The Reading Room

2011-06-24T06:41:00.001-07:00

The Band That Played On
By Steve Turner
Thomas Nelson Publishers
Retail Price: $24.99

Book Description:

When Titanic collided with an iceberg at 23:40 on April 14^th, the eight members of the band had already retired for the evening. Still, they put on overcoats and mufflers came out to play in the lounge. When most of the First Class passengers had taken to their lifeboats, the musicians simply moved to the deck and continued to play, calming the passengers as the ship sank. One second class passenger said: "Many brave things were done that night, but none were more brave than those done by men playing minute after minute as the ship settled quietly lower and lower in the sea. The music they played served alike as their own immortal requiem and their right to be recalled on the scrolls of undying fame." Survivors' accounts differ about whether their final tune was "L'Automme" or "Nearer My God To Thee." What has never been disputed is the courage of these musicians who deliberately sacrificed the possibility of escape in order to produce a mood of tranquillity at a time of extreme anxiety. But who were they? What journeys brought them to this deck on this icy ocean? Had any of them previously displayed signs of great courage? Who did they leave behind? Historian and biographer Steve Turner delves into the lives of these brave men, revealing eight unique portraits of bravery.

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READING ROOM REVIEW

I've always been fascinated with the story of the Titanic. I've watched all the movies and read most of the books. It intrigues me. So I was excited to get a copy of The Band That Played On to read and add to my collection. I wasn't disappointed. This book is about the band that continued to play on as the Titanic sunk. Rather than save their own lives they chose to comfort others during this horrific time. It delves into each band member and what they stood for and why they made that choice to inspire calm and courage in the passengers during the tragedy. The book also takes a look at how their deaths affected their families and their legacy. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

~Reviewed by Chris O.

2011-06-24T06:24:00.000-07:00

Daddy Dates
By Greg Wright
Thomas Nelson Publishing
Retail Price: $16.99

Book Description:

Daddy Dates gives the average Joe easy steps to actively and successfully engage with his daughter and raise a confident woman-to-be.

When faced with the reality of raising four (4!) teen daughters, Greg Wright went on a soul quest.

He came back with a mission: Don't Screw Up.

This funny, insightful, and relatable book poses the wildly original concept that should be a "duh" for most dads-but isn't: In order to raise a confident woman-to-be, show your daughter what it feels like to be treated with love, respect, and true interest by a man who loves her.

Daddy Dates shows the average father how to actually do that. It is written in an original voice and will appeal to both men and women. It is the kind of action-oriented "how to" material that guys enjoy, and so many others will recommend to other dads.

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READING ROOM REVIEW

We all know how important it is for fathers to connect with their daughters. It affects who they become as an adult. This book shows us where the rubber meets the road. Author Greg Wright gives insight, useful tips, and stories from his own life to help fathers become the best dads they can be. The book was well-written and easy to read with lots of great ideas to apply to your own family life. If you want to become the dad your daughters need...and your wife will cherish, then get a copy of this book...and READ it!

~Reviewed by Dave H.

2011-06-24T06:13:00.000-07:00

The War of 1812 in the Chesapeake: A Reference Guide to Historic Sites in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia
by Ralph E. Eshelman, Donald R. Hickey, Scott S. Sheads
John Hopkins
Retail Price: $67.00

Book Description:

The War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain was fought throughout nearly all of the country, from the waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the vast frontier between the U.S. and Canada. No theater of war suffered more than the Chesapeake Bay region, where 11 battles — including Craney Island, Hampton, Bladensburg, and Baltimore — 63 skirmishes, and 86 raids took place. Featuring a comprehensive list of more than 800 of the war's historical sites in the region, this book is an indispensable reference to the second great war for independence.

One chapter each covers Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The authors draw on both American and British accounts in describing battlefields and the locations of skirmishes. The book includes historic maps and drawings, descriptive overview essays, the most complete chronology of the War in the Chesapeake ever assembled, and a thorough bibliographic essay.

Supported by such primary documents as diaries, journals, and newspaper articles, the material compiled in this encyclopedia surpasses any collection thus far brought together on the subject. Local librarians, historians, tour guides, history buffs, school teachers, and genealogists will find this guide to be informative and enlightening.

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READING ROOM REVIEW

This is not only a well-researched and well-documented book, it an extremely interesting read about the War of 1812 that is a great resource for educational purposes as well as personal study. You will find many primary documents and first hand accounts compiled here in an organized and highly enjoyable format. I thought it was well-written and found it very useful in my studies.

~ Reviewed by Dr. John C.

2011-06-24T05:48:00.000-07:00

Lacrosse: A History of the Game
By Donald Miller
John Hopkins
$25.00

Book Description:

North America's Indian peoples have always viewed competitive sport as something more than a pastime. The northeastern Indians' ball-and-stick game that would become lacrosse served both symbolic and practical functions — preparing young men for war, providing an arena for tribes to strengthen alliances or settle disputes, and reinforcing religious beliefs and cultural cohesion. Today a multimillion-dollar industry, lacrosse is played by colleges and high schools, amateur clubs, and two professional leagues.

