90 Days to a Fantastic Marriage is divided into twelve weekly sections that make-up the 90 days of reading that this book offers.  Each week focuses on a certain action topic for self-improvement – by changing our own attitudes and approach to our marriage, much can be done for the health of a married union (very true).

Each topic begins with a troubleshooting checklist with signs that you might need to focus hard on the topic given if you display the behaviours listed.  Advice, personal experience, and teaching follows, with a “Weekly Quiz” and “Putting it Into practice” section wrapping up the week’s reading.  The weekly sections are somewhat longer than most non-fiction chapters are, so you may want to read them in several sittings.

I’m always up for a good marriage book.  Unfortunately 90 Days to a Fantastic Marriage is only a mediocre one.  Though published by Tyndale, a Christian publisher I highly respect, Hawkins seems to rely more on regurgitating pop-psychology self-help books than he does the Word of God or even his own clinical practice.

Personally, I find that highly annoying.  It smacks of a lack of depth, and a easy-spoon feeding sort of approach to marriage and relationships.  Somehow Hawkins’ style and reliance upon these secular-type advice vendors rubbed me the wrong way.  I was actually relieved to finish reading this book, which is unusual for me.

Still, there is good advice to be gleaned from this book.  Quite a few of the lessons included are those that my husband and I learned through very painful and difficult trials, so for me, it was a reaffirmation of what personal experience has proven.    If you are newly married and haven’t read many relationship books, then there are certainly lessons to be found here that will save you pain and build a more joy-filled marriage.

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW AT CHRISTIANBOOK.COM OR AMAZON.COM!

When I was a child my two big front teeth (sorry, I don’t know the technical term) overlapped each other quite a bit.  They still do VERY slightly, but I need to point it out in order for other people to notice it.  When I was a child I always felt like I needed braces but a dentist actually told us that my teeth were fairly normal and not to worry about it.

Now it seems that even very slight imperfections warrant hiring a Cosmetic Dentist to do some upgrades on a grin.  I think that there is a very big difference though, between a young child having to maintain braces and an adult choosing to have some refinements done to their teeth alignment.

I remember a sweet science teacher of mine in high school who had braces though she was easily in her late ’40s.  Now they have “Invisalign” which is a set of clear, plastic, nearly invisible teeth straighteners made from plastic – a great option because it’s so much less visible!

Some before and afters of cosmetic dentistry in adults are fairly subtle improvements, others are more dramatic and you can definitely see why the patient wanted some improvements.

So, how about you?  Have you had any cosmetic dentistry done as an adult (had any work done)?  Personally I haven’t had any cosmetic dentistry at any point in my life, and a big part of that is that I just can’t justify the cost when it’s simply an appearance issue!

The Handkerchief Quilt by Carol Crane is based upon a true story from her mother’s life, one in which her small school was flooded during the ‘50s and many books and school supplies were lost.  In an effort to bolster her school and re-supply it, the teacher in this work of fiction that is based on true life – Miss Anderson – takes it upon herself to transform the many handkerchiefs students have given her over the years and transform them into a community quilt.

Illustrator Gary Palmer’s muted watercolors lend this lovely picture book an authentic vintage feel, and the story itself is touching.  As a homeschooling family, this title doesn’t suit us well with it’s subject matter, but it is heart-warming and would make a perfect gift for a beloved primary school teacher or addition to a school library collection.

Like many Sleeping Bear Press titles a free online teaching guide is available for extension activities.

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW AT AMAZON.COM!

Wow; can that single word suffice as a book review?  Ted Dekker and Erin Healy’s co-written mystery/thriller Kiss kept me glued to its pages over the course of two days.  If it hadn’t been for so much laundry and housework to do I’m sure I would have finished it in a single day.

I’m not generally an avid fan of mysteries, but Kiss hooked me early on with the mystery of the heroine Shauna’s memory loss and the mystery surrounding the events leading up to and following the car crash that seems to have caused it.  Not only must Shauna struggle to decipher the world around her with a memory gap of six months, she also needs to stay out of jail, stay alive, and learn to deal with a mysterious new ability to access the memories of others.

The suspense of not-knowing the answers to Shauna’s dilemma and situation was maddening, expect this one to keep you up late at night as you read-on to discover what lies behind the incongruities in Shauna’s present – answers that can only be found in a past that is missing.  Mixed with the high-octane suspense Dekker and Healy provide a dose of romance that sweetens the pot without hi-jacking the storyline.

Kiss is most definitely delightful reading, and is perfect for losing yourself in a good story.  Dekker and Healy subtly weave in some faith elements as well in an understated way, though there isn’t an emphasis on redemption.  The themes the writing team explores instead tend towards the value of remembering God at work in the past, and the presence of God with us in challenging situations.

This is a brisk-paced story that will have you running along behind it, trying to keep up.

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW AT CHRISTIANBOOK.COM OR AMAZON.COM (BOTH ON SALE!)

As a mother of three on the ground and one on the way, stories about others who have more children than the norm (is it 1.25 these days?) always pique my interest.  When the story of a husband who suddenly found himself the father of quadruplets was published, and with a Christian slant, I was very interested to read Stephen Simpson’s experiences.

