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For my review of The Familiar Stranger,  click here.

No More Christian Nice Girl by Paul Coughlin and Jennifer Degler

The subtitle of No More Christian Nice Girl is: When just being nice – instead of good – hurts you, your family, and your friends. That is exactly what this book is about. The authors challenge Christian women to move from being Christian Nice Girls (CNGs) to being God's Good Women.

What's the difference? The difference is that a CNG is a people-pleaser who thinks she is behaving like a nice Christian girl should act, but the truth is she is allowing unhealthy actions and situations to rule her life. God's good woman, on the other hand, reflects the 360 degree personality of Jesus and has the courage to take a stand for herself and for others. The authors present Jesus as standing for what he believed in, even if it was abrasive to some people. Best of all, the authors back up everything with Scripture so that one can go to the Bible and see exactly what it says. The book also offers practical advice on setting boundaries and dealing with friends, co-workers, husbands, and CNGs.

This is a book that every woman should read at least once, even if you don't think you have issues with boundaries.  The emphasis about reflecting Christ's behavior is a powerful lesson that we could all learn and practice more effectively.  I especially appreciated Appendix A of this book which lists all the times that Jesus was “not so nice” aka He set boundaries or said things that upset people. The questions at the end of each chapter were thought-provoking and helpful. The only thing I would change is that I wish there had been more said about dealing with family. The family and friends chapter seemed to focus mainly on friends and I think family is one of the most difficult areas when it comes to setting boundaries and speaking the truth in love.

It took me well over a month to read No More Christian Nice Girl because I read it as part of my daily devotions. A few sections a day was an extremely effective way for me to read it because it allowed everything to sink in and the repetition of reading about the same topic daily increased the impact of the lessons. I would recommend this book to women over the age of 18. I only give the age limit of 18 because there is a chapter about sex and boundaries which might not be appropriate for younger readers.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review 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."

Song of the Silent Harp by BJ Hoff

Ireland's inhabitants starve as the great potato famine rages. It seems not only England, but also God himself is punishing Ireland. Nora Kavanagh is sure that God is punishing her. Her husband and daughter have died. Her father-in-law and oldest son are terribly ill and she has no way to pay the rent. Her childhood friend, Morgan Fitzgerald, occasionally supplies her with food he obtained through less than honest means. When one of her two remaining sons is suddenly in peril, Nora has no choice but to leave Ireland and sail for America. Her hope lies with America and Michael Burke, another childhood friend who now serves as a policeman in New York City. Will she ever be free of the fog of despair that binds her? Will they even survive the journey to America? Sometimes the deepest and most genuine faith is born of adversity.

There is a notable difference between a book that drags because it is boring and a book that moves slowly because the author writes so vividly. Song of the Silent Harp belongs in the latter category. The author has a way of drawing the reader into each of the main characters. Although it seemed the novel was progressing slowly, I never lost interest in the book. Each character was well-developed and authentic. I would not call this book depressing, but it is a heavy read as it deals with the great potato famine in Ireland as well as sickness, death and lost love. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was far better than I expected it to be and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Harvest House Publishers. 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."

A Rush of Wings by Kristen Heitzmann

Noelle St. Claire is running on instinct. A violent episode with her fiance triggers panic and confusion about the past. She leaves her privileged life in New York, boards a bus and lands in the rural town of Juniper Falls, Colorado. Rick Spencer's horse ranch is a far better place to stay than the alternatives and he reluctantly rents her a room. Noelle doesn't think about the future or the past. Living only in the day, she makes many irrational choices, but it is only through her fall that she can clearly see the Savior she needs.

A Rush of Wings by Kristen Heitzmann is a compassionate look at the pain caused by physical and sexual abuse. The characters of Rick and Morgan Spencer complement each other well. They both are important in Noelle's healing, but as Noelle observes, Rick is complete. Morgan is broken. Their rivalry for Noelle's affection leads to tension, but the author writes them in such a way that the reader does not condemn or dislike either of them. I appreciated the author's use of originality. The plot may not have been completely unlike anything else, but the individual scenes were original and enjoyable. My favorite moment of the book was at the end of Rick and Noelle's first date.

