The One Year Did You Know Devotions 2 by Nancy Hill

The One Year Did you Know Devotions 2 is the perfect devotional for children and parents.

Inside you'll find trivia concerning just about everything from U.S. Presidents to food groups and animals.

You'll feel like John Tesh as you spout off the new facts you've learned from this daily book of knowledge.

Along with the trivia, you'll read a Bible verse that corresponds with the fact and a paragraph devotion tying it all together very nicely.

The difficult part is waiting for the next day to read the new fact. I just jumped in and read as many as I could.

Author Nancy Hill has created a terrific devotional for any age.

This book was provided for review by Tyndale Publishing

The Language of Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Following the success of Love and Respect, Dr Eggerichs branches out and instructs us on The Language of Love and Respect.

Following a number of his Love and Respect seminars, Eggerichs would hear the same complaint over and over: we just don't know how to communicate.

This problem led to the writing of this book.

Inside you will find a chapter devoted as a review of the Love and Respect book then he takes you through chapter after chapter explaining how you can "crack the code" of communication with your spouse.

If you enjoyed Love and Respect, there's a good chance you'll enjoy The Language...

If you didn't like the first book, I wouldn't recommend this follow-up. As with the previous book, Eggerichs has a knack for repeating himself with the same information in each chapter.

This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Publishing

God Gave Us Christmas & God Gave Us Love by Lisa T. Bergren

God Gave Us Christmas and God Gave Us Love are two books that parents of little ones should seriously think about getting.

Lisa Bergren uses the animals made famous by the Coke commercials to tell kids about the things God gave us.

I received these two for review.

In the spirit of The Berenstain Bears, these polars bears ask the questions and it takes the entire book for their adults to answer.

The books have quality illustrations that add to the spiritual teachings found in the dialog.

These books were provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing

Treasured by Leigh McLeroy

What if God kept a box full of the items He treasured? You'll get a glimpse of those items in Treasured by Leigh McLeroy.

Here are some of the items you'll find in the treasured box:

The fig leaf worn in Eden

A fresh olive sprig from Noah's ark

Abraham's knife used when offering his only son

Balaam's riding crop used on his talking donkey

David's harp string used to calm King Saul

McLeroy adds insight from her own life when explaining why God would want to keep these items as reminders.

This is a small gift book and would be a great Christmas idea.

This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing

Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis

I have tried multiple times to read this trilogy. This last month I decided to tough it out.

C.S. Lewis is known for his Chronicles of Narnia books and other thick-headed writings. The Space Trilogy is not for wimps. It is written in the spirit of H.G. Wells and other ancient novels.

The first book of the trilogy is titled, Out of the Silent Planet. Telling the story of a man named Ransom, we follow his adventures to the planet Mars and its inhabitants. (One of which you can see on the cover of the book)

Ransom is kidnapped by two men and shoot off for the red planet in a special space vehicle. Once there, they encounter what they suspect to be vicious creatures and Ransom escapes before being offered as a sacrifice.

The majority of this story focuses on the environment; many pages are devoted to the descriptions of the mountains and terrain.

After Ransom meets up with other creatures from the planet, the dialog picks up the pace.

It won't take many people to realize that Lewis is using the genre of sci-fi and these characters to tell a different story.

A Simple Christmas by Mike Huckabee

New York Times bestselling author Mike Huckabee releases a "remember when" book in time for the holidays.

A Simple Christmas takes you back to his childhood memories of the Beatles and putting on lip syncing concerts for the neighborhood to leaving the Governor's mansion of Arkansas.

There are 12 chapters that deal with one simple idea (i.e. Patience, Trials, etc...) and how his experiences of Christmas personify those ideas.

Not every story has a happy ending, but they all succeed in their purpose which is to help you understand Governor Huckabee's past and what shaped him into the person he is today.

Huckabee is clever. This book serves two purposes: 1) a book released in time for the holidays that makes an excellent gift. 2) helps Americans feel as if they've gotten to know the "real" Huckabee so they will be more inclined to vote for him come 2012.

