Certain Jeopardy by Capt. Jeff Struecker

Specs:
400 pgs. (Paperback)
Publisher: B&H Books
Rating: 4.5 Stars!
It's so cool it even has a website of it's own - www.certainjeopardy.com

Product Description:
Six American men live behind a protective façade, their real work hidden from neighbors and friends. Different in countless ways, they are intimately the same in one: at any moment their lives can be altered with a phone call, and their actions may change the world.

They are Special Ops. And one team’s mission is about to hit certain jeopardy status when the discovery of an Al Qaeda base in Venezuela becomes secondary to thwarting the transport of a nuclear weapons expert from that training camp to Iran.

Informed by the true combat experience of Captain Jeff Struecker and finessed by award-winning novelist Alton Gansky, Certain Jeopardy is an immersing and pulsating fictional account of what really happens at every level of a stealth engagement: the physical enemy encounter, the spiritual war fought within a soldier, and the emotional battles in families back at home. --Amazon

I received this great book from Netgalley. I am deeply grateful for the chance to review books like this for FREE. I receive no compensation for my reviews, and my opinions are my own.

General:
Certain Jeopardy was "certainly" thrilling! I really enjoy military thrillers, and this was no exception! Lots of action. One thing I appreciated was...it was real. The Christian on the team did not have all the answers. He hurt like everyone else. The non-Christian team members were also quite realistic. They swore - although I was very relieved that it was limited to "he swore", etc. without spelling it out. The heroes were impressive. There were several intense moments where I was on the edge of my seat, and couldn't see a way out of the situation. Thankfully, the plot avoided becoming too predictable.

I liked:
The teamwork. Endurance. Sticking by each other even when it might mean losing your life. The value of human life and the hard choices that can come your way when you value life. The pain that can result from divorce. Also, a team member's wife divorced him because of his infidelity, and later remarries. (One of the few Biblical reasons for divorce is infidelity - I was appreciated that she had good reason to divorce him and made sure to do it the Jesus way.) The fight between good and evil and the fine line that exists between them. The deep love between a husband and wife. Identifying one of the reasons a parent is being hard on his teenage son - which might apply to some fathers out there. These heroes are guys I would look up to. They are imperfect humans, but God uses them nonetheless. :)

I didn't like:
I wished the Christian member of the team would have witnessed/read his Bible/something to share his faith more. Certain Jeopardy was Christian, but in a quiet, almost inperceptible way. This might make it more acceptable to non-Christians and slip in under their radar, but as a Christian, I wished the character and the author both would have been a little more outspoken about their faith.
One scene in which a character is enduring torture really turned my stomach. A little graphic at times, and quite a bit of violence, but hey - this IS a military thriller!

Overall:
I thoroughly enjoyed Certain Jeopardy. There were a few minor things that I disliked, but they weren't a big deal. Capt. Jeff Struecker has done a wonderful job! It reminded me of some of Dee Henderson's books...but much less romance, of course. If you enjoy a thriller with wild chase scenes and dangerous missions, then you will have a great time reading Certain Jeopardy!

Check it out at Amazon, where you can pick it up for as low as $1.02+s&h!

Pathetic.

My lack of any responsible qualities, that is. Since I am really awful at keeping up with this myself, I am going to partner with my 12 year old brother and reviews will be coming from both of us and will hopefully keep this place MUCH more busy. We will change the name and URL most likely, because he won't want to be called a girl. Hopefully this will make our blogging experience, and your reading experience, much more interesting and fun. :)
Thanks for your patience with a struggling, learning bloggger!
Stephanie

Delay in Amish Proverbs review

I had a very grueling all-day musical practice today and cannot bring myself to write a review. Look for it tomorrow!
Thanks,
Stephanie

In My Mailbox: July

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren

It's supposed to be weekly, but for me it's turning out to be monthly.

(I don't get many books in the mail, especially over the summer!)

