Book Review and Giveaway

Today’s book review features The Friends We Keep, A Woman’s Quest for the Soul of Friendship by Sarah Zacharias Davis.

It’s no secret that women need friendships – all women. We need to feel connected. We need support, love and understanding that men cannot satisfy. So why is it so hard for women to be TRUE friends? Why do women, especially in groups, tend to be catty, passive aggressive, judgmental, back-stabbing, and competitive? The Friends We Keep attempts to answer these questions. But rather than provide concrete answers, the author simply raises the questions, discusses them in detail and provides real life examples when women have succeeded, or, more often, failed to be genuine friends. Obviously, the answer to each of these questions resides only deep within in our hearts and minds . . . and it’s up to each of us to ferret out the answers and undertake to change the areas where we’re lacking. The hope is that if we can become the kinds of friends we desire, we will, in turn, attract like-minded women into our group. I really enjoyed The Friends We Keep; I only wish the book could have provided me the answers, and easy ones at that!

I have one copy The Friends We Keep by Sarah Zacharias Davis to give away. To enter the random drawing, please send your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be selected on Friday, August 14, 2009. I also have one copy of The Essentials of Effective Prayer Bible Study to give away (see below). You can enter for one or both of the books. Good luck.

Below is the summary from the publisher. You can purchase the book here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307446114

Summary

During a particularly painful time in her life, Sarah Zacharias Davis learned how delightful–and wounding–women can be in friendship. She saw how some friendships end badly, others die slow deaths, and how a chance acquaintance can become that enduring friend you need.

The Friends We Keep is Sarah’s thoughtful account of her own story and the stories of other women about navigating friendship. Her revealing discoveries tackle the questions every woman asks:

• Why do we long so for women friends?
• Do we need friends like we need air or food or water?
• What causes cattiness, competition, and co-dependency in too many friendships?
• Why do some friendships last forever and others only a season?
• How do I foster friendship?
• When is it time to let a friend go, and how do I do so?

With heartfelt, intelligent writing, Sarah explores these questions and more with personal stories, cultural references and history, faith, and grace. In the process, she delivers wisdom for navigating the challenges, mysteries, and delights of friendship: why we need friendships with other women, what it means to be safe in relationship, and how to embrace what a friend has to offer, whether meager or generous.

ALSO, YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THE FOLLOWING:
The 40 Minute Bible Study series from beloved Bible teacher Kay Arthur and the teaching staff of Precept Ministries tackles important issues in brief, easy-to-grasp lessons you can use personally or for small-group discussion. Each book in the series includes six 40-minute studies designed to draw you into God’s Word through basic inductive Bible study. There are 16 titles in the series, with topics ranging from fasting and forgiveness to prayer and worship. With no homework required, everyone in the group can work through the lesson together at the same time. Let these respected Bible teachers lead you in a study that will transform your thinking—and your life.

Titles Include:
•The Essentials of Effective Prayer •Being a Disciple: Counting the Cost
•Building a Marriage That Really Works •Discovering What the Future Holds
•Forgiveness: Breaking the Power of the Past •Having a Real Relationship with God
•How Do You Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk? •Living a Life of Real Worship
•How to Make Choices You Won’t Regret •Living Victoriously in Difficult Times
•Money & Possessions: The Quest for Contentment •Rising to the Call of Leadership
•How Do You Know God’s Your Father? •Key Principles of Biblical Fasting
•A Man’s Strategy for Conquering Temptation •What Does the Bible Say About Sex?

Kay Arthur, executive vice president and cofounder of Precept Ministries International has worked with her teaching staff to create the powerful 40-Minute Bible Studies series. Kay is known around the world as a Bible teacher, author, conference speaker, and host of national radio and television programs.

Today’s book review features three books in honor of Mother’s Day coming up this Sunday, but you don’t have to be a mom to enjoy them. I have one copy of each of these books to give away to my readers. To enter the random drawing for one or all of these books, just e-mail me at seewhykinsman@gmail.com. Indicate which book you would like (you can enter the drawing for one, two or all three books). Winners will be announced on Friday, May 8th.



Mama’s Got a Fake I.D. by Caryn Dahlstrand Rivadeneira

My oldest sister, Linda, used to go “ballistic” whenever anyone introduced her as “Heather’s mother” or “Kent’s wife”. She would use humor, but inform you, “I have a name. I’m more than someone’s wife or mother. I’m Linda!” So, to annoy her, I would deliberately introduce her as “someone’s something”! Since my sister regularly reads my blog, I’m taking a chance by admitting this, although I’d like to think I’ve grown beyond such silly games and she hopefully would agree.

