"Is College Worth It?" by William J. Bennett with David Wilezol

This book is an excellent resource for all young student considering their future plans.  The authors take a good look at our current post-secondary education system and offer some practical advice.  They lay out the black-and-white numbers of tuition and debt, as well as the likelihood of getting a job upon graduation.  What I especially enjoy was how the authors suggested people give a second look at community college, associate degrees, and trade schools.  While these alternatives tend to be looked down upon, the authors demonstrate how they are very lucrative and require great amounts of skill and hard work.  Also interesting was how this book dives into the political direction of many schools and the biases that are taught in some institutions.  While this book gives a list of some schools that they recommend, I must stress that this is just a resource for students and should not be their only reference.  The schools listed in this book are few and do not cover all of them.  While this school put a slight emphasis on evangelical and Christian learning institutions, I was a bit sad they did not include Jewish learning institutions.  After all, Jews highly respect the Tanach (known to Christians as the Old Testament) and are known to have high levels of both intelligence and work ethic in education.   

"The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good" by Peter Greer with Anna Haggard

With all the books out there on charity and "doing good," it was interesting to read one on its apparent dangers.  While this book covers stuff like financial ruin, volunteer betrayal, and family crises, it focuses much more on the heart of the do-gooder.  Readers come to understand that doing good works does not guarantee blessings--Christian karma as the book calls it.  Readers will also grasp how they can be incredibly selfish even when they are serving others.  For instance, if you have a charity organization named after you with your face plastered all over media, pride can start to slip it...if it has not already.  This book was a fun read that held my attention.  What I didn't like so much was one nuance in the book where Pharisees were discussed.  The book gave the impression that the "heavy burdens" the Pharisees placed on people were related to biblical law.  However, historically speaking, the Pharisees pushed man-made tradition on people.  Yeshua (Jesus) promoted the Torah (Matt 5) and did not consider it a burden.  However, I perhaps I am being too harsh.  Very few mainstream Christian teachers know the difference between the Torah and the Talmud.  

"A Simple Change" by Judith Miller

I'm not going to lie--this book started off a bit slow.  However, once I got a good hundred pages in, things started to get really good.  The protagonist is torn as she has several men competing for her attention, the stress of moving to a new place, and the sadness associated with her dying mother.  As a city girl coming to Amish country, the woman does not fit in exactly.  Things get complicated when an unexpected family friend visits her.  Add in the drama of thievery and fires and you've got once suspenseful novel.  This book was full of twists and turns.  Set in the 1800s, there was enough details to understand that time period but not so much detail to make readers want to fall asleep.  I also liked the psychology of this book.  It had a happy ending (surprise, surprise) but was also filled with real-world problems that aren't so fairy-tale.  This includes abusive men, dangers of walking alone, and others.  While the dangers in this book aren't horrifying or graphic, they do help paint a story that is realistic and not just fantasy. 

“Prairie Song” by Mona Modgson

This book is set in the post civil war time period.  The main protagonists are moving across America to venture out west for a brighter future.  One is a widow, while the other is a woman who just abandoned her soon-to-be-husband at the altar.  The drama between the woman and the man she abandoned at the altar could have been played upon, but unfortunately it wasn’t.  The two left on good terms, closing the door on any readers’ expectations for conflict.  A captain has his eye on the widow, but she is cold to him since he delivered the news of her late husband’s death.  A trail hand worker and Miss Cold Feet both think ill of each other and find the other detestable.  However, that doesn’t stay that way for long.  There is also drama when certain characters are accused of stealing and when certain characters are fighting the deadly addiction of alcohol.  What I liked about this book was how it paralleled two love stories.  So many books just focus on one.  My only complaint about this book is the binding.  The margins are not wide enough, so you have to bend the book extra far to read certain parts.  However, overall, this was an entertaining read that held my attention.

