Love isn't supposed to hurt - Christi Paul

What a powerful story.  Christi's raw emotions as she walks through one of the toughest times of her life, make you feel what she's going through.  Her journey through verbal and emotional abuse, with an alcoholic husband, has a lesson for everyone.  "Everything we experience - every loss, every torment, every numbing pain - has something to teach us."  I haven't personally been in her situation, yet I felt the book spoke directly to me many times.  God is with us.  He never leaves us.  He will bring good from the bad, blessings from the pain, and opportunity from the failures.  The last part of the book is interactive.  Christi lists many of the questions she had to work through as part of her healing.  In Christi's words, "Whatever needs to be done, God has equipped you to handle it.  This is a new day.  This is a new chance.  This is a new choice you get to make - and God's got your back through it all."

Oops - TJ and the Time Stumblers

TJ and her sidekicks are back in #3 of the series by Bill Meyer.  This time TJ learns about the importance of thinking and speaking well of people.  When everyones' thoughts become known through a malfunction of Tuna and Herby's 23rd century gizmos, things get ugly.  However, they become even worse when those thoughts become reality.  TJ is embarrassed when her thoughts are know.  Yet she still has issues believing that everyone is created by and loved by God no matter what.  Her catastrophe of thoughts turn people into chicken-cats, a snake, a giant baby, a puppet and more.  Silly read with a good message.  Fun for your preteen, especially if they've read the previous TJ and the Time Stumblers.

AAARG- TJ and Time Stumblers

Picking up where "New Kid Catastrophes" left off we once again follow 7th grader, TJ and her 23rd century sidekicks Tuna and Herby.  Full of humorous character names like May K Buck and Ms. Grumpaton, not to mention Hester Breakahart, Naomi Simpletwirp, Mr. Beaker, Stephanie Suchasnob, or Emma Prinzes making another appearance, the reader laughs and is entertained.  This story deals with cheating and it's consequences.  TJ learns (or does she) the importance of honesty, regardless of if it is easy.  Chad Steel has his own battle with making the right choices.  Part of TJ's lesson is learning that we all struggle with the same issues, but we still are responsible for making the right choices.  Good read for you preteen or young teen.

Promise me this - Cathy Gohlke

Great read!  I really enjoyed this historical fiction book.  Placing together the events in history; the Titanic, World War I and the influenza pandemic into one story was fascinating.  I've read many stories about them as separate events, but it was unique to follow the same characters throughout that period of time.  Well written and thought provoking.  Each person was so different, yet each was realistically developed.  You could feel their struggles and understand their responses.  Fear, love, hate, guilt, anger, disappointment, etc. etc.  The reader experienced a full gamut of emotions. 

Safely Home - Randy Alcorn

A thought provoking novel on what it really means to be a Christian.  Would we be willing to endure hardships, torture, or even death for Jesus?  Could we honestly say our relationship with Him is that important?  Though Ben had led Quan to Christ during their college days at Harvard, their present day lives 20 years later were very different.  Quan lives in persecuted China.  Ben has a prestigious job at a company that has factories in China.  When Ben is sent to do marketing research in China his life intersects with Quan.  Alcorn develops the story with unique glimpses of those in heaven, including martyrs in Quan's family, looking down on the current day events.  Quan's life is nothing that Ben imagined it would be when they left Harvard.  Quan's devotion to Yesu has shaped his life into something Ben cannot comprehend.  Will Ben rediscover Christ?  Will Quan go to prison?  Will the human rights issues in China change Ben and his business practices?  An excellent look into the persecuted church by following the Li family and Ben.  Worth your time.

Winning Balance - Shawn Johnson

Olympic medalist Shawn Johnson's book "Winning Balance" takes an honest look at the life of an elite gymnast.  I enjoyed Shawn's transparency about the emotional her journey has taken her on.  Starting with an energetic little girl who's parents were told had no talent, to winning 4 medals in the 08 Games, Shawn shared her life.  Living out her dreams and trying to ride out the emotions of hope, defeat, questions and longing.  She struggled with the "now what" questions we all face.  When we've been driven to achieve one thing and then it's done, you wonder what to do next.  Her parents quest to keep her life balanced has taught her the important lesson of being true herself.  A fast read that was well timed with the completion of the 2012 Games.

