Serial

By Jack Kilborn and Blake Crouch
Kindle eBook short

I didn't really know what to expect when I downloaded this particular eBook. I knew it was a short story and that it was a 'thriller', but that was all I payed any attention to.
Wow. It was something.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, I should mention that all I normally read are Christian books - thrillers, mystery, fantasy, whatever. . . They are all by Christian authors. Serial isn't like that, and it was evident when the killer started raping his victim.

I'll grant you that there are plenty of serial killers who do despicable, horrible things to their victims (Dahmer, anyone?), but that;s not something I want to relax to. I'm all for horrific, painful deaths and sadistic twists that make your stomach turn, but I don't want anything like rape to enter the picture.

But, what's done is done.

What really freaked me out with this story is that I had an idea for a book that I have been working on for a while now, and as I read this short, it was like the two authors had heard my thoughts. They were implementing a version of my idea! It was weird.
I can't say what my idea was because that would ruin the book, but suffice it to say I was a bit disappointed.

The book itself wasn't very well written. It appeared to be tossed together, although I liked chapter 2 better than chapters 1 or 3.
Yes, this book is only 3 chapters long. It took me a total of 15 minutes to get through it, and that was with me reading it at work.

If you like über secular thrillers, or very short books that don't involve much thought, Serial could be for you. Personally, I may not ever read it again, and that wouldn't hurt me a bit.

I downloaded Serial for free through Kindle. It wasn't part of any promotion, just go to Amazon's Kindle section and set the list order to "price: low to high" and you should be able to find it there for free.

The Holiness of God

By R. C. Sproul

How do you define holy? What is holy to you? When something is made holy, how does that affect how you perceive it? More importantly, if God is holy, what does that do to us?

In The Holiness of God, Sproul answers these questions of mine and, in so doing, he blew my mind away time and time again. With the turning of each page I found myself utterly wasted at the thought of what true holiness is and how we respond to it.  Isaiah needed to have his lips cleansed by fire in order to speak to a Holy God; the Seraphim that surround Him cover their feet signifying their created status in the midst of a Holy God; and Paul the Apostle was thrown down and struck blind when God revealed just a portion of His Holiness.

Yet we can't be bothered to speak a simple prayer of thanks for His provision when we eat.

This book truly caused me to take a good, hard long look at what I always thought about God and His majesty, and has forced me to see my own unholiness in the face of a Holy God. Todd Agnew mentioned that this was a free Kindle eBook and I couldn't resist snatching it up - I am so glad I did! The reality of the purity of God simply never crossed my mind before. Sproul has a way of taking the obvious and turning your attention to it in a way that makes it undeniable.

Every believer needs to read this book!

The Scroll

By: Grant R Jeffrey and Alton L Gansky
WaterBrook Publishing

Dr. David Chambers, leading archaeologist, has spent his professional career uncovering the facts in the artifacts. His work sets the standard for biblical research in the Holy Land. But surrounded by the evidence, David has sunk into an abyss of doubt. A painful experience with a seemingly unresponsive God has left him without hope. The Old Testament scriptures that used to fill his mind with wonder now drive him to frustration. His unanswered questions have ripped him from both his academic pursuits and the love of his life, his fiancée, Amber. An old friend and mentor reaches out to David, enticing him with the riches described in the enigmatic Copper Scroll. Losing ground with his peers, his love, and his faith, David Chambers has a choice to make. Will he undertake one final dig to unlock a secret that could alter the course of history? Do the mysteries of the Old Testament hold the key to the political turmoil of the Middle East? In a world where faith has been eclipsed by the allure of doubt, The Scroll offers a different journey: a gripping adventure to find truth worth dying for.

I don't know why I got this book other than a weakness for all things historical. Granted I prefer actual history over novel history, but I digress.  The concept of a "treasure hunt" through Israel was intriguing enough and it piqued my curiosity to try out a new author.  I had no idea just what I was getting myself into.
The tag team of Jeffrey and Gansky provided an escape well worth the time investment.

David Chambers is an archaeologist with a problem: though he won't admit it he's still in love with a woman whose very presence reminds him of a past he'd rather forget. An opportunity arises to embark on a ground-breaking new project, but the rub is that it's in a field that he is trying desperately to remove himself from because he has lost his once vibrant faith.  He decides to accept his role in this new project after a visit from his mentor and father-figure, only to find that the former love of his life is involved in the project as well. Not only that, but so is her new love interest - and the new guy is making his presence, not to mention his intentions, known to everyone. The Scroll follows Chambers as he is forced to face his past and consider that what he has known may not be the entire truth - all the while dealing with new challenges as the Arab-Israeli tensions over Jerusalem mount.
The climax is something you can see coming, but you can hardly believe it when it arrives.