“Buy This Land” by Chi-Dooh Li

This book opens up in a most unusual fashion.  The author describes his initial life journeys and briefly hints at his feelings of not quite knowing who exactly he is in the world.  As the son of a diplomat, the stories told about his early life are quite fascinating and will intrigue readers whom have never known that sort of lifestyle and family travel.  Eventually, the book takes a slightly (and I mean slightly) religious turn where Li explains how he converted to Christianity.  He never comes off as pushy in the book, and this book is first and foremost a non-fictional account about the leader of a non-profit organization.  What I also like is how this Christian did not just write a vague book about love and purpose.  No.  He wrote a book about his compelling need to take the Bible literally and go out and help the poor.  This is really admirable.  As the pages turn, readers will understand the immense complexities and hardships that go into such a gargantuan task.  Culture and language blend effortlessly as Li takes you through his ventures into war-torn Central America to help the rural poor.  He helped the poor by giving them land deeds that they eventually pay back.  I love how he didn’t just give the natives a handout.  Li explained how giving people freebies did not give them any sense of dignity—the people must work back their spirit of humanity to earn the independence they so surely covet from their wealthier counterparts.  Some people may think that helping the poor may be too big of a task.  They may think they’re not smart enough, don’t have a large enough network of help, don’t have enough resources, etc.  But what I love about this book is that readers see start to finish one man’s dream of doing something worthwhile to help others.  Readers may never do what Li did, but they will know it is possible.  At, if nothing else, readers will be humbled knowing that there are those in the world doing great things for the poor.  It’s all to easy to think we’ve got everything all figured out and that we’re “good people” because we donate money here and there.  But this book will make you stop and think what one person really can do.  This book also will challenge religious people.  While Li never goes into specific detail about his particular doctrine / creed / denomination, he does stress how he must help the poor.  Regardless of what people believe, all arguments seem to diminish when you realize people are fulfilling one of the key parts of Yah’s desire—to love others and help the poor.  Li may not have everything figured out spiritually (who does?), but he is taking a step in the right direction by pursuing the mitzvah of helping the poor.  As for the book and the author, I say well done.

And Li, if you’re reading this, read Leviticus 25.

"Perfecting Kate" by Tamara Leigh

When I first cracked this book open, I was expecting it to "get good" at maybe around page 100.  However, I was pleasantly surprised when I was hooked into the story-line in the first chapter alone.  I get lots of books to review, and this is a rarity.  The style with which Leigh writes makes you feel as if you are right inside Kate's shoes.  Kate's a short and--um, er--pleasantly plump thirty-something single woman.  She suffers from infertility and was dumped pre-altar from her fiance when he discovered she could not conceive.  This artist is depressed and lets herself go.  One day, she is stopped on the street for a makeover, which will be featured in an upcoming style / fashion magazine.  She obliges and then starts to go out with the makeup artist who found her.  However, things get complicated when she also becomes interested in a local client she is painting for.  Emotions flare as Kate's boyfriend tries to change her and as Kate struggles to find her faith.  I won't reveal too much, since this is a book you'll want to savor for yourself.  While there is romance in this book, it is not graphic.  There really isn't any swearing.  This are religious undertones but nothing too pushy.  Many women will find themselves connecting to Kate at some point.  She's an average woman who yearns to be herself but isn't quite sure how.  Read this book and find out how she figures it out.  A great read.   

"Brood X" by Michael Phillip Cash

When I start reading any book to review, I see how I like it.  If I find it boring or just bad in general, I tend to just rush through it.  However, very rarely do I get a book that I disdain so much that I can not even bear to finish it and have to just put it down.  This book is one of those.  The book started off crudely with talk of drugs / alcohol.  But I put up with that and kept reading.  Then, there is a crude remark about a woman's rear end.  This was frustrating.  Then, there were X-rated writing and references to porno.  This was the point where I just had to put the book down.  I was expecting a book about cicadas, not some perverted fantasy novel.  This book is downright disgusting, and I am recycling it.  People may not like my opinion, but I am entitled to my opinion.  I am not a paid reviewer.  I review books for free and give my sincere opinion.  Women ought to avoid this disgusting book that will offend them.  Men ought to avoid this perverted book, leave fantasy land, ask a real 3D woman out, and treat her with respect. Females are not objects and--unlike insects--they have more to do in this life than reproduce.

