Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today
by Kathi Macias
Author Website: www.KathiMacias.com

Available hardback. New Hope Publishers, 2009; ISBN: 1596692154; 256 pages.

In this book the author combines her personal, conversational style with thoroughly researched information to provide stunning portraits of biblical moms. The emphasis is on what these women can teach us today. Each chapter concludes with a “Something to Think About” section of questions and space to journal, as well as a prayer. Readers also enjoy quotes about motherhood from a wide spectrum of people, historical and contemporary, famous and not.

“Who’s included?” Rather than just listing names or chapters, the author actually includes a descriptive paragraph with each listing on the Contents page. I think it’s fabulous. Right off the bat, from the very first pages, she makes the stories of these ancient women relevant to us centuries - even millenia later. I can’t share all of this with you, but I can give you an example.

Rizpah: Grief-Stricken yet Faithful — Can there be anything more painful to a parent than the death of a child? In addition to the agony, losing a child to death seems to be out of the natural order. Yet, from the beginning, mothers have endured this tragedy, which can result in additional problems: divorce, financial difficulties, and even a loss of faith in God. Yet God sees and cares.

In addition to this chapter readers will discover:

* Eve: Without a Role Model
* Sarah: Mother of Nations
* Rebekah: Playing Favorites
* Rachel and Leah: Competing Through Their Children
* Jochobed: The Greatest Sacrifice
* Hannah: Woman of Prayer, Gratitude and Integrity
* Bathsheba: Redemption and Restoration
* The Widow of Zarephath: Generous to the End
* Elizabeth: A Willing Sacrifice
* The Canaanite Woman: Persevering in Prayer
* Salome: Catching the Eternal Vision
* Eunice and Lois: Passing the Torch
* The Proverbs 31 Woman: A Woman for All Seasons
* Mary: In a Class by Herself

Throughout these chapters readers learn about women who have faced infertility, adultery, death or exile of children, death of husbands, public ridicule and scorn and even the little things we all face on a daily basis: wanting our kids to love God, to be their best, to be better than the rest; personal feelings of insecurity or ignorance; isolation. These women were under-appreciated and overworked, just like mothers today.

My only complaint about this book (extremely minor) is the decoration on the pages. The publisher included green scrolls and flowers behind the text on every single page. It seems an unnecessary expense.

Final Thoughts: This is a great book, one I recommend and one I'll reference again and again.

Why I Love My Kindle

A number of you have emailed me asking if I have a Kindle. The answer is YES!

My wonderful, adoring, way-too-good-for-me husband gave me one a couple months ago for Mother's Day. When he first suggested it, I wasn't so sure. I mean, I'd not yet seen one in person and really didn't know if I wanted one. Call me a skeptic. Since then, however, I've become a convert. Here are some of the reasons I love my Kindle.

1- Portability: It's small and light. No matter where I'm traveling or for how long, I always take a bag of books. A big bag of books. This thing holds up to 1000 books and weighs less than my purse. It's like carrying one book, but still having access to hundreds. This translates into a big space, time and weight saver. I no longer have to spend extra time deciding which books to take or pack; they're all right there in one small, light, convenient device.

2- Visibility: I was skeptic about an electronic reading device for a number of reasons, but visibility was the biggest. I love to read outdoors. If I can't see it, what's the point? This is actually easier on my eyes than a bound paper book. It's incredible easy to see and it doesn't reflect the sun like smooth white paper.

Add to this the viewing options. The font is always in Time New Roman (or something very, very similar), but readers can choose from SIX different font sizes with the simple push of a button.

3- Versatility: I haven't ventured into reading blogs, newspapers or magazines on my Kindle, so I can't vouch for those elements. However, I have converted several personal documents to Kindle format. This is fantastic! The service is completely free and takes less than two minutes.

Why would I want to do that? Well, several publishers offer FREE e-versions of their books (not all books, but some of them) via their websites. You can download them to your computer, but who wants to sit in front of a monitor for hours reading? I'd rather curl up on the couch or lay in my yard than sit in a chair staring at a glowing rectangle. Kindle allows me to convert those FREE e-books to my reader and enjoy them like I would any other book. What's better than a free book??

Also, when clients send me manuscripts to edit, I can translate those Word documents to my Kindle, then edit at the park while the kids are playing. Did I mention the edit features? Oh, you're gonna love this.

