The X and Y of Buy by Elizabeth Pace

The X and Y of Buy is a great book for anyone dealing with relationships. Not only will this book help seal the deal for marketing and sales, but it will help you understand the opposite sex.

Elizabeth Pace has written the how-to book on marketing to men and women. Not only does she give you practical advice, but her research explains everything from how our brains react to why men behave the way they do while women behave in a totally different way.

I thought this book was wonderful! My career isn't really about sales but I found the information to be informative without being boring. Pace has a talent at getting her point across in layman's terms I found myself turning through the pages just waiting to see what else I could learn about the opposite sex that would help me in my relationships. Plus it helped me understand why I behave the way I do.

I enjoyed her description of how men and women shop differently: men want to go right to their item and leave, and women want the entire shop-senses experience.

This book is for anyone wanting to understand men and women.

Elyon by Ted Dekker & Kaci Hill

Reading the latest additions to Ted Dekker's Young Adult novels were like watching a television show that had gone on for too many seasons.

Elyon wraps up the YA series called, The Lost Books. (or so we think) And I wasn't connecting at all to the characters or the story like I did in the first 4 novels.

There are too many brand new characters that came from nowhere in the mythos of these books. Sadly, these last two books (Lunatic & Elyon) seemed to be rushed and didn't have the punch that a typical Dekker novel - even young adult - has.

Johnis, has a woman possessing him (what?) and his girlfriend goes along for the ride all the while, trying to get him back to normal. Darsal, who was the villain in Chaos has become the ultimate good girl and is trying to love her arch nemesis.

I said this in the review for Lunatic but Ted, please - PLEASE stop writing these YA books and stick with adult thrillers.

She Still Calls Me Daddy by Robert Wolgemuth

She Still Calls Me Daddy is a book for fathers of the bride. Seeing as I am not at the stage in life, I was a little disconnected to this book.

Robert Wolgemuth (wool-ga-mooth) writes to fathers and how they should behave now that their daughters are not longer under their protection.

Dads should learn to keep their distance but also learn their new areas of responsibility. Instead of protecting their daughter, they must now protect the marriage, they must learn as much as they can about their son-in-law, and many many other tried-and-true ideas.

Coming from a guy who is a son-in-law, I highly recommend this to any father who gave his daughter away at a wedding. This book will help you understand how to continue to be a father but in a new role.

Luckily I get to interview Robert and get his views first hand.

The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita Paul

I had never read the Dragon series by Donita Paul, so I was a little hesitant to pick up this first book by her. The Vanishing Sculptor is based in the same world as her dragon series, but new characters and new lands.

Tipper is the daughter of an expert artisan - who has disappeared. (Catch the title?) She has been selling his work in order to pay for the estate in which she lives.

One night, her father returns with two friends, a wizard and a librarian; but something isn't quite right. He keeps vanishing and then reappearing.

These four, along with Tipper's talking bird and little house dragons, set off on a quest to retrieve 3 of her father's sculptures in order to set things right with dad.

Paul continues her allegory with the God character being called another name. I'm not sure where the dragons fit in with everything and the character names were a mouthful. I couldn't find myself engaging with the story but that may be because I've not read her previous work.

This book would be a nice gift for fantasy lovers and young teenagers.

Be sure to check the book out at the Random House website here.



This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing

Relentless by Dean Koontz

The latest from Dean Koontz will send you into an emotional roller coaster.

Relentless is a story about an author named Cubby who reads a negative review from a highly regarded critic. When he stumbles into him during a lunch, the terror begins and never lets up.

It's an emotional roller coaster because you'll feel terror one moment, and the next sentence will having you laughing.

In one chapter in particular, you'll feel the kind of dread that leaves you empty and longing for someone to hug.

Relentless is Koontz at his best!

There are scenes of violence, and the characters do use foul language that may or may not have been needed.

Like most Koontz stories, you'll find the themes that you've come to expect: an intelligent dog, a dead cat, the power of faith and love.

Relentless gets 4 out of 5 stars for excellence!

Eyes Wide Open by Jud Wilhite

Pastor of a large church in Sin City, Jud Wilhite tells stories of God's amazing grace in his second book, Eyes Wide Open.

If you enjoy hearing real-life stories followed by biblical teachings, this book is for you. It felt like I was reading a mix between Jim Cymbala and Max Lucado. Wilhite has the ability to pull you into the personal stories and then hit you with the foundational biblical truth we all need, no matter what stage of life, to understand the grace of God.

You'll find stories about Johnny Cash, Evil Knievel, bounty hunters, strippers and many more.

Someone saw what I was reading and asked, "I wonder what is must be like being a pastor in Las Vegas." You can find out the true stories by picking up Jud Wilhite's book Eyes Wide Open.

Be sure to go here and order Wilhite's book.

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601420725

Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart by Chuck Black

Written as young adult allegory, Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart tells the story of young Dalton who is in training to become a Knight of the Prince.

During his training, he meets two new novices who seem to be very zealous in the ways of their King and Prince while the trainer gives advice that seems to be contrary to the King's ways.