Overall, The Scroll is a fairly well written book. Oddly enough, I found a spelling error or two, but I don't count that against the authors or the story, it was simply bad editing.  The storyline is compelling and it certainly became a page turner once I got into the characters.  Jeffrey and Grant developed a quality main character whose struggle can relate to everyone.  The inner turmoil that he feels is basic to everyone as he copes with death, life, change, and love.  The build up toward the end will keep you turning the page as you come closer and closer to the end, however the set-up for a sequel is predictable, and that was the only downer about the entire novel. I'm sure a sequel can be well written, and I am excited to see it when it comes, but The Scroll is perfect as a stand-alone novel.

All in all, The Scroll is a good book. I would certainly recommend it to anyone that likes to read stories that revolve around Israel or archeology. If you want a laid-back, easy read, you might want to bypass this one.

I was given a copy of The Scroll for free as part of WaterBrook Multnomah's book blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

The Love And Respect Experience

A Husband-Friendly Devotional that Wives Truly Love
By: Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

I did something before getting this book that I try to never do until after I have finished reading it: I read a review. Even worse, I read a negative review. I read this particular review for a couple of reasons, not the least of which was sheer curiosity. You see, I have read Dr. Eggerichs book Love And Respect, and it was truly wonderful. In my mind, I couldn't see anyone disliking the knowledge gleaned from his books. After reading a paragraph of that review, I realized that the reviewer didn't understand the material presented, nor would he ever appreciate the changes that the principles behind Love And Respect can bring. I knew then that I needed to read this book.

I was not disappointed in the least. The Love And Respect Experience is a devotional book for couples. It has 52 chapters - so it's not a daily devotional - and each chapter is a nice review of the principles that Dr. Eggerichs has previously laid out in the Love And Respect book, however, you don't have to have already read Love And Respect to get the concept (although it certainly helps).

This book is billed as a "husband-friendly devotional", and that much is almost true. There are a lot of discussion questions that are written more to engage the wives than get the husbands talking. Each question at the end of the chapter is more like question sets than simple queries. I found myself breaking each question set down and tackling the questions within each point one at a time. It is infinitely more husband friendly than most marriage devotionals, but it has some room to grow.

The actual book itself is beautifully made, with a striking leather cover that makes me want to read it. The chapters are easy to follow, and the action items are simple and direct.

This is a fantastic workbook to go along with the book Love and Respect, but even if you don't have the original book, this is still a phenomenal read. I highly recommend this book to everyone!


I received this book for free as a part of the Booksneeze book blogger program. I was not required to write a favorable review.

The Tehran Initiative

Joel C. Rosenberg
Tyndale Publishing

The world is on the brink of disaster. Iran has just conducted its first atomic weapons test. Millions of Muslims around the world are convinced their messiah — known as the Twelfth Imam — has arrived on earth. Israeli leaders fear Tehran, under the Twelfth Imam’s spell, will soon launch a nuclear attack that could bring about a second Holocaust and the annihilation of Israel. The White House fears Jerusalem will strike first, launching a massive preemptive attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities that could cause the entire Middle East to go up in flames, oil prices to skyrocket, and the global economy to collapse. With the stakes high and few viable options left, the president of the United States orders CIA operative David Shirazi and his team to track down and sabotage Iran’s nuclear warheads before Iran or Israel can launch a devastating first strike. But will they be too late?

The Tehran Initiative is the continuing saga of David Shirazi as an agent of the CIA, and it follows his deep incursions into Iran as he seeks out the locations of 8 Iranian nuclear warheads.  The world is literally on the verge of self-destruction that will be brought on by either Iran or Israel -- the question is who will launch a first strike.  David needs to keep his head clear and in the game despite dealing with the impending loss of his mother, and the resurgence of feelings for a long lost love.  Added into the mix is the reality of Christ and who He is, and The Tehran Initiative becomes a non-stop story of action, intrigue, hope, and faith that keeps you turning the pages quickly in order to keep up.

The book itself is, of course, incredibly well written.  Rosenberg does an exquisite job of making the story realistic, while not allowing his readers to get lost in the terminology.  Because of the subject matter, it's easy to get lost in a series of acronyms and not fully understand the scene.  Personally, I found myself interjecting the acronyms when I knew what they were, and learning new ones as they came my way.
The characters are well developed and, even if you haven't read The Twelfth Imam, their motivations are easily understood.  Because The Tehran Initiative is a sequel, there is the danger of being forced to re-develop your characters for new readers who are unfamiliar with the previous story, but Rosenberg makes sure that all the relevant information is reviewed in such a way that you are thankful for the quick re-cap - even if you've read the previous book.

It has been said of Rosenberg's work that he writes tomorrows headlines, and I have to say that this is absolutely true!  I remember reading a scene in The Tehran Initiative that described the President exiting Air Force One with a contingent of national leaders from Israel and Egypt, and the next day I was watching video of the President and a number of other people in suits (aside from the Secret Service) as they exited Air Force One.  It was freaky, but not as freaky as reading Rosenberg's story line of several Iranian battleships heading through the Suez Canal with two of them carrying nuclear weapons, and then reading about actual Iranian battleships travelling through the Suez Canal that very same day.  Indeed, Rosenberg writes tomorrow's headlines.