In Mama’s Got a Fake I.D., Caryn Dahlstrand Rivadeneira addresses the loss of identity mother’s experience. She also focuses on the role of the church (including other women and mothers) in not only taking women’s identities, but making them feel guilty for being frustrated or irritated by their lack of identity except as “mother.” This is an excellent book for moms of all labels, “Stay at Home Mom” “Working Mom” “Soccer Mom”, etc.

This book is available from your favorite bookseller and Random House at this link:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074938&ref=externallink_wbm_mamasgotafakeid_sec_0330%20_01

Below is the summary from the publisher.

Summary:

Formula for identity loss:

1. Take one multifaceted, intriguing human being.
2. Bless her with a child.
3. Mix with today’s cultural assumptions.
4. Add the demands of motherhood.
5. Presto! All identity except Mom disappears.

For every woman wondering what happened to the unique combination of gifts and abilities she was known for before kids came along, Caryn Dahlstrand Rivedeneira has good news: in Mama’s Got a Fake I.D., Rivedeneira helps moms reclaim their full identity as creative beings, gifted professionals and volunteers, loving friends, children of God—and mothers.

This inspiring and practical guide shows women how to break free from false guilt, learn a new language to express who they really are, and follow God’s lead in sharing their true self with others. After all, motherhood doesn’t have to mean losing one’s identity. Instead, being a mom makes it possible for a woman to discover a more complete identity as the person God made her to be.

Author Bio:
The former managing editor of Marriage Partnership and Christian Parenting Today, Caryn Dahlstrand Rivedeneira has been a trusted voice writing and speaking to women for more than a decade. Today she is the managing editor of GiftedForLeadership.com, an online community for Christian women in leadership. Rivadeneira works from home in the Chicago suburbs, where she lives with her husband and their three children.



Dear Mom by Melody Carlson

If you are the parent of a teenage girl – or will be at some point – or if you know someone who is frustrated with their teenage daughter, Dear Mom by Melody Carlson is for you. Melody writes from the perspective of a teenage girl and this “teen” will speak directly to you, telling you what she thinks and feels and how she wishes you would act. Carlson has an uncanny ability to give voice to that frustrating teen girl and will walk parents through the minefield of hormones and impossible to win scenarios like when to treat her like a child and when to treat her like an adult and how to know the difference, how to deal with their body issues, get them to talk to you, and get them to listen. This book is an excellent resource to any parent of a teenage girl.

This book is available from Random House here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074914&ref=externallink_wbm_dearmom_sec_0330%20_01

Below is the summary from the publisher:

Summary:

Every mom knows how communicating with a teenage girl can be difficult, even impossible at times. One-word answers. Defensive conversations. Daily arguments. How typical for teens to put up such barriers. All the while, moms truly long to know what their daughters really think.

Best-selling author Melody Carlson, whose books for women, teens, and children have sold more than three million copies, bridges this chasm with trusted insight. She speaks frankly in the voice of the teen daughters she’s written for and she tells it like it is: struggles with identity, guys, friendship, and even parents—it’s all here. The straight-talk to moms covers such things as “I need you, but you can’t make me admit it,” “I’m not as confident as I appear,” and “I have friends. I need a mother.”

Instead of focusing on outward behaviors, Dear Mom looks at a young woman’s heart and reveals to moms:

· how to talk to teens so they hear,
· how to connect despite the differences of perspective or years and experiences,
· and how strengthen the bond every mom and daughter ultimately wants.

The lively chapters in Dear Mom can be dipped into topically or used as a read-through tool by moms and daughters alike to understand what motivates or deflates, troubles or inspires—and just in time for Mother’s Day and all the Mother’s Days ahead.

Author Bio:
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than one hundred books for adults, children, and teens, with sales totaling more than three million copies. Beloved for her Diary of a Teenage Girl and Notes from a Spinning Planet series, she’s also the author of the women’s novels Finding Alice (in production now for a Lifetime-TV movie), Crystal Lies, On This Day, These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking, and A Mile in My Flip-Flops. A mother of two grown sons, Melody lives in central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. She’s a full-time writer and an avid gardener, biker, skier, and hiker.




Enduring Justice by Amy Wallace

Enduring Justice is book three of the Defenders of Hope Series by Amy Wallace. However, you don’t have to read books one and two to easily understand and keep up with the action in Enduring Justice. This is a book about a grown woman’s battle to come to grips with the fact she was molested as a child by a family friend, a secret she has kept her entire life, until now. Aside from her personal struggles is the fact that her brother and boyfriend are involved in law enforcement and regularly have occasion to try to bring child abusers and predators to justice. When the protagonist “fesses up” to her loved ones, she also hopes to find justice in the legal system to prevent this predator from hurting others. The second, related story line involves the ugly world of white supremacists and their terrorist activities which strike too close to home.

