Review of "Borders of the Heart" by Chris Fabry

Really enjoying Chris Fabry's work these days.  His books are compelling and always make me think.

J.D. Jessup has been working as a farmhand in Arizona, where he moved to escape some terrible memories - he is essentially 'running' from himself.  His employer's one immovable rule is "if you see an illegal, call Border Patrol immediately".  However, when the situation actually arises J.D. is hard pressed to be obedient, because his heart tells him otherwise.  He hides the beautiful Maria, but soon learns that she is not all she seems to be (and it could be a deadly decision).  This decision sets off a series of events that seem out of control, but all in all serve to bring J.D. full circle to the man he is supposed to be.

Although this wasn't my all-time favorite Chris Fabry book, I definitely enjoyed it and can wholeheartedly recommend it.

Review of "All For a Song" by Allison Pittman

Allison Pittman is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.  Her stories are rich in history and character, and "All For a Song" is no exception.

Dorothy Lynn Dunbar is a country girl who has grown up in a small town....but she dreams of more.  Not the big city necessarily but the feeling that she is destined to do more with her life.  She is engaged to the local preacher and her married with kids sister lives in the city.  When Dorothy visits her sister to create a wedding dress, she happens on a revival led by evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, and connects with those associated with this movement....From that moment on her life changes - and she will never be the same.

Set in the Roaring Twenties, this book will not disappoint...I highly recommend it.

Review of "Tandem" by Tracey Bateman

Review of "False Witness" by Randy Singer

Jamie Brock is an assistant DA with some very specific beliefs.  She is known for her unwillingness to plea bargain - ever.  Part of her passion lies in the fact that her mother was murdered in their home when she was 16, and this truly sets the tone for the course of her life.  During the time period of this story, she is under extreme stress for a number of reasons - the execution of her mother's killer is looming, her father has had a stroke and is on life support, things at work go a tiny bit haywire.  Additionally, (in a sub- yet related storyline), a well known local lawyer is arrested for allegedly killing his wife - and while in jail creates a serious stir with the gangs in the system, where no one will take a plea of any kind (and those that do, they or their loved ones are killed.)  This greatly affects her workload, and she is most definitely in need of a break.

It was nice to catch up with Jamie Brock again (a character originally introduced in "False Witness", where she was a law student) - this time as a full fledged lawyer.  This book focuses a great deal on ethics and behind the scenes of the justice system, as well as the death penalty.  I love reading Randy Singer because he obviously knows a lot about the law, so the rules, etc. ring very true - but he also knows people.  And these characters were interesting to me.

This was a very well done mystery, lots of detail but not ever overwhelming, and I enjoyed trying to figure out "who done it"....(and I was half right!)  :)

Visit www.TyndaleRewards.com for more information about the publisher of this and other great books.

Review of "Whole" by Lisa Whittle

The holes in your life can ultimately be what make you WHOLE.  Very thought provoking.  Lisa Whittle shares her heart and life to illustrate the truth that although we will have challenges, things that shake our beliefs and life in general, that God still wants us to be whole.  Our experiences can be just that - experiences.  Not the sole definer of all that He has made us to be and the end of our story.

She is very transparent in her story (it seems she holds nothing back!) and I admire her for that.  From her notes at the end, I thought it was interesting that she felt she was supposed to "come at the book from my failures, not my successes".  It's an interesting perspective and a powerful one, I believe.

I was really excited to read this book, as I have so much in common with Lisa Whittle.  She is a pastor's daughter, she's been married the same amount of time as I have, they planted a church (we are planting now with our 1st anniversary in a few weeks), and we have both experienced holes - as well as some wholeness through a deeper relationship with God.

My favorite part is towards the end of the book; due to a number of circumstances she is feeling pretty raw, and God says to her, "Lisa, I love you.  I know you are hurting right now, and I know why.  But in these months of doing Thrive Church, have you gotten to know Me better?"

She answers yes.  He says, "If then you have gotten to know Me better and you were created for that purpose, how can you consider your experience with Thrive Church a failure?  It is instead a wild success."

I was so moved by this because I've been there (challenging circumstances, feeling like a failure, when will things ever "get better", and although I wouldn't want to live those specific circumstances again, necessarily...I am grateful for the result of knowing Him better.  Priceless.  A wild success.  :)

Visit www.TyndaleRewards.com for more information about the publisher of this and other great books.

Review of "Night Mare" by Dandi Daley Mackall

Ellie James is ready for the perfect summer, enjoying her family, friends, and especially Dream, her backyard horse.  Through a sad series of events, it turns out that Dream was not abandoned as they all thought, but ran away from her owners and now they want her back.  Although it's clear that the boy who owned Dream (he named her Jinx) can't possibly love the mare as much as Ellie, she struggles to do the right thing and let Dream go graciously.  Just when you think there might now be a happy ending, the author provides a creative (and not cheesy or overdone) way for everyone's dreams to come true.  And the miracle touches more lives than just Ellie's.


This was probably my favorite book of the series.  Whether you have a horse crazy girl in your house, as I do, or you just want a fun and poignant story to read, please check out this series!

Visit www.TyndaleRewards.com for more information about the publisher of this and other great books.

Review of "Chasing Dream" by Dandi Daley Mackall

Fourth grade is almost over, and Ellie James is loving having her own "backyard" horse.  She wants to do everything she can to make sure the world knows just how wonderful Dream is.  So she creates the "First Annual Fourth Grade Horse Race" and focuses her energies (at the expense of her promises to her family, friends, school work, etc.) - but when Dream doesn't win the race, she begins to question her worth.

This is a wonderful story of a girl trying to do the right thing but learning that God doesn't love you for what you do or how perfectly behave....He loves you because you're YOU.

I completely recommend this series.  Whether you have a horse-crazy girl in your house like I do or just want to check out a good story, please read these books.

Visit www.TyndaleRewards.com for more information about the publisher of this and other great books.