MORE PAGES FROM THE RED SUIT DIARIES

Revell Publishing
ISBN: 9780800719043

Released October 2008

Wow! Ed Butchart's book made me snicker at times, cry at times and feel completely thankful for all I have! This real-life Santa shares stories from his work as both Santa and as founder of Friends of Disabled Adults and Children. If you've never heard of this organization, I hadn't either, but they refurbish wheelchairs and other medical equipment to give to those who need it most. http://www.fodac.org/

MORE PAGES FROM THE RED SUIT DIARIES delves into Ed's own grief period after his wife died and the friends who helped him through it. I can't think of any story within the book that didn't make me feel some range of emotions, they were all exceptional and beautifully written.

I plan to purchase Mr. Butchart's first book and hope he continues sharing his stories for years to come. Take time during this holiday season to share these stories with your own children. I think they capture the true meaning of giving in a lively, touching manner.l

Hometown Favorite

Revell
ISBN: 9780800719142
Released September 2008
www.revellbooks.com

HOMETOWN FAVORITE is a football themed book that carries a strong emotional edge. According to information presented in the book, Tennessee Titan's former wide receiver, Chris Sanders, helped the authors capture the ins and outs of a football star's life. I'm not a big football fan, so at times I found myself racing to get back to the very emotional storyline involving one man and the challenges he faced off the field.

From high school, Dewayne Jobe showed incredible talent as a linebacker. It doesn't surprise people that he ends up in the NFL. Along the way, he meets his future wife, a woman from a completely different background. She's used to luxury, while Dewayne's single mom worked hard to keep food on the table. Yet, Rosella fits perfectly in Dewayne's life. As his career is taking off, Rosella becomes pregnant. The pair also move to adopt Rosella's niece and nephew whose addict mother must complete a rehab program before the kids may see her again. Now a family of four with one on the way, their life seems perfect.

Unfortunately, things are not meant to be rosy for long. Tragedy strikes Dewayne and Rosella testing their faith in God and each other. Just when their lives looked perfect, it seems that everything Dewayne achieved will be yanked out from under him.

I have to say. I knew there was a "tragic event" that would shape the story. When it hit, I was floored. The story takes a dramatic turn and evoked a few tears. It's incredibly powerful and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I love that the characters reacted in a human manner. Despite this being a Christian story, the reactions were genuine and easy to empathize with. HOMETOWN FAVORITE is a fine novel and one that will get most people really thinking about life.

What Women Wish Men Knew About Dating: A Single Guy's Guide to Romantic Relationships

Baker Books
ISBN: 9780801068409
June 2008

***

Looking for sage advice on dating? Your journey ends with Stephen W. Simpson PhD's offering titled WHAT WOMEN WISH MEN KNEW ABOUT DATING. Whether you follow Christian principles or not, the advice found in this book is right on the money.

Not only does the author use witty stories and humor to share his tips, he also includes his own true story about his failure to win the woman of his dreams, or at least the woman he thought was that woman. From the very first tip, I knew he'd spent plenty of time discussing what women are looking for with those who know it best-single women.

The first tip struck me as especially true. If your feelings for a woman go beyond friendship, be honest with her! You never know what she's thinking. As added proof, I can add my own story. In high school, none of my male classmates ever asked me out. Some would turn up in the oddest of places to walk me to class, and I gave many of them the opportunity to say something, yet none of them ever seemed interested in more than being friends.

After graduation, my parents bumped into a guy I knew. He was rather good looking, but kept to himself and never spoke a word to me. He came right out and told them how he'd always had a crush on me and asked how I was doing. Had he said something back in high school, the answer most certainly would have been yes!

Not only do I think every single man alive should read this, it also includes some tips that could help women. If I'd known back then that men are generally scared of the women they like, maybe I could have been a little more intuitive.

Over all, this is a must-read!

REVIEW: The Man Whisperer

Revell
Non-Fiction
ISBN: 9780800731977
July 2008

www.revellbooks.com

Rick Johnson's THE MAN WHISPERER follows the premise that men, like horses, respond better to a person that fully understands exactly what they need rather than what the other person wants from them. As a woman, I found that Rick Johnson seems to have a good grasp on both sides of the picture. I've been married for almost 18 years and there's a good reason why my husband and I are still great friends, as well as husband and wife.

Women who think they can change a man need to read this book. While I'd love to change some things about my husband, and vice versa I'm sure, I realize that he wouldn't be the man I fell in love with if he changed himself to fit my list of ideals. Things covered in this book include the number one issue in my house--the toilet seat.

