Know Who You Are by Tim Tebow and A.J. Gregory ~ Review

My Review:


A devotional/Bible study for middle grade students to high schoolers, especially directed towards homeschoolers for use in a curriculum. This book has writing exercises, as well and encourages journaling.

I like how the book encourages young people to find their true identity in Christ and to strive to live for Him, not just to please others or society. It encourages trusting God for everything, building edifying relationships, and doing big things for God. Tim shares stories from his growing up days, and the present, in 36 devotions/chapters.

While I used to be a homeschooled teen myself back in the day, I kind of thought it odd that this book was so specifically targeting homeschoolers. Not that writing a book for homeschoolers is a bad thing, but I thought that this was a fantastic book that would appeal to a larger audience then just homeschooled teens. In fact it makes a great gift for that young person in your life, wondering where their life will go and stressed about the future.

I loved the personal stories that Tim shares, talking about his inspirations, lessons, and struggles. He speaks with an innate respect for his family and his passion for others is wonderful to see.

Inspiring, engaging, and encouraging this is a fantastic faith-filled devotional for teens. This book is written to encourage reflection, thought, and ideas. Definitely recommend, especially for those in middle school or in the first few years of high school.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Live Original by Sadie Robertson with Beth Clark ~ Review

My Review:

An upbeat read, about living a life of faith, confidence, and optimism.

This might be weird, but I have never actually seen an episode of Duck Dynasty but I have read some other books by other members of the family and I have admired their faith and business smarts. And lately I have caught a few glimpses of Sadie's run on Dancing with the Stars. So I was very excited to read this book.

It was an upbeat read, quick and easy, yet meaningful in its simplicity. Sadie fearlessly shares her faith and beliefs in an age where it is not always easy to voice your beliefs. She share her passion for Christ, and throughout the book you can feel the respect she has for her family.

Sadie speaks honestly from personal experience on how to deal with things like worry, determination, following your dreams, relationships, and through it all, God.

Overall, and fun read, full of encouragement. A great book to keep in mind for gifts this Christmas!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Chivalry by Zach Hunter ~ Review

My review:
I didn't know exactly what to expect when I picked up this book, but I had a feeling that it would be good, but it surpassed my expectations and turned out to be excellent!

Mr. Hunter challenges our generation to be kind, civil, honorable, and chivalrous human beings in a world that is far from noble and is in need of modern day knights, young woman and young men who will step up to their full potential to fight for what is right.

Being Chivalrous doesn't just mean standing up and being brave in an unjust situation, but it also means living an honorable life even when no one is looking, or quietly refusing and putting a stop to heartless gossip behind someone's back. It's not just about manners, it's a way of life.

Mr. Hunter does a great job of providing examples of ways that we can become more chivalrous, in a relatable and honest way. I think that's one of the things I liked the most about this book was the way that Mr. Hunter presented it. He was honest and let the readers know that he was just like us struggling to live his values in a fallen world. Being chivalrous is hard, but it is possible with God's help. Are you ready to take the chivalry challenge?


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

The Bare Naked Truth: Dating, Waiting, and God's Purity Plan by Bekah Hamrick Martin ~ Review and Litfuse Tour

My Review: An engaging, and conversational read, filled with humorous tidbits.

I've read plenty of relationship/purity books in my lifetime, and there few that are as funny and engaging as this one. The author shares her story, along with the stories of others, in order to show why waiting is best.

I liked the style this book was written in, short and to the point while being relatable and funny. I think my favorite parts were reading the little footnotes, where I had expected to find research or some quoted study, but instead found witty bits that made me smile.

Overall, a great book that I would happily recommend. Perfect for teen girls. It was honest, yet at the same time it wasn't too much. Great read!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

About The Bare Naked Truth:The Truth About Sex and Waiting . . . Uncovered Purity.

Sex. Boys. Waiting. There's something about those words that makes everything complex in a heartbeat, and raises more questions than answers. Is there something wrong with me if I don't kiss a boy after a date? Or am I doomed if I DID? What if waiting is just a one-way trip to life as a crazy cat woman? And what if I tend to, um, think about a certain boy in a certain way? It seems that the lady at church and your friends have two very different opinions on the subject. And 'Your Budding Womanhood: Staying a Beautiful Flower for Jesus' just isn't cutting it. Bekah Hamrick Martin knows the waiting game isn't easy or straight-forward. In The Bare Naked Truth, she lays everything on the table---including some embarrassing moments---as she explores the honest, naked truth behind what God means by purity. With additional entries from popular authors, you'll see the bare naked approach to waiting isn't always easy, but it's worth the risk.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/lwi4z

Meet Bekah:

Bekah Hamrick Martin was born in Savannah, Georgia, in an event which her brother keeps reminding her was completely unnecessary. She spent the better part of her high school years vacationing on the north end of her mattress due to an illness, where she developed a deep taste for chocolate and sarcasm. Today Bekah shares with teens about tough times, healing, and surviving their high school years---no matter where they spend them.