4- Notation & Editing Features: The Kindle allows readers to dog-ear pages. Yes! I can bookmark or dog-ear a page without destroying a book!! It's very exciting. I can highlight passages, insert notes directly into the text, search for specific chapters or even keywords. I can hop back and forth between sections of the book the same way I would with a "real" book. All of these notations can then be compiled into an email or document and translated to my laptop. All at no additional charge.

The keyboard is small. It's more for texting than typing, but it works and is relatively easy to use.

5- Audio: The Kindle, with the simple push of a couple buttons, converts any book on the device to audio. Instantly. I can choose between a male or female voice and even select the speed at which the person talks. (There are three options for audio speed.) The voices are a bit robotic, but it works. I can sit my Kindle on the seat next to me while I drive (assuming the kids are not being too noisy in the back seat) or on the table while I fold laundry. I love it!

6- Reading material is cheaper: The Kindle is expensive. It runs about $350 for the device, plus another $65 if you get the warranty. I paid another $30 for a leather cover/case. BUT books themselves are cheaper. I've already mentioned all the free ones I've converted from various publishers -- great titles like The Noticer and Same Kind of Different as Me. Amazon also offers several free books -- classics like Pride & Prejudice, Little Women and Treasure Island, as well as more contemporary novels. Even when you pay for your reading material, it's cheaper. Magazines are $1-3 for monthly subscriptions; bestsellers and new releases are almost always $9.99. That's 40-60% off the cover prices!

7- Sample chapters: I mentioned this yesterday. I get to sample EVERY book that interests me before I buy it. I LOVE this feature. It's saving me a ton of money be filtering out the books I think I might like, but in reality, I'll never read.

8- It's comfortable: One of my biggest concerns about getting this was that it would feel cold and sterile. What I love most about books is how they absorb me into their worlds. I worried I wouldn't feel that same comfy affection with a hard electronic device. I'm not sure why, but this feels the same to me. That really surprised me! It's actually more comfortable than a book because I don't have to repeatedly change my hold in order to prevent getting a one-handed cramp. It offers buttons on both the left and right for turning pages, so I can hold it easily with either hand. And because it's so small and light, I can still curl up in my favorite reading spots, same as always. Furthermore, the cover I purchased adds to the comfort. It allows upright, hands-free reading (or listening, if I turn on the audio feature). It's great.

9- It's fast: I can shop the AmazonKindle store right from my device. I don't need to use my computer to order books; my Kindle has wireless built in. (FYI: the battery lasts over a week if you turn the wireless off when not in use.) Books are downloaded right to my device in less than 60 seconds. Same with sample chapters. Converting documents takes only about 3 minutes. It's fantastic! Fast, convenient, easy.

10- So much more! The Kindle has a built in dictionary. If I come across an unfamiliar word, I simply click on it, and the definition, along with synonyms, antonyms and options. It's green. I'm saving trees!! :) It offers basic web browsing and plays MP3s. It can even store personal pictures as the screen savers!

If you have questions, leave them in the comments section. I'd love to answer them!

The Chosen One
by Carol Lynch Williams

Available in paperback, audio CD, audio download and Kindle format. St. Martin's Griffin, 2009; ISBN: 0312555113; 224 pages.

With this book the author, a Mormon herself, looks inside a polygamist cult and the dangers it poses for one girl. Kyra and her father, three mothers, and 20 siblings live in an isolated community controlled by an extremist prophet. Already he has altered their lives far from normal through manipulation, intimidation and fear. Tensions increase when the prophet decrees that Kyra must marry her 60-year-old uncle. Meanwhile, Kyra builds a secret and forbidden friendship with a patron of a local mobile library. Kyra knows there’s a world away from the compound she might escape to, but leaving would put much at stake: her family's safety, her budding relationship with a boy on the compound; all that she has ever known would change if she even tried to leave the prophet's domain.

This text is expertly written! The fully developed characters pull readers into the haunting story. I quickly became engrossed and couldn't put it down, even if I wanted to. This novel offers a much more educational look at the cultist side of polygamy than many nonfiction books. Perfect.

My only concern is the target audience. This book is labeled YA (Young Adult) and specifically marketed to teens between grades 7 and 10. As a parent, I would not encourage my kids to read it, not without serious commentary via parental discussions. If you let your kids watch Big Love on HBO, then, sure. They'll love this book. But I strongly encourage parents to read it first, before allowing their teens to read it. The content includes polygamy (of course), child brides, violence (both domestic and community), and physical abuse of an infant, among other things not necessarily appropriate for young readers. Without parental guidance, I recommend it for ages 17 and up.

