God Loves Single Moms #bookreview #singleparenting

Vertical Reach =3
Whitehurst makes a point to give readers a short point of prayer and scripture at the end of each chapter which will assist with encouraging the single mother reading the book to reach out to God. Transparency and examples of time when God manifested himself in her or other's lives as single parents would have made it better.

Ministry Message = 5
You don't have to do it alone, God cares all about you and will help you parent your children as a single mother.

Craft = 4
While there were a few hard transitions overall the prose flowed well and offered sound psychological and biblical advice. There is a conversational tone and clear voice of encouragement, edification and empathy written directly to single mothers.

Aesthetics =3.5
The internal layout is very user friendly and guides the reader through the interactive and reading material masterfully.While the cover is cute I believe a more multicultural presentation would have been better especially since this is a widespread problem across ethnicities. Nicely done but could have been more effective and if more global. Just a thought.


Dollar$ & $ense = 3.875
Any single mother and some married mothers who feel like single mothers will benefit from this book. Single parent ministries and counselors may find it a useful addition to their resource catalog. Churches without it may use it as a reference tool in addition to a great devotional to help the woman's personal spiritual growth outside of parenting.

Available November 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

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Christina Aguilera, Barbara Walters, Dwayne Johnson, Mandy Moore, and Jackie Evancho

Today's trendy reads are related to Dwayne Johnson, Mandy Moore, Jackie Evancho,  Barbara Walters and Christina Aguilera.

Mandy Moore stars as the voice of Rapunzel in the new release Tangle. It is being hailed as a spunky twist on an old fairy tale about a girl coming of age with so much hair it has a life of its own. I think a great read for the character Mandy Moore is playing would be His Princess Girl Talk with God by Sherri Rose Shepherd.
hardcover kindle.

Barbara Walters sat down with President and First Lady Obama last week the special aired. Even though I didn't really enjoy it a good book related to this topic of discussion would be The Portable Patriot.


Christina Aguilera portrays Alice "Ali" Rose in the newly released Burlusque she leaves a lucrative career as a waitress and seeks happiness and success as a singer in the show. Instead of looking to find happiness and purpose in singing and dancing I think Christina Aguilera's character Ali would do well to read Alicia Britt Chloe's Intimate Conversations: Devotions to Nurture a Woman's Soul.


Dwayne Johnson plays an ex convict named Driver who is bent on revenge in his new release Faster. Well I think that one book Dwayne Johnson's character would do well to read is A Woman's Revenge. Despite the main characters being women they all have one common goal and if Driver (Dwayne Johnson) read this book first he would realize that revenge is a dish best served...NEVER. So I recommend A Woman's Revenge for Driver (Dwayne Johnson.)


Jackie Evancho America's sweetheart from America's Got Talent fame has released a Christmas CD. May I suggest two Christmas reads you can enjoy while listening to songs she has covered like O Holy Night and Silent Night. The Christmas Dog and Christmas at Harrington's will warm your heart and stir your soul as her new Christmas CD tickles your ears. Check out Beckah Shae's Emmanuel as well for great holiday music.

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BACK ON THE AIR #LIVE #fiction #nonfiction #fftv

Join me 12:30PM for 
Faithful Folios TV Live @ Lunch 
Monday November 29th 2010 

We'll be talking good books online, will you?
 

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Last Temptation

Vertical Reach = 3

Peaches Miller learns to lean and rely on God through several spiritual expressions we are told about. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the detail about how she came to rely on Him again.

Ministry Message =4
Trusting God and relying on His guidance is best and key would be the overall message I received as a result of seeing what not to do when faced with important decisions about what to do next in life. There are several other lessons but I'd be hard pressed to make a clear distinction as to what they are.

Craft = 3

Stimpson's characters are a bit quirky and with a few of them centimeters shy of caricaturization. Outside of her son they all seem to be fitting nicely into a preconceived box. The plot did include a few twists and turns I wasn't expecting. I was glad to see LaShondra but remembered liking her more in her novel.

Aesthetics = 3
The cover is done beautifully and shows the confusion of the main character very well. The layout and typesetting are done in a nondistracting way.

Dollar$ & $ense =  3.25
The overall story is done well enough to hold the attention of the traditional romance reader. If you are a Michelle Stimpson fan you will enjoy this novel as it is written like most of her more recent novels.

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Christmas at Harrington's #bookreview #christmas

Vertical Reach =4
Lena Markham is skeptical at first but open in the end to the love of the God who was misrepresented to her all of her life. In the midst of her struggle she offers a sweet and authentic prayer to him sure to touch even the Scroogiest of hearts.



Ministry Message = 5
We serve a just, forgiving and providing God no matter what has happened in our past he is the God of the second chance.

Craft = 4
While there were some story points that left me wondering...what happened? The story is put together well with an engaging protagonist, promising supporting cast of characters and sweet Christmasy feel. The pace and sub plots create a very satisfying reading experience.

Aesthetics =4
From the hair to the boots the graphic team gets the little details that a cover lover like myself appreciate. The layout is simple and easy to read.

Dollar$ & $ense = 4.25
A sweet story based on someone whose life isn't all rosy and cheeky like most CBA fiction. A great gift for a book lover and redemption story. Especially enjoyable for those who like a good sappy sweet Christmas tale.

