Reviewed by Constance Stadler for Readers' Favorite

In a culture that is often dismissive of those who claim to have psychic power, in The Five Love Lessons: Understanding the Why Behind the Relationship, June Edward, a noted psychic medium and relationship coach, makes a compelling case that the nature of love is multi-dimensional and goes well beyond the physical. To assist the reader in understanding these essential lessons and making life-defining changes, Edward provides numerous examples illustrating what can happen when these lessons do or don’t exist and the coexisting need to consider a different worldview. Appreciating being in harmony with the universe, celebrating the reality of ever-present angels, and explaining why heaven is necessarily tiered are some components of knowledge vital to being fully human and authentically loving oneself and others.

The reader is frequently encouraged to pause and look within to grasp why these lessons matter and reread the book to make the most of the learning process. In crisp, clear, and persuasive writing, June Edward explains why self-worth is the anchor of change and why money matters in ways that have little to do with having it. She underscores the imperative of establishing trust and communication in relationships and overcoming invariable impediments. Her thoughts on what unconditional love entails and why having patience is an absolute necessity complete the lessons she sets out to teach. For those seeking a more rewarding life, The Five Love Lessons offers insights and support that may help to realize a path that makes the most of being alive.

Reviewed by Demetria Head for Readers' Favorite

Tackling the Taboo by Terica Turner invites you on a transformative journey, delving into the depths of navigating life with mental illness from a unique perspective. This profound and eye-opening book unveils the author's personal and spiritual encounters with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges, further challenging prevailing myths and misconceptions surrounding these issues. With unwavering honesty, the author demolishes the notion that Christians are immune to such struggles, emphasizing that mental health concerns do not reflect a lack of faith or spiritual devotion. From developing a suicide safety plan to engaging in open dialogues with loved ones, the author provides tangible guidance to nurture resilience and foster healing. With each turn of the page, readers are equipped with the essential knowledge and skills needed to embrace life's complexities and flourish despite the shadows that may loom.

This book is a beacon of light, shining brightly with practical tools and resources to aid in coping with mental health challenges. Tackling the Taboo is a testament to Turner’s courage and vulnerability, as she fearlessly bares her soul, inviting readers into her world of triumphs and tribulations. It's an intimate connection that resonates deeply, creating an empathetic bond between the author and her readers. The book's seamless and engaging narrative style offers a riveting reading experience, effortlessly weaving personal anecdotes, biblical teachings, and therapeutic recommendations into a tapestry of enlightenment. As you delve into its pages, you'll discover the profound impact this book can have on your own journey. It's a transformative guide that empowers, educates, and uplifts.

Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Flood, Fire and a Superstorm by Marty Ingram provides a compelling first-hand account of the devastating impact of Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Ingram, the chief of the Point Breeze Volunteer Fire Department, offers a unique perspective on the unprecedented challenges that the volunteers and first responders faced during and after the storm. The book vividly describes the destruction caused by the storm's tidal surge, which inundated the New York Metropolitan area and left many residents without power, food, or shelter. Yet, in the face of the disaster, Ingram and his fellow firefighters defied evacuation orders and worked tirelessly to rescue and support their community.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Marty Ingram's Flood, Fire and a Superstorm is the portrayal of the courage exhibited by the volunteer firefighters. Despite the overwhelming scale of the disaster, they worked tirelessly to put out fires, rescue stranded residents, and rebuild their community. Their determination and selflessness serve as an inspiring example in the face of adversity. Ingram's expertise as a first responder is evident throughout the book, as he provides valuable insights into disaster response and the importance of preparedness and resilience. It's a gripping read and a practical guidebook for disaster response. It is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit and a must-read for anyone seeking an account of ordinary people acting extraordinarily in the face of one of the deadliest disasters of 2012.

Reviewed by Diana Lopez for Readers' Favorite

It is necessary to understand finances to plan for a great future, and it is fundamental to learn how to manage money properly from the moment we start handling it. If young people learn to save, they will achieve long-term financial goals. Resolve by Will Ertel shares basic ideas for planning expenses and highlights the importance of following the teachings of the Bible. Ertel describes the need to seek both the good for oneself and others and explains concepts such as donations, creating an action plan, saving and investing, and other ideas. Among his tips, he highlights the need to be diligent in our goals and learn to identify economic opportunities to enjoy a stable life.

