Letters to My Daughters: The Art of Being a Wife

This is by far the best relationship book I've read since I picked up Praying For Your Future Husband by Tricia Goyer & Robin Gunn way back in 2011. Rainey set up the book as a series of answers to a series of letters from and to her daughters, and framed them in a way that applies to all women and relationships across the board. While the advice which Rainey gives is directed toward married women, I found tons of application for myself in my close-and-serious-but-not-yet-engaged relationship.

What I liked most about this book, outside of the awesome, godly advice regarding marital relationships, was that Rainey compared marriage to many different visual/physical concepts. For example, she compared it to a masterpiece of art, to a dance, and to a garden. In each of these chapters themed around one concept, she drew out truths from things like dancing and showed how it applied to marriage. For me, a very visual and hands on learner, it was very helpful to have these tangible examples to understand more conceptual ideas in marriage. 

This is a book I will definitely read more than once, and will keep for my own collection of helpful books. I would definitely recommend it to both married women and women in serious relationships. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Book Review: Couples of the Bible

Couples of the Bible is a unique couples devotional written in a format that makes it easy to read in a year, one day at a time. The content is wonderful. The book is set up so that each week you and your significant other can read about a couple from the Bible and learn together through that couple's example. The book contains both negative and positive examples, both from the Old and New Testament, including some which are not well known.

The format of the book was great. Each chapter covers a different Biblical couple, and is divided into sections with the intention of allowing the reader(s) to read one section per day, so that in one week they can thoroughly study the couple. Additionally, each section is labeled with the day of the week to help keep the reader on track (although, you can read the entire chapter in one sitting, if you so desire). Each chapter tells the basic story of the couple, and outlines their struggle within their relationship. The next section gives background information on the time period in which the couple lived, which helps the reader to better understand the situation/circumstances. The sections then move on to look into the couple's struggle, provide discussion questions, and finally outlines ways to pray based on the lessons learned by the couple.

I thought this book was a great resource for couples, whether married or in dating/courting relationships, and I would recommend it. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Ever After: Life Lessons Learned in My Castle of Chaos

Title: Ever After: Life Lessons Learned in My Castle of Chaos
Author: Vicki Courtney
Labels: Religion | Christian Life | Women's Issues
Publisher: B&H Books
Publication Date: June 1, 2013
Recommended To: Adult Women
Contains: Mature topics.

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: Most every woman dreams about having a family and a building a home. We grow up on a steady diet of fairytales and chick flicks that drive our dreams . . . and leave us with a sugarcoated version of reality. We want it all: the prince, the kiss, the proposal, the ring, the castle, and eventually, the kids in smocked rompers playing cheerfully on the perfectly manicured lawn. Our hopes and dreams are pinned on the world’s version of happily-ever-after.
          The problem is, the fairytales and chick flicks end where real life begins. We never see that follow-up scene where the prince and princess argue at 3 a.m. over who will get up with the colicky newborn. Or the princess reluctantly returns to work to help pay the bills and feels the stress of juggling work and family. And you certainly won’t see that part where the princess moves her last child into the dorm and realizes the bulk of her identity has been based on being a mother.
          The truth is, marriage and motherhood are hard. Few of us are prepared to handle the balancing act of being a good wife and a good mother, without one or the other getting the short end of the stick. No matter how much we give or how hard we try, we never quite feel like it’s enough. And heaven help us, we always imagine every one else is doing a much better job.
          In Ever After, best-selling author Vicki Courtney addresses the realities of marriage and motherhood, the difficulties and the blessings. It offers women a behind the scenes glimpse of what a fairytale really looks like on the average day for the average wife and mom. Poignant, funny, and even cathartic, Vicki shares mistakes made, lessons learned, and memories to keep. Most of all, she reflects the hope and promise that God meets us in the middle wherever we are in the journey.
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Ever After ended up being one of the most enjoyable books I've read lately (and I've read a lot of enjoyable ones lately). Courtney has a great writing style and an absolutely fantastic sense humor. All throughout her book she makes amusing comments and puts in her own quirky sarcasm to the issue she's addressing--always clarifying that she's joking, of course.

In this book, Courtney addresses women's expectations to their "happily ever after fairy tale"--the unrealistic expectations that let us down because we have grown up in a culture that feeds fairy tale lies to us. Quite a few of these were expectations were ones that I personally hadn't even consciously thought of, but realized were true of most women. (Do note that I am an unmarried woman, so what do I know anyway?) Despite the fact that I am unmarried, I still feel that I gained a lot through this book that is aimed more at married women. Though the whole book I still found things that were applicable to me, and tucked other truths into the back of my mind for future reference.