In Lacrosse: A History of the Game, Donald M. Fisher traces the evolution of the sport from the pre-colonial era to the founding in 2001 of a professional outdoor league — Major League Lacrosse — told through the stories of the people behind each step in lacrosse's development: Canadian dentist George Beers, the father of the modern game; Rosabelle Sinclair, who played a large role in the 1950s reinforcing the feminine qualities of the women's game; "Father Bill" Schmeisser, the Johns Hopkins University coach who worked tirelessly to popularize lacrosse in Baltimore; Syracuse coach Laurie Cox, who was to lacrosse what Yale's Walter Camp was to football; 1960s Indian star Gaylord Powless, who endured racist taunts both on and off the field; Oren Lyons and Wes Patterson, who founded the inter-reservation Iroquois Nationals in 1983; and Gary and Paul Gait, the Canadian twins who were All-Americans at Syracuse University and have dominated the sport for the past decade.

Throughout, Fisher focuses on lacrosse as contested ground. Competing cultural interests, he explains, have clashed since English settlers in mid-nineteenth-century Canada first appropriated and transformed the "primitive" Mohawk game of tewaarathon, eventually turning it into a respectable "gentleman's" sport. Drawing on extensive primary research, he shows how amateurs and professionals, elite collegians and working-class athletes, field- and box-lacrosse players, Canadians and Americans, men and women, and Indians and whites have assigned multiple and often conflicting meanings to North America's first — and fastest growing — team sport.

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READING ROOM REVIEW

This is an extremely well-researched book on the game of Lacrosse. Not just how it is played in the U.S., but also in Canada and on Indian Reservations. I learned so much about it's complex history over the past 2 centuries since the game began There are plenty of photos of interest as well. If you are fan of lacrosse or sports history in general, you will find this book interesting.

~Reviewed by Dave H.

2011-06-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

Redeeming Sociology
By Vern Sheridan Poythress
Crossway
Retail Price: $25.00
Amazon Price: 16.50

Book Description:

Interpersonal relationships are possible for humans because we are created in the image of a Trinitarian God. But if the Trinity is our model for relationships, why is the human condition rife with pain and evil? How are we to think correctly about fallen human relationships and our models for understanding them?

Redeeming Sociology advocates a biblically informed model for human relationships—relationships rooted in the Trinitarian character of God, his governance of the world, and his redemption accomplished in Christ. Poythress examines how the breaking of relationships through sin leads to strife, murder, and oppression among human beings and sets cultures against one another. And he shows how these broken relationships are restored through the outworking of redemption in Christ.

Though typical sociological models for interpersonal relationships may offer some valuable insights, they are handicapped by a fundamental misunderstanding of humanity. The biblical model that Poythress presents correctly diagnoses the problem of human relationships, so it can likewise prescribe a biblical solution that infuses new meaning and power into how we relate to others made in the image of God.

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READING ROOM REVIEW

I found this book of great interest. I did my graduate studies in sociology from a secular college and I feel that I, along with the other students, would have benefited from this book in the course of my studies. Looking at the discipline of sociology from a Christian worldview and a trinitarian perspective gives you great insight into the failure of human relationships and the redemption of the same. While it isn't an easy read, it is well worth the time and effort put into it. I learned a lot.

~Reviewed by Scott K.

2011-05-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

Men of the Word
By Nathan Busenitz
Harvest House
Retail Price: $13.99
Amazon Price: $11.07

What is God's calling for men? What character qualities does He value? What is biblical manhood, and how is it cultivated?

The answers to those all-important questions are found in the lives of men of the Bible-men like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Daniel, and Paul. Every one of them struggled with the same issues faced by men today-which makes them highly relevant role models that define what a real man is from God's perspective. Readers will discover that real men?

treasure God's Word
refuse to compromise
wait on the Lord
pray with boldness
lead with courage
reflect God's love
serve with humility
count the cost

This resource is both powerful and down-to-earth practical, providing much-needed clarity and encouragement on the essentials of biblical manhood. Men will find great fulfillment as they pursue all that God desires for them to be.

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READING ROOM REVIEWS

This is a tremendous book by the pastors of Grace Community Church, where John MacArthur has been the lead pastor for over 30 years. While he only writes the forward, a recommendation by MacArthur was enough to pique my interest. I'm really glad I read this book. Yes it was full of short biographies of great men in the Bible, but it didn't stop there. Each chapter had life lessons and plenty of application as each man that was written about represented a particular theme and character trait. While this is an excellent book for men to read, I, as a woman, enjoyed it very much. I highly recommend it.

