A Small Book for the Anxious Heart by Edward T Welch

Book description:

Fear and anxiety are chronic struggles for many people that are only intensifying and increasing. Best-selling author Edward T. Welch shares the comfort and peace of Jesus in fifty brief readings for those who wrestle with fear.

A Small Book for the Anxious Heart is a small but powerful devotional to remind men and women of the encouraging, beautiful words in Scripture to anxious people.

While many books on fear and anxiety exist—promising to help men and women manage their struggles with methods and formulas—this devotional reaches deeper into Scripture, making the Word of God more accessible. Don’t put a Band-Aid on your fear and anxiety; rather, learn to bring your fear to Jesus, relying on his Word.

Welch has been counseling for over thirty-eight years and is the author of more than a dozen books, including A Small Book about a Big Problem, Running Scared: Fear, Worry and the God of Rest, Shame Interrupted, When People Are Big and God Is Small, and many others.

Jesus cares for us, and in these readings, Welch invites readers to trust him for today, knowing he goes before us always.

My review:

 This book is well named. It IS a small book, about the size of a mass market paperback, and coming in at 186 pages.

 It has 50 chapters, mean to be read over a period of 50 days. Fear and anxiety are discussed a lot, and there are a lot of things discussed that we are anxious about. Each chapter ends with two questions to answer and think about.

 Anxiety and depression are issues I deal with, and I found some of the things in the book that do cause me anxiety and worry.

 The book is well written and contains a lot of helpful ideas and advice that is also Biblical. It is definitely best read over a 50 day period as suggested. My only issue with the book is that it is overpriced for the size.....though my review copy was free. It is helpful for the intended audience, I can attest to that.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own

About the author:

Edward T. Welch, MDiv, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He earned a PhD in counseling (neuropsychology) from the University of Utah and has a Master of Divinity degree from Biblical Theological Seminary. Ed has been counseling for over thirty years and has written extensively on the topics of depression, fear, and addictions. His biblical counseling books include Shame Interrupted; When People Are Big and God Is Small; Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave; Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness; Crossroads: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Addiction; Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest; When I Am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety; Side by Side: Walking with Others in Wisdom and Love; and A Small Book about a Big Problem: Meditations on Anger, Patience, and Peace.

Jonah: Grace for Sinners and Saints by Iain Duguid

Book description:

This small group guide includes ten in-depth lessons for one-to-one discipleship, small group, or large group settings. Explore this resource and find a God who relents, a God who is sovereign, and a God who is present among the mercies and trials of life.

Jonah: Grace for Sinners and Saints offers Scripture-based, theologically rich content with an easy-to-follow structure to engage readers. Duguid explores how we are more like Jonah than we might think, bringing the text to life by examining our own motives and affections. 

Duguid doesn’t leave readers in the judgment and spiritual arrogance of Jonah. He shows us the good news that the Lord is in charge, even over those who try to run from him. 

With rich discussion questions, exercises, and articles to encourage thoughtful responses to the text, this study guide helps readers see Jesus more clearly in the themes found in the book of Jonah. 

My review:

  Jonah is a Bible character who has always interested me. I have studied it before and read other books on and about the book, but couldn't pass up reviewing this one.

 Each lesson contains these parts:
Big idea: a summary of the main point
Bible conversation: read and discuss the passage of Scripture
Article: the main teaching of the lesson, written by the author
Discussion: discussion of the article
Exercise: a written part to do on one's own time
Wrap-up and prayer

  The author of this study is new to me, but I was impressed with the thoughts he came up with for the book, and the way he brought everything together to make a great Bible study. The exercise questions are very thought provoking, and I did end up seeing Jonah in a new light. The theme of the book is grace, and that comes through loud and clear.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own

About the author:

Iain M. Duguid received his PhD at the University of Cambridge in 1992, his MDiv at Westminster Theological Seminary in 1989, and his BSc at the University of Edinburgh in 1981. He's the author of Ezekiel and the Leaders of Israel, Esther & Ruth, Daniel, and Song of Songs in the Reformed Expository Commentary, as well as Jonah: Grace for Sinners and Saints, among many other titles. Duguid is a professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Barbara, have been married for over thirty years and have six adult children.

Ruth: Redemption for the Broken by Jared C Wilson

Book description:

In this ten-week accessible study, Jared Wilson provides a clearer picture of Jesus through the story of Ruth, which he presents as a historic living parable of Christ’s love for his church.

Ruth: Redemption for the Broken can be adapted for one-to-one discipleship, small group, or large group settings. The comprehensive leader’s guide is included in the text, making it an easy-to-follow structure to engage men and women.

By studying the book of Ruth, readers can enjoy the romance and drama of this compelling story while understanding how it applies to their own lives—finding Christ’s undying love for them through this unforgettable biblical narrative.

Jesus is the “truer and better” of every character in the book of Ruth, and everything in the Bible points to him. Wilson anchors his message in Scripture, guiding readers to better understand the themes in the book of Ruth.

When everything falls apart, cling to Jesus, the one who clings to you. Find in the story of Ruth the start of a real love story—but probably not the one you think. Ruth reveals the truth that there are no sinners, no failures, and no victims so far gone that the sovereign hand of the Lord cannot reach, rescue, and even revise the story of their lives.

My review:

  Ruth is one of the books of the Bible I never really thought of for a Bible study. It is more of a story we have read over and over. After reading through this book, I can see that it does make a great study.

