Reviews by Rita T.
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Letters to Katie
On 5/8 Rita T. wrote: Letters to Katie is written by Kathleen Fuller and is published by Thomas Nelson. Katie is a young Amish woman who has spent most of her years longing for the love of one man - Johnny Mullett. The feeling never seemed to mutual, however. When illness causes Katie to lose part of her short ... Book Review - Letters to Katie by Kathleen Fuller
Stress Test
On 4/10 Rita T. wrote: Stress Test is written by Richard L. Mabry, M.D. and is published by Thomas Nelson.Dr. Matt Newman has a bright future ahead of him. He decides to leave his career as a surgeon in private practice for one in academic medicine. He has a beautiful girlfriend. Everything is going well, until the unthinkable ... Book Review - Stress Test by Richard L. Mabry, M.D.
God's Not Dead
On 3/16 Rita T. wrote: God's Not Dead: Evidence for God in an Age of Uncertainty is written by Rice Broocks and is published by Thomas Nelson.Back in earlier days, I remember hearing it said, "God is dead." Of course, those saying, and publishing it, did not mean that God physically died. They meant that He never ceased to ... Book Review - God's Not Dead, by Rice Broocks
Unglued Devotional
On 2/15 Rita T. wrote: Unglued Devotional is written by Lysa Terkeurst and is published by Zondervan.If you haven't heard of Lysa Terkeurst, you're among the few. She is the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and author of 15 books, including Unglued - the book of which the devotional is a companion. Lisa is a popular speaker ... Book Review: Unglued Devotional by Lysa Terkeurst
An Angel by Her Side
On 1/21 Rita T. wrote: An Angel by Her Side is written by Ruth Reid and is published by Thomas Nelson.Angel stories are always fascinating, but if you add the appeal of a heart-warming Amish story you get a blessing. At least that's what I got from An Angel by Her Side. The gist of the story is this:Katie Bender is the teacher ... Book Review - An Angel by Her Side by Ruth Reid
Dirty God
On 12/28 Rita T. wrote: Dirty God: Jesus in the Trenches is written by Johnnie Moore and is published by Thomas Nelson.By now you know that I love to read. I read many different genres, but nonfiction seems to be my favorite, especially Christian and/or history. I think that fiction is often good and can certainly teach ... Book Review - Dirty God by Johnnie Moore
By Faith, Not By Sight
On 12/8 Rita T. wrote: By Faith, not by Sight is written by Scott MacIntyre with Jennifer Schumann and is published by Thomas Nelson.Scott MacIntyre was an American Idol finalist a few years ago, in 2009, when Kris Allen won the competition. I remember watching the show every week and calling in my votes. I remember Scott ... Book Review - By Faith, not by Sight by Scott MacIntyre
Confessions of April Grace: Chocolate-Covered Baloney
On 11/25 Rita T. wrote: Chocolate-covered Baloney: Confessions of April Grace is written by K. D. McCrite and is published by Thomas Nelson.I did not get a chance to read the previous offerings of April Grace but that really doesn't matter. This is a book for tween girls that is engaging and fun. I wanted to review this book ... Book Review - Chocolate-covered Baloney: Confessions of April Grace
More Than a Bucket List
On 11/17 Rita T. wrote: More than a Bucket List: Making Your Dreams, Passions, and Faith a Reality is written by Toni Birdsong and is published by Thomas Nelson.You've all seen the movie "The Bucket List" haven't you? If not, you've probably at least heard the term used as it pertains to doing some things you've always wanted ... Book Review - More than a Bucket List by Toni Birdsong
Heaven Changes Everything
On 11/7 Rita T. wrote: Heaven Changes Everything is written by Todd and Sonja Burpo, and is published by Thomas Nelson.If you read Heaven is for Real, you will remember little Colton Burpo, a pastor's son who, at the age of three had surgery - and later claimed that he went to Heaven and back. Following the success of that ... Book Review - Heaven Changes Everything by Todd and Sonja Burpo
Call of A Coward
On 11/2 Rita T. wrote: Call of a Coward: The God of Moses and the Middle-Class Housewife is written by Marcia Moston and published by Thomas Nelson.Marcia Moston and her family were a normal, middle class family living a normal Christian life in New Jersey when they felt the call upon their lives to international ministry. ... Book Review - Call of a Coward: The God of Moses and the Middle-Class Housewife by Marcia Moston