2011-05-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

Ella's Wish
By Jerry S. Ficher
Harvest House
Retail Price: $11.99
Amazon Price: $8.22

Ella Yoder has moved into her dream house. In the stillness of the great house, Ella ponders her options. How is she to survive on her own? How will she ever forget Aden? What is to become of her?

Two would-be suitors soon make their intentions known, but Ella is unsure of her own feelings. As she agrees to take care of Preacher Stutzman's three motherless girls, Ella's heart is touched by their love for her. Could their affection be the answer to Ella's quest? Can God speak through the love of a child?

Readers of Amish fiction will fall in love themselves with Ella Yoder and hope with her that she finds the love and happiness she seeks.

About this series: Readers of Amish fiction will delight in this second book in a series about young Ella Yoder as she copes with the loss of her true love. Author Jerry Eicher's sales now top more than 100,000.

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READING ROOM REVIEW

This is another wonderful Amish novel by author Jerry S. Ficher. This is the second book in the series that is well written and very touching. Ella is a character that is easy to like and your heart goes out to her as she struggles with her grief and tries to rebuild her life in a way that is unique to her own self, not what other necessarily want for her. This book engages you in the story and keeps you that way throughout the book.

2011-05-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels
By Mindy Starns Clark
Harvest House
Retail Price: $13.99
Amazon Price: $10.03

From award-winning author Mindy Starns Clark comes the fast-paced and inspirational Million Dollar Mystery series.

Attorney Callie Webber investigates nonprofit organizations for the J.O.S.H.U.A. Foundation and awards the best of them grants up to a million dollars. In each book of the series, A young widow, Callie finds strength in her faith in God and joy in her relationship with her employer, Tom.

In book number two of The Million Dollar Mystery series, Callie is working to provide quality professional clothes to women who can't afford to buy their own. She soon becomes involved with one young woman who is trying to come out of drug rehabilitation-just as she's charged with murder.

What appears to be a routine murder investigation in her hometown on the Chesapeake suddenly becomes complicated amid international intrigue, cutting-edge technology, and deadly deception. A string of heart-pounding events lands her disastrously in the hands of the killer, where Callie finds she has less than a moment for a whispered prayer. Will help arrive in time?

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READING ROOM REVIEWS

This was a wonderful book by prolific author Mindy Starns Clark. This was a good suspense novel with an element of romance, and both aspects kept me guessing until the end. The characters were very likeable and believable and the plot was intriguing. This story is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

2011-05-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

Faith
By Jennifer Haigh
Harper
Retail price $25.99
Amazon Price: $13.97

Book Description: .

In the spring of 2002, a perfect storm hits Boston: Trusted priests are accused of the worst possible betrayal. Faith explores the fallout for one devout family.

Estranged from her family, Sheila McGann returns home when her older brother, Art—a popular pastor—finds himself at the center of the maelstrom. Her strict mother is in a state of angry denial. Sheila’s younger brother, Mike, has convicted his brother in his heart. But most disturbing of all is Art himself, who dodges Sheila’s questions and refuses to defend himself.

As secrets begin to surface, Faith explores the corrosive consequences of one family’s history of silence—and the resilience it finds through forgiveness. A suspenseful tale of one woman’s quest for the truth, Faith is a haunting meditation on loyalty and family, doubt and belief. Elegantly crafted, sharply observed, this is Jennifer Haigh’s most ambitious novel to date.

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READING ROOM BOOK REVIEW

This is the best book I've read in a long time. It was well written, sensitively told family story about a devout Roman Catholic family with buried secrets. I could hardly put the book down and read it whenever I had a free moment. It was intelligent, thought provoking and a real page turner.

~Reviewed by Ann Jeanie K.

2011-05-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

Following God One Yes at a Time
By Connie Cavanaugh
Harvest House
Retail Price $12.99
Amazon Price: $10.39

Book Description:

Everyone experiences dry times in their spiritual lives. Noted speaker Connie Cavanaugh offers a wealth of insights to help believers find Jesus? living water during desert times. Connie shares five obstacles that hinder faith and then provides action steps readers can take to reestablish a vibrant relationship with God so that?

when doubt strikes, they can use biblical truths to keep their faith strong.
when they feel out of touch, they'll know how to say yes to God and persevere.
when they feel inadequate, they can be sure God believes in them.
when they believe they've failed, they can be confident God will redeem their efforts.
when they slip from 'fearing God' to being afraid, they will know God loves them and will help them.

Offering strong encouragement, Following God One Yes at a Time gives readers what they need to triumph through Jesus Christ.

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READING ROOM REVIEW

This was a very practical book that spoke to my very soul. While it was convicting at times, it was also very humorous. The author had me laughing out loud at the escapades of her family. Cavanaugh's ability to share stories and then make such sound and practical spiritual application is truly amazing. This book is one you won't want to miss.

~Reviewed by Penny N.

