I can honestly say that out of all of the cookbooks I have reviewed over the years, "Mennonite Girls Can Cook Celebrations" easily tops the list. A common complaint I've had with other cookbooks is the lack of pictures and visual appeal - but such is definitely not the case with this cookbook! Featuring gorgeous pictures, endearing stories and anecdotes, and easy-to-follow recipes that produce food that not only tastes great but looks good too, this cookbook is an absolute gem. My wife absolutely loves her copy, and greatly enjoys pouring over the pages learning more about the art of cooking while being inspired about stories of life and family and the gift of sharing mealtimes together with those God has placed in our lives. Reading through this book will not only lighten your heart and bless your faith, but will give you practical suggestions and cooking and decorating ideas for how to celebrate every moment of life, no matter how simple or grand an occasion. I myself have so many good memories sitting around a table laughing and talking, and this book is designed to make the most of those opportunities to have food and fellowship with family and friends. What I most love about this book is that readers get a chance to glimpse into the very real lives of the authors, women who live for God through times of joy and also times of pain. The personal touch in this cookbook makes it so much more than a treasury of recipes, though it is indeed that. Instead, it is a book that will be read through again and again. It has earned a permanent place on our shelves not only as a source of excellent recipes, but as a source of inspiration as well.

My only concern about this cookbook is that we can't seem to keep it in our house! Everyone seems to want to borrow our copy to look through! Definitely plan on adding this one to your collection and giving away a few copies yourself. 5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of MennoMedia and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Herald Press, a publishing imprint of MennoMedia.

"Our eyes locked. I'm not sure either one of us could quite believe what we were doing. We had just agreed to break the law. And so, in those few quiet words of complicity, Daddy and I became felons".

Ann Tatlock has long impressed me with her ability to create compelling, artfully told stories, and Sweet Mercy is another winner. Eve Marryat is one of those characters who grabs hold of your heart and draws you deep into her story. I love how Tatlock depicts Eve in her state of relative innocence and naivete, and then draws her into a world where white and black are not always so clear, where the way things appear on the surface may not be reality at all. The setting of the story in the era of the prohibition provides a fascinating backdrop for the story and for an exploration of morality as a whole. Sweet Mercy celebrates the importance of family and faith and the acceptance of those who are different, but it also explores the difficult choices we are often faced with in life. I loved the unexpected twists and turns in the story, and found this to be a swift-moving drama that will absolutely appeal to fiction lovers of all varieties.

As with her other books, Sweet Mercy is masterfully told, written with impeccable prose and featuring characters you will be sad to leave behind when you turn the last page. It is easy to see why Ann Tatlock is a Christy Award winner. I award this story my highest recommendation and 5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

There is only one thing that I absolutely hate about a really good book - getting to the end! I can honestly say that Randy Singer's latest book is one of my absolutely favorites from him yet. It has everything you could hope for in a solid legal thriller - characters you can cheer for, ethical dilemmas, fun court room scenes, and the kind of suspense that keeps you flying from one scene to the next. Landon Reed is an absolutely unique character, with a shady past that causes the light of Christ to shine all the more clearly, and I loved watching him grow as a character. He is the very epitome of what it means to be a true man, not that he's perfect, but that he's able to admit his wrongs and rise up to be the man God has called him to be. His marriage is also one worth celebrating, as he and his wife remain true and devoted to each other despite the hurdles life throws their way. In the midst of getting to know these wonderful characters, Randy has woven an intricate plot of secrets and misdirection that made for a highly enjoyable read. Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales is written with Singer's typical sure hand, making for pleasurable prose that is simply a treat to read. The characters are likable, the story is deftly plotted, and you can't help but be attracted to the faith that shines through the pages.

I can confidently say that fans of Randy Singer novels are going to love this story, and I am sure that new fans are going to flock to the tale as well. I highly recommend this book and award it 5 out of 5 stars.

An advanced reader's copy of the book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Tyndale, for the purposes of this unbiased review.