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When pastor Jordan Rau accepted a position with a European missions agency, his decision was based on money, not on an opportunity to serve God. However, shortly after his family's arrival in Germany, Jordan's priorities dramatically change - his young son, Chase, has been murdered. Abandoning his faith in God, Jordan becomes obsessed with finding Chase's killers and delivering justice. He sets out on a course of action that will destroy not only the murderers, but his own family as well - and only a miracle can stop him.

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If you want to know a people," says Suzanne Woods Fisher, "know their proverbs." These small, concentrated packages of insight allow outsiders to peek into a fascinating closed community. In Amish Proverbs, Fisher collects more than 200 proverbs to uncover the rich heritage, folklore, faith, values, history, and essence of the Amish people. These proverbs serve as teaching tools and maxims for right living for the Amish and can also inform the lives of anyone who seeks peace and simplicity in life. Ranging from the simple to the profound, from the serious to the humorous, these sayings will stick with readers through life's joys and sorrows. The perfect gift for any occasion, Amish Proverbs is sure to become an instant classic.

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Tired of doing all you can for others while your relationships remain stuck in neutral--or headed in reverse? Paul Coughlin and psychologist Jennifer Degler show how being nice can harm you and drain the life out of your relationships. They explore the keys to fulfillment at home, work, church, and even in the bedroom. You'll discover that emulating the real Jesus is the key to transforming from a Christian Nice Girl into an authentic, powerful woman of loving faith.
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In this uplifting devotional, popular speaker and author Thelma Wells offers readers help for overcoming adversity and finding hope. When faced with problems, from unpaid bills to loved ones experiencing illnesses, people often hear, You just need to trust God. But how do people grasp that truth when their world is going haywire?

Through biblical wisdom and powerful real-life stories, Thelma reveals steps readers can take and share with others to conquer problems:

                                                           ·         Pray about everything

                                                           ·         Study God’s Word

                                                           ·         Never say never to God

                                                           ·         Discover what motivates people

                                                           ·         Be proactive and double check everything

                                                           ·         Love your family, friends, and enemies

                                                           ·         Be liberal with praise

From simple strategies to in-depth approaches, Thelma shows readers how to draw closer to Jesus, experience the relief He offers, and welcome a new day.

Look for a review of Amish Proverbs tomorrow!

Love,

Stephanie

Goodness Me!

I go on a mission trip and explore a homeschool convention and I have once again abandoned my blog!
I sincerely promise to do my ultimate best to keep up with it. It will be much easier now that I'm home again. :)
Stephanie

Radical by David Platt

Radical by David Platt
Pages: 240
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Age Group: Adult
Source: Reader's Favorite
ISBN: 9781601422217
Overall: 5 stars
Non-Fiction - Christian Living

In Radical, David Platt challenges Christians to find satisfaction and real service to God. Where do we find this satisfaction and service? Only in total abandonment to Jesus.

Product Description:

WHAT IS JESUS WORTH TO YOU?

It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily...

BUT WHO DO YOU KNOW WHO LIVES LIKE THAT? DO YOU?

In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple--then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus.
Finally, he urges you to join in The Radical Experiment --a one-year journey in authentic discipleship that will transform how you live in a world that desperately needs the Good News Jesus came to bring.

My Review:

     I first heard of Radical through some of Multnomah's marketing. I read the Radical booklet and thought, "I would like to read the real book sometime." Well, I got my hands on it through Reader's Favorite, and I don't think I will ever let go of it! It was so good, I am planning on buying a copy for each of my 12 closest friends and will urge my church to study it!

     In the first chapter, David tells us what to expect in Radical: "We will together explore the biblical gospel alongside our cultural assumptions with an aim toward embracing Jesus for who he really is, not for who we have created him to be. We will look at the core truth of a God-centered gospel and see how we have manipulated it into a human-centered (and ultimately dissatisfying) message. We will see a purpose for our lives that transcends the country and culture that we live in, and we will see our desperate need for his presence to fulfill that purpose in us. We will discover that our meaning is found in community and our life is found in giving ourselves for the sake of others in the church, among the lost, and among the poor. We will evaluate where true security and safety are found in this world, and in the end we will determine not to waste our lives on anything but uncompromising, unconditional abandonment to a gracious, loving Savior who invites us to take radical risk and promises us radical reward." (Yes, that was long, but please read it!)

