[Book Review] Getting To The Place Where You Can Trust God With Anything: Even This by Emily Belle Freeman

Getting To The Place Where You Can Trust God With Anything:

Even This

by

Emily Belle Freeman

Blurb:

"In Even This Emily Belle Freeman shares her own deeply personal experiences of feeling forgotten by God--from the fear of abandonment in a dark hospital room to the desperation that followed months of unanswered prayers. In a moment of honesty, she found herself asking the question she had been afraid to consider: 'Where is God in this?' Through biblical insight, genuine realness, and beautiful prose, Emily will help you discover how to:

• Diminish the power of doubt by coming to understand why the place of deepest asking is where the believing begins.
• Stop letting fear dictate the depth of your belief through daily reflections that will restore your confidence in God.
• Let go of your need to control by discovering what is holding you back from being completely vulnerable to God.

Trust that God may have something different in mind for you--something better."

My Review:

This book could not have come at a better time! Many of my readers may know that my 15 year-old son has been very sick since last April. He's been to two ERs, enjoyed a four day hospital stay, had a feeding tube for over a month, has been to countless doctor appointments, and tried way too many different kinds of medicines. Nothing has really helped, and everyone seems clueless as to what is going on. This past week we finally got a few results and think we may now be on the right track to getting him better. However, if it's what we think it is then it will be a very long, slow process to recovery. The poor kid missed the last seven weeks of the last school year, and hasn't been able to go this year, so luckily he has an amazing home and hospital teacher that comes and helps him with his school work twice a week. Honestly, this has been the most difficult 5 1/2 months of my entire life. We are all exhausted. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. All the time. Watching your child suffer so much for so long is heartbreaking. Our other three children have been champions through all of this. They are amazing, and I'm so proud of them! They are patient, loving, empathetic, and resilient. This trial  has definitely humbled me, and I've spent hours on my knees in prayer. I have to admit that there have been some dark days where I have wondered where God is in all of this. I've been able to trust God with lots of things in my life, but this one--this one I have tried to control. I hate not being in control of this situation!! Why can't I fix this? Well, after reading this book I know that I need to trust God with Even This situation. While my kids were fishing at a nearby lake yesterday, I was reading. There were several passages that I wanted to remember. I fished (haha!!) through my purse and found a post-it note. This is what my book looks like now:

I would have more, but I didn't start actually bookmarking the parts I liked until I was half way through the book. When I first started reading, the different chapters seemed random and unconnected; I was a tad bit confused. However, as the book progressed it all kind of came together, and I loved how Ms. Freeman explained everything. Her insights and examples are very personal and touching. It's easy to get caught up in your trials and think that everyone else has it good, but when you read her book you realize that everyone goes through difficult things. I thoroughly enjoyed learning from Ms. Freeman. She does a great job of breaking down well known biblical stories and helping you see the application from the story in your life. Here's an example from the book. The biblical story she is referring to is Joseph. His brothers threw him into a pit and eventually he was taken to Egypt as a slave. He was thrown into prison and ended up interpreting the Pharaoh's dream. Pharaoh was so impressed that he put Joseph in charge of storing the food during the good times in preparation for the upcoming times of famine. Joseph's brothers came (not knowing who he was, of course) and asked for food. Joseph was able to provide for his long-lost family because of the experiences he had been through.  

Joseph being able to provide for his family after many years was the miracle. So "the truth of it is that the trials are what enabled Joseph to be in the exact place God needed him to be. To provide the rescue. To prepare for the deliverance. To orchestrate the miracle God had in mind from the very moment Joseph was thrown into the pit." Looking at my (your) trial from this point of view puts it in a whole different perspective. I loved this book. It is a bit random at times, seemingly jumping from one experience to another, but in the end it gave me a better insight into the trial I'm going through, and it allowed me to realize that I'm not in control--thank goodness!!--God is in control, and he can see the whole picture. As a mom it's hard to let go of that control, but if I (we) can, then I'll (we'll) be able to see the miracle at the end. Thank you Ms. Freeman, for helping me see this long ordeal in a better way, and for helping me to trust God with Even This. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is suffering or going through tough times. Have faith! God is good, and he will take care of us if we put our trust in Him. 

