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Last Published: 8/9/2008 12:55:43 AM
March 2008
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Posted by: Michelle Sutton at 8:06PM EST on March 29, 2008
 About the book:Just as life is beginning to come together for spunky, purple-haired Mayla Strong, she loses her job and her boyfriend. When she escapes to sunny Florida, her problems only tag along. In this heartwarming sequel to Just As I Am, Mayla learns how to balance friends, family, and faith while living in a messed-up world. My review:Sincerely, Mayla is probably Smith's best book yet. Mayla is a flawed, yet loveable character because she is genuine, especially when it comes to her relationship with God. Much of the time she is too distracted by life to pray, so she starts doing things on her own and then realizes she forgot to include God. A self-declared control freak, Mayla gains insight into her family's dysfunction and learns that sometimes for their own good, people need to hear what they are doing to hurt others. Mayla's life demonstrates that love wants to see relationships healed. Love wants to see people set free. While written in the first person point of view, it's not at all obvious. I love when an author can do that. Smith's writing is flawless and smooth-flowing. Her character's inner voice was so realistically done, you'll feel like you are in Mayla's head. And I totally loved how Mayla was passive aggressive and talked to herself while she read e-mails from Pastor Paul. What a scream! I also was very touched by the subplot with Lindsey. The truths that came out through her story were so well done I wish every teen in trouble would read this book...just for the message alone. And you've gotta love Stuart. Smith illustrated through Mayla's relationship with him that being salt and light to the unsaved really does make them thirst. But the most important thing is to love them as Christ loves us. The message to Stuart about how Jesus perceived him when he asked Mayla the tough questions was so beautifully done that it made me tear up. I dare say I've not seen this type of scenario written in a more honest and loving way anywhere. Yeah, Mayla was real, but Sincerely, Mayla shows that you don't have to be perfect to show people Jesus through your life. You just have to live sincerely and let Him abide in you so people will see Him in your eyes. What a beautiful illustration of an eternal truth. Sincerely, Mayla was published by Kregel and released in March 2008.
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Posted by: Michelle Sutton at 12:45AM EST on March 24, 2008
About the book:Trish Sakai is a girl with attitude---but she wants it to be directed more toward God and less
toward cute guys. Not easy when her artist ex-boyfriend claims she's
his muse and he can't paint without her; or when her new co-worker
definitely seems interested. Can she keep her impressive resolution? 
My review:(This is a very fun read!) Tang
once again delivers an incredibly busy novel. Not a dull moment in this
book, I promise. Trish is a lovable character that I empathized with,
even though she often put her foot in her mouth. I truly felt for her
situation and I loved her sincerity, misguided though she was at times.
I also related to the way she felt pulled in by her ex-boyfriend. Some
women are just not strong that way, and Trish was a very believable
character in that regard. Tang really comes up with some
interesting ways to describe things and on occasion the metaphors and
similes seemed a bit over the top, but that didn't take away from the
story much. Only Uni is hard to
put down because it's so interesting, and at times very insightful and
touching, while at other times quite amusing. I enjoyed Only Uni even more than Sushi for One?
Tang has a unique writing style that is engaging and fresh, even if a
bit overly done at times. I am REALLY looking forward to reading Single Sashimi.Hey, the fact that I finished this book says a lot. So many never make it that far. So check it out! Only Uni was published by Zondervan and released in March 2008.
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Posted by: Michelle Sutton at 11:55PM EST on March 16, 2008
 When
a Southern waitress inherits the Lowcountry cafe where she works, she
suddenly has to balance more than just her next food order. Caroline
Sweeney has always done the right thing--the responsible, dependable
thing--unlike her mother who abandoned her family. But when her best
friend challenges her to accept an exciting job adventure in Barcelona,
Spain, Caroline says "yes" to destiny. Then, without warning,
ownership of the run-down cafe where she’s been waitressing falls right
into Caroline’s lap. While she’s trying to determine the cafe’s future,
handsome Deputy Sherriff J.D. Rand captures Caroline’s heart. But
when her first love, Mitch O’Neal, comes back to town, fresh from the
heat of his newly-found fame as a country music singer in Nashville,
Caroline must make some hard choices about love and the pursuit of the
sweet life. Read the first chapter HEREMy review:I
wasn't sure what to expect with this story. At first I thought it would
be a straight chick lit, and in some ways it was. However, Sweet Caroline
touched me in a deeper place than most lits do. I actually got choked
up a few times. I rarely do these days. There were some very funny
moments, some truly enjoyable girl times, and some romantic interludes
that sizzled and popped. Best of all, though, was a spiritual awakening
and a discovery of one's place in this world that was breathtaking and
yes, sweet. I loved this story. It was hard to put down once I
got past the first few chapters. I loved the old folks, the lowcountry
charm, and the author's voice. The honesty and self-examination
Caroline had to deal with in order to grow was truly inspirational. She
was strong, yet totally emotionally vulnerable, and for good reason. I
loved how Caroline was so perceptive of other people's needs. She was
also brave and willing to tackle her issues. When she helped her
brother tackle his bitterness there was a genuine God moment that was
unforgettable. I am rarely as moved as I was during that pivotal point
in the story. Of course I'm being vague so as not to spoil the
surprise. At any rate, this story is probably my favorite story penned
by Hauck. Does it get any better than this??? Seriously.
Sweet Caroline was published by Thomas Nelson and released in February 2008.
