When There Are No Easy Answers by John S. Feinberg (Book Review!)

When There Are No Easy Answers

Thinking Differently About God, Suffering, and Evil

by John S. Feinberg

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Religion / Christian Life / Death, Grief, Bereavement

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2016

Number of pages- 151

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4412-8

Do you struggle with doubt when terrible things happen?  Does it threaten your faith?

John Feinberg had that exact scenario happen in his life.  His wife, Patricia, was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease, currently uncurable, and Feinberg felt his faith trembling.

He wrote this book as a testimonial to what happened in his own family.  He felt he had a different way of telling the story of affliction.

About the Author-

John Feinberg is currently a professor of biblical and systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.  He is a former pastor.

My thoughts-

I thought this book was well written.  John Feinberg covered many different subjects like, what to say and do, what not to say, and how to accept what is happening.

I learned that timing is crucial to what you say to someone who is suffering.  I learned that if I am the one experiencing the suffering to take it one day at a time and what to do during that time.

There is a must read appendix in the back about affliction and Feinberg’s viewpoint on how it can be used in our lives.  He questioned and had problems with his wife’s diagnosis and struggle with Huntington’s disease, so he wrote this book about affliction and how to deal with it. 

I know that there are many people around the world, who are dealing with similar situations, so this book was written for them.  It was also written for those who know the ones who are struggling, it will help them better relate.

I think this is an excellent resource to read and pass on to others.  Enjoy reading it.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received When There Are No Easy Answers, by John S. Feinberg, for free from Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Cantaloupe Thief by Deb Richardson-Moore (Book Review!)

The Cantaloupe Thief

A Branigan Powers Mystery, Book 1

By Deb Richardson-Moore

(received in exchange for an honest review)

 

Genre- Fiction / Christian / Mystery

Published by- Lion Fiction

Copyrighted- 2016

Number of pages- 299

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN: 978-1-78264-192-6

 Branigan Powers, local reporter, is investigating the ten year murder of a wealthy widow, Alberta Resnick.  This is the only murder than this town hasn’t been able to solve.

Branigan knows that there was a homeless person living in the pool house at the time.  She also knows that the homeless often have a lot of information to share, but are often overlooked.  She contacts a local shelter to see if they can help her find those who were living in the area ten years ago.  The more she asks questions and goes to where they live the more dangerous it becomes.  The killer must be back, the homeless who knew something are beginning to die.

Is Branigan safe?  Who is living in her barn?

About the Author-

Deb Richardson-Moore is currently a pastor in South Carolina.  She has been a journalist and worked with the homeless.  Her website is www.debrichardsonmoore.com.

My Thoughts-

This was a great book to begin the series.  I have been interested in homelessness and this book brought it back into focus for me.  There are many homeless and we need to help them as much as week can.  I could tell how much Richardson-Moore had worked with the homeless and cares about them. 

This book showed me how much drugs can take you from the great works you might accomplish in life to a life of being homeless or to a life of crime.  Branigan’s brother, Davison, and Rita, a former retail clerk, I thought were the best examples.

There are a lot of people who help the homeless in this book.  There are also those who are homeless who are try to help those who live around them.  It was interesting that there were people who had excepted that lifestyle and chose to stay that way.  I think it really helped them stay anonymous in life.

The murder mystery to me was a side note on the bigger social issues being discussed.  It was captivating though.  I did not guess the guilty person.  I didn’t even have any idea. 

I’m looking forward to the next book in the series to see what other social issues are talked about.  I recommend that you read this book if you like mysteries or if you want a different viewpoint of the homeless.

If you want to learn more about Richardson-Moore’s work with the homeless, read her book, The Weight of Mercy.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Cantaloupe Thief, by Deb Richardson-Moore, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Like a River from Its Course by Kelli Stuart (Book Review!)

LIke a River from Its Course

by Kelli Stuart

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Fiction / Christian / Historical

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2016

Number of pages- 363

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4414-2

The country of Ukraine and its role in World War II is not known to many.  Kelli Stuart spent fifteen years researching and interviewing survivors for this book.

In this book the reader meets Maria Ivanovna (fourteen and sent to a German labor camp), Luda Michaelevna (sixteen and raped and pregnant by German soldiers), Frederick Hermann (wanting to do the best for Nazism), and Ivan Kryilovich (mistaken for a Jew and sent to Babi Yar, the “killing ditch”).

What will happen to them and their loved ones during the war?  Will they survive?  What will happen to their city, Kiev?

About the Author-

Kelli Stuart currently lives in Florida.  Her blog is KelliStuart.com.  She has written for American Girl, Disney, and Short Fiction Break.  Stuart is also a coauthor of Dare 2B Wise and Life Creative.

My thoughts-

I have never studied much about World War II.  I know some of what happened in England, France, and Germany, so I was very interested when I learned about this book.  I knew nothing about Ukraine’s involvement and Babi Yar.  Since part of this novel is about Ivan Kryilovich, who was sent to Babi Yar by mistake, it must mean that there many Jews living in Kiev at the time.

As with many books of historical fiction, I make sure I read everything about the book, from the testemonials to the acknowledgements.  Since this book didn’t have a special section discussing the historical background of this book, it is important to read the acknowledgements, because Stuart discusses some of her research.  It would have been nice if she had included more about her research and the people that the characters were based on.

This was a book I had hard time putting down.  I wanted to always learn more about their circumstances and what happened to them. 

If you want to learn more about World War II in the Ukraine, I would suggest that you read this one.  It is good for both men and women.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Like a River from Its Course, by Kelli Stuart, for free from Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Lethal Harvest by William Cutrer and Sandra Glahn (Book Review!)

Lethal Harvest

by William Cutrer  and Sandra Glahn

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Fiction / Christian / Suspense

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2016

Number of pages- 352

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $15.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4409-8

Lucas Morgan.  Marnie Sullivan.  Ben McKay.  Just some of the people affected by Tim Sullivan’s experimenting with human embryos.  Tim is killed in a terrible accident following his experiments, which he hopes will save the president’s life. 

Tim and a group of federal agents are the only ones who know about this experiment, but because of his death, Marnie, his widow, and Ben (Tim’s business partner) must now figure out what happened. 

Are their lives safe?  Have others’s been affected by the human embryos?

About the Authors-

William Cutrer passed away in 2013, but was an ordained minister and a recognized expert in reproductive technology and medical ethics.

Sandra Glahn is a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary in media arts and worship.

My thoughts-

This book was certainly suspenseful.  I didn’t know what was going to happen.

Tim was a very interesting man.  I didn’t like that he hid his work, but I understand why he did it.  If his uncle, as the president of the United States, wasn’t able to do his job because of his health, the nation would be at risk.  Tim did it for all of the citizens.  I think he should have picked somewhere other than the clinic to store the embryos, but it is what it is.  The book wouldn’t have been the same otherwise. 

I liked Marnie and Ben.  They are being tested and need to figure out what is going on.  Ben falls back on his chaplain training to support Marnie after Tim’s death. 

This is an interesting book that I think both men and women will like.  I recommend it to those who like supense and intrigue.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Lethal Harvest, by William Cutrer and Sandra Glahn, for free from Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.