Review: There You’ll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones

Title: There You’ll Find Me
Author: Jenny B. Jones
Category: Christian YA
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, September 2011
Page Count: 320
Source: ARC from the publisher, via netGalley
Star Rating: 5 out of 5

I know that I’m a ridiculous fangirl for Jenny B. Jones. I’m someone who hasn’t liked much Christian fiction in a long time, but she makes me love it. I gushed ridiculously over Save the Date and I feel just as strongly about this one.

Save the Date was told from the perspective of adults, Alex and Lucy. It chronicled their lives, feisty resistance of one another, and eventual falling in love. Alex’s brother Will’s death was a heavy shadow over the book, and Alex eventually found his own peace and resolution. There You’ll Find Me is the story of Finley Sinclair, Alex and Will’s teenaged sister. Her grief is experienced much differently. Maybe it’s because she’s so young. Maybe it’s because she’s a girl and shows her emotions more openly. Whatever it is, it seems to be rockier for Finley to overcome.

Finley’s in Ireland for a school exchange program. She’s got a big audition for the New York Conservatory coming up, and she’s in Ireland to re-trace Will’s steps and write a piece of music in tribute to him. But her troubles run deep and she’s in the midst of a major crisis of faith. She meets a mean girl at school, has her heart stolen by a Hollywood heartthrob, and encounters all sorts of Irish characters, not least of which is a crusty old woman in her waning days.

But don’t be fooled into thinking this is a bubble-headed story, typical in much contemporary YA romance. No, this is much more. Finley’s troubles seem all too real and are dealt with in an utterly realistic fashion. There are funny moments, because Jones is a funny woman, but this is a tear-jerker, too. A crisis of faith is no laughing matter, and Jones treats it with seriousness and respect.

I can’t say enough good things about Jenny B. Jones and her books. Anyone who’s been resisting Christian fiction, as I did for so long, should stop resisting and read this author.

Review: It Couldn’t Just Happen by Lawrence O. Richards

Title: It Couldn’t Just Happen
Author: Lawrence O. Richards
Category: Christian, non-fiction, science
Publisher: Thomas Nelson; August 2, 2011
Page count: 234
Source: ARC from the publisher
Star rating: 4 out of 5

Originally published in 1987 and now updated with new text and all-new photos, It Couldn’t Just Happen is a little book packed with lots of information proving Creation of the Bible over the theory of evolution. Richards starts with the Creation event itself and follows with amazing facts about the human body, animal and plant life, fossil records, weather events, and nature’s impossible-to-ignore reflection of its Creator. Throughout, he uses Scripture proofs and without hesitation says the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, and that there is no room for doubting its validity when it comes to Creation, historical Adam and Eve, and the proof of God’s handiwork in humans and nature.

If the book falls short for me, it’s that it doesn’t state definitively how long Creation took. Richards leaves the door open for the day-age theory, which states we cannot know how long a “day” in the Creation story is. Perhaps it is a strict 24-hour period, as we know a day to be, or perhaps a “day” could have been millions of years long, which would allow for gradual changes we collectively call evolution. Myself, I’m a strict six-day Creationist. The word for “day” in Genesis, in the Creation story, is the same Hebrew word used for a 24-hour period elsewhere in the Old Testament. God is not a god of confusion or doubt, leaving us stranded without critical pieces of information. We know all we need to know in this life on Earth about Jesus, heaven, miracles, prophecies, and so forth, so why would He keep from us the full truth of our very origins?

Despite this personal quibble, which is easily a teachable moment for my son once it’s time to teach him in-depth about these things, It Couldn’t Just Happen is an invaluable resource for Christian parents. The Scripture texts used throughout are appropriate for the topic at hand, and each chapter ends with a “Just for Fun” page of questions and activities designed to challenge thinking and look at Creation in a fun and imaginative way. I would not use this as the primary text for teaching my son or a class about Creation, but I will certainly keep it around and use it as a supporting text.

This book was given to me for free by BookSneeze, Thomas Nelson’s program for book bloggers, in exchange for an honest review. The publisher did not influence my review, and all thoughts and opinions stated here are my own.

Review: Max On Life by Max Lucado

Title: Max On Life
Author: Max Lucado
Category: Christian living
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2011
Page count: 256
Source: review copy from the publisher
Star rating: 2 out of 5

Max Lucado is one of those superstars in Christian culture. His books sell by the truckload, he’s often quoted in blogs, on Twitter, and on Christian radio, and he’s a sought-after author and speaker. I’m instantly suspect of anything or anyone so widely popular. Maybe I’m just a cynical old Reformed chick, but I’m naturally a little wary of big names.