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Posted by: Michelle Sutton at 8:40PM EST on March 9, 2008
About the book:
Katherine Clarkson has the perfect life. Married to Brad, a loving and
handsome husband, respected in their church and the community. Two
grown daughters on the verge of starting families of their own. A
thriving ministry. Good friends. A comfortable life.
She has it all--until the day a reporter appears with shocking
allegations. Splashed across the local news are accusations of Brad's
financial impropriety at his foundation and worse, an affair with a
former employee. Without warning, Katherine's marriage is shattered and
her family torn apart. The reassuring words she's spoken to many
brokenhearted women over the years offer little comfort now.
Her world spinning, Katherine wonders if she can find the truth in the
chaos that consumes her. How can she survive the loss of what she
thought was the perfect life?
My review:
The Perfect Life had a riveting beginning. I was dying to know what had
actually happened. Then it looked like the mystery was over and I
wasn't sure I wanted to finish the story. However, I decided to give it
a chance and am glad I did because the story didn't shake out the way
it seemed like it would at first. It's very hard to sustain tension and
genuine spiritual struggles in a novel about marriage relationships
without it getting annoying for the reader due to the harping and
bitterness that tends to develop within a storyline where trust is
broken in marriage. However, the author does a fabulous job with this
novel and not once did I want to slap the heroine, as is often the
case. The tension in The Perfect Life was realistically done and
believable. The spiritual arc was fabulous and extremely honest. In
short, I loved this story and highly recommend it, especially for
couples who have discovered a lack of trust in their relationship.
The Perfect Life was published by Thomas Nelson and released in February 2008.
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Posted by: Michelle Sutton at 10:32PM EST on March 3, 2008
About the book:
"Not a safe world." How many times had she heard it over and over
again? Well, it is not a safe world and Dara Murphy Brogan knew it
better than most, which is exactly why she had tucked herself away on a
desert mountaintop. Now it was just her, the voice inside her head and
the boxes of hastily packed odds and ends--all that was left of her
pathetic excuse of a life. Hadn't she chosen the desert because it was
barren and brown and dead looking and far, far away from anyone who may
have seen the news? So what was this, this trespasser, this interloper,
this whacked out earth mother doing dancing outside her window?
Celebrating life and the Spirit in a way Dara never could have dreamed.
Until she opened her door and met Jane Cameron.
My review:
This story is amazing. Strange in some ways, yet incredibly insightful
in others. Have you ever met someone who was very guarded and
stand-offish, almost skittish? The main character, Dara, is this type
of person. As you delve into her life you begin to understand the
complexity of her issues and her need for a savior. Dara is so lost.
Then she meets Jane, the wacky earth-mother who is not as crazy as she
seems at first. I loved experiencing Dara's quest for her biological
mother. Her deep pain and misplaced guilt shows how truly devastating
abandonment can be to a child, especially if the person who left is the
mom. Dara learned a lot about herself and grew through the course of
the story. She set aside her own needs to help others, yet still had
this wall around her heart. But a nagging voice in the wind would call
to her, especially when her pain seemed the most out of control. That
still small voice is one we all need to tune into. It just might turn
our lives around if we do.
To Dance in the Desert was published by Cook Communications and was released in May 2007.
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Posted by: Michelle Sutton at 5:08PM EST on March 2, 2008
About the book:
A religious thriller. An epic historical. An award-winning author with
one million books in print. Second in the breathtaking trilogy.
The first book in Lisa T. Bergren's Gifted trilogy, The Begotten,
was hailed by Library Journal as "a full-bodied, absorbing tale that
combines authentic historical detail with a universally appealing and
gripping story that will have readers cheering." Now the breathtaking
quest of the spiritually empowered Gifted ones-prophesized in a
long-lost illuminated letter from the apostle Paul-continues as the
healer, the priest, and the knight gather together to fight a battle in
a profound new war. For the enemies of the Gifted are gathering, led by
an evil lord who will do anything to destroy their unwavering faith.
My review:
I totally loved the first book in this series, The Begotten. It was fabulous. The second book in this series, The Betrayed was just as good. I recommend reading the series in order. There was a point in the middle of The Betrayed when I put this book down due to other commitments, but when I picked it up again I was pulled right back into that world.
The brutality the "gifted" experienced was as powerful as the
miraculous events. I couldn't believe how many times they were captured
after trying to get free. And being pursued like that had to make them
crazy. I found the parallel between the "dark" lord and Satan quite
interesting. He would get furious when Daria quoted scripture during
times of suffering, yet that was the one thing that sustained her. For
me, another profound conclusion from this story was how God will
sometimes allow others to suffer alongside us to provide encouragement.
I loved the message about God's perfect timing and tuning into his
voice. And the strategies that the evil Lord, Sorcerer Abramo, used to
try to break them were so similar to the devil's. First he tries luring
you in with your own lusts and weaknesses. If that doesn't break you he
goes after your flesh (like with sickness) and if you still refuse to
curse God in the midst of that pain he tries the ultimate tactic of
hurting those you love. What a wicked enemy we have!
Bergren did such a fabulous job of making me see how the enemy works
through this parallel story. It makes me want to memorize more
scriptures that I can use when I need encouragement and when I need to
fight off the enemy's attacks. As far as the edgy factor goes? I'd rate
this with 8 out of ten stars for edgy content. If you want to
experience an adventure that will both thrill you and at the same time
cut you to the very marrow of your bones, you will love this book.
The Betrayed was published by Berkley/Penguin Group and released in Sept. 2007.
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