     David did everything he promised and more! I was challenged as a Christian so many ways! Every single thing he said was completely, 100% Biblical truth. Sometimes he would say something, well...radical, and I would think, "Hmm, I'm not sure about this," but give him  another page or two and he would address my specific concerns. I loved that he never asserted, "I know it all, so listen to me!" Instead, he said, "I don't know it all, but Jesus does. Let's see what He says."

     Some people might read the subtitle, "Taking Your Faith Back from the American Dream," and wrongly assume that Mr. Platt is unpatriotic. He isn't, not in the least. As he said on Facebook on July 4, 2010, "Let's live for the gospel to spread to all nations more than we long to be safe, secure, & satisfied in our own nation." David is reminding us that we are Christians first, then Americans.

     The last chapter is aptly named, "One Year To A Life Turned Upside Down." This chapter deals with applying the  truth communicated in the book in one year. Most books do  not show you how to apply what they taught you, so I really appreciated this.

     Today, most Christians do not live the radical lives Jesus called them to. They practice a watered-down gospel that they're comfortable with. The real Jesus will knock their socks off, and that's what you're getting in Radical. It might be painful, it might be scary. But ultimately, Jesus is a reward worth risking everything to know, experience, and enjoy. Total abandonment to Him is the only way to experience true satisfaction and to really serve God. David Platt delivers the real deal in Radical, and the real deal is much more satisfying than any filler.

  I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book! A MUST-READ for every Christian!


But don't just take my word for it! I want you to buy this book SO MUCH, I am providing you with links to Radical reviews by trusted Christian book reviewers who also gave Radical a thumbs up!

Review by Christian Book Notes

Review by Discerning Reader

Visit the Radical website!

And for those who have read it, what did you think?

Stephanie
Reviewed for ReadersFavorite.com

wild Olive

I'm not even sure how I found this place, but I did. Oh wait. It was on the hilarious Stuff Christians Like. There was a nice ad for this Christian t-shirt site and I decided to check it out. I am very glad I did! Wild Olive tees are adorable! As far as I can tell, they are for women only. I love that they are sweet and simple, not tacky like some Christian clothing can be. I mean, look at this stuff!

They have great messages without plastering the shirt with unnecessary pictures or words. They are perfect!

Wild Olive shirts also come in fitted or classic fit. :)

Now you might be wondering why I am posting on my mostly-book blog about t-shirts. (Hey I have warned you in the past that I would throw something random out every once in awhile!) What's in it for me?

Wild Olive is giving away $75 worth of merchandise to one lucky winner on July 25th, and you get more entries if you post about it. So, I am posting partly for my own benefit. But it's also to your benefit, because now you can rush over there and enter in this giveaway yourself!

Check it out!

Stephanie

Changes

As I'm sure you noticed, I have updated the blog with a new look. How do you like it?
Stephanie

Missing Mabel by Nancy Mehl

Missing Mabel by Nancy Mehl

Pages: 256

Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Age Group: Adult

Overall: 3 1/2 stars

Source: NetGalley

ISBN-10: 9781602603981

Hilde Higgins, a hairdresser working for funeral homes, is assigned to a new client, Mabel Winnemaker. When Hilde realizes from a photograph that the body on the gurney doesn't belong to Mabel, she reports her findings to the owner of the funeral home and is promptly accused of stealing a diamond ring from her deceased customer. Now her reputation and career are on the line, and the only way to salvage her future is to find the missing Mabel. Can an old boyfriend be of help, or will he just add to the complications in her tangled life?