Truthfully though, Assaulted by Joy wasn’t quite what I expected.  Much of the book is devoted to Simpson’s life as a self-proclaimed “jerk” – his teenage angst and rebellion (most notably marked by his experiences with music and how they didn’t jive with his youth group), his dissatisfaction with life in general, and so forth.

Readers may also want to note that Simpson and his wife struggle with the decision to carry all of their children for as long as they can – there isn’t a distinctly pro-life stance presented here in the preservation of each tiny baby’s life.

There just doesn’t seem to be a lot of joy to go around in this book.  Even after the birth of his children the books emphasis is on feelings of overwhelm, medical challenges etc.  Maybe I missed the joy somewhere along the line?

Of course, this memoir is realistic for that reason – many of us struggle with feelings of overwhelm, angst, and frustration, especially when we try to run our lives on our own instead of surrendering all those details to the Lord.  Well, let’s be honest – sometimes even when we’re doing our best to hand these things over to the Lord.

I suppose I was expecting something more definitively joy-filled that distinctly celebrated children rather than being mired in the many struggles and discontent moments of life.  If, like me, you’re looking for a deeply inspirational read, this title won’t likely fit the bill.

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW AT CHRISTIANBOOK.COM OR AMAZON.COM (ONLY $3.77 – ON BARGAIN DISCOUNT!)

I am NOT a naturally organized person, and now it looks like I need to pack up what we have here and move it back to our farm – another move!

Whew. I need God’s grace on this one! Still, I’m relieved that we won’t be having belongings in two homes, that is just TOO confusing for a disorganized gal like me, and makes homeschooling almost impossible!

Prayers appreciated – I’m going to have to work hard to find room for everything back at the farm!

Last time I wrote about hair-styling scissors I was mentioning that my husband’s hair was SO hard to cut because it’s fine, light, and bleaches out on the top layer making layers SO easy to see!

BUT, it turns out he actually wants to grow it out a bit more!  He’s aiming to be able to pull it back into a short pony tail, so that should be fairly easy to keep trimmed . kamisori shears will definitely be a bit more than we’ll be needing!

He also has dead-straight hair so won’t be needing a chi flat iron or any types of flat irons. (Though I doubt men go in for those in a big way in any case !)

Well, it’s official – we are going to be heading back to our farm at least until baby is ready to arrive to do some more work on the house up there.  HOPEFULLY we’ll be able to get some dial-up internet there on a month-by-month basis as we see how things go.

So, for a few days we’re gathering together some more supplies and materials so we can sock in up there for awhile .  I’ve been VERY, VERY busy washing everything – including VAST amounts of laundry!!  It’s been like a BIG spring clean.  Whew.  It’ll be nice to have a break from endless washing and hanging for a few days .

A plus is that I’ve been able to get some baby blankets and clothes washed up already and baby isn’t due until December .  Heehee!

Body piercing can be a pretty controversial topic amongst more conservative Christians (such as our family.)  Personally, I did have my ears pierced as a child, and after they grew in a few other times besides!  Now the holes won’t grow in, and I’m stuck with them, but I don’t wear jewelry in them.

We won’t be getting our girls pierced – that’s something they’ll need to do themselves once they are out on their own – it’s incredibly painful dealing with infections/maintenance etc. and I don’t want the struggle.  Still piercings that involve eye brow rings, tragus rings, and monroe rings (upper lip, off to one side like a beauty mark) are becoming fairly popular.

Where you once would never see unusual piercing, now even employees in highly visible customer service/service industry positions sport them. What do you think? I think it’s possible to do tastefully, and there is some cute jewelry, but I still think a HUGE number of piercings can look far too overdone and ‘off’.

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Masquerade Bethany House (August 1, 2010) by

Nancy Moser
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nancy Moser is the award-winning author of over twenty inspirational novels. Her genres include contemporary stories including John 3:16 and Time Lottery, and historical novels of real women-of-history including Just Jane(Jane Austen) and Washington’s Lady (Martha Washington). Her newest historical novel is Masquerade. Nancy and her husband Mark live in the Midwest. She’s earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She gives Sister Circle Seminars around the country, helping women identify their gifts as they celebrate their sisterhood. She is a fan of anything antique—humans included. Find out more at

www.nancymoser.com and www.sistercircles.com.
ABOUT THE BOOK

1886, New York City: Charlotte Gleason, a rich heiress from England, escapes a family crisis by traveling to America in order to marry the even wealthier Conrad Tremaine.

She soon decides that an arranged marriage is not for her and persuades her maid, Dora, to take her place. She wants a chance at “real life,” even if it means giving up financial security. For Charlotte, it’s a risk she’s willing to take. What begins as the whim of a spoiled rich girl wanting adventure becomes a test of survival amid poverty beyond Charlotte’s blackest nightmares.

As for Dora, it’s the chance of a lifetime. She lives a fairy tale complete with gowns, jewels, and lavish mansions–yet is tormented by guilt from the possibility of discovery and the presence of another love that will not die. Is this what her heart truly longs for?

Will their masquerade be discovered? Will one of them have second thoughts? There is no guarantee the switch will work. It’s a risk. It’s the chance of a lifetime.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Masquerade, go HERE.

View the book trailer: