Book review: One Minute After You Die by Erwin W Lutzer

One Minute After You Die

by Erwin W. Lutzer

I was very curious to read this book and see how impactful it would be!
I couldn't help but wonder if it would be too lax and try to simplify the meaning and reason of salvation and God's power or if it would be a wonderful picture and explanation of the perfect Righteousness and plan of God! I need not have worried; this book is excellent and sound! I highly recommend it for everyone- Christian or unbeliever alike! This small book is easy to comprehend yet Biblically sound and deep. It also goes without saying that this book can be life-changing! The author writes with clarity and depth, covering each subject and aspect of death and life after death so well that I have no criticisms! In fact, even some debatable subjects such as God's perfect righteousness and plan in destining some people to heaven and some to hell was very well explained! God will get all the glory from this book; I hope many people will read it!


Chapters within this book include:
Channeling, reincarnation, and near-death experiences,
What heaven will be like
The justice of eternal punishment
The death of a child
Trusting in God's providence
Preparing for your own final moment


I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Widow's Might: The Secret of Finding Strength in God

by Judy Knox

I know it may sound odd initially, but I love and collect books about suffering- specifically autobiographies. And especially autobiographies about Christians who find their strength in God through their suffering. These books teach me so much about life and faith and give me a bigger picture of life! All the comparatively little things which worry and bother me just disappear as I read books such as these. And I feel ashamed that I could ever think my lot in life was difficult! Thus, I always come away more grateful for what I have and more intentional in living my daily life! 

A Widow's Might is another such book. It is an autobiography by Judy Knox which tells of her time of suffering as she waited for her husband to heal only to find that he would never be going  home with her.  Judy has a wonderful grasp that her husband did go to his eternal home which gives her great peace and that is awesome to read about. I hope to someday have such peace! This whole book is a testimony of God's faithfulness and the strength one can find in Him. 

I recommend this book especially for widows and those going through suffering as well as people living in comparative ease and safety!

Overall, this book wasn't as life-changing as other autobiographies I have read but it was very good nevertheless.
I also didn't agree with all the doctrine which the author believes but that is up to you, the reader to discern. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Love this new cookbook! The Indian Family Kitchen: Classic Dishes for a New Generation

The Indian Family Kitchen: Classic Dishes for a New Generation by Anjali Pathak

I cannot even count how many Indian recipe books I have collected over the years but I can assure you it is over 10. I love to cook and Indian cuisine has long held my admiration interest! Not only is the food typically delicious and full of distinct flavours, it is also healthy!

I was excited to read this new cookbook from one of my favourite cookbook publishers! And I was not disappointed! From the unusually beautiful cover to the finish, this cookbook awed and inspired me! The pictures are absolutely stunning and the recipes are amazingly delicious! Even though I have so many other Indian cookbooks, this one will become a favourite! The recipes implement all the favourite traditional flavours and foods but with just enough update that each recipe is unique and worth trying!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review of: The Body Under the Bridge (Father Gilbert Mystery #1) by Paul McCusker

The Body Under the Bridge (Father Gilbert Mystery #1)

by Paul McCusker 

To start at the very beginning, I requested this book to review because I know Paul McCusker as the script writer for a movie made by our friends. I was curious to see what his writing style was. My conclusion? Mr. McCusker's writing style is quite good and engaging. Almost too engaging at times! This book was hard to put down; easy to follow and captivating.
   However, the content was rather disturbing. Father Gilbert is the main character in this mystery and as a priest he is against demons and the occult practices encouraging them. Thus, he is acutely aware of the demonic forces around him and has several out of the body experiences/ visions. I will put it out there that I love Sherlock Holmes mysteries and have always read exciting books. However, this book was so creepy I could not read it at night. Even so, I had nightmares following the reading of this book which were incredibly unsettling and took prayer and reading of my Bible to dispel! And I am a grown woman. This led me to question the godliness of using such a topic as demonic oppression in a book. I wonder if this somehow brings glory and attention to demons? I am not an expert in these matters, but I certainly did not feel like this book brought me closer to God!

