The Undertaker's Wife by Dee Oliver

This memoir details the courtship, marriage and widowhood of the author, as well as her work in funeral homes during and after her husband’s passing. The last few chapters offer guidelines about preparing for your own and others’ funerals, in addition to hints on how to minister to those who are bereaved. This book is easy to read. It was marginally enlightening concerning preparation for one’s own passing, encouraging the reader to leave a detailed letter concerning important documents, financial affairs, websites, wills, and funeral wishes. If you want helpful hints about writing an obituary, you can find them here. (These are also topics you could Google and find information at least as helpful; there’s nothing particularly insightful in these chapters.) In my opinion, this is your average book. Nothing about it is outstanding, from the author’s story to her helpful hints. If you are interested in a light look at what it was like to be courted by and then married to someone employed at a funeral home, then this is the book for you. It details the widow’s education in mortuary science and her employment at a funeral home as an intern with a few short chapters with the helpful hints at the end. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

A Warrior's Faith by Robert Vera

Ryan Job, Navy SEAL, was gravely injured by a sniper in Ramadi. His head wounds resulted in total blindness. This book tells the story of Ryan’s training to be a SEAL, demonstrating his character by enduring more and worse than most in order to qualify. After his near-fatal injury, Ryan slowly recovers and eventually marries. Ryan determines to be the best blind man he can be. He pursues athletics and friendships, eventually scaling Mount Rainier with the help of his friends and teammates. If you are curious about what it takes to be a Navy SEAL or what they are like, this book will fill in the gaps for you. If you want to read about an exemplary young man whose character was revealed in the crucible, this book is for you. If you want to be encouraged by a noble story, this book is for you. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

God's Story in 66 Verses by Stan Guthrie

From each of the 66 books of the Bible, the author chooses one key verse because “they most accurately represent the books in which they reside and Scripture as a whole,” and then includes a three-page summary of each book. Of course, this results in more detail being provided for shorter books and less for longer. Some summaries are strictly an overview of the book with no added commentary but much by way of quotation, such as the summary of Jude. Others include some commentary, such as the summary of Galatians, which included a definition of the “different gospel” by citing 3:1-5. Still others, such as Psalms, included categories, such literary features and human experience/need., as well as the royal psalms. All in all, the author does a good job of meeting his goal of “providing a brief commentary on every Bible book.” Those who are well acquainted with the Bible will not find this book as great a resource as those who are not. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Forever Mom by Mary Ostyn

This adoptive mom, with four biological and six adopted children, addresses very thoughtfully the issues adoptive families face. She tells her family’s story about their adoption journey, describing particularly the attachment challenges each child brought. Her book is full of helpful hints concerning thinking one’s way through and coming to grips with all manner of issues. The author frames her helpful book by beginning at her own door, telling the story of how each child came to be adopted by her family. She addresses the topic of helping children settle in and gives very practical help with regard to picking one’s battles. Nurturing children with patience, kindness, and grace is particularly emphasized, and the author covers topics large and small. Each chapter closes with a pertinent passage of Scripture, and biblical principles are emphasized throughout the book. This book was interesting and challenging from cover to cover. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the topic of adoption. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Orogram.

“The Reluctant Journey” by Richard Leslie Parrott

This fresh look at the lives and spiritual walks of Abraham, Jacob and Joseph is a treasure, as the lessons each patriarch learned are applied effectively to our everyday lives through well-written lessons and follow-up questions at the end of each chapter. Issues addressed include identifying God’s voice, evaluating God’s trustworthiness and ability, whether God is responsible for our trials, why our trials are ours, and the reasons for our trials. Interwoven with these questions, which are often addressed by other authors, are unique thoughts and insights about family dysfunction. These may be the book’s most valuable offerings. The author asks deep questions about us and our origins, helping us to see ourselves in the lives of Abraham, Jacob and Joseph, and helping us find answers for our most troubling issues. Scripture is used effectively throughout this interesting, challenging and informative book. The book is well written, missing the repetition so often found in expository writing today. I would recommend this book to anyone. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

David Wilkerson by Gary Wilkerson

"David Wilkerson" by son Gary Wilkerson is a thorough biography about the author of "The Cross and The Switchblade". It chronicles David's upbringing in a strict Pentecostal home, laying the foundation for the man he would become. The book carefully outlines David's beliefs and thinking as he grew up and most particularly emphasizes David's call from and walk with God throughout his life. The story is told chronologically and is clearly written. The book was challenging simply because of its subject, who walked with God boldly and decisively. David Wilkerson's personality was strong, and the narration of his life story was interesting. Biblical truth as David saw it was clearly communicated. This book was, however, overly long--300 pages. Only if you are extremely interested to know about David Wilkerson will you find the whole book interesting. If you are mildly interested, you will find it repetitive and long, as it seems to tell the same stories repeatedly. I would only recommend this book to those who are fascinated by David Wilkerson. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Redefining Leadership by Joseph Stowell