In any case, A Simple Christmas is a nice read and look into someone's past and their own story.

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets is the continuing story of the Gates family who happen to be treasure hunters.

When a mysterious man, played by Ed Harris, provided evidence that a Gates ancestor was part of the assassination of President Lincoln, Ben (Nicholas Cage), his father Patrick (Jon Voight), side-kick Riley (Justin Bartha) and girlfriend Abigail (Diane Kruger) set off to prove the Gates family's innocence.

They travel to France to find a clue on a clone of the Statue of Liberty, they sneak into the Queen's house to get a look at her desk and kidnap the President in order to find out about the Book of Secrets.

Also back, in a rather small role is Harvey Keitel as the FBI agent Sadusky.

Joining the cast is mother Gates played by Helen Mirren and The President of The United States - Bruce Greenwood.

As you can see, this film has a knock out cast of actors.

Many people gave this film a bad review because they felt it was too similar to the first National Treasure movie. While it is true that the magic of the first film is missing from this endeavor, Book of Secrets is absolutely worth the watch.

There is nothing like clean action adventure. The National Treasure movies and the first Pirates of the Carribean should be in everyone's library.

Thirsty by Tracey Bateman

It was bound to happen - Christians had to jump on the vampire bandwagon sooner or later. And that is what we have with Tracey Bateman's Thirsty.

However, this book is not like your typical vampire novel. In fact, the vampire characters play a very small role.

This story is about an alcoholic named Nina. Her addiction has lost her her job, her family, and her self-respect.

She ends up moving back to the hometown in which she grew up. Little does she know that there is a vampire that has been waiting for her since she was a teenager.

Not only does Nina have a vampire after her love, but she has 2 other men in her life: her ex-husband, and the father of her daughter.

This, on top of her alcoholism, is bound to cause horrific trouble for her.

The author wanted to write a vampire story that brought glory to God and she believes she as achieved that with Thirsty. A book about the metaphor of vampires more than vampires themselves.

Having said that, this was a great book for people who have an itch for vampires and their lore.

This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Touched by a Vampire by Beth Felker Jones

Beth Jones takes you through the entire Twilight Saga and pulls out the good and bad with her discussion guide: Touched by a Vampire. Within these pages, you will discover the hidden messages in the Twilight books...or so the title says.

Jones explores many pressing issues for teenagers today from finding purpose and through whom, to the value of waiting to have sex until you're married, to how a girl should behave in the new age.

It seems as if whenever a blockbuster hits the shelves, Christians have to write up their response to it and explain how bad they will make you for reading them.

This book, however, explains the good lessons learned in the this book and not just focusing on the negative.

I don't think anyone but parents and fans of the Twilight saga will value this book.

This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

Do The Right Thing by Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee is keeping his name and face in the public light following his bid for President. Writing New York Times Bestsellers, hosting a weekend television show, recording radio commentaries 3 times a day, and creating a PAC.

In his book, Do The Right Thing, Governor Huckabee shares his stories from the campaign trail along with his vision of American leadership.

This book spelled out his plan and vision with a clarity I have not read in most political books.

Opening the pages, you'll read about Huckabee's plan for health care, volunteerism, being a true conservative, and relying on self-government among other points.

You'll also read a not so subtle slam of Mitt Romney and his campaign.

You get the sense that Governor Romney didn't make many friends among the other Republican candidates.

I think the strongest point for Mike Huckabee was the fact that, even though people may not agree with his plans, they still admired him for playing straight and clean.

This book was provided for review by Penguin.

Sustainable Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries

Mark DeVries has followed a great book with another knockout for youth ministers. Sustainable Youth Ministry will inform you why so many youth leaders burn out quickly and youth ministries spark fast yet ultimately fizzle.

Too many churches look for superstar leaders - young 20 somthings with boundless energy and no experience - to deliver the results they expect from a 20 year veteran.

The problem arises when results aren't met, which leads to complaining and hurt feelings. Pretty soon the church is looking for the next superstar once again.

In this book, church leaders are told to expect nothing less than 4 or 5 years worth of foundation building before setting off their fireworks.