Rating: PG (It's clean!)

Recommendation: YA and up

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Also by Emily Belle Freeman:

     

[Book Review] The Confusion of Languages by Siobhan Fallon

The Confusion of Languages

by

Siobhan Fallon

Blurb:

"Both Cassie Hugo and Margaret Brickshaw dutifully followed their soldiers husbands to the US embassy in Jordan, but that's about all they have in common. After two years, Cassie's become an expert on the rules, but newly arrived Margret sees only her chance to explore. So when a fender bender sends Margaret to the local police station, Cassie reluctantly agrees to watch Margaret's toddler son. But as the hours pass, Cassie's boredom and frustration turn to fear: Why isn't Margaret answering her phone, and why is it taking so long to sort out a routine accident? With the Arab Spring rising beyond the embassy gates, Cassie begins to question not only her friend's whereabouts but her own role in Margaret's disappearance."

My Review:

I haven't been this intrigued by a book in quite awhile. Outside of the U.S., I've only been to Canada and Mexico, so to learn about living in Jordan was exciting; I felt like I was on an adventure. I got to travel to the Middle East while sitting on my couch; that's why I love reading so much! I have to say that I would definitely be like Cassie. I'm a rule follower. Margaret's personality was so different from mine that I cringed at some of the things she did, as I'm sure Cassie did. Sometimes I wish I were more like her, but I don't think that will ever happen. This book is well written. It is split by a present day story line and a past story line. I thought the transitions were well done, and I didn't have a hard time determining what time period I was in. How Cassie was able to find out about the back story was a little iffy, if you ask me. It definitely crossed the best friend line, but it made for a good story. I loved the descriptions of the people and places in Jordan, and I thought the characters were well developed and realistic. Would I want to move there? Nope, I'm quite content learning about it from my couch. The writing pulls you in and keeps you captive. I couldn't put it down. Until I got to the end. I did not like the end of this book. Sadly, the ending ruined it for me. It was quite a ride though, and I had truly enjoyed it until then. 

Rating: R (There is a lot of profanity, including many "f" words. There is some "intimacy" through discussion and innuendo. There is also a bit of violence.)

Recommendation: Adult (This book is not appropriate for YA or younger readers.)

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.) 

Touch by Courtney Maum

Touch

by

Courtney Maum

Blurb:

"Sloane Jacobsen is one of the world's most powerful trend forecasters (she was the foreseer of 'the swipe'), and global fashion, lifestyle, and tech companies pay to hear her opinions about the future. Her recent forecasts on the family are unwavering: the world is overpopulated, and with unemployment, college costs, and food prices all on the rise, having children is an extravagant indulgence. So it's no surprise when the tech giant Mammoth hires Sloane to lead their groundbreaking annual conference, celebrating the voluntarily childless. But not far into her contract, Sloane begins to sense the undeniable signs of a movement against electronics that will see people embracing compassion, empathy, and 'in-personism' again. She's struggling with the fact that her predictions are hopelessly out of sync with her employer's mission--and that her closest personal relationship is with her self-driving car--when her partner, the French 'neo-sensualist' Roman Bellard, reveals that he is about to publish an op-ed on the death of ['intimacy']...Despite the risks to her professional reputation, Sloane is nevertheless convinced that her instincts are the right ones, and she goes on a quest to defend real-life human interaction, while finally allowing in the love and connectedness she's long been denying herself. A poignant and amusing call to arms that showcases her signature biting wit and keen eye, celebrated novelist Courtney Maum's new book is a moving investigation into what it means to be an individual in a globalized world."