 Each lesson contains these parts:
Big idea: a summary of the main point
Bible conversation: read and discuss the passage of Scripture
Article: the main teaching of the lesson, written by the author
Discussion: discussion of the article
Exercise: a written part to do on one's own time
Wrap-up and prayer

  The Bible study is well done, interesting, and brings out some great thoughts I at least never considered about the book of Ruth. I like the set up, and I can see it working for individual study also, and not just as a group.

  The article section was very interesting, and the author had some great insights worth considering that were well written and thought provoking.

 I haven't read a lot of Bible studies, but this seems to be one worth doing and accomplishes the purpose of a Bible study.


I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Jared C. Wilson is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Spurgeon College, author in residence at Midwestern Seminary, general editor of For The Church, and director of the Pastoral Training Center at Liberty Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO. He is the author of numerous books, including The Gospel-Driven Church, The Imperfect Disciple, and Supernatural Power for Everyday People. In ministry for twenty-five years, Wilson has also written numerous church resources and Bible studies, including Ruth: Redemption for the Broken, as well as contributed the study notes for 1 and 2 Peter and Jude in the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible. He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN.

A Shepherd Suspense Novel, #1: A Cross to Kill by Andrew Huff

Book review:

John Cross is a small-town pastor, bent on leading his flock to follow God's calling. He's not the sort of man one would expect to have a checkered past.

But the truth is that the man behind the pulpit preaching to his sheep was once a wolf--an assassin for the CIA. When John decided to follow Christ, he put that work behind him, determined to pay penance for all the lives he took. He vowed never to kill again.

Now someone wants the peaceful pastor to pay for his sins with his own life. And when a terrorist out for revenge walks into the church, John's secrets are laid bare. Confronted with his past, he must face his demons and discover whether a man can truly change. Can he keep his vow--even when the people he loves are in mortal danger? Will his congregation and the brave woman he's learning to care for be caught in the cross fire? In the end, his death may be the only sacrifice he has left to offer . . .

Andrew Huff's thrilling debut is not only a riveting story of suspense, it's also a deep exploration of the moral quandaries that face those who choose to follow the Prince of Peace in a violent world.

My review:

  This book sounded really good, but no offense intended....the publisher isn't known for great suspense authors or books. Those come from Nelson, Zondervan, Revell, etc. But it sounded really good....so I requested it to review.

  This has to be the best book Kregel ever published. Seriously. Talk about non stop action and an adrenaline rush from reading a book. It starts out with a televised execution being filmed live, and doesn't slow down until the last page, which is when I finally took a breath.

 A likable character is important, and the author came up with a great and very likable character in John Cross. Former assassin for the CIA, and now a pastor of a small country church where he tries to atone for his past. Huff did an excellent job on portraying the struggle of not going back into that life as his past caught up with him and temptations to give into the old killing urges came up in him.

 The book is unapologetically Christian, while also being one of the most intense suspense novels I have read for a while. It was full of twists and turns intertwined with Biblical truths.

 I have found the Christian fiction market to be extremely geared towards women. Books that are for men, or at least geared more towards men, seem to be a rarity. This book is one of those rarities. Sure, women are going to enjoy it, but this is definitely a book you can buy for the male readers in your life. They will not be disappointed, and may even let you read it after they finish it.

 Huff pulled off some great accomplishments with this book:
1)  He published a debut novel that should shoot him to the top of a lot of reader's favorite authors (including me!)

2)  He wrote a totally awesome suspense novel that is intense, action filled, and totally Christian, and that will thrill and interest both men and women.

3) And he pulled it off with a publisher not necessarily known for putting out this kind of award winning fiction. (Well, it is guaranteed to win awards.)

  Seriously, people....I don't exaggerate. This is one of the most awesome suspense novels I have read for a long time.... and I have read some great ones. I definitely recommend it, and am looking forward to reading the other two books in this series from this new and very talented author.


I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Andrew Huff spent 10 years in local church ministry before pursuing God’s calling into creative storytelling and media production as the Product Director at Igniter Media, a church media company (ignitermedia.com). He is a two-time finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Contest for unpublished authors (2014 & 2017) and also won the Best Screenplay award at the 2015 48 Hour Film Festival in Richmond, VA.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science in Religion degree from Liberty University and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary. He resides in North Texas with his beautiful wife Jae and their two boys.

Learn more at andrewhuffbooks.com.
Facebook (@huffwrites)
Twitter (@andrewjohnhuff)

Read an excerpt here.

Giveaway:

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Daily Wisdom for Men Devotional

Book description:


You Are a Man of God Being Transformed to Be More Like Him Every Day!

This brand-new devotional collection for men is designed to help them know the heart of God. With an inspiring readings and scriptures for every day of 2020, Daily Wisdom for Men will provide both encouragement and challenge, as you come to know the transforming power of God's love.​



My review:

  I am always on the lookout for a good devotional, and reviewing one gives me a good opportunity to find one and also get information about it.

 This devotional has a few definite pluses:

1)  It is for men, and I am a man. :)

2) It is a 365 day devotional. I prefer those over the kind that are not for a whole year.

3)  Though the devotional is for men, it seems to be very general. Too many devotionals for men are more for married guys, which I am not. I didn't read every day's entry in the book, but I read several, and looked through the book. They do seem to be general for all guys, married or single.

  Each day has the devotional title, a Bible verse or verses to go along with it, the devotional part, and it ends with a prayer. The subjects are hugely varied, and are very well written and helpful. They are fairly short, yet not too short. At the back of the book is listed the six contributors to the book, and a plan for reading the Bible through in a year.

 I recommend this, and it would make a great Christmas gift.


I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.


 Daily Wisdom for Men is available from Barbour Publishing. Thanks to Barbour for the review copy.