The author maintains that leadership is all about character, resulting in a leader who serves out of humility rather than position. Character, not outcome, is the key. John Maxwell says leadership is a gift. When it's treated as such, it becomes a stewardship rather than a position laden with expectations and rights. Real leaders follow, and they follow Jesus. John Maxwell says leadership's power is not to be used to bless oneself or to gain attention, affirmation and acclaim; rather, it is to be used to let go of perks and privileges, empty oneself of self, and lead by being a servant in humble obedience. This book was interesting and challenging, effectively citing Scripture to support the author's positions. The material was appealing and cohesive, although redundant in places, as so many books today are. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

The God-First Life by Stovall Weems

The emphasis of this book putting God first by exercising the basic disciplines of the Christian life, such as praying, reading the Bible, church involvement, and being part of an active community. As someone who has read a lot of books on the basics of learning to walk with Christ, I would say that this book is about average in its approach, scope and depth. It is a good book to help someone get started with God. The book's doctrine is biblical and sound. Every once in a while there is a new nugget in this book, such as when the author talks about worship being a "space maker", by which he means that when we worship, we "make a space of praise for God to inhabit." The author gives the example of God fighting a battle for Jehoshaphat: "They did what they could do--they worshiped him and praised him. And then he did what only he could do--he defeated the enemy when they did not have any hope. The place of battle became a valley of blessing, and the outcome hinged on the worship of the people." Of particular value are the chapter notes at the end of the book, in which are listed many supporting Scriptures. The book is well researched and supported by appropriate Bible passages. I received this book free in exchange for a review on booksneeze.com

God is Just Not Fair by Jennifer Rothschild

This book is truly exceptional for a couple of reasons. One is that the author has earned credibility on the subject by losing her sight at age 15 and having that situation increase in difficulty as the decades have passed. The other is that, plain and simple, she is an excellent writer who has thoroughly considered the subject about which she is writing: is God fair? The author approaches this difficult subject from many angles, asking if God cares, errs, is aware, and hear prayers. She uses both Scripture and people's experiences to demonstrate God's character, which is to be trusted. The depth of the author's personality is reflected in this book. At one point, she talks about feeling guilty for being blind. She knows this is not logical but also realizes that perhaps the reason she chooses to feel this way is to avoid the alternative: to blame God. It is easy to find yourself reflected in her thoughts and feelings, all of which point you to the answer that God is good. I would recommend this book to anyone. It well written and well reasoned, a "keeper". I received this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my agreement to read and review it.

The Storm Inside by Sheila Walsh

In a nutshell, this book is about overcoming feelings with faith. Sheila Walsh addresses challenging emotions including heartbreak, disappointment, unforgiveness, shame, regret, fear, insecurity, insignificance, despair, and rage, matching each with its spiritual counterweight. This is one of the author’s best works. She shares most personal stories and insights than she usually does, giving the reader a deep sense that Sheila Walsh knows what she’s talking about. She uses Scripture extremely effectively, ending chapter with contemplative questions and a prayer. For the reader looking for guidance when dealing with difficult emotions, I would highly recommend this work. Sheila Walsh demonstrates a spiritual maturity and depth which are refreshing to see. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Forgiving Our Fathers and Mothers by Leslie Leyland Fields and Dr. Jill Hubbard

This book is co-written by a writer and a psychologist, with the writer narrating her own journey and that of a number of others and the psychologist adding each chapter’s afterword and study questions. This book covered its topics thoroughly, with a large fraction involving personal narrative, both biblical and personal, and I thought it could have used a lot more insight by the psychologist, as the individual stories were too long and the portion aimed at personal application too short. The book’s perspective left me dissatisfied, as it felt one-size-fits-all. Because the author linked forgiveness with an unending pursuit of relationship with a parent by the child, the few adult children who were said to let their parental relationship lapse were viewed as unforgiving. In my opinion, forgiveness and reconciliation were bound too closely together in this presentation of the topic of forgiveness, and not enough room was left for the Lord’s leading and working in an adult child. There are rare parents who not only offer nothing beneficial, and have no intention of doing so, but who, for the sake of their own egos, consume their children. Forgiving them and letting them go can be a healthy option. The book pushed hard on adult children to attend to their parents’ deathbeds, dedicating a couple of chapters to the topic, on the premise that such is an indication of honoring your parent. You can honor a parent without having to seek emotional or geographical closeness. To force an infirm parent by pressing for such a thing can actually be dishonoring. Sometimes God leads people to lay down the hope for a loving parent, which was never presented as an option in this book. The approach to forgiveness presented would be good for a person whose parent did not intentionally continue to hurt them, either by abuse or neglect. If there is goodwill on both sides, this brand of forgiveness is likely to work, but if abuse or neglect continue to be a strong component in a parent-child relationship, I would not recommend this book. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Open Your Eyes by Jake Olson

