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100th Post Celebrating Exceptional Reads

Since launching faithful folios back in 2009 I have reached the 100th post mark and published more than ninety personal book reviews. I'm so thankful to God for all of the books, those I feel like He sent just for me and those I read I know were not for me. The entire experience has made me love reading and appreciate the review process as an author more. Thanks for reading the posts and stay tuned the show is coming back better than ever with more reviews and Christian book love to come!

Faithful Folio Favorites

                      


                   

                                 

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Broken Heart on Hold : Surviving Separation

Vertical Reach = 4
Rooks shares things she dida and scriptural resources that helped her endure the painful separation from her husband. At the end of each chapter there is a prayer for the reader to reach out to God.

Ministry Message = 4
God will heal your broken pieces, rely on him during seasons of confusion to make things clear.

Craft = 4
Very conversational, engaging and inspiring. A great aspect is the stories which give the book a more visual aspect.

Aesthetics= 2.5

This cover is bland and subdued. Something more inviting and empowering implementing more feminine colors to give a more hopeful feel to match the content of the book.

Dollar$ & $ense = 3.625
I will be saving the name of this book to give to any friends I know considering separation or looking for hope and encouragement during their separation from a spouse. I think it would make a great resource tool for marital enrichment programs and counselors doing marital repair and enrichment ministry.

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A Woman's Revenge

Vertical Reach = 3.75

Nadine Robinson, Sabrina Rogers and Tamera Watson all know or knew God in their own way before being confronted with life's fork in the road. Each of them at some point on their journey reach out for God's guidance or decide to ignore His warnings, correction or concern.

Ministry Message = 4
Vengeance is mind says the Lord and things workout best for you when You let Him take care of it and forgive those who hurt you.

Craft = 4
Warren, Lewis and McKnight offer three dimensional characters with entertaining stories. You find yourself torn between wanting the protagonists to do the right thing and not wanting the story to end.

Aesthetics = 3.5
The title and evil look on this woman's face coupled with the author's listed on the cover would make me click on this cover for more information.

Dollar$ & $ense = 3.8125

I can hear R.Kelly's voice singing Ladadah~dah~dah~ladadah from his song "Fed Up aka When A Women's Fed Up" as I read parts and all of one of these shorts. Any reader with a penchant for drama and a desire for truth will enjoy these stories. It will be a great book club read, I'd just plan it for a sleepover or retreat because you'll have to find ways to stop the conversation from flowing. Ladadah~dah~dah~ladadah

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Emily's Chance

Vertical Reach = 4
Emily Rose and Chance Callahan pray openly several times throughout the story and show through prayer,  and discussion the importance of their relationship and God's desire for their life.

Ministry Message = 4
It is good and well to make plans, however, your life will be better when you line up with the desires and plans God has for you.

Craft = 4

Sharon Gillenwater has a fine grasp on the ability to tell a story. The characters are well developed and the plot very engaging, believable and well paced. The male dialogue was a bit more longwinded then some men but not unbelievable. Overall a fine romance true to formula and wonderfully executed.


Aesthetics = 4
The cover is engaging, romantic and the cover model matches the description of the character. One of the things I love about Revell covers...accuracy. Many publishing companies could study them. I could teach a class on the accuracy of people on covers.

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An InConvenient Friend

Vertical Reach = 3
Samaria Jackson is in the right place for all the wrong reasons but finds herself wondering if life can offer more. We don't see any obvious interaction between her and God for most of the book but it is apparent in her mentor/nemesis Angelina Preston who loves the Lord and lives her life in relation to His will for her.

Ministry Message = 3.5
Do not be deceived God is not mocked and delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart are the emerging spiritual lessons in this one. There are several other juicy morsels hidden in the nooks and crannies of the characters but when I closed the covers, these two are what I got.

Craft = 4
McKnight knows how to weave a story and build a character which is pivotal in fiction and what makes this an easy to read story. Don't think you have this one figured out because the plot not only thickens it bubbles, simmers and by the end boils the reader over into a frenzy.