Unscripted by Davis Bunn

Book description: 

Line producer Danny Byrd is well known in Hollywood for being someone who gets things done on time and under budget. But when his reputation takes a beating after his partner--and former best friend--makes off with their investors' money, Danny has but one chance to redeem himself and restore his ruined career.

LA lawyer Megan Pierce has sacrificed years of her life proving herself to impossible bosses, only to find herself disgusted at their snobbery and their specious business practices. When an opportunity to actually make a difference comes her way, she knows she has to grab it--even though she's not entirely clear what "it" is.

Danny and Megan are each other's best hope for redemption. What they never could have imagined was that they might also be each other's best hope for love.

My review:

  Not many books start out with the main character in jail, but this one did. I wasn't expecting that. Slight spoiler: he gets released, but one might figure that out by reading the book description.

  Bunn is one of the most versatile authors I have read. Most authors I read have one type of book they write, and stick with one genre'. Bunn has written all kinds of books in different genre's. This one is a book I wasn't sure about, but found myself liking a lot.

 Most Christians will agree Hollywood is pretty much godless and bad, so I wasn't sure about a book that is set in Hollywood, but it turned out to be a very enjoyable read. Though the plot was very interesting, reading about what goes into making a movie, picking the actors, etc, the book was about more than that.

 Danny, a very likable character, has a lot to deal with in the book: a best friend's betrayal, jail time, career pretty much destroyed, reputation destroyed. To me,  the themes of the book are forgiveness and letting go of the past.

 It is hard to say what all I liked about the book without giving spoilers away, but it was a great read. In addition to the main character, Danny, Bunn also created some other great characters that made the book interesting.

 The Christian parts of the book were not always obvious, but they were there. The romantic elements of the book were also pretty much in the background and were not a big part of  the book.

 This is a book I would recommend. It is different from a lot of Christian fiction on the market, with the setting and plot in Hollywood making a movie, but it is definitely worth reading. 


I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.


About  the author:

Davis Bunn (www.davisbunn.com) is the award-winning author of numerous national bestsellers with sales totaling more than seven million copies worldwide. His work has been published in twenty languages, and his critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction. Bunn is a Writer-in-Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University. He and his wife, Isabella, divide their time between England and Florida.


 Unscripted is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

 Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Dark Ambitions, Code of Honor #3 by Irene Hannon

Book review:


Danger lurks when ambitions turn deadly . . .

Former Army Night Stalker Rick Jordan usually has his camp for foster children to himself during the winter months. But someone has visited recently--leaving a trail of blood. One of the two clues left behind tips Rick off to the identity of his visitor, who soon turns up dead. The police deem it an accident, but Rick isn't convinced.

With the help of private investigator Heather Shields, he sets out to decipher the remaining clue. Except someone doesn't want them to succeed--and will stop at nothing to keep them from finding the truth.




My review:

  This is another book I have been anticipating from one of my top favorite authors. I have read every suspense novel this author has written, and I have never been disappointed. And she keeps getting better.

 Code of Honor was a neat series. Each book was about a different trio of friends who had been closer friends since childhood, drawn together by not-so-great family situations. They made a vow to grow up and do something to make the world a better place....if only more people did that in real life. Dark Ambitions centered on the last of the three friends, Rick.

 An added cool factor to this book: Hannon used characters from her Private Justice Series, which was two series ago in her roster of books.

 Dark Ambitions had a fairly complex plot, with ties to something that happened five years previously in Afghanistan. The book was written in third person point of view, but there was a mystery person who would pop up occasionally in the first person point of view. All through the book, I tried to figure out who the person might be, and it was a total surprise when the identity of that "I" was revealed.

  Rick and Heather were both great characters, and very likable.....especially Rick, who ran a camp for foster kids and flew rescue missions in helicopters.

 Hannon does suspense very well, and Dark Ambitions had me turning the pages as fast as I could read the words on those pages. I started the book on my work lunch break, and finished it at home.

 She also does romance well. I enjoyed seeing how the romance played out between Rick and Heather as they dodged dangerous people out to stop their investigation.

Great conclusion to this series.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.


About the author:

Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than fifty novels, including Hope Harbor, Sea Rose Lane, Sandpiper Cove, Pelican Point, and Driftwood Bay, as well as the Code of Honor, Private Justice, and Men of Valor suspense series. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, and she is a member of that organization's elite Hall of Fame. Her many other awards include National Readers' Choice, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers' Choice, Booksellers' Best, Carols, and Reviewers' Choice from RT Book Reviews magazine, which also honored her with a Career Achievement award for her entire body of work. In addition, she is a two-time Christy Award finalist. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.


Dark Ambitions, and the other two books in the Code of Honor Series, are available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

 Thanks to Revell  for the review copy.

Always Look Twice, Uncommon Justice #2 by Elizabeth Goddard

Book description:

Justice lies just on the other side of fear

At the advice of her therapist, Harper Reynolds has traded her job as a crime scene photographer for a more peaceful life taking photographs of the natural world. But her hopes for a life surrounded by the serenity of the outdoors are dashed when she inadvertently captures a murder being committed. She flees the scene in fear--and loses the camera.

Former Green Beret Heath McKade, a reserve deputy in an understaffed county, has been called in to protect Harper, a childhood friend he is surprised to see back in the area. When Harper learns that the sheriff's department can't find any evidence of the murder she witnessed, she is determined to do what she can to see that justice is done. What neither Harper nor Heath could know is how many explosive secrets from the past will be exposed--or how deeply they will fall for each other.

My review:

  The first book I read by this author was the first book in this series, and I was hooked. Since then, I have read several of the books she wrote for the Love Inspired Suspense line of books, and loved every one of them. But I have been looking forward to reading this one since I finished the first book in this series back in February.