Available November 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

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More Glimpses of Heaven #bookreview

Vertical Reach = 5
I've never read something so beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. From little children looking after their hurting parents in the last days of their short lives or bicentennial spouses sharing their last moments the presence and relationship with God shines through in every story.

Ministry Message = 5
God is with you in life and death. Don't be afraid to die it can be a holy, serene and beautiful end to life.

Craft = 3
The style of the book is concise and organized well but some of the stories ended too soon or left out a bit too much information. A bit more description or exposition in a few would have made it a richer reading experience.

Aesthetics = 4

The layout and cover are done well. In a bookstore I would have stopped to pick it up but on a website I'm not sure if I would have clicked the cover it translates better in person. Overall it conveys the peace, reverence and serenity shared in the stories of the book so I like it.

Dollar$ & $ense = 4.125
An intimate and gentle look at what can be a depressing and trying time in life. A beautiful balance between prose, reflection and ministry. I'd recommend this for any grief, counseling or bereavement ministry for encouragement to the ministers, patients and families affected by death.

  

 Available November 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

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Hatteras Girl #bookreview

Vertical Reach = 3.5
There is talk of and about God but not much talk to God or scripture reading. A simple vague hint at His involvement and existence and a lot of pondering about His input into everything.

Ministry Message = 4
If you focus too much and too hard on what you want you may find God has changed your heart and the thing is not what you thought it would be. Focus on God if you want to focus on something that does not change.

Craft = 4
While very literary fictioneque and a bit long winded in parts the story is crafted well. One of the few romances that were done in a unique way...while still sticking to the formula. Good dialogue and emotionally engaging. Great story despite being a bit lengthy.

Aesthetics = 3
It was pretty but that is about it. For a story with as much depth as this one a shallow cover really didn't do it for me. In a store or on a website with other books similar to this I would not have looked twice.

Dollar$ & $ense = 3.625
A touching love story sure to be a contemporary classic and great vacation read. Not sure it is action packed enough for every book club but would be great for a leisure discussion about slow glowing embers that burn over time into a flame of love.

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A Rush of Wings #bookreview

Vertical Reach = 5
Noelle St. Claire is as set in her decision not to interact with God (if there really is one) as Rick Spencer is to never be without him...even when his heart is broken. Rick is raw and honest in how he relates to the Lord throughout the story even when it doesn't seem like it. Very masterfully done.

Ministry Message = 4
God and God alone can fully heal a broken heart. His love never fails and is perfect enough to cast out fear


Craft = 4
This is the classic romance formula from front to back. There are two pursuers after the protagonist God and Rick Spencer and the chase from both is written quite well. The pace and plot are good though a bit sluggish in a few spots. The characters are real and dialogue carries weight and authenticity. I learned a lot about craft from this book alone.

Aesthetics =3
Give the nature of the story and the tone of the book the cover matches well. More detail and edge would have made it better. Overall a solid representation.

Dollars$ & $ense = 4
An emotional and gripping tale of love, forgiveness, and healing threaded with romance, tension and more love. It would be an instant favorite for those who love a bit of drama and suspense wrapped in with a flawed heroine.

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Long Time Coming #kindle #bookreview #fiction

Vertical Reach = 5
Deidre Clark Morris and her husband and raw and open about their feelings with God even when they aren't positive. They openly pray and read scripture as well as worship freely in their relationship with Him.

Ministry Message = 4
When you pray, trust and believe that God hears your prayers and will answer, then no matter how God chooses to answer the prayer be open to receive.

Craft = 4
Miller offers a poignant and believable story with three dimensional characters so engaging they suck you into the story like a vortex. Dialogue is well paced and authentic to the setting, era and circumstances. A polished prose with glowing characters and emotional scenes.

Aesthetics = 2.75
It's pretty but it has nothing to do with the story. I don't recall any scenes of a woman in a meadow with an umbrella...if they were they were not instrumental in the story line. Pretty but...not representative of the truth, allure and authenticity of the story.

Dollar$ & $ense = 3.9375
Contemporary fiction readers and book clubs will have a great time with this read. There will be no shortage of conversation topics at all. It is well worth the price for the kindle edition and print as well.

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Life in the Zone

Vertical Reach = 3.5
Dr. Joe Pettigrew and Kyle Rote Jr. draw out the importance of a relationship with God and give an example of a man dependent on God in each devotional. What they don't provide is detailed transparency about their personal worship and prayer time with God.

Ministry Message = 4
To live life in the zone one must have an authentic and active relationship with Christ. Daily time with God in prayer and His word are integral to making this happen.

Craft = 4
Great exposition. Spot on use of sport history in a conversational tone. Engaging narrative about athletic examples.


Aesthetics = 4
Eye catching cover with bold sporty colors which is very topic appropriate. Appeasing content layout good for easy reading and relevance.

Dollar$ & $ense = 3.875
This book would make a great gift affordable gift for the sport and God loving or curious man in any and every woman's life. The cover is nondiscriminate and the material is broken down into the language and categorical thinking patterns most men will find beneficial. Any church or men's ministry would find a 40 day journey with this sport themed devotional a victory for the cause of Christ!

Due to it's being an older release it is being sold for $5.69 on amazon right now. I'm not compensated for these reviews, I just know an  good buy when I see one! I love talking about AFFORDABLE good books online.

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