This idea doesn't sit well with our society (and church communities) that demand instant results and instant success.

Within these pages, you'll learn about navigating church politics, discovering what role to place yourself within ministry, and how to recruit your best volunteers.

DeVries sets the tone for a more successful, more attainable God-honoring ministry.


This book was provided for review by IVP Press.

Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain by Paul Meier, MD & David L. Henderson, MD

Does your suffering ever seem senseless? These two doctors plan to help you navigate this suffering and find purpose in Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain.

This book is broken down into 7 parts:

Injustice
Rejection
Loneliness
Loss
Discipline
Failure
Death

Within each part are 4 sub-chapters that deal with a particular path specific to that setback.

Drs Meier and Henderson deliver the 1-2 punch in this book full of insightful stories that can be applied to any walk of life. I particularly enjoyed the chapter explaining the obstacles to our relating with others and how we can change our mindset.

In a time where many of us are experiencing suffering (and honestly when is it ever not senseless?), this book adds one more step to unconvering your life's potential.

This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson publishing

Renegade: The Making of a President by Richard Wolffe

Some people might think being called a renegade is a bad thing. Richard Wolffe describes President Obama this way and it turns out to be a good thing.

With Renegade, Wolffe describes the ups and downs of a presidential campaign from behind the scenes.

Like all the other political behind-the-scenes books, Wolffe builds a narrative using his interviews with the candidate, with the hard workers driving the campaign, and his own observations.

You will read how the team felt after winning Iowa and turning around to lose New Hampshire.

The writing is not above the bias. You can tell Wolffe is a fan and support of the President. And that is okay. Too many people complained that this book put President Obama in too good of a light.

I find nothing wrong with an author writing mostly positive things about the candidate he's following. This is his book.

A negative against this books is the lack of pictures. Most political books have a section in the middle with glossy photos from the experience. This one does not. (But how minor is that?)

A second negative is the structure of this book. Wolffe jumps from the announcement speech to winning of the general election and back again with ease while leaving the reader jet lagged.

I'm sure there are better behind-the-scenes campaign books out there. Take your time to find them.

Star Trek by Alan Dean Foster

Alan Dean Foster is the go-to author for movie tie-in novels. He was tapped for the novelization of the new Star Trek movie.

If you were looking for a book that would fill you in on all the details that might have been missed in the film, Star Trek is not the story for you.

For whatever reason, Foster took the script and did not deviate one iota. What you saw in the movie, you get in the book.

There isn't any additional back story for any of the characters, you don't learn more about the older Spock or the Red stuff they use to destroy Vulcan.

I think this book was published for hungry Star Trek fans who couldn't wait for the DVD.

It reads just like watching the movie without the actual images.

I Am The Cheese by Robert Cormier

I Am The Cheese is an excellent book built around a mosaic that leads to a nice twist ending.

We are introduced to a boy, Adam Farmer, as he rides his bicycle on cross-state journey to take a packaged to his father.

Along the way, he encounters big dogs, bullies who try to steal the package and his bike, and memories of his girlfriend - whom he should have called before leaving.

Between the scenes of his trip, you read transcripts of taped conversations between Adam and someone who is trying to help him remember his past.

As the chapters progress, you learn important information as Adam begins to remember more about his parents and his own life.

This book is a great suspense novel that would make a great movie. In fact, they did make it into a movie and I think they should do a remake. It's time we experienced the excellence in true fashion.

Law Abiding Citizen

The lines of what makes a good guy and a bad guy are blurred in this ultra-violent/too-much-swearing film, Law Abiding Citizen.

Gerard Butler stars as Clyde Shelton who is forced to watch his wife and daughter get murdered in the first 3 minutes of the film. (Forgive me but I thought Butler looked like the brother of Tom Green)

Jamie Foxx plays as Nick Rice, the DA who prides himself in his high conviction rate.

The murderers were apprehended but the one who did the actual killing makes a deal with Rice to witness against the other guy in order to get a lesser punishment (3 years in jail).

Shelton is outraged and plans his revenge.

