Transforming Church in Rural America by Shannon O'Dell

Transforming Church in Rural America is a book with an interesting concept on how to grow rural churches so that they will be more productive, draw in more people, and most of all be able to afford to run and maintain their church buildings. I can really see how some of the ideas in the book might be useful, but I was so bothered by a few of the flippant points that were made that it really put me off of this book. The one comment that stuck out in my mind was when Mr. O'dell was speaking of the little brass plaques on the pews that he wanted to take out of the church. When he made the comment about the seven dollar clock having a memorial plaque it really bothered me. Someones family had donated the clock in someones honor and here he was criticizing the cost of the clock, and truthfully he speaks of money quite often in the book. Whether he is speaking of a ministers small salary, or wanting to add a bathroom to the church, its money. I have always attended an out in the sticks rural church, and the one thing that these churches have that is often lost when a church grows into a mega church is that individual attention you receive and the wonderful feeling of attending a church where everybody knows each other.

Where Hearts Are Free by Golden Keyes Parsons

Where Hearts Are Free is a historical fiction novel set in Pennsylvania in 1681.
Philippe and his family, who were members of French Royalty have come to The New World from France to escape the problems going on in their home country. While coming by ship they lose their money and two of the boys Philippe and Charles are forced to become indentured servants to pay for the families passage.
Charles becomes an indentured servant for a man who isn't nice and who is also making and smuggling guns.
Philippe is a bit luckier and becomes indentured to the Barringtons, who own a plantation and have one daughter Bridget.
Bridget becomes very close to Philippe and soon falls in love with him, when she tells Phillipe he tells her their is no way they can be together because she is Catholic and he is Protestant, she tells her parents and they quickly decide to let Philippe out of his contract and send him home.
Bridget's heart is broken, but her parents soon find her a better suitor or so they believe, but the secrets that Edward Moorehead are hiding are very dangerous, and soon Bridget feels trapped and prays to God to help her out of the mess.
This book was the third in a series but I had no problem following the characters. The book starts out strong but then soon looses its momentum about mid way. By the last of the book the story gets really interesting and I enjoyed the conclusion.

I was provided a copy of this book by Booksneeze in return for an honest review.

Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker

Immanuel's Veins was a book that I couldn't put down. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading the book, but boy was I pleasantly surprised by the depth of this novel. At first I couldn't imagine why Thomas Nelson had published a book about vampires, because that is where my mind went with this story, but once it was revealed the lineage of the people I presumed to be vampires then the whole thing really clicked for me.
This book has christian theme, but more than that its about the lengths one would go to for true love. Its also about the age old story of good versus evil. If your a fan of vampires you will probably enjoy this book.
I was provided a copy of this book from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Out Live Your Life

Out Live Your Life By Max Lucado, will grab your attention and make you take pause to consider just what you can do to make a difference.
It doesn't take a rocket scientiest to realize the world is on precarious grounds. Heck in the United States alone people go to bed hungry every night, children are often disgarded easier than yesterdays garbage,the elderly often choose between needed medicine and food, but it doesn't have to be that way. It takes change, and thats something each and every one of us can do. Yep each of us, just your plain average Joe can do something to make a difference. You don't have to worry about what you don't have to give, instead just give what you can. Because often what seems not so great to us is in fact just what someone else might need.
Mr. Lucado's writitng style is very easy and he uses personal stories, scriptures and antcedotal wisdom to get his point across.
This is a book you wont be able to put down and you will keep thinking about long after the last page, its a compelling message that the world needs to hear and we all need to start practicing.

I was provided a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review.

Faithful by Kim Cash Tate

Faithful is written by a new to me author. I wasn't sure what to expect but I really was surprised. First the title had me fooled, its about being faithful to God, I thought it would have something to do with marriage.
The book kept surprising me, I thought it would wind up being chick-lit, but it was so much more than that. The author weaves a very believable story that is a christian fiction. With characters so real that you feel like your in the middle of the story, I could imagine women like these living in my neighborhood. I got a few laughs out of this story but also some times that were very emotional. A book that will hold your attention until the end.
I was provided a copy of this book for review from Booksneeze in return for an honest review.

The Boy Who Changed The World by Andy Andrews

Product Description


Did you know that what you do today can change the world forever?
The Boy Who Changed the World opens with a young Norman Borlaug playing in his family's cornfields with his sisters. One day, Norman would grow up and use his knowledge of agriculture to save the lives of two billion people. Two billion! Norman changed the world! Or was it Henry Wallace who changed the world? Or maybe it was George Washington Carver?


This engaging story reveals the incredible truth that everything we do matters! Based on The Butterfly Effect, Andy's timeless tale shows children that even the smallest of our actions can affect all of humanity. The book is beautifully illustrated and shares the stories of Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug, Vice President Henry Wallace, Inventor George Washington Carver, and Farmer Moses Carver. Through the stories of each, a different butterfly will appear. The book will end with a flourish of butterflies and a charge to the child that they, too, can be the boy or girl who changes the world.



Review: The Boy Who Changed The World is my first time reading anything by Andy Andrews, and even though it was a children's book I found the message very inspirational and message we often forget. That everything we do matters, Andy explains it as the Butterfly Effect. It's like every time we do something it causes a ripple effect that causes something else to happen.

Mr. Andrews shows us how ordinary people grew up to make a difference in the world, but the neat thing is that if each person in the chain of the ripple hadn't accomplished what they did then history could have turned out differently.

This is a beautifully illustrated book that will capture a youngsters attention, and then the story will give them a great message that they do matter. I would recommend this book to small children who would be captivated by the pictures to the older child up to 10 who could grasp the little history lesson along with the inspirational message.

A great book that belongs in every library. I highly recommend it.



I was provided a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review.

Lee A Life Of Virtue By John Perry (review)

Lee A Life OF Virtue

Written By John Perry

Product Description
A powerful, compact biography of Robert E. Lee, focusing on how his intrinsic goodness shaped everything from his battle tactics to his treatment of his troops.
It's no surprise that Robert E. Lee graduated second in his class from West Point. His four years there were marked by exemplary conduct and nary a demerit. He went on to become one of the most successful generals of the Confederate army during the American Civil War, inspiring his troops with his unselfish character and devotion to duty. Lee's string of victories earned him praise on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. He was admired for his tactical success in battle, and even after surrendering to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomatox court house, his example of conduct for thousands of ex-Confederates made him a legend. After the war, he assumed the presidency of Washington College and devoted the remainder of his life to setting an example of conduct. He remains one of the most distinguished military heroes of all time.

About the Author:

John Perry has appeared on C-SPAN Book TV, The Janet Parshall Show, The G. Gordon Liddy Show, and other syndicated broadcast shows. He has published biographies of Charles Colson, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, and Sgt. York.

My Review: I was very excited to get to read about Robert E. Lee. I am an avid history fan and wondered what this book might tell me about The Great General that I didn't already know.

It takes us back to the beginning when the first of the Lee family came to the new world. It also discloses to us that Lee was actually not fighting to preserve slavery for the south but instead that he was fighting to defend our Constitutional Freedoms.

It gives us an up close and personal look at the Generals life in a way that is easy to read and understand. If you have never read anything about Robert E. Lee then you would probably enjoy this book.

I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in return for an honest review!