I hold Gina Holmes fully responsible for putting me in touch with my feminine side this week. I cracked open the covers of "Wings of Glass" and was immediately swept up into the world of Penny Carson, finding myself deeply moved by her story such that I even shed tears! Holmes has expertly captured the heart-break of domestic violence, and yet has also shown the power of God in bringing others alongside to support and love hurting women to places of freedom. The book is very well written and the words flow smoothly, with the story leaving me craving more. The characters are wonderfully developed and you will leave the story feeling like you've made new friends. As I myself have worked with many victims of domestic violence over the years in my job as a social worker, I can tell you that Gina's book contains an authentic flavor that rings all too true. As such, readers may find themselves disturbed by some of the things they read about, at the choices Penny makes. Yet they will also learn the importance of loving women in these situations in a non-judgmental manner, as readers will learn that no situation is black and white. Although I enjoyed the character of Penny, probably my favorite character is Fatimah, who does everything with her unique passion. The scene where Fatimah invites Penny to dinner over the phone literally had me laughing out loud, and I loved how she wasn't afraid to stand up to injustice!

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll come away all the better for spending time with Penny and Fatimah. I highly recommend this novel and award it 5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of the author for the purposes of this unbiased review.

"Revealing Jesus" is an absolute treasure, filled with inspirational devotionals that are based on solid scriptural teaching and wonderfully reflect God's heart and spirit. There is one devotional for every day of the year, and each page includes a verse of scripture, the devotional, and a brief prayer to help you get started in your own prayer time with the Lord. With a devotional like this, there really is little excuse for someone to say they have no time to spend focused on God. The entries are short, and yet each contains a powerful truth that will remain on your mind throughout the day. The devotionals are well-written and I very much enjoyed reading through them. I also enjoyed the lyrics to hymns and worship songs that grace the pages of the book, finding them to be meaningful and designed to draw the reader to the feet of Jesus.

If you are looking for a new devotional for yourself, or perhaps as a gift for a loved one for their birthday or upcoming Mother's Day, then consider giving them a copy of this devotional from worship leader Darlene Zschech. It is sure to be a blessing. I award this book a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The age-old tale of Romeo and Juliet takes on new life in Leslie Gould's "Adoring Addie", and I must say that I entirely approve! While I am not normally a fan of romances per se, I formed an immediate liking to the character of Addie Cramer and so enjoyed every moment of this story. The characters tread through some deep waters, including family feuds and bitterness, generational sin, the impact of depression, the difficulty in discovering who we are and that God has a purpose for our lives. Addie's relationship with Jonathan not only adds a beautiful romantic flavor to the novel, but serves as a catalyst to bring light into the darkness of the characters' lives, exposing secrets long-held and ultimately allowing sin and shame to be vanquished by grace and forgiveness.

"Adoring Addie" is very well-written, and the story unfolds smoothly from scene to scene. It is every bit as good as the first addition to the series, Courting Cate, and fans of the first novel will be pleased to see that Cate does make a minor appearance in this novel so they can get a glimpse into how her life continues to unfold. Readers who enjoy either Amish novels or just contemporary novels in particular will no doubt enjoy Leslie Gould's latest novel, and should plan on adding this book to their "must read" list. I award this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Heidi and Rolland Baker have learned to make themselves available to the Holy Spirit, to obediently follow where he leads, to open their arms in love, and step out in faith no matter what that looks like. The result is that people's lives around them are forever changed. "Learning to Love" recounts many of their experiences serving Christ in Mozambique and what they have learned in the process. I absolutely loved the teaching and the stories that flow from this book, from stories of practical love shown by things like drilling wells for thirsty villagers, to miraculous healings of people who are blind or sick or emotionally damaged. While the book has several main themes, readers should expect to enjoy the book as a series of vignettes rather than a straight-forward biographical account of the Baker's lives. This is a book that deserves to read through more than once to allow the authors to challenge you in your own faith, and to take risks such as they have done, and see God respond in his power and his grace. I love where the authors write the following:

"Where does the kind of faith that soars come from? It comes from love, from knowing who Jesus is, from understanding what he thinks of you and realizing who he has made you to be. When you are in love you have power. When you start to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, you start to get full of God and full of understanding that whatever He asks you to do, you can do; that wherever He asks you to go, you can go.....Passion: It makes us unstoppable".

If we all lived in radical obedience to God like the Bakers do, the world would be vastly different indeed. Oh Lord, give me that same passion!

