When you bring a new dog into your home, a wash of great joy can become a trial of perseverance as your furry pal chews, digs, yaps, and yes, piddles her way through every room in the house. Allison Pittman learned this all too well when she adopted a “tiny, shiny puppy of indefinable breed(s).” Stella wasted no time in turning her home upside-down as only a pup can.

As could be expected, six weeks of obedience school covered the much needed basics–sit, stay, come, and down. What Allison didn’t expect was the spiritual benefit she would receive as each Saturday lesson revealed a fascinating metaphor. In this heart-warming, thoughtful, and often hilarious tribute to her beloved Stella, Allison Pittman shares how she came to understand what it means to follow the ultimate Master, including how to: 

Sit!–at the feet of Jesus and listen for His voice
Drop It!–and let go of personal agendas 
Come!–when it’s time to run in the right direction
Stay!–in God’s presence 

My Review:  If you are a dog lover - you will adore this book.  We have always gotten mutts from the Humane Society and they were a huge part of our family when our kids were growing up.  Stella is just about as typical as you can get for a dog.  You just want to reach through the pages of the book and hug her!  I have always appreciated our dogs’ unconditional love, but never really thought about how other things dogs do are so like my relationship with God, but they are.  I could definitely relate.  This book could be used as a daily devotional.  Otherwise, it is a rather quick read with 161 pages.  The chapters are rather short.  The pictures at the beginning of each chapter of Stella are adorable.

Product Description
Ever since Barack Obama was young, Hope has lived inside him. From the beaches of Hawaii to the streets of Chicago, from the jungles of Indonesia to the plains of Kenya, he has held on to Hope. Even as a boy, Barack knew he wasn’t quite like anybody else, but through his journeys he found the ability to listen to Hope and become what he was meant to be: a bridge to bring people together.This is the moving story of an exceptional man, as told by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Bryan Collier, both winners of the Coretta Scott King Award. Barack Obama has motivated Americans to believe with him, to believe that every one of us has the power to change ourselves and change our world.

My Review:  This was an interesting book, although above the heads of my second graders.  The book traced Obama’s life from boyhood to adulthood.  The book spoke of Obama’s ideals and hopes for change.  I would recommend this book for upper elementary and even middle school students.  We learned about Obama’s father and Obama’s search to know more about his father; we learned about how and why Obama wants to make a difference with his life; and we learned a teeny more about Obama’s spiritual life.  Nikki Grimes based this book on Obama’s book, Dreams from My Father.  A good and interesting read.

Product Description
Born the son and grandson of military men, Senator John McCain from Arizona was destined for a life serving his country in the armed forces. Like many great men, he occasionally struggled with authority, but once he found his true calling — flying naval aircraft — his ideals and commitment to his country took him far.From the low point of five years as a prisoner of war to the high points of raising a large, happy family and being chosen as the Republican nominee in the 2008 presidential election, Senator McCain has lived an incredible life driven by a love of his country and a desire to serve it to the best of his ability.

This picture book biography, written with great love and insight by his oldest daughter, writer Meghan McCain, shows us the public John McCain and the personal John McCain in a way we’ve never seen before — making this American hero come to life before young eyes. 

My Review:  This book captured the interest of my second graders.  Meghan McCain began the book by saying, “There are a few things you need to know about my dad, and one of them is that he would make a great president.”  She then proceeds to tell his story.  She tells about all of his life - his rebellion in high school, his experience in the Naval Academy, his life in the navy including learning to fly, crashing, being involved in a exploding plane and surviving; his prisoner of war experience; his marriage to Cindy; his senatorial experience; and his two runs for the president.  Whew!  All this was written in a very simple, easy to understand way.  Dan Adreasen had great illustrations throughout.  I would recommend this book for all elementary school students.

Like most of you, I couldn’t escape the constant headlines about Britney Spears. To my great shame, I’m sure I passed quick judgement on her as her life seemed to unravel before our eyes. I have to say I didn’t follow the headlines closely, but it was impossible to ignore them altogether. I didn’t know how I’d feel about this book. I actually didn’t know much about Lynne Spears but it seems that she has earned quite a bad reputation for herself as a stage mother. I didn’t know what this book would be about or if I I could believe it.

