Wonder by Travis Thrasher (Review)

• Series: The Books of Marvella (Book 2)
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: TH1NK (December 18, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-1612916248

As the town of Appleton is rocked by the death of a teenager, the high school year begins under a dark shadow. Brandon continues to pursue Marvel while trying to discover what she believes will happen to her. It’s easy to fall more in love with her. It’s easy to forget she thinks God told her she will have to sacrifice herself to save others. But Brandon can’t forget about the shapeless evil that seems to watch him around corners and seep through the streets of his town. Strange things start to occur to Brandon. He starts looking for clues about the dead student, thinking this might be related to whatever evil Marvel is talking about. He also continues to battle against the guys picking on a nerdy senior named Seth Belcher. Marvel falls in love with Brandon, and he truly accepts her faith even though he doesn’t understand what to make of it. Something is growing in the darkness. Something is coming. Will Brandon be able to stand up against the malice that draws ever closer? Will he be able to save Marvel from the horrors to come?

My Review:

This was a great second book in the Books of Marvella series by Travis Thrasher. It picks up right where Marvelous ended. This series has to be read in order to make complete sense.  It held my attention from beginning to end. I was literally on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next. The author does a great job creating an interesting and different plot with memorable characters. I love Brandon and Marvel. Neither one of them has an easy good life but they have each other. Marvel is convinced that she is going to die saving someone soon and that she is not meant to be more than friends with Brandon. They both want to be more than friends though and struggle even more with it in this book. The book is not preachy. Marvel is spiritual but Brandon does not get it. There are several mysteries throughout this book and series. His friend Devon saw glowing lights, the deaths of local teenage boys, Brandon's strange dreams, Phil from the record store, and a local drug ring are the main ones. This book is a little edgier than most Christian books and deals with some serious topics including drug/alcohol abuse, familial abuse, and normal teen struggles. I recommend it to teens and up in age group. Highly Recommend the whole series. I can't wait to read the next book and find out what happens to Brandon and Marvel.    




Critically acclaimed author Travis Thrasher has made a career out of defying expectations. He's written over twenty-five books that have crossed the spectrum between love stories and supernatural thrillers. His variety of inspirational stories have included collaborations with filmmakers, musicians, and pastors. He's also helped write memoirs and self-help books. He lives with his wife and three daughters in a suburb of Chicago.

For more information on Travis, visit www.travisthrasher.com

Review copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Answers to your questions about Heaven by Dr. David Jeremiah (Review)

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (February 1, 2015)
• ISBN-13: 978-1496402127

Is heaven a literal place?

What does it look like?

What will we do all day?

Will there be angels there?

We all have questions about what heaven will be like. Fortunately, Scripture is filled with helpful information about our future home—we just have to know where to look.

Dr. David Jeremiah has spent a lifetime studying what the Bible has to say about heaven, and now in Answers to Your Questions about Heaven, he has done just that—provided answers to your most pressing questions about heaven, angels, and eternity in a straightforward, easy-to-understand, Biblical based book. A perfect gift for friends and family and a handy resource to keep on your own shelf, this handsome little book will ignite your imagination and whet your appetite for all the amazing experiences that await!

My Review:

 This was a short question and answer book about Heaven. Dr. David Jeremiah is a well known pastor and writer. I trust his interpretations based off scripture. The book was easy to understand and laid out well. Age group wise I think middle school and up would be able to understand this book. Recommended to those looking for an uncomplicated simple book with answers to questions about Heaven.  



Review copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good by Kathleen Flinn (Review)

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (August 14, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0670015443

A family history with recipes, Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good offers a flavorful tale spanning three generations as Flinn returns to the mix of food and memoir readers loved in her New York Times best-seller The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry. From a Route 66 trek to San Francisco to their Michigan farm to the shores of Florida, humor and adventure defines her family even in the worst of times. (Think Jeannette Walls' The Glass Castle meets the works of Ruth Reichl topped with a dollop of Julia Child.) You'll savor Uncle Clarence's divine corn flake-crusted fried chicken, Grandpa Charles' spicy San Antonio chili and her grandmother's birthday-only cinnamon rolls. Through these flavors, Flinn came to understand how meals can be memories and cooking can be communication. Brimming with warmth and wit, fans of Luisa Weiss' My Berlin Kitchen, Gabrielle Hamilton's Blood, Bones and Butter and especially Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn will delight in this revealing look at a family that just might resemble your own.

 My Review:

I enjoyed reading this latest memoir from author Kathleen Flinn. She incorporated stories from her family's past with the food they ate. The recipes are included in the book for anyone that wants to try them. There were many funny moments along with some more serious ones. Things were not always easy for them but they always had their family. Recommended. :) 


Kathleen Flinn has been featured in media outlets worldwide, including People, Elle, Bon Appetit, The Wall Street Journal, The Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio and CBS Morning News. Her acclaimed second book, The Kitchen Counter Cooking School, was named a 2012 Book of the Year by the American Society of Journalists & Authors. She divides her time between Seattle and Anna Maria Island, Florida, with her husband, Mike Klozar, and their trusty rescue dog, Maddy. kathleenflinn.com

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Hearing His Voice Devotional by Chris Tiegreen (Review)

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale Momentum (September 1, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-1414366852

This year, learn to listen for the voice of the One who loves you most. We know for sure that God speaks to His people. Throughout the pages of Scripture, time after time, He guides, instructs, corrects, inspires, encourages, and reveals. Inspired writers even call Him “the Word.” He has always been vocal, and He always will be.

But what does He say to you? How does He say it? How can you know when you’ve heard Him? In The One Year Hearing His Voice Devotional, Chris Tiegreen will help you discover patterns and practices you can adopt to hear God better. Listening to God is a process, a journey, and an adventure. He promises that those who seek Him will be rewarded with His presence and His voice. And the words of the living God are powerful and life-changing.

My Review:

The premise for this devotional was interesting to me. I just did not connect with the book .Each devotional consisted of a bible verse, words from the author, and a prayer. The passages from the author were confusing and did not shed any light for me on how to listen for God. I passed this book along so hopefully someone else might be enlightened.   






 Chris Tiegreen is an award-winning writer and editor at Walk Thru the Bible in Atlanta, Georgia. He has also been a missionary, pastor, journalist, photographer, and university instructor. He has helped plant churches in several states and countries and still enjoys travel and mission work. Most of his books are either devotionals or inspirational commentaries on Christian themes, and he especially enjoys challenging readers to break out of their traditional assumptions and really get to know God. He and his family live in the Atlanta area.

Review copy provided by Tyndale Blogger in exchange for an honest review.