Left At The Altar

Kimberley Kennedy, a successful TV anchor, endured one of women's worst nightmares: being left at the altar. In the book Left at the Altar, Kimberley recounts the events of her wedding rehearsal when she realized her fiancé Lew was not going to marry her and the aftermath of her devastation. However, her story does not end there. Instead, her rejection by her fiancé is the beginning of her love story with Jesus. In the narrative that has the feel of a woman sitting down and talking to you rather than a self-help book, Kimberley discusses the warning signs she could see she had ignored and the steps that led to healing.


In addition to Kimberley's thoughts, her sister writes part of the story--the details of the moment that Kimberley can't recall because of her shock. The book also shares the perspective of therapist, other women's stories, and even men who have rejected women. These are nice additions to the book. The book ends with steps for dealing with rejection and moving on.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I don't read a lot of self-help books, but this book felt more like a woman sharing her story and encouraging others who have felt rejected than a how-to book. The book seemed to jump around from topic to topic, and telling the story from beginning to end would have been more cohesive than lumping topics together in chapters by topic. After the first few chapters, I got used to it though.

Kimberley's single status at the time of the book makes it poignant since she is still dealing with the loneliness that can come from being rejected and left alone. However, she is no longer wallowing in the rejection, which enables her to offer hope to the reader. My favorite line from the book is one I will take with me in life. "Man's rejection is God's protection. "

This book was given to me by Thomas Nelson publishers to review for them, there was no monetary gain on my part at all.

E=MC2 Simple Physics

E=MC2: Simple Physics uses a casually brilliant and humorously fun approach to explaining the most significant scientific theories of our time. Anyone can grasp the easy to understand physics examples highlighted and reviewed in this book. The examples are laid out in the most logical and practical way for the reader, making it possible to enjoy this book as bedtime reading material!


Many of the theories in the book will not surprise the reader, such as the laws of gravity (several apples tied together will fall to the ground at the same time), but other theories are a bit of a surprise after all and are just plain fun (you drive at 22mph, the police pass you at 68 mph, an erroneous speeding ticket may be in your future).


E=MC2: Simple Physics stays true to its theoretical roots, and puts Einstein against Galileo and Newton by continuously summarizing and developing on the intricate layers of theoretical thought on each of the topics. This book is for students, adults interested in scientific thought, or even a general audience of anyone curious about the formal laws of science affecting our world.


After a decade of working in several NYC law departments and teaching, Poppy decided she enjoyed writing full-time. She currently works as a freelance writing consultant, and lives with her husband and sons on the East Coast.


This book was provided free of any obligation by FSB Associates. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

The Classics

 Do you ever find yourself reading along, and when you come to a reference to ancient Greece or Rome, you start scratching your head? With sort of a, "I think I heard something about that somewhere, but I don't remember much about it" kind of thought? This is the book for you. Caroline Taggart has put together a short (169 pages) primer/refresher for all that ancient stuff that you used to know but that has fallen by the wayside. Or maybe you never learned it in the first place.

For such a short book, Taggart has packed a surprising amount of information into it. Topics covered include language, mythology, philosophy, history, the arts, the sciences, and a few more things. You won't read the book and be an expert by any means, but you will certainly have a decent base of knowledge to work from. The book might sound boring, but Taggart's style is actually pretty fun. "Atlas was inhospitable to Perseus (see page 47), who used the head of Medusa to turn him into a mountain range in North Africa, which takes almost as much talent as cutting someone's head off while looking at their reflection in a shield, and makes me think that Perseus could have taught David Copperfield a thing or two."

She also occasionally mentions modern-day references to these ancient stories. "The first famous figure to emerge from this was Draco, who has given his name to very harsh measures in any context, as well as to a character in Harry Potter who provokes the audience to hiss whenever he appears." It's very good for what it is, but after suffering through a 10th-grade English teacher who seemed to think that World Literature meant Greek and Roman Literature and a Greek and Roman Culture class in college, I think I've absorbed all I'm going to absorb on the topic.

I won't say that there was nothing new in this book for me--there definitely was--but it wasn't anything that I'll ever remember. The cross-references (see paragraph 5), while a good idea, got distracting on a straight read. They would be invaluable if you were just looking up a quick little reference though. I do recommend this for anyone who wants to fill in the gaps in their classical knowledge, because it really is a fun book, but it might be a little too basic for someone with a decent working knowledge of the Greeks and Romans already.