Lucado breaks this book into categories:

• Hope
• Hurt
• Help
• Him/Her
• Home
• Haves/Have-Nots
• Hereafter

Each section contains letters Max has received through the years, asking questions on the listed topics. Max sets about answering these questions in each chapter. The book is touted to be aimed at new and mature Christians alike, but while there’s nothing inherently wrong with what Lucado says, the book surely won’t be particularly helpful for mature Christians. Let’s face it: You know what you’re getting with Max Lucado. Inoffensive, gentle, humorous advice, but not exactly earth-shattering or hard-hitting. He loves the Lord, and he loves people, but he’s not a great theologian or a tell-it-like-it-is kind of guy like John Piper or Al Mohler. If you want to be shaken, convicted, and edified, just go read Piper or Mohler or a host of other writers.

In fact, if I had things my way, we’d see somebody like Piper or Mohler, or Tim Keller or D.A. Carson, write a book like this. Now that’s something I could wholeheartedly recommend.

Disclosure: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson’s book blogger program, Booksneeze, with the expectation of a review. All thoughts are my own and were not in any way influenced by the publisher.

Review: Too Rich for A Bride by Mona Hodgson

Title: Too Rich for A Bride
Author: Mona Hodgson
Category: Christian ficion
Publisher: WaterBrook, 2011
Page count: 306
Source: ARC from the publisher
Star rating: 3 out of 5

I’m doing my best to explore the world of historical fiction and give it a chance. I’ve never been much interested in it, but I’m willing to learn!

This book is the second installment in the Sisters of Cripple Creek series, but works fine as a stand-alone. I haven’t read the first book, Two Brides Too Many, but this book gives enough back story so as not to be confusing.

Ida Sinclair is a young woman living in Portland, Maine, in 1896. She’s attending the Merton School of Business and has desires and plans to be a businesswoman, a career still unusual for women of that time period. She holds a job at the school, doing clerical work, but her dreams are bigger than that. Near the end of her education there, amid the jeers of her male classmates, Ida thinks she finds a kindred spirit in her professor. But, Ida quickly learns, he isn’t interested in giving her a job or helping her career unless she agrees to become his mistress. Giving up on her dreams of finding a job in New York City, Ida joins her sisters in Cripple Creek, Colorado. She’s heard about Mollie O’Bryan, a woman conducting business on her own terms. Ida is determined to learn from and work for Mollie.

Ida gets her wish, but this, of course, would not be Christian women’s fiction without a love interest. Ida finds herself pursued by two men: Colin Wagner, a lawyer; and Tucker Raines, a preacher. Ida does indeed find success in business, but like many women, she also finds herself falling in love and thinking ahead to marriage and family. Ulimately, Ida must make a choice between business and love.

If the book falls flat for me in any way, it’s the “women can do anything men can do” attitude. I’m a pretty traditional woman, and while I do believe women are strong, brilliant, and capable of a lot, I also understand the time period in which this book is set, and I find Ida’s drive and ability to be so successful in business a bit suspect. It just didn’t ring true for me in the end. I would have appreciated it more had it been more historically accurate.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah’s book blogger program, Blogging for Books. My thoughts are my own and were not influenced in any way by the book’s author or publisher.

Review: Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones

Title: Save the Date
Author: Jenny B. Jones
Category: Christian chick-lit/romance
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Page Count: 320
Source: ARC from the publisher, via netGalley (read on my Kindle)
Star rating: 5 of 5

In general, I have a bit of a problem with Christian fiction of the romance/chick-lit variety. I get tired of the wooden, stereotypical characters, the unrealistic holiness, and the too-good-to-be-true heartthrob. (And let’s not even get started on that other creature, Amish fiction. Ugh.) So I’ve vowed a hundred times that I’ll never read Christian romance/chick-lit again. Well, let’s just say I’m very glad I broke my own rule with this one.

I puffy cartoon hearts adored this book. I know, that doesn’t sound very professional or Book Reviewer-ish, but it’s true. Start to finish, every single word, I loved Save the Date.

Lucy has had some hard knocks in her life. She grew up poor, the only child of a house-cleaning single mom. She worked her way through college and has been on her own since her mother’s death. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina, and runs Saving Grace, a home for young women who have aged-out of the foster system but still aren’t quite ready to be out on their own. Her best-friends are a group of self-described science fiction nerds. Things seem to be going okay for Lucy. She’d been dating Matt, a reliable but boring accountant. Just when Lucy thought Matt would propose to her, he broke up with her and moved away.

