Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Elephant Wisdom: Poetry on Science, Religion, Division & Loss is a collected work of reflections and poetic verses in the Christian, spiritual, and emotional subgenres. It is intended for the adult reading audience due to some of the more serious themes it discusses and was penned by author M. Gail Grant. As the title suggests in its own cryptic way, the work covers taboo subjects centered around the difficulties of dealing with loss, grief, and death, including the death of young infants. Through different experiments in verse and narrative, the author allows thoughts to flow freely on often-repressed topics to enable readers to access these ideas for themselves.

This is the kind of book that readers won’t know they absolutely needed in their lives until they’ve read it. Whether you’re a poetry fan or not, a Christian or not, even a spiritual person or not at all, author M. Gail Grant has crafted a fully accessible and observational work of emotional philosophy that helps connect our minds to our feelings and break away from the chains of polite society. The subject matter itself is brave and unabashed, and this is complemented by superb wordplay and immense narrative quality. The free verse elements were some of my particular favorites because it felt like you were in a direct conversation with someone who has felt grief deeply and can relate to and accept others who are going through the same thing. Elephant Wisdom is a highly recommended read for anyone who wants to explore loss in a safe and open space.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The Mystic's Way for Regular People by James Alexander is a slim book that explores communion with God and shows how accessible it is to ordinary people. Many people tend to believe that to become a mystic one needs to be learned, a scholar of sorts, but this book explores the essential components of mysticism and proposes a practical way for regular people to develop deeper levels of intimacy with God. Unlike popular belief, the author moves away from the traditional understanding of mysticism in which the mystics heeded the call of Jesus to seek solitude, hidden in their rooms where they can speak to God in secret. The author, a member of the Third Order Franciscan (TSSF), simplifies prayer and communion with God and provides a deeper understanding of the “how,” “why,” and “what” it consists of.

This book is timely and it addresses the spiritual poverty that is felt worldwide, where many still seek God only in the context of being saved or spared the experience of hell; where many seek God as the solution to their multifaceted problems. James Alexander takes readers back to the core understanding of mysticism as “a face-to-face communion with God—a participation in the very life of God.” He articulates with unusual intelligence and logical arguments on a variety of topics, including the nature of God, poverty of spirit, love and joy, peace, prayer, and meditation. The book is filled with relevant biblical references and allusions to some of the greatest mystics such as Francis of Assisi, Theresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and the learned author Alfred North Whitehead. The prose is beautiful and accessible and the author shares strong personal insights in the book. The Mystic's Way for Regular People is a well-written, inspiring book that should be received as a gift of faith. It is filled with spiritual wisdom and it will guide ordinary readers to find their path to union with God.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

At the heart of Sallie Dawkins’s You Can Share the Love of God With Others is a pressing question that many spiritual books have forgotten to ask: Can every Christian access God's healing power, or is this reserved for an elite few in the Body of Christ? As miracles, signs, and other divine revelations seem to have become an exclusive privilege of what many of us think are the chosen elite, this book objectively addresses the question by discovering the author’s testimony of transformation. She tackles assumptions, doubts, and beliefs by drawing on Bible-based revelations and insights to guide you in unlocking the door to God’s healing power. This is the third and final book in The Awakening Christian Series, the culmination of the trilogy, and it encourages you to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission of spreading the Word.

Simply put, You Can Share the Love of God With Others is an uplifting read for those in need of spiritual recollection. Sallie Dawkins writes in such a reassuring manner that her personal accounts of healing and receiving God’s grace encourage you to shun your laziness in growing with Him. This is a spiritual guide that hooks you into its call to action. Now is always and perhaps the only better time to perform the things that you can do to put yourself in the best position to receive God’s healing power. Whatever perception you have of God, this book reminds us it is important that we do our part to help the situation ourselves and put our trust in Him. Part of the fullness of our spiritual maturity is answering to His call, in the same way that Jesus called for Peter to make it his life's mission to strengthen his brothers and feed God's sheep (John 21:17 NKJV). Read it, feel it, and live it.

Reviewed by Joe Wisinski for Readers' Favorite

Beneath the Cross: Meditations on the Seven Last Words by Bishop Gerardo Colacicco is a fictional yet realistic account of how those who encountered Jesus Christ during his ministry might have reacted while seeing him during his crucifixion. It’s based on the seven last words (actually sentences) spoken by Christ on the cross. The subjects include the woman caught in adultery, the newlyweds from Cana, the blind man at the side of the road, and others. Colacicco speculates about whether these people ever encountered Jesus again, specifically whether they saw him as he was being crucified. Each hears Christ’s seven last words and recalls his or her earlier encounter with him. They want to be there for him just as he was for them.

