Through the Valley of Death

Psalm 23:4 says, "Even though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me".

This verse reverberated through my head as I was reading this book. I connected with Dinah on a personal level. Even though my life is completely different from hers, I felt a heart-to-heart connection with what she was going through.

She was hurt through prostitution, whereas I was hurt through bullying and betrayal, yet we had the same thoughts and the same withdrawal from people around us. We both couldn't see that people around us loved us the way we were. Instead, we pushed them away because of our thoughts about ourselves shrouded our eyes while the devil whispered lies to us.

This book helped me see that though circumstances may lead us through trials, we must hang onto the Lord and lean on Him to get us through these difficult times.

I have read many books by: Kim Vogel Sawyer and I love how her characters are so real and down to earth. Even though Dinah is going through a completely different life than me, her feelings of hurt and emotion are easy to relate with.

I strongly recommend this book for anyone going through a rough patch in life right now. If you can't afford this book in the bookstore, I recommend getting this book through: Blogging for Books.

The Bridge Tender

Before I ever got this book, I thought the Bridge Tender was a person who fixed bridges or is about to fix a bridge (like in a relationship) and thought this book might be a little sappy with the love. 

But when I actually read it, the relationship that Emily had made sense. Even though it was a little cliche, the author made good points in connecting the bridge metaphorically. 

This book is about: Emily realizing that her dreams didn't have to die with her first love. When Emily Shaw, a young widow, learns that her late husband's last surprise for her involves returning to Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to realize an old dream of theirs, she reluctantly embarks on a summer of discovery in the midst of grief. 

There, in the oasis of the beach community, she meets a host of townspeople with their own broken dreams and unexpected situations. As the island citizens divide over the fate of a nostalgic bridge, Emily happens upon a man who just may be the one to restore her faith in dreams, hope, and possibly love.

Redefining Leadership

What is a leader? It says on Dictionary.com, a leaders is someone who leads...So does that mean everyone can lead? 

What are the essentials of being a leader than? A strong leader, a charismatic leader? One who has courage? I always wanted to be someone like that.

I realized that I am a leader. I might not have all the characteristics the world looks at, but I do have the basics described in this book.

In Redefining Leadership, author, pastor, and college president Joe Stowell shows us that the best leaders are driven by Christ-formed character, and that truly successful leadership is not defined by the standards of this world but by the counter-intuitive practices and perspectives of the Kingdom of Christ. 

With compelling personal stories and insights from the Bible, he highlights the contrast between these two radically different leadership styles and demonstrates that the teaching and example of King Jesus, the world’s most unlikely leader, is the only model of leadership that leads to maximum results, results that will have an eternal impact.

Samantha Sanderson On the Scene

The second book in an exciting series about a girl with dreams to become an investigative journalist, each book promises to touch on a crime straight from the headlines, while also tackling tough issues faced by middle-schoolers everywhere.

A new addition to the Faithgirlz! trusted brand of books introduces readers to Sam Sanderson, an independent, resourceful, tech-savvy cheerleader and aspiring journalist, and Sam's best friend Makayla. They're ordinary 7th graders who enjoy shopping, texting, and going to the mall-along with sniffing out the next big mysteries to report in the school paper.

As Samantha and the rest of the middle schoolers prepare for the upcoming Spring Fest, "mean girl" Nikki faces the reality that her parents are getting divorced. It's hard for Samantha to sympathize because of Nikki's unkind reputation. But when Nikki becomes victim of a string of attacks, Samantha takes it upon herself and her super sleuth abilities to get down to the bottom of the bullying.

The first book was a great read for middle-schoolers and I appreciated how Sam was a typical girl that went to a public school and went through the same problems as other girls her age. I also appreciated the fact that she wasn't a Christian girl who keeps on preaching about Jesus to her friends.

I think the world today needs a series like this. Too bad, there are only two books in the series. The author should def. keep on writing realistic fiction with a Christian background in it. 