What I read was the account of a heartbroken mother whose private family life was shoved into the spotlight. As her daughters faced their own individual heartaches, they were offered up for public judgement. But in truth, each member of the Spears family is more than what was made available to us in tabloids. They each have their own full lives, flesh and blood people like the ones that surround us. This memoir is Lynne’s attempt to pass something on about them and their family history and lives to her children.

It’s an interesting read as most memoirs are detailing their family lives and Lynne’s own struggles with her marriage, giving up her career for her children’s, the loss of her family members (both parents and her sister), and the unexpectedness of what Britney’s fame brought to them all. I couldn’t always follow the parts about Britney, because I think it was assumed that the reader had obsessively read the tabloids. While I saw certain events reported, I must admit I tend to turn the channel when a particular celebrity (or politician!) is constanly in the headlines. I did understand that Lynne loves her children.

It did seem to me she was a bit naive about what fame would do their family and bring to her children, but at the end of the day, it’s not my place to judge. This book is an excellent reminder that the people you see on television are real…and hopefully will give us all the ability to judge a little less.

About the Book: You’re suddenly single again. What do you do now? Where do you turn? Starting From Scratch When You’re Single Again serves up poignant stories from twenty-three widowed or divorced women who survived a horrific deathblow to their dreams for a happy, secure future.

Somehow, with white-knuckle faith, each one found enough strength in themselves and in their God to move forward. Let each woman’s story and the guiding principles she offers be an encouragement to you, and as a bonus, let the taste and aroma of her favorite recipe comfort and nourish your soul.

Amy’s Thoughts:Well, I’m still single, but I think this book is a magnificent resource. This issue is something that’s often overlooked in Christian circles that focus heavily on traditional family units. But this book offers hope in the form of true stories from women who have been there. As they address different aspects of the struggle in finding themselves single again, they also offer hope and…recipes. How fun is that? Additionally, guiding principles are pulled out and highlighted. Since this book is in the form of individual stories, it’s very easy to read and laced with hope and inspiration.

Here’s a question and answer with the authors, Mary and Sharon!

Mary, why did you write this book?

Mary: I’m neither divorced nor widowed, but I, too, have a heart for those who are starting from scratch. My father died when I was 16, and although she was never aware of the impression she made, my mother was an inspiration to me. While my faith in God faltered, hers remained intact. I watched how she made decisions—how she continued to put one foot in front of the other—how she guided my younger brother and me.

Today I work with my husband in the financial services business. We meet many women who, because of the loss or absence of their spouse, are faced with decisions that were once shared.

I wanted to offer all of these women hope and encouragement so they wouldn’t feel alone or overwhelmed. I want them to know that others have survived and that they will, too. I also want them to know—if they are young mothers—that their children are learning how to cope through the example they set. Children are not harsh judges, but will admire them for their willingness to learn new skills, and for listening to, talking with, and leading them even when the road is strewn with uncertainty.

Sharon, do you think widows and divorced women are treated differently? In what way?

Sharon: When my marriage failed after thirty years, I was filled with tremendous guilt and shame. I had been a devout believer in Christ, an active leader in my church, the parent of two beautiful daughters, and the kind of person who loved both my own and my husband’s extended family. It was as if I had received a ten-foot tall letter “F” on my imaginary “Report Card of Life.”

Widows don’t carry that kind of shame around, although they are consumed with grief, as was I. Friends and relatives know what to say to a widow—they offer counsel and comfort.

Mary, as you talked with women, what did you find helped them cope with their situation?

Mary: Many of the women we visited with often spoke of turning to Scripture. While some had a strong faith that allowed them to draw comfort from great passages in the Bible, others questioned God at first, or had feisty conversations with Him.

All were needy of, and appreciated, kind words and gestures from friends and family. But I was struck at how they all found comfort when their supporters were not available. Many of the women we visited with mentioned a devotional, a workbook, or some special story that encouraged them. Some started blogs or began a ministry. Many swallowed their pride and accepted help from others, including the government, recognizing that this was just for a season.

For most of these women, dependency on God Himself seemed to be the key ingredient when tragedy first struck. After that they allowed others to minister to them. And then eventually they took that one small step necessary to move forward and accept change.

Sharon, the first story in the book is from your personal experience and is titled, “Telling.” Why is talking to others—even friends—about your situation so hard?

Sharon: When I suddenly got divorced, no one knew what to think or say. It was a complete shock to everyone (including me), and it felt like a bomb had gone off in the night. People want an explanation, and if one is not readily apparent, they make their own guesses as to what probably happened. Some gossip and take sides. Some get very angry and feel betrayed: in a way, their own security is threatened and they wonder, “If that could happen to her, could it happen to me?”

