A Million Little Miracles: a Guided Journal 40 Reflections to Awaken Wonder by Mark Batterson

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
 If you were offered the chance to spend the next 40 days coming alive again, would you invest your time? Batterson offers the opportunity to see life and faith in new ways. Pick up a copy and be prepared to wonder at the beauty and grace of the Good News.

Batterson offers hopeful theology and spiritual practices to bring back your awareness of joy and beauty all around you. There's room to write in your responses and reflections. I suggest that you date your journal so you can use it for several years. Then you can see how your appreciation for God and his world, and his people grows.

Really enjoyed this one.

The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
What if you ignored the expectations of culture, let go all the "should"s of others, and lived life to the full? How could you even begin to loosen the grip of obligations to live a full and meaningful life? 

Adachi encourages you to let go of what you're not interested in and live your life to the fullest - the way you're designed and the way you're wired.

She offers practical tips for avoiding overwhelm such as limiting options that can be made habitual, streamlining rituals, and examining traditions. Even the practical footnotes were helpful.

If you're drowning in details, stuck in unhelpful patterns, or need coaching on the next "small step," this one's for you.

What Next?: The savvy woman’s guide to redefining retirement by Jane Moffett

★★★★★ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
 Ah girl, you worked, you climbed the ladder (or found the job you loved), and were a success at work. Now you're in a new season and ... well, what comes next? Moffett coaches the soon-to-be- and already-retired woman through opportunities and relationships that are post-work. How do you find satisfaction and meaning - and give back as a retiree?

This is such a wonderful addition to a woman's library as she approaches retirement or wades through the life she's creating after she retires. I found it useful, informative, and an excellent manual for self-coaching. But it would be even more powerful with other women's input.

This would be AMAZING as a small group resource. I imagine a group of women sitting around a table in the library or public space, coaching each other with the help of Moffett's incredible book.

Such Good People by Amy Blumenfeld

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
What a story. You never know what lurks in the human heart, though most people look like such good people. When students get caught in a spiral of death, law, and ambition, their lives spiral out of control.

Redemption and reconciliation make this a satisfying read. Highly recommended.

The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
I tried to stay with the story and couldn't - too much description before and between the action (for me). I'm recommending this book for readers who love depth and relationships and family tales. The consequences of decisions may affect a long line of descendants, so beware.

It's riches to poverty, secrets to disclosure, and grandma to granddaughter ... if you like women's fiction and history, this one's for you.

Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 

A Reacher novel I hadn't met yet? This one gathers his entire army crew for a big adventure, which only Lee Child could dream up. 

There's mayhem, danger, violence (of course, Reacher style), romance - or at least passion - and a plot that keeps you turning pages. If you want a thriller with a bad hero who walks away in the end, here you go.

Reading the Bible with Brueggemann Scripture's Power to Remake the World by Robert Williamson Jr.

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
If you enjoy the theology of recently-deceased Brueggemann, wonder what the fuss was about his thinking, or want to broaden the scope of what it means to live as God's people, this one's for you.

Williamson presents an overview of Brueggemann's writings that is appropriate for the curious beginner in a review that is helpful for seasoned theologians. Whether you agree with the presentation or it expands your understanding, this one's for academics and lay readers alike.

Holly and Nick Hate Christmas by Betsy St. Amant

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
The title made me laugh. And the cover was cute - so I decided to review a Christmas in July anyway. The author is new to me - but it was good fun to read the story.

When you meet someone who is changeable and likable, when you think you figure them out but they continue to challenge and puzzle, the relationship becomes interesting.

Recommended for light reading of romance, family, and festivities.

Waiting for Jesus: An Advent Invitation to Prayer and Renewal by Rich Villodas

★★★★★ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
It was the middle of the year when I read it, with Christmas far away. It captured my attention: this is the one to recommend to your circle for the coming Christ. It will be published in September. 

Villodas presents a rich invitation to enjoy the season of remembering and anticipation. He reminds us of the lifelong adventure, the long wait, and the slow process of trusting God beyond human understanding.

The cover may not be inspiring, but you'll enjoy the depth of reflection. I ate it slowly, day by day.

This is the Advent book I'm taking our small group through this Christmas. Highly recommended.

The Journey of Yes: The Everyday Adventure of Radical Obedience by Brenda Palmer

★★★★★ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
"How can you just leave your careers and move overseas?" asked many of our friends. "Isn't this a big risk? Throwing away everything you've built?"

We replied, "It's not a big yes for us. Because of the 100 yeses we said before this one, this is 'just one more yes' and a step of obedience on our journey of faith."

Palmer writes about the adventure of following Jesus, wherever he leads. In expected and unusual ways, God is writing his own story through our obedience. The question is, do you expect direction if you are unwilling to take the next step you already know? 

Palmer offers reassurance that God knows the past, the present and the future - and radical obedience is the natural outcome of discipleship. When you fail, your story is still being written. When opportunities come your way, God will give clarity.

Whether you're counting the cost or contemplating a shift, read this first. Good enough that several friends have ordered it, on my recommendation.

Coyote Hills by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
The Kellerman's never fail to put you on the edge of your lounger when you open their novels. Adventure, thriller, mystery - it's all here in love, betrayal, and family secrets.

Full of snappy dialogue and action, this dark detective story can fit in your tote or beach bag. "Sin is its own punishment." (Was that from CS Lewis?)

Reframing Women Printmakers by P.L. Henderson

 

★★★★★ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
This history of printmaking and its visual record of methods and gifted printmakers can only encourage and inspire. Whether making art as statement, protest, or observation, women have created prints with strong impact. The photos are beautiful!

Well-researched and illustrated, this is an informative and beautifully written textbook for art students, teachers, and artists alike.

Full Bloom by Francesca Serritella

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
A novel about the seduction of perfume? I wasn't sure about it. Starting from the beautiful cover, the descriptions and possibilities draw you in.

A perfume so personal that it changes your perceptions of self? And a fragrance so attractive that others are drawn into your circle? That's the premise of the novel.

I enjoyed the story and was reminded of the smells of the kitchens and wardrobes of my grandmothers and aunties. Thinking of that brought many memories. I guess it's true - smell is one of the subtlest and most powerful senses. 

If you enjoy descriptions and changing relationships, you'll probably like this one!