The Unfinished Gift

By: Dan Walsh

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is a very heart warming story about a little boy named Patrick Collins who looses his mother in a terrible car accident just a few days before Christmas. His father is away in the army at war and he is forced to go live with a grandfather that he has never met. His grandfather is totally unprepared to take on the responsibly of a child and is definitely not feeling in the Christmas mood. While living with his grandfather Patrick discovers a wooden solider in the attic and it is all he can think about but to his grandfather it brings up painful memories that he would rather forget. This story will bring tears to your eyes as Patrick tries to over come his grandfather's feelings about his son, Patrick's father, and the hard feelings that have grown over the years. This is a wonderful story of how God can take any situation and turn it into a happy ending.

I really enjoyed reading this book but I would recommend that you keep plenty of tissues at hand as you read it. The author did a wonderful job of capturing the emotions of the characters and making you feel like a part of the story. It really expresses the true meaning of Christmas that it is a season of forgiveness and love. This story is full of twists and turns that will touch your heart as you follow along with Patrick as he keeps the faith that only a little child can through difficult times and as he touches the lives of many adults and helps them to find the true spirit that is Christmas. Pick up this book and let it touch your heart and really get you into the Christmas mood.

The Christmas Dog

By: Melody Carlson

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This was a very inspirational book about focusing on what Christmas should really be about. It is about family, love, and kindness. This story also shows the importance of giving people the benefit of the doubt and not judging them by their outward appearance. It also shows how God can use people and even animals for His greater purpose. Betty Kowalski is having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit and is having a lot of trouble finding love for her neighbor, Jack Jones. Jack is new in the neighbor hood and is having a hard time getting along eith his new neighbors. Could it be his messy yard or his alof attitude or is it possibly something else. When a stray dog enters the picture we see just what it takes for God to bring these two together and to make it a Merry Christmas indeed.

I really liked the over all message of this story. It really captures the true meaning of Christmas. Its not about the presents or the pretty lights but its truly about family and togetherness. The story shows how important it is to get to know a person before you pass judgement on them or make assumptions about them. Christmas is a time to reach out to those that are alone and to help them out. I would suggest this bookt o anyone who is having trouble gettting into the real Spirit of Christmas or just for anyone who is looking for a great story with a good message and a happy ending.

The Swiss Courier

By: Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey



http://www.revellbooks.com/


This was a very good book packed full of suspense and action. This novel takes place in 1944 during WWII. Gabi Mueller works in Switzerland translating messages as they come in to the office but she also discovers that she has a hidden talent. Joseph Engel is a scientist who is helping the Germans try to create the atomic bomb. Little does he know that his past holds a secret that will put his life in danger. These two are thrown together in an adventure full of terror and near misses as Gabi is asked to risk her life to help Joseph escape the hands of the German Gestapo. Its hard for them to know who can be trusted and who is leading them into a trap. The only thing that made this book kind of hard to read is the German words that are thrown into the story.

I was not sure at first if I would like this book because I am more of a romance reader but once I started this novel I found it hard to put down. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning and it was almost as if I were there with the characters inside the story going right along with them. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a story that is full of action and suspense.


Available October 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Green by Ted Dekker

By: Tom Dekker

http://www.teddekker.com/
http://teddekker.com/green/


This was my first time reading a book by Ted Dekker and it took me awhile to catch up to all that was going on in it. This book revels in the epic battle of Good and Evil. In this story Thomas Hunter is the famous leader of a group of people known as The Circle and they are running from another group of people known as the Horde who are under the leadership of Qurong. The Horde represents the evil side and The Circle represents the good side. This book tends to jump between present day earth and what faces us in the future. In the future all things spiritual are manifested physically. Those things that we cannot see now will be made visible. One of the things that I really liked about this book is that it helped me to view my own religious life in a new light. It helped me to better see what it is that I should be doing and also gave me a new way to view those who have not yet found their way. I would recommend this book to anyone who is into Fiction with an underlying true theme and message. It was not only a Great and very well written story but it was also thought provoking and I can’t wait to read the other three books.

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Plain Promise by Beth Wiseman

By: Beth Wiseman

http://www.bethwiseman.net/


Kade Saunders is just looking for a quite place to rest and regroup when he decides to rent a cottage in the heart of an Amish village in Lancaster County from Sadie Fisher. His life further changes when he is surprised with custody of his son. Having lost touch and faith in God many years ago he finds that this peaceful village may be just what he needs. Sadie who has been a widow for several years is struggling to keep looking for God’s will in her life and to find peace with her chosen way of life. As these two spend more time together and their feelings for each other increases they begin to realize just how different their lives are.


I was not sure if I would like this book at first not being familiar with the Amish way of life but from the very first chapter I was hooked on this book. It was very easy to connect with the characters and it almost felt like you were a part of the story. I loved the references to God and that we tend to focus too much on material things instead of God and the simple things in life. I would definitely suggest this book to anyone. It was a pleasure and enjoyment to read.

http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=9781595547200&title=A Daughters of the Promise Novel: Plain Promise&authors=Beth-Wiseman

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A Kiss in Winter

By: Susan Crandall

This was a very good story. The main character in this book is a woman named Caroline Rogers who has been struck with tragedy in her life. She had to make the decision between her career and taking care of her two siblings. As they are nearing adulthood she can see the continuation of her career as a photographer. Little does she know that she is soon to meet Dr. Mick Larsen who is a psychiatrist who is going through some self doubt about his career path. These two are thrown together when someone from her past starts destroying landmarks that Caroline has taken pictures of. These two must work together to solve the mystery of who it is before it is too late. In the process they are drawn closer to each other but Caroline has no plans of putting her career on hold again. In the middle of all this turmoil each character must answer some very important questions.They also must face some of the same decisions that we all have to at some point. Our jobs or our family? Our relationships or our Careers? Only prayer and putting the Lord first can help us with these difficult decisions. You can also find a message of Hope and of finding your own self worth no matter how dark the situation may seem. The only way to see how this book turns out is to pick it up and read it for yourself. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Defining Moments

By: Jacquelin Thomas





This book took me a day to read once I really got into it. Honestly at the beginning I did not think that I would be able to finish it but as the chapters increased and the characters progressed I really got hooked. The main character in this book is a woman named Sheila Moore who is a successful business woman who is carrying around a lot of baggage. She later is diagnosed with a devastating disease that is incurable. It is in the course of battling this disease that she comes to realize who God is and the role that he plays in her life. She also comes to realize that she has a lot of forgiving and soul searching to do to come to terms with the things of her past. The most important thing that she learns if the power of forgiveness. Like most of us today she can really carry a grudge but she comes to find out that in order for God to forgive us we must first learn to forgive other people. This is one of the things that I really loved about this story. It shows that no matter how bad the hurt or how deep the wound that with God and forgiveness it is possible to still love and to move on with your life. I recommend this book for anyone who is struggling with betrayal either in a relationship, marriage, or just in friendship. I also recommend this book for anyone who has been diagnosed with a disease and is having trouble dealing with it and their faith in God. Pick up this book and let God minister to your heart that you may be able to forgive and find forgiveness in return.