Tyndale House

Life Lessons from Lara (by Dandi Daley Mackall)

December 4, 2016 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

In Larger-Than-Life Lara, Dandi Daley Mackall approaches a difficult subject, one that is a life lesson every child should be taught at a young age, with grace, care and a pinch of humor. A book that should be required reading in every school class

room, Lara handles herself well in every situation—well, almost every one.

What’s even cooler about this book is it not only deals with the topic of bullying but it also teaches readers the different parts of telling a story as each chapter deals with one of these elements (Dialogue, Setting, Rising Action, Details, Cliff-Hangers, and Climax are all addressed).

Ten-year-old Laney Grafton is a tad relieved when the new girl enters her classroom because everyone’s mean words and teasing shifts away from her and onto Lara Phelps. But here’s the thing about Lara: she doesn’t react like she should. Nope. Instead, Lara accepts the bullying and returns each action with a kindness. And while the storyteller (Laney) doesn’t intervene, she does begin to change. As will every reader of this book.

As a reader, I felt Laney’s hardships as well as Lara’s as I was taken along for the ride through the eyes of a fourth-grade girl shares a story through her eyes. The author portrays this excellently through the writing of the story. I was there in that class room with Laney and as she shares this impactful time in her life all the while commenting on what’s she’s learned about telling a story. And the results are sometimes humorous, sometimes heart-breaking, but always memorable.

If you have young children who are being bullied or if you know young children you want to encourage to help a friend who is being bullied or if you want to share how one person can make a difference, then Large-Than-Life Lara is a way in which to do it impactfully.

****I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Befriend by Scott Sauls

October 13, 2016 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Befriend: Creating Belonging in an age of Judgement, Isolation, and Fear by Scott Sauls wasn’t quite what I expected in this book. But that’s not at all a bad thing.

In a world where much of our communication with others is via Facebook, text messages, instant messages, 140 characters on Twitter, or photos on Instagram, we’ve lost a lot of personal interaction. An opportunity to go deeper. Be more understanding. Give a piece of ourselves to others. In short, we’ve limited ourselves to our circle of friends online and in our cell phone contacts. How many of us even take the time to send a personal, meaningful email to a friend or family member?

What Scott Sauls encourages readers to Befriend is to step away from the computers, to put down the cell phones, and make real connections. And again, the challenge is to step outside our circle of influence and get to know people who are different than us—the poor, the wealthy, people with different political views, the disabled, and children to name just a few.

At the beginning of the book, Sauls offers three ways to read his book: read a chapter a day (to ruminate on each challenge), as a small group study, or reading it through in one or two sittings. I can definitely see the advantage and potential for deeper friendships as well as servant opportunities that would benefit a small group.

Even reading Befriend in a few sittings challenged me to reach out to others. Others who don’t live in my neighborhood (or city or country). Those who have less (or more) than me. People who view life through different eyes than I do. Because in the end, my relationships should be a reflection of Jesus, and he hung out with every type of person.

***The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review and was not compensated in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

Defining Normal

July 11, 2016 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

How do you define normal in your life? Are you comparing yourself to others around you? Is it dependent upon your paycheck? How successful you, your spouse, or your kids are? How well-adjusted your family appears to those around you?

The title of Shawn Thornton’s memoir, All but Normal, gives you a sense right away that his childhood, his family were different. As I read this book and walked through many of the events of Shawn and his brother’s childhood, one think struck me over and over again throughout this book.

While their family was not at all like those around the Thorntons—whether it be a messy house in which the members cleaned dishes in order to eat and cleared a space amidst the piles of stuff on the table, the yelling and cursing, or trying to stop his mom from hurting them or herself—Shawn never seemed resentful.

Sure, he questioned why they lived the way they did, he cried out to God, he rebelled, but throughout it all, he loved his mother. A mother who, quite frankly, at times would be unlovable.

The true heart of this story is in unconditional love. You see it in the interactions between Shawn’s mother and those she meets who are hurting. You see it in how, even though he fights back with her, Shawn’s father is protective of his wife (and later when he makes a conscious decision to handle things with her differently). And you see it in the hope that Shawn finds during his struggles (it comes in many forms, a mutt who shows up at the door and won’t leave, an encouraging word spoken by someone when he needs it most, and a conversation with one of his dad’s co-workers).