I strongly recommend this fascinating and well-written book, and award it 4 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Chosen, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Any real man would admit that we guys can be complex individuals, although of course we universally find women even more complex! Men today face challenges that men have always faced, but they are compounded by massive temptations that were not even a reality 20 years ago. For example, the explosion of internet porn has led to a whole host of addictions and temptations that are having a profound effect on men in the church, on their marriages, on their purity. Counseling men through areas of sexual purity, depression and hopelessness, adultery, anger, and other areas like controlling anger or difficulties parenting, requires great wisdom and knowledge. The book "Men Counseling Men" has been created as a resource for godly men to rise up and provide support to other men facing a variety of issues, providing a guide for solid biblical counseling. The book is arranged into helpful categories that make for easy reference, and the wisdom contained in the pages of this book is wonderful indeed. I love the focus that is taken of calling on the power of God's Word to revolutionize lives, and putting into action the reality that God really does have an answer for every issue we face! The appendix at the end that lists a variety of scriptures revelant to each challenge area (i.e. depression) is absolutely valuable!

As a man myself who is involved in leadership roles in the church, which involves coming alongside other men to support and love them through facing difficult issues, "Men Counselling Men" is the book I didn't even realize I needed. I am grateful to the author for providing such a valuable and practical resource. I strongly recommend this book for counselors and pastors involved in working with men, and award it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Harvest House, for the purposes of this unbiased review.

Bodie and Brock Thoene have created a stirring account of the life of Lazarus in their latest book, "When Jesus Wept". I have always been curious about how Lazarus and Jesus met and formed a relationship, and the authors have done a tremendous job of staying true to the Biblical account while exploring how their friendship may have formed. The result is a moving, entertaining story that is sure to please fans of Biblical fiction! The rich historical details that they have woven into the novel add a deeper meaning to the story as readers witness how radical Jesus was compared to the typical Jewish man of the day and in that culture. It is no wonder, then, that Lazarus was drawn to Jesus and his gentle spirit and his wisdom! Some of my favorite scenes included the conversations Jesus and Lazarus had about Jesus being the vine and about the pruning that occurs in our lives with a result of wonderful fruit. These scenes offer deep truths that can encourage all of us as we walk with God and yet experience hard times and so seek a purpose behind what we are experiencing. As a whole, the characters have been beautifully developed, and I love the way the Thoene's fleshed out not only Lazarus but his sisters Mary and Martha also. The story moves along well and is written with the Thoene's usual skilled pen.

If you are looking for a well-written fiction book set in a Biblical setting, then plan on picking up a copy of "When Jesus Wept". You will come away with a greater appreciation of Lazarus and his friendship with Jesus, and will not only be entertained but inspired as well. I award this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Zondervan, and Litfuse Publicity Group for the purposes of this unbiased review.

"The Uncomfortable Church" was exactly the book I've been waiting for! I've long held the belief that the issue of homosexuality has the potential to either fragment the church, or to see the church rise up in unity with arms of love, to be the hands of God to a hurting people. As I long for the latter, I've been wanting to read a book that stands by the truth of scripture while still calling for the church to repent of a historical stance that often comes across as hatred. Dr. Lawrence Brice has delivered just such a book! I greatly appreciate his careful study of scripture from the Old and New Testament about the issue of homosexuality, and how he is not afraid to state the truth that the Bible clearly portrays the act of homosexuality as a sin. I also think that the chapter defending the traditional definition of marriage is expertly handled and offers a compelling argument for why marriage should be seen as between one man and one woman. And yet I absolutely loved his call for the church to offer grace and hope to those struggling with homosexuality, realizing that it is one sin among many and that we are all equally in need of grace and love. The book is well-written and laid out in a clear manner, and I am confident that readers will walk away from the issue feeling well-informed and ready to answer the call to offer Jesus' love.

There is much to take away from with this book, but I will leave you with my favorite quote: "While we affirm Scripture, we want to liberate a persecuted minority and embrace them in our hearts and fellowship. Yet we know God's heart is for us to still "speak the truth in love".... The key to our relationship with homosexuals is what conservatives have found to be the answers to our own deepest longings - the unmerited grace of Christ, the warm acceptance of God's people, and the wonderful healing of forgiveness".

I encourage Christians on both sides of the argument to consider picking up a copy of this book. I know that I will certainly be turning to it again in the future! I highly recommend "The Uncomfortable Church" and award it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of the author and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller