The Living Room by Robert Whitlow Book Review

First, let me say, that I have very much enjoyed Robert Whitlow as an author of Legal Thrillers.  "The Living Room" was different from his other books and I did not like it very much.  I was bored from the start and could never really get into the story.  It was slow going. It was not about legal matters per say.  It just centered around a legal secretary by the name of Amy who had dreams.  In her dreams she traveled to a special place she called the Living Room. It was there that she would receive inspiration for her novels. But then, her dreams took on a life of their own.  They begin to happen in real life. They affect the people around her. She wanted to stay home and only be a writer but finances forced her to go back to work.

When Amy takes a major case at her firm she has a hard time juggling her family, career, and that desire to be a full time author of fiction books. I suppose that women who do this all the time...juggle family and careers would be able to relate very well. Each area of her life has its own challenges. Eventually this various worlds collide and she learns some to trust and hear God.  There are spiritual principles we can all learn from in the book.

I do believe that God speaks through dreams but not all dreams are from God.

Even so, I was just not drawn into this book like the author's other books.  I just can't quite put my finger of what it is, but I will read the next book he puts out.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

"Men Of Sunday" Book Review

This book was written by Curtis Eichelberger who goes behind the scenes and on and off the field to give us a window into the spirtual journey of many football players, coaches. and their wives.  The book is subtitled, "How Faith Guides The Players. Coaches, and Wives Of The NFL".

Topics include:
1. How they give glory to the Lord.
2. How the players deal with the violent nature of the game as Christians who are called to love one another,
3. The sacrifices that are made especially by the wives.
4. How they overcome adversity like injuries and family concerns.
5. How they deal with temptation.
6. How they deal with transitions like life after football.
7. What it means to lead.

I would like to read through the book again and take notes even though I am not a professional athlete because the lessons of life are universal.  There is lots of wisdom these players, coaches, and wives have to offer.  Some of the people interviewed include: Tony Dungy, Ray Lewis, Aaron Rogers (very little), and Trend Dilfer and Matt Hasselback. The author also quotes many others including Tim Tebow and Joe Gibbs.  I learned a lot about some of the men that I didn't know.  I have always appreciated the faith of Tim Tebow and Tony Dungy.  I have read their books, "The Eyes of Faith" and "Quiet Strenth" respecively. Still, I learned more about these men of faith.

One important lesson that I took away from reading the book is that we must be willing to fail if we will ever accomplish anything,  A football quarterback comples am average of 62% of his passes.  That means he fails to complete 38%.  A NBA players makes 46% of his shoots and a MLB players is considered great if he fails to get a hit 70% of the time.

The other important lesson was a reminder that no matter what we go through our faith will sustain us and God is faithful to see us through even if we don't have complete understanding.

"7 Men And The Secret Of Their Greatness" Book Review

"7 Men And The Secret Of Their Greatness" was written by Eric Metaxas.  The author is a best selling author who has written several biographies incliding "Bonhoeffer". The author has chosen 7 men to serve as role models for men and those becoming men. We all need role models to inspire us and young people today certainly need men of great character and purpose to look up to.  Many of the roles models today; athletes and movie stars don't cut it.  Many of them don't even want to be role models.

I learned much about the seven men who were chosen as the role models for this book.  For instance I didn't know that Eric Little became a missionary. It was very a very interesting read. 

The 7 men written about are:

1.George Washington
2.William Wilberforce
3. Eric Liddell
4. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
5. Jackie Robinson
6. Pope John Paul II
7. Charles W. Colson

While the choosing of the 7 men are the author's prerogative, not all of them would have been mine. I would not have chosen Pope John Paul II, but I am an evangelical Christian.  I also would not have chosen Chuck Colson, although he was a great man. I can think of others I would place ahead of him. But again, this is personal opinion.  The reader would have his own ideas and I think this debate makes it even more interesting.

I recommend this book to any man and think it would be very helpful for those approaching manhood to read.  Character is the need of the hour and the secret to greatness.

The Other Side Of The River Book Review

This is the story of Stonewall Jackson, written by Robert Helpert MD.  It is a historical novel.  I enjoy this kind of novel that is historically accurate with an engaging story line. It kept me turning the pages quickly. This book takes us through the Civil War, the darkest time in our nation where people had to chose between state and nation, staying home with family or leave to fight for a cause.  There were also moral struggles over decions like slavery. Some thought the war was necessary to end slavery, but some from the south thought that slavery would end soon anyway without the war. This book helped me understand both sides better.

