Not A Creature Was Stirring - A Review

Not A Creature Was Stirring

by

Christina Freeburn

A Review

Henery Press continues to produce some of the best cozy mysteries on the market - Christina Freeburn’s newest book, the first in a new series, is no exception.

Merry Christmas (yep, that is her name) arrives at the first of the season’s craft sales in Morgantown, West Virginia, with an awful smell in her new (though used) RV. And she is the first, and most likely suspect, in the murder of her ex-husband who is the source of the rancid smell.

With the help of Ebenezer, Merry’s pet guinea pig, she will have to survive the obnoxious detective and the various attempts to sabotage her work as a Etsy dealer, in order to discover the actual culprit.

The book kept moving forward at a satisfying pace, held this reader’s attention and kept him returning for more. The possible suspects grows and keeps the reader guessing and gathering clues as the story progresses. The book should remain satisfying to most cozy mystery readers. The book will make a great Christmas read - except its publication is not expected till after the new year (January 2019). Perhaps a January purchase in preparation for a Christmas 2019 gift.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Purpose of Christmas - A Review

The Purpose of Christmas

by

Rick Warren

A Review

Howard Books presents a new edition of a short, 4 chapter, book originally written in 2008 by Rick Warren, founding pastor of the world-famous Saddleback Church in Irvine, CA. The author is best known for the classic The Purpose Driven Life. I suppose this reviewer should be open and honest by saying he has never read that classic or any other book by Rick Warren until the publisher dropped the current book in his mailbox for review.

The current book presents three purposes for Christmas:

1. Celebration 
2. Salvation 
3. Reconciliation 

I suspect that the author does not mean to say these are the only three purposes for Christmas, but they are three purposes for Christmas. Along with an introductory chapter, the author makes each purpose into a chapter. The chapters are then subdivided into shorter sub-points focusing on these three purposes. I felt like I was reading the transcript of a 20-year-old sermon series – with the thesis statements and their sub-points being clearly stated in the text and its subdivisions.The book is readable and not hobbled by sermonese. What is missing are solid references for much of the material – scripture references are well-documented, but other content is not. This makes it hard to distinguish between opinion and fact.

I appreciated the suggested “Birthday Party for Jesus” found at the end of the book – appropriate for families, adult, youth or children’s groups. The idea is presented early in the book, but the details are laid out in the final pages of the volume.

The book may make a great gift for the church to give to its members as a pre-Advent gift. It might also find a home in the church library for families to borrow for the Christmas season. 

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Murder With All The Trimmings - A Review

Murder With All The Trimmings

by

Shawn Reilly Simmons

A Review

Shawn Reilly Simmons has created another great cozy mystery for Henery Press and their readers. Penelope Sutherland and her Red Carpet Caterers has been asked to provide catering services for the major Christmas extravaganza being held at a classically old theater in the heart of New York City. But the day after Thanksgiving, as she and her team begin to plan and set up for the weeks-long event, the first murder occurs.

Penelope’s boyfriend and the NYC Police Detective investigating the case tell her to “keep out of it.” But, like any good protagonist in a cozy mystery, Penelope cannot keep out of it. And because of that, the reader keeps turning the pages of a well-written story.

To be honest, there was one point about 1/3 of the way through the book that became so slow, this reader almost put the book down. He is glad that he did not. The reader who likes to travel – whether visiting New York City, the larger State of New York, the US Pacific Northwest, or the US Southwest – is encouraged to keep a map handy.

Looking for a good read for those few slow days following Thanksgiving or to tide you over until the most hectic time of Christmas Eve and the remainder of the holidays, Murder With All The Trimmings might just put you into survival mode.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

God Winks Christmas Stories - A Review

God Winks

Christmas Stories

by

Squire BushnellLouise Duart

A Review

Devotions based on true-life stories – it was a new concept to me, but husband and wife Bushnell and Duart carry it off well. Each entry consists of three parts:

1. A brief story (four or five pages in length)– some have been previously published, but all were new to me
2. Some brief devotional thoughts (“Reflections”) based on the story and asking the reader to reflect upon their own busy life.
3. A Scripture verse (a possible memory verse?) which again strengthens the lessons inherent in the stories.

The 30 parables serve to remind the reader that God can work in remarkable ways in a world full of broken people. Whether the brokenness is the result of loss, consequences, illness, etc., God can be ready to meet those needs in unexpected ways, if we will let Him.

The book will serve as a great gift (or stocking stuffer) for a couple, a young family, or a senior citizen. It could easily serve as an early Christmas gift for the members of a small group. Be sure to grab an extra copy for yourself as well. It would be worth 30 days of devotions.
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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are mine alone.

A Very Blessed Christmas Coloring Book - A Review

A Very Blessed

Christmas Coloring Book

by

Robin Mead

A Review

I am not the coloring book fan in my family - that privilege belongs to my wife. Besides buying colored pencils, pens, and supplies, she has taken classes at the local library and bookstores. She has made gifts for many of her friends and family, including yours truly.

