Perplexed Pastor's Wife

The Sky Beneath My Feet

Beth is a pastor’s wife.  Her husband, who works at a megachurch, has the month of October off.  She figures that the family will go someplace to take a much needed vacation.  What she doesn’t realize is that her husband will spend his month in their garden shed praying and not speaking to anyone.  She doesn’t know what to make of this and he won’t tell her.  Her two sons are astonished by their father’s behavior.  While her husband is holed up in the shed, she tries to figure out what his actions mean.  She must deal with her younger son’s experimentation with marijuana and her older son’s falling in love.  And then, there’s her husband’s friend with the job proposition for him—what is she to tell him?

This book, like Lisa Samson’s other books includes rather quirky, but loveable characters who struggle with everyday challenges.  The plot takes several turns, but comes to a satisfying conclusion.  I found it entertaining and thought-provoking as well.  I highly recommend it and thank the publisher for the free copy.   

Entertaining Book on Pastors' Wives

Pastors’ Wives by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen

Ruthie Matters is caught off guard when her stocker broker husband surprises her with the news that he wants to become a pastor.  They join the staff of a mega-church and her life is forever changed.  She becomes the prodigy of Candace, the senior pastor’s wife.  Candace schools her in the fine art of maintaining a marriage and a mega-church, handling problems with aplomb and lots of behind the scenes finagling.  Ruthie the novice pastor’s wife also develops a friendship with Ginger, Candace’s daughter-in-law, who is a pastor’s wife with a past.  Ginger must take some definitive action once she learns that her past is no longer a secret.  Will her risky actions place her children, her marriage and her husband’s career in jeopardy? 

Pastors’ wives must be among the most misunderstood and unappreciated people on the planet.  I have known my share of them and don’t see any of them represented in Cullen’s book.  The ones that I know have also been called into their positions and live accordingly.  I felt that the author probably didn’t have much personal experience with pastors’ wives.  However, her book was very interesting.  I was glad when I saw personal growth in the characters.  I was also happy to note that though difficult, their marriages survived and thrived.  If you enjoy a peek behind the scenes of a mega-church, you will enjoy this fun book.  I received a free copy from the publisher and this is my honest review.

Challenging Book on Prayer

Draw the Circle:  The 40 Day Prayer Challenge

Mark Batterson, author of The Circle Maker has written a devotional for readers participating in 40 days of prayer.   He has collected stories containing answered prayers.  He draws on his own experiences and those of others.  Each daily selection is an encouraging and faith-building devotional.  He style is conversational and easy to read.  His enthusiasm and faith is contagious.

I found myself looking forward to reading the next selection every morning.  This devotional is a great way to focus on prayer and God’s faithfulness.  I heartily recommend it for those readers who want a lively and enthusiastic shot of faith.  I received a free copy from Zondervan and this is my honest review.   

An Inspiring Story of True Love

Joni & Ken

An Untold Love Story

With Larry Libby’s help Joni and Ken Tada share their love story.  It is an unusual story, and not the stuff of fairy tales.  This princess is held captive in a wheelchair and the prince, though loving, cannot free her.  He fights dragons of isolation, frustration, pain, loneliness and selfishness, among others to come to her rescue.  She struggles to ward off the debilitating effects of chronic pain and then the giant of cancer.  Despite their struggles, the prince comes through for the princess and this story does have a happy ending.  The prince and princess fall even more deeply in love and continue to live happily ever after in their Father’s earthly kingdom.

I enjoyed this book very much.  It was written in a very transparent style and I felt myself part of their world, riding in their van or relaxing in their living room.  Joni, although honest, has sweetness about her as she talks about her relationship to Ken.  It has to be a challenge to allow myriads of readers to take a peek inside your private life, but Ken and Joni stand up well to the scrutiny.  Despite knowing more about their personal flaws, I found myself appreciating them more.  Their personal growth was evident.  Readers will find this book inspiring.  I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and this is my honest review.

Great Scholarship How-to Information

Confessions of a Scholarship Winner by Kristina Ellis

Kristina Ellis, winner of over half million dollars of scholarship money, shares her how-to tips on scholarship success.  She writes about how to create a better application, how to understand college financing, and how to succeed in the scholarship interview, among other topics.  She breaks down the process into easy to do steps, so that every student, whether stellar or not can highlight his best attributes. 

As the parent of a high school junior, I found this book to be a very valuable workbook to walk students and parents through the scholarship process.  It is filled with helpful illustrations and questions to guide families through what could be a difficult and overwhelming task.  I received a free copy of this e-book from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Fiction with Supernatural Elements

Afloat by Erin Healy

Vance Nolan has a vision for spectacular low cost housing on the water.  He has partnered with  investorTony Dean to make his dream come true.  Danielle, Tony’s assistant, and her 5 year old son, Simeon, and the other residents are happy with their life in the floating condos.  But things are not what they seem.    Zeke, Vance’s friend and mentor, comes to warn him of impending danger.  Nevertheless, something goes terribly wrong and many of the residents and workers are caught in the middle of a desperate situation.    Vance relies on his mentor’s word that he must stay and that those who stay with him will be safe.  With the world falling down around them, he must try to convince the others to remain there with him rather than trying to reach land.  Danielle is torn between staying with Vance or going with Tony.  Will Tony be able to keep her safe, or will Vance be the one she should trust?  And just what are those silver lights floating beneath the condo? 

I have read several of Erin Healy’s novels and enjoyed them.  This one was no exception. It was fast-paced and led me deeper into the story with every chapter.  Her characters are realistically drawn.  The plot contains an element of the supernatural.    In ways, this one reminded me of Tedd Dekker’s novels.  I enjoyed the novelty of the setting, the plot and the way she delved into her characters’ motives.  Readers who enjoy a good plot laced with some supernatural elements, along with well-fleshed out characters will enjoy this book.  I am grateful to Thomas Nelson for the free e-book and this is my honest review. 

Spiritual Fantasy/Adventure

Soul’s Gate  by James Rubart

Reece Roth has received a prophecy that he will teach four persons to fight for the hearts of others by entering into their souls.  They will wage spiritual warfare and bring freedom to those oppressed by the enemy.  Now he must convince the four of that calling.  Dana, Brandon and Marcus seem willing, but what of the fourth?  This task is not without many dangers, as Reece well knows.  As his protégés become stronger, the enemy takes notice and their families and Reece come under attack.  Are Dana, Marcus and Brandon ready to take on the challenge to stand against the enemy and deliver Reece?   

James Rubart writes an intriguing novel based on the premise that spiritual warfare can be waged inside a person’s soul.  Rubart admits that this possibility doesn’t really exist, but it makes for an interesting read.  This novel reminded me a lot of his novel Rooms, which I found interesting as well.  His style is straightforward and the plot moves along, although I found the beginning of the novel to be confusing when he was introducing multiple characters at once.  It didn’t help that for some reason the copy I received from the publisher would not display the first page of each chapter on my nook.  As I continued to read, I became more involved in the plot and found myself challenged to spend more time in prayer.  This story, because it is fiction, may not be found to be doctrinally mainline, but it does challenge the reader not to settle for a blasé faith.  If you enjoyed Peretti’s Piercing the Darkness novel, you will enjoy this one, too.  The publisher gave me a free copy and this is my honest opinion.