  Always Look Twice was just as exciting and suspenseful as Never Let Go, #1 in this series. A lot of book #1 took place on and around the land he owns and runs a camp from, so a lot of the setting was the same in both books. By the way, I'd love to live at that fictional place....minus the bears.

 Goddard did a great job on concealing the "who'. She had me suspecting one man, then another. By the time the identity of the killer was revealed, I wasn't surprised, but  had fun trying to figure out who really was the guilty party.

 I like books where the couple have previously known each other, and it isn't necessarily a quick boy meets girl, tries to keep girl safe, marries girl. Those books are an enjoyable read too, but it adds different layers when previous relationships or friendship is part of the story.

 In addition to the great suspense and drama, Goddard dealt with guilt in this book. Yeah...even fiction books can address issues and help the reader. Imagine that. Both Heath and Harper both had things from their past that they needed to let go of to be what God wanted, and to have any kind of relationship with each other.

 Slight spoiler: Liam, the third brother whose story will be in the third and final book, makes an appearance in this book, and he is as likable and cool as his two brothers.

 My only complaint is more likely the fault of the publisher, from previous knowledge: This series is about 3 brothers, each book centering on a different one. It would have made more sense to me to feature the guys on the covers instead of the women, but Christian fiction tends to be a woman's market, and some publishers insist on putting women on the covers.

 The book itself: awesome read that has be already anticipating the third and final book in this greats series.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.


About the author:

Elizabeth Goddard is the bestselling author of more than 40 books, including the Carol Award-winning The Camera Never Lies. Her Mountain Cove series books have been finalists in the Daphne du Maurier Awards and the Carol Awards. Goddard is a seventh generation Texan and can be found online at www.elizabethgoddard.com.


Always Look Twice and the book it follows are available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

 Thanks to Revell for the review copy.


Book #1 in The Uncommon Justice Series

Love Changes Everything by Micah Bertaeau

Book description:


Warning: Real love will change every part of your existence

We all crave a love that doesn't fade and doesn't fail--even when we do. That's the kind of love God demonstrates for us through the remarkable story of Hosea and Gomer. Unpacking this powerful love story from the Old Testament, pastor Micah Berteau releases us from the fears, hurts, insecurities, and anxieties of life by showing us just how extravagantly we are loved--in spite of our faults, our failures, and our sins.

If you're tired of trying so hard to be worthy of someone else's love, if you're lost in what's fake or drawn to live for what's temporary, Micah Berteau has good news for you: there is a better way to live and love.


My review:

  There are a lot of books about God's love, but in my opinion there can't be too many. It is an area I struggled in for so long, so I am always interested in reading and/or reviewing a book on that subject.

  This author is new to me, and this may be his first book. I liked his style of writing. He isn't preachy, and writes in an interesting and easy to read style, yet writes with depth. He takes a couple of different approaches to talk about God's love for us. He uses some stories from when he grew up and got in trouble, and related his dad's reactions to how God is with us. He also uses the Biblical story of Hosea and Gomer and brings out some great points and truths from that story.

  Disclosure: I moved right after getting this book in the mail, and had trouble finding it after my move, so I read through it faster than normal to meet the review dates. I still got a lot out of it, but plan on going back through it at a slower pace. There is a lot of great truths about God's love in this book, and it is worth reading no matter if you struggle to believe God loves you, or if you haven't had any doubts for years.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.


About the author:

Micah Berteau is the lead pastor of The House Fort Worth, which he launched in 2018 and is considered one of the fastest growing churches in America. Micah has earned his Masters in theology and is honored to travel and preach all over the world. He is a dynamic communicator who desires to see all generations intimately know Jesus and boldly make Him known. He and his wife, Lindsey, have two sons and live in Fort Worth, Texas. Learn more at www.micahberteau.com.


   Love Changes Everything is available from Revell, part of the Baker Publishing Company.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

One Final Breath, Dive Team Investigations #3 by Lynn H Blackburn

Book description:

Revenge has no statute of limitations

When investigator Gabe Chavez had his cover blown by an aggressive reporter, the silver lining was being able to rejoin the dive team. The downside? Dive team captain Anissa Bell, a woman who both fascinates and frustrates him.

Anissa grew up as a missionary kid on the Micronesian island of Yap and always planned to return after college. But she remained stateside, determined to solve the case that haunts her--the murder of her best friend and the disappearance of a three-year-old child.

When Anissa's fractured past collides with Gabe's investigation into the tragic shooting death of a teenage boy in Lake Porter, they'll have to put aside their complicated history with each other in order to uncover the killer's identity.

My review:

  This series was the first books I have read by this author, and she had me wowed from early in the first book. Her first two books were totally awesome, with the perfect blend of suspense, drama, romance, and humor.

 But One Final Breath is the book a lot of readers have been looking forward to. Blackburn came up with some really great and likable characters, and she writes great interactions between them on and off the job. Of all of these characters, the fan favorite seems to be Gabe, one of the two main characters in this final book. Gabe is a great investigator, diver.....and the class clown. (That may be why I liked him so much, given my sense of humor and love for jokes and humor). Blackburn did an awesome job of developing his character even more, and there were times I was laughing out loud, even laying the book aside for a moment til I quit laughing. This book really rocks.

 The plot was intricate and well thought out: revenge. That wasn't obvious at first, but even when it was, the mystery was who and why. In books like this, you always figure the good guys are going to survive and win, but it is still suspenseful and fun to see how it works out, and this book had a lot of suspenseful moments. Sometimes I had an idea what was going to happen, and sometimes I was totally surprised.

