A Bevy of Christian Book Reviews

I have TEN Christian book reviews for you today: four Christian non-fiction reads, three devotionals, one prayer journal, and two novels. Enjoy these brief previews!

Four Christian Non-Fiction Book Reviews

Only One Life

This book is one of the most inspirational reads I’ve ever encountered. Mother-daughter team Jackie Green and Lauren Green McAfee, family members in the Hobby Lobby empire, have joined up to share their stories and the stories of others. Each chapter is filled with encouraging accounts of women who persevered in faith to make a lasting mark on our world.

I love studying history, and this book quenches my thirst for historical facts about women of faith. The chapters include a detailed account of a woman in the Bible, a woman in history, and a contemporary woman who all made a difference in their cultures. I enjoyed learning about women I’d never before encountered in literature or the news. Their positive stories lifted my spirits; I literally felt lighter and happier after reading each chapter!

Favorite quotes from Only One Life:

• “The idea of leaving a legacy may sound intimidating. But legacy is not meant for only the elite few who have great power or influence. Legacy is crafted by our faithful everyday choices.”
• “With our scrapbooks, newsletters, cards, and social media posts, we celebrate the milestones…share the news of both victories and challenges, and chronicle every aspect of family history.”
• “Your unique call might not demand a harrowing journey to a faraway place, but it will almost certainly stretch you.”
• “The words ‘only what’s done for Christ will last’ can imply action, but sometimes the most important thing we can do for Christ is to submit our thoughts to Him.”

I received a review copy of Only One Life from the BookLook Blogger Program.

Invitation to Retreat

Ruth Haley Barton has written a thoughtful book that invites you to slow down and enjoy a retreat with God. It’s a smart, rich, deep book meant to be savored. Its power might just smack you in the face, like it did for me, and wake you up to the truth about yourself: you are going to hit a wall, SOON, if you don’t stop pushing so hard.

I am still mulling over how to apply these truths to my life. Like you, I can’t abandon all my responsibilities and hole myself up somewhere on a regular basis. But I can start approaching life with a retreat mindset, and that is possible in the immediate by deliberately unplugging on the Sabbath.

Our lightning-speed world doesn’t encourage us to slow down. But the Bible does, and Ruth does a wonderful job of encouraging and exhorting you at the same time. She paints beautiful images and whispers to you, “Come study with me.”

Here are some of the wonderful quotes from Invitation to Retreat:

• “Whatever our experiences have been, we know instinctively that to be invited means we are wanted and, in the very best scenario, wanted by someone we find interesting, intriguing, or just plain cool. And that is exactly what makes the invitation to retreat so compelling…It is an invitation straight from the heart of Jesus to us.”
• “One of the dangers of living in a constant state of distraction is that we never go to the bottom of our pain…which means we never find that rock-bottom place of the peace that passes understanding and rest ourselves there.”
• “It is that constant trying so hard on so many fronts all the time that often leaves me on the brink of exhaustion.”
• “There are times when we too need to pull back from the battle line in our own lives rather than continuing to fight the same battles in the same old ways.”

Don’t you just love these quotes? Check out Invitation to Retreat for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley.

Beautifully Interrupted

This book is a warm, faith-filled story about an adoptive family. Teresa Swanstrom Anderson’s life took various unexpected turns, and she records how her faith grew along the way. She has pink hair, a creative spirit, two biological children, and four adopted from Ethiopia.

I appreciated her glimpses from mom life and her encouragement to view life as an organic creation, being shaped by God for purposes you cannot fathom right now but will delight in later. Her life has been an adventure of faith, and you will find her story uplifting and thoughtful.

Her inspiring memoir is fun to read and full of great quotes like these:

• “Plastic gods don’t matter much; they fit in a small crevice of the live you want, the life you were planning to have. And when everything is working…plastic gods feel like enough.”
• “Forget what your brain is telling you from past experiences, hurts, failures, or weaknesses. What is Christ showing you right now?”
• “By acknowledging that there is nothing outside of His timing, we can push frustration aside through seasons of seeming pause, knowing that there is teaching within it.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley.

Mere Hope

I rarely write critical reviews, but I must be honest with you here. I definitely did not love this book. The cover design and description led me to believe this book would be something different–a small book full of practical theology, hopeful devotions, and personal stories. Instead, it read exactly like a dissertation. As much as I love studying, I don’t want to read a heavy academic text when I’m hurting and looking for hope. I could not connect with the author’s professor-like voice, mostly because I was expecting something so different. I’m not sure which audience this book is intended to reach, but it’s not for me.

B&H sent me a preview copy of this book.

Keep reading for more positive book reviews!