Sort of Like a Rock Star

2011-05-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

Sort of Like a Rock Star
By Matthew Quick
Little Brown for Young Readers
Retail Price: $8.99
Amazon Price: $5.99

Book Description:

Amber Appleton lives in a bus. Ever since her mom's boyfriend kicked them out, Amber, her mom, and her totally loyal dog, Bobby Big Boy (aka Thrice B) have been camped out in the back of Hello Yellow (the school bus her mom drives). Still, Amber, the self-proclaimed princess of hope and girl of unyielding optimism, refuses to sweat the bad stuff. But when a fatal tragedy threatens Amber's optimism--and her way of life, can Amber continue to be the rock star of hope? With an oddball cast of characters, and a heartwarming, inspiring story, this novel unveils a beautifully beaten-up world of laughs, loyalty, and hard-earned hope.

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READING ROOM REVIEW

This is a fantastic book for teenage girls. It ran the gamut of emotions, taking you to the lowest of lows to the mountain tops. You will laugh and you will cry. And you will be surprised by all the twists and turns. The main character is a strong young woman, who endures much hardship, yet doesn't give up her dreams. She serves as a role model for young women everywhere. The book is beautifully written and the story is very touching. I highly recommend it.

Purging Your House, Pruning Your Family Tree

2011-02-03T06:30:00.000-08:00

Purging Your House, Pruning Your Family True
by Perry Stone
Charisma House
Retail Price: $15.99
Amazon Price: $9.87

Book Description:
Do the following questions express what you have felt—or asked—in the past?

* Does a weeping willow describe your family tree?
* Do you secretly wish you had been born to a different family?
* Did you pick up some bad DNA from someone in your lineage?
* Would you like to put on a new set of genes and make a new you?
* Is there a warfare going on that you won’t talk about?
* What are the keys to a happy home and marriage?

If so, keep reading! There are two important ways for you to alter your present personal situations and prepare for a great emotional and spiritual future—by purging your house and pruning your family tree. Purging your house involves removing spiritual, emotional, and mental hindrances from three houses: spiritual, physical, and emotional. The author teaches readers the 3-step process of removing the leprosy (laying aside the weights or sins), rebuilding a fresh foundation (replacing old thoughts with new thoughts), and restoring the house (new friends, relations, directions). Pruning your family tree involves a process called redemptive alteration, which positively impacts your future when the Word of God defeats the sin habits and overcomes the carnal nature through regeneration. The author reveals the dangers that can harm or destroy our family are the same dangers that destroy nature’s trees—storms that place pressure on the branches, drought the destroys the leaves, cold weather that destroys the fruit, and floods that uproot the entire tree. He teaches us how to evict the enemy by quoting Scripture, experiencing the anointing, rebuking the devil, and having strong faith.

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READING ROOM REVIEW

This was an interesting book. Often when we feel we've been dealt bad cards in life, we feel we are stuck in the situation. This book gives us hope that we can change our lives and the lives of those who come after us by breaking family curses and sinful strongholds that may have plagued our family line. It is very insightful and the author offers practical solutions, not lofty, theological suggestions. If you are at all interested in improving your family tree, read this book!

Mmm...Mmm Good!

2010-04-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

Hungry Girl 1-2-3
By Lisa Lillien
St. Martin's Press
Retail price $19.99
Amazon Price: $10.50

Book Description:

With more than 200 recipes and two-ingredient “couples” to choose from, you’ll never be hungry again! Get ready to chew on:

Crazy Pineapple Salmon Teriyaki (347 calories)
Mom-Style Creamy Chicken ’n Veggies (307 calories)
Queen-of-the-Castle Sliders (254 calories)
Caramel Swirl Cream Puffs (121 calories)
Corndog Millionaire Muffins (160 calories)
Chili Cheese Dog Nachos (218 calories)
Turkey & Veggie Meatloaf Minis (142 calories)
Planet Hungrywood Sweet & Cap’n Crunchy Chicken (234 calories)
Shrimp & Grits . . . for Hungry Chicks! (380 calories)
Cannoli-Stuffed French Toast Nuggets (228 calories)

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READING ROOM REVIEW

My motto is that if it says "Hungry Girl," it's got to be good! Lisa Lillien's latest book, Hungry Girl 1-2-3 is another winner! I tried several of the recipes this weekend and each and every recipe I tried was easy to prepare and came out delicious. I went through and bookmarked the pages of the recipes I'd want to try and had to give up because there were just too many to mark. I will have to try them all! One of the things I like about Hungry Girl recipes is that they use REAL ingredients that you use in everyday life and the recipes are simple to prepare. All recipes include nutritional information and Weight Watcher "points". I enjoy using this innovative cookbook.

2010-03-14T06:07:00.000-07:00

Who Do I Lean On?
by Neta Jackson
Thomas Nelson
Retail Price: $14.99
Amazon Price: $10.11

Book Description:

Now that Gabby is back on her feet after being in a homeless shelter, she has a new dream that will stretch her faith farther than ever.