Aesthetics = 4
Urban Christian is not one of my favorite publishers for covers for several reasons but they got it right this time. When I read the description for Samaria I saw her on the cover and that made me as a reader VERY happy and as a reviewer quite impressed.

Dollar$ & $ense = 3.625

Book clubs and individual readers would love this book because it is a DEFINITE conversation starter. What would you do if your new mentee was on a mission to steal your man? See what I mean...conversation starter. Enjoy!

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Don't Look Back

Vertical Reach = 4
We don't hear his response but well placed scripture reference, prayer and serious reaches to God by the Jaime Cash the lead female character and Dakota Richards the lead male character.

Ministry Message = 5
Vengeance belongs to God and even when bad things happen we must trust and rely on Him.

Craft = 4.5
Great character, stomach knotting plot and picture perfect ending (a twist I wasn't expecting which rarely happens.) Although I knew who the killer was from the first chapter this story was written so well I couldn't put this book down and the twist at the end was absolutely amazing. Bravo!

Aesthetics = 4
Revell's attention to detail leave me smiling and impressed yet again. Still leading the cover pack.

Dollar$ & $ense = 4.375
If you like a lot of suspense, drama and a little believable romance thrown in you'll love this book. This series is like Law & Order marrying CSI with a hint of Cold Case. The love story line is included enough for the softies but the plot is driven by the suspense. Well DONE!

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Samson

Vertical Reach= 4

Samson, Hazel and Zachariah constantly pray and communication with God about what is happening in their lives.

Ministry Message = 3
One clear theme was not the objective as it is a modern day depiction of a biblical life. Two things that stuck out to me were 1) heed God's warning 2) when you do heed He is faithful to His promises to You.

Craft = 3.5
There were a few slow places but an overall strong read. Watching Samson grow as a person showed good character depth.

Aesthetics = 4
Beautiful cover that would peak my interest online or in a bookstore. I would wonder who the woman on the cover is as I read it because of the way it is written.

Dollar$ & $ense = 3.625
Fans of Christian contemporary urban and African American christian fiction will enjoy this story. Those who have read and enjoyed Patricia Haley's modern day biblical tale adaptations will enjoy this story as well.

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My Testimony

Vertical Reach = 3
Todd shares different scriptures and when she prayed. There are several places she reveals the response God gave her to cries for help in her past.

Ministry Message = 4
God is a jealous God and there should be no other gods before him, including a man.

Craft = 3
Todd has a solid grasp on the ability to structure a sentence properly. The read is a bit slow and not engaging. There are several areas where she is trying to encourage the reader but comes off a bit angry.

Aesthetics =3
If I saw this in a store I would pause but keep walking. If I saw it on a mainstream website and I was looking for a Christian book, I'd stop. Otherwise it wouldn't catch my attention.

Dollar$ & $ense = 3.25
Todd offers a message of wisdom from the consequences of past decisions and the desire to love God above all else. While the purpose of the book is expressed there are places it is lost in remembering or other distractions in the writing.

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City on Our Knees

Vertical Reach = 5

God reached down through the pages of this book and touched my heart. In each word of each story God was spoken to, of and spoke through. How can one review the Holy Spirit?

Ministry Message = 5

Nothing is too great to separate us from the love of God. No task is too great or small for God to do through His body. We must return to the intimate act of prayer and intercession. We must become one Body and City on our Knees.

Craft = 5

Each story is handled with engaging voice and amazing precision. The editor and selection were instrumental and clearly guided by the Holy Spirit.

Aesthetics = 5

Being a green lover and a fan of this song, I love the cover and the interior layout and design. Bethany House is a close favorite to Revell in the cover and aesthetics of their releases.

Dollar$ & $ense = 5

If you love God even if you don't but desire to do more with your life and don't know where to start, start right here and right now. Every intercessor and believer should read this book, if there heart is open it will change their life.