The River
On 9/26 Rita T. wrote: The River is written by Michael Neale and is published by Thomas Nelson.A quick rundown of this marvelous story goes like this:Gabriel Clarke has experienced a tragedy in his life, one that affects him so deeply that he is afraid to go back to the source of his grief. The River holds mystery, death, ... Book Review - The River by Michael Neale
A Path Toward Love
On 8/23 Rita T. wrote: A Path Toward Love is written by Cara Lynn James and is published by Thomas Nelson.I have this book on my Kindle Fire. I love reading in the dark with my lit-up e-reader, especially when it's a book as good as this one is. Here's the gist of the story:Katherine Osborne is recently widowed, having run ... Book Review - A Path Toward Love by Cara Lynn James
Running for My Life
On 7/6 Rita T. wrote: Running for My Life is written by Lopez Lomong and is published by Thomas Nelson. It's the life story of a professional athlete - an Olympic track star no less - and a lost boy from south Sudan.Lopepe (Lopez) Lomong was born and raised to the age of six in south Sudan. During the lengthy civil war between ... Book Review - Running for My Life by Lopez Lomong
Hope Springs
On 6/11 Rita T. wrote: Hope Springs is written by Kim Cash Tate and published by Thomas Nelson.Hope Springs, North Carolina, is the setting for this story. It's a small southern town with all of the small town problems - and blessings. In this offering, continuing the saga of "Grandma Geri", Kim Cash Tate gives us a real story ... Book Review - Hope Springs by Kim Cash Tate
The Searchers
On 5/29 Rita T. wrote: Here is an interesting exposition of the Road to Emmaus story. Perhaps you've read the account many times - two men are walking on the road to Emmaus, saddened by the fact that the man they had thought would redeem Israel had been crucified. They seemingly had no hope left. Then an incredible thing happens ... Book Review: The Searchers
The Beauty Book
On 4/17 Rita T. wrote: The Beauty Book is written by Nancy Rue and is published by Tommy Nelson.The Beauty Book is just the book for which I'm been searching for quite some time. It is written for girls 7-11, and my daughter is rapidly approaching that 11 year mark. Little girls these days are not so much different from little ... Book Review - The Beauty Book by Nancy Rue
Brush of Angel's Wings
On 4/5 Rita T. wrote: Published by Thomas Nelson, Brush of Angel's Wings is the second book in a series: Heaven on Earth. I have not read the first book but I sure am glad that I read this one.I love good Christian fiction. We've all read the super preachy novels that just lay in our stomachs like a bad sermon. This is not ... Book Review - Brush of Angel's Wings by Ruth Reid
Our Favorite Sins
On 3/12 Rita T. wrote: Todd D. Hunter, an Anglican pastor, wrote Our Favorite Sins (published by Thomas Nelson). This book intrigued me from the start. I mean, who wouldn't want to overcome those "favorite sins" that we can't seem to master? According to research by the Barna Group, a large amount of people have that desire ... Book Review - Our Favorite Sins by Todd D. Hunter
Called to Controversy
On 2/23 Rita T. wrote: Called to Controversy: The Unlikely Story of Moishe Rosen and the Founding of Jews for Jesus is written by Ruth Rosen (Moishe's daughter) and published by Thomas Nelson. When I began reading this book, it was out of an interest in biographies that I did so. Called to Controversy fed my biography "hunger" ... Book Review - Called to Controversy by Ruth Rosen
Heart of Gold
On 2/6 Rita T. wrote: Heart of Gold is written by Robin Lee Hatcher and published by Thomas Nelson. It's a sweet western story about a young woman - Shannon Adair - and her minister father. They move from the Civil War torn south to the wild west, gold country to be exact. Though Shannon is resolved that she will not fall ... Book Review - Heart of Gold by Robin Lee Hatcher
The Grace Effect
On 1/22 Rita T. wrote: The Grace Effect is written by Larry Alex Taunton and published by Thomas Nelson. I started reading this book with the impression that it was more of a lengthy - and possibly boring - exposition of Christian grace. I found that it's a great exposition of grace, but is by no means boring.What would a ... Book Review- The Grace Effect by Larry Alex Taunton
This Thing of Ours
