Review of Born After Midnight by A.W. Tozer

Born After Midnight by A.W. Tozer
    I was excited to read this book after reading the description (which is also on the back of the book) below:

Will you press into heaven at the expense of earth?
It has been said that revivals are born after midnight. This is not because midnight is a magic hour—it isn’t—but because anyone truly desiring renewal doesn’t tire at seeking it.
Born After Midnight stirs us toward renewal. Be it in the realm of money, worship, worry, or prayer, A. W. Tozer applies God’s high wisdom to our everyday living to show sin bitter and Christ sweet, helping us crave heaven and lose our taste for the world.
If you will take God for who He says He is, trust His promises as true, and forsake the world in clutching for heaven, it will cost you everything. But it will give you eternity. Born After Midnight invites you to seek what cannot be lost.

   Although this book was originally published in the sixties, this is my first time reading it (as a 2015 publication) and I think the topic and approach wonderful. It has a different message than many Christian books today. I don't agree doctrinally with everything A.W Tozer believes, but I appreciated and learned from a lot in this work. The above paragraph sums up well the intent of this book. The challenge of this book is: will you seek God and the richness of a deeper relationship with Him above all other things? What will you sacrifice in order to have a better relationship with your Creator and Savior? This book is directed towards Christians although I think it will help seekers as well as long as they know they have nothing without Christ.

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

Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For? by Kari Kampakis

Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For?

by Kari Kampakis


''The deep ache inside of you that often masquerades as a desire for more friends, more attention, more invitations, or more acceptance is really an ache for God.'' -Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For?

I had previously read the author's book 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know, so was excited about this new publication. In fact, I think this book is even better than the author's first. Incredibly relevant to today's culture, this book uses the world of social media and relationships as examples to explain important truths. I was especially touched by this book because I too went through all the insecurity and feeling of rejection described in the chapters. I am sure most girls do experience the pain of rejection and feeling worthless. This book is solid, deep and full of loving words which will help teenage girls. It will help them (or you) get through hard points in relationships with people, times of discouragement over how God created you, and confusion about God's truths. There are so many answers in this easy-to-read book and I highly recommend it! I will admit that it is best for pre-teen, teens and college-age girls. At 25 I found the examples directed towards a younger audience. But it was definitely a helpful read, nevertheless. It caused me to reflect on the hurts of my teenage years and wish I had dealt with them more victoriously.

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

For many girls it starts early. The desire to be perfect. The need for approval. The longing for acceptance and being liked by a lot of people. 

Thanks to social media, these desires now get channeled online. Girls can curate an image, build a following, and test-drive identities until they find one that draws attention and applause. 

But in this quest to be liked and noticed, girls often fail to feel loved and known. The result is a generation of girls who hunger for real and authentic relationships - yet are unclear on how to create them.  

From popular blogger and bestselling author Kari Kampakis comes a powerful book for girls in the digital age. Designed to empower teens and tweens through the Christian faith, it's packed with godly wisdom and practical advice related to identity,friendships, social media, and a relationship with God.  

Topics covered include:

*Living for God's approval, not human approval;
*Cultivating a true identity;
*Using social media wisely;
*Building a positive reputation online;
*Spreading kindness, love, and compassion;
*Distinguishing online friends from real friends;
*Building deep connections that last;
*Handling rejection, criticism, and volatile emotions;
*Activating your Christian faith; and
*Making an eternal difference, not a temporary splash.

For anyone exhausted by the quest to impress - and ready to rest in God's unconditional love - Liked is the answer. Written succinctly with thought-provoking questions, it's an ideal resource for a small group or youth group study, and a conversation-starter that will quickly unite mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends by speaking to the female heart. 

review of childrens' book Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin, Pat Barrett

Good Good Father

by Chris Tomlin, Pat Barrett

   This is a wonderful little book which children will love. The size of this hardcover book is good for children and the sturdy pages perfect for energetic little hands. Children will love the beautifully and classically done illustrations. They will follow along with the story which has spiritual worth as well as literary.

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

You’ve heard a thousand stories of what the good King is like. Now discover His great love for your child!