This book cuts through the years as if you were watching a Saturday morning cartoon which makes it excellent for a young mind to consume. I passed it on to a teenager friend of mine and they had it read within the day. He loved it!

Dalton makes his way beyond training and, on his first battle mission, gets captured by the evil Lord Drox.

Lord Drox preys on the fears of fellow soldiers and takes Dalton to his cavernous prison. Here, Dalton finds other Knights of the Prince who have given up their zeal and hope of escape.

Following his daring escape, Dalton is mortally wounded by Lord Drox but survives due to the rescue of a mysterious man who claims to collect things and make them like new. For those playing along at home, you should catch on to this allegorical character.

Once healed, Dalton decides to return to the prison and rescue his fellow Knights. But will he overcome his fear of Lord Drox?

Find Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart at the RandomHouse website here.



This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing.

The Disappearance of God by R. Albert Mohler Jr.

R. Albert Mohler Jr. has written a response to the deterioration of Christianity. In The Disappearance of God Mohler goes on the attack against post-modernism, the Emergent Church and its most prominent spokesman, Brian McLaren.

In the small book, we are privy to a loving reaction to a number of problems found within Church walls. These problems include: lack of teaching on sin, the absence of hell in biblical teaching, why the Emerging Church, under McLaren, is on a dangerous path toward heresy, why the church has removed itself from proper discipline and why pastors no longer preach exposition.

At first glance, those topics may seem boring and very fundamental. However Mohler points out the dangers to this new way of behaving in church that will keep you turning the pages.

He doesn't exactly support his views with Scripture (I missed the footnotes) and this book would be ridiculed by most in the post-modern worldview but his is a voice that is trying to salvage the basic foundations of the Christian faith. Mohler's point is that, contrary to post-modern thought, there is Truth that is truth for everyone. The pluralistic society we find ourselves living in can lead to the destruction of authentic Christian faith.

You can purchase and find more information about The Disappearance of God by going to the Random House Publishing website here.

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601420817

Lunatic by Ted Dekker & Kaci Hill

I must be spoiled by Robert Liparulo's young adult novels because Dekker's YA work just leaves me feeling...bleak? I suppose would be an appropriate word.

For the final 2 books of The Lost Books series, Ted Dekker has brought another author from within his website fans, Kaci Hill. First up is Lunatic. The story picks up right where Choas, the 4th book left off. The 3 Chosen Ones (Johnis, Darsal and Silvie) are planning to return to their world and leave ours behind.

Once they do, they realize 5 years have gone by and their world is horribly wrong. Their fearless leader, Thomas, is missing with his select group calling themselves The Circle. And the villains of their world, The Horde, have taken over their lands.

Once the kids return, they seem to know every evil Horde leader. Remember, it's been 5 years and these are new evil characters. Maybe I missed something. It has been a while since I've read the first 4 books.

Of the 3 remaining Chosen Ones, Johnis and Silvie decide to find Thomas and his Circle while Darsal decides to create a diversion and in so doing, gets herself captured.

The girl on the cover of the book is a new character who is messing with the boy's mind. She wants to use him for some diabolical plan. Of which we have to wait for the final book to figure out what it is.

I got these hoping for some salvation of the boredom from the first 4 books and so far, have been greatly disappointed.

Maybe it's time to move away, far away from the Young Adult section and just stick with adult novels Ted.

The First Paul by Marcus Borg

Marcus Borg and John D. Crossan have teamed up again in The First Paul.

In this book, they describe how there are multiple versions of Paul in The New Testament including the radical Paul, the conservative Paul, the pseudo Paul and others.

They point out the differences found in the letters from Paul and how one man couldn't have written all of them because of their differences.

They tackle such issues as Christ "dying for us". Borg and Crossan believe that Paul didn't see Jesus dying for our sins as many evangelical Christians do today. Paul, in their opinion, saw Christ's death as a model for early Christ-followers to live out. "To die and rise again in Christ"

It's amazing how scholarly Borg and Crossan can be when it comes to historicity but take such a sharp turn when it comes to biblical truth.

That being said, Borg's books are much easier to read than N.T. Wright's.

Fireproof

Watched this film last night while eating pizza. (Thanks mom-in-law!)

I don't think I would have made a trip to rent this film, but I'm glad I saw it.

Fireproof is the latest movie created by the producers behind Facing the Giants. It stars Kirk Cameron as a firefighter named Caleb whose marriage is crumbling.

From the very beginning, you feel the tension between Caleb and his wife. Yelling, sarcastic retorts, doors slamming.

At the office, Caleb is captain of the firehouse and the men respect him. His wife works at the hospital and has a married doctor on her heels. (please note this would be considered wrong)

Following a horrific fight, they decide to begin the divorce process. Caleb goes to his father seeking advice and gets an earful about something called The Love Dare.

Fireproof is the best movie made, by Alex Kendrick and his brother Stephen, so far. The acting still isn't quite pristine but it's better than most Christian-made films out there.

Cameron does a decent job as the lead. His "angry" voice/acting is a little unbelievable but that may be the fault of me always seeing him as Mike Seaver from Growing Pains.

All in all, Fireproof is good for any DVD collection.