This is a good, clean cut, Christian themed justice thriller.

You can purchase this book from Random House here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601420145&ref=externallink_mlt_enduringjustice_sec_0330_01

Below is the summary from the publisher.

Summary

In Enduring Justice, Hanna Kessler’s childhood secret has remained buried for over two decades. But when the dark shadows of her past threaten to destroy those she loves, Hanna must face the summer that changed her life and the man who still haunts her thoughts,Crimes Against Children FBI Agent, Michael Parker knows what it means to get knocked down. And when the system fails and a white supremacist is set free, Michael’s drive for retribution eclipses all else.

A racist’s well-planned assault forces Hanna and Michael to decide between executing vengeance and pursuing justice. When the attack turns personal, is healing still possible?

This thought-provoking novel deals with healing from sexual abuse, the balance of justice and mercy, and maintaining mixed-race friendships in the midst of racial tension. Readers who enjoy investigative thrillers by Dee Henderson, Colleen Coble, and Catherine Coulter, and who watch crime dramas like Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Minds, and Without a Trace will love this book—and the entire series.

Author Bio:
Amy Wallace is the author of Ransomed Dreams and Healing Promises, a homeschool mom, and self-confessed chocoholic. She is a graduate of the Gwinnett County Citizens Police Academy and a contributing author of several books including God Answers Moms’ Prayers and Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Diabetes. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia.

Book Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations go to our winners of the book giveaway drawings:

Reeva of Fort Washington, MD, won the For Couples Only book set by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn.

Trudi of Foley, AL, will receive I Do Again by Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs.

Pam from Urbana, IL, and Dana from Savannah, GA, each won a copy of Intimate Issues by Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus.

Lisa of Odessa, TX, will receive The Love as a Way of Life Devotional by Gary Chapman.

Please check in on Monday for another book review and the start of another week-long giveaway!

Book Giveaways -- Reminder

Friday, February 13th, I am giving away two copies of Intimate Issues by Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus, as well as one copy of each of the following books: The Love as a Way of Life Devotional by Gary Chapman, For Couples Only book set by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn, and I Do Again by Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs. If you would like to enter to win a copy of any of these books, please e-mail your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. Please specify the title of the book you are entering to win or just tell me "any of the four" and I'll enter your name in all the drawings. If you tell me your favorite trait about your spouse or significant other, I will enter your name twice in the drawing(s) you request to increase your chances of winning. Good luck!

Let's Talk About S*X

Yesterday I reviewed several books about relationships, but no such discussion would be complete without talking about sex. Intimate Issues, 21 Questions Christian Women Ask About Sex, by Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus, is a book about God's intentions for your sex life. "What do you mean? God cares about my sex life?" You betcha. Not only does He care, but He created sex as part of His gift to you and your spouse; He intended for it to be a crucial part of marriage.

I have often gotten on my soapbox about believers who become too religious for their own good. By that I mean they worry about their image to the point that they stop being real and authentic. They're so busy being a "good Christian" they hide behind a facade which is far different from the human being underneath the mask. As a result, they shy away from honest conversations about how they feel, what they think, their struggles in following Yeshua (Jesus), asking honest questions about God, etc. When you add to that the taboo subject of sexual relations, every Christ-follower feels completely alone on topics related to intimacy.

Intimate Issues is a great book to address all the questions you were afraid to ask or, in my case, all the questions you didn't even know to ask! When I started to read this book, I was a little irritated. I thought, "Why did I agree to review this book? I don't need to read this. I have an extremely open and healthy attitude about sex. I know God intended for us to enjoy sex within the union of marriage." Then I came to the subject of forgiveness for past sexual sins. Wow. I had no idea the condemnation I felt for things I did before I became a believer. I had asked God to forgive all my sins; I thought I'd forgiven myself. Boy, was I wrong! This book is leading me to freedom in that regard (I say "leading" as opposed to "led" because for many women, it's a process.)

It's true that the world is too permissive when it comes to sex, but it's also true that most in the church are too repressed, rejecting God's gift of marital intimacy and the important role it was intended to play in marriage. Intimate Issues by Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus gives the reader an opportunity to have honest conversations about sex in a God-centered environment. It's like talking to your two best Christian friends about the topics you may not be comfortable discussing face-to-face. In addition to talking about what God intended for the marriage bed, difficult subjects are covered such as healing from sexual abuse, what to do when your husband's sex drive is low, dealing with impotency, recovering from guilt of a past abortion, pornography, and other tough topics. This book is a great resource, one I dare say any married woman should read!

