Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

I picked up this book in the airport in Las Vegas back in September because I had already finished the other two books I had brought on my trip and wanted something to read for the flight home.  I was intregued because it was about a good girl and a bad boy who are in love with each other but afraid to admit it to themselves and everyone else at first.

The first half of the book was ok.  It kept my attention for a while.  But then it just got to be rediculous.

Abby the main female character: Seriously I do not get why they guys are all in love with her.  There was nothing special about her and she honestly acted like a stupid, bitchy, self-righteous girl thoughout most of the book.

Travis the main male character: He is C-R-A-Z-Y.  Girls, you are stupid if you want a guy to act like this over you.  I know it seems romantic in stories sometimes, but in real life behavior like this means that person has serious, serious issues and you should stear clear.

I imagine their relationship to probably be like what Chris Brown and Rhianna's relationship would be like in my head.  Very passionate yes, but out of control and way too predicatable and drama (that is mostly created in their own heads) filled.

I was so over this book towards the end I contemplated quitting all together, but I ended up just mainly scanning the last 150 pages or so as the story continued on it's perdictable path.  The ending made me want to vomit.  Teenagers...this is not what love should look like at all.  I would not reccomend this book.

2 out of 5 stars  only because it held my attention for the first half and I was at least able to finish it.

Love Lies by Amanda Lamb

When this trial was going on in Raleigh I was OBSESSED with it.  I even wrote about how I was going through withdrawals from it.  So I just had to read this book even though I had heard before that it was totally biased.

Here's a synopsis from Amazon:

Who killed suburban wife and mother Nancy Cooper...?

Suspicion fell on Nancy's handsome husband, Brad. But why would a devoted husband and father of two young girls want to kill his wife? Nancy's parents and friends knew why. And what transpired revealed secrets not only about Brad, but about their deceptively quiet town.

It would take a mountain of damning evidence to make sure justice was served.

After reading the book, I can see why Amanda Lamb was biased.  She ran in the same circles as Nancy (had seen her around everywhere she hung out), their kids were similar in age, and they even lived in the same neighborhood I think.  So I am sure when this happened she thought "Wow, could this happen to me?"

The book is totally biased, doesn't tell as much info as if you would have listened to the whole trial, and basically assumed Brad did it from the beginning.  I think there was one small chapter on Brad's defense.  I kind of hate that I wasted my time reading it, but for some reason I was obsessed with that story, so anything to feed that obsession is something I will consume.  I am still waiting for the Lifetime movie!

I give the book 2 out of 5 stars

Heaven is for Real for Kids by Colton Burpo

I had heard a lot about the adult version of this book Heaven is for Real.  So when I saw the opportunity to get a copy of this book free to review I was excited.  I was hoping this kid's version would summaize what was in the adult version.

The story is basically about a 3 year-old boy Colton who is really sick and breifly dies, goes to heaven, but is eventually revived.  When he comes back he tells his parents about what happened while he was "dead".  It is a true story. 

Apparently he meets his sister that he never met (his mom had had a miscarriage that he never knew about it).  He also tells his parents of other things he had no prior knowledge of.  He meets Jesus and experiences different aspects of heaven that for the most part line up with what scripture says.

This book is written by Colton (now 11) for kids.  The language used is simple and easy to understand and there are illustrations to show the story he tells.

I really wanted to love this book, but I didn't.  I don't have kids so I don't know for sure, but I feel like this book would raise more questions than it would answer.  And it is just a little boy's story of heaven, not necessarily truth (which I believe can only be found in the Bible and will never be fully known until we get to heaven).  I also thought some of the illustrations were kind of creepy.

I don't know that I would read this book to my kids (if I had kids).  I am going to show it to my friend to see if she wants it for her 5 year old though. 

I give this one 2 out of 5 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."

Mystically Wired by Ken Wilson

Sometime last year I heard about this site called Book Sneeze.  If you are a blogger and interested in Christian literature, this is a great site.  You get a book for free in exchange for a review.

The first book I selected was Mystically Wired by Ken Wilson.  I picked this book because as you know if you read my blog, I have a really hard time praying out loud.  Even just praying in general.  Maybe this book could help?

It took me a long time to get through this book.  I just could not get into it.  It wasn't engaging.  It didn't capture my attention.  And I found myself reading whole paragraphs and then thinking "Wait, what did I just read?"  I ended up skimming most of it.

In Part 1 of the book, he talks about how we are all wired to talk to and crave a connection with God.  I believe that.  Most people I know even if they aren't religious or have any kind of defined "faith" have probably talked to God in their mind before.  I didn't agree with everything the author said, but I do agree that we are all wired to have a connection to God.

In Part 2 of the book, the author goes in to "Exploring New Realms in Prayer".  This was more practial advice and guidance towards deepening your relationship with God and enhancing your prayer life, but I still found it difficult to get in to. 

I was disappointed with the book overall, just because I found it so difficult to get in to.

I give it 2 out of 5 stars.

If you are interested in a good book on prayer, I really enjoyed A Praying Life by Paul Miller.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

Heart of the Matter by Emily Griffin

I loved Emily Griffin’s first 3 books- Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and Baby Proof.  I also liked Love the One You’re With.  But Heart of the Matter quite frankly sucked.  It was so slow.  I did not like the storyline and I did not connect with any of the characters.

