Faithful Futures: sacred tools for engaging younger generations by Josh Packard

★★★★★ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
Here's a timely text for anyone working with Western young people in GenX or GenZ. In the classroom we've noticed a great shift in our students over the past decade. They seek personal time and attention from adults ... but on their own terms.

Their focus is more temporal, self-absorbed, and disconnected than that of past generations. It's not that GenX and Z don't want to make a difference, but we notice that their engagements must offer personal benefits and fit their shifting convictions.

It's not easy to be young now. (Has it ever been?) Social media, materialism, and environmental concerns are just a few of the pressures these young people feel.

Packard tackles their realities by listening carefully and respectfully to their needs and wants. His recommendations are supported by rigorous research. He aims to help youth workers "move from theory into faithful practice" as they engage the current generation.

Highly recommended for teachers, lecturers, administrators, and anyone else who works with GenX and GenZ.

Freeing the Wild by Paisley Hope

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

A novel of hope and friendship, of community and new chances. Take this one to the beach - or curl up in front of the fireplace for a cozy romance. If you like country music, that's a bonus.

Holistic Retirement Planning by Ron Missun

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
If you haven't looked ahead, retirement is still coming for you. Unless you're dead, you're going to need more information than "my pension is coming this month." 

Keeping your goals and personality in mind, you'll want to engage your whole person - body, soul, and spirit - in the coming season. Missun provides a blueprint for various aspects of retiring well. Recommended.

Wish You Were Her by J.E. Rowney

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
A thriller and mystery in a beautiful setting. This one's for the person who likes to read on the edge of her seat. I didn't guess the outcome early on, nor did I expect to be pulled in. Surprise. 

Take it to the beach in full sunlight or read it in a room with the lights turned up.

Women in the Mission of the Church by Leanne M. Dzubinski; Anneke H. Stasson

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Sometimes you need stories to remind you of God's work in the world. Though there have been many books and opinions about women in ministry and their place in God's kingdom, this one provides illustrations of women who fulfilled the call of God in the Church, among pressures and cultural constraints. 

Recommended when you feel discouraged, disadvantaged, or unseen. Do what's in front of you. Trust that God will accomplish his purposes for you, as he did for these disciples of Jesus.

Ten-Step Drawing: Everyday Things: Learn to draw 60 ordinary items in ten easy steps! by Justine Lecouffe

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
If you aspire to sketch things around you, pick up this book of beginnings. You'll learn to evaluate shapes, distance, and drawing. It's basic and helpful! with many illustrations and step-by-step lessons.

War Woman: A Daughter's Promise by Sheri Peppers

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
When cultures collide and help comes from unexpected sources, how do you carry out your mission of justice? This novel of historical romance will warm the hearts of those who enjoy fiction set in early American history.

The Bookroom by C. Leonard Allen

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Allen offers his journey of faith in a world obsessed with self-development, introspection, and self-focus,. Older believers will recognize the process of maturing among doubts, fears, hopes, and experiences.

For those seeking certainty, exploring grace or wondering where faith and learning intersect, this is a worthy memoir.

Do It Anyway Devotional by Tasha Cobbs Leonard

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Whether you're hesitant about the next step, careful about making a decision, or stuck in place, pick up this devotional. With personal examples, Leonard explores what it means to gain freedom in Christ. 

The courage you need comes from God and his Word, not from pep talks or self-help. Immerse yourself in 2 months of confidence in God. Recommended for students and those young in the faith.

Surrendering Certainty by Abby McDonald

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
The life of a disciple is more than following precise instructions. The creativity and personality God has endowed on his creatures provide some purposeful direction for us. McDonald brings to life the ways we can "know" God's will for our lives, without having to be told step by step what to do.

This book offers reassurance, examples, and confidence in God's ability to fulfill his purposes in the world. If you live in fear, wonder if you've irrevocably ruined your future by past decisions, or doubt God's love for you, this one's a must-read.

Fox and Furious Rita Mae Brown

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
If you've ever wondered about the culture of fox hunting or life on horseback, this one's for you. I learned about the pursuit, the training, and the excitement of the sport. The novel was unexpectedly humorous, eye-opening, and interesting.

