The Color of Hope

The Color Hope by Kim Cash Tate is a continuation from another book titled Hope Springs. 

I really enjoy reading books of this nature that discuss the trials of the color barrier. The hardship that the characters face in the book remind me that my hardships are not always so bad. They also remind me to be thoughtful of those around me and to judge less and seek The Lord and His ways more than my own. 

This book has many characters, it is a blending of one large family and two churches, one white and one black. The pastors of both churches e very young and have some great ideas for getting the community to be more conducive to each other and to "blend" so to speak. However, the elders (more so the white church than the black church) have a difficult time dealing with this. 

There are other issues that Tate addresses in this book. Hatred for mix races, popularity and the unpopular, dating one of a different race, and just everyday issues that we all face in life. 

Tate does a remarkable job of blending it all together and creating a solid yet enjoyable read. 

Young Adult Novel

Right Where I Belong 
By Krista McGee

Right Where I Belong, by Krista McGee is a fun young adult novel about following the plans God has set out for you. Natalia, a high school senior leaves her home country to go live with her ex step mother in the United States. 

Natalia decides early on that she is in the United States to be with Maureen, to get an education, especially bible class, to be away from her parents who insist that she should not throw away her life and education on a job that won't provide, and more than anything, to not date!

Natalia meets some great friends who help her acclimate to her surroundings and help her as she is unable to help Maureen cope with her grief. These friends, are characters from other books by Krista McGee which I though was a fun, unique way to write the story. 

I really enjoyed reading this story as a simple love story and with the hidden gems about our  Lord that are always encouraging to hear. I have enjoyed the other novels by Krista McGee and would recommend them, especially to young adults. 

Thank you Booksneeze for the opportunity. 

Echoes Glenbrooke Series Number 3

Echoes

By: Robin Jones Gunn

 

Echos, the third book in the Glenbrooke series was a fun sexual to the plot that started in book one, Secrets. The majority of the story did not involve any of the characters from book one until closer to the end, which allowed for a really nice twist and really brought the Story based in Glenbrooke together.

Lauren, at the start of the book is engaged and will soon be married to Jeff. However, he turns about to be a very different man than she became engaged to and broke off the engagement when an offer to move and work in New York presented itself. Lauren, heartbroken, did not know what to do or what to think.

Her brother came, bearing gifts, most useful to her was the computer he installed, and she began a correspondence with K.C.. Over the course of a year they shared many things, including poetry by their favorite authors and a shared book on scripture. Lauren had fallen in love and eventually, K.C. Asked if they could meet. Lauren, unsure of the relationship for the first time was hesitant.

As mentioned, this book series has a really fun plot, and in order to find out what happens to Lauren, this book is a must read, especially if you have read book one, Secrets. I have not had the chance to read book two, but it was not necessary as each book has their own plots and stories, the characters are simply woven throughout which I think is very fun! Enjoy!

Secrets a Novel

Secrets

By Robin Jones Gunn

 

Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn was a very fun story to read. Gunn did a great job developing the characters from the beginning of this story. Jessica, a woman on the run, from what we don’t know, gets into a terrible accident on her way to Glenbrook, a small town in Oregon. She is rescued by Kyle, a fireman, and whisked off to the hospital. When she comes around, she realizes that she has just begun her new life, in her new town, and absolutely nothing is going right. She has $12.00 to her name when she leaves the hospital, and a house to rent that she has never seen nor does she know where it is.

Jessica has a job to be a teacher at the high school, but from day one the new principal of the school has it out for her. Jessica has to defend herself daily to this principal while keeping her secrets from others around her. She begins to form a relationship with some of the students and travels with them to Mexico to work at an orphanage building a church. It is here, where she accepts the Lord as her Savior, and begins to open her eyes to the secrets she is holding onto in her life.

Secrets is well written, however, when I found out what the secret actually was, I felt a little let down. The chemistry between the characters was fun to read about though and the overall storyline was good.

Six Hours One Friday

Six Hours One Friday

By: Max Lucado

 

I love reading books by Max Lucado, and Six Hours One Friday, is no exception! Lucado writes this book in three sections, which he calls Anchor Points. Anchor Point number 1 is titled “My life is not futile”, Anchor Point number 2 is titled “My failures are not fatal” and Anchor Point number three is titled “My death is not final”. Each anchor point gives you an opportunity to evaluate your own life to see how sturdy your faith is when faced with one of the three storms Storm of futility, Storm of Failure, and Storm of Finality. But, Lucado reminds us through God’s word that we do not have to face these monsters or storms alone. There is One who tackled them already. There is One who made a way. There is One who spent six hours on a cross one Friday.

Lucado writes in the most amazing way to make you feel as though he were writing to you and you alone. He writes so that you listen. He writes so that you understand. And he writes so that you come to know your Maker in a meaningful and personal way.

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book. Lucado takes stories from the Bible and illustrates them in his own language. It is truly amazing to read and to simply become immersed in all the good things God has for your life. Thank you Booksneeze for this opportunity to read a book by one of my favorite authors!

Unstoppable

 

Unstoppable

By: Nick Vujicic

 

 Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic was written very well and with great purpose, but read much like a self-help book. I was not expecting this at all when I first decided to read this book.

As mentioned, the book was written very well. Nick Vujicic had many wonderful things to say about Faith and believing that God is good and that God has a plan. Overall, the writing felt repetitive at times. It was definitely geared toward those who are disabled but anyone can glean some new knowledge and affirmation about our gracious Lord by reading this. The message conveyed in this book is powerful, knowing that God can use you where you are as long as you have Faith and are willing to put Faith in action.

A great verse to be left with is 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

God gives comfort, and God calls us to comfort others in need. This is Nick Vujicic’s true message for writing the book Unstoppable.

Dirty God...Full of Grace

Dirty God

By: Johnnie Moore

After reading Dirty God, by Johnnie Moore I felt quite refreshed! Which at this point in my life has been a good thing. Following is a short blurb about the intention of this book:

In Dirty God: Jesus in the Trenches, Johnnie Moore draws on both Scripture and his extensive experience with other cultures and religions to show how the God of the Bible is unique in his willingness to be near us in all of our messiness. Moore outlines the central importance of the doctrine of grace while introducing readers to a humble and human Jesus who reaches out to us at our worst and pulls us up to our best.

Johnnie Moore focused on Grace, how it is given by God and therefore needs to be given by us. When a book focuses on Grace, I am more or less hooked, because I know that I, a sinner, am in need of great grace; not only from God but from those around me.

It was difficult for me to get started with this book. The opening chapter did not do much to hook me in, however, after reading several more chapters I saw its’ significance. This book had many references to scripture and other authors.  I have found in the last few months that this is critical for someone who is writing a book about God. I want to know where the facts are coming from; I want to know which credible authors they are quoting and so on. I found this to be very good in that respect.

I liked the way Johnnie Moore wrote this book. Each chapter was broken into sections that flowed very well. It was also written in a way that you could understand and also think about what was being said. This was the first book I have read that was written by Johnnie Moore and I look forward to more. Thank you Booksneeze for the opportunity to review this book.