Jake is only 16 years old but has learned more than a lifetime’s worth of lessons already. Born with a form of eye cancer, he had one eye removed when he was 10 months old and the other when he was 12. Despite these major losses, Jake and his family have lived a victorious life because of their faith in Jesus. In this book, Jake and his family share some of the lessons learned. Unfortunately for us, Jake co-wrote this book with a trainer, who, I would guess, is probably a motivational speaker, because he speaks as one might talk. So rather than getting Jake’s story and lessons in one voice, we read it in two. While Jake’s is straightforward and from the heart, the other voice is a subpar self-help work, full of platitudes and often jarring illustrations that barely fit the topic, written in a cadence that gets tiresome, as it truly sounds like listening to cheerleading. It makes for an uneven read, going back and forth from Jake’s real and honest voice to the cheerleader, whose words often read like this: “. . . Yet he would not. He was afraid. When we know what God expects, we act with certainty. We aren’t afraid. We don’t care what others think. We take appropriate risks. We step out of our comfort zones. . . . So find the winner within. Procrastinate less. Act more. Look for your defining moment.” If you like short, choppy sentences about the obvious, then this is the book for you. If you don’t, it may give you a headache. This book is really two in one, and I’d recommend reading it as such. First, read the accounts of Jake and his family; this isn’t hard to do, because these parts are written in a distinct font. It makes for a fabulous narrative, and you really gain insight into the tremendous challenges they faced and continue to face. Then read the trainer’s lessons, which are marginally worth reading. The faith of Jake and his family which has been fed by their trial is inspiring and is what will linger in the reader’s mind about this book. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

How to Be Rich by Andy Stanley

This small book teaches that all Americans are rich, as we live in the richest country in the world in the richest time in history. No matter how little we have, if we have enough money to buy a book, we are ahead of the vast majority of the world’s peoples. Once we understand that, we can consider the question of how to handle our wealth. Stanley addresses wealth from a biblical perspective, instructing us not to put our trust and confidence in wealth; those things should rest in God. To inoculate ourselves from the fear of losing wealth, we should practice generosity. The author says we should make this a priority, start by giving a percentage, and continue throughout our lives to progressively increase. The bottom line is to honor God with the resources He entrusts to us. Andy Stanley supplies some very practical pointers in avoiding the traps of, for example, affluenza, such as intentionally limiting our awareness of new products, as marketing is designed to create an appetite in us. Once you step on the treadmill with something new, it is difficult not to want to continually upgrade as new and better models are released. This book is well supported by biblical references. It is thought provoking and countercultural, even counterintuitive, but it is spot on. I recommend it. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

The Reason for My Hope

Billy Graham makes a clear and compelling case for salvation through Jesus Christ alone. This can be no surprise, as it has been his life’s calling and work. What is rather surprising is the many angles from which he approaches the subject and how well he incorporates personal and cultural examples. This book presents this most gifted of evangelists to a new generation in a way that is both simple and relevant. In Graham’s hands, the message of the gospel feels personal and fresh. This work is extremely well reasoned and well written. Billy Graham acknowledges that he had someone help him with research “of contemporary illustrations,” and this wise decision serves the book admirably. One sees why Billy Graham has been an effective communicator of the gospel for more than 70 years. His grace and humility leap off the page, as if he is talking to you alone. Obvious are his skills in both handling the Bible accurately as well as relating to people as individuals. Not to be overlooked is the fact that Graham is now 95 years old, and to have retained the ability to be this impactful over all these decades deserves great respect. This book is a masterful work, and I would recommend it to anyone. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Overextended by Lisa Harper