If you're a fan of farm life, if you like the countryside, or if you enjoy team sportsmanship, you'll enjoy the characters and adventures. When you close the last page, you'll feel like you've met and mingled with a whole new crowd.

They Will Tell You the World Is Yours: On Little Rebellions and Finding Your Way by Anna Mitchael

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
As you are born, grow through childhood and into adulthood, there are so many things "they will tell you." How does it feel from the side of the writer?

This book takes you to the collision of exterior experience and the interior life of our expectations and design. Whether or not voices assure you that 'everything is fine,' and 'you deserve everything you want,' the reality of life brings both disappointment and joy.

Worth reading, while reflecting on how your experiences and choices determine how your life and spiritual formation is unfolding.

Stress-Less Leadership by Nadine Greiner

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Greiner explains the kinds of stress and the toll they take on us at home and work. Offering practical steps (and targets), this is more than a how-to book. 

If you implement only a few suggestions, you'll already feel easing of the load of today's busy and chaotic pace. Recommended both for those who are stressed and for mentors of leaders.

‘Cherry’ Ingram: The Englishman Who Saved Japan’s Blossoms by Abe Naoko

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

Our book group is reading this. The basic subjects are not interesting to me personally: Japanese history, cherry trees, or birds. Getting through much of it was a hard slog. The illustrations and photos helped keep me on track.

Written from Japanese and British points of view, this was and intersection of history, botany, governments, and individuals in the West and East. The book is full of dates and facts, travel descriptions, personal observations, and other data. 

It could be of interest those who love Japan, students of geography, politics, and history, as well as those who revel in details of life in East Asian or the UK a century ago.

The value for me in reading it was to explore the history of a passion.

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!

Yours For The Season A Novel by Emily Stone

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
Stone offers up revenge and romance at its most amusing. If you had a vacation with your almost-mother-in-law (whom you love) and got a chance to dump that ex (who you thought you got over), would you take it? What if your assumptions were wrong and your heart is still attached?

It's chick lit at its most fun - if you need a story for your commute or entertainment after a hard day at work, here you go.

In the Kitchen with Grandma: Stirring Up Tasty Memories Together by Lydia E. Harris

★★★★★  When those grandkids get dropped at your house and the afternoon stretches ahead, how will you engage your grandkids? Maybe your friend is a young parent who needs a break, and you offered to babysit - but worry about keeping the kids busy?

Harris is a friend who knows what she's talking about. She's tested these recipes and ideas on her own grandkids. She offers good advice on meaningful interactions - not just good food that the kids will enjoy, but conversation starters to build character and faith.

Easy to follow, you'll be reaching for this book over and over. And have the kids asking for more.

Fast and Loose by Fern Michaels

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
Always adventurous, always a plot twist to make you shake your head in surprise, and always a good story. Fern Michaels does it again, this time with a "What happens in Vegas, stays ..." well, you know.

If you like the Sisterhood methods of revenge, this will be another one for your bookshelf. Good fun. Mean women. And criminals who get what they deserve.

The Cardinal by Alison Weir

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
Creative non fiction at its best. I enjoyed this exploration of religion and politics in the 1500s. As a student of history and theology, I found Weir's storytelling of a churchman and a king - plus those dependent on them - a fascinating read.

If you love tales of England, especially of European intrigue in the middle ages, you'll like this one a lot.

Beyond the Sea: Annie's Journey into the Extraordinary by Nina Purtee

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
Part love story, part travel adventure, part exploration of what matters most.

Annie's grandparents gift her a sailing trip - and she sets off to find her father and herself. If you love descriptive landscapes and relationships, you'll enjoy this one.

It's Different This Time by Joss Richard

★★★☐☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
This novel had too much foul language and graphic sex for my enjoyment. I skimmed through the story of two people who parted years ago and meet again. 

It's not a new plot but the writing is good. If you want a fresh start and a happy ending, this may be for you.

Get Money Do Good by J.D. Vermaas

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

Once you have enough money, how do you invest yourself? This story of an unusual couple and their children will warm your heart and help you think in new ways about charity and altruism. 

Across continents, across governments, and across cultures, the Vermaas family includes those others consider least-wanted and throwaways. There's heartache, heartbreak, healing, and hope in these pages.

