Blog Tour and Review: The Smart Woman's Guide to Planning for Retirement

About the Book:

What does a woman want to do when she retires? Travel? Pursue hobbies? Spend time with friends and family? We all have dreams about what those days will be like. But when it comes to turning those dreams into reality, women's retirement confidence and know-how is low. According to a 2012 survey, 92 percent of women of all ages in this country don't feel they're educated enough to reach their retirement savings goals. For the woman who doesn't know where to start or would like a knowledgeable guide who speaks her language, financial expert Mary Hunt offers a comprehensive but approachable resource for saving and planning for retirement.

Whether she feels entitled to retire at age 65, hopes she'll be able to stop working someday, or is convinced she'll never be able to retire, every woman will find real help in these pages. With her signature no-nonsense, energetic style, Hunt assures women that it's only too late if they don't start now. She clearly covers every aspect of retirement planning during every season of a woman's life, giving women the confidence they need to shape their futures.

My Comments:

Unfortunately, this is not the book that is going to tell you how you can live it up today and still manage to have money in the future.  It is another one of those control your expenses and save your money books.  While aimed at women, it has advice that both men and women should follow.  Mary Hunt recommends getting out of debt, saving regularly, buying half the house you can afford and paying the house off early.  She recommends maxing out your Roth IRA before putting more money than necessary to gain an employer match in a 401k plan because of the high fees associated with 401k plans.  

While most of the book will appeal to anyone looking for a basic financial planning information., there is one chapter that discusses financial planning in relation to the Bible, particularly as it relates to the parable of the talents. There are also small references to God in other places in the book.  If you are looking for a book that honors Christian religious beliefs while discussing financial planning, this may appeal to you.  

In general the book is short, easy to read, and is written in a conversational style.  It manages to convey basic information without assuming the reader is stupid.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy.  Grade:  B.  

“Available November 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Review: The Promise

Promise, The (The Restoration Series Book #2): A Novel

About the Book:

For the last five months, Tom Anderson has been without a job, a fact he's been hiding from his wife Jean--and everyone else. He leaves each morning, pretending nothing has changed, and spends his disheartening day rotating through two coffee shops and the library, using their wi-fi to search for a job on the internet. The stress of keeping this secret is beginning to put serious strain on his marriage and it looks like the legacy that began with his father is still at work, slowly destroying the bond between Tom and Jean. Can their mutual trust--and love--be restored?

Combining the literary talents of Dan Walsh and the relationship expertise of Gary Smalley, The Restoration Series pulls back the curtain of a family that has laid their foundation on shifting sand, but is slowly rediscovering genuine love and the power of forgiveness.

My Comments:

In this book readers get to see the contrast in two marriage (actually more than that); Tom and Jean are a young couple with kids; Jim and Marilyn are his parents.  While Tom and Jean are both keeping big secrets from each other, Jim and Marilyn are enjoying a second honeymoon, not only on vacation but in life in general.  Evidently they went through marital problems in the first book in the series and are now at the happiest, most loving, most wonderful part of their marriage ever.  They keep mentioning the things they learned in counselling and how they've put it to work in their marriage; which of course is a contrast to the troubled marriage of Tom and Jean.  Personally, I found it a bit too didactic and in-your-face, but the characters were sympathetic at times, though I really wanted to tell Tom and Jean to talk to and trust their spouses.  

I'd like to thank Revell for sending me a review copy.  I'd like to apologize for not getting it done on time.  Grade:  B-.

Blog Tour: That Certain Summer

That Certain Summer: A Novel

About the Book:

Karen and Val are family--yet they're anything but close. Karen has carried the burden of responsibility for her aging mother ever since her gorgeous sister left town years ago to pursue a career in theater. But Val had darker reasons for leaving town--as well as a secret to keep--and coming home has never been an option . . . until their mother suffers a stroke.

