Outcry

OUTCRY declares that local churches are at the heart of Christianity and you can make a difference in your community.

The OUTCRY tours were born out of a desire to be the lights and sounds of the greatest movement in the world: the local church. While studies and critics may indicate a decline of the local church, Ryan Romeo's Outcry attests that the movement is only increasing. It's time we band together to empower the local church to influence the surrounding culture. It's you. It's us. Stand behind the church Jesus gave His life for. The part you play in your local church matters. You are an integral part of bringing God's story to all corners of the world. God's church isn't finished! Her best days are ahead.

Includes contributions from:
- David Crowder
- Jenn Johnson (Bethel Music)
- Pat Barrett (Housefires)
- Chris Llewellyn (Rend Collective)

My thoughts: This is an excellent book to get the reader excited about the church. I loved reading Ryan's thoughts on how the church is messy and made up of imperfect people, but it is also incredibly beautiful too. His message is one of hope, which I needed to hear again. I think he is right that the best days are ahead of the bride of Christ.
I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.

Accidentally Me

WANTED: Pretend stalker. No experience required. Tall, dark, and quirky preferred. Sabrina is desperate to go to her dream college, but her parents want her to stay close to home. If she wants to maintain her perfect child image, Sabrina must break rules that even her rebel sister keeps . . .

My thoughts: I have mixed feelings about this book. It started out cute, but I didn't care for her "stalker", so it made it a little harder for me to get into that side of the story. That said, I still had a hard time putting it down (I finished it in one evening, staying up late to do so;)) and adored the main character. Sabrina is fun and quirky as she learns to make her own mistakes.
If you are looking for a light hearted read with some surprising depth, then I highly recommend this one!
I received this book from Cedar fort in exchange for my honest review.

Without Warning

Taut Writing and Breakneck Pacing That Will Keep Readers Up All Night
Katie Singleton, a partner with the Elite Guardians Protection Agency, stumbles upon her next assignment quite by accident. Spotting blue lights at a familiar restaurant, she stops to investigate, only to discover that owner Daniel Matthews has become the target of someone who will go to any lengths to put him out of business.
Daniel might be concerned, but he's not convinced that a bodyguard--and a female one at that--is necessary. A new attack and his niece's urgings are enough to make him reconsider. He and Katie must figure out who's behind the intimidation and threats--before a would-be killer strikes again.
Witty dialogue and a simmering attraction will have readers flying through this tension-laced thriller. Eason exercises complete control of her readers' emotions as they race through the pages to discover the truth

My thoughts: I need to lay off the mysteries, since they keep me up way to late at night! While I enjoyed the first book in this series, I think that I liked this one even better! There were a lot of plot twists and I just couldn't believe how much Daniel and Katie had to go through before discovering who was out to get Daniel. I enjoyed the characters and cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

God Made You Just Right

Here is a message that every parent will want to share with his or her child: You're brilliantly created and there's no one else like you! With easy-to-understand descriptions and simple, rhyming text, Jill Roman Lord shares the message that God created each of us in just the right way in a manner that even the youngest child will understand. Bright and engaging illustrations from Amy Wummer pair perfectly with the text and enhance the appeal of the book.

My thoughts: I enjoyed reading this book with my daughter, since it has such an important message in it for little ones to hear! The illustrations are adorable and I love the text and how it flows. The book does a great job of having children from all nationalities in it.
I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.

Take Ten: Favorite Heroines

This week, the subject for Top Ten Tuesday at the Broke and Bookish is rewind. I don't believe that I have ever done a list of my favorite heroines, so that is what my choice is.;)

1. Lucy Pevensie

I know I mention this series a lot, but it is one of the few that has stayed a favorite through the years, and was even better the second time around. I love Lucy and her goodness. It makes me remember that we can choose to look for the good and wonderful all around us, rather than focus on the rotten. (something I do too often)

2.Lucy Alling

I adored this book and love how Lucy changes over the course of the story.

3. Anne Elliot

Honestly, it is hard for me to pick a favorite Austen heroine, since I love Lizzy for her spunk and Emma for her ability to change when she realizes she is in the wrong, but it is Anne that truly steals the show for me. It feels like Jane poured wisdom into this heroine that the others lacked. She has some great quotes!
"My idea of good company, Mr. Elliot, is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company." Anne

4. Hermione Granger

I didn't get into the Harry Potter books until I was an adult and they were all out (which, in some ways was a nice way to do it, since I didn't have to wait for the books to come out one at a time!), but I think that Hermione would of been a favorite no matter the age I started reading the series.


5. Katniss Everdeen

This series had me with the bow and arrows.;) She really is a favorite, as she sacrificed for her sister and then her district.

6. Dru Porter

This is one that I read fairly recently and fell in love with Dru, the headstrong youngest in the Porter family. I love her spunk!

7. Allison Shire

I know, you all are probably getting tired of my mentioning this book, but I adored it! I love the heroine and the sparks of romance.;)

8. Lady Miranda

I'm not sure why exactly, but I adored this book and Lady Miranda! Perhaps because I see a bit of myself in her...

9. Lillian Avery

I loved this heroine and the WWII inspired story that goes with her!

10. Grace Christiansen

I gravitate towards heroines that like to bake, after working in a bakery for over a decade. I couldn't help but cheer as Grace found her way to her dreams and true love!

So, what books are on your list? Are there heroinces that I need to add to my list? I'm sure I missed some obvious ones!

How to Graduate Debt Free

It is ridiculous the amount of debt a student can accumulate while in college! This book shares easy steps and ideas on how to make the college experience more enjoyable and a lot less expensive, sometimes just by planning ahead. The book is quite engaging and easy to read, Kristina does a wonderful job of blending personal experiences, statistics, and quotes together to encourage the reader that it is possible to graduate debt free. I think that this is a great book to give to students, both high schoolers and college age, so that they will think ahead and not just take on college loans because that is what everyone is doing. As a parent (albeit, my kids are young), I appreciate her ideas. I know that after I went to college (I was able to do it without going to debt), a lot of my friends said they wished that someone had set them down and talked about how college loans look when you break them down into how much you wind up paying when all is said and done.
I highly recommend this one!
I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.

If in Doubt

Doubt, even mockery toward the Bible, occurs on every front, even from within the family of faith. But many of us have never actually heard answers to the questions that lie beneath the surface. Stenner’s foundational book summarizes accurately and simply the core facts of the Christian faith. Presented in a pastoral tone, If In Doubt covers the grand story of all time, from creation to the forthcoming close of human history and into eternity. Readers will find answer to these questions: Is the Bible reliable? Is Jesus God? Is Jesus coming back? Is there life after death? Did Jesus rise from the dead? Is there right and wrong? Did God make the world?

My thoughts: This is an excellent resource! I thought that Rhys does a fantastic job of breaking down 7 common doubts or questions about faith. So many of these questions, like if there is a right and wrong, have caused society to do a downward spiral.
I think one of my favorites was the chapter on Jesus rising from the dead, since he goes over the different ideas of what really happened before showing that He did indeed rise again.
This is an excellent resource for individuals and churches alike.
I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.