Top 16 books of 2014

As I have done the last few years, I am listing my favorite books I read this past year. They are in no particular order. I was aiming for the top 15, but had forgotten about the last one I added, so I just made it the top 16:

1) Walk to Beautiful by Jimmy Wayne and Ken Abraham

2) Playing Saint by Zachary Bartels

3) The Auschwitz Escape by Joel Rosenberg

4) Silenced by Dani Pettrey

5) Nowhere to Turn by Lynette Eason

6) No One to Trust by Lynette Eason

7) Raptor 6 by Ronie Kendig

8) Beowulf: Explosives Detection Dog by Ronie Kendig

9) Sky Zone by Creston Mapes

10) Hidden Agenda by Lisa Harris

11) Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury

12) Checkmate by Steven James

13) When Night Comes by Dan Walsh

14) Forever Christmas by Robert Tate Miller

15) A Family Christmas by James Dobson

16) Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi

A Cry From the Dust by Carrie Stuart Parks

A secret from a grim page of American history threatens to destroy thousands of lives.

Gwen Marcey was tops in her forensic field. Then cancer struck, her husband left, and her teenage daughter engaged in active rebellion. Gwen's best chance to start a new life was a temporary job in Utah reconstructing faces from an 1857 massacre site.

The Mountain Meadows Interpretative Center asked Gwen to reconstruct the faces of three intact bodies that were discovered from the wagon train massacre of more than 120 people by Mormon fanatics calling themselves Avenging Angels. But just as she is nearing completion on her reconstructions, things around the center turn deadly.

Gwen discovers the ritualized murder of a young college student with a stolen identity and is called on by the local police to use her forensic art skills to aid the investigation. Soon she discovers an uncanny resemblance between one of her reconstructions and the death mask of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church. And realizes that she's the next target of the recreated Avenging Angels who believe she has an icon from the grave.

Gwen must weave through a labyrinth of Mormon history, discovering secret societies and festering grudges in a race against time.

Will she be able to stop another massacre?

My review:
    The saying "don't judge a book by its cover" does hold true. The cover of this book didn't appeal to me at all, and I almost passed on it as a book to review, but the book and author both sounded interesting, so I requested it. And then I started to read it and discovered it was written from the first person point of view, not a favorite of mine. But I kept reading. And got sucked into a great story. I really intended to read some of it and finish it another day, but it was too good to put down, so with a break for supper and few drink and bathroom breaks, I read on and until I finished the book.

   Maybe I don't remember everything I studied in history, or I just never studied the Mountain Meadows Massacre, but I don't remember ever hearing about it. The book is fictional, but is based on that very real event. The author spun a fascinating and suspenseful story using that event and other history about the Mormons and their leader, Joseph Smith.

   I liked the characters in the book, although there were a few surprises with some of them, and although the plot was convoluted and intricate, it was easy to follow. The author has experience in forensics, and that came through in the book. And I really found the historical information about the Mormons fascinating and learned more about the religion while reading this book, and the interesting theories and ideas about the famous (at least to other people) massacre.

  This is a debut novel for this author, and she has hit one out of the park. Anyone who reads it should give it five stars, for it is worthy of five stars. It is truly a terrific read, and I look forward to reading the next book by this author.

About the author:

Carrie Stuart Parks is an award-winning fine artist and internationally known forensic artist. Along with her husband, Rick, she travels across the US and Canada teaching courses in forensic art to law enforcement as well as civilian participants. She has won numerous awards for career excellence. Carrie is a popular platform speaker, presenting a variety of topics from crime to creativity. 

Animals have always been a large part of her life. Her parents, Ned and Evelyn Stuart, started Skeel Kennel Great Pyrenees in 1960. Carrie inherited the kennel and continues with her beloved dogs as both an AKC judge and currently president of the Great Pyrenees Club of America. She lives on the same ranch she grew up on in Northern Idaho.

Check out her website at CarrieStuartParks.com

A Cry From the Dust is available from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers for the review copy.

Agent With a History by Guy Stanton III

It’s been one long day for Lisa and her headache is living proof of it. Most of it she blamed on the full moon outside. Things always got crazy this time of the month, but this month was exceptional. She needed sleep bad and only hoped the nightmares that haunted her would leave her alone for at least one night. They don’t. She wakes up as usual screaming only to find out that her nightmare has just begun, because she’s not alone in her room. 

One man has been gruesomely tortured to death in a ritualistic killing. An entire police precinct has been reconstructed down to the smallest detail in an abandoned warehouse and a mysterious stranger known only as Flint seems to be the cause of it all. It’s a case that is fast turning into one big headache for Lisa Tauranto a detective for the NYPD, but it gets much worse when her past, that she’s tried so hard to bury, rises up to engulf her in its golden grip once again. Lisa is ripped from the existence that she so painstakingly built for herself into a mixed up world of intrigue, where nothing is as it seems. It’s a fight to survive and to protect what she is sworn to, but will love conquer all? Will she betray her oath to be happy? Does she even have a choice anymore or does a several thousand year old mystery hold enough weight in treasure to drag her down with it? Everyone wants her dead, everyone that is but for one man who is the cause of all her upheaval in the first place. He’s an agent working for someone, but she doesn’t know who. She only hopes he’s as good as his kisses make her believe him to be.

My review:
  I had never heard of this author until he emailed me and asked if I'd review one of his books. Being Christian suspense, I of course agreed to do so.

 The book he sent me is the first in The Agents For Good Series, Agent With a History.  It didn't take me long to get into the book, as it is a very suspenseful and interesting read. Though it was different for a male author to write a first person story from the view of a woman, it worked pretty well. I did like the main characters and the plot. It was cool how he tied the main character to the line of Queen Sheba from the Bible.

  I liked the writing style of the author, but found the physical interactions and descriptions of the main characters a bit much at times, but I still enjoyed the book and would recommend it to readers of Christian suspense. It is action packed and never has a dull moment in it.

About the author:

I'm a dreamer, a poet, a lover, a husband, a father, and a man of God. I'm inspired by what I've seen and what I've read, but what I create with my words is where I dream. I pray for inspiration, and I enjoy what I have written just as I hope that others will as well. I'm a quiet man on the outside, but writing has become the playground of my soul to express itself in the grandeur of the created worlds and tales that I have been fortunate enough to dream of. The best way to find out more about me is to read my books. I write from the heart and I express both my shortcomings and my triumphs. I like to think of my writing as 'Reality Fiction'. I tell it like I see it. Life is short and the troubles many, but with faith in Jesus Christ all things have become possible to me. I may write 'make believe', but I strive to live out what I write. I enjoy my work and I hope you do too. Have a blessed time reading my imaginative thoughts.


Thanks to the author for the review copy.

Check out his website here.

Compassion Without Compromise

Loving, Biblical Answers on HomosexualityIn the next year at least one of these things will happen in your life:
• A family member will come out of the closet and expect you to be okay with it. 
• Your elementary-age child's curriculum will discuss LGBT families.
• Your company will talk about building a tolerant workplace for LGBT co-workers.
• Your college-age child will tell you your view on homosexuality is bigoted.

Are you ready?
In their role as pastors, Adam Barr and Ron Citlau have seen how this issue can tear apart families, friendships, and even churches. In this book they combine biblical answers with practical, real-world advice on how to think about and discuss this issue with those you care about. They also tell the story of Ron's personal journey from same-sex attraction and sexual brokenness to healing. 

Truth does not preclude kindness--and a good dose of humility is necessary to love our neighbors. With sensitivity and winsomeness, this book will offer an honest but inviting message to readers: We are all in need of the healing that can only come from the truth of the gospel.

My review:
  Occasionally a book comes along that everyone should read. This is one such book. You'd have to be totally asleep to not see the militaristic and bullying-like tactics of those who want to further the gay agenda with the end result of silencing anyone who dares disagree.

 And yet for every gay person marching in a gay parade and trying to force his views on anyone who dares disagree, there are people in our churches and families quietly struggling with the issue. And those who may be out, yet are not confrontational about it and we may work with or live beside, or even have in our family.