One thing I found annoying is that the synopsis of the book states that the horse ranch is owned by Rick and Morgan Spencer. Though Morgan stays at the ranch, the book makes it pretty clear that Rick is the sole owner of the ranch. It's a little thing, but when I pick up a book, I expect the synopsis to be accurate.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review 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."

Angry by Laura L. Smtih

Emma's parent's unexpected divorce has thrown her world out of control. Everything seems to be falling apart and Emma is the one stuck trying to hold it together. The guilt her parents inflict on her causes her to respond in anger and the last thing she wants to do is be around them. The two bright spots in her life are her friends and the upcoming school production of Les Miserables. When Emma lands the part of Eponine, she finds a unique way to deal with the pain. What she does not know is that God is going to use this play to draw her to him.

When I read the synopsis for Angry, I expected it to be heavy reading full of drama and teenage angst. I was pleasantly surprised to find that although the author deals with Emma's anger, the book is not depressing and heavy. Emma is presented as an authentic teenage girl whose life is changing. She is angry at her parents and a bit rebellious, but anger does not define all of who she is. Rather Emma is fun-loving and happy at some parts. She genuinely cares about her siblings, friends, and even parents. The story emphasizes the use of God-given passions as a coping technique for dealing with pain and anger. It's a good idea and far better than some of the unhealthy ways that some people cope with their anger. I would recommend this book for teenage girls as that is who it is aimed towards. However, as a 20-something, who hasn't been in high school for awhile, I still enjoyed the book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review 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."

Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Tess Durbeyfield is beset by guilt over the accidental death of one of her family's horses – a main source of family income. In an attempt to create a social connection and to gain financial assistance for her family, she entreats the d'Urbervilles to acknowledge an ancient familial connection. Unfortunately, Alec d'Urberville is taken with Tess and rapes her. Her life is haunted by his sexual assault from that point forward. Eventually, Tess begins to recuperate and finds employment elsewhere as a dairymaid. Her days as a dairymaid are happy and peaceful until she falls in love with Angel Clare. She agonizes over telling him of her tainted past, and when she confesses the truth on her wedding night, Angel is repulsed over her past and her deception of waiting to tell him. Tess is parted from her true love and never fully recovers, even when he returns to her.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles is more than a sad story. It pays homage to the type of unhealthy family atmospheres that many children are raised in. The death of the horse is a direct result of her father's drunkenness and irresponsibility, though Tess never realizes this. When her parents hear of her misfortune, her mother reprimands her for not seeking marriage to the very man who raped her. The story also explores the mental effects that sexual assault can have on a person. Tess experiences extreme guilt, depression and feelings of unworthiness – common feelings for victims of sexual assault. In the end, as she is continually subjected to Alec d'Urberville, she experiences insanity which results in extreme actions.

This particular edition included an introduction and notes about the text which I found helpful. However, I thought the girl on the cover did not resemble the maiden of the book. The girl on the front is plain and unremarkable, whereas, Tess, according to the text, is remarkable.

I can see why this book is considered a literary classic, but I can't say I enjoyed it. That being said, I think everyone should read this book once. Tess is a memorable character that one can not help being fascinated with.

The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry

Denise Littleton was already feeling a little hopeless when she went to church that Sunday morning. A cell phone call in the middle of the church service changes her life forever. Her husband, Craig, has been involved in an accident and is severely injured. She arrives at the hospital to find that Craig has no memory of her, where he was going or why he was parked on the side of the road when he was hit. As the days pass, Craig's behavior is more loving than it has been in years and his injury seems like a fresh start that Denise is eager to grasp. Though the path ahead appears long and difficult, she is willing to walk along Craig's side. Unfortunately, when Craig's memories come back suddenly, Denise finds she has already lost more than she could have imagined.

The Familiar Stranger is told from two points-of view which gives it an interesting tone. This works particularly well as it provides a unique perspective into what it would be like to completely lose one's memory. This book deals with a lot of family drama, emotional turmoil and mystery. However, despite the heavy topics discussed, the book is actually a pretty fast read. I recommend this to those who love fiction and mystery. The questions will definitely keep you guessing up until the end.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Moody Publishers. 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."