I found it interesting that Will Ertel demonstrates a relationship between following Christianity and maintaining stable finances. He explains the usefulness of acting correctly and fairly. He takes the concept of donations as part of the process of financial organization and shows that sharing is not in conflict with managing money wisely. I liked this idea because by sharing, money is valued differently. Money is a beneficial tool, but it is not the only thing in life that matters. The information is practical, and Ertel speaks from experience and provides useful information and personal examples that everyone will find easy to understand. Resolve is an excellent financial planning guide.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

She is My Child: What My Daughter’s Medical Journey Taught Me About Faith, My Heavenly Father, and Flying Standby by Tammy Coulter is a non-fiction Christian memoir in which the author details years spent through the trials and tribulations of life while seeking help for her daughter Ava's Morquio Syndrome. Morquio is a rare genetic disorder that Ava was diagnosed with before the age of two, and Coulter is profoundly honest in how shaken her faith was as she grappled with the news and the fact that not only was there no cure, there really was no treatment either. While many parents get up and take their kids once a week to soccer practice, Coulter was shuttling Ava on weekly flights between Atlanta and Chicago for experimental treatment. In the same way that Coulter determined the need to trust in the medical community because she could not do it alone, she also doubled down on her commitment to God, putting her trust in Him for the very same reason: she could not do it alone.

I admit that when I started reading She is My Child, I really had trouble seeing how I could come out of this book with a smile in my heart. In fact, I was looking down at the floor wondering how the heck I could even piece the shattered bits of my heart back together. Yes, Tammy Coulter writes of the journey of Ava, herself, and her family with God at the forefront, but in reading that Morquio lacks meaningful treatment and a cure, it was so hard not to look up and ask, “Who the heck is driving this thing?” The parts where Ava is physical are the most difficult. Looking at your child while she sobs and is barely able to get out that she is angry because she had to have surgery, that's tough. What I loved most though is how these heavy moments are pit stops between moments of levity and a deep, deep faith in God. The writing is beautiful and genuinely engrossing, and Coulter pulls us in from the word go. I now feel like I am a part of Ava's journey too and am certain all others who read this book will feel the same. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Coming Out Alive! Navigating Postmodern Philosophy and Culture by Karen E. Cedergren is a one-of-a-kind book on how Postmodern culture and philosophy have changed the worldview. Almost a critical analysis of what is happening in the world at the moment and its consequences on believers, the author takes a deep look at what postmodernism has done to religion. After detailing what pre-modernism, modernism, and postmodernism are, she starts her narrative on how the Church has been affected by it. Culture has changed, and this has had a direct impact on the Church and people’s beliefs. Instead of being radical and canceling everything, the author calls for a renaissance where the Church and believers can see where things went wrong and how they can restore religion to where it belongs. She doesn’t talk about boycotting anything; she just urges the Church to be a little less like the world and be more like what Christianity should be.

Short, direct, and very easy to digest, author Karen E. Cedergren did a fantastic job with the research and driving her point home without sounding conceited. Instead of just sharing her ideas, she lays the facts down before sharing her findings with readers. She is basically calling out churches and how they have become lifeless. Instead of keeping tradition alive, churches have become a little lazy in preaching and keeping God’s name alive. People who are searching for guidance cannot find it in the churches, and people are drifting away from religion. But she isn’t just registering her grievances. She understands why things have changed and how we can get out of this mess quickly. This simple book is helpful, educational, and inspirational!

Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite

The life and times of Jesus of Nazareth have inspired millions for almost two thousand years, but there are many anomalies and contradictions contained in the written teachings - in particular the English translations of the New Testament - which form the basis of modern Christianity. Salt & Light sets out to examine the evidence, weighing it against other sources, before applying logic and common sense to provide a wider and alternative view of events. Salt & Light reviews the available literature to build a more comprehensive picture of Jesus, His disciples, followers, and the people of the time. Jonathan Dean establishes objective criteria to conduct his evaluation, restricting it to credible sources such as eyewitness accounts. This effectively limits the scope of his inquiry to the first century CE and eliminates much documentation. The origin of the Gospels, along with the actual identity of the authors, has challenged theologians for centuries, with conflicting opinions emerging. This topic is revisited with some interesting conclusions drawn. Dean is able to establish a credible chronology for the writing of the Gospels, which he places some years earlier than many academics. He supports his conclusions with persuasive arguments, before presenting a summary of his findings.

Readers should be clear from the outset that Salt & Light is neither a conspiracy theory nor an attempt to tarnish the reputation of an iconic religious figure. Jonathan Dean reminds us that the Bible was originally written in several languages and that the translations into English from Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek, or Latin have not always been entirely accurate. Some texts have become the subject of interpretation and speculation, while there are also gaps in the narrative. It should be remembered that few people were literate in biblical times. Of necessity, the Gospels would probably have been dictated to scribes from memory and anecdotal evidence some years after the events. The book is well illustrated with informative pictures, maps, and diagrams. I particularly liked the figure which showed the close relationship between the three Synoptic Gospels. The timelines provided are equally interesting and include a probable date for the crucifixion!