Reunited in their hometown, Karen and Val must grapple with their past mistakes, their relationship with each other, and their issues with a mother who is far from ideal. When a physical therapist raising his daughter alone and a handsome but hurting musician enter the picture, the summer takes on a whole new dimension. As their lives intersect and entwine, can each learn how to forgive, how to let go, and how to move on? And strengthened by the healing power of faith, might they also find the courage to love?

With her trademark compelling characters and heartwarming hope, fan favorite Irene Hannon offers her readers an inspiring true-to-life tale of complex family relationships, transgressions revealed and forgiven, and the complicated process of finding love.

My Comments:

I really enjoyed this book about two sisters, their mom and their loves.  Karen is a pleaser--she thinks that if she can just be what others want they will love her.  As a result, her mom walks all over her, just like her ex-husband did.  When her mom has a stroke, Karen is no longer able to carry the whole burden of caring for her and Val agrees to come home, something she has avoided for years. During the book we learn why.  

Often when I read references to Catholicism in Christian fiction I shake my head and wonder if the author got it wrong on purpose or was just clueless.  I'm happy to say that Irene Hannon got it right. No, the characters aren't Catholic, but Karen feels guilty about her divorce and isn't  sure that moving into another relationship is permissible for a Christian.  Someone points out to her that her ex had been unfaithful from  the beginning of their marriage and probably never meant to be faithful, and that the Catholic church, which is generally against divorce, grants annulments to people whose spouses never intend fidelity.  Hannon doesn't go into any complicated discussions about annulments, but gives a reasonably accurate short explanation.  

I enjoyed watching both Karen and Val take a look at their lives, make the changes needed and find love.  I think most who enjoy Christian romances will like this book, but there is probably too much religion for those  who don't like religion in their books.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available.  Copies are available June 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.  Grade:  B+

Review: Love in a Broken Vessel

Love in a Broken Vessel: A Novel

About the Book:

Hosea has been charged by God with a difficult task--marry a prostitute in order to show God's people the nature and depth of his love for Israel. When Hosea goes to Israel to proclaim God's message, the prostitute God tells him to marry turns out to be his childhood friend Gomer. He finds her broken and abused, unwilling to trust Hosea or his God. But when marrying Hosea becomes her only choice, Gomer does what she's good at--she survives. Can Hosea's love for God and God's love for Israel heal Gomer's broken spirit?

With her potent combination of in-depth research and masterful storytelling, Mesu Andrews brings to life a complex and fascinating biblical story of the power of love and forgiveness in the face of utter betrayal.

My Comments:

I've heard it said that it is a man's world, and while that may not be completely true today, clearly for  most cultures in history, it was true.  It seems that the worst thing you could call a woman in Old Testament times was a harlot, yet I rather doubt that these women woke up one morning and decided that they'd prefer a life of prostitution to a life as a wife and mother.  In the New Testament, it was the WOMAN caught in adultery who was going to be stoned until Jesus stepped in.  Last time I checked, it took two to commit that crime.  Where was her co-defendant?  

Those were the thoughts that went through my mind before I picked up Love in a Vessel.  As those familiar with the Book of Hosea in the Bible are aware, God called Hosea to marry a prostitute.  God told Hosea that the prostitute would reject his love and return to her old life.  God told him she would have children who were not his.  God told him to love her anyway.  In short, the book of Hosea is a metaphor for the love God has for us, children who reject Him even though He offers a better way.  

I found Love in a Vessel to be an easy engaging read.  In the book Gomer was sold into prostitution as a child, she didn't choose it.  I guess in a lot of ways it is like us being "sold"  into original sin by Adam and Eve.  As God sent Jesus to save us, He sent a childhood friend and prophet, Hosea, to save Gomer.  Once she started her new life, she could not embrace it completely, just as we reject God and sin.  Just as we think things would be better if God did things our way,Gomer didn't like things Hosea was called to do and felt abandoned by him.  

I read the book the first week in Lent and God and I are having some discussions about how He isn't doing things my way.  That may be why this book ended up in my path this week. Still, though it gave me food for thought it was also a good story that fleshed out the Biblical characters and to me, made them more human.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for sending me a review copy.  Grade:  B+.

“Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”