My Review:

Well, let's just say that I didn't even know what a trend forecaster was before I read this book. I had no idea that there were people who predicted things like skinny jeans and touch screens years before 

they become popular. I had also never heard of a Zentai suit. Have you? It looks like this, by the way:

Photo Credit: http://www.zentaitime.com/Fitted-Light-Blue-Fullbody-Shiny-Metallic-Zentai-Suit.html

Yep, a suit that covers your whole body, including your face. Now you know. You're welcome. I am the mom of four children, so I did not relate to Sloane at all. Because of the above Zentai suit, I didn't relate to Roman either. Dax was definitely not someone I related to. There were a few minor characters like Deidre, Jin, and Mina, along with Sloane's mom and sister, that I related to a bit more, and they helped me keep reading. I just could not get into the story because it is just so far from what my life is, and without characters that I could latch onto, it was a difficult sell. The style of writing was also a bit rough for me. Ms. Maum likes to use big vocabulary words, which is a good thing, but it seemed more like she was trying to be grandiloquent than anything else. I hate to admit that I had to go back and reread a few sentences because I had no idea what was going on. I did enjoy delving into the inventiveness of the company and thought a couple of their inventions would be great to have; I also liked seeing the intricacies of Sloane's relationship with her family. Unfortunately, that's about where my enjoyment of this book ended. I didn't agree with the premise, and I'm way too conservative to delve into Roman's philosophies. Wow. Just wow. It was way too much for me. There is so much profanity along with discussions about everything regarding "intimacy"--in great detail. I like that topic to stay in the bedroom, not be paraded in front of the world and written about on a majority of the pages of this book. The only thing that I thought slightly redeemed this book was the ending. It did end with a good moral, and by the end I thought Sloane was a better character; I did enjoy watching her grow over the course of the book. Could I recommend this book to my friends? Ummm....no. However, if profanity doesn't bother you and you enjoy very detailed and kind of crazy talk of "intimacy," then you may enjoy this book. 

Rating R (Is there anything higher than R??) There is lots of profanity, including many "f" words. There isn't any violence, but there is a lot of "intimacy." There are quite detailed discussions about and inventions for. There are also a couple of detailed scenes. 

Recommendation: Adult (This book is NOT appropriate for anyone younger than an adult.)

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

All That Makes Life Bright by Josi S. Kilpack

All That Makes Life Brightby
Josi S. Kilpack

Blurb:

"When Harriet Beecher marries Calvin Stowe on January 6, 1836, she is sure her future will be filled with romance, a family (in due time), and continued opportunities to develop as a writer--Calvin has said she must be a literary woman, after all. Though Catharine, Harriet's sister, worries Hattie will lose her identity in marriage, she is determined to preserve her independent spirit. God has called her to fulfill the roles of wife and writer, and she knows that God will help her accomplish everything she was born to do. Two months later, Hattie discovers she is pregnant just as Calvin prepares to leave for a European business trip. Alone, Hattie is overwhelmed--being a wife has been harder than she thought and being an expectant mother feels like living another woman's life. Knowing that part of Calvin still cherishes the memory of his first wife, Hattie begins to question her place in her husband's heart and yearns for his return; his letters are no substitute for having him home. When Calvin returns, however, nothing seems to have turned out as planned. Struggling to balance the demand of motherhood with her passion for writing and her desire to be a part of the social change in Ohio, Hattie works to build a life with her beloved Calvin despite differing temperaments and expectations. Can their love endure, especially after 'I do'? Can she recapture the first blush of new love and find the true beauty in her marriage?"

My Review:

I'm loving these proper romances based on literary figures' lives! Ms. Kilpack has found a fun niche; I like that she does her research and tries to form an accurate picture of what might have occurred in the lives of these important figures. In my mind, Harriet Beecher Stowe is Uncle Tom's Cabin, and that's about it. I didn't really know anything else about her, and you know what? I think she and I would have been besties. Like her, I have struggled to keep clean house (I'm a perfectionist, but kids make that an impossible dream...), and dinner is never ready on time when my husband gets home. Yep, I think Hattie and I would have been on the phone (if it were available) chatting about how in the world we were supposed to sand the floors and tie the bed frames and take care of the kids without burning dinner. Hahaha! I'm pretty sure I've had similar conversations with my friends over the years. I felt for Hattie and a little for Calvin. I think he was just a little spoiled and should have been able to help out a little more at the beginning. I told my husband I was glad I didn't live back then because I would not have put up with his attitude. I'm not going to tell you--you'll have to read it to find out what Calvin requested as their daughter's name. Oh boy! It's a doozie! This is a fun read. It's well written, it flows well, the dialogue is realistic and the characters are well developed. I couldn't help but relate to Harriet. I did hope to learn a little bit more about how Uncle Tom's Cabin came to be, but I'll just need to find another book written on that. I've never actually read Uncle Tom's Cabin, have you? Let me know in the comments. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. It's a fun, entertaining read. 