“Telling”came right out of my journal. It was written as I grappled with how to tell people what had happened just a few months after the divorce. We have included this as a book excerpt on our blog.

Mary, what is your best advice to a woman who finds herself single again?

Mary: As tempting as it might be, do not stay in bed with the covers pulled over your head. Accept invitations from friends and learn something new, no matter how small. If God seems far away, ask Him for just a little bit of faith. Eventually, it will grow.

Sharon, do you have a quote from the book to close with?

Sharon: Mary and I designed beautiful bookmarks to give away, and they express what the stories in this book convey. The bookmark says, “Be thankful for whatever God is doing in and through your suffering. TRUST that eventually He will make everything right” (from page 212). God is in the business of redeeming and restoring lives, and this holds true for those who believe in Him no matter what.

Giveaway: Interested in owning a copy of this book? Leave a comment with a valid email address!

About the book: Casey McDaniel had never been so nervous in his life. In just ten minutes, The Meeting, as it would forver be known, would begin. Casey had every reason to believe that his performance over the next two hours would determine the fate of his career, his financial future, and the company he had built from scratch. “How could my life have unraveled so quickly?” he wondered.

My review: Although I am a teacher and not a business person, I lead and attend plenty of meetings. I found this book fascinating. I love the way it was written. The author used story - not just facts and commentary. Throughout the story, Lencioni gives principals for successful meetings and exposes myths - such as you always need an AGENDA. How freeing! The author brings you inside the characters’ heads and causes the reader to relate to common fears and goals. This is a short read - I read it in half a day. It is totally engaging and thought provoking. The story takes up about three-fourths of the book. The last fourth of the book is the model and written as non-fiction.

For anyone who has to attend and/or lead numerous meetings, I recommend this book. My husband recommended it to me and he is not a businessman either, but he is in ministry. The principles cross over to other lifestyles and career choices.

Several years ago, I read the book The Faith of George W. Bush by Stephen Mansfield. I remember feeling quite impressed by the book and feeling as though it gave me insight into a president I didn’t fully understand. Instead of looking at him through the hard edges of politics and public expectation, I felt like I was getting a glimpse of his soul.

Therefore, when the opportunity to review The Faith of Barack Obama by the same author came about, I jumped at the chance immediately. Regardless of where your personal politics lie, the story of Barack Obama is an interesting one, and it stands to reason that even if he doesn’t win the presidency this year, he will remain an influential face in the American political arena for some time to come. Therefore, it is important to understand his faith…a faith that drives him and a faith he is reclaiming for the left.

Stephen Mansfield tells us about Barack Obama’s faith by telling us about his life. The first part of the book is concerned with establishing Obama’s background and explaining some of the things we may have only heard about in bits and pieces on the news. I found these chapters to be beautifully written and impossible not to feel compassion for the young Barack who faced so many different shifts in family in his young life. This background made the section that dealt with his church particularly moving. By now, we all know about the famous Jeremiah Wright and his angry and shocking rhetoric. Many people condemned Obama for standing by his church and then later defecting, so to say. I think the section about this situation was so well handled.

Mansfield also gives brief portraits of faith for Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and George W. Bush. It’s interesting to see the different ways each of these individual’s faiths have guided and affected their politics and public perception.

Mansfield writes with compassion and fairness. He has publicly said he will not support Barack Obama with a vote, but this book in no way demonizes Obama. Instead, it accurately portrays the faith that drives this man and that drives so many of the post-modern Christians today. If you want to understand Barack Obama a little better, and also the many younger Christians that will be supporting him this upcoming election than I highly recommend this book. If you are interested in learning about the soul of a man than I recommend this book. My recommendation is this if you are conservative in your politics and faith….approach this book seeking to understand and not defensively and will you enjoy it and benefit from reading it. I was deeply moved by it.

Buy The Faith of Barack Obama on Amazon.

(Note: This is the first in a slew of books I (Amy) will be reading and reviewing in preparation for this upcoming election. I won’t be telling you who I’m voting for…merely sharing with you what I learn from the books I read…I think it’s important to understand both candidates as much as possible before election day!)