The Betrayal - Jerry Jenkins

This is book Two in the Brotherhood series by Jerry Jenkins about the Chicago Police Dept; specifically the Organized Crime Division.  The story picks up where the first left off.  Though you could read it as a stand alone, you'd be better off to read it after the first!  Drake Boone is shot in the line of duty and it becomes obvious it was an inside job.  His new found love Haeley is framed for the "leak" in the department.   Motives are questioned.  Relationships are tested.  Will the trust come out?  Only one thing I questioned.  Boone is seriously hurt, awaiting surgery to rebuild his shoulder, obviously on pain meds, and yet he can solve the case?  That seems a little far fetched.  However, it's a fast paced crime drama that doesn't disappoint.

The Atonement Child - Francine Rivers

I am not one to reread a book.  Nor to watch a movie I've already seen.  It's kind of like - I know the ending, therefore, the story loses it's appeal.  Not so with "The Atonement Child' by Francine Rivers.  I originally read it as an older teen.  Now as an adult I saw things in the characters I didnt' before.  As is usual with Rivers writing, the characters are realistic and well developed.  The reader has a myriad of emotions reading this book.  An amazingly accurate look at the motives behind the actions.  Though never in the same situation as Dynah, I still can learn a lot from her.  Her relationship with God was gripping and honest.  He doesn't always make sense, but will I trust Him regardless?  He doesn't always "feel" like He's there, but will I believe He still is?  He asks tough things, but will I rely on Him to do them?  Or will I struggle in my own efforts?  Will I choose to forgive and love in the midst of my pain?  Those are just some of the things the book addresses.  Worth your read.  Even if you've read it before!

Bees in the Butterfly Garden

Bees in the Butterfly Garden by Maureen Lang was certainly not the book I expected it to be.  As a fan of historical fiction I've read a lot of different authors and subjects.  I don't think I've read one on organized crime before.  The cover and title didn't make me think of the dark, underside the novel would explore.  Lang developed her characters and made their internal struggles realistic.  The guilt, shame, revenge, jealousy, fear, heartache, and motivation of each character wove together to make a well rounded, believable storyline.  Will Meg "prove" she's her father's daughter?  Will Claire and Nelson's friendship and Godly example change Meg's heart?  Will Kate's new found faith change her friendships?  Will Brewster or Ian climb to the top, and who's motives are pure?  Are either one's?  Add in Evie, her bird Pindar and Geoffrey and you'll have plenty of actions and attitudes to keep you reading.

A heart for freedom - Chai Ling

What a book.  An education about China's history, culture, and mindset.  I was in high school when Tiananmen square took place.  I didn't know the events leading up to it.  However, reading the story of Chai Ling, then commander of the Defend Tiananmen Square Headquarters, shows I probably wouldn't have known the truth.  What began as a peaceful protest, wanting dialogue with their leaders, led to a massacre.  Yet those events shaped Chai Ling for the work God has given her as an adult.  All Girls Allowed is a direct reflection on the heart, passion and desire of Chai Ling to see China free.  Her decision to follow Christ and the ministry that is a result, is powerful.  The book is full of statistics and mind boggling facts about China's one-child policy as wells as the forced and coerced abortion and gendercide of girls.  One line was so powerful to me.  "Chinese women have no choice, and their babies have no life."  Chai Ling is convinced that God has a redemptive plan for all of China.  Male and female.  To save the people and free them.  She challenges the read to ask yourself the question she asked, that changed her life forever: Are you ready to walk with Jesus?  Your answer may change your world, just as Chai Ling's is changing hers.

Skip Rock Shallows by Jan Watson

Set in the early 1900s in Skip Rock Kentucky, the reader enters the world of coal miners.  Lilly is a female doctor, strike one.  Lilly is an outsider, strike two.  Lilly is educated, strike three?  After she accepts this internship her carefully planned life begins to unravel.  Lilly finds a strong desire to be accepted by these stubborn, superstitious people.  Lilly wrestles with her feelings and questions everything about her life.  Great development of the characters and the motives of the heart.  If you like historical fiction, Skip Rock Shallows is worth reading.

Trauma Plan by Candace Calvert

While Trauma Plan at times was a predictable boy meets girl story, it did have enough unknowns to make it a good read.  Each person had their own motives.  Each person had those motives challenged. Jack, Riley, Kate, Bandy and Vesta each carried baggage that effected everything they did.  As the story unfolds the reader begins to see the story within the story.  How like life that is.  If we only knew what motivates the actions of others, we may see each action in a different light.  God's plan unfolded for each person.  Would they accept God or continue to try life on their own?  Read and find out!