All in all, if you like a great story, filled with suspense, action, and unlikely twists that have the ability to blow your mind, The Tehran Initiative is the book for you.  You don't have to read The Twelfth Imam to understand what is happening in The Tehran Initiative, but I highly suggest reading them both.  Each one of them is a roller coaster ride all it's own.

watch on tyndale.com

FTC Disclosure: I received The Tehran Initiative for free as part of the Tyndale Publisher book blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Daddy Dates

Greg Wright
Thomas Nelsen Publishing

By age thirty, Greg was the overwhelmed father of four beautiful little girls, with one thought running through his mind over and over again: Don't Screw Up!
Whether married or single, Daddy Dates can help you better connect with virtually all of the females in your life. Using Greg's communication cues, you'll be blown away by what you'll learn about your child, and how you can make a powerful, lasting difference - especially during her rocky teenage years.
Daddy Dates is about one thing - Becoming her hero, one date at a time.

Fatherhood is something that can be terrifying. The realization that you are responsible for another life carries with it an inherent command: Don't screw up! The reality of fatherhood of daughters can be even more frightening. After all, we know what it's like to be a little boy, so we have some sort of idea of how to raise a boy. Girls have always been a mystery to us, and they always will be, so the idea of raising a child that we know nothing about is scary. Greg sums up our worst fears in the second paragraph of the Prologue: Whatever you do, don't screw this up, dude.

The book itself is very well written and flows effortlessly from one idea to the other. The chapters are clear, concise, and short - the entire book is 214 pages including the acknowledgement - yet the author dives deep into a topic that demands our attention. His wit and wisdom create a fitting backdrop to present a sort of how-to that isn't really a how-to book. This book takes you on the journey of a lifetime as you follow a dad who has stumbled upon an incredible method of parenting for girls: dating.

Studies have shown that girls who have fathers who play an integral role in their lives grow up to be more balanced, confident, and take charge. Teen pregnancy, poverty, and poor education have all been linked to absent fathers. Men, it's time to step up and be the men that we need to be to our women, including our daughters. It's not good enough to provide the food, clothing, and roof over their head. The government can do that. We need to be better than that. If we don't take the steps necessary to become the best father we can be, we are shortchanging our daughter, their children, and untold generations to come.

I highly encourage all men, everywhere to read this book. Wives, mothers, girlfriends - you want your man to read this book. Trust me. You owe it to your daughters.




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Hell, Rob Bell, and What Happens When People Die?

Dr. Bobby Conway
Multnomah Books

Love Wins, the controversial bestselling book by Rob Bell, attempted to answer this question, which troubles nonbelievers and believers alike.  Because Bell challenged traditional, orthodox Christian views of hell and the afterlife, many were left asking:  “Are his ideas as reliable and hopeful as they sound? What does the Bible really say about hell?”
In Hell, Rob Bell, and What Happens When People Die, Dr. Bobby Conway brings clarity to these serious life and death issues.  “Love really does win,” according to Conway, “but it’s through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”  
Based on a thorough examination of Scripture and a careful analysis of Rob Bell’s propositions, Conway delivers a compelling and concise explanation of hell, the afterlife, and a loving God.  The conclusion:  Everyone who believes and trusts in Christ has no need to fear the anguish of hell but can confidently anticipate the eternal joy of heaven.

Hell is a topic that not too many people like to touch these days.  Any why would they?  The thought of a loving God who created a place of eternal punishment isn't exactly an easy sell - but regardless of it's popularity, the subject of Hell needs to be broached.
Mega-church pastor Rob Bell finally spoke up on his ideas about hell in the 2011 book "Love Wins".  In this book, Bell approached the topic of Hell in, what was billed as, a 'fresh, alternative fashion'.  What it really was has become the object of heated debate among apologists and Universalists alike: universal salvation, regardless of heart condition.
To be fair, it is a very seductive story: all will eventually have their heart melted and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, but it's not supported by scripture, as Bell claims.  This book by Dr. Conway exposes the truth of 'Love Wins' and Bell's errant theology.

As a book itself, it is very well written.  Conway dives deep into a confusing topic and surfaces with clarity of speech and presents evidence that contradicts Bell's offering with startling accuracy.  Conway moves very quickly, yet thoroughly through the chapters of 'Who deserves hell', 'Hell's architect', and 'Why "good people" go to hell' - all without losing the main train of thought.  His careful notes and links to external sources are a God-send (pun intended) for anyone who finds themselves in the unfortunate position of defending the Biblical portrayal of hell. His internet resources only add to his credibility and reputation as a respected apologist.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who desires to know the truth about hell and it's future inhabitants.  If Rob Bell has muddied the issue for you, get this book!


I received this book for free as part of Mulnomah's blogging for books program. I was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions of the book are mine.