I love using Calvin Miller’s Devotionals. I found the first one I used, “The Christ of Christmas” when browsing in a local Christian bookstore in St. Louis. I bought it to help me really get ready for the spiritual significance of the holiday. It did just that. The next one I bought was “The Christ of the Easter” which helped me again zero in on what Easter is all about. Because I loved these books so much I also bought “The Christ We Knew: Eyewitness Accounts from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.” Even though I have had this book for several years, I am just now getting into it. It is thought-provoking and very helpful. The devotionals have really given me something to chew on for several days a piece. The format of this particular book is you first read the devotional on a particular passage of Scripture in one of the Gospels, then you read the entire chapter from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. This book includes classical art and explanations of each picture and gives a little information about the artist.

Calvin Miller’s writing is profound, yet easy to read and practical. The Christ We Knew takes you through the birth of Christ right to the Ascension of Christ. Each book is divided into 31 days of devotions. I usually spend about 5-10 minutes each morning before work reading them - that’s about how long it takes. I have gone back to reread several.

Calvin Miller is a writer and speaker. He worked with others on the translation of the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Miller is a career pastor and teaches at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. For more information on Calvin Miller visit his web site at www.calvinmillerauthor.com

About the Book: Organic for Health will convince you to avoid conventionally grown foods laden with the biggest offenders, and more importantly, to fill your body with the clean, potent vitamins and minerals in organic foods that truly honor your health.

My Review: This topic is one that I’m endlessly fascinated by. I am always trying to learn more and so I jumped at the chance to review this book.

If you also are interested in healthier ways to eat and understanding just exactly why the way we eat in America is a danger to our health than you will enjoy this book. It’s written in an extremely straightforward manner, and kicks off with Sandy Powers’ own story about why she started to eat organically. It’s a pretty amazing story, and it will get your attention for the rest of the book! The book is divided into categories and gives you all the basic information that you need. The second half of the book is full of recipes. I haven’t tried any of them yet, but they look good. There’s also a glossary in the back that is very helpful for defining terms used throughout the book, and a note about why eating organically is a bit more expensive.

A great starter guide to better health.

You can visit Sandy on her website.

About the Book: Landing a publisher has never been harder. Even when you do, count on anemic royalty rates, 18 to 24 months to publication, and giving up the rights to your book. And you’ll still be expected to do most of the marketing yourself! There’s a better way. Thanks to the Internet, self-publishing has become easier, more viable, and more potentially lucrative than ever before. The Well-Fed Self-Publisher is a step-by-step how-to guide to help authors successfully and profitably self-publish their titles. It is based directly on the successful self-publishing of my first two books (currently 52,000 copies in print). The subtitle of the book is not hype: my first book earned me a full-time living for over four years, and both books together, six-plus. “Self-publishing” still carries a stigma, and sadly, in most cases, it’s earned and deserved. I’ve been successful largely because of my commitment to creating a superior product, both in form and content – all the “how-to” details of which I share in this book. With TWFSP, I help to raise the bar on self-publishing so that thousands of self-publishing authors don’t keep needlessly sabotaging themselves.Comprehensive ScopeFar more than just a book about the self-publishing process, TWFSP also features an entire chapter (Two) on developing the crucial “marketing mindset” most creative types lack, plus chapters on virtually every aspect of book marketing and promotion, plus distribution, POD, and five appendices (including extensive resources, timeline, foreign rights, and more). Visit “Why This Book?” (page xix) to learn why this book stands out in its field, though, in a nutshell, there are five keys: · Sales and Marketing Discussion (for non-salesy “Creatives”) ·A Radically Different Approach to Marketing (Internet, not media)· Focus on Process and Profit (most books focus only on the first) Personal, Engaging Writing Style (making learning a blast!) · One Big “Real-World” Case Study (totally non-theoretical)

My Thoughts: I thought this book was an incredible tool for anyone who has a book idea they’d like to see come to fruition and sell. I think a lot of us have a book in us and an area where we have something unique to offer, but we lack the practical knowledge of the industry and how to make it work. This is the book you need if that’s the case with you. You will learn everything you need to equip you to write and live off of that self-published book!

Bowerman’s writing style is easy and engaging, so you’re never bored, but rather fascinated with the realistic details he provides. In fact, his hard hitting honesty about the whole deal, while still making you believe this is possible may be the book’s greatest strength.

This book is recommended for anyone who is considering writing something to be published, whether self-published or not.

You can visit Peter at his website here.