"My Name Is Mahtob" by Mahtob Mahmoody

It is in the early years of life that most people are shaped.  For Mahtob Mahmoody, she had the unfortunate experience of being kidnapped.  Her family was all smiles until her father became an extreme Muslim and brought the family to Iran.  Once in that foreign land, women were expected to cover and obey Sharia Law.  Sadly, Mahtob's mother was the victim of domestic abuse.  By the grace of God, Mahtob and her mother manage to escape to America.  But the story doesn't just end there.  Mahtob continues her tale by writing about her adolescence and adulthood.  The fact that this child could grow up to be so successful and optimistic is a miracle in and of itself.  This book shows how anyone can move on from their ugly past and not let the woes of yesterday affect the sunshine of tomorrow.  

"Instant Happy Journal: 365 Days of Inspiration, Gratitude, and Joy" by Karen Salmansohn

When I first got this journal, I was excited because I like writing.  However, I was a bit cautious from the title.  After all, how can a journal make somebody happy--I mean, truly happy?  But once I started to read and write, I realized this book isn't a one-all cure for those feeling down.  Rather, it is a guide to redirect one's thoughts from negativity to positivist.  Inspirational quotes and discussion prompts force the reader to change his or her frame of mind.  Those who journal in this book will learn how to look on the bright side.  There will be laughs, snickers, and some soul-searching journal entries.  Great gift for the new year.  

"5-Minute Bedtime Treasury" by Precious Moments

This full-color hardcover book is the perfect addition for any bedside bureau.  There is a section of stories on the Old Testament, the New Testament (for Christians), and a chunk of wisdom stories mostly from the books of Psalms / Proverbs.  The language is very simple in big font, so it is good for young readers.  The illustrations are simply adorable from well-known precious moments characters.  From little children praying together to adorable animals traipsing along, each image is too cute for words.  My favorite illustrations are those of the guardian angels.  Youngsters will learn about the parting of the sea, Joseph's multicolored coat, Solomon's wisdom, Christian parables from Jesus, and more.  Popular prayers such as the Our Father and The Lord is My Shepherd are adapted for young ones.  Overall, this is a nice book, and I would argue it is for readers of all ages.  

"The Knot: Outdoor Weddings" by Carley Roney

I am not married, engaged, or otherwise "taken."  So, why did I choose to review this book?  Quite honestly, because the cover had a beautiful flower arrangement...and I love flowers.  Reading through the pages of various outdoor wedding descriptions was great.  However, what I really enjoyed was the full-covered beautiful pictures.  From dresses to flowers to outdoor seating arrangements to food and more, everything is breathtakingly beautiful.  Also interesting is the fact that the author did not just design face, less weddings.  Rather, each theme of outdoor wedding has an actual couple attached to it.  Readers will see real-world examples of what other people did.  There are weddings on the waterfront, in tropical destinations, on country club properties, and more.  In terms of diversity, there are various examples of weddings.  There are interracial couples and even gay couples features.  Religion-wise, there are Christian weddings, Jewish weddings, and a mixed Hindi wedding.  This hefty hardcover book will make a great gift for your bride-to-be.  Best of all, in the back of the book, there is a timeline of advice for what to do 12 months before the wedding, 3 months before the wedding, and all the way to the day-of.

"He's Just Not That Into You" by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo

I got this book at a book swap, and it was a fun read.  The chapters are short and rather comical.  But, most of all, the advice it gives is spot on.  Too often, women can stress over whether or not a guy likes them or why a potential mate is acting a certain way.  This book gives the sad reality that most men are simply not interested and are too afraid to say so.  So, if a man does not make a blatant and concentrated effort to contact a woman, odds are he is "just not that into them."  This does not mean the woman is ugly or of poor character.  It just means the guy sees the woman more as a friend than a romantic interest.  I understand this.  I have a close male friend who I hear from once every few months.  This does not upset me in the least because we are just friends.  I am not attracted to him because I am not attracted to Asians; and he is not attracted to me because he likes plump women.  Neither of us are bad-looking or obnoxious--we simply only view the other as friends.  Since we are only friends, the sporadic contact is fine.  If we were romantically involved, it would be unacceptable.  And that's what this book advices.  If a guy is not going out of his way to contact a woman, he only views her as a friend.  However, if a guy has made romantic interests clear but is not going out of his way to contact the woman, the woman ought to dump him.  If I can sum up this book in a phrase, it is, "do not settle."

