Here Am I, Lord . . . Send Somebody Else by Jill Briscoe

Here Am I, Lord . . . Send Somebody Else  by Jill Briscoe has been re-released for new audiences. Although I was familiar with Mrs. Briscoe's daughter-in-law (a gifted speaker in her own right), I hadn't yet become acquainted with Mrs,  Briscoe herself.

Overall, the book is based on a solid premise. Briscoe anchors her book within the story of Moses while branching  out to speak  on different spiritual truths and elements she finds necessary for people to move forward in their faith. I highly appreciated Mrs. Briscoe's use of scripture and the way she  continually anchors her work back within Moses' life. It's obvious this is where her passion lies and an area with which she has well  studied. 

For those who also love studying, Briscoe provides a study section at the end of every section. Consisting of reflection, questions,  prayer guides, additional reading, etc. . . Each chapter offers a strong option of taking the material  further while tying in the chapter focus to scriptural references outside of the Moses' narrative.

Topically, however, I had mixed feelings on Briscoe's work. The variety was wonderful. Between spiritual gifts, prayer, overcoming trials, and so on there was wide breadth of knowledge being shared increasing the likelihood that a reader will find helpful material. The tone at times was frustrating though. 

I found, in the reading, that Briscoe tended towards a one-size-fits all faith. There wasn't a lot of room for grace for those going through hard seasons just an unrelenting call to measure up. As a result, I wouldn't feel comfortable giving this book to some of my friends who are newer to faith and still working out the basics.

3.5 stars out of 5

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers  book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. 

Little Critter Little Blessings Collection by Mercer Mayer

Some stories, some characters are so familiar you cannot wait to introduce them to your children. In our home, Little Critter is just such a character. I have so many memories of snuggling up with these books as a child it just made sense to share them with my boys. Sadly, our oldest is getting to the  stage where he wants a little more story development, which is why I loved the idea of the Little Blessing Collection.

These stories are filled with the same characters I love but still have a story that keeps my oldest engaged and learning solid lessons.

Overall, I was impressed with this collection. The characters brought about enough nostalgia for  this Mama while still appearing fresh and relatable enough for my children. The stories varied in their topics covering the importance of telling the  truth, thankfulness, letting others go first, and forgiveness.

I was impressed at how Mayer's laying out of Little Critter's dilemmas naturally prompted my kiddo to ask questions and think through how he would feel in similar situations. I love a book that inspires good dialogue and these stories certainly delivered on that front.

I also felt that the variety of topics still flowed well with one another. Thankfulness could easily be linked  to letting others go first. Telling the  truth tied to thankfulness. This allowed us to really build onto topics and the concepts of building a strong foundation with our kids, rather than bouncing around through unrelated issues.

My only downfall was the story on forgiveness. While the other stories were age appropriate, well-rounded stories, the forgiveness story is very self-centered with  no mention of making amends (despite the story  allowing for such a conversation), a limited talking about reconciliation (which felt minimized), and no broaching of the  scope of issues which may need forgiveness and the importance of acknowledging the damage. My little guy was so confused by this story and was really concerned that "forgiveness" was just a free pass to getting away with things.

4 out of 5 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers  book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. 

Oath of Honor by Lynette Eason

In her new novel Oath of Honor, Lynette Eason has offered a drama/mystery that would easily fit into any Friday night  television lineup.

Eason excels in placing her readers at the  heart of the action. I appreciate how she can weave her plot and truly make her main characters the readers eyes. I did not feel  the plot was overtly obvious and  never felt like I was moving too far ahead of Izzy and Ryan's discoveries. Eason really strives to lay her story out not without twists but still in a way that feels logically as Izzy and Ryan uncover their trail of clues.

As a main character, Izzy strikes me as your typical heroine. Easily likable thanks to her hard work ethic, her kind heart, and her appropriate mix of vulnerability and police smarts she easily holds this book together. I appreciate how relatable Eason makes her heroine, spiritual elements are not overly heavy but pop up in natural flowing ways given the high stress/short time frame of the narrative.