On 1/7 Rita T. wrote: This Thing of Ours: How Faith Saved my Mafia Marriage is written by Cammy Franzese and published by Thomas Nelson Publishers. I am usually not disappointed by any of the books I read from Thomas Nelson and I was not once again with This Thing of Ours. I love nonfiction that reads like fiction. Let ... Book Review - This Thing of Ours by Cammy Franzese
Love Lifted Me
On 12/20 Rita T. wrote: Love Lifted Me is written by Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck and is published by Thomas Nelson. It is book three of the Songbird series. It's a story about Jade and Max, a couple who find their marriage shaken when shards of Max's past come flying into them. Jade is tested to the core when she not only ... Book Review - Love Lifted Me by Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck
Nearing Home
On 11/27 Rita T. wrote: This month I found another "great wisdom" book written by Billy Graham. This one, Nearing Home (Thomas Nelson), is one of the best yet. Maybe I like it so much because I am creeping out of the middle aged time of my life and nearing the "golden years" at a quicker pace than I had ever thought possible. Last ... Book Review - Nearing Home by Billy Graham
The Encounter
On 11/2 Rita T. wrote: I just finished reading The Encounter by Stephen Arterburn (Thomas Nelson) this morning. I have to admit that this book is quite easy to read and I did so in two days. I could have finished sooner if I hadn't had to be on jury duty yesterday .....The Encounter is a sweet tale - you might say parable ... The Encounter - A Timely Parable from Stephen Arterburn
Heaven is for Real Deluxe Edition
On 10/23 Rita T. wrote: Heaven is for Real is written by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent and is published by Thomas Nelson. It's an intriguing story about a little boy, Todd Burpo's young son, Colton, who supposedly died for three minutes and visited Heaven.When little Colton, age three at the time, nearly died from a ruptured ... Book Review - Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo
Where Has Oprah Taken Us?
On 10/7 Rita T. wrote: Where Has Oprah Taken Us? by Stephen Mansfield (Thomas Nelson) has been a vastly interesting book for me to read. Oprah Winfrey, as you know, is known all over the world and is America's princess. Tremendously wealthy (it's been said that she is America's highest paid woman) she is extremely generous ... Book Review - Where Has Oprah Taken Us? The Religious Influence of the World's Most Famous Woman by Stephen Mansfield
Ascent from Darkness
On 9/20 Rita T. wrote: Michael Leehan has bared his soul in his story, Ascent from Darkness: How Satan's Soldier Became God's Warrior (Thomas Nelson). We follow him as a teenager who nearly kills himself with an accidental overdose to a man steeped about as far as one can go into Satan's realm. If you didn't think ... Book Review - Ascent From Darkness by Michael Leehan
One Call Away
On 9/2 Rita T. wrote: One Call Away is a memoir by Brenda Warner (with Jennifer Schuchmann) and published by Thomas Nelson. Never having been a sports fan, it's not surprising that I had never heard of Brenda Warner before seeing this book. For others of you who do not know the people of pro football, Brenda Warner is married ... Book Review - One Call Away by Brenda Warner
Cherished
On 8/16 Rita T. wrote: Cherished is written by Kim Cash Tate and published by Thomas Nelson. I had not previously heard of Ms. Tate before reading this book, though she does have other books under her wing. Now, after reading this Women of Faith Fiction offering, I'm glad that I found her.Cherished weaves a beautiful story ... Book Review - Cherished by Kim Cash Tate
Life Support
On 8/2 Rita T. wrote: If you haven't read Life Support by Robert Whitlow (Thomas Nelson Publishers) yet, you might want to. Until recently, I had only briefly noticed the novel's name from somewhere. I definitely didn't think it would be something that I would enjoy reading.I was wrong. This novel is suspenseful yet filled ... Book Review - Life Support by Robert Whitlow
Surviving Your Serengeti
On 7/14 Rita T. wrote: Surviving Your Serengeti by Stefan Swanepoel (Wiley) is a New York Times best selling book. When I first saw it, I figured it was just another business self-help book. Now, after reading it from cover to cover, I definitely do not feel this is the case.Surviving Your Serengeti is a book that is meant ... Book Review - Surviving Your Serengeti by Stefan Swanepoel
Billy Graham in Quotes
