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Book Review: Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

9/10 Sometimes life is good, and sometimes you just need a smidge of dark humor to get through your day. This is far more than a smidge, but hey, you can’t overdose on literature, can you? With a dark, twisted sense of humor, the author Jenny Lawson explores how she embraces life (amongst other things, like taxidermied raccoons) even with all of her problems. If you’re struggling to see through…

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Book Review: The Bad Guys #17 - Let the Games Begin! by Aaron Blabey

8/10 It’s time to finally meet Dark Lord Splaarghon, and ooh boy is he just as bad as we thought! Our remaining heroes are forced to play his games, and in doing so, they must face their own allies turned enemies, led by Mr. Snake. If only the Others can finally get there, the One is sure to be able to handle everything. Everything is coming down to the wire, and things can’t get any more crazy!…

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Book Review: The Mystery Series #1 - The Mystery of Smugglers Cove by Paul Moxham

8/10 Over the summer holidays, three children make a friend in Smugglers Cove, and what follows is the start of a series of wonderful adventures. In this first book, there are secret meetings, kidnapping, and a harrowing chase, and it makes a wonderful introduction to this world. I want to know more about these children and can’t wait to see what else the series has to offer. If you’re looking…

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Book Review: A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

7/10 In this short book, C.S. Lewis explores his experience of grief over losing his wife. It’s a raw look at the way that grief can overwhelm a person and cause even the stoutest Christian to doubt. Though every person will experience grief differently, it is nice to know that God can and will lead His people through everything, including grief. Recommended for those who are grieving and…

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Book Review: Sunset Ridge Mysteries #2 - The Type-A Guide to Dinner Parties by Elizabeth Spann Craig

9/10 After solving a harrowing murder mystery soon after moving in, Samantha Prescott took some time to just breathe. Now she wants to slowly start getting back into things, and what better way than to throw a dinner party! Everything starts off on the wrong foot when one of her guests gets belligerent and starts insulting everybody else. But it gets even worse when that same guest ends up dead.…

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Book Review: God and the Gay Christian? by R. Albert Mohler

7/10 The arguments for LGBT+ issues to be not only overlooked but outright accepted by those who teach or believe the Bible are growing louder as time passes. Christians need a solid defense to compete with books like God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines, and this commentary offers a good starting point. If you have questions about the original book or about how to respond to the emotional…

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Book Review: Chronic Illness, Walking by Faith

8/10 As somebody who struggles with an undiagnosed mystery illness that can take me out for weeks at a time, I’ve been struggling with how to live in a way that pleases God. This devotional helped to take some of the pressure off of feeling like I have to ‘do’ to be approved. If you’re struggling through an illness, known or unknown, this devotional will encourage you to trust in God and His…

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Book Review: The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller

8/10 In this short book, Keller explores Paul and his unique way of seeing himself by focusing on 1 Corinthians. Talking about self-esteem, both high and low, the author explains how there is a third option: to forget the self entirely, as Paul learned to do. In a world where self-esteem is seen as the solution to every problem, Keller takes the time to show that once again, the Bible offers…

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Book Review: The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel

10/10 Science has divorced itself from its roots and now insists that the natural is all there is. In today’s circles, there are many who think that there is no reason to believe in a creator. Lee Strobel takes on a new topic to explore as he interviews experts in various fields to discover if there is in fact a case for a creator. His hard-hitting, no-nonsense style is great, exploring the hard…

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Book Review: The Search for God by C.S. Lewis

8/10 A collection of essays written by C.S. Lewis at various points in his life is a small collection, but theologically it is quite dense. I’ve always enjoyed Lewis’s writing style, and his communication is especially clear in his essays, which are easy to follow. If you want a few bites of theology, this book is a good one to pick up. The depth and variety of topics covered in this book are a…

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Book Review: Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been by Jackie Hill Perry

10/10 The Lord’s grace is big enough to cover every sin, and Jackie Hill Perry tells her story to prove this is true. Her story is a tale that showcases God’s glory and grace for all sinners, and I love the way Jackie tells her story. I can sense her devotion to God, and I’m grateful to have heard her story. No spoilers here, if you want the story, you’ll have to read it. But I cannot recommend…

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Book Review: Three Story Method #1 - Foundations of Fiction by J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon

8/10 The Three Story Method breaks down a method of writing that is the most efficient for career authors. Using Star Wars: A New Hope as an example, the author explains the method step by step in a way that is clear and thorough. Though the method is not for everybody, I would recommend this book to all writers. Everybody can get nuggets of wisdom out of this book, but the ones you get will…

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Book Review: The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

10/10 The Case for Christ has been on my want-to-read list for awhile, and I’m glad that I’ve finally read it. I’ve been a Christian since I was a child, and I have no memory of dramatic revelations that led me to Christ. As such, I have always been curious about how others go about looking into the arguments for Christianity. In The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel takes a very matter-of-fact…

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Book Review: I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

10/10 I enjoyed watching iCarly as a kid, and I suppose that’s why I was excited to see that Jennette had written a biography. The title informed me that it would be a dark journey, but I wasn’t quite prepared for how bad it really was for Jenette. A tale of abuse and pain that I never would have imagined Jennette going through, the story told by the book is Jennette’s story, her very own story…

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Book Review: The Bad Guys #16 - The Others by Aaron Blabey

8/10 A new book, a new dimension, a new problem, this time hiding deep in the woods. But there might actually be another new thing: a new ally. Unfortunately, he seems very, very honest, to the point where he can’t stand keeping a secret from anybody, including the minion of Splaarghon that is hunting them. As Mr. Wolf escorts Agent Fox to the next doorway while their new ally shouts their…

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Book Review: The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

8/10 Humans are always seeking the next thing, trying to find satisfaction for some intangible need. Man has pursued everything to try and be fulfilled. There is only one thing that will fulfill you, and that is a relationship with the Being who made your very soul. And this isn’t something for only a select few, but a characteristic of every human being, as Tozer explains throughout the…

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Book Review: In the Hands of a Fiercely Tender God by Colleen Elisabeth Chao

10/10 In day-to-day life, things can pile up and seem overwhelming. It can feel like God has forgotten you amidst the struggles and trials of this life. But God is not silent and distant. He is compassionate and loves His children enough to send His son to die for our sins. Written by a terminal cancer patient, this book contains such wonderful wisdom that can only come from God Himself. Each…