This volume contains a variety of interesting pictures. Some are drawn from the traditional family Christmas setting, others display more of religious setting showing pictures of churches decorated for Christmas or typical Christmas angels. There are also a number of images that can be cutout and used for package tags or as part of larger craft projects. I was disappointed that there are few that show images of the original Christmas story - a manger scene, a group of shepherds or kings, a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.

There is plenty of room for creativity, color, and glitter in this book - but little room for the parent or crafter to teach the story of Jesus the baby. If you are looking for Christmas fun, this book may provide it, if you are wanting to use your art skills to share God’s story, look elsewhere.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

The Fruitcake Murders - A Reviews

The Fruitcake Murders

by

Ace Collins

A Review

The first murder occurred in December 1926 - and they convicted and executed the man caught with the murder weapon in his hand.

But then the murders started again in December 1946.  They were connected - the victims had been drugged and then clobbered with a heavy, full fruitcake can. But there were differences - they came from different cultural groups: the district attorney, the homeless, a hooker. And it would take a newspaper reporter, a police detective, and a private eye to collect the pieces of the puzzle that would bring all the pieces together into a complete picture that gave meaning to the deaths that spanned two decades.

The book brings together the right amount of mystery, history, romance, and a bit of faith, to make an interesting story that had to be read quickly to maximize its enjoyment. I wanted to pick the book up every free moment I had - I had to finish it.

For the reader looking for an early winter read, The Fruitcake Murders might just fill the need.  

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

The Carols of Christmas - A Review

The Carols of Christmas:
A Celebration of the Surprising Stories
Behind Your Favorite Holiday Songs

by

Andrew Gant

A Review

A well-done study of 21 of the carols that help us remember many of the themes that surround the Christmas holiday. Rather than taking a devotional perspective (like those done by Robert Morgan), the author has chosen to apply an academic approach as he introduces us to the hymns.  

The “Introduction” serves to help us understand the role Christmas carols play in Western society - including a look at their historical, theological, and denominational backgrounds. The introduction is a broad picture of what will come later as the author looks at the individual hymns.

The bulk of the book takes the reader through a group of 21 hymns in Biblical order - beginning with a hymn appropriate for use during all of Advent, moving through the days leading up to Christmas proper, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, the angels, the shepherds, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” and Epiphany.  The final hymn is “Jingle Bells.”  As can be seen the author includes both examples of secular songs and those with a more spiritual tone (e.g. “Away in A Manger,” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”)  The roots of the words (Biblical or not) and the music are explored.  Some of the stories associated with the music or words are full of as much mystery as a good Sherlock Holmes tale - with the true nature of their origins hidden till some unexpected source brought them to light. Though the focus is certainly academic, there are hints of devotional thoughts.  For example, as he concludes his look at “While Shepherds Watched”, the author notes that “... the full richness and variety of its history will, like the shepherds, have to wait.”  

Over the fifteen years I have served in the pulpit, I have occasionally taken my congregation through the history and setting of the church’s hymns. As I read Gant’s look at the Christmas carols, I am considering doing a similar series for the carols of Christmas. I expect it might be fun to look at the stories behind the carols as we have done with hymns in the past.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Not A Silent Night - A Review

Not A Silent Night

by

Adam Hamilton

A Review

As protestants, we tend to avoid spending much time on Mary, the mother of our Lord.  Yet she is present throughout the gospels - from the months before Jesus’ birth to the weeks and months after his death and resurrection.  Adam Hamilton, pastor of the largest United Methodist Church in the United States, attempts to rectify that omission as he writes this five chapter devotional looking at the life and contribution of Mary to the church.

Writing in reverse chronological order, Hamilton moves back through the Mary’s live and sees how she was involved during the life and ministry of Jesus.  The book is both theological and practical - leaving this reader to ponder events in the gospels that are often minimized but very much present.  Beginning with Mary’s response to the message brought by God’s Son and moving through the role of parenting her son, Hamilton brings to life the emotions, thoughts, and tears Mary must have felt as she lived through the 33+ years of Jesus’ life.

As I approach this coming advent season (December 2014), I hope to use the book as framework for my advent sermons.  I will not preach the book, but it will provide a broad outline that will guide my thinking and planning as we move from the week after Thanksgiving to the last Sunday of the year.  I trust that as a pastor or lay person, others may learn from Mary’s experience as they move through this reverse biography of her life.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

May I Never Forget
by
Floyd H. Johnson

I know not when Christ was born;
But I will celebrate it as best I can.

Though there may always will be trees and gifts,
I hope to always remember a Bethlehem manger.
Where the Son of God was born a while ago.

There were angels and shepherds and kings,
But first there was the Savior asleep in the manger.

Christmas is busy, let me never forget that night,
When the world would be forever be changed.

Christmas is busy, but let me ne'er forget that night,
When I would be forever changed.

Written in response to Lesson 5 of Beth Moore's book Jesus: 90 Days with the One and Only.