"You First" by Lea Michele

This is a wonderful journal for all ages.  The book sleeve comes off for those that want a more personalized and less celebrity-driven look.  Inside the pages of the book, readers will first journal about their ancestry and family recipes.  Then they will write about exercise and health / wellness.  There is a section for friendships and relationships.  Then there is goal-setting in general and how to journal about work-related issues.  What I like about this book is that it offers ways to get better.  For instance, instead of just saying "do you think you are healthy?" there are journal entries about "how can you get healthy?  how can you change your diet and exercise habits?".  Afterwards, there are tips from Lea herself.  The writing space is plenty big, and the font is nice in purple cursive.  Overall, this is a very nice journal and would make an excellent gift. 

"Make Every Word Count" by Moshs Doron

This book is all about prayer.  But it's not just about praying repetitious prayer or saying prayers in one's head.  Rather, the book is about praying out loud and from the heart.  After a brief introduction, the book goes into questions and answers.  Some questions are: how does one pray?, what if I don't know what to pray?, why pray if G-d knows our thoughts?, can I pray if I have sinned?, when should I pray?, where should I pray?, and more.  The language is easy to follow and not intimidating.  Furthermore, the book is written for the ordinary person and not some lofty rabbi.  Readers will feel important and valued when they read this book--not judged.  This book is rather small and can be read quickly all at once or just used as a reference guide.  Overall, excellent guide on how to pray from the heart.  To HaShem!  :o)

"On This Foundation" by Lynn Austin

As always, Austin does not disappoint with her historical Biblical fiction.  In this story, readers follow Nehemiah as he leaves his Persian home to rebuild Jerusalem's walls.  He faces both political and spiritual oppression as even those closest to him betray him.  Struggles for power and wealth collide as Nehemiah urges landowners to forgive debts, free bondsmen, and stop charging interest.  Austin doesn't just give Nehemiah's perspective.  She also gives the point-of-view of Nava.   Nava is a bondswoman who must serve six years to help her father pay off debt.  Nava wants to marry Dan but must work as a servant.  Tensions arise when the son of Nava's master sets his sight on Nava and is infatuated with her.  Then there is the perspective of Chana.  Chana is the daughter of a Jerusalem leader.  She is one of the few women working on rebuilding the wall--a man's job.  Furthermore, she is engaged to a wealthy landowner.  The lives of rich and poor are told, and there is the notion of faith woven throughout.  How can one pray when they are sold as a servant?  How can one pray when they are separated from the love of their life?  How can one pray when their sincere attempts to rebuild are thwarted?  Readers will enjoy this lively story that makes the Bible come alive.

"Proverbs Prayers" by John Mason

This little book is stock-full of wisdom.  It is a great holiday gift for any occasion.  The way the book flows, there is a chapter of Proverbs followed by a chapter of prayer.  While I say "chapter," it is really not more than a page or two.  Beyond that, there is an index of sorts in the back that links specific topics to Bible verses.  These topics cover joy, sadness, motivation, and more.  This book is very easy to read on quick breaks on in-between errands on the run.  This book is pretty gender neutral and can be read by men or women.  When the book gets to Proverbs 31, there are separate prayer chapters for men and women since Proverbs 31 deals with marriage.  However, these prayer chapters are written assuming the reader is married and not single.  All in all, great book.