 I used to not like the romance stuff too well, but these days I do, and Blackburn did a fantastic job on the Gabe/Anissa romance.....class clown and Ms sensibility play by the rules. This was the most fun romance of the three books, and the book was the most fun of the three also. While still being 100% suspenseful.

  As with all of her books, the author made her books Christian and clean. This whole series stands high among Christian suspense, but Blackburn knocked one way out of the park with this one: perfect blend of suspense, character development and interaction, romance, and humor. I highly recommend the series, and though the third book really is the best of this great series, they should be read in order.

 My only complaint? The series is over. I'll miss these characters, but I am eager to see what this talented author has coming next.


I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.



About the author:

Lynn H. Blackburn is the author of Beneath the Surface, In Too Deep, Hidden Legacy, and Covert Justice. Winner of the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense, and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel, Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She's passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don't make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children.


  One Final Breath, and the other books in this series, are available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

 Thanks to Revell and the author for the review copy.

Something Needs to Change by David Platt

Book description:

While leading a team on a week-long trek of the Himalayas, bestselling author and pastor David Platt was stunned by the human needs he encountered, an experience so dramatic that it "changed the trajectory of my life." Meeting a man who'd lost his eye from a simple infection and seeing the faces of girls stolen from their families and trafficked in the cities, along with other unforgettable encounters, opened his eyes to the people behind the statistics and compelled him to wrestle with his assumptions about faith. In Something Needs to Change, Platt invites readers to come along on both the adventure of the trek, as well as the adventure of seeking answers to tough questions like, "Where is God in the middle of suffering?" "What makes my religion any better than someone else's religion?" and "What do I believe about eternal suffering?" Platt has crafted an irresistible message about what it means to give your life for the gospel--to finally stop talking about faith and truly start living it.

My review:

  I admit I don't read enough non-fiction, but David Platt is one of the few non-fiction authors I read and keep up with. Getting the chance to review his newest book was a no-brainer.

 There are books which can be life-changing, and this is one such book. The book is an interesting and fascinating read. Platt does a great job of relating his experiences on his trek though the Himalayas. He is honest, very bluntly so, about what emotions he experienced and the questions he faced as he saw and experienced things we never have to deal with here in America.

 As interesting as the book is, it isn't an easy read. Not only does it show how easy we have it here in America, it shows how shallow and selfish American Christianity is. It causes you to take a mirror to your own Christianity and question just what you are truly willing to do for God and to spread the Gospel.

  Throughout the book in addition to relating what they encountered, Platt shares portions of Scripture he read each day, along with his journal entries about what he read and about what he saw and experienced on his trek. At the end of each chapter are a couple of questions for the reader to think about and answer.

 If you are the kind of Christian who doesn't want to get out of your comfort zone, or put yourself out much to spread the Gospel, this book is not for you. But I definitely recommend reading it. It does have the possibility of being life-changing.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own


About the author:

David Platt serves as pastor at McLean Bible Church in Washington, D.C., and he is the founder and president of Radical Inc., a global ministry that serves churches in accomplishing the mission of Christ. David previously served as the president of the International Mission Board, and he has authored several books, including Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, and Counter Culture. Along with his wife and kids, he lives in the Washington D.C. metro area.

  Something Needs to Change is available from Waterbrook/Multnomah Publishing.

  Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah for the review copy.



Book trailer:





More about the book:

The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted and Rachelle Dekker

Book description:

Ten years ago, Grace saw something that would forever change the course of history.

When a terrible scourge is unleashed on the world, she and others from their religious community are already hidden deep in the hills of Tennessee, abiding by every rule that will keep them safe, pure--and alive. As long as they stay there, behind the red rope.

Her older brother's questions and the arrival of the first outsiders she's seen in a decade set in motion events that will cause Grace to question everything she has built her life on. Enemies rise on all sides--but who is the real enemy? And what will it cost her to uncover the truth?

For the first time, bestselling authors Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker team up and deliver an intense, tightly focused ride through the most treacherous world of all.


In a world where the boundaries are clear and punishments severe, a young woman risks everything to break free from the system of fear and control to find freedom and love.

My review:

  I have read several books by Ted Dekker, but have never read anything by his daughter. The description of the book intrigued me, as well as reading something the father and daughter teamed up on.

  As with pretty much any Dekker book I have read, the book had its weird moments. It actually took me a while to decide if I liked the book or not, but then I hit a point that I found myself definitely liking it and found it harder to put down the further I got into it.

  Through a fictional story, the authors did a tremendous job of showing how easily we can be captive to fear, and the effects it can have on us to be ruled by and controlled by fear. I was actually rather impressed when I finished the book, and saw how well the authors used the story to get that all across.

 The plot was well done, and the book was full of great characters, some likable and some not so likable. One of the most likable was Eli, who the book never said exactly who or what he was, but this is fiction, so I guess that doesn't really matter.

 All in all, this was a rather riveting read that shows how even religion can be wrong, and use tactics like fear to control people and keep them as bound as the devil they claim to be fighting. Great read, and great message.

About the authors:

Ted Dekker is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels, with over 10 million copies sold worldwide. He was born in the jungles of Indonesia to missionary parents, and his upbringing as a stranger in a fascinating and sometimes frightening culture fueled his imagination. Dekker's passion is simple--to explore truth through mind-bending stories that invite readers to see the world through a different lens. His fiction has been honored with numerous awards, including two Christy Awards, two Inspy Awards, an RT Reviewers' Choice Award, and an ECPA Gold Medallion. In 2013, NPR readers nationwide put him in the Top 50 Thriller Authors of All Time. Dekker lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Lee Ann.

