Reviewed by Kristie Ingerto for Readers' Favorite

"Anger Management" is Mark Hour's personal account of his struggle to deal with past hurts and manage his own anger. It has come out as a book to help and encourage others to manage their anger in healthy ways to avoid the consequences that Mark faced. However, this book is based upon the Bible and the Lord's way of dealing with anger. The book implies that it is impossible to be successful and have healthy lives and relationships without His help. This book is split into well-defined sections and contains Mark's personal experiences, things that he has learned from professionals working with him and Biblical verses and passages. Each chapter begins with questions for the reader to think about and reflect upon in their own lives.

This book is a quick read; however, I would encourage the reader not to rush through it as there is a lot to think about and reflect upon in each one's personal life while reading this. Each of us are molded by our own personal experiences and interactions, whether they are negative or positive. Mark shares through his own experiences that the past must be dealt with in order to have a healthy life and relationships. I admire the author for opening up and sharing his own experiences and struggles in order to help others. The personal feel throughout this book makes it one that people will want to read and they will be led to seek help and make changes in their own lives.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

While scripture tells us to forgive and forget, it isn’t easy. There are some hurts that just aren’t that easy to get over. Unfortunately, when we hang on to them, we only hurt ourselves. Anger can take over our lives preventing us from finding the true joy of each day. Anger can affect our health, our work, our sleep, our relationships, and our attitudes.

Romans reminds us to love our enemies. It is easy to love those who love us but a lot harder to love our enemies. It does not say forgive those who ask forgiveness. It does say if our enemies are hungry we should feed them. This is a totally different concept than most of us live. It is only through God that we can forgive. To forgive doesn’t necessarily mean to pretend something never happened. It means to deal with it. The victim and the offender may never have a relationship again. Forgiveness should mean moving closer to God and allowing Him to meet the needs of both parties.

NEW DIGS...Abandoning The Bog of Bitterness by Pamella Ann Miller is a workbook to help readers deal with bitterness. There are 6 phases discussed in this book. Miller has humorously and creatively named these phases: Swamp City, Hiatus Township, Uncertainty Village, Prideful Palisades, Cape Horizon, and Renewal Island. One of my favorite things in this book is the author’s interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer. NEW DIGS is written in a simple, easy-to-understand, and interesting manner. The book’s cover is creatively done and tempts the reader to pick it up and delve inside. This book could be used as a small group study or an individual study.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Like most females, Ondrea L. Davis had carefully planned her wedding. Her family did not approve of her choice for a husband, but once they realized she was determined to marry Marceous King, they supported her decision. A wedding is usually considered the bride's special day, all eyes focus on the bride and the groom lovingly focuses all of his attention on her. However, Marceous King was not the typical groom; he craved attention and was determined all eyes would be fixed on him. This was just the first hint of future problems for the Kings. Marceous had deeper problems; he had never let go of his mother's apron strings and he was secretly gay. Ondrea was patient with her husband. She tried to adapt to his constant visits with his momma, but even the most patient person can only take so much.

Ondrea L. Davis courageously shares her story with readers in hopes of preventing other women from facing what she faced. Marceous King was an abusive husband. There are many forms of abuse; Marceous preferred mental and verbal abuse. Many times there was no food in the house to feed the children. He purposely gave his son formula instead of breast milk, resulting in his vomiting. The couple tried counseling, but there are some things counseling cannot fix. No human, whether male or female, should ever have to face abuse at the hands of another. Ondrea faced more than her share. She believed in the sanctity of marriage and tried to hold her marriage together.

As I read Ondre's descriptions eye I could see Beulah Mae in her Cleopatra outfit and bulging tummy, and Marceous with the top hat and cane. I wanted to shout, "Run! Don't marry him!" I believe Ondrea was more than fair in her description of her marriage and her husband. She goes into great detail describing their honeymoon, home and childbirth. J'son M. Lee is the co-author of this book. They both deserve great credit for their writing skills. The story is told through Ondrea''s point of view, and the style is conversational. I felt as though I were sitting across the table from Ondrea as she poured out her heart. There were a few very minor grammatical errors, but they did not detract from the essence of the story. This is a story that had to be told.

Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite

A Beautiful Kind of Broken is a good addition to the plethora of books on spiritual guidance. Author Luke Holter really covers how to forgive others in a way that is easy to understand and apply. He writes quite candidly about religions that point fingers at people who are not members of that faith, and how a person trying to regain his/her faith must not absorb this totally incorrect message. Wow! Holter also directs his message to people who are depressed or doubtful after being mislead and mishandled by a church or person who ministers in the name of religion. He himself has been through trials in his life and now shares with others how to climb back what he calls the "God-given destiny of an abundant and joyful life."

Luke Holter has created a book that is easy to read, and although it's religious, it is not offensive. A Beautiful Kind of Broken is very attractively formatted and easy to read. There are questions at the end of each chapter that will let the reader think about what they have just read. Holter writes that his purpose in writing this book is to "equip people with the tools for overcoming rejection and spiritual abuse." Because he has been through a very great deal personally, he writes convincingly.

This book is for people of Christian faiths everywhere. People of other world faiths may not be interested in all the book's religious aspects, but they will appreciate the author's clear message on forgiving and moving forward.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Too many Christians believe persecution is a thing of the past. When they hear the word persecution they think of the early church when Christians were fed to lions. Evelyn Puerto reminds readers that in many countries persecution of Christians still exists.

Dr. Alexei Gavrilovich Brynza, his wife Valentine and their four children served the Lord in Zaporozhe in southeastern Ukraine during Soviet rule. Dr. Brynza was a strong Christian and lived his faith despite the consequences. The children attended school and were forced to chant "Lenin Lived, Lenin lives, and Lenin will live forever" along with the other students.

The story of the Brynza family is told by the children of the Brynzas. Lena recounts some of the many times when God answered their prayers and how her parents' influence affected her relationship with Christ. Yakov remembers his mother praying for him and the many times when he felt the Lord presence.

Life was not easy for the Brynza children. They were stigmatized for their parents' faith. Yakov wanted to be a doctor and repeatedly took the exam to enter the university. In large red letters the word Baptist was written on all his work. He was angry that his father's faith was keeping him out of the university. Yakov was left with a choice, God or country. After much prayer and contemplation, he chose God.

This book is a reminder that some day we may each be tested in our faith. Will we stand firm despite the consequences? It is easy for me to say, "Yes, I will," but when confronted with persecution, will I be strong enough in my faith to face what lies ahead?

Beyond the Rapids is an incredible story. I was touched by the faith of the Brynzas. Evelyn Puerto brings this story to life. I felt as though I knew the individuals and they were sharing with me. Each individual tells the story through his or her perspective. Each individual faced temptation in some form yet each held true to his/her faith. Puerto tells a story that had to be told. Christians are still persecuted today in China, Libya, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, and in many other nations. By writing this book Puerto shines much needed light on what is going on around the world. Have we become too complacent? I'll have to answer that for myself.

Reviewed by Anne Boiling for Readers' Favorite

As soon as I read the title of this book I knew it would be special. God's Feet Are In My Sandbox is the inspiring autobiography of Rick Anderson. As a young man Anderson considered suicide. In his deep depression he drove to a pond with a Gideon Bible in his pocket. He began to read how Jesus had called Lazarus from the tomb. Rick knew he was dead inside and only Jesus could restore his life. His friends and family knew he was a changed man.

He met and fell in love with Judy. They were both fully committed to living a Christ like life. Together they served the Lord. Judy had two children previously, together they had Caleb and later they adopted Lucy Grace. They depended on the Lord and He never failed to meet their needs. Judy discovered a lump in her breast. It proved to be malignant. The cancer later spread throughout her body. I had tears in my eyes as I read the hospital scene. She asked Rick to let her go. It must have been one of the most difficult things Rick ever had to do.

Man was not meant to be alone and Rick longed for companionship. God sent Kim into his life and once again his family increased in size.

Rick felt God leading him into prison ministry. In the last half of the book he shares the stories of the men on death row. The tales of the men are heartwarming.

God's Feet Are In My Sandbox is beautifully written. Rick Anderson has faced tragedy, hardship, and depression. Through God he not only survived he thrived. This book is written in a conversational manner. I felt as though I were sitting across from Rick sharing a cup of tea as he shared his story with me. I'm glad I read this book, you will be too.