Gabby expects a fight from her husband over custody of their boys, but she is taken aback when he leans on her for a loan to cover his gambling debts. When she turns him down, Philip makes a desperate move that puts Gabby, her friends at the shelter, and even the House of Hope at risk.

The props Gabby usually leans on--Jodi, her Yada Yada prayer partner; her friend Harry, the ex-cop; and Lee, her lawyer, who has fallen in love with Gabby--are not always there when she needs them most. Gabby must make a decision that could change the course of her life. But is it for better--or for worse?

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READING ROOM REVIEW

This book is part 3 in series of books by Neta Jackson, A Yada Yada House of Hope . This entire series is a spin off from her first series Yada Yada Prayer Group. I've read every single book of this series and have enjoyed them all. I have followed this House of Hope series very carefully. For some reason, this series hit home with me. Maybe because it is so real.

I received an advanced readers copy of Who Can I Lean On just a few days ago. I dove into it the first chance I got and I'm finished already. I just couldn't put it down. I've been following the story of the main character, Gabby, for 2 books and I couldn't wait to see how this ended.

The story is written in the first person from the perspective of Gabby and you really feel you know her. Jackson has a way of drawing you into the story and you feel like you are part of it. Gabby could be your own friend and you cheer for her and cry with her as the story unfolds.

If you've been reading the House of Hope series, I recommend that you get the book as soon as it comes out on June 15. Better yet, pre-order it so you are automatically sent your copy! If you haven't read any of the series yet, get yourself a copy of the first two so you will be ready for #3 in June. You don't want to miss this one.

I'm not a huge fiction buff. I read mostly non-fiction books that I can learn and grow from. However, this fiction title is full of good advice, life lessons, and spiritual insights and you find yourself examining your own life and making positive changes. To me, that is Christian fiction at its best.

Kudos to the author for another great book. She left enough "unfinished business" at the end of the book to give me hope for a sequel. I'm sure hoping there will be a number 4!

Intriguing

2010-02-10T17:54:00.000-08:00

The Help
By Kathryn Stockett
Putnam
Retail price $24.99
Amazon Price: $9.50

Book Description:

Be prepared to meet three unforgettable women:

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town...

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READING ROOM REVIEW

What a wonderful book about the civil rights in the South. I hadn't
realized how poorly African-American's were treated as recently as
the 1960s. It was well written; I just couldn't put it down. The
author demonstrated compassion, humor, love, and dedication for
a cause she believed in. The book was the story of women who wanted
and deserved a better life.

Even though I loved the book, I did not like the ending. I truly
wished it had ended differently.

~Reviewed by Alice B.

Third Time is Charming!

2010-02-09T13:48:00.000-08:00

Third Time's a Charm
By Virginia Smith
Revell
Retail price $14.99
Amazon Price: $10.19

Book Description:

Tori Sanderson has the professional opportunity of a lifetime. If she can prove she's executive material, she's in line for a big promotion. But there's only room for one new account executive, and her co-worker has his eye on the job--and on Tori. Her matchmaking sisters have a handsome handyman in mind for her. But how can she consider romance when she couldn't hold on to the one man who was supposed to love her forever--her own father? The time has come for answers, and Tori decides to search out the father who deserted her twelve years ago. While Tori may find the answers she craves, will she ever be able to love again? A heartwarming story of sisters, retail therapy, and love that endures, Third Time's a Charm is the satisfying conclusion to Virginia Smith's SISTER-TO-SISTER series.

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READING ROOM REVIEW

Let me start by saying that this was a great series and that author Virginia Smith did an outstanding job writing it. I love the Sanderson sisters and how the interact with each other. Smith captures the essence sisterhood in a very realistic manner and her characters come alive to the reader.

While this book can be read and enjoyed without reading the first two, I don't recommend it. You will want to read the previous books to make the most of your reading experience.

I'm sorry to see the series end.

~Reviewed by Deb M.

Fun Read!

2010-01-23T19:51:00.000-08:00

Plain Jayne
By Hillary Manton Lodge
Harvest House Publishers
Retail price $13.99
Amazon Price: $10.07

Book Description:
Talented new author Hillary Manton Lodge brings a new twist to the popular Amish novel.Jayne Tate loves her life as it is—living in a big city, working as a reporter for a fast-paced newspaper, and dating a guy who knows nothing about her past. When her father passes away though, she’s forced to take another look at what she wants out of life. After losing out on the big career opportunity she was hoping for, she decides to escape to Oregon Amish country, seeking solace and maybe a big story.

Even in this land of buggies and bonnets, Jayne finds life more complicated than she expected. Can she persuade herself that her growing friendship with the mysterious and handsome Levi Burkholder is just about research? And what’s a latte-drinking, laptop-using, motorcycle-riding reporter to do when this new life starts to change her? With humor, faith, and unexpected romance, Plain Jayne will delight readers.

