When God Made You

The message of When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner, illustrated by David Catrow, is summed up on the first page: “You, you, when God made YOU, God made you all shiny and new. An incredible you, a you all your own, a you unlike anyone else ever known.” From there, the narrative expands on the concept, branching out into several ideas:

1. God knows each child even before birth.
2. God loves each child as an individual.
3. God places talents and passions within each child.
4. A child's self-expression through his or her natural gifts brings joy to the Creator.

As a mother, I appreciate the messages in this book because I know when my four year old goes off to vpk, she faces a tough world. The culture will tell her that she's not pretty enough, that her talents aren't good enough, etc. This book stands against those messages. The little girl in the story is talented artistically, but it's framed in such a way that her talents are used to bring joy to God, not to be put into a competition where she may or may not be good enough.

I recommend When God Made You for children ages 2 to 6. It was perfect for my four year old as my daughter has common ground with the girl in the book – both have a younger sibling, both love to paint and create.

The illustrations are vibrant and complement the story. It was good to see a Christian children's book that depicts an African-American girl. It might just be my experience, but it seems like the majority of Christian children's books use Caucasians. I like to teach my girls that diversity is normal and good and this book is a nice tool to use for that purpose.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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."

Rescue Me by Susan May Warren

Deputy Sam Brooks is responsible, structured and committed, if not a bit jaded. He surrounds himself with those like him and is avoidant of those who don't share his love of a predictable life – especially, his brother. His girlfriend, Sierra Rose, is the perfect girl for him as she's practical, organized, and can function under pressure. He sees her younger, impulsive sister, Willow, only as a friend until a church youth group outing to Glacier National Park goes wrong. As Sam and Willow brave the elements with a group of teenagers, Willow's admiration of Sam grows and Sam's interest in Willow heightens. Will Sam give up his safe relationship with Sierra for an unpredictable life with Willow? Read more in Rescue Me by Susan May Warren.

Rescue Me is the second novel in Susan May Warren's Montana Rescue series. It could function as a stand-alone novel, but I wouldn't recommend reading it as such. Many of the characters from If Ever I Would Leave You (Montana Rescue prequel) and Wild Montana Skies (Montana Rescue #1) return. While sufficient background information is supplied, knowing the characters' histories adds depth, plus the lingering mystery of Esme Shaw continues in the background.

Like many of Warren's books, Rescue Me, has one focal love story (Willow and Sam), while concurrently spinning another love story to be followed up on in a later publication. Normally, I'm not a big fan of that technique, but it totally works in Warren's novels.

Rescue Me commences by dropping the reader straight into the mind of Deputy Sam Brooks facing a dangerous rescue mission. It gripped my attention and by the end of chapter two, I wanted to stay up late to devour the rest of the story. (Alas, I made the responsible choice and went to sleep instead of staying up until morning...) The plot never dragged. The characters developed as their relationships became more complicated. Sparks of romance combined with the ever-present danger created suspense. In short, Susan May Warren knows how her craft and is quickly rising up my list of favorite authors.

Readers who enjoyed Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren will want to follow it up with Rescue Me. I recommend them both as gripping, romantic tales threaded with the grace and love of Christ.

Read an excerpt of Rescue Me by Susan May Warren on the publisher's website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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."