‘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!

A Ferry Merry Christmas by Debbie Macomber

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review
Not sure how Macomber comes up with one heart-rich story after another ... but she's done it again. The novel captures the meaning of community and family circles - and the ways we make those things happen. 

As a former Washingtonian, I relate to the ferry, filled with passengers who expect a smooth ride, and commuters who cross the sea all week to work. The ambiance, the complaints, and the coming together were satisfying, as Macomber's stories usually are.

You'll cheer for good endings and loving relationships when you finish the last page. This one's good for any time you need the comfort and smiles brought by happily-ever-afters on multiples fronts. 

The Elias Enigma by Simon Gervais

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
A winding tale that includes family, past relationships, various locations, and suspense. I enjoyed it though it took me a while to grasp who was who - and who met when and where. 

It's evenly paced, a gripping spy story of mayhem and behind-the-scenes maneuvering. If you like a good thriller, spy story, or mystery, you'll like this one.

Design For Your Mind by Annie Guest

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

The subtitle is "How a Family Caregiver and Mental Health Therapist Renovated Her Home to Recharge Her Life - and Didn't Break the Bank." The premise is that our spaces matter, and healthy spaces are possible for us and our families. 

Whether you are a designer working with a client who has mental health issues or if you want the comfort and calm that "home" provides, this book offers science and design to make that possible. Useful tips for making classrooms and other public spaces "safe" for others, too.

Editing Emily by Mia Rosette

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
 Life not going as expected? Welcome - it's the same for Emily, who is "finding herself" as a young adult in a big city. The language was raw, the choices were consequential, and the progress was winding.

This is a novel for those who understand the hearts of women, prefer conflicts that don't destroy, and invite new seasons of hope. It's Book One of a series, so you might want to get this one first.

A Rebellion of Care by David Gate

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review
I thoroughly enjoyed these reflections and poems. They were thoughtful - and thought-provoking. I don't align politically or socially with Gate views but the winsomeness of his observations and good writing made this a worthy reading experience.

I found myself stopping. Pausing. Thinking through the idioms and metaphors. Agreeing and shaking my head. 

I recommend this for its perspective of influence as life and engagement in things that matter to us. To the prospective poet and essayist in each of us, I say, "Get a copy."

Summer Light on Nantucket by Nancy Thayer

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
A novel about summer. About defining oneself in a new season. About family. About island communities. About love that is born, love that evolves, and love that is left behind. About people who care for each other. And about romance and personal consequences.

Beautifully written, crafted to bring empathy and joy to a summer break. Thayer writes with kindness, compassion, and understanding in a novel I'd recommend to a girlfriend.

The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce

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

Art and money and habits and history intertwine in this novel. Beautiful descriptions evoke childhood memories and family life. The conversations weave in and out so you feel like you're sitting with the family at the noodle bar, the bar, and other gatherings. 

What happens when a stranger joins an established family? When she takes over someone in the family and keeps him away? And when that person disappears and dies, how does a family cope?

I was really looking forward to this. It's a compelling story that's hard to put down - and hard to keep track of at times. I was not thrilled that an obligatory gay couple is thrown in. It felt contrived as though satisfying an obligation to current social norms. (Can any famous or ambitious author write only about heterosexual couples and families? Seems like never.)

The Serendipity by Emma St. Clair

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
When you walk into your closet and come into another room entirely, something's going on. A fun novel that includes romance, place-travel, and commitment to those around you. 

You'll smile, be surprised, and get a good story between the two covers. I enjoyed all 3. Take it on your commute, read it as a summer diversion, or just enjoy it on its own.

Deep Listening: Transform Your Relationships with Family, Friends, and Foes by Emily Kasriel

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
If you struggle to understand or be understood, Kasriel provides a pathway forward: Deep Listening. The intentionality, clear explanations, and practical examples will give you a way to gain trust and insights from others.

Worth reading if you a team leader, team member, or someone who seeks deeper relationships and friendships. Recommended. 

Between Two Shores by Lisa Renee

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

I enjoyed this story of long-distance interest and connections. I didn't expect the plot to unfold as it did, which is always good. The long timeline, enough challenges and heartaches to create sympathy, and enough good moments to make you cheer made this one a good novel!

Take this one to the beach, on a commute, or when snuggled in bed with a cold. (The latter is how I read it; very satisfying as I turned the last page.)

 

6:40 to Montreal by Eva Jurczyk

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

Maybe a standard plot, but I enjoyed it. I got lost a few times in the descriptions. The ending was worth the read anyway.

If you've got some hours to kill, like a classic who-dunn-it, and have room in your bag, get a copy. It will pass the time with its twists and turns, and you'll close the last page with a sigh.

With by Skye Jethani

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review
 If you wonder how healthy your relationship with God is, here's a challenge. Jethani explores what it means to be engaged with God in every part of life. Easy reading - so get a copy!

I found this book an opportunity to examine how much I depend on God, trust him, and follow where he leads. Are my intentions his? Are my actions pleasing because we are connected (or because I'm trying to do something "for" him)? 

Jethani offers many questions - and many encouragements to start on an adventure: life WITH God. Highly recommended for 

• those happily following Jesus 
• those bored with rituals of social Christianity
• those disappointed with faith or the church
• those who are considering becoming disciples of Jesus