  How does one stand against the gay bullies, stand against the push for this lifestyle to be taught in schools, to fight for religious freedoms that seem to get bulldozed in the name of gay rights, while still loving those who struggle with same-sex attractions and/or fully embrace them? How does one show compassion without compromising and going against God and His Word?

  This isn't a long book, coming in at only 158 pages, but the authors do a great job of covering the issue and providing some great answers. They address and answer several questions throughout the book from people from things like if you should attend a gay wedding, what to do if your child tells you they are gay, etc.

 They also cover why we can't cave into the idea that God is OK with homosexuality. They use Scripture to back up their points, and answer some common arguments used by those who are trying to revise what the Bible says about the issue. 

 Christians need to be ready to deal with things they will face in regards to this issue, and they need to understand it better and how to love and relate to those who are dealing with it. This book will help in those areas. I highly recommend it.

There is a website with more about the book and authors, including a downloadable study guide for the book at CompassionWithoutCompromise.com

About  the authors:

Adam T. Barr serves as senior pastor at Peace Church, a healthy, growing community in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As the president and founder of Borderlands, a worldview ministry, Adam has lectured across the country on this topic and produced video curriculum. He also serves with Kevin DeYoung on the board of RCA Integrity, a renewal movement in the Reformed Church in America that gathers pastors from across the denomination each year for the Integrity Conference, which has hosted speakers like Mark Dever, Ligon Duncun and Carl Trueman, and where Adam has presented some of the material in this book.
He graduated magna cum laude from Hope College with a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy, earned his MDiv from Western Theological Seminary and a ThM from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and completed several PhD-level courses at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. 
Adam's book Exploring the Story (Zondervan) has sold more than 20,000 copies. In 2004-05, Adam revised, edited, expanded, and wrote for the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Commentary, originally edited by F. F. Bruce. Currently he is under contract with Baker, producing preaching and teaching components for the Teaching the Text commentary series.
But Adam's first calling is as a husband and father. Together with his wife, Jennifer, and their four sons, he seeks to embody the ideas he has been called to communicate.

Ron Citlau graduated from the University of California, Riverside and Western Theological Seminary. He has served in ministry positions in Southern California and Kansas City. He is the pastor of Calvary Church in Orland Park, Illinois, part of the Reformed Church in America. 

Ron struggled with same-sex attraction his whole life and has worked with and walked alongside many others who have struggled with sexual brokenness, as well as equipping pastoral leaders to serve those dealing with sexual sin. He also worked with Andrew Comiskey, producing curriculum on sexual healing now used by Desert Stream Ministries in hundreds of churches throughout the country. When he isn't working, he loves to be with his wife, Amy, and their four boys: Jack, Sawyer, Eli, and Crosby.

Compassion Without Compromise is available from Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Bethany House for the review copy.

The Giver

Occasionally I will get an offer to review a DVD, but rarely do I watch a movie and feel impressed to post a review of it. This is one of those rare times.

  I never read the book, but I have heard a lot about the movie, and several have hailed it as a great pro-life movie. I decided to watch it this evening and hoped it was worth the rental cost. And it was.

 The plot revolves around a young man named Jonas. He lives in a large community that is black and white, no color. There are no emotions, no animals, no love, no memories of life as we know it. No one is different, and everyone takes daily injections that hold emotions and memories at bay. At graduation, all graduates are given a job. Jonas is given the rare job of "receiver" of memories, and his trainer starts showing him memories of what life was like before their community was made and everyone basically became robots.

  I will try not to give away spoilers, but the more Jonas sees what it used to be like, the more he wants what used to be. He feels love for a baby and discovers what happens to babies who are not up to par and considered worthy to live in the community. They are "released". One of the great lines in the movie is stated by Jonas after he witnesses a baby being "released" and it has been explained to him that the people don't know what they are doing, that they are killing . "“They hadn't eliminated murder. They brought it home. They just called it by a different name.” 