Three Devotionals

Hope Your Heart Needs

This is one of several books by Holley Gerth I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. With her gentle, poetic style, Holley offers 52 devotions to help you ponder the different names of God recorded in Scripture.

I love the beautiful language and well-drawn word pictures she uses throughout her books, including this one. She writes with vulnerability, sharing her real-life struggles and turning her stories into golden nuggets of inspiration for you.

I enjoyed the tidbits of Bible knowledge and the great quotes from other authors that she shares so freely.  I can always count on a high-quality read from Holley, whether it’s on her blog or in her books. Hope Your Heart Needs is a gift book that you can give with confidence to a loved one or friend who needs hope.

Favorite quotes:

• “Sometimes when I look back with regret at the past or toward tomorrow with fear, it can be disturbing because I can’t seem to find God in those places. And I think all the while he might be saying, ‘I was there when you were. And I will be there when you arrive at that place tomorrow. But right now I’m right here.'”
• “Easton’s Bible Dictionary says Abba ‘is a term expressing warm affection…and confidence.’ The same entry also notes, ‘It has no perfect equivalent in our language’…There is no perfect equivalent to the kind of dad that God is to us.”
• “It’s easy to think of Jesus as powerful, mighty, and holy. It’s simpler for me to bend my knee than dare to bend his ear about my daily, ordinary struggles. But we are his friends. We can go to him with anything and everything.”

Netgalley provided me a free copy of Hope Your Heart Needs.

Unblinded Faith

I can’t think of a better devotional for someone who wants to review the basics of the faith than this one. Unblinded Faith is written in a warm, friendly voice. The author tells plenty of personal stories, which draws you in. I can see a new Christian or someone who didn’t grow up in the church getting a lot out of this book, because it clearly explains Bible truths in a welcoming way.

She uses colorful illustrations from everyday life as lead-ins for biblical beliefs. For example, she tells a story about refinishing old chairs and other furniture for her home. Then she says, “I’m reminded that God is about the business of redeeming our lives for His purposes. Even if someone else might consider us worthless. Even if we feel like nothing but a throwaway. God is our great Rescuer.”

I like her girlfriend-like tone and fun stories. Each devotion is brief and easy to digest. It contains a scripture reference for further reading, a written prayer, and a reflection question. Great for busy women who don’t have a lot of time on their hands, but want to learn more about God’s Word.

I received a complimentary copy of Unblinded Faith from Netgalley.

Life in His Hands

Looking for a new devotional? Jill Holler has crafted these brief devotions around trusting God as you surrender your will to him. Each devotional is brief, flanked by an opening verse and a few other verses for further study. This book is small and compact, perfect for your purse or carry-on bag. Life in His Hands is biblically sound. I wish the author would have shared more personal stories in the devotions to add more interest, but I did enjoy her encouraging tone.

The author generously provided a preview copy of this book.

A Unique Prayer Journal

Prayers Of My Heart

I love practical resources like this one! Prayers of My Heart provides an easy way to track your prayers by one week or one month at a time. It’s a great tool for praying for others on their birthdays and anniversaries that you know are coming, and also to record prayers that pop up.

Too often, I forget to record prayer requests, and this book is helping me be more intentional. The book also includes a section for note-taking. I also like the elastic strap that keeps the book closed in my purse. It’s an excellent resource for a woman who wants to be more intentional in her prayer life.

Harvest House generously provided a copy of Prayers of My Heart for my review, and my thanks also goes out to the author.

Two Clean Romance Novels

Justice

I’ve been following Emily Conrad online for years, and I was so pleased to read her novel. It covers tough topics like rape, unplanned pregnancy and forgiveness with sensitivity and honest feelings. She draws the characters well, and I even enjoyed the storylines for the secondary characters. This isn’t a predictable romance. The characters spend much time learning to apply their faith to everyday problems. I especially appreciated Emily’s development of Jake, and I found myself wrestling with questions about justice alongside him. Justice is a thoughtful, well-written treatment of important subjects in an entertaining format.

I purchased my own copy of this book from Amazon.

A Noble Affair

I got to know Jennie Goutet through a Facebook group for bloggers. She’s an American who married a Frenchman, and she blogs about living in Paris at A Lady in France.

I consider myself a lover of all things French, though I’ve not yet had the opportunity to travel there. This book whisked me away on a pleasure-filled escape. It was light, airy, and clean. The characters were well-developed and I empathized with their individual struggles. I also enjoyed the vignettes of Paris and the French countryside. The storyline kept me intrigued, so I kept returning for more. I finished the book in just two evenings.

If you enjoy clean romance and want a taste of the authentic French life, I recommend A Noble Affair to you. I also encourage you to sign up to follow Jennie’s blog for more glimpses of the French lifestyle.

I purchased this book from Amazon.

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