"Strangers on the High Sea" by Carole P. Roman

Cute and colorful, this book is an adventure book for children that will teach them life lessons and give them giggles.  In this installment of the "A Captain No Beard Series," baby Cayla comes along for the fun.  The captain and first mate try their best to keep Cayla safe and out of harm's way.  When a scary ship approaches them, the crew ask what they should do.  After some discussion, it is decided to go with what they know and not talk to strangers.  As the foreign ship approaches, the crew gets scared, and we even see how ominous the other crew looks--with a crab and pit bull!  However, the strangers eventually leave for a surprising reason.  This reason is one I will not spoil.  Find out for yourself; it will give you a laugh.  The illustrations are very well done, and the font is appropriate.  In some pictures, the crew holds baby Cayla in dangerous positions--sitting on the captain's shoulders, being held sideways like a doll with one hand, etc.  For children with younger baby siblings, this could be a good teaching moment for parents to tell their children how not to hold babies.    

"If You Were Me and Lived in France" by Carole P. Roman

This colorful little book is a helpful guide for youngsters who want to learn more about France.  With this book, children will learn France's capital, geographic location, and popular monuments.  Readers will also learn popular terms, such as currency, boys' names, girls' names, places of shopping, sports, and more.  At the back of the book is a guide for how to phonetically pronounce said French words.  In terms of cultural diversity, this book is great at promoting racial tolerance and friendship.  I also liked how the illustrations included different types of people in France.  Not everyone looked the same, and there were even black people.  The fact that not everyone in a different country looks the same is a lesson children should learn early on.  In one part of the book that addresses France's independence, there is a drawing with soldiers holding guns.  Whether or not adults like that is up to them, and they may use their own discretion.  However, the soldiers are marching and not shooting anyone in the picture.  Speaking of illustrations, I liked the use of graphics for the little girl's shirt in this book.

"A Noble Groom" by Jody Hedlund

This book is about a young widow who is waiting for her new future groom (a stranger) to immigrate to America.  However, in the meantime, a mysterious man shows up and wins her heart before he arrives.  What's interesting about this book is how much it surprises you.  For instance, readers will be taken off guard when they realize that there is a word play with the title.  They will also be surprised when they realize when and where this book takes place.

Overall, this book held my attention.  I was able to read it in a day, albeit with some breaks in between.  The romance in this novel is not graphic, so that is nice.  My only complaint about this book is that I wanted more depth.  It wasn't until the end of the book that the widow's intended groom shows up, and there was very little dialog (or argument)  between him and the mysterious man.  I would have wanted more of that and more drama.  Still, this book was very well written.

There was some action and drama as the troubles of the poor in this time period and location were addressed.  There was also murder and fire and blackmail.  When's the movie coming out?  :)  

"DJ's Lullaby" by Lucy Rivas Enriquez and Illustrated by M.A. Moisa

This book is so nice it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  It speaks of a woman who is waiting for her baby.  She has all the characteristics of a great mom.  It's even humorous when an illustration has the mother in a box that is labeled "mom parts."  The mother has arms for hugging, lips for kissing, legs for running / playing, etc.  There is a cute part where the author explains where babies come from.  It is essentially explained that children are angels from heaven.  That was nice and should make children feel special.  To be honest, I didn't realize this book was about an adopted child until I read the last page.  And I think that's the best part of this book.  If someone is reading this book with their adopted child, the child will feel all the love from the book and realize that an adopted child is just like a birth child when it comes to love.  I also liked how the illustrations were a mix of artistic mediums.  Sometimes it looked like there was marker, other times watercolor paint.  Overall, this is a great book that will touch the hearts of readers with a story of love and belonging.

"Kathryn the Grape's Piece of Love" by Kathryn Cloward (illustrated by Christine Winscott)

This children's book features a young girl Kathryn the Grape who has a school assignment to write a short answer about how she helps the world.  Kathryn gets extremely nervous and is worried she won't have anything to write by the time the teacher asks everyone to share.  Then her magical butterfly friend Maggie helps her not to worry.  Negative thought are compared to dams built by beavers.  Kathryn meditates and then uses her magical devices to push her worry away.  She eventually comes up with something to share with the class on how she helps the world.  What other students write is also included in the book.  The illustrations are nice, and the book holds your attention.  There is a nice theme of love and kindness and even equality (there is great gender and ethnic diversity in the book).  However, another theme--which I'm sure you've already picked up on--is magic.  Some do not want their children reading anything that refers to magic or new-age concepts.  Others think it's no big deal.  Decide for yourself.     