It is basically the story of Valerie, a single mom, whose son falls in to a fire at a friend’s birthday party while roasting marshmallows.  He gets badly burned on his face and hands.  Valerie starts falling for her son’s doctor who happens to be Tessa’s husband.  Tessa is the other main character of the book and a large portion of the book is spent exploring Tessa and Nick’s marriage.

The only interesting aspect of the book was the cameos by Rachel and Dex (Tessa is Dex’s sister.)

I didn’t want to give up on the book and was just curious enough to see how things ended to finish the book, but I would not recommend wasting your time with this one.  It is a controversial subject with the affair aspect and all, but not worth reading it for that.

I give this one 2 out of 5 stars simply because I was at least able to finish it.

Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? by Carolyn McCulley

I read this book on the recommendation of my small group leader.  In Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? Trusting God with a Hope Deferred, Carolyn McCulley examines singleness being a Christian woman.  She does write well and with humor.  There were parts I could really identify with, but overall I was not a fan.

Here is the table of contents to give you an idea of the content:

1. "You're Still Single?": Hard questions, Godward answers
2. Esteeming the Gift: Why the Bible calls singleness a gift and for what purpose
3. God's Quiet Providence: God is still working when nothing seems to be happening
4. A Woman of Noble Character: The priceless worth of a virtuous woman
5. Do Him Good All the Days of Your Life: Why guarding your heart before marriage matters
6. Respected at the City Gate: Observing and serving the men around you
7. Food From Afar: Having a love for the home and hospitality when you're oftne gone
8. Out of Her Earnings: Wisdom in the workplace with an eye on eternity
9. The Blessing of Children: Investing in the Next Generation
10. Deceptive Charm: The heart issues of beauty, aging, and Worldliness
11. Wise Speech: The impact of women's words for building up or tearing down
12. Reaching Out to the Needy: Subduing self-centerdness through serving others
13. Laughing at the Time to Come: How to finish well in a youth-oriented world

The one good thing I think she reinforced was that you can develop Godly traits (al la the Proverbs 31 woman) and not be married with kids.  I am working on that after having a Bible study last year on Proverbs 31.  In case your curious here are the traits I am focusing on:  become strong physically to be prepared for life's challenges (workout), always be helping others (giving/volunteering), facing the future with confidence (trusting God), and being hardworking (utilizing my time better and not being lazy).

The rest of it just kind of makes me annoyed.  I don't think Singleness is a gift.  Yes, you have way more time.  Time to devote to God and time to help others, but frankly at this point I am done with this "gift" and ready donate it to Goodwill.   Also, I hate being constantly told the I need to find all my satisfaction in God.  It makes me feel like I'm not just because I desire to be married and have a family. 

It was just another book that made me feel bad about being single and like something was wrong with me.  I already feel guilty enough admitting that marriage is something I desire.  I already get enough advice that something is wrong with me- "you're looking too hard", "you're not out there", "you're too picky", "you're not happy with yourself enough", "blah blah blah.  You know what, those are all lies.  I'm not looking too hard- During the week I am so busy working, working out, keeping up with my house and my pets- I don't even have time to be "looking too hard".  I am out there- I take every social invitation I get, I try new things, I am as out there as you can be without being a bar fly or a cougar at the club.  I am not too picky!  I lower my standards with each passing year and give everyone a chance.  I can only remember one guy that I flat out turned down for a first date because I knew him very well already and he had an alcohol problem.  AND I am happy with myself!  I think I am awesome.  Sure I have insecure days like everyone else, but I am happy with myself and my life and I DO find my satisfaction in God...I am not looking for some man to fill a void or make me happy, it's just that life is so much better shared and I am ready to share and I would love to have a family. 

Ok sorry for the rant, but yeah this book just felt like the same old stuff you heard people telling singles all the time.  And the fact is, if I never get married and have a family, I will be disappointed and I am tired of people making me guilty for feeling that way.

Ok rant over.  I give this book 2 out of 5 stars.  I think you would be better off doing a study on Proverbs 31 from a single woman's point of view.

At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks

Nicholas Sparks is so predictable.  Most of his stories are about love and they have some tragedy wrapped up in the plot.  I love most of them because they are set in North Carolina, my home.  I chose this one because I was in the mood for a gushy love story that would make me cry.  This one was different.

Yes, it was about love.  There really wasn't any great tragedy.  And I really did not like it.

Here is a synopsis from paperbackswap.com:

Nicholas Sparks brings back two characters from his beloved bestseller, True Believer, in this continuing saga of extraordinary love. There are few things Jeremy Marsh was sure he'd never do: he'd never leave New York City; never give his heart away again after barely surviving one failed marriage; and most of all, never become a parent. Now, Jeremy is living in the tiny town of Boone Creek, North Carolina, married to Lexie Darnell, the love of his life, and anticipating the birth of their daughter. But just as his life seems to be settling into a blissful pattern, an unsettling and mysterious message re-opens old wounds and sets off a chain of events that will forever change the course of this young couple's marriage.

Basically Jeremy starts to doubt his relationship because of rumors and some drama.  It was all very boring and silly to me.  I did not enjoy it at all and I am surprised I even finished it.

I give it 2 out of 5 stars, simply because of the love aspect to the story and it being set in NC.