The book has been extensively researched and the list of references is impressive. Dean has provided much food for thought with this publication, which may not be universally acclaimed by fundamentalists. It was written for a much wider audience and is the first of a two-part series. It has succeeded admirably in shedding light on a controversial topic and should be read with an open mind. Christianity is about faith and it is up to readers to draw their own conclusions. A fascinating and courageous look at a topic that has interested me for many years. It is very thought-provoking.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Divine Intervention: 50 True Stories of God's Miracles Today, compiled by Daniel Fazzina, is a non-fiction Christian anthology that chronicles experiences within the lives of dozens of individuals who connect what occurred in that moment to an intervention by God. Each of the stories is narrated by the person whose story it is, in the first person, and offers a wide range of profiles. The experiences range from Derrick Holmes' testimony wherein he describes the night he was shot at random forty-three times and survived to Denise Lotierzo-Block, who suffered a brain hemorrhage and defied the odds of survival and rehabilitation after brain surgery, only to defy them again by re-learning to read; and on to Steven Sebyala, who was raised on the streets of Kampala as Uganda remained locked in protracted civil wars, turning to God and being blessed in ways he never dreamed possible.

What I love most about the stories Daniel Fazzina brings together in Divine Intervention is that no single experience is like another except in one way: God was present. Each of the fifty stories sounds authentic in voice because they are, having been written or narrated by the person who felt this divine proximity and intervention themselves. The writing is clean and straightforward and every story is long enough to understand the intricacies of the person prior to the event but without unnecessary verbosity to distract from the reason for sharing it. My favorite is the experience of Dayalan Sanders, a native Sri Lankan Christian who immigrated to the United States but continued to return home in the aid and service of others. In 2004, a tsunami destroyed the area surrounding the village of Navalady, but Sanders and those with him miraculously survived. As a South Asian who lives in the West myself, I connected with the devastation of natural disasters where there are little to no resources to protect those who live there. I was also touched by the man who clings to his faith as if it were a banyan tree and survives against all odds, not taking the credit for strength and courage but instead putting it at the foot of God. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

Pilgrimage: A Doctor's Healing Journey by Donna Chacko MD is a revealing and motivational memoir about the author reaching a crisis and recovery. When people are sick, overwhelmed, and in pain, most of us go to a doctor. But where does a doctor turn to with these crushing feelings? Can doctors reach a breaking point too? Are they allowed to? What happens when they go over the edge? This is the wonderfully gripping and enlightening true story of a dedicated, harried radiation oncologist whose outward demeanor masks inner turmoil. We think doctors must always be in control, but this physician's healing odyssey shows that relinquishing control can sometimes be the best thing to do.

Chacko delves into her past to unearth the issues that are contributing to her marital problems and health concerns. God is in her equation, and she puts it all on the table for you to consume. Just when you think doctors are somewhat immune to everyday problems or must have super coping mechanisms, this author shows you how frail yet strong a doctor can really be. Anxiety and stress plague many people today, and there is an abundance of substance use, sleep disruption and persistent health issues. One of my favorite parts of the book is near her breaking point and spends time with the prayers and poems she has in her closet--one being her grandmother's. The support systems we depended on seem to be disintegrating, or ineffective. When these are stripped away, when you come to the end of yourself, what, or who, do you have left? God. If you're looking for inspiration on how to begin your own healing journey, take your first step by reading the amazing Pilgrimage: A Doctor's Healing Journey by Donna Chacko, MD.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Get to the Point: Every Guidance or Provision You Will Ever Need Can Be Found Today in God's Presence by Kevin White is a book that should have never been written as, ideally, people should not need it. What then is the reason for its publication? Many Christians are missing what it truly means to be a Christian, despite doing everything that is Christ-like. It appears that many are pursuing good works in the name of Christ without understanding the process. The author emphasizes that God’s whole purpose has been His presence in your life. Does this sound as if it’s nothing new? If you keep using words like hope, faith, and confidence that are not backed up by practical action, it’s like wearing a parachute and expecting it to save your life without you jumping out of the plane.

True to its title, this is a book that will not waste your time. Kevin White demonstrates that your true path to an authentic connection with God cannot be found in rituals and religion alone. What White aims to achieve in Get to the Point is to help you grasp the rich essence of your relationship with God. In a world where Christian knowledge is limited to Bible stories, misquoted verses, and the anything-goes interpretation of Scripture, White keeps it straightforward and stresses that God’s whole purpose has been you in His presence and His presence in you. If you want to discover your reason for being, this inspirational Christian guidebook can point you in the right direction.