Samantha Anderson at the Movies

The first book in an exciting new series about a girl with dreams to become an investigative journalist, each book promises to touch on a crime straight from the headlines, while also tackling tough issues faced by middle-schoolers everywhere.

A new addition to the Faithgirlz! trusted brand of books introduces readers to Sam Sanderson, an independent, resourceful, tech-savvy cheerleader and aspiring journalist, and Sam's best friend Makayla. They're ordinary 7th graders who enjoy shopping, texting, and going to the mall-along with sniffing out the next big mysteries to report in the school paper.

In this first book of the series, Sam gets the lead on a developing and controversial story when an explosive device is discovered in a local movie theater-controversial because this movie theater has recently come under attack by a renowned, outspoken atheist, for allowing a local church to show Christian movies at the theater. Sam's family has always been strong in their walk with the Lord, and Sam knows what she believes, but for the first time her faith is really put to the test, especially when she compromises her ethics as a journalist when she reports on the case her father is overseeing for the police.

This book is a good fit for girls everywhere who are trying to discover themselves through their peers, school, environment and family. This is a down to earth book that helps girls stand stronger in their faith, while relating to every day events that could happen just about anywhere.

After I read this book, I wanted my cousin to read it also. She is in seventh grade and could benefit from a story like this where her faith could apply to her every day life. 

The book is available to the public on May 6th, 2014! 

This link above corresponds to how I get free copies before it is available to the public. 

The Heart's Pursuit

A Colorado beauty abandoned at the altar. A rugged bounty hunter haunted by his past.

In this dramatic historical novel by best-selling author Robin Lee Hatcher, two wounded hearts join forces in a pursuit across the Old West. Silver Matlock is a Colorado beauty in search of revenge against the man who stranded her at the altar and fled with the remnant of her family's fortune. She is determined to find the man who betrayed her trust. Jared Newman, rugged as the West itself, is relentless in his pursuit of lawless men---but unable to escape his own tragic past. Hardened by his life as a bounty hunter, he must learn to forgive before he loses his soul. Joining forces, the two set out in search of Silver's betrayer. The handsome but embittered Jared finds himself powerfully drawn to the beautiful woman whose drive for justice equals his own. But lack of honesty keeps Silver and Jared from fully trusting each other, even as a shocking revelation intensifies their pursuit of the cunning - and deadly - quarry.

Robin Lee Hatcher is one of my favorite authors who is good at weaving the reader into the story. The plots are always memorable and leaves the reader wanting for more. Since the summer is coming up, this would be a good book to take to the beach or the park. 

It's not available to the public until: May 13th, 2014.

Life Behind the Wall

Marking the 55th anniversary of the creation of the Berlin Wall, this epic tale extends across generations and unfolds against the backdrop of a dangerous Cold War Berlin. This historically accurate, action-packed, 3-books-in-one features teens and their family's struggle living in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, from its creation after WWII, to life behind the wall during the Cold War, to the Wall's ultimate and final destruction.

Cut off by the Iron Curtain This epic tale extends across generations and unfolds against the backdrop of a dangerous Cold War Berlin. This historically accurate, action-packed, three-books-in-one edition features three generations of resourceful teens living in the shadow of the Berlin Wall. Titles include: Candy Bombers: In spring 1948, teenage cousins Erich and Katarina are simply trying to survive in war-ravaged Berlin when the Soviets blockade the east side of the city, isolating its citizens---and starving them---behind the Iron Curtain. Beetle Bunker: In August 1961, Sabine discovers a forgotten underground bunker. Though she first uses it to escape her crowded home, she soon realizes her hideout could possibly take her family under the wall to West Berlin and freedom! Smuggler's Treasure: In spring 1989, life is good in West Germany, and even the Cold War seems to be thawing in the warmer weather. But as Liesl works on a class project about the history of the wall, she stumbles onto a startling secret no one will talk about.

Both educational and exciting, Life Behind the Wall is a great choice for middle readers at home or school.

It's available on May 6th, 2014!