While I’ve enjoyed other books by this author, this one was a clunker. It will be of interest to Lisa Harper’s family, friends and fans only. I fit none of those categories. I was unimpressed by the style, that popular, and supposedly clever, way of both exaggerating and minimizing in the same sentence that leaves me feeling whiplashed by both the ideas and the words. Throw in some references to flatulence, feminine products and the like, and you have the makings of a book bordering on the offensive in the name of cuteness. This book will only be of interest to you if you are wondering about the author’s bumpy journey toward adoption and challenging childhood. If you do not have a specific interest in either or both of those subjects, this book can seem interminable. You must enjoy reading about travel to and from Haiti coupled with an interest in the inconveniences of flying, because the book drones on about it, as if the author were among the first to ever face these challenges. Scripture is used sparingly but effectively. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Forgiveness by Matthew West

This small book weaves together the words of the author’s hit song, others’ brief accounts concerning forgiveness and West’s insights around the topics of forgiving others, asking for forgiveness, forgiving yourself and embracing God’s forgiveness. While many of the topics were very basic and even self-evident, there were good insights. One of the most profound was from a survivor’s story: “Sometimes what we think of as rejection is really protection.” This book was thought provoking and insightful, using Scripture very effectively. It is written in a conversational style, not like a theological treatise, which makes it feel more approachable. While there are better and deeper books on forgiveness, this volume is a good choice for an introductory look at a very difficult subject. The one drawback was that after a while it felt very formulaic: song words, short story, author’s narration, again and again. Because of the seesawing between stories surrounding forgiveness and the author’s narrative, the book can feel a bit disjointed. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

The Mercy Prayer by Robert Gelinas

This book is about the Bible’s most frequently prayed prayer, and the author does an excellent job of demonstrating the occasions for those requests and the responses from God, especially in times of sin and suffering. At times, this book is profound, such as when it contrasts two accounts, in Matthew 9 and 20, of blind men seeking healing. The author shows that while those mercy pleas both resulted in healing, in the first account, their blindness caused the men to follow Jesus, and in the second to face the ramifications of what healing would bring. From these accounts, the author extrapolates the premise that sometimes mercy says “yes”, and sometimes mercy says “no” for a time, and either answer can draw us closer to God. Taken to heart, this book could change your spiritual life, helping you to see that a plea for mercy can become like breathing, leaving you constantly leaning on God for strength. This book referenced Scripture skillfully and effectively. It challenged me and changed me. I highly recommend it. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Downside Up by Tracey Mitchell

This exceptional book on benefitting from rejection is a game changer. The author hands you numerous tools to take the sting out of what is for almost everyone a painful experience, helping you see rejection objectively and equipping you to unhook from those who aim to destroy you through the use of the forceful impact of their negative opinion. In a well-written book, the author effectively ties her nuggets of truth in chapter after chapter to the Bible, giving appropriate illustrations and examples of overcoming rejection, and each chapter concludes with its germane points. Tracey Mitchell also has a way with words in that she can be pointed and concise without being too blunt. She gives you much to take away. One caution I would give: do not attempt to read this book in a few sittings if rejection is more than an intellectual topic to you, because you will need time and space to digest the important topics addressed. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Bound Together by Chris Brauns

The author presents a strong case for the fact that people are linked to one another, in large and small groups and in good and bad ways, calling it “The Principle of the Rope.” Clear examples include spouses, families, and nations. Ones less obvious are mankind’s tie to Adam in the Fall and the offer of rescue by the Second Adam, Christ. Chris Brauns emphasizes that while current culture teaches that every person is individually responsible for their own thoughts and actions, this fairly recent viewpoint is not accurate and certainly is not in keeping with what the Bible teaches. He carefully builds the case to show that even still, the choices of one affect many. The greatest value of this book is its demonstration of how connectedness with Christ can change humanity and how the church can battle radical individualism, calling people back into the relationships for which they were designed. This book was interesting, challenging, and well written . It incorporated biblical truth, and I would recommend it. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

7 Men and the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas

This book is about seven men—George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Pope John Paul II and Charles Colson—who lived lives well worth emulating. The author makes it clear that his goal in writing such a book is to provide role models for those in today’s world who emulate no one. Metaxas shows us how Washington determinedly refused personal power for the sake of the country; Wilberforce persisted in work that changed the world through social reform; Liddell chose principle above fame; Bonhoeffer sacrificed his life to save victims of the Nazi regime; Jackie Robinson pioneered breaking through racial barriers at great personal cost; Pope John Paul II set an example of compassion, intelligence, and humility; and Colson faithfully used his deserved incarceration to give birth to a new work: prison ministry. This book was very interesting, as Metaxas writes in an appealing and compelling way. It inspires the reader to want to be deliberate about choosing character and principle as life compass points. I would recommend this book to others, as it describes lives well worth emulating. It was an interesting, enlightening read. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.