My son summed it up best: "Mom, it's just as much work for us to have to put the seat up every time as it is for you to have to put it down some of the time." He does have a valid point, though he's never gone down in the wee hours of the night to use the toilet and fallen in because the seat is once again up. Nitpicking aside, the toilet seat issue is no longer a battle in our house. This is one of many issues that Johnson details in his book. He covers issues like getting your man to help with the household chores, parenting issues and much more. He does so with humor.

I won't say I agree with everything he says. Not every family will fit ideally into some of the lessons. One for me was the getting your husband to take a day off from time to time. My husband's work is booming requiring them to work weekends when ordered. If he doesn't show up or calls in sick, it's a black mark on his record. Too many of those and he'll lose his job, thirty years seniority and the best benefits around. If he's forced to work for a month running without time off, we have to suck it up and deal with it.

For the most part, however, I do think THE MAN WHISPERER will help a lot of women. It's got some great lessons and ideas that you can easily incorporate into your daily lives.

Ocean's Apart - Karen Kingsbury

Avon

ISBN: 0061456713

April 2008 (Reissue)

Contemporary Romance

www.karenkingsbury.com

Kiahna Siefert just cannot shake the feeling—God must be telling her something, but what? Later that day, the airplane on which she is a stewardess, unexpectedly dives into the ocean killing everyone onboard.

Max, Kiahna’s son, knows something is wrong when his neighbor, Ramey Aialea, meets his school bus. Ramey never brings Buddy, Max’s dog, when she meets the bus but today she does. Ramey tells Max that his mother has gone to live with Jesus.

Later, Ramey receives a phone call from an attorney who has a letter written by Kiahna to be given to Max. In it Kiahna tells Max of her friend, Connor Evans, an airline pilot but doesn’t mention her earlier relationship with Connor. Knowing that Ramey is unable to care for Max on a permanent basis, she would like Max to visit Connor, a married man who is Max's real father.

OCEANS APART is a wonderful story of a boy whose life has been disrupted, but who never loses his trust in God, and Connor, who now finds he has a son. Connor’s wife, Michelle, cannot handle the news that her husband was unfaithful and threatens to split the family. OCEANS APART will have the reader in tears so keep a box of tissues handy.

Originally released in 2004, OCEANS APART is an award-winning Christian fiction novel.

The Shack - William P. Young

Released December 2007

www.theshackbook.com


THE SHACK is a success story in its own right. Originally self-published, the novel has gained quite a following. Enough of one that Warner is partnering with Windblown Media to make sure the book reaches people throughout the world.

When his young daughter, Missy, is kidnapped and murdered by a serial killer, Mackenzie Allen Philips slips into an understandable depression. In desperation, he returns to the shack where Missy's bloody clothing was found. It is there that he meets God and is able to discover just why God allows him and others to suffer from such a horrific event.

THE SHACK is an inspirational novel, yet the events are covered with a realism I wasn't expecting. This made it hard to put down. Though, as I read the novel, something happened in this state that made the novel harder to take. A young girl went missing. At first, her connection to a MySpace account was blamed, but the outcome was far more horrific. Her uncle and former stepfather kidnapped her with plans of forcing her into their lurid child sex ring. Instead, she ended up dead and buried in a shallow grave. I'd like to say that things of that nature never happen in my state, but obviously that's not true. Because of these events, I found THE SHACK a little harder to read.

Sadly, tragedy strikes far too often and whatever God's intentions. I always find myself questioning, just as Mackenzie did, why He would allow a young child to be raped and murdered. THE SHACK covers a lot of possible answers to this question and is worthwhile reading.

Flesh & Blood by Dan Russ

Released July 2008
Christian Non-Fiction

www.bakerbooks.com

First, I'll start by saying that I was slightly turned off with the subtitle "Learning to Be Fully Human from the Son of Man." The first thought that went through my head was that some of us are not "Fully Human." Nitpick aside, once I started reading, I actually understood what the author meant.

FLESH-AND-BLOOD is not going to appeal to the masses. Those who are highly interested in examining the life Jesus led will enjoy this offering. It links the lessons and trials that Jesus faced with the life of any man and woman today. Topics range from sex to violence to death. In fact, it covered more than I figured I'd find. Sex is often overlooked in Christian books, but it's a fact of life and ignoring that humans are sexually driven creatures is wrong. Dan Russ covers this topic with honesty, something I appreciate.