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READING ROOM REVIEW

What a wonderful new take on the Amish lifestyle! I'm not big fan of Amish novels, though many of my staff reviewers are, but I thought I'd give this one a shot. I'm so glad I did. It was an intriguing book with a good message. I found my self laughing out loud at some of Jaynes antics! An extremely fun read.

30 Minute Read:

2010-01-03T18:18:00.000-08:00

30 Minute Read: Stress Proof Your Marriage
By Cory & Heidi Busse
Our Sunday Visitor
Retail Price: $4.95
Amazon Price: $4.95

Book Description:

The world is full of one-stop, quick-fix, magic-bullet promises that any problem can be solved in an instant.

But, while we all know marriage can certainly be broken in an instant, it will never be fixed that way. Whether you're just starting out in a marriage or are longtime marriage "veterans," we can all use a road map to making our marriages stronger, happier, and more resilient when faced with inevitable difficult times.

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READING ROOM REVIEWS

This is great little book packed full of information on how to have a great marriage. While the authors take the subject of marriage seriously, they are masters at getting to the point using humor. This book will make you laugh while you take a look at what improvements you can make in your marriage. A must read!

Simple Compassion

2010-01-03T17:34:00.000-08:00

Simple Compassion
By Keri Wyatt Kent
Zondervan
Retail price $12.99
Amazon Price: $10.39

Book Description:
Every woman longs to make a difference in her world, but sometimes the needs just seem too big and the days are already too full of errands and obligations.

This fifty-two-week devotional offers fresh inspiration and encourages every woman to see that she is uniquely gifted by God to make a difference right where she is. Poignant stories and powerful Bible passages demonstrate that small acts of compassion matter to God. Along with gaining a clear vision of God's heart for the poor and marginalized, readers are challenged to nurture the twelve characteristics of women who overflow with creative compassion. Each weekly devotional reading includes principles and action steps for carrying God's love and grace to those in need.

As readers are equipped and motivated to put their faith into action, they'll find their eyes and hearts opened to countless opportunities to carry out small acts of compassion and justice in the midst of daily living. Simple Compassion infuses women with the confidence that they can change the world, one life at a time.

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Reading Room Review

Keri Wyatt Kent is one of my favorite authors. Her books are always relevant and cutting edge. Simple Compassion speaks to directly to our hearts. Here she calls us to action to make a difference in our communities...and she makes it easy for us! If you are at all interested in the issues of poverty, social justice, or just making a difference in your sphere of influence, you will want to read this book.

Silver Lake, New York: A Brief History

2010-01-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

Silver Lake, New York: A Brief History
By Dan Miller
Dog Ear Publishing
Retail Price: $15.00
Amazon Price: $15.00

Book Description: Dog Ear Publishing presents a new book that includes the dramatic rise of a small community through the rise and fall of a railroad, tourism, religiosity, cultural activity and pioneer way of life in Silver Lake, New York. This book emanates out of the purchase of land and putting up a home on silver Lake and having the old railroad bed running in the backyard.

The author traces the evolution of the area through the Seneca Nation to early white settlers who originally called it Little Lake, a sea serpent hoax, a burgeoning tourism trade with the advent of the railroad and ice houses, to religious fervor gripping the area in contrast to a museum exuding the pioneer way of life to a present-day resort area. Through it all, religious fervor gave way to camping, the arts and education in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Both Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt spoke tehre in the summer months to upwards of 20,000 people who attended daily.

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The Reading Room Review

Being that I live about forty minutes from Silver Lake and had spent many a summer day there in both at camp and staying at cottages of friends, I found this book of great interest. I never realized that Silver Lake had such a extensive history! The small book written by Dan Miller, was packed full of interesting information about the area that allowed me to see what it must have been like during its heyday. There were also a section that included pictures that helped give the reader a visual as well as written history of this part of Western New York.

If you are from Western New York, or if you just would like to experience a slice of small-town Americana, then pick up a copy of this book. You won't be disappointed!

Free Ebook!

2009-05-18T13:39:00.001-07:00

Serial
By Jack Kilborn & Blake Crouch
Hachette Publishing Group

FREE!

Book description: Remember the twin golden rules of hitchhiking?

# 1: Don't go hitchhiking, because the driver who picks you up could be certifiably crazy.

# 2: Don't pick up hitchhikers, because the traveler you pick up could be raving nutcase.

So what if, on some dark, isolated road, Crazy #1 offered a ride to Nutcase #2? When two of the most twisted minds in the world of horror fiction face off, the result is SERIAL, a terrifying tale of hitchhiking gone terribly wrong. Like a deeply twisted version of an "After School Special," SERIAL is the single most persuasive public service announcement on the hazards of free car rides. Beyond a thrilling piece of horrifying suspense, SERIAL is also a groundbreaking experiment in literary collaboration. Kilborn wrote the first part. Crouch wrote the second. And they wrote the third together over email in 100-word exchanges, not aware of each other's opening section. All bets were off, and may the best psycho win. Best yet, it available for immediate download...for FREE!