Learn more about Bekah on her website: http://misswritebrained.wordpress.com/ 

Check out all of the other stops on the tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/bmartin

Debut Author Bekah Hamrick Martin is celebrating the release of her book, The Bare Naked Truth, with a $150 Visa Cash Card giveaway and "Bare Naked Truth" Facebook party! Save the date for 6/20!

 One winner will receive:

• A $150 Visa Cash Card
• Five copies of The Bare Naked Truth by Bekah Hamrick Martin
• A live Skype small group chat with Bekah

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 19th. Winner will be announced at the "Bare Naked Truth" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 20th. Connect with Bekah for an evening of frank and encouraging chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Bekah will also be giving away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Bare Naked Truth and join Bekah on the evening of June 20th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 20th!

Four Letter Words by Bill Giovannetti ~ Litfuse Blog Tour & Review

About Four Letter Words:


Thou shalt tolerate every opinion... except the Christian's. Today's postmodern "prime directive" leaves many followers of Jesus tongue-tied. In the global village, isn't it unreasonable, and even dangerous, to suggest that the Bible has a monopoly on truth?


The church needs a new breed of Christ-follower. We need Christ-followers who are alert to today's touchy ideas, the truths that fire up more heat than light. We need Christ-followers who can make a clear case for the Bible's worldview; who are ready to help our friends think through their beliefs; who can recognize inconsistencies and challenge them; and who can do all of this with humility, confidence, humor, and love. For more information visit http://fourletterwords.org.

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/8FbUq 

About Bill Giovannetti:

Dr. Bill Giovannetti is a professor at A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary and the senior pastor of Neighborhood Church of Redding. An experienced speaker and author, Bill informs the mind in ways that touch the heart. He enjoys life with his wife and two kids in northern California. For more information about Bill and his other books, visit  http://maxgrace.wordpress.com  and http://fourletterwords.org.

Q & A with Dr. Giovannetti:

What's Four Letter Words about, and where did you get the title?

Four Letter Words is about defending your faith in Christ. If you've ever felt
tongue-tied standing up for Jesus, this book can help.
Even though our culture claims tolerance as a virtue, that tolerance stops at
Christianity's front door: witness the hostility directed toward a sincere Christ-
follower like Tim Tebow. Judging by reactions to him, you'd think he just cussed
out his grandma when all he did was say a word for Christ. Speaking God's truth
and living your faith is quickly becoming today's profanity. Tougher days are
coming; we need to get ready.
There has never been a truth-system more satisfying, consistent, logical and
beautiful than Christianity. I wanted to help God's people rise up and say so.

Did you ever struggle with your faith? How did you work through that?

Even though I've been a pastor for a long time, I struggle with my faith a lot. My
earliest struggles – back in high school days – centered on scientific stuff, like
evolution. In the book I tell the story of how I made peace with faith in a Creator
God and how I fit together science, logic, and the gospel in my own heart.
Now that I'm a bit older, my struggles come more out of pain and suffering. Why
does God let people hurt? I cover those topics too.
Struggles are normal – we just can't let them overwhelm our faith or uproot our
joy. It's super-important for us to know every question raised against Christianity
has an answer. I try to provide some of those answers along with simple talking
points for everyday conversations.

If I read this book, what will get out of it?

I wrote Four Letter Words with three simple goals in mind:
1. Clarity: Know what you believe.
2. Confidence: Know why you believe.
3. Courage: Know what to say when you don't know what to say.

What's your spiritual background? How did you get started with Jesus?

I was reared in a tiny Chicago gospel church. I was loved. I was cared for. I was
taught the Bible. That church was my second family. They introduced me to
Jesus. I received him when I was young and devoted my life to him. But it wasn't
until young adulthood that I began to appreciate how much Jesus was devoted to
me. That discovery rocked my world. I shifted from rules to relationship and from
guilt to grace. I dedicated my life to encourage instead of tear down. I strive to
free others from guilt, shame, and legalism, and to help people discover life and
love through God's amazing grace.

So what do you do when you're not writing?

