The Anger Workbook by Les Carter and Frank Minirth This excellent book helps one identify anger in its many forms, trace its needs, motivating emotions and take steps to reduce and conquer it. It is accessible, using checklists to analyze and numbered blanks to delineate personal examples. The four parts of this book are Identifying Your Anger, Anger Thrives on Unmet Needs, How Other Emotions Create Anger, and Applying New Insights about Anger Reduction. This book was interesting, challenging and enlightening. It was thought provoking and insightful. The material was presented simply and cohesively, conveying biblical truth accurately. I would recommend this book to everyone. Unless we have faced our anger head on, we likely do not realize how much it permeates our lives. The Anger Workbook is extremely well written, with tremendous instruction and insight. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Simple Secrets to a Happy Life by Luci Swindoll

Each of the 50 “secrets” has three pages devoted to it. Most of the author’s topics are common sense, such as be on time, keep your word, value the things you have, think before you say it, and live an attitude of gratitude. A few are biblical, such as honoring your parents, taking Jesus with you everywhere, read your Bible every day. This is not a book most would read to learn but rather to be reminded. Its message is simple and straightforward. It is not one of Luci Swindoll’s best works as there is little here that is new, but if you wonder to yourself, “How am I doing?”, this book might well help you answer that question. I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

constantly craving by Marilyn Meberg

Marilyn Meberg says people have craved more since the Garden of Eden. We want more from romance, marriage, and friendship; we want more happiness, time, meaning and purpose. The answer to our craving, says Marilyn, is God—His purposes and His ways.

This book did an adequate job of presenting God as the answer to life’s desires and pursuits. The author presented biblical truth well. The message, however, did not seem fresh or different from other books written by Marilyn Meberg or from numerous other authors, which was disappointing.

I would recommend this to someone new to walking with God, as it was pretty basic stuff. If that description does not fit you, I would skip this particular book. It’s not as good as some of Marilyn’s other works.

I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Healing is a Choice by Stephen Arterburn

The book’s subtitle, “Ten Decisions That Will Transform Your Life & Ten Lies That Can Prevent You From Making Them,” sum up the book nicely. Each of the ten chapters includes a choice that will move your life forward and a lie that will fight against that choice. The choices involve healing, feeling, investigating, helping, embracing, and risking your life, and the lies concern things such as independence, denial, lack of forgiveness, and hopelessness.

This book was overly long, at 454 pages. For example, the first chapter was 48 pages, and its workbook section, misnomered "Workbook Questions," was 20. Reading the workbook sections after each chapter left me with the feeling I was going in circles, as the workbook sections contained narrative that was extremely repetitious of the chapters. If the sections called “Workbook Questions” were simply that, the book would have been greatly improved.

For the most part, biblical truth was portrayed accurately. The one section where I concluded it was not was in the chapter, “The Choice to Serve,” where the author states: “Romans 12 is one place we learn about the spiritual gifts that I call secret powers.” First, never does the Bible even imply that spiritual gifts to be secret. I Corinthians indicates these are given to serve the Body, and some of those gifts are very public, such as pastor, evangelist, administration. Even helps and mercy are not exercised in private. Second, Arterburn goes on in the next section on service to talk about talents, strengths, interests, personality traits, and desires, which the Bible does not overlap with spiritual gifts. This section was muddy and could be very confusing to an unbeliever or a new believer.

I would not recommend this book because of its length and muddiness. There are other books which convey the same truths without wearing the reader out and without watering down the teaching of Scripture on spiritual gifts until they are described as “secret powers.”

I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

The Grace of God by Andy Stanley

This is the first book I’ve read by Andy Stanley, who is a masterful writer. When he turned his sights to the topic of the grace of God, the result is an in-depth look involving a refreshing perspective, an engaging style, and challenging applications. The author gives everyone something meaty to ponder.

Clearly outlined is man’s need for God’s grace, as well as God’s desire to extend grace to everyone at all times. Scripture is used extensively and well, and some familiar Bible stories, such as the story of Joseph and the parable of the prodigal son, are retold in a fresh way. The author explores many facets of grace in chapters entitled, among others, Surprised by Grace, Ruled by Grace, Sustained by Grace, Puzzled by Grace, and Commissioned for Grace.

This book was interesting, enlightening and thought provoking. I would recommend this book to everyone, especially to those who are new in their faith.
I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Love You More by Jennifer Grant

This book chronicles the author’s journey of adopting her daughter, Mia, from Guatemala in 2003. It serves both as her personal account and a narration of what potential adoptive parents can expect from the adoption process. The author readily acknowledges that adoption is not for everyone; she is not a zealot who believes that if you can adopt, you should. Yet she makes the case for adoption for those who are looking at their desires, motivations, and reasons.

Jennifer Grant writes well, and every chapter was interesting. She gives a compelling account of Mia’s story while giving a full picture of people’s response to Mia, from both her adoptive parents to her siblings to friends and even strangers. If you are not an adoptive parent, the author will make you think about your response to adoption.

There are few references to the Bible and a smattering of references to prayer and God’s working in the author’s situation, but that is not a criticism, for this book is an account, not a manual. I would recommend this book to those considering adoption. At the end of the book are useful questions and helpful resources listed.

I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Stained Glass Hearts by Patsy Clairmont

This newest offering by energetic, funny, master storyteller Patsy Clairmont is a treasure. Stepping away from her usual wry and witty style, the author pulls the curtain back on her life, her thoughts, and her deep perspective. She writes thoughtfully of challenge and loss, reflecting on how those times have shaped her into someone who values the brokenness in herself and in others that results. Patsy offers practical steps to help when facing challenging times.

Patsy reveals a side of herself that is at once aware, articulate, and deep. One of my favorites of her statements in this new book is, “Words that give us pause are often a window to our needs.” It is that kind of thoughtfulness that permeates this work.

In addition, every chapter ends with suggestions of art to view, music to hear, and written words to consider if further exploration of the topic is desired. This is an offering not often seen in books and is a way to pursue anything that resonates.

This little book is a keeper, one to consider time and again when life creeps or crashes in.

I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.