"Better Days" by Rachel Hamilton

This small book of poetry will give readers a nice break in their busy lives.  There are poems about love, life, struggles, and so much more.  There is even a humorous poem about fixing copier jams thrown in.  What I liked best about this book is how honest it is.  When reading this, I could tell Hamilton was not trying to please anyone--readers, publishers, publicists, you name it.  Rather, she was just telling the story of her life how she does best--through lyrical expression.  From the beginning of the book, you will  be drawn in.  On page 6, we read, "When was the last time you listened and really heard?  When was the last time you looked through your eyes and really say?"  In terms of audience, I will say this book is not for very young readers but for young adults and up.  While there is nothing graphic in the book, there are references to romanticism and one instance of the word "shit."  In terms of religious undertones, this book used the words "God" and "Lord" and "Universe" every now and then, but it wasn't a main theme in the book.  As a professional book reviewer, I tend to read books fast.  I read Hamilton's book in one sitting, but I could imagine myself reading it on a lawn chair on a porch on a nice breezy day.  It's that kind of book.  

"Freefall to Fly" by Rebekah Lyons

This book is written in a quasi-journal, quasi-memoir fashion.  Rebekah, the author, tells a tale of her early adulthood to her current life situation.  We read about her early marriage, her children, her ambitions, and her life-altering move to New York City.  Readers will not always feel all warm and fuzzy reading this.  The book talks about death and also about the struggles of raising a special-needs child.  You will read about Lyons' transformation into the woman she is today, but you will also read about the pain of who she was.  This book is raw.  However, I would like to say that the main audience for this book is young wives or young mothers.  Those who do not fit those categories may not like this book, may find it boring, and may even find it whiny.  This book has a specific audience.    

"If you were me and lived in Mexico" by Carole P. Roman

This book is just one in a series about different world countries.  This one focuses on Mexico.  It is simple enough for children to understand, but, to be honest, people of all ages can learn from this book series.  The book goes over the country's capital, geographic location, popular tourism sites, sports, and a major national / cultural holiday of that nation.  Readers will also learn some words in the native language of that country.  For this book, since we are in Mexico, reads learn some Spanish terms for names, monetary units, food, and more.  There is even a page in the very back of the book that helps readers with pronunciations if they are unsure how to say certain phrases that are used in the book.  As a children's book, I like how this book was geared to both girls and boys.  As we turn the pages, we see both the boy and girl characters getting involved in learning about Mexico.  This series is great in that it not only educates children on social studies but that it promotes peace and cultural / ethnic equality.  

"Learn to Tie a Tie with the Rabbit and the Fox" by Sybrina Durant and Illustrated by Donna Marie Naval

This book is a cute little story for teaching young ones how to tie ties.  Got a young boy who thinks ties are annoying?  Show him that ties are fun with this adventurous story.  While the main audience is little children, I must admit that people of all ages can learn how to tie a tie with this book.  I am past childhood but have been asked by friends to help them get ready for formal events and help them tie their ties.  Much to my chagrin, I did not know how to tie a tie properly.  Now I can use this book to quickly remember how to tie a tie.  In this book, the story is fun, the font is playful, and the illustrations are emotional.  There is even a free song that goes along with the book.  You can find the catchy tune at sybrina.com, which the author sings with a nice crisp voice.  I liked this book very much and thought it was cute.  It's one of a kind.    