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READING ROOM REVIEW

No, you are not seeing thing...this ebook is absolutely FREE! No strings attached. Hachette group has generously offered this book by Jack Kilborn & Blake Crouch as a free download.

Kilborn & Crouch are known for their exceptional work in the horror genre and have combined their efforts to create this terrifying tale relating the dangers of hitchhiking. It also contains Q&A with Kilborn and Crouch, author bibliographies, and excerpts from their most recent and forthcoming works: Kilborn’s Afraid and Crouch’s Abandon.

This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy horror novels, you will want to read this one. It's free, so what have you got to lose! To access the free ebook Serial click here.

2009-03-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong
By John MacArthur
Harvest House Publishers
Retail price $14.99
Amazon Price: $10.19

Book description:
John MacArthur, along with the leadership team at Grace Community Church, where John has been the pastor for over 40 years, addresses one of the greatest challenges facing all believers: the powerful influence of secular culture on their hearts and minds. When it comes to every issue imaginable, Christians face a constant barrage of unbiblical worldviews, making it very difficult to know what they should think or where they should stand.
This book will equip believers with a biblical perspective on today’s most talked–about issues—enabling them to see the controversies and concerns of this world through God’s eyes. The subjects include:

~in vitro fertilization
~the cult of celebrity entertainment
~political activism
~environmentalism
~radical terrorism
~the economy
~disasters and epidemics
~God and the problem of evil
~homosexual marriage

Also included is a topical guide to Bible verses that speak to contemporary issues, arming readers with right thinking and biblical responses to challenging questions.

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The Reading Room Review

First off, I have to say I'm a huge fan of John MacArthur. I began listening to his teaching on the radio over 20 years ago when I first became a Christian. Much of my theology was learned faithfully listening to his sermon series. I don't always agree with what he says, but one thing Dr. MacArthur stresses is for the individual to study and search out the Bible for themselves.

With that said, I think this book is a wonderful resource for pastors and church leaders, including Sunday School teachers or small group leaders. It addresses various social issues from a biblical perspective and helps the reader to look at contemporary issues from a Christian worldview.

For such a wide range of topics, it is a rather small book, so each topic is given only a general overview, but enough info to spur the reader on to deeper research if their interest is piqued.

I think this is a much needed book in a culture that lives in the gray, and nothing is black and white. I highly recommend it.

2009-03-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

My Little Read Book
By Rachel Kauder Nalebuff
Twelve
Retail Price: $14.99
Amazon Price: $10.19

Book Description

MY LITTLE RED BOOK is an anthology of stories about first periods, collected from women of all ages from around the world. The accounts range from light-hearted (the editor got hers while water skiing in a yellow bathing suit) to heart-stopping (a first period discovered just as one girl was about to be strip-searched by the Nazis). The contributors include well-known women writers (Meg Cabot, Erica Jong, Gloria Steinem, Cecily von Ziegesar), alongside today's teens. And while the authors differ in race, faith, or cultural background, their stories share a common bond: they are all accessible, deeply honest, and highly informative. Whatever a girl experiences or expects, she'll find stories that speak to her thoughts and feelings.

Ultimately, MY LITTLE READ BOOK is more than a collection of stories. It is a call for a change in attitude, for a new way of seeing periods. In a time when the taboo around menstruation seems to be one of the few left standing, it makes a difficult subject easier to talk about, and helps girls feel proud instead of embarrassed or ashamed. By revealing what it feels like to undergo this experience first hand, and giving women the chance to explain their feelings in their own words, it aims to provide support, entertainment, and a starting point for discussion for mothers and daughters everywhere. It is a book every girl should have. Period.

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The Reading Room Review

I wish I had a book like this when I was a teenager! It's such a brilliant idea, I can't believe nobody has put together stories like these before. For most girls, getting your period is something you talk about in private, if at all. It's embarrassing. It's scary. It's funny. You wonder if you're "normal." Did you get it too early? Too late? In the wrong place at the wrong time?

But now, with these hilarious and moving true stories, women of all ages can relate to the mix of gross-out, pride, and confusion of that very first period, something almost every woman remembers in vivid detail but doesn't often discuss.

The editor is a teenager herself, and what makes this even more unique is that she's collected stories from celebrities to your average girl, and from people who are now grandmothers to those who just purchased their first tampon.

I highly recommend these wonderful stories for everything from book clubs to school discussion groups to, of course, slumber parties. A must-read for mothers and daughters alike.

~Reviewed by Loren G.

2009-03-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross
By Nancy Guthrie
Crossway
Retail price $12.99
Amazon Price: $10.39

Book Description:

This collection of readings, drawn from the writings and sermons of 25 classic and contemporary theologians and Bible teachers, focuses on the wonder of Christ's sacrifice.