Below is the summary from the publisher and information on how to enter to win a free copy of this book:

Intimate Issues answers the twenty-one questions about sex most frequently asked by Christian wives, as determined by a nationwide poll of over one thousand women. Written from the perspective of two mature Christian wives and Bible teachers-women who you'll come to know as teachers and friends-Intimate Issues is biblical and informative: sometimes humorous, other times practical, but always honest. Through its solid teaching warm testimonials, scriptural insights, and experts' advice, you'll find resolution for your questions and fears, surprising insights about God's perspective on sex, and a variety of practical and creative ideas for enhancing your physical relationship with the husband you love.

With warmth and wisdom, authors Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus speak woman to woman: examining the teachings of Scripture, exposing the lies of the world, and offering real hope that every woman's marriage relationship can become all it was intended to be in God's design.

This book is available at www.amazon.com and other book retailers. I have TWO copies to give away. If you would like to enter to win a copy, please e-mail your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. Please specify you are entering to win Intimate Issues . I am also giving away one copy each of the following books: The Love as a Way of Life Devotional by Gary Chapman, For Couples Only book set by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn, and I Do Again by Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs. You can request your name be placed in the drawing to win any of these books and, if you tell me your favorite trait about your spouse, I will enter your name twice in the drawing(s) you request to increase your chances of winning. All winners will be drawn on Friday, February 13th! Good luck!

Let's Talk About S*X

Yesterday I reviewed several books about relationships, but no such discussion would be complete without talking about sex. Intimate Issues, 21 Questions Christian Women Ask About Sex, by Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus, is a book about God's intentions for your sex life. "What do you mean? God cares about my sex life?" You betcha. Not only does He care, but He created sex as part of His gift to you and your spouse; He intended for it to be a crucial part of marriage.

I have often gotten on my soapbox about believers who become too religious for their own good. By that I mean they worry about their image to the point that they stop being real and authentic. They're so busy being a "good Christian" they hide behind a facade which is far different from the human being underneath the mask. As a result, they shy away from honest conversations about how they feel, what they think, their struggles in following Yeshua (Jesus), asking honest questions about God, etc. When you add to that the taboo subject of sexual relations, every Christ-follower feels completely alone on topics related to intimacy.

Intimate Issues is a great book to address all the questions you were afraid to ask or, in my case, all the questions you didn't even know to ask! When I started to read this book, I was a little irritated. I thought, "Why did I agree to review this book? I don't need to read this. I have an extremely open and healthy attitude about sex. I know God intended for us to enjoy sex within the union of marriage." Then I came to the subject of forgiveness for past sexual sins. Wow. I had no idea the condemnation I felt for things I did before I became a believer. I had asked God to forgive all my sins; I thought I'd forgiven myself. Boy, was I wrong! This book is leading me to freedom in that regard (I say "leading" as opposed to "led" because for many women, it's a process.)

It's true that the world is too permissive when it comes to sex, but it's also true that most in the church are too repressed, rejecting God's gift of marital intimacy and the important role it was intended to play in marriage. Intimate Issues by Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus gives the reader an opportunity to have honest conversations about sex in a God-centered environment. It's like talking to your two best Christian friends about the topics you may not be comfortable discussing face-to-face. In addition to talking about what God intended for the marriage bed, difficult subjects are covered such as healing from sexual abuse, what to do when your husband's sex drive is low, dealing with impotency, recovering from guilt of a past abortion, pornography, and other tough topics. This book is a great resource, one I dare say any married woman should read!

Below is the summary from the publisher and information on how to enter to win a free copy of this book:

Intimate Issues answers the twenty-one questions about sex most frequently asked by Christian wives, as determined by a nationwide poll of over one thousand women. Written from the perspective of two mature Christian wives and Bible teachers-women who you'll come to know as teachers and friends-Intimate Issues is biblical and informative: sometimes humorous, other times practical, but always honest. Through its solid teaching warm testimonials, scriptural insights, and experts' advice, you'll find resolution for your questions and fears, surprising insights about God's perspective on sex, and a variety of practical and creative ideas for enhancing your physical relationship with the husband you love.

With warmth and wisdom, authors Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus speak woman to woman: examining the teachings of Scripture, exposing the lies of the world, and offering real hope that every woman's marriage relationship can become all it was intended to be in God's design.

This book is available at www.amazon.com and other book retailers. I have TWO copies to give away. If you would like to enter to win a copy, please e-mail your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. Please specify you are entering to win Intimate Issues . I am also giving away one copy each of the following books: The Love as a Way of Life Devotional by Gary Chapman, For Couples Only book set by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn, and I Do Again by Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs. You can request your name be placed in the drawing to win any of these books and, if you tell me your favorite trait about your spouse, I will enter your name twice in the drawing(s) you request to increase your chances of winning. All winners will be drawn on Friday, February 13th! Good luck!