Letter Perfect by Cathy Marie Hake

Letter Perfect by Cathy Marie Hake

Pages: 384

Publisher: Bethany House

Age Group: Young Adult/Adult (13+)

Overall: 5 stars

Source: Library

ISBN-10: 0764201654

Ruth Caldwell has always tried to live up to her mother's expectations of what a lady should be…often with less than impressive results. But when she's forced to journey west to meet the father she's never seen, Ruth hopes that this might be the place she'll finally fit in. But her arrival brings about more mayhem than even Ruth is used to. She soon meets Josh McCain, the son of her father's business partner, but discovers some startling news: Her father passed away years ago. And though Josh urges Ruth to claim her inheritance, he grows suspicious of something more sinister at hand when her "accidents" seem to go beyond Ruth's normal bumbling ways and leave her very life in danger. If her own two feet don't end up tripping her, Ruth Caldwell's mouth is likely to get her into equal trouble. But Ruth has the best of intentions. Truly. It's just that her attempts to live up to her mother's expectations of how a lady should act have often yielded…well, less than impressive results.

Josh McCain is speechless when he sees Ruth step off the stage in Folsom, California. Sure, it looks like she's been sleeping in her gown for the past week, but with a crown of riotous curls and those deep green eyes, she's certainly the most beautiful woman he’s ever met.

But Josh soon finds the sparks that fly upon Ruth's arrival aren't the romantic type. With her legitimate claims to an inheritance, the Broken P Ranch's future is suddenly precarious. And when Ruth's "accidents"-going beyond even her normal bumbling ways—seem to take a sinister turn, Josh must decide where his loyalties lie.




My Review:


My experience with Cathy Marie Hake has been good so far, so when I happened upon this book glaring down at me from the library shelves, I immediately borrowed it. Let me tell you, I enjoyed this book so much!!! Ruth was such a bucket of laughs! She was a very real character that I wish I could meet, with strong moral character. Josh was very amazing, as well. I loved that each of them had a strong faith and shared it with each other. When they found out someone close to them was doing something illegal, they went to God about it, first. I seriously will not give this book a "what I didn't like" area because I honestly cannot think of anything I did not positively love in this book. Suspense helped the story a lot, but wasn't over the top. Romance is totally within boundaries - maybe a kiss or two, but that's IT. (Which I loved. Some of these Christian romance novels get too carried away.) It's the beginning of a series, too! This book made me actually laugh out loud while reading, which is rare! Ruth was just such a lovable character, compassionate and carefree, pretty much everything I wish to be. Others have not given this book such a rave review, but this is what I got out of it. I am seriously considering buying it because I know I would enjoy reading it many more times. Letter Perfect is a totally awesome, sweet, fun, western chick-flick sort of book! Highly Recommended for ladies ages 13+!


*I'm having issues with my Amazon Associates bar, and Amazon isn't cooperating with this book. Sorry! You can find it almost anywhere on the web, though. :)


Stephanie

Apology :/

I am so thankful for my followers, but I seriously abandoned you for the past, like...month. Once school got out, I have been overwhelmed with a busy busy schedule. However, I am back and plan to stay. :)
I've been participating in my library's reading program for teens, so I have a LOT of reviews to add!
Thank you for your patience as I grow blog-wise. :)
Stephanie

Hitch by Jeanette Ingold

Pages: 267

Publisher: Harcourt

Age Group: Young Adult

Overall: 4 stars

Source: Library

ISBN: 0-15-204747-6
Awards: 2006 Christopher Award, Society of School Librarians Best Book, 2006 New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, 2006-2007 Texas Tayshas Book

The 1930s, the Great Depression, staking it all on the CCC

It's 1935, and thousands of teens roam a country where everything seems to have gone wrong . . .

For a while, it seems seventeen-year-old Moss Trawnley is handling the hard times. Then his luck turns, and he's left jobless, homeless, and unsure of where he fits in this harsh new world.

Adrift in Montana, he signs on for a six-month hitch with President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps--at least he'll have food a roof over his head. But during a long winter and spring of new challenges, Moss gets quite an education--about the value of work, about leading others, and about taking responsibility for his own future.

Hitch was a pretty interesting YA fiction. It follows teenager Moss Trawley through his time in the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) during the Great Depression.