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the strategically SMALL church (I LOVED THIS BOOK)

Vertical Reach = 4

This book shows scriptural and contextual information regarding what God says about the size of a church and the truth about the "numbers" referred to in God's word. Different experiences are shared about how prayer, study and leading of the Holy Spirit empowered pastors and ministry leaders to be BIG enough to embrace being numerically small.

Ministry Message = 5
I've always known this and found it confirmed in God's word but this book says it so beautifully. BIG DOESN'T EQUAL SUCCESS. small doesn't equal failure. Following the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit and staying true to God's word is most important. Strategic and small can be more effective than BIG!

Craft = 5

O'Brien engages the reader with a conversational and easy tone. He offers bible based truth coupled with current data. His writing will appeal and speak to every learning and personality type. The stories are very well read. It is masterfully done. (It can't hurt that he is an editor)

Aesthetics = 5
The internal layout is well done. If I saw this book in a bookstore or on a website the title alone would stop me and cause me to read it.

Dollar$ & $ense = 4.75
The only thing that could have made me give this book a five would have been more details into the interaction between O'Brien and those whose stories he shares showing what transpired in their time with God to bring them to a place of focusing more on being effective than being "successful". Every member of a small church would be encourage by this book and I think EVERY PASTOR AND LEADER should read it. Numbers don't indicate success. BRAVO, Mr. O'Brien.

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The Perfect Blend

Vertical Reach = 4

Steph shares her prayers, reveals her thoughts about God and is open and honest about her failings with Him and herself  in a way that flows as an unintrusive part of the story. 

Ministry Message = 5

Acceptance from God is more important than acceptance from anyone else. Deciding to rest in God's acceptance can protect you from bad decisions.

Craft = 4

Believable characters with authentic three dimensional attributes and flaws. Perry keeps true to the traditional romance formula with fun bumps along the ride delivered with good description and dialogue.

Aesthetics = 4

This cover fits the theme and title. I would click it on a website because I love tea.

Dollar$ & $ense = 4.25
The classic romance fiction lover and the Christian romance lover will be very pleased with this book, especially if they enjoy a few life authentic surprises. Would be a great book club selection, lotsa juicy spots to discuss.

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Awesome Wonder and The Son

Vertical Reach = 4
Paige Covington's relationship with God is very apparent from the moment pursuit all the way to the moment of recommittment.

Ministry Message = 4
Forgive those who hurt you and never forget that God is God don't put heavenly expectations on earthly vessels.

Craft = 3
The plot is solid but the description involves too many mundane details that don't add to the story. Some of the characters are a little underdeveloped.

Aesthetics = 2

If I saw this in a book shelf or on a website I would not remember it, once I clicked to the next screen or walked away. Because the model looked similar to the main character I didn't give it a 1.

Dollar$ & $ense = 3.25

This book is not a bad read it is just a slow read due to the excessive description that slows the pace of the story. I would give another story by this author a chance because she does put the story together well.

Vertical Reach = 4

One of the things I like about Ricks writing is that she does show the characters relationship with God.

Ministry Message = 2
I'm not quite sure what the spiritual takeaway or one central theme is supposed to be for this story.

Craft =2
The story moves along at an imbalanced pace. The characters are too cookie cutter and the ability to see what each and every character is thinking makes trying to see who is saying what and taking the lead in the chapter a distraction.

Aesthetics = 2

The characters look like they could match the descriptions but it is so uninteresting if I saw this in a store or on a site I wouldn't remember it.

Dollar$ & $ense = 2.5

This story seemed to be a little all over the place. The plot had one kink too many in it and the pace was erratic. I would think twice before reading another book from this author based on THE SON.

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Portable Patriot

Vertical Reach = 1

Not a lot of direct reference to intimate personal relationship with God in any of the reprinted or presented materials.

Ministry Message= 3
America was founded by Christians and on Christian principles.


Craft = 3

The content is technically correct but not compelling enough to engage someone who doesn't already agree with the opinions or information represented.

Aesthetics = 2

The layout is a bit annoying inside and the style is too varied. If I saw this book in a store or on a website I would pick it up because I'd be curious about what is said but that is based on the title not the cover.

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