  The movie had a slow start, but I quickly got into it and loved it. It is completely clean, no nudity or language, and comes as close to being a Christian movie as a movie could come and not be classified as such. And it is amazing for Hollywood to come up with a movie that is so pro-life, even if they didn't intend that to be the message. Completely family-friendly, and worth watching.

When Night Comes by Dan Walsh

Jack Turner comes back to Culpepper to give a series of lectures for his old history professor. Within days, he starts having bizarre experiences at night. Like he's traveling back in time, experiencing the epic events in his lectures firsthand. He has no control over these experiences and can't make them stop.

Joe Boyd thought he'd left big city crime back in Pittsburgh when he took a detective job in Culpepper, Georgia, a sleepy southern college town. His peaceful life ends when two students turn up dead in two weeks. The coroner is saying natural causes, but something doesn't add up.

Rachel Cook, a teaching assistant at Culpepper, can't believe Jack is back in her life again. She's had a crush on him since she was fourteen, but Jack never knew. He instantly seems attracted to her, but she can tell...something is deeply troubling him.

Watching all this from a distance is Nigel Avery. He's certain this experiment's about to unravel. It'll be his job to tie up all the loose ends when it does.

Bestselling author Dan Walsh is known for page-turning story lines. Fans of his novels The Discovery and What Follows After will especially love...When Night Comes.

My review:
  I had the chance to get a free e-book version of this book from  the author to review, but I don't like e-books, and he being a favorite author of mine, wanted a real copy of the book, so I passed and told him I'd buy a hard copy of the book and leave a review. This is me keeping my promise.

  Dan Walsh is one of my favorite authors, and normally writes non-suspense. He has been compared to Nicholas Sparks, and I would also say he is comparable to Karen Kingsbury. He has done two novels that leaned toward suspense, and wanted to also get into that genre'. Since his publisher wouldn't let him write two genre's, he self-published this, his first actual suspense novel. And I loved it. I hope he still writes the genre' he has become known for, but also keeps up with suspense.

   I have read a lot of suspense novels, that being my favorite genre', and I can honestly say Dan held his own with authors who have been writing it for years. When the book started, there seemed to be two plots going on and I wondered what they had to do with each other, but it soon became obvious what they had in common. I thought the plot was genius. People dying mysterious deaths that seemed natural and not connected, yet they were.

 I made the mistake of starting the book one evening when I didn't have time to finish it, and didn't get very far. I did finish it the next night, though I had to stay up a little past my bed time to do so, but it was so worth it. This was a book worth reading. Great plot and characters, and though it was a lighter on Christian content than Dan's other books, it would still classify as Christian. The book had a satisfying conclusion, though I was sad to see it end. I highly recommend it to suspense readers, though  people who don't read suspense and like Dan's other books, may not enjoy this one.

About the author:

Dan Walsh's debut novel, The Unfinished Gift, won 2 Carol Awards and has been published in several editions and different languages. It continues to be an Amazon bestseller during the Christmas season 5 years later and has sold over 50,000 copies. 

With the sequel, The Homecoming, book reviewers began to liken Dan's writing to Nicholas Sparks. Dan's 3rd novel, The Deepest Waters, earned his 3rd Carol Award for Best Short Historical. His 4th novel, Remembering Christmas became his first national bestseller and was a finalist for Inspirational Book of the Year. 

Since then, Dan has written 10 more novels, including a 4-book fiction series with Gary Smalley. The Discovery and The Reunion, both stand-alones, were also named finalists for RT's Inspirational Book of the Year and both have over 250 5-Star reviews on Amazon. The Reunion has also been optioned for a movie by Team Two Entertainment.

Dan released his first indie-published suspense novel, When Night Comes, Nov 1st.

He lives in the Daytona Beach area with his wife, Cindi, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel. They've been married for 38 years and have 2 grown children and 3 grandchildren.

Check out his website DanWalshbooks.com

Jesus Daily Devotional by Aaron Taboe, MD, with a giveaway

Based on the major themes found on the most active Facebook page in history, JESUS DAILY is a 365-day interactive devotional that goes beyond even the fan page to create a deeper experience and cultural movement that celebrates your redemption in Christ. JESUS DAILY presents a devotional thought but also challenges you to respond to each daily reflection using a variety of social media tools. 