    Which brings me to the bothersome fact that Paul McCusker himself isn't the Christian that I thought he was! My belief was that he was Baptist. After all, he works for Baptist companies- correct?
However, if you read this article and any others you find online, you will see that he grew up in a Baptist church and publicly became Catholic in 2007! I am not unkind to Catholics but according to Scripture you are either a New Testament believer in Christ (Christian) or you are Catholic, Jewish, Mormon, etc. etc. etc. I believe it is possible to become saved in any of those churches, but if you are truly saved you will not stay in those churches but join a bible-believing church.
In The Body Under the Bridge, there were several confusing topics which are now made clear under the knowledge that Paul McCusker is Catholic. The Lord's Supper is mentioned as a sacrament with the bread turning into Christ's flesh and the wine into His blood. Later, Thomas Cranmer is really put down. Now I don't know much about Thomas Cranmer's spiritual state, but he helped with the English Reformation and thought ill of the Pope and that is exactly why he is put down in The Body Under the Bridge!
In conclusion, I am not trying to open up an argument with Catholics. You may read this book if you like. My goal is to give a head's-up to evangelical Christians about the background of this book and Paul McCusker! If you are going to read this book, regardless of your religion (of course I read a variety of books myself!), I want to put a disclaimer that this book is, as mentioned, intense, rather gory and unsuitable for readers under age 14! The priest also has to overcome temptation and lustful thoughts at several portions which I didn't find appropriate for younger readers either.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

A former Scotland Yard detective, Father Gilbert knows about death. But, now a priest of a modest Anglican church in the small town of Hailsham, he didn't expect it to show up like this--in the suicide of a man who threw himself off the church tower, and in the discovery of a two-hundred-year-old body beneath an ancient bridge.

The deaths are linked. The mummified corpse under the bridge, a murder victim, reignites a centuries-old battle between two local families--the Todds and the aristocratic Hayshams. Then both David Todd and Lord Haysham begin to act strangely, fearful for reasons they won’t explain.

When Lord Haysham is murdered, David Todd is the prime suspect. But Todd is maniacal, claiming great forces of evil are at work. An entire history of violence and depravity begins to emerge, interweaving the history of several local families with a secret occult society that engages in Black Masses. Has the Society emerged again

Book review The Peaceful Wife by April Cassidy

There may be many books on marriage, many books on wifehood, many books on love. But I am always on the lookout for new and convicting views on the topic. The Peaceful Wife was another refreshing yet convicting book on the topic! One of the best aspects of this book is that the author herself is an independent, strong, feisty woman who shares her stories and the lessons she has learned with the reader! This makes it easier for the reader, especially equally strong-willed woman to relate and learn from this book. I know I benefited greatly from it.
Now, I must admit I am not even married! Yet, I do not feel like reading this book was a waste of my time! I am storing up the knowledge and wisdom for the future. And needless to say, there are many relationships in my life which will benefit from a more peaceful approach!

This book is extremely balanced and Biblically-sound! The author has a great view on marriage and the differences between husband and wife. Although she believes wives should be helpmeets and serve their husbands, she isn't promoting over-submission or anything strange. This book is a key to a wonderful cohesion and friendship and mutual understanding between husband and wife.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!


In today's world, women are often rewarded for having type A personalities. Driven, demanding women achieve higher positions, better salaries, and praise for their ambition. They learn to be confident, take-charge leaders who can handle anything on their own. Yet when it comes to their marriages, those same traits can backfire. After all, no one goes into marriage hoping for a promotion. What is a wife to do?

April Cassidy knows this struggle firsthand. She thought she was a great Christian wife and begged God to make her passive husband into a more loving, involved, godly leader. Instead, God opened her eyes to changes that she needed to make, such as laying down her desire for control and offering genuine, unconditional respect--not just love--to her husband. The Peaceful Wife focuses on Cassidy's experience and its life-changing properties, providing a template for others to follow.

