A Bounty of Books

Wounds Are Where Light Enters: Stories of God's Intrusive Grace by Walter Wangerin Jr. is a collection of short stories that illustrate the various facets of grace and how it is expressed in human beings. From the mundane to the extraordinary, the youngest child to the oldest man, the miracle of birth and the sorrow of death and everything in between, when one is looking, one can see grace anywhere.

A Force So Swift: Mao, Truman, and the Birth of Modern China, 1949 by Kevin Peraino is an in-depth look at how American foreign policy in 1949 allowed Mao and the communists to defeat Chiang Kai Shek and the nationalists in the Chinese civil war that followed the end of WWII. Using many first person interviews and recently declassified American government documents, Peraino takes a look at both the personalities and the policies that shaped the world during this time.

It is astonishing how small the world was after WWII and how one nation's support or lack thereof can shape the destiny of another nation. The steep toll paid by China during WWII created a kind of vacuum that Mao was able to exploit. America's support for the nationalists, which had been strong during Truman's first term, was quickly withdrawn during his second under the direction of Secretary of State Dean Acheson. While there were many other factors that played into Mao's victory, this was a significant one. The subsequent policy of containing communism in the rest of Asia led to American involvement in two more significant conflicts.

Peraino does a good job of delving into these policies and the people behind them without getting bogged down in minutiae. A Force So Swift is easy to read and flows well. The balance between policy and personality is such that one doesn't get trapped in either. It is informative and somewhat entertaining.

Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

The Gospel for Muslims: An Encouragement to Share Christ with Confidence by Thabiti Anyabwile is a primer from an ex-Muslim on tips for effectively sharing the gospel with Muslims. The book is broken into two sections, one about the gospel and one called "As You Witness." Each of the eleven chapters are short and comprised mainly of practical tips, though there are some personal stories from Anyabwile.

While there are good practical tips, there is nothing new or super unique about this book, except for Anyabwile's personal experiences. The main components of sharing the gospel with anyone regardless of religious background, is knowing the truth and sharing it and depending on Holy Spirit to do the actual work in a person's heart. Almost all of the advice given in this book could be applied to sharing the gospel with anyone.

Overall, The Gospel for Muslims is a good resource, but not a great one. It is short and easy to read if one is pressed for time, or needs a quick boost of confidence.

I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, See Part 255

Imperfect Justice by Cara Putman tells the story of what happens to the people left behind when those in the middle of domestic violence pay the ultimate price. The main characters are the victim's brother and the lawyer who was helping the victim get ready to flee.

Unbeknownst to me when I agreed to review it, Imperfect Justice is the second book in the Hidden Justice series. However, while I probably would have appreciated the characters more if I had read the first one, I wasn't confused or lost while reading Imperfect Justice, so it does work on its own.

Imperfect Justice has fast pacing and flows well. The characters are engaging and very relatable. Anybody who enjoys legal thrillers or just good contemporary fiction should enjoy this book. However, I would caution that Imperfect Justice does contain realistic depictions of domestic violence that may act as triggers for some.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookLook book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Braving Sorrow Together: The Transformative Power of Faith and Community When Life is Hard by Ashleigh Slater is an introduction to the power of community during times of sorrow. Slater uses both personal anecdotes and stories from friends and acquaintances to discuss the various ways community can provide a lifeline during various kinds of suffering.

Slater discusses how faith, community, and specifically a faithful and consistent community of faith can be life giving during moments of suffering in big areas of life such as health, family, and work. She gives practical ideas of what was helpful to her during a particular season of suffering. If Slater or her family had not experienced a certain trial, she had a friend who has speak to that issue.

There is nothing new or earth shattering in Braving Sorrow Together. Everyone knows that having friends and family or some other kind of support makes the tough times easier to bear. However, there are some good practical suggestions for those looking for a place to start. Those who lead some kind of group or oversee groups for a church may find this book especially helpful.

I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, See Part 255

Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff by Chip Gaines is the story of the rise of the popularity and success of Chip and Joanna Gaines written from Chips' perspective. Capital Gaines is written in Chip's unique voice that his fans will find very familiar.

The main theme of Capital Gaines is entrepreneurship. Gaines discusses the many businesses he and then he and his wife have started over the years. Gaines has been an entrepreneur since he was in college and has started a variety of businesses with varying degrees of success. However, the nitty gritty of business is not the focus. The focus is on taking risks, putting first things first, and hard work.

Gaines discusses the ebb and flow of all the businesses under the Magnolia umbrella as well as Fixer Upper and their decision to end the popular show. Fans of Fixer Upper will enjoy the behind the scenes details of the Gaines' life. However, this book isn't only for established fans. I have seen maybe two episodes of Fixer Upper and still enjoyed reading Capital Gaines. It is easy to read and flows well. Gaines' enthusiasm for life and helping others jumps of the pages and inspires the reader to do the same.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookLook book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255