This book was provided free of any obligation by FSB Associates. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

Beneath the Night Tree

Beneath the Night Tree was given to me by Tyndale Books to review for them, I was not paid to do this.  This book is written by Nicole Baart and is done very well.

She asks the question, Do I have a child? Her heart torn by the email from her son's father, Julia prepares to deal with Parker and his effect on their lives. Regardless of the outcome Daniel is the spitting image of his father, making Parker undeniably part of their story for better or worse. Julia's story is truly poignant, bringing about a novel that is sincere of live, love and personal transformation. Julia, who has had a truly unorthodox life by many standards, is not all that different from many people in our world today. As she battles her insecurities and fears, Julia turns to those whom she loves and respects, letting them enable her to discover what is right for her. It had me captivated from beginning to end; leaving me with mixed yet satisfied emotions.



Nicole is an amazing writer. Her style is flawless, proven by the way she captivates her reader. Beneath the night tree felt so real, I often forgot I was reading a book. The author does a wonderful job of captivating the emotions and thoughts of each character, especially Julia as she deals with life-changing decisions and events. The novel is categorized as Christian fiction but felt authentically human in nature. It mentions prayer as Julia questions and pleas with God for guidance and understanding, however, it is done in a manner that makes the reader feel even a non-believer might do the same thing in the same situation. I highly recommend "Beneath the Night Tree" to readers of all genres. It is moving and unexpected.

Softly and Tenderly

 

The book was given to me by Thomas Nelson to read and write a review of, I am not being paid for my services.

 In Softly and Tenderly a book written by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck, we find Jade, a happily married woman whose world is unraveling. As she struggles through the pain of miscarriages, the guilt of an abortion, the destruction of her boutique, and the mourning of her mother's impending passing, she discovers that her husband, Max, and his family aren't as together as she hoped. Two years ago his bachelor party weekend yielded a son, Max is having a hard time kicking his addiction to painkillers, his father has had multiple affairs, and his mother has a secret too. As she searches her heart and her past she must decide whether to run to the familiar, her home and ex-husband in Iowa, or face the pain and all of the wonder it could bring in her new Tennessee home.



First of all I need to confess something: I've always been kinda sceptical about romances. They always seemed kind of cheesy. But, a friend of mine urged me to awaken the romantic in me, and I decided to give the genre a whirl. I read one romance and it wasn't bad, so I decided to give it a second try with this novel.

As a book it is well written. Softly and Tenderly is an easy read and a page turner. It is a perfect way to unwind after a long day. With a cup of cocoa and an afghan, it is quite relaxing.


As a story I was disappointed. So many awful situations are happening to the heroine simultaneously that it no longer seemed realistic. Instead of delving deeply into her emotions about one thing, the miscarriages for instance, or her mother's bout with cancer, both of which we hear about on page 4 and both of which carry enough emotional impact to create a book full of wrestling with God, Evans and Hauck continue to plummet Jade into situation after situation. Nothing is really resolved because nothing goes deep enough to let the problem rise to the surface.

As an inspirational book I was also disappointed. Though prayer and the concept of forgiveness are thrown in, God doesn't seem to be a central part of any of the characters' lives. He is someone to rely on in death, but not someone anyone is relying on in daily life. Freedom from drugs and fidelity are done out of duty, not out of conviction from God, nor performed in the strength of the Lord. Because of this I finished the book feeling not inspired but as if a piece of religious guilt had been smeared on my soul and lauded as a work of art

Illegals

I was given a free copy of this book for me to read and then write a review for Thomas Nelson Publishing Company.  Which is what I am doing now.

As the old saying goes, "America's Melting Pot Is Boiling Over."  Millions of illegals strain an overburdened system.  Crime rates skyrocket.  From the Valley of the Sun to the halls of Congres, debate rages.  All the while, murder and mayhem reign along the U.S.-Mexico border.  Speaking into the fray at a timely juncture, radio talk-show host Darrell Ankarlo delivers a gripping beyong-the-headlines look at illegal immigration: its victims, its perpetrators, and its toll on the heart of a nation and the will of her law-abiding citizens.  From the hot-button state of Arizona, Ankarlo dared venture to the epicenter of the battle for America's southern border.  Now he dares you to absorb the heartbreaking stories and eye-opening discoveries he brought back from his undercover journey without finding yourself shaken, inspired...and compelled to act.

