Thursday, November 25, 2010

Rediscovering Your Happily Ever After by PeggieSue Wells

There are many books out there regarding how to move on with life after divorce. There are many books are dating after divorce, raising children after divorce, and financial advise after a divorce. What is rare is someone being open and raw about divorce.

What about being single again when it was the norm to associate as a couple? What about your friends viewing differently because you are not "Mrs. X"? What about your church judging you because of divorce?

That is where this book goes. Through the book, Ms. Wells gives her struggle, emotions, and heart after her divorce. She also details how she began the process of healing in various areas: emotions, friends, finances, family, and God. A very organic book on a very difficult subject.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist

This is a very raw and honest book about life as seen through the eyes of the author. The roller-coaster ride of living is masterfully woven as Mrs. Niequist tells small stories about her life. Using a journal-style of writing the reader is drawn into struggle, laughter, heartache, joy, and thought as each story bares a small piece of the author's soul. I found myself stopping several times to think about what I just read. This book does just that: makes the read stop and think. A well written book and a must read. It was so good that I went out to a retail store to purchase another work by the author: Cold Tangerines. If you know me, I almost never shop retail. This book caused a very rare exception.

Monday, November 1, 2010

The Grace of God by Andy Stanley

**I received this complimentary copy through Booksneeze.com. All the opinions expressed are my own.**

This was an amazing read and well worth the time spent reading it. Andy Stanley did a masterful job on communicating the grace of God. By showing how man does not deserve God's grace, how God has extended his grace a plethora of times, and why grace is a great gift of God.

Mr. Stanley does not try to persuade the reader to his understanding of grace but tries to inform the reader of what the grace of God is. By doing this, he allows the reader to come to their own conclusions. After all, grace is something not easily understood by mankind, something Mr. Stanley readily admits in this book.

Another plus for this read is the way in which Mr. Stanley weaves the story of grace exhibited. By using Biblical history, Mr. Stanley shows that some of the greatest Biblical character had much grace extended to them and how such grace is still available today. God has not changed; neither is the grace He gives.

I would highly recommend that this book be put on your "must read" list. Mr. Stanley is an amazing communicator and his style, with this subject, work wonderful in tandem. The beauty of grace was revealed with such passion and candor that I found myself stopping several to review what I had just read. A six star book when only five stars are given.