author appears to be caught up in reliving the upsets of her own personal struggles, this book would be a valuable resource for anyone dealing with an abusive family or family member.  I know that I could have used something like this when I was struggling to figure out what to do, and I have acquaintances that could definitely benefit or could have benefited from this as well.

It would especially be helpful for Christians, who, in an effort to be "Christ-like", forget that it is not in God's plan for us to associate with evil doers.  We are to rebuke twice, then wipe the dust off.
                                                             

QUOTES:

People who do everything BUT take responsibility for the damage they have caused, admit that their victim was right to be hurt of offended, and do their best to make amends are NOT CHRISTIANS - even if they claim to be.

There is no time limit on how long it should take for you to feel comfortable trusting a former abuser.  If it takes ten years, then so be it.  Feel free to insist on as much time as you need.  Those who try to pressure or rush you have their own agendas, and you should take this as a red flag.

Even a junk-yard dog will eventually show love for you if you treat it with love.  But not an abuser.  Abusers use our feelings for them against us, take advantage of our kindness, and see our patience with their offensive behavior as a weakness to be exploited.  Our love for them makes us vulnerable, desperate and pathetic in their eyes.  It causes them to regard us with scorn and contempt.

Book Rating:   3.0 out of 5 stars

About the Author:  

Sister Renee Pittelli is an Adult Child Recovery Mentor, a victim's advocate, author of The Family Freeloader, and the Founder and Director of Luke 17:3 Ministries for Adult Daughters of Abusive, Controlling or Abandoning Birth-Families. She has written extensively about family abusers, narcissists, sociopaths, their Silent Partners, the Biblical perspective on abuse, setting and enforcing boundaries, Godly confrontation, the myth of forgiveness without repentance, cutting ties with reprobate relatives, maintaining no-contact, and living the life of freedom and peace that the Lord intended for you.

BUY IT:  Through Amazon and other on-and-off-line booksellers

Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this title through Bostick Communications to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received, and I was not required to write positive review.