I'm the husband of one incredible wife and dad to two amazing kids. My main
calling is as a pastor to the Neighborhood Church of Redding, a small-town
church of over 2,000 set amid the snow-capped peaks and pristine lakes of
northern California. I love preaching and teaching—spreading out a rich feast
of God and his grace and digging deep into God's Word. I also serve on the
faculties of A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary and Simpson University. I like
watching mindless action movies, reading, hanging with friends, bass fishing,
woodworking, good coffee, and Chicago sports teams. Go Bears!
Italian food is my love language.

Thank you Dr. Giovannetti !

My Review: Four Letter Words. That's one eye-popping title isn't it? Throughout the course of this book Dr. Giovannetti overviews, in a conversational tone, the logic in our faith's basic doctorines.

I was glad to find this book biblically sound, and enjoyed the easy to read style in which this book was written. I enjoyed how each chapter was summed up right at the beginning, with the "Touchy Ideas" & "Touchy Scriptures" which I thought, helped me to understand the main drift of each particular chapter. Though this book is bold, I would have liked to see it be even bolder. This is just my personal opinion, but I felt that there were some topics that were purposely avoided so as not to offend anyone. For example, evolution and creation. I thought that even if this book wasn't specifically talking about that topic, that a brief "stand" would have been great, and possibly a link pointing the readers to some great resources on the topic.

Don't get me wrong I think this book is great, and the tips on how to (politely) challenge your peers with tough questions were very helpful. I have no opinion on the QR enabled codes. I read the book without looking up the codes and then later went online and looked them up. In my opinion they weren't really that big of a deal and the book can certainly be read without them.

Overall, a very interesting book that though a large majority of it was review for me, I did pick up some nice tips here an there and think that it would be a great read for anybody questioning how faith and logic work together :)

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

Thanks to the author/publisher through whom I received this book through Litfuse Publicity in return for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, just to express my personal opinion, which I believe I have done. And thanks to Amy Lanthrop from Litfuse Publicity!

About the Giveaway:


Bill is celebrating the new Kindle edition of Four Letter Words (for only $4.99)! He’ll be traveling coast to coast over the next few weeks on this virtual book tour and he's celebrating by hosting a great giveaway!


Click here (http://fourletterwords.org/2012/01/contest-giveaway) to find out how you can win two gift certificates to Amazon (in the amount of $50 and $25) and free downloads of his yet-to-be-released title, Recession-Proof: Living a God-Blessed Life in a Messed Up World.


The whole scoop here: http://fourletterwords.org/2012/01/contest-giveaway/

Check out the other great stops on this blog tour by clicking here: http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13453469.

Take Back the Land by Rick Boyer ~ Review

My Review: Take Back the Land is a must read for Christians, though it is directed to homeschooled youth, I believe that it would be beneficial to parents and non-homeschooled teens as well. Though much of this was review for me, I found that this book was very reaffirming. I especially enjoyed how this book was like a warm conversation with a mentor. Also, this book is a great read, and is especially timely with the 2012 Presidential Election taking place later this year.

In my opinion, this book reminds me slightly of Do Hard Things, but much better! Take Back the Land is honest and opinionated and doesn't apologize for it which was a welcome change from the typical teen non-fiction reads that try to please everyone and don't dig deep enough. Reading this book was like a honest conversation with Mr. Boyer, with a few chuckles on the side. Though there were some things I disagreed with, I agreed with the main point and the call to be citizens who make a difference. I'm proud to say that by this November, I will be eighteen and able to vote for the first time!

Take Back the Land covers the changes in the last few decades that have taken place in Education, the Media, the Church, the Family, the Government, the Courts, and the Arts. All of which we should be very concerned about! If you aren't already, this book will put a fire under your seat to get involved in the election of politicians, and the way our country is running these days, to make a difference!

Though I admit that this book wasn't exactly world changing for me--I'm a teenager who thinks that watching this year's political caucuses, primaries, and elections is fun, because you can find a gazillion logical fallacies just listening to what most of those people say--I do think it re-affirmed my beliefs and was very encouraging. And I would totally pass this book on to my younger brother, I've been begging my mother to make this book required reading for him, I think it will be just the thing to fire him up :)

I did say that there were a few things I disagreed with, but those were very minor things and are just my personal opinion and not worth mentioning, the way some things were said, some things that though they were true for the most part were generalized more than I thought they should have been, etc. But overall this is such a great book!

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

I received this book from the publisher in return for an honest review, which I have done my best to present here. Thanks :)