Final Thoughts: The YA genre label may actual limit this book's audience. With proper parental involvement, it could be a great read, a wonderful discussion starter for families. But labeled as YA, I doubt this will garner a truly appreciative audience: adults. I really enjoyed this book! Had it been labeled for adults, I would definitely give it a higher rating. Beautiful writing and a suspenseful, intriguing plot. This book with stay with me for quite a while.

Let me give you Rest!

I'm hosting a book giveaway on my main site just this weekend! Hop over there to read more about Keri Wyatt Kent's newest book: Rest. Leave a comment on the post there before 9PM EST on Sunday, July 5th, and you'll be entered to win a FREE copy of this great book.

Here's a direct link: Let me give you REST!

Nothing But Trouble
by Susan May Warren
Author Website: www.SusanMayWarren.com

Available in paperback and Kindle format. Tyndale House Publishers, 2009; ISBN: 1414313128; 352 pages.

This is the first book in the author's new PJ Sugar series.

PJ Sugar, the main character, tries to escape her past only to find it follows her. After ten years away, she returns home for her sister's wedding. There she finds her same prim and proper (and overbearing) mother, the same feelings for the same hunky boyfriend and the same trouble all over again. What happened to God making her a “new creation?”

As she tries to find a fresh start, she stumbles into a murder mystery, trips over a little romance and just enough redemption.

PJ reflects pieces of each of us, the pieces that long to get it right but are never quite perfect. Throughout the story, the author talks of Peter and Christ’s love for him. I loved this aspect of the book! It reminded me how God uses the imperfect to accomplish His plans. We need only surrender and let Him use us. What a valuable truth to a world of flawed people! The story is entertaining, yes, but it’s also tremendously encouraging. We all want to be perfect; we want those around us to think we have it all together. But God loved us while we were yet sinners. He loves us just as we are, mistakes and all. And He wants to use us, just as we are.

The characters were fantastic, fully developed and authentic. The descriptions and dialog were great. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I can see why she’s won awards! She grabbed me on the first page and pulled me straight through to the end. Best of all, the end held a beautiful cliffhanger. I’m already looking forward to the next book in this series.

Final Thoughts: This was a delicious book, a perfect summer read! I'm putting it in my personal favorites.

Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read: K-2nd Grade Deluxe

My daughter could not wait to read! Every day she would ask me to teach her. I've purchased several teaching tools for phonics and reading. This one definitely provided the fastest and best results. My daughter read the first book after just ten minutes of working with this program!! My husband and I were amazed.

This set includes several elements: flashcards, workbooks, CDs, reward stickers, charts and individual reading books. All of these work together within a repetitive system to teach children phonetic combinations. In other words, the kids learn rhyming word families in a systematic order: fat, cat, sat, bat, hat, etc. These words are then put together into a simple book. My daughter was so excited to be able to read a whole book all by herself! As the child progresses, word families are combined until the child completes that level of reading. It's a very effective method of teaching literacy. Best of all: everything you need is right here in this box.

My only problem: this program is not terribly exciting. It caters to one or two learning styles (listening and repetition) and that's it. Some of the other programs we've used (like AlphaTales - A Book For Each Letter Of The Alphabet) have held my children's interest much better and much longer. My kids need more hands on stuff like drawing and singing and dancing. Hooked on Phonics is a lot of sit-down type "homework" between the fun stuff of reading. Repetition is great for learning, but not necessarily inviting for young kids.

Final Thoughts: I definitely recommend the program, but am happy I have other tools and books to supplement when my kids get bored. I got a great deal on this, so I'm sure that contributes to my review. If I had paid full price, I might be disappointed. If you're on a tight budget, you may want to keep looking. There are many other teaching tools available for much less.

More Grilled to Perfection
by Chris Knight

Available in paperback. McArthur & Company Publishing, Ltd., 2008; ISBN: 1552786404; 233 pages.

If you enjoy the cooking show License to Grill, you'll enjoy this cookbook, one of several written by the show's host. Everything I've tried in it has been fantastic. The author/host's style shows through his writing, but better yet: each recipe is saturated with flavor. Most people believe their grills are only for burgers and steaks. This author makes it clear the grill can do much more than that: beef, yes, but also lamb, exquisite veggie dishes, chicken, duck, seafood -- even salads! There is also a chapter on sauces and rubs.

