So Long, Insecurity ~ A Book Review

"So Long, Insecurity" is the teen version of Beth Moore's popular book for adult women. It is printed in a magazine style, that keeps each chapter short, sweet, and to the point.

The Pros:
    I'm going to start off by admitting that I had very low expectations for this book. I have read magazine style studies before, and found them to be shallow and fluffy, especially when they started to talk about insecurity, which is the theme of this particular study. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not the case. Each chapter, though short, is filled with scripture, practical tips, fun quizzes, great discussion questions, and very little "fluff".

The Cons:
   The chapters were quite short. There were several times that I thought the author could have gone deeper into a topic that she was discussing and skipped some of the "fun stuff".

In Conclusion:
   I think that this would be a great  book to use in an environment where this book could be used as a springboard for discussion and further study, such as a Sunday School class, or mother-daughter study.

P.S.- For those that have Twitter or Instagram accounts, you can follow Tyndale Teens on each of these for extra encouragement!

*I received this book free from Tyndale House for my honest opinion.

Devos for Teen Girls ~ Book Review

   "Devos for Teen Girls" is a one year devotional book geared toward girls and the daily problems that we face. It is written by Dannah Gresh and Suzy Weibel, two Christian authors and speakers, with a heart for teen girls.

The Pros:
   This book is full of great spiritual truths for many different topics that girls encounter every day, including some pretty hot topics such as: tattoos, sexuality, and marriage in today's culture. Each days devotional, contains a Bible verse, a very short lesson, and then an Action Step to help you practically apply what you learned. It is a quick, easy read, but doesn't sacrifice Truth.

The Cons:
   I really can't think of anything I didn't like about this book. Though I will say that because of the mature themes covered, I can only recommend it for older teens.

In Conclusion:
   "Devos for Teen Girls" would make a wonderful addition to any girls daily devotions!


*I received this book free from Tyndale House for my honest opinion.

Trouble in Store ~ A Book Review

   Trouble in Store, is the story of Melanie Ross, a young lady in 1880's America, who is left without family or friends. Her last resort is an Arizona mercantile that she has inherited from her uncle. However, upon arriving, she discovers that she has a business partner, Caleb Nelson, who is not at all excited to see her. She also discovers, that someone even more sinister, is determined to have her gone.

The Pros:
   This is a clean romance/adventure set in the "Wild West", complete with a damsel in distress, a dashing hero, and a cute little hero-in-training. The mystery portion was quite interesting, I thought. The author, even managed to throw me off the scent of the villain, several times, which definitely kept me turning pages.

The Cons:
   First of all, the heroine started getting on my nerves quite early in the story. Her spunk was admirable in some situations, but more often than not, her attitude came across as know-it-all. This also caused problems with dialogue, as half the book was she and Caleb arguing over something or other. Secondly, is seemed that the author was trying to make parallels between God leading Joseph in the Bible, and Him leading Melanie. However, this fell kind of flat for me, as she seemed to more often blaze on ahead by herself, instead of waiting on direction from God. Also, the romance portion, though clean and sweet, was pretty cookie-cutter.

In Conclusion:
   I give Trouble in Store, three out of five stars, for being a light, summer read, with an interesting mystery. However, I can think of several other stories that are equally as nice, without sacrificing a strong plot, or message.


*I received this book free, from Bethany House Publishers, in exchange for my honest review.