Grammy Award-winning music artist, Chris Tomlin, and Pat Barrett (Housefires), team up to tell the story of a little bear named Tucker whose life and townspeople are forever changed when they learn just how great the King’s love is for them. When Tucker’s friends need help, he goes to see the King who lives in a castle where the door is always open.


Tucker wants to take the perfect gift to the King in hopes he will be convinced to help. Along the way, Tucker encounters a variety of humorous animals filled with advice who leave him confused about what the King is like. He doubts whether the King would be willing to help. Just as Tucker is ready to give up, he meets the King who runs to him with open arms offering love, acceptance, and help.

My review of cook/beauty book Eat Beautiful by Wendy Rowe

Eat Beautiful: Nourish your skin from the inside out by Wendy Rowe, Sienna Miller

   This a cookbook/beauty book from world renowned beauty and makeup expert Wendy Rowe. It is filled with delicious recipes which will help restore your hair, skin and nails. The antioxidants and vitamins from the natural ingredients in these recipes will make you glow! I loved the aspect this book takes- using cooking to fulfill ones beauty regime. The book also includes many beauty tips and natural homemade hair and skin treatments. I agree with most of the health advice presented in this book. However, I did not like the photos which are on the title page of each section. They are of beautiful, ''healthy'' (I doubt these models used the healthiest techniques before the photoshoots), glowing women who are unfortunately scantily clad. I didn't mind the photos in which the shoulders were shown, and obviously I don't mind legs...but when more is shown...no thanks! Even though I am a woman, this disturbed me. Besides, the models obviously had makeup, fake tans, etc. and didn't look natural despite their glossy wet hair and drops of water on their face.
Apart from the photographs, this book is a great cookbook and beauty help.

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

World-renowned beauty and make-up expert Wendy Rowe knows skin inside out. In this refreshing beauty book, Wendy will teach you how to keep your skin healthy and let your inner and outer beauty shine.

Wendy has devised over 70 easy and delicious recipes specifically designed to feed your skin with the nutrients it needs to glow. Each of the recipes correlates to an essential skin-feeding ingredient that will help target specific skin problems and common complaints. From cucumbers, ‘the internal cleanser’, to limes, ‘the natural astringent’ and carrots, ‘the immunity booster’, there are also breakdowns of the vitamins and nutrients each of these familiar ingredients provide.

And not only will there be methods for feeding your skin, there will also be suggestions on how to keep your skin pampered with recipes for homemade masks, scrubs, mists, cleansers and toners, as well as an informative troubleshooting section for confidence-zapping skin problems. Wendy provides specific advice for foods to embrace or avoid depending on your skin.

Split into the four seasons, this stunning book can be dipped in and out of, or followed like a seasonal plan, and will ensure that you achieve beautiful, radiant skin all year round.  

Why God Calls Us to Dangerous Places by Kate McCord

Why God Calls Us to Dangerous Places

by Kate McCord

"Perhaps that’s the greatest reason why He calls us to dangerous places: so that we will know His astonishing, sacrificial, life-restoring love.”

Why God Calls Us to Dangerous Places is about what is lost and what is gained when we follow God at any cost.
Soon after 9/11, Kate McCord left the corporate world and followed God to Afghanistan—sometimes into the reach of death. Alive but not unscathed, she has suffered the loss of many things: comfort, safety, even dear friends and fellow sojourners.
But Kate realizes that those who go are not the only ones who suffer. Those who love those who go also suffer. This book is for them, too.
Weaving together Scripture, her story, and stories of both those who go and those who send, Kate considers why God calls us to dangerous places and what it means for all involved.
It means dependence. It means loss. It means a firmer hold on hope. It can mean death, trauma, and heavy sorrow. But it can also mean joy unimaginable. Through suffering, we come closer to the heart of God. Written with the weight of glory in the shadow of loss, Why God Calls Us to Dangerous Places will inspire Christians to count the cost—and pay it.