Gerardo Colacicco is the auxiliary bishop for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. But one does not have to be a Roman Catholic to benefit from this book. Indeed, one does not even need to be religious. Anyone will be moved by the accounts. What I found most inspiring was that the stories told by the subject of the scripture passages were in first-person. Colacicco wrote what he believes the individuals might have thought and said while meeting Jesus the first time and then while seeing him later on the cross. Part of the charm of this book is knowing that it’s from meditations that Colacicco delivered at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on Good Friday, April 10, 2020. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Colacicco spoke to an almost empty cathedral, although the service was live-streamed, and it’s good to know that Colacicco’s words are receiving further distribution through this book. I recommend Beneath the Cross: Meditations on the Seven Last Words by Bishop Gerardo Colacicco to anyone.

Reviewed by Daniel D Staats for Readers' Favorite

Your Words Your World, authored by Louise Bélanger, will awe and inspire you. This is more than a work of poetry. It is more than just beautiful photographs. It is both of these, but it is more a testimony to the glory of God. The Scriptures say that God’s glory is revealed in His creation and this book proves the point. The photographs of nature will delight your eyes. The words of the poems will dance in your mind. But the important thing about this book is that it points to the Savior on every page. Louise features Christ in her poetry. She builds Him up. This book will inspire and encourage the reader. It will touch the senses as well as the mind. Read this book and bask in the love of God.

Louise Bélanger is a servant of the Most High God. She may not be a pastor nor preach traditional sermons, but in Your Words Your World, Louise speaks volumes concerning the glory and love of God. Her poetry is free verse. She does not belabor the lines with contrived rhymes. She allows her love for Jesus to flow from her heart to the page. Reading her poetry reveals her heart for God. Louise writes about things with which we can all identify. Her photography is creatively displayed in full-page layouts. Some of the layouts are creative. Others are straightforward. Between the photos and poems, readers will be taken to a relaxing and refreshing place. Read this book if you need an emotional or spiritual pick-me-up. It is a wonderful book. It was a joy to read what Louise Bélanger wrote to the glory and honor of God.

Reviewed by Les Wiggill for Readers' Favorite

Run Anyway: From the Boston Bombing to the Mountains of Guatemala by Lance Svendsen is a fast-paced story about his marathon running career. It started with a decision to become a runner while listening to his dad give his brother’s eulogy in April 2012. Both his dad and his Uncle Roy had run the New York City Marathon in 1988 and Roy had been a serious runner for most of his life and an inspiration to many young people, including Lance. Six months after Roy passed away, Lance was registered to run the New York City Marathon and had decided to raise money for charity in his uncle’s memory with this first marathon. However, the marathon scheduled for October 2012 was canceled due to Hurricane Sandy and the devastation it caused in the state of New Jersey. Lance, as a youth pastor, was very actively involved in helping the victims of the hurricane, but he had his heart set on running the NYC Marathon. It was in the midst of this situation that news came through about the marathon being canceled. He immediately started thinking about whether he could run his own personal marathon in New York, to fulfill his commitment to raising money for charity in Roy’s honor. He knew that there must be thousands of disappointed runners out there who had committed to raising money for their charities, who just like him would like to complete what they had started. Lance created a page on social media to see who else ‘out there’ might be keen to run an unofficial marathon in NYC. The positive responses he received convinced Lance and his buddies to organize the ‘Run Anyway’ marathon through Central Park. From this ‘Run Anyway’ movement developed a group of people who were committed to raising money for charity by organizing marathons and other running events, including a 500-mile relay event to support the Gold Star Family charity, which looks after families of US military men and women who had died in service to their country.

Who would have thought anyone could write a ‘page-turner’ book about running, but Lance Svendsen has achieved exactly that! He is an inspiring young man who decided to run for causes bigger than himself. Run Anyway is a fast-paced story about his marathon running career, starting off with him and his friends organizing the ‘Run Anyway’ marathon in NYC. It turned out to be a massive success and gave the ‘Run Anyway’ movement incredible publicity because journalists from all over the country interviewed Lance before and after the race! As if all that wasn’t exciting enough, Lance and his buddies had entered the Boston Marathon in April 2013, which on the day became known as the Boston Marathon bombing. Lance had just completed the marathon when the bombs went off and he witnessed some of the horrors, seeing bomb victims being carried to waiting ambulances and the panic that ensued. The story does not end there but takes the reader on a journey through many other races, step by step to each finishing line. Lance describes his missionary visits to Guatemala, and his daily runs in the magnificent mountains there, sometimes running for pleasure while training, and on other occasions, fetching sick children from remote rural villages in the mountains to get them to a hospital where they could receive treatment. Lance has written an engaging book, with running as the central theme, but beautifully interwoven with human relationships, geography, history, and his faith in Almighty God. This is a must-read. I loved the book.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Kitty Arceneaux has a realistic, God-centered view of marriage. In Ruth Ready, she shares her insights on how God designed marriage as a union--how it adds value and enriches the lives of spouses. The book is a no-nonsense response to women who expect too much from marriage instead of appreciating that God designed matrimony to provide spiritual intimacy, understanding, and the ability to put Christ at the center of the union. Arceneaux creatively uses the metaphor of the biblical story of Ruth and Boaz as a meditative example of a healthy and complementary union between husband and wife. She draws on her combined experience and observation as a licensed minister and being happily married for 17 years by applying God’s principles to her marriage and as a doer of the Word.