10 years pass, the murderer is out of jail - still as nasty as ever - when he gets a phone call. Turns out to be Shelton who kidnaps him and dismembers him in front of a camera.

The police come, arrest Shelton, lock him in jail and thus begins the cat and mouse game.

Somehow people involved in the Shelton murder case are getting killed. All evidence points to Clyde...but he's behind bars. Who's his accomplice and how many have to die before Nick is targeted?

I found this movie to be overly graphic. I didn't need to see Butler repeatedly jab a steak bone in the neck of a guy. Nor did I need to see what a body looks like without arms, legs or a head.

I also hated the language in this film. I felt like I was watching Get Short or some similar film with the number of F words being thrown around like popcorn.

Law Abiding Citizen tries to tell a morality tale about the flaws of the justice system of The United States, but the moral is lost when the story is too lame.

White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner

Does your family have their own little secrets?

The Janviers certainly do.

In White Picket Fences, author Susan Meissner addresses what becomes of a family that tries to appear picture perfect while keeping their secrets buried.

Tally Janvier moves in with her aunt and uncle when social services cannot locate her father. He is somewhere in Europe looking for something and no one is saying what.

Tally and her cousin, Chase become close friends after interviewing Holocaust survivors for a school project. But Chase has a secret all his own and he can't seem to remember everything about it.

These secrets begin to unravel the family as the truth seeps out.

This book had two purposes I felt - 1: it explored family secrets and how they affect everyone involved. 2: it told the story of the real-life rescuer during the Nazi violence; of a woman who would sneak children out of the ghettos by carrying them out inside her canvas bag.

The interview aspects of the story, when Tally and Chase videotape the survivors, is compelling. It will cause you to do some research on your own and learn more about this amazing woman.

In the end, White Picket Fences will hopefully lead you and your family away from unhealthy secrets.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

The Justice Project Edited by Brian McLaren

The Justice Project is the latest offering from the Emergent group.

It is a book of essays that all deal with biblical justice and our world today.

With contributers like Brian McLaren, Tony Jones, Joseph Myers, and Doug Pagitt you know you'll find something that connects with you.

Broken down to 5 sections, you'll read essays that deal with:

The God of Justice - how we see God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit work out justice.

The Book of Justice - the justice we find in Scripture

Justice in the U.S.A. - the history of justice (native Americans), up to the "values voters"

A Just World - moving outside our national borders to bring justice to the world and within our "burbs"

A Just Church - how we can epitomize justice.

Too many people have complained that religion is America has become too politicized with the Religious Right's involvement and obvious collapse, and now with a seemingly growing number of Liberal Christians rising behind the star power of President Obama.

This book removes all areas of complaint and brings out what God has called His people to do with regards to justice in our world.

Let's stop the name calling and get to work.

This book was provided for review by BakerBooks Publishing.

Kabul24 DVD Giveaway

Marking the release of the Kabul24 documentary, I am giving away 10 copies of this DVD.

If you would like to win a copy, please e-mail your request to entertainingyou@wthu.org with a story of what you will do with this video.

Will you give it as a gift, keep if for your own use, or just use the disc as a Christmas decoration?

This giveaway is also happening on my radio show, Entertaining You. You can listen online on Saturdays at 4 PM EST. Just go to the WTHU website and click the Listen Now button.

Ancient Forces Collection by Bill Myers

The Ancient Forces Collection is the final book of the famed Forbidden Doors saga started by Bill Myers. In this collection, the three stories are:

The Ancients - Becka, Scott, their mom and Ryan head out to an Indian Reservation at the request of Z to help a young Indian with his faith in Jesus. They run into trouble with the local shaman who calls down lightning and Ryan begins to experiment with the local beliefs.

The Wiccan - The kids are told to meet with the latest superstar celeb and her new book all about Wicca.

The Cards - A fellow classmate of Scott's gets involved with Tarot cards when he tries to understand his future.

These last books aren't written by Bill Myers and you can tell. The storytelling is not up to his excellent par: we have the characters behaving unlike their normal "bill myers" style, the battles are uninspiring, and the stories themselves leave a lot to be desired.