Recommended for those - with or without worldly resources - who don't know how to change the world. This book reminds us to be who we are and all we are with God's help, one child and one adventure at a time.

The Reluctant Pioneer by Julie McDonald Zander

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
What if you are given no choice but to join your family on a cross-country trip on the Oregon Trail, far away from home?

How do you thrive and survive deaths and challenges and new places when your resources are limited and life is uncertain? Mathilda, Nicolas, and their children set off from Missouri to Oregon. Bolstered by their faith in God, they meet tragedy, new friends, and new love.

The core story comes from historical events, embellished with what life might have been life in the 1800s. Recommended for readers who like history, adventure, and family, mixed with strong stories of trust in God.

Imagining All Generations by Wilson McCoy

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
A thoughtful and much-needed review of the effects of generational separation in the church. Why are young people less engaged and leaving the faith? The author debunks the assumed benefits of segregation by age and interest, based on the results of the past decades.

McCoy provides a way forward to healthier and more sustainable ministry through intergenerational learning and activities. Well worth discussing with your church leaders and your ministry teams.

Unrig the Game by Vanessa Priya Daniel

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
How do women in leadership thrive? What can they teach us about getting done what needs doing? How do they live out their calling, with the additional challenge of being women of color?

Three superpowers in 20 essays, along with mini masterclasses. Well worth adding to your leadership reading list - and referencing on your shelf.

We Don't Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
Carol disappeared decades ago. As people go missing, there's no trace of where they've gone. 

Carol's niece is a journalist who decides to solve the mystery of why happened to her aunt. When clues start to add up, details start to align, can justice be around the corner?

Tragedies and dark family mysteries that resolve with grief, love, and hope. Well worth considering, in light of the many persons who go missing in the USA each year.

The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life by Suleika Jaouad

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
Essays on creativity and effect. Each chapter ends with a prompt that gives you meditations or actions to build your creative stamina and artistic breadth.

Jaouad has gathered thinkers, artists, and innovators in a volume of inspiration. Use their ideas to journal your way to the next season of invention. Amazing resource! (PS You don't have to agree with everyone to learn from them.)

How to Fast by Reward Sibanda

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
Fasting can change the way our hearts respond to God. Humility that allows faith to arise is one of the results of fasting. This is the beginning of God' s work in and through us. Sibanda offers practical foundations for short and long fasts. How do you break a fast when you're done, and what can you expect physically as well as spiritually?

"The impossible becoming inconsequential to us--that is the promised open reward of prayer. Once our souls are humbled through fasting, we are finally positioned too begin the serious and joyous kingdom work God has laid before us to do."

Backed by scientific studies and biblical references, this invaluable resource is for those who need reasons and a method for fasting that changes life - for you and others.

I Will Blossom Anyway by Disha Bose

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
A story of intercultural and interracial couples and families, written with sympathy and understanding. What happens when you fall in love outside of your family's clear ideas of marriage norms and appropriate relationships?

Durga takes us on the journey of reconciliation between modern life and family obligations. She finds herself in between full adulthood and knowing who she is - and who she's been. A good story with the potential for a Part 2.

Recommended for those who struggle to understand the interior life of neighbors and families from cultures outside of your own.

In Love by Amy Bloom

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
The process of dying has until recently been natural. Since assisted suicide has become possible, the possibility of killing oneself in a safe and medically-supervised place has gained momentum.

The interactions of the person who dies remain with those still alive. His pain is over with his end of life. Death eases suffering for the one who is killed, but the emotions and processes of grief and letting go are just beginning for those who are left behind.

Bloom documents love and life together with her husband and their decision to end his life. The records the shock of his death and the service of remembrance. The feeling of forgiveness and moving on is raw. It's real. It's in this memoir.

Playing God is not easy.

Unclaimed Baggage by Katie O'Rourke

★★★☐☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
When you have no personal boundaries, your family and friends may expect you to take care of them. Life is hard and uneven. When everyone dumps their drama on you but refuses to listen, how do you hold up?

Blended families and separated families sometimes choose one child to carry their burdens. And what happens when all the assumptions about who you are and who the others are lies?

As a young adult, can you back up and refuse to play your role? This story - about reclaiming your identity and loving from a maturing perspective - is both emotional and heartbreaking. If you're into that, this book is for you!