Rating: PG (There isn't any profanity or violence. There isn't any "intimacy" besides kissing.)

Recommendation: YA and up

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Paladin's War (Book #3) by Peter Greene

Paladin's War

(Book #3)

by

Peter Greene

Blurb:

"1802. Midshipman Jonathan Moore, Marine Private Sean Flagon and adventurer Delain Dowdeswell enjoy the company of family and friends during a delicate peace between France and England. However, mysterious spy networks now freely roam Europe's great cities, and the ships and armies of all nations remain on the edge of war. An elaborate scheme involves manipulating Jonathan, now aboard the eighteen-gun HMS Paladin, the Royal Navy's fastest ship. Commanded by his friend and mentor, Lieutenant Thomas Harrison, their mission is to deliver an important treaty to a clandestine location. Remaining in London and bored with endless tea parties and tedious school lessons, Delain encounters a shadowy black rider sneaking about the mansions of London's elite. Suspecting foul play, she investigates and enters a web of secret meetings, spies, coded messages and kidnapping. At first merely interesting, Delain's investigation soon turns deadly as she finds that all clues lead to the Paladin's mission and to her friends, now thousands of miles away and in grave danger. Once at sea, the boys are pursued by their sister ship HMS Echo, though she avoids all direct contact. A sabotaged gun, a mistrusted crew, and a vicious assault on their ship by a well-armed band of assailants has the crew and officers of the Paladin anxious. Even Jonathan is uneasy, forced by agents of the king to withhold vital information from his officers. Led to waters far from home, the boys now fight for their ship and their lives against a rogue naval commodore with a war plan of his own."

My Review:

I have loved the Jonathan Moore books from the very beginning! They are so fun. In this fantasy-heavy Harry Potter world we live in, it's so refreshing to read something so different and so not fantasy. (And this coming from a fantasy fan!) My boys have loved these books as well. My boys are now 15 and 14, and it was my 14 year-old that actually looked on amazon to see if Mr. Greene had published the next book in the series. When he found out that there was another book he begged me to contact Mr. Greene to see if he needed reviews. Lucky for us he did. Usually I let the authors contact me, but this time we may have been a little excited. That gives you an idea of how much my boys have liked these books. All my favorite characters were back for this new adventure. Of course Jonathan and Sean were there, along with Delain and Miss Barbara Thompson. Some of the Paladin's crew members were also familiar characters. Mr. Greene relayed to me beforehand that this book is a little darker than the other two, and he was correct. He said the idea is that the first and second books are more for middle graders, and this book is better for early YA. I'm not sure why he did it that way because now the younger readers get all excited about the first books, but should not read the last book until they're older. However, that's the way he set it up. This book does have a little more profanity in it, and it's darker in that more characters die, and the violence is a little more graphic. It's a little deeper too. It's not just fighting pirates; there's a more hidden and harder to decipher plot line. My boys and I all enjoyed it, but didn't think the darker format was needed. We all agreed that we were glad we read it, but it wasn't our favorite book in the series. There's plenty of Jonathan Moore action, suspense, adventure, and ingenuity. I liked Delain's role, and although the role Jonathan was asked to play made me squirm a bit, he did figure it out eventually. The book is well written, but there are still a few grammatical errors. If you enjoyed the first two books you will definitely want to read this one!

*As a side note, when I read the first book it was titled Skull Eye Island, but that title has now been changed to Warship Poseidon. 

Rating: PG + (There are a few profane words, a brief kiss, and quite a bit of violence. The violence is a bit more graphic and descriptive than it is in the first two books; a few characters die.

Recommendation: 6th to 7th grade and up. (If your middle grader has read the whole Harry Potter series--and been ok with it--, then he or she would do okay with this book. It is about the same level as the last couple of Harry Potter books.)

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.