The biggest letdown is that we never learn the identity of Z, the Internet personality who aids them in the spiritual warfare. We are left with the hint that Becka and Scott's father may actually still be alive.

How can they end a series like that?!!?

Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh

Piper Wick left her hometown of Pickwick, North Carolina for the big city of Los Angeles, twelve years ago and never looked back.

Her hard earned happiness is threatened by an uncle's gulity conscience. Uncle Obadiah Pickwick has decided to change his will, leaving money to make amends for generations worth of family misdeeds. The Pickwick family, not wanting to lose their inheritance or have their family secrets revealed, calls Piper and her sucessful PR skills to come home and to try and talk some sense into Uncle Obadiah.

Piper arrives in Pickwick with the plan to get in and get out but, once there, she can't seem to stay on task. Piper is also trying to make her long distance relationship with her boyfriend work and why can't she stop the feelings she has for Uncle Obadiah's gardener, Axel Smith?


Leaving Carolina is the Christian version of "Sweet Home Alabama": girl leaves the South, goes to big city, has a big-wig boyfriend, has to go home for some reason, falls in love with country boy. This book even has a big, old, slobbery dog in it like "Sweet Home Alabama".


However, it is an entertaining read that anyone with a sense of romance will enjoy. It is a great beach or snuggled under the covers on a rainy day type of book with lots of humor to have you laughing out loud.


This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Publishing

Called to Worship by Vernon M. Whaley

The director of The Center for Worship at Liberty University has written the textbook on finding worship throughout the Bible.

Beginning with Genesis and finishing with us worshiping for all eternity, Called to Worship is the perfect launching pad into studying biblical worship.

Whaley divides this work into 3 parts: Old Testament Principles of Worship, New Testament Principles of Worship, and Worship in Heaven.

He covers: Creation, Before the Fall, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, the Books of History, Psalms and Prophets, Jesus plus the early church.

Each chapter offers principles from that era and offers application for today.

Called to Worship is a very easy read. There is no way you could be bored with this stuff, unless you find worship boring.

This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Publishing

Limelight by Melody Carlson

Limelight tells the story of aging Hollywood actress, Claudette. Her husband passed away leaving her with an accountant who padded his own wallet with their money.

Now she has to move back to her mother's old rustic house and learn how to fend for herself.

Claudette and her sister haven't spoken in years and she isn't going to be the one to make new friends.

How will the fading starlett survive on her own?

I didn't know what to expect with this book. I would say it's written for women. I wasn't too thrilled with it.

About halfway through the story I thought it may turn into a twist-and-turn story where the main character only thought she was a Hollywood actress when, in reality, she was really just a woman dealing with dementia.

This is not the case.

The story isn't exactly the most fun to read (but I'm a guy so take this review as a grain of salt) but the ending is a gut-retching surprise...


This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Diary of a Teenage Girl: What Matters Most by Melody Carlson

Reading the last book of a 16 book series isn't the wisest of choices. Especially having not read any of the previous titles.

What Matters Most tells the story of teenager, Maya who is dealing with figuring out who she is and wants to be.

She has broken up with her boyfriend, yet remains friends. Maya is always having to put out friendship fires.

First a girl thinks Maya's trying to steal her ex-boyfriend. Then Maya's ex-boyfriend gets jealous of how much time she spends with this other guy.

It's quite confusing, being a teenage girl. Drama, drama, drama.

Maya has been learning guitar and decides to perform at an open mic night. Also playing is an all-girl band whose members are looking for a replacement. Maya is that person.

She joins the band and heads off on a tour.

Before all this happens, her mother gets out of jail and tries to mooch whatever she can from her starlet daughter.

But being in the band isn't exactly what Maya wants to do.

How in the world will she ever decide what to do?

This is the diary of a teenage girl.

Drama, drama, drama.

A bonus to the drama: after each chapter diary entry, you get a short tip on how to be environmentally minded with things you can do to keep the world clean.



This book was provided for review by WaterBrooke Multnomah Publishing Group