Book Review: Bad Girls of the Bible

Bad Girls of the Bible

By Liz Curtis Higgs

When I saw this book I knew I needed to read it.  There was something about the description that completely drew me in.  This book was a GREAT read!  I read it very quickly, I would read any chance I had, or I’d lay down to go to sleep and read until I got “tired” but never got tired!  This book is about ten bad girls in the bible.  The girls included are:  Eve, Potiphar’s Wife, Lot’s Wife, Woman at the Well, Delilah, Sapphira, Rahab, Jezebel, Michal, and The Sinful Woman.  In each chapter Liz sets up the story by retelling each woman’s story in a modern way.  I loved this aspect because, for me personally, it helps me remember details better.  After each retelling, she then breaks down each woman’s story, using bible verses and other commentator’s opinions.  Liz has a great writing style as well, and brings in a simplistic but humorous take to these stories.  At the end of each chapter there is a section on what we can learn from this particular bad girl, then there is also a section of questions you can think on and answer.  Overall, I really loved this book!  It was educational, but not at all boring, and I am very interested in some more of Liz Curtis Higgs’ books!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from BloggingforBooks . com in exchange for an honest opinion

Book Review: Making the Best of a Bad Decision

Making the Best of a Bad Decision

By Erwin W. Lutzer

We’ve all made decisions that we regret, it’s how we recover that really matters.  However, it can be difficult to pick up the pieces and move on.  This book is all about putting regrets behind you, and moving forwards with God grace.  This book covers a wide range of bad decision, such as marrying the wrong person, having made a bad financial decision, or being stuck in a job you hate.  One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the fact it used the bad decisions of biblical figures to show us that, yea, we may have made bad decisions, but someone else has too.  In the end God will still forgive us!!  I also loved that this book not only addresses the having made bad decisions, but how to move forward and make wise decisions from now on.  This book is easy to understand, and is a great read.  Another plus to this is the discussion guide in the back!  It has great questions you can read through and answer, and even has an area for notes in the very back of the book.  All in all, I would definitely recommend this book for someone to read, whether your decision was a big one, or maybe not so big, it’s wonderful, and encouraging to know that God forgives us, all we have to do is sincerely ask.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishing Co. in exchange for an honest opinion.

Book Review: Lilies In Moonlight

Lilies in Moonlight

By Allison Pittman

One of my favorite parts about reading a book is being sucked within the pages!  This book was no exception when it came to entertaining, and leaving you waiting to read the next page.  This Christian fiction, romance novel was set back in the 1920’s when a young lady named Lily has run away from her overbearing mother and ends up in Florida.  Trying to forget her troubles which ultimately leads her to getting drunk, twisting her ankle, and landing in a WWI hero’s back yard.  This book is not just about two people falling it love, it’s also about a woman reconnecting and accepting God, and connecting with family.  Unlike some books I’ve read, this one was full of wonderful descriptions and really made you feel like you were back in the 1920’s, a fly on the wall, experiencing the same experiences as Lily and Cullen.  Although this book was slightly predictable, with no immense twists and turns, I found it very fun to read.  I would definitely suggest this book for someone who is looking to be entertained, and enlightened.  You won’t be disappointed!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books.com in exchange for an honest opinion.

Book Review: Nick of Time

Nick of Time

By Tim Downs

I have a wide amount of book preferences, from romance, to humor, to how tos, and books about bettering yourself, but at the end of the day, sometimes, you just want to get lost in an amazing book, and that’s just what happened when I decided to read this book!!  I have a love and soft spot for books with great descriptions, thrilling plots, and awesome twists and turns.  This book delivered on all levels!  Nick Polchak is a bug man, a forensic entomologist a career built around maggots, blow flies and decomposing bodies!  He’s a single guy, but it’s no surprise given his career choices!  However, Nick meets, and falls in love with a reclusive dog trainer named, Alena.  They decide to get married, but, Nick has disappeared!!  He’s gone off, chasing the murder of an old friend.  The closer he gets to catching the murderer, the farther he gets from his love, and almost wife Alena!  Although this book sounds firm and gruesome, but exceptionally written, and well thought out.  The characters were believable, the plot was cleaver, and it was an all-around pleasing mystery to read!  There is wonderfully witty dialog, and a plot twist at the end that you won’t see coming!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest opinion.

The Take Action Bible

The Take Action Bible

New King James Version

The Take Action Bible is full of inspiration and awesome ideas.  In a lot of ways this is just like a traditional, every day bible.  There are also a lot of things that make this bible more than an average bible.  One of the first things I noticed was the illustrations.  They are beautiful, and glossy.  In these illustrations it shows pictures of people who are taking action in our world, and showing the love of God through actions.  There are five clusters of illustrations that show people who are changing lives.  From children, teens, adults, older adults and groups of people.  Each illustration has a picture, a bible verse, and a short story of the individuals.  Then on the next page it has a space for two questions for you to answer to inspire you to take action!  I got goose bumps reading these peoples stories and their love for God and others.  There are also beautiful maps in the back of the book as well!  In addition to the illustrations and stories, there is also a section in the back that gives you 52 Action Ideas, one for each week of the year.  What’s better is the ideas are things that are easily accomplished by everyone, regardless of your financial means.  There are simple things like picking up trash, to buying and handing out a bible to a stranger.  The last thing I noticed that I really enjoyed about this bible, is the explanations to the different books of the bible.  For example, before Genesis it has a page that states Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy are part of The Pentateuch, which are the first five books of the bible, and they are called, “Torah”.  That’s something I hadn’t seen in a bible before.  It also tells a bit about each book and who wrote it. Overall I am very satisfied with this bible, and I’m extremely happy to have picked it to read!  I would definitely suggest it to others!

((I am a member of BookSneeze, and was given this book for free to review, this has not impacted my view on the book I read, and is my honest opinion))

Love At Last Sight

Love At Last Sight

Kerry & Chris Shook

When I first picked it out for some reason I thought it was a 30 day devotional for couples.  However, once I received it I realized it was a book about any relationships in your life that you wanted to improve.  The book is broken into four different weeks.

Week 1:  The Art of Being All There
Week 2:  The Art of Acting Intentionally
Week 3:  The Art of Risking Awkwardness
Week 4:  The Art of Letting Go

This book also explains the three stages of love, what they entail, and how to reach the ultimate destination of love at last sight.

One of the reasons I truly enjoyed and like about this book is the fact it’s not just for couples, or just for teens.  It’s a book that helps you decide on the relationships that mean the most to you and focusing on enriching and enhancing those relationships.  It explains how to fight fairly, how to truly listen and focus, and how to go out of your way to truly try to be there in your relationships.  Each day you read a section that is about 5 pages long, and then there is a Love at Last Sight challenge to complete.  The tasks are easy but make you think about your relationships.  They also give you access to their website to get additional help and advice.

Overall, I would recommend this book to others.  Whether you want to work at your relationship with your husband, wife, mother, father, child, or any other person who matters to you, this is a great book to help you do just that!

((I am a member of Blogging for Books, and was given this book for free to review, this has not impacted my view on the book I read, and is my honest opinion))