Rachelle Dekker is the Christy Award-winning author of The Choosing, The Calling, and The Returning in the Seer series. The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle was inspired early on to discover truth through the avenue of storytelling. She writes full-time from her home in Nashville, where she lives with her husband, Daniel, and their son, Jack. Connect with Rachelle at www.rachelledekker.com.


  The Girl Behind the Red Rope is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

 Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

The Gryphon Heist by James R Hannibal

Book description:


Talia Inger is a rookie CIA case officer assigned not to the Moscow desk as she had hoped but to the forgotten backwaters of Eastern Europe--a department only known as "Other." When she is tasked with helping a young, charming Moldovan executive secure his designs for a revolutionary defense technology, she figures she'll be back in DC within a few days. But that's before she knows where the designs are stored--and who's after them. 

With her shady civilian partner, Adam Tyler, Talia takes a deep dive into a world where criminal minds and unlikely strategies compete for access to the Gryphon, a high-altitude data vault that hovers in the mesosphere. But is Tyler actually helping her? Or is he using her for his own dark purposes?


My review:

 This is one of the books of 2019 that I have been most looking forward to. Unfortunately, it arrived in the middle of my move, so I wasn't able to read it as quickly as I wanted.

 The Gryphon Heist is Hannibal's first foray into Christian fiction. He has written three adult novels for the general market that are squeaky clean, curse-free, and awesome reads. He has also written a few books for kids. 

 To be honest, the beginning of the book didn't grab me as fast as I expected. It isn't boring, it is just slow-paced, but it didn't take me long after that to be pulled into it.

 I'll break down what I liked:

The plot:

  I like reading spy stuff in addition to suspense and mystery, and this involves a couple of CIA agents, and a former CIA agent. The plot itself was so intricate and full of twists and surprises, that I was even more impressed with the author after I finished the book.

 Slight spoiler: I assumed that the CIA were trying to stop a heist. I wasn't 100% correct on that. Hannibal spun such a masterful story that I didn't know who was the good and bad guys, and just when I thought I knew what was going on, the story had another twist. I was totally shocked at the one way the story went towards the end, and wondered more than ever who was good and who was bad.

 The tech part, which was a big part, was interesting and the author did a great job of describing that stuff in terms easy to understand.

The characters:

  I like interesting characters in a book, and characters can make or break a story. This one had a lot of great and likable ones, and some very unpredictable ones.

 My favorite would be Eddie, or Red Leader as he wanted to be called. The geek CIA agent in control of the gadgets and tech stuff, he came off somewhat goofy...or geeky, but totally likable. 

  Adam Tyler would be next. Former bad guy, or still current bad guy? I went back and forth the whole book trying to decide, and the author seemed to intentionally keep the reader guessing on that.

 Talia was the newbie CIA agent running an operation against her will with Adam Tyler, and facing some great challenges. I would have preferred a main male character, but can see how one would not have worked for this story for a few reasons. She came off very likable, especially by the end.

 The criminals recruited for the operation were colorful and a wide variety of personalities and talents. The interactions between them and the rest of the characters was entertaining, and at times downright hilarious. I found myself liking Finn the best, mostly due to his theatrics and daredevil actions.

The suspense:

  Thought slow in building, the book was very suspenseful. The further I got in it, the harder the book was to put down.

 The message:

  Forgiveness was the main Christian theme of the book. Talia carried a huge load of unforgiveness, and had to come face to face with that reality.

 There was also an interesting discussion on the greater good which got me to thinking.

   All in all, this is an awesome debut into Christian fiction. It has been a while since I read a book that kept me guessing so much. I definitely recommend it, and his books he wrote for the general market.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.



About the author:

James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure. A former stealth pilot from Houston, Texas, he has been shot at, locked up with surface-to-air missiles, and chased down a winding German road by an armed terrorist. He is a two-time Silver Falchion Award winner for his Section 13 mysteries for kids and a Thriller Award nominee for his Nick Baron covert ops series for adults. James is a rare multi-sense synesthete, meaning all of his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells and hears flashes of light. If he tells you the chocolate cake you offered smells blue and sticky, take it as a compliment.


The Gryphon Heist is available from Revell, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Staying Together by Carlos R and Rosemarie Evans, with Cecil Murphy

Book description:

A true story of hope and courage in the face of astonishing challenges


During his fourth deployment, US Marine Corps Sergeant Carlos Evans stepped on an IED--and the loss of both legs and his left hand was just the beginning of the struggle for his life.

For the next two years, he and his wife, Rosemarie, went through the rehabilitation process together. As a nurse and mother of two young children, Rosemarie was used to caring for people, but the task of taking care of her triple-amputee husband brought new challenges every day. In addition to his limb loss, Carlos faced PTSD and developed an addiction to painkillers. He was sure Rosemarie's life would be better without him--and that it might have been better if he hadn't survived at all.

But unlike the majority of marriages put under similar strain, Carlos and Rosemarie stayed together. With the help of family, friends, and--most importantly--a strong faith, they've built a solid marriage and discovered a ministry they never expected. By the hand of God, their story, which began in devastation, has turned into one that draws in and lifts up more people than either of them would ever have dreamed.

Not only will disabled veterans and their loved ones find help here, Carlos and Rosemarie's captivating journey also speaks to those who long for stronger marriages, care for loved ones with disabilities, or are facing a new normal in their own lives, small or large. It is a powerful resource for leaning on God in the midst of life's great difficulties--and for finding ways that, through faith, profound loss can bring incredible blessing.