Glenn Beck says--Instead of complaining about the border problem, Darrel Ankarlo set out to do something about it--He went there and lived it!!  In Illegals, Darrell provides a real and raw 'boots on the ground' look at our increasingly lawless southern border.  This edition will make you shake you head and say 'no way' as you're presented with true stories and experiences about life along the border.  This book will enlighten you and at times frighten you, but in the end you'll know better that most politicians what's really happening at the border.

Questions from Christians?

This book was sent to me by Tyndale Publishers and they wanted me to review it for them.  I have not been compensated in any way for this publication.

Every so often a book comes by that answers the question; Why? The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask is such a book. This book is written by Mark Mittelberg and he covers many, many of the questions that I have asked myself when it comes to the Bible and the scriptures.

As a Sunday school teacher, I am asked questions many times that I stumble through trying to give a positive answer. But many times I have also questioned my own answers. This book covered a lot of the most common questions of WHY. Mr Mittelberg handles the subject well and shows you how he comes up with his answers. He even tackles those taboo questions that a novice teacher fears like:


1) Why should I believe in something I can’t see or touch?
2) Why would a loving and caring God allow so much suffering in the world?
3) What does God really think about Homosexuality?
4) Why should I even believe in Heaven and Hell?
5) And many more, chapter after chapter.


These and many more doubts and questions are covered in a plain, down-to-earth way that not only explains the whys but also leaves you with a sense of renewed spiritual security when teaching … or just learning for your own sense of understanding.

This book is a must-read. It is a much waited for book that we have needed for a long time. I have read many books on this same subject but this one fills the void that others fell short on. The subject matters are handled and explained well.

With discussion questions at the end of each chapter, The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask is a great book to help pastors, Sunday school teachers and individuals learn to handle those questions and at the same time teach one to be more secure in ones own belief.


I highly recommend this book!

WINNER****WINNER*****WINNER

Okay, drum roll please, Ta  Da,  Ta  Da,  Ta  Da.  The winner is  "Niki," and the second winner is Barb.  Now if both of you will send me your mailing address I will get this in the mail to you both.  Congrats to both of you and I am so glad 25 people didn't enter,  geesh !!

Love and Respect

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson/BookSneeze company to review for them.  The book is Love and Respect for a Lifetime by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, 151 pages hardback book.

There are lots of books that tell men they should love their wives, and a few that deal with the issue of a woman's respect for a man.  For every chapter on respect, there is a chapter on love. For every comment on respect, there is a comment on love.
Dr. Eggerichs talks a lot about spouses being people of good will. When a husband and wife are both people of good will, there is no desire to be hurtful.  The concept of unconditional respect is new for women to think about. Not that women will necessarily be opposed to respecting their husbands, just that it has not often been talked about.

This is an area that simply must be looked at. I believe women who felt the book is unbalanced simply did not like having to read the message of respect. After hearing about it once or twice, perhaps they wanted to move on into "what's wrong with HIM."

The bottom line is Dr. Eggerichs has found a simple and elegant concept that can make a huge difference in relationships. I recommend the book very highly to couples who are both willing to learn how they are contributing to the cycle of dysfunction in their marriage.

Women who don't like the respect thing can actually try it out for a few weeks and see if it doesn't make a huge difference in the love they are getting from their husbands. Husbands who think the way to get respect from a woman is to withhold love from her need to try a few weeks of unconditional love and see what happens. We're not talking about something that can't be tested. And if you test it, and it works in your life and in your relationship, then who cares what is written here or in any other review?

GIVEAWAY--GIVEAWAY-GIVEAWAY

Okay get the popcorn and drinks ready because we are having a movie giveaway.  Did you read my last review about "The Least Among You" ?  Well, I received another copy for me to use as a giveaway prize-----SO that's what we are going to do!!  This is going to be run just like most of these are,  you get a chance if you:

1.  Are a Follower or become a new Follower and leave a comment now---1 chance
2.  Blog about this on your blog and come back and give me a link to it--1 chance
3.  Place my button on your blog and come back and give me a link to it--1chance

So there are 3 ways that you can get 3 chances, how's that for a Giveaway??? This will start right now, September 20, 2010 and will end at midnight on October 10, 2010, so make sure I have a way to reach you or the prize will go to the next chosen person.  You will have 48 hours after your name is chosen to  check back in with me.  So let's begin,  OKAY !!  Start your engines people and let them  ROAR!!