I Loved:
Moss learns how to: deal with bullies, work hard, deal with an irresponsible father, be a leader, take care of the earth, treat girls with respect, be a good friend, be responsible, & respect those in authority.
Alcohol is shown as it is: a destroyer of people and their families.
I liked learning about the Civilian Conservation Corps and what they did to preserve the land.
I had heard (via other reviews) that this book was way too much history and that all characters besides Moss were underdeveloped. I did not feel this way at all. I walked away from Hitch feeling like I had learned a lot history-wise and morals-wise through a really cool story without being preached to. Very enjoyable.

I didn't like:
Moss hops trains a few times. Eventually he is caught and punished (that's how he gets in the CCC), but he never gets a personal conviction that hopping trains is wrong and that he shouldn't do it again.
Moss and his friends break camp rules several times. Like the train hopping, he is caught most of the time and punished, but rarely feels guilty about it.
One bad word near the end.

In conclusion:
 I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to all ages. My 12 & 9 year old brothers are reading it with my Mom and love it, too. There are a few minor things I didn't like, but the rest I loved. Tagging along as Moss grows into a man is really neat. He supports his mother and siblings without complaining. I loved the things I learned about the Great Depression & the CCC. It taught good morals as we watched Moss become a real man. I wish it came with a discussion guide - it would be great to read and discuss in a group.
I would especially recommend it to homeschoolers when they're studying the Great Depression

Update

The reasons I haven't posted as planned this week are numerous:

• I received Change Your Church for Good by Brad Powell in the mail through BookSneeze, and I had to replace The 5000 Year Leap with it. Had to. But I couldn't read it that fast, so that delayed me.
• Hitch by Jeanette Ingold took longer than expected to read, too. But it's finally done and the review is coming today on it!
• My laptop's hard drive crashed so I've been a little out of commission online.

Anyway, sorry for these delays. We're getting the kinks worked out right now...the calendar might need modification to accommodate all the books I will soon be receiving through reviewing programs. Expect Hitch today and The Scarlet Letter tomorrow and Change Your Church for Good somewhere in there before the weekend. 

Thanks!

Steph

Tenative May Schedule

Sorry I haven't fulfilled my promise yet about the whole tagging and redoing the reviews thing. I am working on redoing the reviews and tagging is coming. Here's 1/2 the calendar promise. :)


Right now I'm thinking a 2-week cycle of:
Week 1:

• Monday - Non-Fiction
• Tuesday - YA Fiction
• Thursday - Classic (i.e. Dickens)

Week 2:

• Monday - YA Non-Fiction
• Wednesday - Fiction
• Friday - Wild Card (Short Story, Music, random stuff)

And I can throw anything in between these scheduled book reviews that I want - sometimes I read more than 3 books a week, ya'll!

Starting on Monday is Week 1 (for simplicity). I'm hoping to have:

• Monday - Non-Fiction - The 5000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen
• Tuesday - YA Fiction - Hitch by Jeanette Ingold
• Thursday - The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Cleaning up my reviews

I was just reading my past reviews and they are not impressive, even to me! I'm reading all sorts of tips all over the internet and in blogging communities. I'm going to try to rewrite the most recent 2 and "edit" the post to fix it. Also, I need to add tags to EVERYTHING so I don't have to come back and do it later.
Pages and a calendar of what to expect the next two weeks should be up by tomorrow!
Sorry...I'm still getting the hang of this. :)
Thanks for the patience!
Luv,
Steph

Redefining Beautiful by Jenna Lucado

I picked this book up at my library a week or so ago (along with The 10 Commandments of Dating, review coming soon!) and really enjoyed the time I spent in it's pages.

It's a typical teenage girl encouragement type book with chapters about fashion, friends, boys, life, God, and...dads. Dads? Yes sirree bob, Dads. Her "Dad" focus was what made it stand out from other books I have read, such as A Young Woman After God's Own Heart by Elisabeth George, Make it Real by Point of Grace, and Let's Talk by Danae Dobson. Jenna really stresses that God is our Dad. No matter what our earthly fathers have been like, our heavenly Father thinks we are beautiful and he defines who we are. Jenna Lucado is real with you, talking about her struggles in a humorous way. The humor helps soften a message that can sometimes be painful.