On 6/28 Rita T. wrote: I have to confess that I absolutely LOVE Billy Graham. He is one of the truly great preachers of our time, and this book is living proof of that. The authors of Billy Graham in Quotes (Thomas Nelson) are stated as Franklin Graham and Donna Lee Toney, but the vast majority of it is written by Billy ... Book Review - Billy Graham in Quotes by Franklin Graham with Donna Lee Toney
The Seraph Seal
On 6/8 Rita T. wrote: The Seraph Seal is written by Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner, published by Thomas Nelson. This is not my usual type of story, but I found myself intrigued by this one. It might be because of all of the apocalyptic stuff going around these days - people predicting dates (that never come true, of course), ... Book Review - The Seraph Seal by Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner
Daddy Dates
On 5/14 Rita T. wrote: Daddy Dates is written by Greg Wright and published by Thomas Nelson. When I first glanced at this book I thought, "Well, I've never heard of Greg Wright, but I like the idea of his book."From the cover: Four Daughters, One Clueless Dad, and His Quest to Win Their HeartsI like that concept. We have five ... Book Review - Daddy Dates by Greg Wright
Johann Sebastian Bach
On 4/26 Rita T. wrote: Johann Sebastian Bach by Rick Marschall (Thomas Nelson) is part of a series of biographies of famous people called Christian Encounters. Before reading anything other than the back cover of this book, I figured it would be similar to other biographies I've read in the past. Not so. This book is rather ... Book Review - Johann Sebastian Bach by Rick Marschall
Max On Life
On 4/18 Rita T. wrote: Do you ever wish you had a bunch of Max Lucado's bits of wisdom all in one concise volume? Now you can with his latest book, Max on Life: Answers and Inspiration for Today's Questions (Thomas Nelson Publishers). This book, as the subtitle suggests, is filled with answers to the questions that you and ... Book Review - Max on Life by Max Lucado
The Final Summit
On 4/11 Rita T. wrote: Andy Andrews is an author whose name I'd heard a few times, but not one whom I had read. When I saw his latest book, The Final Summit (Thomas Nelson), I decided I had to read it. I am so glad that I did.The Final Summit is considered to be a spiritual help, philosophical book, and well it is. To answer ... Book Review - The Final Summit by Andy Andrews
The Fight of Our Lives
On 4/2 Rita T. wrote: What do you know about radical Islam, or Islam in general? If you aren't sure whether we are in a fight for our lives, get a copy of The Fight of our Lives by William J. Bennett and Seth Leibsohn (Thomas Nelson Publishers). You'll be surprised, angered, and empowered to stop sitting idly on the sidelines ... The Fight of our Lives by William J. Bennett & Seth Leibsohn - Book Review
Eat Your Peas, Daughter
On 3/18 Rita T. wrote: I got this book, Eat Your Peas Daughter: A Little Wisdom and a Lasting Promise by Cheryl and Mom Karpen (Thomas Nelson Publishers) today, and I devoured it until I was finished. I think this is the fastest I've ever read a book.Before you begin to think this is a magnificent novel or fairy tale, read ... Book Review - Eat Your Peas Daughter by Cheryl and Mom Karpen
A Conversation with God for Women
On 3/11 Rita T. wrote: If you could sit down with a physical God and ask Him anything in the world, what do you think you'd ask? What do you think He'd say in response? During my Christian walk, there have been times when I'd wonder about certain things, things that perhaps only a woman would question. Ever wonder why some ... A Conversation with God for Women - Review
Curiosities of the Civil War
On 2/22 Rita T. wrote: Can you believe that it has been 150 years since the Civil War? During that sad time in our country's history, about 623,000 soldiers lost their lives - some from the south and some from the north. That fact is not hard to locate.As a history buff, I find the lesser known pieces of "trivia" to be quite ... Book Review - Curiosities of the Civil War by Webb Garrison
Left at the Altar
On 2/3 Rita T. wrote: When I first read the title of this book, Left at the Alter by Kimberley Kennedy (Thomas Nelson, Inc.), I thought, "I don't need to read this." After all, I got married and my husband-to-be was very eager to get married.After reading this book, I realized that it is not merely a self-help book ... Book Review - Left at the Altar by Kimberley Kennedy