"Stuck in the Doldrums" by Carole P. Roman

This children's book has a pirate theme and teaches young ones valuable lessons.  While the title says the book focuses on sharing, there is really more to it than that.  Ideas such as cooperation, friendship, altruism, and kindness in the face of adversity are also covered.  I also thought it was cute that there was the title "a captain no-beard story" throughout.  The story will hold readers' attention, and the end is quite surprising.  Even though it is a children's book and not a suspense novel, I was pleasantly surprised to get to the last page of the story and read something I was not expecting.  The illustrations are lovely in this book, and they resemble vibrant watercolor artwork.  I also liked how the text pages had illustrations and graphic designs on them and were not just plain white (as some children's books are).  The font was also fun and appropriate for this pirate story.

"Princess Onyx" by Clarissa and Illustrated by Jason Brooks

This is a short children's book about the struggles of young African-American women.  Written for her granddaughter, the author writes a story that has real-life family connections.  In the story, the grandmother (Tata) consoles her granddaughter (Jaydah).  Jaydah thinks she is ugly and cries because the other kids in school are being mean to her.   So, Tata tells Jaydah a story where Jaydah is a princess.  The princess goes out to play with the common people, which includes white people.  Jaydah realizes how mean people can be when the common people push aside another black girl so the princess--also black--can play with them.  It is at this point that Jaydah understands segregation.  At the end of the story, Jaydah understands that she should be nice to people even when they are mean.  I wish there was a friendly white person in the book who was nice to Jaydah, but--overall--the story is nice.

"Get Lost" by Dannah Gresh

 I thought this book would be like all the others I've reviewed that are on the topic of true love from a Christian perspective.  However, this one was unique.  It did not give a lot of what we'd call "practical tips" for abstinence and remaining pure.  Rather, it focused on getting lost in the Creator.  Part II of the book is a ten-part series that brings girls through steps to understanding what the Creator's love really is.  There are music suggestions, prayers, Scripture verses, and even space for prompted journaling.  The pages were pretty too, with some cool black-and-white graphic designs.  I like this book because it addresses the root cause of many girl problems.  The issue is not merely physical--the bigger issue at hand is girls looking for love and wanting to be wanted.  This book addresses the root cause tactfully.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  It was a fun read and held my attention.  It also delved a little into the Hebrew language as it dissected Bible passages, which was nice.  My only complaint was a chapter in Part III of the book that seem to insinuate that all Christian women should be stay-at-home homemakers.  That aside, this was a fine book.  I received an advance reading copy.  Aside from one typo I found, the grammar was excellent.

"Be Still My Soul" by Joanne Bischof

This book really drew me in.  The story line is creative and unlike any book I've been presented before.  A woman (Lonnie) in the early twentieth century is forced into a "shot gun wedding" by her father after he suspects her purity has been tainted.  The twist is that Lonnie isn't some whore.  She is a young girl (17) who was nearly raped by a smooth-talking mandolin player (Gideon).  When her father catches Gideon all over Lonnie, he runs to get his shotgun.  Yet her father does not see when Lonnie pushes Gideon away.  Convinced that Lonnie and Gideon have been stealing kisses together and even intercourse, Lonnie's father pushes his daughter into a marriage.

Fearful of the man she is marrying, Lonnie has twisted emotions.  Matters become worse as Gideon--a ladies' man--is bitter than he is now tied down to one woman.  In his bitterness, he even becomes abusive towards Lonnie and plays with her emotions.  This book is so gripping, and it will pull you in.  It even made me cry at times, which is unusual for me.  The drama is intense yet plausible.  In other words, the reader doesn't often feel the story is "scripted" or that "this would never happen in real life." The story comes to life as the reader gets transplanted to a time long ago where two souls dance a dark dance of marriage.

What I also liked was how the book sometimes changed perspective.  In other words, sometimes we'd read from Lonnie's perspective, and other times we'd read from Gideon's perspective.  As the characters morph over time and pages, we see their characters morphing and their psychology progressing.  You literally feel like you are inside their heads, which is not an easy feat for an author to do.  Full of twists and turns, readers will not find this book predictable.  For those that think this book may be too depressing, I will mention that the book ends happily.  However, the suspense is clear as the happy ending is not revealed quite literally until the last few pages of the book.  I won't ruin the story for you by telling you all the details, but rest assured this is a book you don't want to pass up.  

Also, I wanted to quickly mention that I had an advanced reading copy to review.  I found no grammatical errors.