What Women Fear

What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms by Angie Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm all about fear...
Dont want to be... but I am.
Afraid of flying - afraid of heights - afraid of suffocating
But then there's the big ones - the fear of the unknown, the fear of what lays ahead, the fear of dying... all things that just show we're not in control of our lives.

I have a hard time with books that are like 'self help' books - they dont hold my attention... but I will say - I really liked this one.
Angie Smith had a way of showing the fear honestly in her life... & so many times, I was sitting shaking my head, knowing exactly what she was saying.

She'd then tie it right to a Biblical story - a person who also experienced fear in their life... & had Jesus/God right there to help them through.

I ended up sitting there reading this, while marking up my bible to remember some of the points Angie made.

I definitely marked up some points that I know I'll have issues with again down the road of life & I'll want to remmeber what the bible says about it...this book will read again.. & again.. & again.

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Mondays with my Old Pastor

Mondays with My Old Pastor: Sometimes, All We Need Is a Reminder from Someone Who Has Walked Before Us by Jose Luis Navajo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I cant say enough good things about this book.

Its the story of a pastor that was feeling 'burned out' & was seeking some wisdom. He turns to his old pastor & they start meeting on Mondays. His pastor shares with him Principles of ministry that apply to life... all centered around Jesus & living in the shadow of the cross.

I wanted to inhale this book - but wanted to also take it slow so I could really disgest everything that was shared. I sat with my highlighter & pen & marked up this book the whole way through.

I think this book needs to be ready by everyone - but if you work in or volunteer in ministry, I think its a MUST READ. I already suggested it to the staff at my church. Its just full of encouragement when rough times hit in ministry.

I also love that this pastor tells 'stories' in every principle - I know I will be using some of these in messages that I give myself in the future.

The focus always though is Jesus... His mercy & grace... & that cross... always coming back to the cross.

I loved "Tuesdays with Morrie" & this is similar in the story of 2 men meeting... these conversations though? So much more profound - to me...I will keep this book near through the years.
I will also keep these thoughts in my heart... a new way to look at life & how to life for Jesus.

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Sleep Tight

Sleep Tight by Anne Frasier
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

SPOILERS!!!!!

I have to include spoilers to explain why I didnt care too much for this book.
So if you dont want to know - dont read...

Why this book rubs me the wrong way...
I'm being introduced to so many characters, each one, I'm trying to remember specific things - trying to find out who the man is that is capturing blonds & killing them.
Only to find out, the man? A person that is never mentioned until the last 15% of the book..really?
And then we hear a story of why he's so crazy... a story out of no where...

And then, the story of Fionna, the young girl killed at 16, do we ever get to figure out who killed her? Just on the last 5 pages...
it made this book just feel like a waste of time

I didnt care for all the graphics & all the language either...
glad I didnt pay for this one .... free Kindle Download
Wont even waste more time trying to explain the characters or the story... just glad its over.

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Fairest - An Unfortuante Fairy Tale #2

Fairest by Chanda Hahn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After finishing the first book, I enjoyed it so much, I downloaded this one. I loved going from one book to the next, with the same characters, having the story fresh in my mind. And this book continued on with the "Grimm Curse" that Mina has to endure.

Her best friend Nan is still along side her, as well as Brody, the love from the first book. Only problem? There's no memory of their relationship from the first adventure. Everyones memory was wiped out after the quest was finished... so Mina is back to square one with Brody. Yet he senses something has happened.

Also alongside - Jared - the mysterioud boy from Book one & we get to learn more about him & who he really is.

The Grimm Curse this time was dealing with Snow White... I loved the twists & turns that dont make it exact, but similar stories.
The ending totally surprised me too... not what I thought would happen at all.

The last chapter totally had me on the edge of my seat, excited to see Mina turn into a stronger person, determined, ready to take on these quests with a new passion...
& now, I have to wait... when is the 3rd book coming out? I'm totally wrapped up in this series now.

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Unenchanted

UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I saw the title, I was drawn in. I love all things fairy tales. I was just coming off some deeper reads, so wanted a fun, light read. This didnt disappoint. Its about a young lady whose last name is Grime... only to find out, its reall Grimm. She's a descendant of the Grimm family & has a curse on her. That explains why her mom moves her & her brother so quickly when something strange happens, or why she's accident prone & nothing seems to go her way.

She finds out she has to survive the Grimm tales to break the curse. Is she ready for it?
She has help from Brody, the popular, cute guy whose life she saves... & has fallen for her.
& from her BFF Nan who loves her Twitter. Also a strange friend, Jared pops up in the story to help her out.

The ending was really great & I could imagine it as if it played out in a movie. How many tales did she make it through? A few - but not enough to keep her safe.

As soon as I finished this book, I hit "BUY" on the second book so I can keep staying in the world of fairy tales.

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Decision Points

I always enjoy biographies anyways, but this was was particularly interesting to me. Showing the behind the scenes thoughts on 9/11 just held my attention. I think the Bush family is amazing - George & George W. - so to get a glimpse inside of the families was wonderful. And while I'm not a big fan of politics, I do appreciate a family that holds God in decision making & in their life. I will say, the political areas, I would get a tad lost. But even in the poltical parts, when President Bu...more I always enjoy biographies anyways, but this was was particularly interesting to me. Showing the behind the scenes thoughts on 9/11 just held my attention. I think the Bush family is amazing - George & George W. - so to get a glimpse inside of the families was wonderful. And while I'm not a big fan of politics, I do appreciate a family that holds God in decision making & in their life. I will say, the political areas, I would get a tad lost. But even in the poltical parts, when President Bush would just again talk about his feelings & emotions on a part, I was totally engulfed. Definitely glad to add this to my biographical shelf

Finding Ultra

Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself by Rich Roll
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my kind of book.
Love to hear of an inspiring story - & this was. A man who had a hard start in life battling alcohol & then found sobriety... & then let the fun of aging get to him. Rich Roll realized he was missing out on life when at 40 yrs old, he couldnt get up a flight of stairs without feeling like he was going to have a heart attack. He was determined to make changes.... & changes he made. The story of his journey to an ultraman & to a feat that no one had ever tried before - doing 5 Ironman routes in less then a week. Having seen an Ironman competition in person & seeing the strain on people's face & hearing of the soreness & recover after ONE - I cant image 5 back to back to back.

I also appreciated this book because Rich talks so much about nutrition & how a plant based diet changed his life. It got his health back inline - it boosted his endurance & athletic abilities. There's useful information here - especially in the appendix where he explains why he eats like he does. I actually learned something myself. I have a hard time with anemia & since I've cut out meat, he talks about iron as a vegan. He warned that drinking tea with dinner can cause iron to NOT be absorbed by 50-60% ... I drink tea all day long. HOLY SMOKES! I had no idea. I really did learn things ...

& was inspired.

I loved that his wife asked him after a bike accident & Rich was lucky he didnt break his neck - she asked him a question about his life & if he died that day, would he be happy with the direction of his life & what he accomplished. Rich's answer is what I want to say in my life to that same question.

If you're interested in running, athetics, a turn your life around story, nutrition, you'll enjoy this book.

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