Stonewall Jackson is the major character in the book although there are some other interesting characters also. Not only does it show the genius of Stonewall Jackson as as military leader, but it also gives insight into Stonewall Jackson the Christ follower. He was a man of deep faith and conviction.  He lived it out and and didn't lose it even as he crossed the other side of the river. He also had his inner battles. He struggled honestly with pride and what to him was wrong ambition. I can see why he became a legand and was held in such high regard by both the North and the South.

I received this book from Booksneeze as part of their blogger program.  The opinions are mine and I was not asked to write a favorable review.

The Whisper Theory Book Review

I was looking for a book to read for my booksneeze book review.  I saw "Whisper Theory" by Amber Albee Swenson.  I thought it sounded good even though there were no reviews for it on the booksneeze website.

The book wasn't what I thought it would be but I read in fairly quickly and it kept my attention so much so that I wanted to skip every other chapter.  Let me explain: The layout of the book is chapter of the novel and then a chapter of Bible Study concerning the topics just covered in the fictional chapter of that book.I wanted to skip the Bible Study.  But the Bible studies were real good.  They absolutely need to be read with the book especially for those who struggle with some of the things the characters in the book did.

I am not use to reading about some of the things these young people did, but I realize there is a struggle for young people in these areas: For example drinking, obedience and honoring parents (even for college students), and sexual drives.

I reccommend the book highly for college students and even those in high school.  I recommend the book for parents who want to be able to talk to their teens and young adults about these issues.  They will be able to clearly relate biblical principles to them.

The book is about a girl named Meghan.  She moves in with two nonChristians. One is a man and one is a woman.  She finds herself breaking her rules more than she is keeping them.  She falls in love with her roomate Jeff.  Then the is a murder in their apartment building which brings in an element of suspense.  Another murder takes place and Meghan discovers what true love and friendship is all about.  Most importanly she decides if she is going to follow God or not.

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Stress Test Book Review

Richard Mabry just keeps getting better and better.  This is a fast moving book that grabbed my attention right off and never let go. I wish that I could have read the whole book right through but alas I had to put it down to eat and sleep. I have read all of Richard Mabry's fictional medical mystery books.

Stress Test is the story of Dr. Matt Newman. Dr. Newman just about has his life on track with a quieter professional position and a love interest that is headed in the direction of marriage. That is until he is kidnapped in a parking garage in the middle of the night. Suddenly he finds himself in ICU and is being charged for murder. He is later accused of another murder and is kitnapped again.

Can his beautiful red-headed attorney prove his innocence? Will they figure out who is trying to frame Matt? Will he ever get his life back?

This book contains all the elements I have come to enjoy: medical, legal, and mystery. I am not an expert on medicine or law, but did not have to be to enjoy this book without getting bogged down in medicine or law that was over my head.

The only negative in the book as far as I was concerned was that I thought the author was against law abiding citizens owning guns.  This is a hot topic right now and I stand very strongly on our Second Amendment right to bear arms.  In the way the story in the book played out it was good to get rid of the handgun he acquired, but I don't think that is always a good thing to do.

Anyway, Dr. Matt Newman survived his stress test, can you survive the stress of reading this thriller? You will have to read it to see.

Darkness Rising Book Review

"Darkness Rising"  is the second book in the East Salem series and the sequel to "Waking Hours". It is supernatural thriller that has a Frank Peretti ring to it.  There are angels and there are demons and people carrying out their plans.

I always like to read books that are in a series in order and in this case I highly recommend reading book one first.

In this book, forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris and private investigator Tommy Gunderson continue in the quest to find the truth of what is happening at St. Adrian's Academy.  As they delve even deeper into the mysteries that surround the school, they discover that the truth is far more encompassing than they thought.  Supernatural influences have had a stronghold for generations. Dani and Tommy are wondering who they can trust and battle with demons in a showdown of good verses evil.

The thing that I didn't like about the book is that it goes too deep into medicine and psychology for me. Someone with more understanding in those fields would enjoy it much more.

This is the second book of a trilogy.  The last book, "Final Tide" is due out in September of 2013.

I do recommend this book. It is skillfully written, engaging and absorbing.  Even though the subject is heavy there are moments that made me laugh.  And yes there is romance as the relationship between Danny and former classmate, professional football player, and now Private I Tommy Gunndersonwho Dani hires for $1.00 per year, is growing.