   This small book is full of stories from Kate McCord's (protective pseudonym) experience serving God in Afghanistan. Her goal in writing this book is to share God's purpose in calling His children to dangerous places such as Afghanistan. Kate's perspective seems very balanced and readers will enjoy and benefit from this book. I personally didn't find this book particularly life-changing because I had already read the author's previous In the Land of the Blue Burquas book which is quite similar. Yet, if you really love Kate McCord's writing style and personality, you will love and learn from reading both of her books. I found them very alike and didn't really click with the author's personality and some of her beliefs so I won't rank this book as high as you might.

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

review of When There Is No Miracle by Robert L Wise

When There Is No Miracle: Finding Hope in Pain and Suffering by Robert L Wise

Having read and been taught by many such books as this one, I was eager to read When There is No Miracle. This book is full of stories and accounts remembered and gathered by the author, Robert Wise. I was touched by the different incidents and tragedies. My life, which I've always viewed as blessed, looks even more luxurious in light of these hard stories. I like how the author pointed everything in the right direction, never (as far as I could tell) blaming God. This was a good book despite the fact that, unbeknownst to me when I first ordered it, the author is an Episcopal pastor. Thus, there are some things which I couldn't agree with. I didn't care for the included ''conversations between Mr. Wise and Jesus'' although the author seemed to have a fairly good idea of Jesus' power. I also could not agree with the final chapter on miraculous healing, laying on of hands etc.
In short, this is a good book but I would not recommend it to non Episcopalians seeing as there are many other good books in this genre for us to read which are written by theologically-correct authors.

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


You don't always need a miracle to find light in times of darkness
Heartbreak is impartial. Tragedies--global and personal--strike every day. Destruction, anxiety, and catastrophe have become our daily companions.

Over his long career, Robert Wise has been on the front lines of disaster. From the Oklahoma City bombing to 9/11's ground zero to the bedsides of lost loved ones, Wise has stood on tragic ground and ministered to those who have lost seemingly everything. Each of those hurting people asked the same questions: Why do the innocent suffer? Why doesn't God deliver the light of miracles in the darkest times?

In the midst of his own questioning, Wise has discovered some surprising and encouraging answers. In this book, he shares those lessons, encouraging all those who struggle. You'll learn some unexpected positive benefits of pain and suffering, and see how God is always behind the scenes working for the ultimate good--even when you can't see or imagine how.

Book review God Made You Nose to Toes by Leslie Parrott and Estelle Corke

God Made You Nose to Toes

by Leslie Parrott and Estelle Corke (Illustrations)

  This is a delightful book with colourful illustrations done by a talented artist. Sometimes children's books can be lame or boring especially to the one reading to the young ones. However, I found God Made You Nose to Toes very pleasant to read aloud to my class at the daycare where I work. My class is made up of 2-3 year olds and they were very interested for the whole of the story. I liked how the author chose more unusual animals  than household pets to feature in this book. Children will love looking at the bright illustrations, and will learn from the easy-to-understand text that not only did God created each animal with a purpose- He made each of us in a special way!

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

Help little ones understand that God created each part of their bodies so they can enjoy life and everything in it. In this delightful padded cover board book by well-known author and family therapist Leslie Parrott, children can follow along with Toucan––with a great big nose––as he helps them learn God loves each one of them completely.

Review of the book The Missing Matisse: A Memoir by Pierre Henri Matisse

The Missing Matisse: A Memoir

by Pierre Henri Matisse

This is the autobiography/memoir of Pierre Henri Matisse, the grandson of legendary artist Henri Matisse. The setting is tumultuous world war 2.

This memoir had all the makings of an amazing read. It, however, surprisingly disappointed me. The writing style was unbelievably boring. The author included twice as much information as necessary to make his autobiography interesting. Every childhood memory, whether important to the ''plot'' or not, was included, making the reader confused as to what the purpose of each chapter was.

The writing style is present-tense which, combined with the length of the book makes it an extremely tedious read! The second half of the book is definitely better than the beginning but still not worth the time reading. It is unusual that I have such a bad opinion of an autobiography- especially one about World War II! I am sorry, but I can not give a good rating to this book.

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