You Can Adopt Without Debt by Julie Leanne Gumm

Thinking about adoption can be a daunting task because you're thinking about the costs. Even with the credits and grants, the entire endeavor can be overwhelming.

Gumm provides an excellent resource for people interested in the adoption process. She provides plenty of ideas and options for anyone pursuing one of three types of adoption avenues.

You will read the pros and cons for Foster Care Adoption, Domestic Adoption, and International Adoption.

Just quickly going through those might be overwhelming but stick with her because she has gone through the process and gives plenty of streamlined thoughts and routes. She talks about budgeting and  fundraising ideas as well as grants and where to find the right one to fit your family.

Adoption is expensive but after reading this book, you'll have plenty in your financial arsenal to make this endeavor a reality.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Abingdon Press.

Jesus, Continued by J.D. Greear

I enjoyed Greear's other work about stop asking Jesus into your heart. He has a way to grab attention with book titles. This one is similar: Why the Spirit inside you is better than Jesus beside you.

Well let's just dig in and see what Greear unpacks!

This book is a treasure trove of teaching on the Holy Spirit. You might not hear too many sermons on the Holy Spirit and you may be a bit nervous because there's been this almost spooky supernatural tag-along for some time.

Greear unloads the weight with three parts: The Missing Spirit (dealing with the lack of understanding), Experiencing The Holy Spirit (looking at all the areas a person can experience this third person of the Trinity; such as the Bible, Church, and our circumstances), and Seeking the Holy Spirit (what exactly are we looking for?)

There can be no doubt that Greear has a talent when it comes to explaining biblical reality. It may seem like it was an area of Christianity lost due to evangelical's strong push for Bible and "soul winning", but this is a book everyone can sink their teeth into.

I appreciated his candor and truth-telling.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Zondervan Publishing.

Lincoln in the World by Kevin Peraino

There are so many books about President Lincoln. What in the world could be said that hasn't already been repeated? Enter Kevin Peraino's book on Lincoln's foreign policy.

Wait a minute. Lincoln's foreign policy? Wasn't he consumed with The Civil War and all that mess within The United States? How in the world did he have time for anything else?

Peraino pulls back the curtain and reveals just what the President thought and did.

Beginning with his time as a Congressman and what he believed during the Mexican War, Peraino lays it out in a concise manner. This is actually a very interesting and easy read.

Lincoln fans and history buffs must get this book.

It also tackles how the President interacted with some of the big egos within the State Department and other officials.

Take some time to move away from the Civil War for a few days and read through this book. Your admiration for Lincoln will probably grow deeper as you unpack his thinking on issues across the pond.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Broadway Books.

Checkmate by Steven James

Steven James brings his Bowers Files series to a conclusion with Checkmate. Eight books and he's still going strong.

I have been amazed at how James can continue to twist and turn his way through these thick thrillers. He always caught me off guard. I would try to figure out the villain and I would always get surprised. (Maybe that reveals how weak I am at detective work) This final entry wasn't so much about tricking you with the villain as much concluding a story.

As with his other Patrick Bowers books, this one feels complete. The characters have a depth to them and get flesh and bones to them. James has the ability to craft plot, character, and theme so tightly that you feel satisfied with each book. It's like eating a four-course meal reading Steven James.

The last three novels, Opening Moves, The King, and Checkmate felt a little different from the others as if they were their own separate trilogy. Part of that was because it seemed they were a bit more on the graphic side of describing the violence. The climactic ending of Checkmate has some graphic aspects to it.

I remember James writing that he hoped he didn't glorify violence but revealed it. But it sure felt like a glorification and that turned me off a bit. (Just a bit)

I will keep reading whatever James writes. The Patrick Bowers series was fantastic and Checkmate was a worthy finish.

The Zimzum of Love by Rob and Kristen Bell

Rob Bell has delved into the onslaught of "HELP MY MARRIAGE" book sales. This time he's tag-teamed with his wife to unpack an ancient word and the stick figure drawings that go along with it.

This is a short book of five chapters, epilogue, questions, and notes. It's written in the Rob Bell style with an addition of conversation style interludes thrown in.

Upon finishing this book I leaned back in my chair and thought, this read like Rob Bell's version of "Love and Respect" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. They both have very similar ideas and personal stories to send them home. This book just has Bell's cadence.

I didn't find a new understanding of marriage (as the book promises). But it was an entertaining book full of strong points and compassionate wisdom.

He does toss in a throw-away line about marriage including gay and straight so that is sure to upset some of the readers. But if you've followed Rob Bell at all, you know he came out in support of gay marriage during his last book.

I enjoyed reading the dialogue between Rob and his wife. It was entertaining. Reading this book felt like I was sitting around a coffee table with the two of them, listening and enjoying their company.

The Uncommon Marriage Adventure by Tony and Lauren Dungy

This is a nice couples daily devotional.

Tony and Lauren take turns writing and their words compliment one another. It would probably be best if you read this devotional while you and your spouse were together. They provide practical ideas.

Each day begins with a core practice, such as "don't expect your spouse to be able to read your mind", followed by a passage of Scripture then some words of advice. At the end of the devotional, they give you an adventure application to try.

Each devotion takes up about a page and a half to read through.

Like the better marriage devotionals, the Dungy's make you feel like you're sitting at a table listening to them tell stories. It feels very inclusive and solid.

The uncommon brand is part of Tony Dungy and this collaboration is a welcome addition to that brand.

The biggest challenge may be to get couples to make the time to read this together and try out some of the applications.

This book was provided for review, at no cost by, Tyndale Publishing.

Slaying the Debt Dragon by Cherie Lowe

This is a great book dealing with debt and getting it under control - even eliminating it.

Cherie provides plenty of practical advice and how-tos for every adult in your family. However, after reading Dave Ramsey's dynamic Makeover book, I feel like comparing every other financial book off of his.

Cherie even references Ramsey's book plenty of times. It almost would be best to read his and use this as a suplimental resource.

Not much else to say about this book. It was an easy read. It provides wonderful, practical advice. If you don't want to read Ramsey, this would be a close second.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Tyndale Momentum Publishing.

The Adama Gambit (graphic novel)

This graphic novel brings back the memories of the original Battlestar Galactica.

The artwork and storytelling was fantastic. The characters were as I remembered the original Starbuck, Boomer, Apollo and others. The only excemption was with the story about the characters dreaming about earth. Commander Adama comes across as a mindless zealot with no control of his rational mind. I don't remember the Commander being anything like that and that one character development took me outside of the otherwise engaging story.

This was much longer than I was expecting. There were more stories involved in this volume and it kept me interested.

Everything about this volume will jump you back to your old television set. The cylons are perfectly drawn and the situations feel right at home in the television show.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Dynamite Entertainment.