Book Review: Plan B by Pete Wilson

Everyone has those moments where they're ultimately left wondering "Why did that happen to me?" and "Why isn't God fixing this mess?" Plan B: What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought He would? by Pete Wilson offers insight on how to cope when your original plan just doesn't work out. Wilson uses examples from his own life, friends' lives, and the Bible to illustrate how life can take unexpected (and often unwanted) turns and how God ultimately has a plan for us in difficult times.

A couple of years ago, I experienced my own “Plan B” moment when I was struggling to find even a part-time job straight out of grad school and my now ex-fiance cheated on me. I would've loved to have had Wilson's book when I was going through these "Plan B" moments. I'm pretty confident that it would've helped me, as I'm sure it will help others who read it.

Plan B is engaging, and it has a great conversational tone that makes it easy to relate to. Wilson does a good job of sharing his message without coming across as condescending or "preachy." I definitely recommend Plan B.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me a copy of this book to read and review. I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program.)

Book Review - Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul

Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul by John and Stasi Eldredge is essentially about uncovering the deepest desires of a woman's heart. I can remember many of my friends and classmates going crazy over this book when it first came out a few years ago, so I was excited to finally check it out for myself. Maybe my expectations were too high going into it, but I had a hard time making myself finish reading Captivating. It really didn't grab my attention like I thought it would

In my reading of Captivating, I was actually surprised to find more popular culture references than Biblical ones (I'm not saying this is a bad thing - I just wasn't expecting it). It also seemed like there were a lot of generalizations. Overall, I thought it was ok - nothing more, nothing less.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me a copy of this book to read and review. I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program.)

Book Review: Webb Garrison's Why You Say It

Why You Say It: The Fascinating Stories Behind over 600 Everyday Words and Phrases by Webb Garrison is a compilation of words and phrases that we often hear and use. This book is categorized as a reference book and is set up in various sections, such as feathers and fur, names and games, and the great outdoors. There's also an index that lists every word and phrase covered in this book.

Why You Say It offers a glimpse into the deeper meaning and origin of words and phrases like "three sheets to the wind," "whippersnapper," and "hook, line, and sinker." As someone who likes words and enjoys learning random bits of informations, I thought this was a pretty neat book. Why You Say It is great for when you've got an extra 10 minutes or so to kill. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it as a casual read.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me a copy of this book to read and review. I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program.)

Book Review: I Wish You Enough by Bob Perks

I Wish You Enough: Embracing Life's Most Valuable Moments...One Wish at a Time by Bob Perks is a compilation of stories and anecdotes based on Perk's poem "I Wish You Enough." (Side note: You should Google this poem if you've never read or heard of it - simply beautiful.) Each chapter contains scripture and stories from Perk's own life that illustrate a line from the poem.

I'm not familiar with any of Perk's other works, but I really enjoyed I Wish You Enough. This particular book was designed to be a gift book, and it really hits the mark. It was sweet, uplifting, and easy to relate to. I think it would be a great gift for yourself or a friend.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing this book for me to read and review. I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze Program.)

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing this book for me to read and review. I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze Program.)

Book Review: The Power of Respect by Deborah Norville

The Power of Respect: Benefit from the Most Forgotten Element of Success by Deborah Norville is about the importance of the respect we give and receive. In this book, Norville discusses the power of respect in business, at home, and in our personal lives. She couples scientific research with true stories to describe how you can use respect to achieve success in various arenas of life.

Overall, I enjoyed reading The Power of Respect and Norville's insight on this lost art. In today's world, where there seems to be a serious lack of respect, I found this book to be particularly relevant. Norville discusses respect in a way that's easy for anyone to understand and to relate to. The Power of Respect is a fairly quick read, and I didn't have any problems staying interested. I also really liked the quotes that are sprinkled throughout the book.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing this book for me to read and review. I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger Program.)

Book Review: What Difference Do It Make?

What Difference Do It Make? by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent

What Difference Do It Make? is the follow-up to the New York Times Bestseller Same Kind of Different As Me, both written by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent. What Difference Do It Make? contains true stories of hope and healing that were inspired by its predecessor. And what a difference it does make!

Since I've never read Same Kind of Different as Me, I was concerned about being lost or not understanding parts of this book. This wasn't the case, however. The writers do a nice job of filling in their new readers with enough of the backstory to fully grasp what's going on. What Difference Do It Make? really drove home the importance of accepting and loving all of our brothers and sisters. It was also a wonderful testimony to the huge impact that one person can make on the lives of others.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading What Difference Do It Make? and had a hard time putting it down. It's beautifully written, and I found it to be both engaging and inspiring. This book is well worth your time!

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing this book for me to read and review. I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger program.)

Book Review: From Peanuts to the Pressbox by Eli Gold

From Peanuts to the Pressbox by Eli Gold

There's no doubt about it: Eli Gold oozes passion for sports and sports broadcasting. From Peanuts to the Pressbox chronicles Gold's journey from a young boy selling peanuts at Madison Square Garden (his "free" ticket into sporting events) all the way to his present-day gig as the voice of the Crimson Tide. Along the way, Gold shares stories about some of the biggest names in sports and provides insight into what goes on behind the scenes in sports broadcasting.

As a Crimson Tide fan, I've listened to Gold for years, but I never knew anything about his past or how hard he worked to get where he is today. His inspiring story is one of hard work, determination, resourcefulness, and dedication. I couldn't help wanting to cheer him on while reading. From Peanuts to the Pressbox was an enjoyable read, and I could definitely hear Gold's "voice" in the writing. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to a fellow sports-enthusiast.

ROLL TIDE!

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing this book for me to read and review. I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger program.)