My review:

  A heads up about this book: it is a gripping and emotional read. I've always been very pro-military, and am one who believes our country needs to do more and better for our vets. Stories like this emphasize that need.

  The authors did a great job on writing their story, and they pull no punches. Mrs Evans gives a very honest look into how much her life changed and what she went through as the spouse of a severely injured vet addicted to painkillers and having PTSD. Mr. Evans gives a gritty and all too realistic view of what life is like when deployed, and the emotions and despair when a soldier goes through what he went through.

 The book is an easy read in style, but not such an easy read in content. Yet the Evans' story is amazing and shows the hand of God throughout all they faced and went through. It is encouraging, and gave me an even greater appreciation for our military and what they do and go through.


I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.


Read an excerpt here.


Interview with the authors:



An interview with Carlos and Rosemarie Evans,

Authors of Standing Together

Sustaining a military marriage is hard work, especially when deployments keep a family
separated for prolonged periods of time. The strain is intensified when the serving spouse is
injured in the field. According to the PTSD Foundation of America, an estimated two out of
three marriages fail for troops suffering from combat trauma. Carlos R. Evans and
Rosemarie Evans are well aware of the difficulties, having experienced them personally. In
Standing Together: The Inspirational Story of a Wounded Warrior and Enduring Love (Kregel
Publications), they share their inspirational story of facing severe injury, rehabilitation,
post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction. Theirs is a true story of hope and courage in
the face of astonishing challenges.


Q: Carlos, first of all, thank you for your service to our country. Can you share a little bit
about what led you to enlist and the eight years you served in the US Marine Corps?

Carlos: Many of my family members served in Vietnam, Korea, and Operation Desert Storm. After
9/11, I felt deeply in my heart that I had to do my part by serving my country, but I also wanted to
continue to share the gospel. I was in Bible college at the time and wanted to join as a chaplain. In 2004, I was watching the news and saw Marines in Iraq. I admired what they were doing, and it was in that moment I felt a strong conviction to serve. I went to the recruiting center in Puerto Rico and joined the Marine Corps. That is a decision I will never regret, and I would do it all over again.

During my first four years of service, I did three combat deployments in Iraq. When I re-enlisted, I deployed to Afghanistan. It was during that deployment that I was severely injured. We saw two years of rehabilitation in the hospital, then I was medically retired.

Q: You were on your fourth deployment, this time to Afghanistan, when an incident changed life as you knew it. What happened on May 16, 2010?

Carlos: I was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps, leading a mission in Helmand Province, when we were getting ready to go back to our operation center. I walked about eight steps when I heard an explosion. I had stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). I felt pain in my body unlike anything I had ever felt or experienced before. My Marines and Navy Corpsman kept me alive. I lost so much blood that my medic had to put his thumb in my femoral artery to keep me alive. They asked me for my wife and daughters’ names and told me they were waiting for me back home. I was flown via medevac to the hospital in Afghanistan, and then to Germany. From Germany, I was transferred to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington, DC.

As a result of my injuries, I lost both of my legs above the knee and part of my left arm. I don’t remember what happened during those first few days because I was intubated and sedated.

Back home in Puerto Rico, Rosemarie and my mother received visits from Marines bringing updates about my situation. The same night I arrived at Bethesda, my wife and parents got to the hospital and waited to take care of me. To this day, I continue to meet people that took care of me in Germany and Afghanistan.
That day has become the best day of my life, and today we celebrate it as our “Alive Day.”

Q: Were deployments a source of fear in any way? Did you think about how something might happen to you during a deployment?

Carlos: During that deployment and the three previous ones, I don’t think I ever considered that anything was going to happen to me. I personally knew others who had died and some who were badly wounded, but as a Christian, I figured God was with me and would protect me from every kind of harm. On my various furloughs, I said to friends and family members, “I’m not going to die in Iraq or Afghanistan. God has a bigger purpose for my life.”

But I also remember the day when all my family members and friends came to say goodbye. I made jokes such as, “Something is going to happen to me because this is the first time in all my deploys that everyone came here to celebrate.” Also, before deployment, I forced my wife to watch the movie Taking Chances. In the movie, Kevin Bacon is an officer that went to a house and notified the family member about their loss. I told Rosemarie that if something happened to me in Afghanistan, the Marines would come to the front door to let her know I died in combat.

Q: Rosemarie, you write about a call that you received on May 15 from Carlos that left you unsettled and worried. Can you tell us more about that day and the days that followed? How long did you have to live in uncertainty about Carlos’ condition?

Rosemarie: That Saturday night I was at my uncle’s wedding. On my way back home, I received Carlos’s call. I was happy to hear from him because he couldn’t call often. But when I answered the phone, I noticed something wasn’t right. Carlos was responding flat and sometimes he was quiet. He told me, “Things here are not the same as in Iraq. You know that I love you, and I love my daughters.”

When he said those words, I knew he was worried and that they were in some danger. We lost phone connection that night, and I didn’t have the chance to speak to him again. Sunday passed, and I didn’t hear from him. On Monday afternoon, I received a call from the Marine Corps to let me know they would meet me at Carlos’ mother’s house. That’s when they told me Carlos was injured, but they didn’t have all the details. From that Monday until Friday, I waited each day for them to come to the house to deliver updated information about his condition.

Q: You were an experienced nurse and had training in trauma life support, but were you truly prepared to care for
Carlos when he arrived home? How did you manage taking care of Carlos and your two young daughters?