The diversity extends beyond recipes to techniques, including smoking, steaming and more. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, making this a great resource for beginning and experienced cooks.

My only complaint: Some pictures show multiple dishes, but only offer one recipe. For example, a strawberry salad is shown with a chicken dish, but no reference is made of the side-dish. I'd like to know how to make both. Or at least where I can find the recipe.

Final Thoughts: I highly recommend this cookbook. Well worth the investment!

The Book Whisperer
by Donalyn Miller
Author Website: Teacher Magazine: The Book Whisperer

Available in paperback. Jossey-Bass, 2009; ISBN: 0470372273; 240 pages.

The average American reads less than 5 books a year. I want better than that. I LOVE to read and want my kids to share this same passion.

This book, based on the work of one teacher and blogger, shares a tried-and-true method to help kids learn to love books. Each year in her fifth-grade class every student reads at least 40 books, some as many as 75. Every year. Do you want to see your children or students reading at that volume? Or even a fraction of it? Get this book. The author presents her methods through comprehensible text, charts and case studies. Unlike most educational texts, this book is thoroughly interesting and a quick read.

Even parents (whether they homeschool or not) will find this information inspiring. In fact, I think anyone who loves books would find her studies fascinating. I really liked reading the success stories: sections of the book that detail individual cases of kids going from non-readers, some even learning disabled, to passionate book devourers. This text is filled with hope.

Final Thoughts: A great book. Highly recommended.

The Teashop Girls
by Laura Schaefer (Illustrated by Sujean Rim)
Author Website: teashopgirls.webnode.com

Available in hardback. Paula Wiseman Books, 2008; ISBN: 1416967931; 256 pages.

Since few of my editing clients are now writing YA (Young Adult) novels, I've started reading many more books in this genre. I've discovered these books are really fun to read! Expect to see a few more reviews like this in the future.

I loved this book and can hardly wait for my daughter (now 5) to be old enough to read it. One of my biggest struggles as a parent is the exponential rate at which kids grow up today. Our culture pushes teens to act like adults, tweens to act like college students and preschoolers to know all about "High School Musical." This book was a breath of fresh air for a mom who still wants kids to enjoy being kids.

Annie, 13 years old, feels a little behind her two best friends: Zoe and Genna. She's not completely boy-crazy and isn't sure she wants to start high school. She likes things the way they are and would prefer to keep them that way. When she gets a job in her grandmother's tea shop, Annie starts a whole new adventure. The shop (older than Annie and basically her second home) is struggling financially and may need to close its doors. Annie initiates a plan to safe the Steeping Leaf. Toss in a way-too-cute boy, an annoying classmate and some out of control red hair, and you've got a curl-up-on-the-couch great book.

Bonus features include illustrations of tea cards, various historical facts about tea and those who drink it, and some really great recipes, such as cucumber sandwiches, blueberry scones, tea pops and more. Readers will also enjoy learning the fun health and cosmetic uses of tea, zen practices and some tips on meditation, all taught by Annie's globetrotting grandma.

Again from a mother's perspective, this book was fantastic. There was no questionable material -- no cursing, no kissing, no adult behavior, no vulgarity or explicit content. It elevates tea, friendship and femininity to "cool" again.

Final Thoughts: I loved it!

Healing Waters
by Nancy Rue and Stephen Aterburn
Author Website: www.nancyrue.com

Available in paperback or Kindle. Thomas Nelson, 2008; ISBN: 1595544313; 400 pages.

The second in the Sullivan Crisp series, Healing Waters was named 2009 Novel of the Year by Women of Faith. And for good reason: this book boasts fully developed, relateable characters and authentic drama. I did not read the first book, so I can't tell you much about the series as a whole. This volume, however, was steeped in drama and very well written.

What if Joel Osteen had a sibling in the shadows? That's kind of what this book is like. The main character is the sister living in the shadow of her prosperity-gospel-preaching sister. Contrasts abound between these siblings. Drama peppers the plot: a near-death plane crash, marital dischord, addictions, arrogance, suicide, revenge, entitlement and pride. The author entwines these experiences with one woman's journey toward understanding her self-worth. While few of can fully relate to the protagonist's life, we can all relate to her struggle to find her place in the world. The faith and truth revealed here are relevant to all of us.

Final Thoughts: A great read. A contemplative read. A book that sticks with readers long after turning the last page. I definitely recommend it.Those with backgrounds in psychology or counseling will especially enjoy it.