In today’s world where everyone wants others to believe they have it all together, people hide their hurt. Perhaps the couple next door is on the verge of divorce, a parent struggles with a teenager’s addiction to drugs or alcohol, a mother’s struggle to care for a young one with a disability, or something else, people need love. People need others to come alongside them and show them Jesus. And despite her rages, her cursing, her attempts to injure her family, that the truth that Beverly Thornton taught her children (who, by the way, both went into ministry as adults).

A book that tugged at my heart, had my laughing in a few places and in tears in even more, All but Normal is anything but your usual memoir. If you need encouragement, hope, or love, this book offers all of those and more.

****Tyndale Blog Network provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own.

How to Solve a Murder

August 23, 2015 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

The other day, someone on Facebook posted this picture:

This actually happens to me more often than I’d like to admit. I’m a bookworm and get immersed in a good book. The latest culprit? Janice Cantore’s first book in the Cold Case Justice series.

Homicide detective Abby Hart has a reputation of being professional and efficient. When she’s the lead on a crime, she will find the guilty party and bing him to justice. But Abby’s biggest case, the one she wants to solve more than anyting, is a twenty-seven-year-old cold case. One that took place when Abby was six: The murder of her mom and dad.

When a local glory-hound PI witnessess someone leaving the scene of a murder Abby has received the call-out for, she is forced to speak with him. Through subsequent conversation, she learns Luke Murphy also has a connection to the Triple Seven case involving her parents.

As the two share information and put their heads together, several dots connect and Abby believes there just might be enough to re-open the case for investigation to search for new evidence…if it’s out there.

Throughout Drawing Fire, I felt like I was working the investigations right along with Abby (questioning how the pieces fit together and that sense of accomplishment and relief when crimes were solved. Cantore’s twenty-plus years of experience on the policy force shines through her writing.

And the connection Abby and Luke are both fighting whenever they’re together is palpable.

But, I will warn you, this book ends with somewhat of a cliffhanger (or two). There are questions left unanswered. While a great way to get readers to come back for the next book in the series, it’s somewhat of a let down to know it will be another year before I’ll be with these characters again.

If you’re one of those people who refuses to read a series until it’s complete, definitely write this on down on your future TBR list. If you’re like me and enjoy a good book in your hands as soon as it’s available, pick this one up today.

Available at your local bookstore or Amazon today.

******Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Blog Tour: The Wonder of You by Susan May Warren

July 1, 2015 by Suzie Waltner 2 Comments

Perhaps you’ve been following along as Susan May Warren chronicles the happenings of the Christiansen clan from Deep Haven, Minnesota. If not, I would encourage you to do so. These are wonderful, inspiring, and uplifting books.

The Wonder of You (book five in the Christiansen series) is the story of the youngest member of the family, Amelia. Protected and pampered by her family, Amelia’s great adventure in Prague came to an abrupt end. Feeling defeated and unsuccessful, Amelia returns to her family’s lodge in Deep Haven to nurse her soul and her broken heart. What she doesn’t expect is for the man of culture she met across an ocean to follow her to the small town in Minnesota. Roark St. John is determined to win Amelia back. Coming to grips with his own haunts is a struggle, and now he’s competing with Amelia’s high school sweetheart for her. But she’s worth the risk.

This book was both fun (especially Roark’s attempt at entering the local lumberjack games) and touching. Between Amelia’s lack of confidence in herself, Roark’s demons from the past, and Max’s struggles with his future, the reader is drawn into the story immediately. Fans of this series will be pleased to find more of Max’s point of view in this one. Admittedly, I haven’t yet read Max and Grace’s story but didn’t feel lost at all as I continued the journey with them. And now I will be picking up that missed book as well. Susan May Warren is never a disappointment to me. I feel like a citizen of Deep Haven whenever I pick up one of the books, an extended member of the Christiansen family. So pull up a chair and join them at the campfire on Evergreen Lake once again (or for the first time). You’ll be glad you dropped by.

Available now at your local bookstore or online.

To learn more about the author, visit here.

****Tyndale House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own.