Rosemarie: As a nurse, I had the knowledge of what should I expect to see when I met Carlos at the hospital. An intubated patient connected to a mechanical ventilator with drainages and monitors. However, at that point I had a different role. I was the wife of an injured husband. Being a nurse helped me understand procedures and prognosis, but I felt the same uncertainty, desperation, sadness and helplessness any other family member feels when a love one is going through a difficult time. I wasn’t completely prepared because it was an unexpected situation. Before leaving to go to Afghanistan, Carlos and I talked about what should I expect if I saw the Marines at the front door (that he had died in combat), but we never talked about him coming back home seriously injured. We didn’t expect that and weren’t aware of how many service members were injured in the war. When I stepped into Bethesda Hospital, it was eye opening to see how many wounded service members came back
and how many families were affected.

When I first went to Bethesda, I traveled without my daughters in order to focus on my husband. Our daughters were four years old and five months old at the time. My mom took care of them in Puerto Rico at first, but as the weeks passed by, I was desperate to see my daughters. I felt conflicted between my two roles as a wife and a mom. I asked two friends in North Carolina (where we were stationed) to take care of my daughters there. That way they could bring my daughters to the hospital, or I could travel from Washington, D.C. to North Carolina to see them. When the doctor told me the recovery process could take two years, we started to make plans for how we could all be together. There were four women who were the key to finding us a place to stay and be able to travel daily to the hospital for treatments. We had to start early, at 5:30 in the morning, to have our older daughter ready for school, the younger for childcare, and Carlos ready for treatments. We started new routines, but we also had family members that stayed with us and helped. However, we wanted to learn how to do it as a family of four. It was hard sometimes, but God helped us through.

Q: How was your faith tested in the months that followed?

Carlos: My faith was tested by trying to understand where God was in the middle of my pain. Where was God when I stepped on the IED? I was continuously asking God, “Why me?” Sometimes people would tell me that maybe God was punishing me.

Others would pray with me for a miracle—that my legs or my left hand would grow. Sometimes I prayed I could forget May 17, 2010. Seeing my wife and the people I love suffering, and not being able to do anything about it, tested my faith.

Job 23:10 (NIV) says, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

Q: Many marriages have crumbled under the weight of trials less life-altering than what the two of you went through, however, you’ve come out the other side stronger. Can you share some of the decisions you made along the way to fight for your marriage?

Rosemarie: There were many difficult decisions made during that period. First, we needed to prioritize roles. There were times a decision left me feeling unsatisfied, but we had to focus on what was needed in the moment. We always tried to make decisions together. It didn’t matter that Carlos was injured, we consulted each other on every decision. Carlos was injured, but he was still the head of the family. We encouraged each other. When Carlos felt ready to give up, I encouraged him. When I was feeling defeated, Carlos encouraged me. Overall, the most important thing was to pray for guidance. In this situation, we understood we were not self-sufficient. We needed God to give us the strength to continue every day.

Q: What were some of the biggest challenges in facing your new normal?

Carlos: I feared not being able to be the husband I promised Rosemarie I would be. I feared not being able to be a father to my daughters. I also feared rejection from other people. I didn’t love my new body. I wasn’t born without legs and one hand.

Everything was new to me: Not being able to walk, to drive my car, to do things we take for granted. I was afraid I was no longer able to be independent. Living with constant pain was one of the biggest challenges.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who may not be seeking help for their depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or even addiction?

Carlos: Trying to help someone that is not actively seeking help is very challenging. It could be the person has not recognized that he or she has a problem. In my situation, I had people who confronted me, showing me that my actions were hurting me and the people who loved me. My personal advice would be do not push away the people in your life that care about and help you. Also, believe the best days of your life are not behind you, but ahead of you. I would say to somebody in that situation you are not the only person facing PTSD or addiction, so look for a professional or a support group. They can share examples of how they have faced similar situations.

Q: What were some of the ways you saw God working in your recovery?

Carlos: In the beginning, my questions were, “Where is God? and “Why me?” During my recovery, I understood God has always been there, taking care of me. He was with my Marines when I stepped on the IED. He was with my wife and daughters, giving them strength so they could comfort me. God was with the doctors, nurses, family, friends and many strangers who have become family. I saw God was making me a better father, husband and person. Each time we shared our story with someone, I saw God using my recovery for good.

Q: When did you realize God was preparing you for full-time ministry? What doors started to open for you?

Carlos: Since I was a little kid, I served in ministry. It was deep inside of my heart. After my injury, we started to share our experience with family and friends. Our scars became our platform—in churches, via TV, at the White House, on Military bases, in schools and correctional facilities, all over the United States, South America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.

Q: You say, “Standing has nothing to do with having feet.” What do you mean by that?

Carlos: In my life, standing is living God’s purpose in my life. Also, serving in my community, being a father and husband, and leading by example means standing in my life. My daughter, Nairoby, taught me a lesson about standing. She was five years old and playing and running all over the apartment. She told me, “Now you run Papi, you run Papi!” I told her I wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t run right now. I didn’t have the legs to be able to. I went to my room crying, and Rosemarie asked me why. I told her why, and she replied, “Don’t you see that she doesn’t see what you can’t do? She looks at you as Papi.” That’s what it means to stand.

Q: Please share what has become your motto.

Carlos: One day I was trying to put on my prosthetic hand and legs. I was struggling and getting frustrated. I wanted to look like I used to. I believe the Holy Spirit touched my heart, and I received this message: “I am touching more people with one hand then when I had two. Today, I am leaving more footprints than when I had feet because all you need to touch someone is heart.”

Q: Where can people learn more about Touching Lives Leaving Footprints and C.R. Evans Ministries?

Carlos: You can go to CREvans.org as well as on Facebook (CR Evans), Instagram (@crevans923) and Twitter (@crevans923).