That said, those looking for a  book with a sermon should probably look elsewhere. Throughout the story I was constantly struck by how easily this could be turned into a series screenplay, bringing the strengths and weakness of that genre. 

The action and adventure kept me pressing on to discover Kevin's killer, the budding romance felt a little rushed but tempered thanks to the author's skillful use of established character history. 

Eason keeps her pace tight and fast which helps build the tension and convey the stress Izzy and Ryan were under in tangible ways. 

That said, some areas struggled though in the written format.

I felt that  the scenes with the family whether at home or during heavy emotional moments struggled to convey the nonverbal emotion that is so present in those moments. As a result, those scenes lost impact and  even felt awkward at times.

I was also unsure  how to interpret the mental health  aspect of the story line. I wish more emphasis had been placed on the differences between  illness and where the story eventually went (seriously don't want to give away spoilers).

3.75 stars out of 5

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

The Middle of the Mess by Sheila Walsh

The Middle of the Mess is insightful, informative, and filled with the perfect blend of real talk and vulnerability. 

Walsh excels in her gentle combination of story and reflection. Her ability to bring life to her words by letting the stories take their time to ebb and flow adds depth that only an experienced storyteller can bring.

I spend a lot of time with my nose buried in psychology and self-help books (counselling classes tend to do that to a person) but the most impactful are always the ones where the author weaves together heart with truth, a mix Walsh has mastered.Walsh has walked through the darkest of valleys and calls out to readers from a place of familiarity not superiority. I loved this as it makes the book relatable and referable. Let's face it, everyone today is touched by mental health. It's also probably one of the more stigmatized categories of illness. Walsh's book seeks to battle the stigma with information, heart, and humanity, the best weapons. 

Obviously, for those familiar with Walsh's career the presence of a strong faith/theological component will come as no surprise. While there are no startling revelations in her material such as the importance of community, the journey of salvation, God's desire in our lives - the straightforwardness with which she pairs  these truths with the realities facing those battling mental illness is encouraging and a great resource for those in the middle of such a battle or supporting someone who is.

4.5 out of 5 stars. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz

Alright, this review was actually due to be posted  last week but weather, the post, and a mini plague all determined that this week was a much better fit ;) Thankfully, I can wholeheartedly say that The Lacemaker is worth the wait.

Laura excels at drawing readers in through her plot, a point well supported by The Lacemaker. I was on the edge of my seat as Frantz brought forth the bustling, tension-filled streets of the just barely English colonies and the loyalties which  were rapidly changing. Her peaceful painting of Ty Mawr proved an ample setting for character growth, sweet romance, and the inclusion of faith so inherent to the previous novels I've encountered by Frantz.

As far as characters go, I do feel the character development is far more rushed than the typical novels I tend toward. The relationships connected to both Liberty and Noble offered so much material that it would have been impossible to do everything justice. That said, I still felt as though few relationships were explored truly outside  the main duo and even that left me wanting more.

Frantz's true strength is in her stories. While I am  under educated on the politics  that led to the war for independence and cannot vouch for accuracy, I was thoroughly impressed by Frantz's ability to infuse her words with the emotions, urgency, and tensions that I can only imagine were present in that time of change. Frantz has  the ability to make you feel the story and that alone is worth the read.

The romantic aspect of the story was also very sweet to read. I appreciated the theme of redemption that seemed to follow Liberty throughout her romantic endeavors. Again, this is an area of the story which reaps the rewards of Frantz's skill in incorporating feeling into her narrative as readers can join with Liberty and Noble through the loss, fear, and sweet discoveries of love.

Overall, I will recommend this novel and look forward to what Frantz has planned next. 4 out of 5 stars.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Revell and Baker Publishing Group."

How to Fix a Broken Record Thoughts on Vinyl Records, Awkward Relationships, and Learning to Be Myself by Amena Brown

How to Fix a Broken Record has the unique feeling of being both familiar and brand new at the same time. 

Amena comes along side her readers much like a big sister or an older best friend, walking her readers  through the lessons she's learned as she reflects back on the  lessons life and music have brought her way.