So:


I loved:
Her humorous, lighthearted, yet serious way of talking about issues
Fun chapter names, cute cover help draw you in and make it fun to read
Max Lucado (Jenna's dad) inserts numerous little notes and stories to help get the message across
(Loved their relationship that was obvious in this book)
Journaling space after heart-searching questions for those who like to journal
Final chapter that helps bring it all together very well


I didn't like:
That it was (almost) like all the other christian teen encouragement books
(the "importance of Dad" chapter helped it to be a bit different)

You or your teenage daughter will be greatly encouraged by Jenna's message and the gentle way she communicates it. Definitely worth the $6+ for a copy. I would encourage you to buy yourself a copy because it's better if you can journal in the book. :)


4 out 5 stars


Enjoy!
Love,
Stephanie

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Sense and Sensibility

Lately I've been listening to Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. That's right, listening.

You see, book that are old are in the public domain now and through this amazing project called Librivox these public domain books have been turned into audiobooks. Read by normal people like you and me. For free you can download these audiobooks in almost any format (iTunes podcasts, mp3, etc.) and enjoy them at your own pace. I really love this with old books, because sometimes old books are hard to get through. It takes forever to slough through the descriptions. Audiobooks work so much better (at least for me) and I can say that I've read many of the classics, without straining my brain (or my eyes!).

Anyway, so Librivox is awesome and that's how I've been reading Sense and Sensibility. If you like listening to your books, Librivox is the BEST!

Now to the review. Sense and Sensibility is just like the rest of Jane Austen's books. Sweet, lovable characters. Girls giddy over boys who may or may not have their best interests at heart. I particularly enjoyed this book because it portrayed two sisters who loved each other and tried to help each other in their afflictions. I LOVE this relationship between siblings! (Similar to Jane and Elisabeth's relationship in Pride and Prejudice.) Marianne and Eleanor are both interested in finding husbands, but it's not as easy as it looks! Marianne falls for an attractive guy named Willoughby. Eleanor is confident in her Edward and his affection. Both of them are disappointed with their respective men, and comfort each other. Will they resolve their problems with Edward and Willoughby, or find better men to spend their lives with? 

I cannot think of a single thing in this book that I disapproved of. Eleanor is more discerning and wisely advises her sister many times. Their mother is not very wise, and the girls have to deal with gossips and general society that is focused on catching a rich man - who cares about his character! Even if he's a boring, old dolt, the society they live in urges marrying because of the money. I really enjoyed Sense and Sensibility, and I know that you will too if you like clean romances that have happy endings.

If you have any questions about something I did not cover in the book, please comment with it, and I will get back to you with the answer. :)

You can get this through Librivox for FREE and listen to it on your iPod or however you like to listen. (Which in my opinion is the best and easiest way to enjoy this jewel and classic!)

OR if you really like to READ it and hold the book in your hands (& if you TRUST me that this is a wonderful book and want to own it), you can easily get it through Amazon here: Sense And Sensibility for as cheap as $2.30.

 

OR (option 3!) you can read a hard copy by borrowing it from the LIBRARY for FREE. And then if you really enjoy it, you can come back here and buy it from Amazon.

:)

Concerning buying books off of Amazon, I really recommend getting a Swagbucks membership, saving those swagbucks, purchasing 2 $5 Amazon gift cards with your swagbucks, and getting this book (or really anything!) for FREE from Amazon. Swagbucks is really AMAZING and I am building my book collection for free with it. You can get a membership here: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/LightLifeLove  and you will get a great start on Swagbucks and it will benefit me, too! Thanks so much. :)

Love.

Steph

Take One by Karen Kingsbury

This week I read "Take One" by Karen Kingsbury. I really enjoyed it, and had to write a review...