Fast-forward and Saving Grace loses most of its funding. Lucy is lonely and worried about Saving Grace, wondering how she’s going to keep it all afloat. But then Alex Sinclair comes along. He’s an old classmate from Lucy’s childhood, a former NFL quarterback, and a congressional hopeful. He also happens to be irrevocably tied to the foundation that’s just cut Lucy’s funding.

What happens next seems implausible but is completely believable in the hands of Jenny B. Jones and her gift for storytelling. And I’m not going to tell you what that something is, because the book is so good you should read it yourself. It’s often laugh-out-loud funny, incredibly sweet and endearing, and more than just a little romantic.

What I love the most about Jones’ writing is her characters. She has quite a knack for creating fully-formed folks you think you could know. I want to be friends with Lucy. I want her to be real! And call me crazy, but I had a hard time not picturing Eli Manning as Alex. I mean, come on.

Hotty Toddy!

Save the Date strikes that perfect balance between secular and Christian romance/chick-lit. It’s not profane as some secular offerings are, and it’s not at all sickly-sweet as some Christian ones are. It’s instead a delightful read full of delightful characters from an author whose other books I’ll now seek out and gobble up.

Review: God’s Promises Devotional Journal

Title: God’s Promises Devotional Journal
Author: various
Category: Christian living/devotional
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, March 22, 2011
Page count: 382
Source: ARC from the publisher
Star rating: 5 out of 5

I’ve never been one for written devotionals. I’ll read Scripture, read daily devotional writings, and pray, of course, but the discipline of sitting down and journaling my thoughts or prayers has always eluded me. But even without a recent desire to journal more in my “quiet time,” I was intrigued by the God’s Promises Devotional Journal, published by Thomas Nelson. It features quotes and book passages from 22 Christian authors, and it claims to be “365 days of experiencing the Lord’s blessings.” That blurb would usually sound a bit touchy-feely for me, a little too Purpose-Driven Life or Prayer of Jabez , but the list of authors convinced me otherwise. A few of my favorites are:

• John MacArthur
• Sheila Walsh
• Billy Graham
• David Jeremiah
• Anne Graham Lotz
• Elisabeth Eliot
• RC Sproul
• Max Lucado

The hardback book is set up like a journal, with the date, a Bible verse, a quote from something one of the contributors has written, a question prompt, and plenty of lines for writing in your own answer. Several different Bible translations are used, some better than others. If Bible translation matters to you, as it does to me, you’ll want to be aware of the different translations of the Bible used before you buy this book. Some are quite good; some are wholly objectionable for their use of gender-neutral pronouns. Here’s a breakdown:

Gender-Specific translations used:

• The New King James Version
• The Message
• King James Version
• New American Standard Bible
• The New English Bible
• New International Version
• The Living Bible

Gender-Neutral translations used:

• New Century Version
• New Living Translation
• New Revised Standard Version

For more explanation on the dangers of gender-neutral translations, see this article by Ligon Duncan of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, the leader in complemantarian education. Also see Focus on the Family’s list of recommended and not recommended translations.

Here’s an example of a day. I’ll use March 4, since that’s the day I’m writing this review. The Scripture quoted (from the New King James Version) is Matthew 6:26. The devotional passage is by Bryant Wright, from his August 2011 devotional book Right from the Heart, and is an anecdote about watching the birds in his yard get to work early in the morning and not care about the worries of their day, because they’re simply doing what their Creator made them to do. The question of the day is: “What can you do differently to show more trust in your Creator? In what areas of life can you worry less and work harder?” I can immediately think of a number of areas of my life that need exactly this kind of reflection, prayer and work. I’ll fill my answers in and think about them throughout the day. The day’s passage will prompt me to think and pray, and possibly take action, and isn’t that the book’s point?

If you’re looking for a devotional that will solely point you to the Person and work of Christ, or to teach you more about God’s attributes, or to draw you deeper into theology, this is not the right book. There are countless fine devotionals that do exactly that. But this book is just fine in its own aim. It uses Scripture and writers’ thoughts and probing questions to make us reflect back on our own lives, to see God’s power and His desire to bless us when we are walking faithfully with Him (Psalm 37:4). For a personal time of reflection born out of a desire to see the Lord’s blessings all around and go about our day more aware of them, this book is excellent. Highly recommended.

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This book was provided free to me by Thomas Nelson through its BookSneeze program for book bloggers. While it was provided to me with the expectation of a review, all opinions are mine and are not influenced by the publisher or by BookSneeze.