JESUS DAILY is a worldwide revolution in how you can connect, share, and worship the Father personally and with other believers.


My review:
I was not familiar with the Jesus Daily Facebook page until I was offered this devotional book to review. This devotional was inspired by the fans and themes on that Facebook page.

  The book itself is a small and attractive hardcover the size of a mass market paperback. It is a 365 day devotional with each devotional having a date at the top of the page. Each day has a Bible verse, followed by a devotional, and ending with a "connect" section. The connect part has the reader do something. Sometimes it is listing something that has to do with the lesson, going on Facebook and starting a discussion about a certain topic, etc. The connect part is what makes the devotional interactive.

 I didn't read all 365 devotionals, but I did read some of them and looked through the book, and for as short of devotionals as they are, they say a lot in those few words and cover a wide variety of topics. The interactive part can be challenging, but even that part shouldn't take that much extra time out of the reader's day. From what I have seen of it, it would make a great devotional, especially for those who are well connected to social media like Facebook and Twitter.

About the author:

Aaron Tabor, MD, started the Jesus Daily Facebook page in 2009. He is the President of Gene Facelift, a gene therapy biotechnology company developing anti-aging and wound healing drugs. Dr. Tabor is a graduate of The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Jesus Daily is available from Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Group.

Thanks to Katie from Hachette for the review copy.

Jesus Daily can be purchased from Amazon,  Barnes & Noble, ChristianBook.com, and Walmart, and other locations.

Giveaway:
Courtesy of Hachette Books, I have one copy of the devotional and a t-shirt to give away.

To enter, "like" the Facebook page for Jesus Daily and comment on this blog post saying that you did so.

Or
Read the Devotional for today, December 8 below,  do the "connect" section, and comment saying you did so.

Using Random.org, I will pick a winner on December 18.

Love Without End by Robin Lee Hatcher and a Kindle Fire Giveaway

Join bestselling author Robin Lee Hatcher with book one, Love Without End, in the new series A King's Meadow Romance.

Chet and Kimberly have both failed when it comes to love. Will they risk their hearts to love again?

Chet Leonard's life was forever changed when his seventeen-year-old son died and then, soon after, his wife walked out on their family. Over two years later, all he wants to do is hold onto his horse ranch and raise his remaining sons to be honorable men.

Kimberly Welch, widowed mother of Tara, a rebellious fifteen-year-old, has reached the end of her finances and nearly the end of her rope. She and Tara come to Kings Meadow to try to piece their lives back together again. Kimberly has no intention of becoming involved with the residents of this remote mountain community and certainly not with any man.

When 84-year-old Anna McKenna returns to Kings Meadow and to the Leonard ranch, she becomes an agent of change and healing for the two hurting families. With her help, Kimberly and Chet's families at last discover a love without end.

My review:

  Romance novels are rarely on my to-read list, but Robin Lee Hatcher has written some really good books that I have enjoyed over the years. I haven't read all of her books, as they are usually more romance, but when I do read one, she does not disappoint.

  When I got the email about this one, I thought it sounded worth reading, so I requested it, and once I started reading it, I found it hard to put down. It is a really good read. I didn't read  the book that preceded it, and wish I did, as it sounds good and it may have helped set the stage for this one better, but I don't think I missed that much by reading this one first.

  I liked the setting, plot, characters, and faith element in the book. I'm never a fan of books where one or both of the characters is divorced and remarries someone else, but I still enjoyed the book. Also, this book seemed to focus more on the male in the story, and that doesn't happen a lot in the predominantly female Christian fiction world. The main male character has already suffered the loss of a son in a car accident and the ending of his marriage as his wife abruptly left him, but he deals with more hurdles and discouragement in this book. I liked the way his relationship was portrayed with his teenage sons, and how he reacted with them.

  And maybe that is why I like this romance novel. Romance seemed to be more of a back drop to the story, instead of being the main story. The story is more about a man that has experienced loss, but still holds onto his faith in God and is trying to raise his two remaining sons in the right way while running a horse ranch.