Overall, I thought this was an excellent book. I would definitely recommend Ever After to married women, engaged women, and even single women who are still waiting for their "fairy tale" to come true. I received a free copy of this book from a publicity agent (Shelton Interactive) for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

7 Steps to Knowing, Doing, and Experiencing the Will of God

Title: 7 Steps to Knowing, Doing, and Experiencing the Will of God
Author: Tom, Mike, and Daniel Blackaby
Labels: Juvenile Nonfiction | Religion | Christianity | Christian Life
Publisher: B&H Books
Publication Date: May 1, 2013
Recommended To: Teens, Young Adults
Contains: N/A

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: "Seven Steps to Knowing, Doing, and Experiencing the Will of God for Teens" goes deeper than just knowing about God, it guides you to partner with God in what He is doing all around you to make an eternal difference in this world.
          Based on the world-renowned Experiencing God teachings, Tom, Mike, and Daniel Blackaby (Henry Blackaby’s son and grandsons) utilize cartoon illustrations, true-life stories, and fresh graphics as they take an earnest, yet humorous, look at what it means for teenagers to have a vibrate personal relationship with God in their often random and challenging settings.
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7 Steps is by no means a perfect, seven step wonder that will bring you closer to God no matter what. In the conclusion, Blackaby makes it clear that there are no exact, easy, one-size-fits-all set of steps in which to enhance your relationship with God. However, this books is a great tool for pointing teens and young adults in the right direction as they seek to draw nearer to God.

This book was an easy, understandable read aimed at a teenaged audience. Teens won't get lost in all the technical terms and high theology, but these three authors keep the readers attention as they draw them further into this quest to experience God. Throughout the book are personal stories and examples, as well as short clips about well known Christians who went through the same sort of things that particular chapter is talking about.

Overall, I thought this was an excellent book and resource for anyone working with teens. I'll be honest, I got a lot out of it myself even as a college student. As I look into youth ministry, this is a book I'll be keeping close by to reference and loan out to both teens and those working with them. Definitely a keeper!

I received a free copy of this book from a publicity agent (Shelton Interactive) for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Victim of Grace

Title: Victim of Grace
Author: Robin Jones Gunn
Labels: Religion | Christian Life | Spiritual Growth
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication Date: April 23, 2013
Recommended To: Women
Contains: N/A

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Goodreads: Robin Jones Gunn reveals poignant truths from her life as well as from the lives of women in the Bible as she flips the notion that we are at the mercy of circumstances. She asks, what if God has dreams for you? What if he is accomplishing those dreams in the midst of shattered hopes? When life doesn't go as expected, it's easy to feel like a victim. We look at the events that have gone wrong and view our lives as impaired. What if we could see our future as God sees it? Would our view radically change if we understood we are indeed victims rather than of happenstance? God, the Relentless Lover, has vigorously sought you. He has instilled dreams in your heart that are grander than you can imagine. But the route to their fulfillment often is through a path you wouldn't seek. What if God wants to take the hopes that tug at your heart and enliven them? Are you ready to live inside the mysterious joy of being a victim of grace?
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Let me just start by saying that cover to this book sis gorgeous--both online and on the physical copy. So pretty! Anyway, I enjoyed, I enjoyed reading Gunn's Victim of Grace. It's a light read, and I found myself reading through quickly while still understanding all that she was talking about.

Victim of Grace is more or less about a concept that the things that seem bad in the moment--making us a victim--may actually be setting us up to be receivers of God's grace. We often don't see this in the moment, but rather realize it later, in retrospect, and sometimes not even then. It encourages us to have a more positive outlook as we wait for God to bring us full circle.

I liked that in each chapter, after Gunn talked about a person experience of being a victim of Grace, she went on to talk about a woman of the Bible who was also a victim of grace. Not all were obvious victims of grace--some of them we flat out have felt sorry for. But for each Gunn had a point about that woman that made it clear that they were indeed victims of grace. One thing I would have liked to have seen were more personal experiences from other women other than Gunn. Not that her life story isn't interesting or inspiring; I just enjoy reading from many viewpoints on a subject such as this.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.

Stress Point: Thriving Through Your Twenties in a Decade of Drama

Title: Stress Point: Thriving Through Your Twenties in a Decade of Drama
Author: Sarah Francis Martin
Labels: Religion | Christian Life | Women's Issues |
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: June 5, 2012
Recommended To: Women, +20yrs
Contains: N/A

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle
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Blurb From Amazon: Want to ditch the drama and thrive through your twenties?

Body image. Friendships. Career. Money. Dating. All these issues and more serve as points of stress for the 20-something woman, and combined they can make for a decade of drama in a girl's life. Sarah Francis Martin is the slightly older girlfriend who's been there, done that, and got the not-so-cute t-shirt. Through this interactive Bible study, Sarah helps young adult women address each stress point by encouraging them to wait on the Lord, worship Him, and make Him the focus of their lives.

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        Stress Point is an interactive Bible study covering key stress point of women in their twenties, including careers, self-image, body image, dating, friends and family, money, stepping out on your own, making a difference, and spiritual maturity. Each chapter/stress point features case studies with three different women regarding the issue, plus several journal pages for your own  personal insights.

          Probably what I liked the most about this book was the journal pages. Each chapter has several, with each journal containing interactive, prodding questions that get you thinking on your own. I also liked that the book has both scripture printed out inside the book, as well as references for you to look up. I don't like when books have it all printed out for you, because it stops you from actually studying the actual passage and verses surrounding it; on the other hand, it's a pain to have to go look up one single verse that was mentioned, so in that case it's nice to just have it printed in the book. So in that regard, I thought Stress Point had a good balance of both.

          Overall I thought this was a good study covering a lot of really good, important topics. Overall, a great study. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.