In a culture where crosses have become little more than decorative accessories and jewelry, how easy it is for even the most well-intended Christian to rush from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday without thoughtfully contemplating the cross and all that it means. Yet we miss out on spiritual riches when we do.

So that we all may linger at the cross during the Lenten season—and stay near it the whole year through—editor Nancy Guthrie has compiled this special anthology. It draws from the works and sermons of classic theologians such as Luther, Edwards, Spurgeon, Ryle, and Augustine, and from leading contemporary communicators such as John Piper, R. C. Sproul, Francis Schaeffer, John MacArthur, Skip Ryan, and Joni Eareckson Tada to help readers enter into an experience of Christ’s passion and anchor their hope in the power of his resurrection.

Each essay in this collection holds to a high view of Scripture and expounds on a particular aspect of the Easter story using the appropriate Scripture passage from the ESV Bible. These readings are sure to prepare people’s hearts for a fresh experience of the cross each and every Easter season.

About the Author

NANCY GUTHRIE has a passion for sharing God’s Word through her growing national and international Bible-teaching ministry. She has worked in the Christian publishing industry for more than two decades and is the author of Holding On to Hope, The One-Year Book of Hope, Hoping for Something Better, and Crossway’s Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.

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The Reading Room Review

I read Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus for Christmas and just loved it, so I decided to get a copy of Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross for my readings for lent. I wasn't disappointed. This book is a collection of essays from such heroes of the faith as Charles H. Spurgeon, Augustine, John Calvin as well of some of today's contemporary Christian leaders like John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, and Timothy Keller. These Easter readings helped me to really think on the cross and resurrection and gave me a new appreciation of the sacrifice and gift Jesus gave to us at Easter.

I am going to read it aloud throughout the Lenten season as my family devotions. I highly recommend it.

~Reviewed by Tricia C.

Age Before Beauty

2009-03-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Age Before Beauty
by Virginia SmithRevell
Retail price $13.99
Amazon Price: $11.19
Book Bargains Price: $11.19

Book description: Desperate to stay home with her baby, Allie Harrod launches a new career. Sure, she dropped out of Girl Scouts because she was lousy at cookie sales, but makeup is different, right? She'll do anything to make enough money to cover her share of the household bills, but how can she focus on her business when her list of problems is growing? None of her pre-baby clothes fit, her checking account is dwindling, and her mother-in-law has decided to move in! To top it off, her husband's attractive coworker suddenly needs his help every weekend. Middle sister Joan insists that God has the answers to all her problems, but Allie isn't so sure. Can she really trust him? A lighthearted contemporary tale of family, faith, and fun, Age before Beauty is the second book in the Sister-to-Sister series from well-reviewed author Virginia Smith.

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The Reading Room Review

This is a delightful book about love within the family and how families can overcome little problems before they become large ones with the help of faith in God. It was well-written which, made for pleasant reading.

~Reviewed by Alice B.

The Real Enemy

2009-03-11T07:27:00.000-07:00

The Real Enemy
By Kathy Herman
David C. Cook
Retail price $14.99
Amazon Price: $10.19

Book Description:
Brill Jessup would rather work than deal with the bitterness she feels about her husband Kurt's infidelity. They've made a fresh start with Brill taking a job as the new police chief in a small East Tennessee town. Kurt is genuinely contrite and making every effort to show his commitment to Brill. Meanwhile Emily, their nine-year-old, is being the perfect little girl, as if she can make everything okay again. So why can't Brill get over this anger? Work presents the perfect distraction as rumors and superstition are running rampant in the wake of the disappearances of seven people in seven days. As fear rises in the community, Brill works desperately to solve the mystery... until it threatens her family and she is forced to confront the real enemy.

About the Author
Kathy Herman has written fourteen novels, including CBA bestsellers Tested by Fire and All Things Hidden. Now retired from her family’s Christian bookstore business, Kathy and her husband, Paul, have three grown children and five grandchildren and live in Tyler, Texas.

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The Reading Room Review

This is a great book; the best Kathy Herman has written yet. In addition to the suspense and mystery, the book covers the issues of marital infidelity and forgiveness. It deserves more than 5 stars!

~Reviewed by Mark L.

The Reading Room

Faith By Jennifer Haigh Harper Retail price $25.99 Amazon Price: $13.97Book Description: .

Sort of Like a Rock Star

Purging Your House, Pruning Your Family Tree

Mmm...Mmm Good!

Intriguing

Third Time is Charming!

Fun Read!

30 Minute Read:

Simple Compassion

Silver Lake, New York: A Brief History

Free Ebook!

Age Before Beauty

The Real Enemy

Faith
By Jennifer Haigh
Harper
Retail price $25.99
Amazon Price: $13.97

Book Description: .