  Regardless, it is a great book and I enjoyed reading it, and also highly recommend it.

About the author:

Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heart-warming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, two RT Career Achievement Awards, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of more than sixty novels.

Learn more about Robin at: website, Facebook, Twitter

Love Without End is available from Zondervan Publishing.

Thanks to Litfuse for the review copy.

Fire up the romance this holiday with Robin Lee Hatcher's latest offering in the King's Meadow Romance series, Love Without End. For two single parents with bruised hearts, it’ll take more than a little courage to get back on the horse when it comes to love.

Celebrate love rising from the ashes of tragedy with Robin by entering her Kindle Fire giveaway.

 One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Love Without End and the rest of the King's Meadow Romance series from Robin Lee Hatcher

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 14th. Winner will be announced December 15th on Robin's blog.
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The Brother's Keeper by NLB Horton, and win a Kindle

A friend's deliberate deception. A family's desperate dilemma. 

Archaeologist Grace Madison is in Brussels cataloguing looted antiquities when her son's bride is attacked in Switzerland. Her day careens from bad to catastrophic when daughter Maggie, a hydrologist, disappears in France.

Coincidence is a luxury that Grace cannot afford. Particularly when near-fatal history---saturated in espionage---is repeating itself.

The Madison family converges on Paris. Frenzied research unearths the evil threatening the unorthodox operatives: a legend intertwining Solomon, Martin Luther, and the Fourth Crusade. Embedded like a taproot in the Ancient Near East, a cuneiform clay tablet is their only lifeline. And insufficient when they collide with a familiar enemy, and unwittingly reveal too much.

Deceiving them at every turn, an old friend stands at the end of the three-continent, four-thousand-year-old race. As they jeopardize hearts and lives, they discover that to save themselves, they must first rescue him.

If he'll let them.

My review:
  I didn't read the book that precedes this one, and I think it would be best to, as it refers to happenings in the previous book and you would know the characters better, but it wasn't that difficult to keep up with who was who.

  The author had a different writing style than I normally read, but it works for her. I liked the characters, the setting - which went all over, and the plot. There are a lot of surprises in this book, and enough suspense to keep this suspense lover happy.

  The book is definitely Christian. There is an underlying message in the book that God is in control. 

  There were some cool historical aspects to the book, as a painting that Martin Luther painted plays a part in the story.

 I'd definitely recommend this series, though I would recommend reading them in order.

About the author:

After an award-winning detour through journalism and marketing and a graduate degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, NLB Horton returned to writing fiction. She has surveyed Israeli and Jordanian archaeological digs accompanied (twice!) by heavy artillery rounds from Syria and machine gun fire from Lebanon. Calmly (not!) tossed a tarantula from her skiff into the Amazon after training with an Incan shaman. Driven uneventfully through Rome. And consumed gallons of afternoon tea across five continents. Life is good. 

She is a member of the venerable Explorers Club, founded in 1904 as a multidisciplinary professional society of explorers and scientists. From the Rocky Mountains, she writes, cross-country skis, fly fishes, gardens, shoots sporting clays, and researches ideas for the next novel in the Parched series. 

Her first novel, When Camels Fly, was released in May, 2014. The Brothers' Keepers is her second. The third in the series will release in the fall of 2015.

Learn more about NLB at: website, Facebook, Twitter

Thanks to Litfuse for the review copy.

Don't miss NLB Horton's The Brothers' Keepers—international suspense at its best. While cataloguing looted antiquities in Brussels, archaeologist Grace Madison discovers her daughter has vanished in France, and her son's bride has been attacked in Switzerland. After the Madison family unearths a relic whose taproot pierces the Ancient Near East, they realize before they can save themselves, they must rescue an old friend . . . if he'll let them.

Learn more about book one in the series, When Camels Fly, and enter to win a Kindle Fire.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• When Camels Fly and The Brothers' Keepers by NLB Horton

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 7th. Winner will be announced December 8th on NLB's blog.

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