Need You Now by Beth Wiseman

Brad and Darlene Henderson are wanting a slower pace for their family, moving them from the big city of Houston to the small town of Round Top, Texas so they can restore the house that Darlene's grandparents owned. It doesn't hurt that they will be getting their oldest away from the negative influences at school.
The change of pace winds up being tough on their middle child, Grace, who puts up a front so the world will keep thinking she is the perfect daughter when she really has some horrible addictions. When she makes an unusual friend, her family realizes that they are just as guilty as anyone else at judging a book by its cover.
I couldn't put this book down! This novel is a bit unpredictable (which I consider to be a good thing!), since there is a lot going on with this family. I like that everything comes to a conclusion at the end, without making it feel trite. The story has several themes, one of the most prevalent being the need to have a person relationship with God so you have someone to lean on when the hard times come, because come they will.

Crater by Homer Hickam

Imagine a colony on the moon where cats are a legend, the sound of rain on a roof a mystery, and all the food originally made in a lab.
Welcome to Moontown, a colony pioneered on the moon to processes Helium 3 for war torn Earth to survive.
Crater Trueblood is an orphan boy who is happy-go-lucky and doesn't aspire to do anything greater than work in the mines, as his friend, Petro, does. But, when the two save the day at the mine, Crater is introduced to the Colonel (who runs the mine) and is sent on a mission to obtain a mysterious package.
The story was a bit hard to get into at first, since it seems like some things one is just expected to know. I don't know if that is because one is suppose to have read other books by the author or if its because some things are suppose to be common knowledge to Science Fiction fans. Whatever the cause, it took me a bit to get into the story. Once I made it through the first bit, I enjoyed the adventure that Crater, Petro, and Maria go on. The author created an interesting world, though I felt like his description of what happened on Earth to make the situation on the Moon necessary was a bit lacking. It would of been nice if he had either gone into that story a bit or jut totally left it alone, rather than hinting at something having happened on Earth.
I think this book would be especially perfect for teens who enjoy Science Fiction or Fantasy.
Reviewed for booksneeze.com

Behemoth, by Jonathan C. Leicht

When Jim Thompson, the chief game warden at Masai Mara Game Reservation in Kenya, finds four of his precious animals gored to death by a mysterious animal, he calls in a good friend to help him go on a mission to find the unique animal.
Unbeknownst to them, back in America, Professor Stephen Gregory's creationist views have cost him his job. Not long after losing his position as an esteemed professor, Dr. Gregory gets the chance to put together a team to go after an African legend that could be a dinosaur.
The story flows nicely between the two stories, weaving an amazing tale.
When I first started this book, I thought the story line might be like Jurassic Park. Thankfully, the story was not a rip off of the famous novel.
I like that the author wove a lot of facts regarding the Creationist vs. Evolutionist debate. He did it in such a way that it is interesting and not dry in the least! Even if you don't agree with the creationist view point, I think one could learn a lot from this story.
If you like a good adventure, than this is your book!
Reviewed for booksneeze.com

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

Charlotte Malone didn't intend to stumble into an adventure when she accidentally attends an auction and buys a mysterious trunk from 1912 that was welded shut by the owner. When she opens the trunk and discovers a perfectly preserved wedding dress, she sets out to discover the story behind the dress. On her journey, her world is turned upside down only to be righted and put together in a more glorious way than human minds could concoct. Charlotte's journey brings her closer to the God she committed her life to when she was a teen and knits her into the family she never had.

I loved this book, since it had so many unexpected twists in it. This isn't a book that you crack open and instantly know what is going to happen. The story is quite unique, reminding us that the Bridegroom is Christ and that the church will be His bride. How there are times when we aren't sure what the ending will be, but can trust that God has our best interest at heart. Charlotte shows us that we all have to trust a little more and that love is worth it, even if it means opening ourselves up to be hurt. Everyone wants to have a loving family. Rachel Hauck reminds readers that there is a Father that will love you no matter what.

Stand By Me

Kat Davies is a new Christian on fire for the Lord, wanting to make a difference in the world around her. When her family disowns her due to her new faith leading her in another direction then the one they had planned for her, Kat forms a group of friends who become like family. When they start attending the SouledOut church, where they meet Avis Douglass, Kat is immediately drawn to this strong woman of the faith. But, Avis and her family are going through a rough time and Avis doesn't always feel like reaching out to her new neighbors.

I thought this book was a wonderful example of how vital it is to have new converts in the church, with their zeal and passion. How sometimes we can get wrapped up in our own lives and almost miss the opportunities the Lord gives us to reach out to those who are hurting around us. I haven't read the books in the Yada Yada Prayer Group series, but I still enjoyed this one, since it stands alone well. I would highly recommend it to both those who are fans of Neta Jackson's novels and those who haven't been introduced yet. I like series that can be read out of sequence, like this one.