Reviewing: Taming the To-Do List

Taming the To-Do List: How to choose your best work every day
by Glynnis Whitwer

I am a busy girl.  Or am I?  Yes, I do a lot of things.  But are they my best things?  And am I actually busy with them, or am I just making myself busy with other things so I don’t have to do them? 

These are the questions Whitwer asks and addresses in her book.  Because I’m busy (which I’m starting to think is not true and is definitely not God’s intention for my life), my review of it is coming later than it was supposed to.  And because I get these books and have to read them quickly to review them, I don’t have time to really dig into them like I want to and need to do in order to really apply their truths and declare them useful or not worth your time. All that said, Taming Your To-Do List is exactly what I need. Because those questions are at the start and at the end of each of my days . . . and in the middle too.

I’m finding myself obligated to do things I don’t want to do and am not certain I should.  I’m finding myself behind in things I want to do and feel like I should.  I’m finding myself unable to sit down and enjoy a few moments of solitude because of all the things I should be doing.  I’m not present where I need to be when I need to be, and everything I do feels like another opportunity for guilt.

Something’s got to give. 

And that’s what Whitwer is writing about.  From her personal experiences with procrastination and “busyness” and obligation and calling, she draws real-life examples, goals that are achievable, and practical applications that remind you to make room for what is important and good and right.

I know you’re busy.  We’re all busy.  But the truth might be that we’re too busy not to read this book.  I know I am.

Disclosure: I received this book at no charge from Revell through the Revell Reads Blog Tour Program in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Reviewing: Murder at the Courthouse

by A. H. Gabhart

Murder at the Courthouse is intended to be a small-town, cozy mystery.  On this, Gabhart both succeeds and falls short.

Small-town fiction tends to be heavy on character development—quirks, gossips, kind-hearted souls, and the like.  Gabhart gets that nearly perfect.  Her characters really become people to whom you feel connected, even after “knowing” them for such a short time.  This is especially important in a series which hopes to build on those characters and our affinity for them.  Courthouse is the first in “A Hidden Springs Mystery” series.  It is published by Revell so is a Christian book, but it isn’t overt or preachy, which I appreciate.

Where Gabhart fell short was on the mystery end.  It is a cozy, and I love cozies.  However, from the moment the body is found, Gabhart failed to bury any of her clues enough to keep me guessing.  The only reason I wasn’t positive who had committed the murders was because I kept telling myself it couldn’t be as obvious as it was.  Instead, every page left me more convinced as clues were left in the open.  I solved the crime faster than the hero, Deputy Michael Keane and wasn’t left guessing about anything, including the motive.

Overall, though the lack of mystery and even lightly hidden clues was disappointing, this early introduction to the characters (both living and dead) may bring me back for more of Hidden Springs.  But it won’t be at the top of my mystery list.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads Blog Tour program.  The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Reviewing: Wild in the Hollow

Wild in the Hollow
by Amber C. Haines

Subtitled "On Chasing DESIRE & Finding the Broken Way HOME," Wild in the Hollow is at times memoir and at others rambling essay.  I mean that in the best way possible.  Amber C. Haines's prose isn't always easy to follow, but hang in there--what she's saying is worth hearing.  And it's all beautiful.

Wild in the Hollow follows Haines's literal journey from her roots in the hollows of Alabama to her small house with acreage in Arkansas.  It also details her spiritual journey, lived through addiction and running from God to the ache of loneliness in the middle of a marriage and the art of pursuing His heart in the midst of personal dreams.  And with Haines's "soulful" way of writing, it's all stated matter-of-factly with no judgment and full transparency.

I enjoyed both journeys.  And I enjoyed seeing my own journey to find "home" in the pages.  As Haines reveals the culmination of her journey (to this point anyway) in her life, her marriage, her church, her friendships, her faith, and her parenting, I found myself in there as well.

Nobody writes like Amber C. Haines.  I'm telling you--even the acknowledgements contain nuggets I want to never forget.  She writes beautifully and vividly and honestly.


Disclosure: I received this book free through the Revell Reads Blog Tour program in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to read a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Reviewing: Last Chance Hero

Last Chance Hero
by Cathleen Armstrong

The fourth installment in Cathleen Armstrong's A Place to Call Home series, Last Chance Hero, tells the story of Jess, a young doctor who moves to Last Chance to open a rural medical practice, and Andy, former Last Chance football hero turned high school football coach.  It's a sweet romance in its truest form without feeling cheesy or contrived.

I chose to read this book because I'm intrigued by small-town relationships and drawing faith into fiction without making it preachy.  Armstrong does both very well.  She paints characters vividly with dialogue--from long paragraphs that are spoken quickly to a daily joke that is at once simple and profound--and description.  Though this was my first visit to Last Chance, I left feeling like I knew the characters well.  And, I left feeling encouraged in my faith even when things don't go according to my own plans.

Without saying too much and ruining one of the story lines, I do wish Armstrong had given us more of one of the characters and had devoted more of her page to him.  At the same time, every word he is given paints him--and God's grace--vividly.


Disclosure: I received this book free through the Revell Reads program in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Reviewing: Untangled

Untangled: Let God Loosen the Knots of Insecurity in Your Life

By Carey Scott

I'm not good enough. I'm not smart enough. I need to be skinnier, prettier, funnier. 

Life is full of "not enoughs" and "-ers" that will tangle us up into a knotted mess. In Untangled, Carey Scott shares her own life's journey--and the journeys of other women--as they step back and allow God to untangle the knots into smooth cords of beauty. We weren't created to focus on the ways we fall short. And we weren't created to compare ourselves to the women around us who might be better cooks, chaperones, athletes, mothers, wives, employees--the list goes on and on. 

We have one standard, and one place from which to draw our worth, and there is great news!

He thinks you're amazing. 

And He wants you to see that too. In Untangled, He gave Carey the words to share practical ways to break through the lies and the ways Satan tries to tangle even our good desires. Carey offers stories, strategies, Scripture references, practical questions, and a prayer to help women navigate marriage, singleness, motherhood, friendship, work, and even social media. This book will have a treasured spot on my nightstand as I pray through my day with the reminder that I truly am worthy of love...just because God created me that way. 

I received this book from Revell through the Revell Reads Blog Tour program in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review.