From irritating habits, unrealistic expectations, and other weighty concerns that women fail to solve together with their spouses, Arceneaux does not offer a magical solution that would brush off domestic issues in marriage quickly. She is aware that love can fly away easily during tough times. She suggests that if we marry using the model of God’s love and commit to our partner, we are likely to survive any potentially marriage-ending situation. Ruth Ready presents case studies of vows in crisis, checklists for premarital counseling, and a sensible rationale for women as to why their destined partner will never be perfect. Women in waiting can particularly benefit from this book. After all, many newlyweds who vow to stick together call it quits the next day, month or year. This book calls us to operate in the thought that we should welcome God into our union for He intends to make our marriages last.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Dismantling Injustice: A Disorderly Parable of the Song of Solomon by April Love-Fordham is an engaging and fascinating book that makes the voices of everyday characters audible. It reveals how the threads of racism that plagued Congressman Caleb Morgan, the main character in the book in his early years, still continue to exist in America. The author brilliantly and seamlessly weaves together the story of Caleb Morgan along with the story from the Song of Solomon. This will make readers look at the scriptures from a modern perspective and is a good combination of biblical studies, Christian ethics, and spiritual development. The author's words reiterate the power and presence of God and speak about the one tool that can heal everyone; God's love.

Dismantling Injustice by April Love-Fordham has a lot to offer readers in terms of stories and instructions that will draw them closer to God. This is the story of everyday people and shows the spiritual truths found in the Song of Solomon. The spiritual discipline will help readers open up to God and experience a complete relationship with God. Caleb's words will also make readers think about their own spirituality and assess their relationship with God. This modern-day story with biblical commentary is a good way for readers to understand the Scriptures and Bible stories in an interesting and different way. The book is not only about good messages but also about encouraging readers to ponder their connection with God. The instructions of spiritual practice at the end of every section are helpful to draw readers closer to God.

Reviewed by Grace Masso for Readers' Favorite

Rough Way to the High Way by Kelly Mack McCoy is an inspirational novel that explores the workings of God’s grace in the ordinary and troubled life of a former pastor as he deals with an unbearable loss. After the murder of his wife, Georgia, Mack’s life as a pastor is upended, so he sells everything and buys a new Peterbilt truck. He leaves behind everything, even disconnecting from most people he has known in life, and sets out on the road trucking — a profession he enjoyed decades ago. Along the highway, as he leaves his town of Pampa behind and compelled by an inner voice, he picks a hitchhiker just where a sign says: Do Not Pickup Hitchhikers. Along the way, he encounters different characters, both good and bad, runs into trouble with police officers, deals with smugglers and a killer. While he has left behind his vocation and hometown, God has not left him as He provides tools for a new mission and opens Mack’s eyes to new ways of serving Him.

I loved this novel and the author’s unique gift for writing characters that are interesting and real. From the waitress Barb to the cops, Pipe Cleaner, and Round Face, to Agent Red Face, Mr. Tobacco, Rocky, Blondie, and Dr. Hashim, the author creates characters with a strong role in the story. They are humanly relatable and fleshed out. The quirkiness in the naming of characters is an element of the story that I liked. The story is filled with twists and turns, and the author develops plot points that are unexpected. Barb is one of my favorite characters; she is self-effacing, yet interesting in the way she opens Mack’s eyes to the real world. Rough Way to the High Way is cleverly plotted and written in exceptionally good prose. The story is filled with insightful moments and drama while offering strong spiritual lessons.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

The Dream by Deborah Arlene begins with a dream, the kind of nightmare from which the victim wakes up disoriented and drenched in sweat. But Seth Siracke's nightmare isn’t an occasional kind of dream. It has become something that disturbs his sleep, nags at the edges of his mind while he is awake, and sucks away at his energy. What makes things difficult is that he is losing interest in life and giving in to despair. His girlfriend, Katy, is worried about his dream, but even her resolve to not talk about it won’t free Seth from its grip. There is only one way to stop the dreams: find out the truth and why the dreams leave him no moment’s respite. So, Seth sets out on a spiritual odyssey, an inner journey that links him with an elderly man and a story linked to the horrors of abortion.

Deborah Arlene writes with compassion about a topic that few people feel comfortable discussing, compelling readers to appreciate the beauty and sacredness of every life. The consequences of abortion are painful, despite how much our egoistic culture tries to downplay it, and it is painful for everyone involved. The Dream explores this kind of pain and unveils the face of a loving God who makes healing and acceptance possible for His creatures. Deborah Arlene’s writing is thoughtful and filled with religious insights, a story that explores love, abortion, healing, and hope. It has a strong appeal to readers who enjoy stories that are inspiring and that involve the power of God’s love operating in the depths of human brokenness. The prose is beautiful; the narrative voice strong and compassionate, and the plot so intelligently imagined and skillfully written that the reader feels as though the story was taking place in their own lives. The Dream is a must-read for any reader who wants to understand the value of every life.