To be fair, there are a lot of life lesson/reflections based books on the market these days and Amena's book hits on many of the same topics that have already been discussed. However, there were a few areas that helped How to Fix a Broken Record  stand out from the crowd.

First, Amena brings balance into her discussion looking at lesson from throughout the different stages of her life. While others do this to different degrees the honesty with which Amena looks at singleness, dating, marriage, and infertility is  a scope and breadth not often seen in this type of book. I love how she allows readers to see the beauty and pain of each stage rather than chasing after a single chapter. I appreciated the honesty with which these struggles were presented.

I also appreciated the fact that Amena brings her whole self forward into her lessons:  her life, her experiences, and her culture. I confess, in many ways I am very naive about American culture in general living north of the border and to see Amena paint her life as a minority within the United States was helpful.

Overall, this was a solid book and a great option for readers looking for a read focusing on life experiences.  Those who read extensively within the genre may find their attention wavering at times as the uniqueness is centered mainly upon the fact that it is Amena's story rather than broader concepts or aproaches.
4 out  of 5 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Where We Belong by Lynn Austin

In the city of Chicago in 1892, the rules and expectations for Victorian women are strict, their roles in life limited. But sisters Rebecca and Flora Hawes are not typical Victorian ladies. Their love of adventure and their desire to use their God-given talents have taken them out of society ballrooms and delivered them to the Sinai Desert–and into the teeth of a sandstorm.

Accompanied by Soren Petersen, their somber young butler, and Kate Rafferty, a plucky street urchin learning to be their ladies’ maid, the two women are on a quest across the desert chasing rumors of an important biblical manuscript.

This was my second foray into Lynn Austin's writing and I feel like it takes a solid two books to really get a handle on how she writes. Austin's ability to take solid research and weave in fictional adventure stands out in her newest novel following the Hawes sisters as the adventure around the globe seeking how  to responsible use their God-given resources and follow his plan.

As seems to be the case with Austin's style this means lots of switching back and forth between time periods in order to flesh out her characters stories. I was relieved and impressed at how smoothly her transitions flowed in this book compared to the last I had read by her. As a result, this story is far more immersive, the plot lines are much clearer, and readers are treated with a much more easily navigated plot. As the time travelling confusion was one of my biggest concerns with my last Austin novel it was good to see  the author had refined her skill.

However, she certainly didn't lose any of her ability to produce characters during that refinement. Where We Belong is filled with strong, intriguing characters that eagerly draw you into their hurts and dreams. I loved how successfully Austin uses the sisters diverging skills to develop interest and spur character growth. Both Flora and Becky held their own as primary narrators for their portion of the story and engage readers in different  ways.  Not to mention how blindsided I was  by the final third's focus on Kate and Soren! It takes a good writer to take a fiery maid and a solemn butler and make me ache for their story but the servants backstories had a surprising amount of depth for secondary characters that helped bring the book to it's well traveled conclusion.

Travelling, oh the travel. Austin's characters wrack up a lot of miles and you can tell she's researched the details of their locales. Considering we are in the  middle of a nasty cold snap it was wonderful to open up the book and feel like you're peering off at an approaching sandstorm or wandering around Paris. Austin has a knack for bringing her settings to life.

That said, I did have a few complaints that took away from the overall story. 

As much as I love the Hawes sisters, at times, in Austin's attempt to convey a deeper spiritual truth the conversation lost its natural flow and began to feel very scripted. I wouldn't say the characters were  out of the personalities they had been built with but the material felt very stilted and predictable  - particularly in key scenes like on the Nile.  For those that like to be immersed in their novels  this may be a draw back as it certainly brought me out of the narrative.

The other area I struggled with is the ending. Now, don't get me wrong, I love a happy ending,  in fact I find open-ended or depressing ending very dissatisfying. Yet, this conclusion felt both rushed and too perfectly wrapped up given the drama and adventure  the characters had faced.  The ending was  what I look for and yet still sat somewhere left of where it  felt it should for reality's sake.

4 out of 5 stars

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."