"Horse of my Heart" Edited by Callie Smith Grant

This book  is a collection of short stories (no more than a few pages each) of how horses have impacted lives.  From the wild horse who is eventually tamed to the abused horse who learns to love and more, these stories will warm your heart.  Besides horses, there are even stories about donkeys and mules.  Additionally, there are quotes and pictures and historical notes sprinkled throughout the book.  Should the reader be curious about the individual authors, there are mini-biographies of each writer at the back of the book.  What I loved about this book was how it conveyed horses.  Having ridden and cared for horses before, I know the freedom horses provide.  I also know the emotion and intelligence in their eyes.  This book is a must read for all.   Whether you are a pony-obsessed girl or a macho cowboy, you will find the horse of your heart here.

"God's Smuggler" by Brother Andrew with John and Elizabeth Sherrill

This book really took me by surprise.  I am neither evangelical nor Christian, but I found myself turning the pages and wondering what would happen next.  The book follows the life of Andrew.  Readers experience his childhood, his military life, his time in Indonesia with locals and monkey, his first love, his marriage to an unlikely beau, his conversion to Christianity, and his call to the missions field.  I should note that the parts of the book that focus on Andrew's beau and wife are written in a classy manner.  There is nothing graphic, and it is appropriate even for young readers.  The innocence of true love is conveyed and nothing more.  As for the missions, readers feel as if they are on a CIA mission as they follow Andrew through several communist countries.  Places where Bibles and preaching are illegal make the book even more suspenseful.  Most intriguing of all are the small coincidences that lined up with Andrew's prayers.  This book is a must-read for people of all faiths.  Also included is an interview with Andrew about more of his travels and even a section of photos.  While there are no graphic details, the book does mention people dying, so sensitive readers should be warned.

"Girl Meets Change" by Kristen Strong

This book is all about women not only facing change in their life but also embracing it.  Several Biblical stories such as the story of Joseph, Ruth, and Esther are given as examples.  There is also heavy emphasis on Jesus and his story, giving this book much of a Christian undertone.  In terms of the real-life examples from modern day, those were spot on...for certain people.  The examples were interesting, but they just didn't hit home for me.  Being a young working professional, I could not relate to the change of marriage, divorce, children leaving the home, and so forth.  Still, that does not mean I did not enjoy the book.  The book did hold my attention was kept me thinking about how others in the world are going through so much (even if it is not the same change I am going through).

"The Sabbath" by Abraham Joshua Heschel

This book is an essential must-have for anyone curious about the Sabbath.  In this short book of quick easy-to-follow chapters, readers begin to understand what the Sabbath is all about.  Through carefully woven language, each page is almost a work of art.  Speaking of art, there are beautiful black-and-white illustrations throughout that are quite thought-provoking.  The biggest concept I got out of this book is that the Sabbath is centered around time instead of space.  Space is ordinary, while time is holy.  During the Sabbath, man is blessed with a taste of eternity.

"The Time Garden" by Daria Song

This is a wonderful coloring book for artists of all ages.  While the story follows a girl in her dream thru time and space, females may find this book more suited for them.  Besides the images themselves, there is some text to walk colorers through the story.  The coloring pages themselves are quite intricate and take a bit of time to color--hence the title of TIME garden.  Still, this book is quite relaxing and enjoyable.  Whether there is a rainy day or just an early morning, this book is great for passing the time.  The patterns are intricate enough to make you think what color patterns to use but not so detailed that you get frustrated trying to color in the lines.  On the left is an example that this book reviewer colored.

"Thank You Lord for Everything" by P J Lyons, Tim Warnes

This children's book is simply adorable.  The little teddy bear is quite grateful, and readers of all ages see that.  From the basic needs of food and nourishment to the joys of friendship and family, this little teddy is thankful.  The full-color illustrations are cute and get the story across in a fun manner.  There are several animals throughout the book, so kids see not only bears but also other wildlife.  Since the teddy bear thanks Lord for everything, there is a religious feel to the book.  There is a chapel in an illustration, so the book leans more towards Christianity.  Nonetheless, the overall theme of being thankful for life's blessings is central.  The book is hardcover, and the pages are thick and more wood-like than paper.  It is a durable book that can take lots of reading and dropping!

"Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology" by Johnjoe McFadden, Jim Al-Khalili

I am fascinated with quantum mechanics, so this book immediately stood out to me.  How does quantum mechanics relate to biology?  Obviously, there are quantum particles such as electrons in living matter.  However, these authors really take it a step further to explain and postulate how quantum mechanics aids in common biological processes.  From photosynthesis to enzyme action to the concept to the soul, and more, this book dives deep.  Of particular interest was the idea that quantum mechanics is responsible for the compass in creatures such as birds and butterflies that allows them to migrate on precise magnetic headings to their migratory destinations.  Also fascinating was the concept of how quantum mechanics works with the sense of smell in creatures.  This book was great.  My only criticism is that it could have had more pictures.  When discussing complex chemical phenomena, sometimes words alone can not convey the whole story.  I work as a rocket scientist by day, and even I had to read many paragraphs multiple times before I got the gist.

"The Chase: Trusting God with Your Happily Ever After" by Kelsey Kupecky, Kyle Kupecky

This is a delightful book from a husband and wife about waiting for God's best for your life in terms of marriage.  Both give their opinions and share their stories.  Readers will hear of heartbreak from the authors themselves, as well as from the authors' friends.  Cutest of all is how both talk about praying for their future spouse and how they met.  The font is a nice size, and there are embellished (artistically, not verbally!) quotes throughout to make readers smile.  The book goes by fairly quickly and is a great conversation starter.  While both authors are Christian, they do not force their views on others.  They talk about what they believe, but I did not feel they were forcing me to believe everything they believed.  Rather, they were just sharing their story...and part of their story is their religion.  Overall, this was a great book.  There are even some wedding photos at the end, which is adorable.  This book does talk about sex and waiting until marriage.  It is in no way graphic, so parents may decide for themselves whether or not this book is suited for their children.

"Thankful" by Eileen Spinelli and Illustrated by Archie Preston

This adorable book is all about gratitude.  From firefighters to gardeners to dancers to artists, all chip in to say what they are grateful for.  However, there are not real firemen and gardeners and so forth depicted.  Rather, the brother-sister protagonist duo pretends to be most other people person.  This hardcover book is well made with nice glossy pages.  The illustrations really make this book what it is.  They are clever and cute and oh-so hilarious.  From the little boy running for mayor with a sign about abolishing bedtimes to the father rolling his eyes as he presents high-tea desserts to the little girl queen, this story is sure to have you giggling.  The book is not overtly religious.  There is a church with a steeple in the background of an image, plus a pastor who is grateful for God's Word included.  However, no one religion feels pushed on the reader.  This book is just a fun read for people of all ages to remind them to be more thankful for the blessings they have.

"The Plans I Have For You" by Amy Parker and Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

This adorable book takes Jeremiah 29:11 and brings it to life.  Children are depicted in magnificent full-color images of them following their dreams.  Some are doctors, some work at zoos, some are scientists, some are pilots, and so forth.  It is emphasized that each child is unique and special and that no path is superior to any other.  So, a doctor is just as loved as a store clerk in God's eyes.  What's nice is that there are kids of all ethnicity shown.  Stereotypes are broken as readers see that anyone can be whatever God as in store for them.  This hardcover book is a treasure for children and adults alike that should be read over and over.

"Wild in the Hollow" by Amber C. Haines

Starting at her own childhood and ending at the childhood of her sons, this book follows one woman's life journey.  The text reads like a memoir with its brutal honesty and poetic license.  Amber tells of her shameful past she regrets of chasing after men.  Readers then follow her as she converts to Christianity and eventually marries her holy-roller husband.  The struggles of marriage, affairs, and such are described.  When kids finally enter the picture, Amber is honest with her insecurities and anxieties of postpartum depression as her own baby holds on for dear life in the hospital.  This is a religious book in that it talks about Christianity and the church.  Due to the sensitive nature of this book in describing the author's sexual encounters, I would not recommend it for young readers.  The book is not graphic, but it does allude to mature matters.  There is no swearing in the book.