From the back cover:

Could they change the world before the world changes them? Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison left the mission field of Indonesia for the mission field of Hollywood with a dream bigger than both of them. Now they have done the impossible: raised enough money to produce a feature film with a message that could change the world. But as Chase and Keith begin shooting, their well-laid plans begin to unravel. With millions of dollars on the line, they make a desperate attempt to keep the film from falling apart, even as a temperamental actress, a botched production schedule, and their own insecurities leave little room for the creative and spiritual passion that once motivated them. Was God really behind this movie after all? A chance meeting and friendship with John Baxter could bring the encouragement they need to stay on mission and produce a movie that will actually change people's lives. In the midst of the questions and the cameras, is it possible to keep things above the line and make a movie unlike anything done before, or is the risk too great for everyone?

Sound interesting? It is. I have enjoyed almost all of Karen Kingsbury's books, and this one was even better than it's predecessors! She dealt with temptation to be unfaithful to your spouse in a very real way, and I really liked how the characters came through the situation. The Baxters are such a dear family, and Karen links the past series revolving around them to this new series. Two girls deal with starting college, boyfriends, friendships, and handling death. While it touches on some deep issues (i.e. date rape), I would still recommend it for teens, college-bound, and adult women. There are good examples of what a boyfriend should be like, which hit home for me as I am starting to get interested in that kind of relationship.

  The only thing that bothered me was Mrs. Kingsbury's using actors and actresses that are popular now. In a few years, readers might not recognize those names, to their annoyance.

  It was very interesting to see how trying making a Christian movie independently can be. This book related to me in some way through each character. Many lessons are skillfully communicated without sounding preachy. "Take One" is a carefully fabricated story that deals with real-life issues in a Christian manner, and balances intensity well, so the reader is not stressed with the characters!

I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars, it's definitely worth: (including S&H) (Price may have changed, check link.)

AS LOW AS:

$7 NEW, HARDCOVER; $4.50 NEW, PAPERBACK

$5 USED, HARDCOVER; $4 USED, PAPERBACK

Like I said, it's worth it. Especially if you use Swagbucks and earn 2 $5 Amazon gift cards and get the book completely free, using the gift cards to cover the price and shipping.


Stephanie

A Short Diversion

The "longer" books I have been perusing of late become tiring after awhile, so to refresh myself I searched out a short story a friend told me was hilarious, The Open Window by Saki (H.H. Munro). I found it and got a good laugh out of it! When you're tired of weighty books, relieve yourself with a short story! Find it here: http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/366/ . Saki's other stories look pretty good, too: http://www.readbookonline.net/books/Saki/77/. Enjoy! I'll get back with reviews when I finish the big stuff.

-Steph

Currently Reading...

• Take One by Karen Kingsbury. I'm on Ch. 2, pg. 36. So far it's good, a little "something bad's fixing to happen" coming across to me. I'll let you know when I'm done and include a review. :) Available on Amazon for as low as $0.57 new, paperback! http://www.amazon.com/Take-One-Above-Line-1/dp/0310266165
• Things As They Are: Mission Work in South India by Amy Carmichael. It's 1 of her 2 books available in full view on Google Books, and I've been wanting to read some of her books, so this was my chance. I'm on page 175 of the first half, in the chapter, "The Elf." Lots of memorable quotes in it. Interesting and challenging thoughts for any Christian. Find it here: http://books.google.com/books?id=nj8XAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_slider_thumb#v=onepage&q=&f=false
• Also, I've been reading on War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. It's going slow...don't look for a review anytime soon. But it's good. Really good.

I'll try to post reviews of books I've read recently as well. Be back soon!

-Steph

Yes, I'm a reader...

...duh. ;)

Hi! I'm Stephanie, and I'm gonna blog about books and life, etc. Mostly about books, though. I delight in both old classics and new discoveries in the lit. world. Homeschooled, teenage, brunette. That's all you need to know about me. :) I'll blog soon about my most recent reads.

Thanks,
Steph

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