Cassidy's conclusions may be as shocking to readers as they were to her, but she backs up her own tale with stories from her blog readers, and also includes recommendations for further study. She walks through baby steps on how to change, addressing questions such as:

- What is respect?
- How can you show respect?
- How is being respectful different from being loving?

In the end, The Peaceful Wife is a powerful path to God's design for women to live in full submission to Christ as Lord.

My Name is Mahtob book review

Many of your know of the movie ''Not Without My Daughter''- this is a companion book to that bestseller, an autobiography written by the daughter herself. For the first time, read in print the thoughts and feelings and drama of the life Mahtob lived both during the time in Iran and afterwards. See how this traumatic experience changed her and shaped her. This book is an autobiography but it also raises awareness for several social situations. Last but not least, it is a testimony to the author's Lutheran faith. It also is a wonderful example of how a hurt human being can, with God's help work hard and achieve success despite the troubles endured as a child. Since I have never watched the film Not Without My Daughter or read the book, I can assure  all interested readers that this book is worth reading on its own as well. However, now that I have read this book I look forward to reading Not Without My Daughter as well!

The first half or so of this book flowed really well but I found that the remainder of the book was slower. It didn't quite drag, but it didn't have the same consistency and order as the first half. The last portion was more a scattering of thoughts and feelings with no obvious chronological order.

Note: Although the book tries to bring out the author's faith, it will not offend readers of any religion. This is an autobiography and can be read simply as such.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Super Foods Every Day by Sue Quinn cookbook review

Super Foods Every Day: Recipes Using Kale, Blueberries, Chia Seeds, Cacao, and Other Ingredients that Promote Whole-Body Health

by Sue Quinn

  This is a small, concise and easy to understand cookbook from one of my favourite publishers! When I first glimpsed this book I was surprised by its smaller size as most of this publisher's cookbooks are large and hardcover! However, it wasn't long at all before I realized that the smaller size of this paperback cookbook is incredibly useful for every day use! Also, it has a unique format which will delight and inspire cooks of all ages and expertise! The method in which the recipes are laid out would be fun for children as well. Each recipe features a colour photo of the ingredients for the recipe followed by a colour photograph of the finished product! The recipes are easy to understand and there isn't much text to confuse new cooks! 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

A collection of more than 60 dishes that showcase super foods--ingredients from kale and seaweed to cocoa and avocado that are brimming with vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting nutrients.
     Featuring straightforward delicious dishes, this easy-to-follow guide contains recipes like Wonder Smoothie, Vitaboost Frittata, Supercharged Carrots, Cauliflower Risotto, and Plum and Cranberry Crisp that showcase sensational super foods in every meal of the day. These recipes are designed to pack the maximize number of super foods into ones diet, using approachable, nutrient-dense ingredients. This collection of delicious sweet and savory dishes makes it easy to pack every meal with nutritional punch.

Review of Backwards Beauty: How to Feel Ugly in 10 Simple Steps by Jessie Minassian

Backwards Beauty: How to Feel Ugly in 10 Simple Steps

by Jessie Minassian This new book from Jessie Minassian is again written specifically for teenage girls. With love and understanding, the author writes from the perspective of a woman who has experienced exactly what most younger girls go through, especially at the pre-teen and teenage years! It goes without saying that the wisdom in the pages of this book is also essential for women of all ages! Because we may have survived the turbulent teenage period of our lives but not have mastered our female emotions or won the victory over the struggle with beauty! Clearly and Biblically, the author tackles many important facts and topics in the subject of ''beauty.'' Interestingly, as the title suggests, she begins each chapter with a tip on ''how to feel ugly'' which is sure to capture the reader's attention. I was able to relate to every chapter included in this life-changing book and highly, highly recommend it for all young (and old!) girls!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.