Guest Post | Every Single Woman's Battle

My older sister saw this on my list of possible review books and decided that she wanted to read it for herself. So I asked her to review it!

Remaining pure while single isn’t easy in a culture that encourages a woman to use her body to gain power, respect, and personal fulfillment. The longing for emotional and physical connection can gradually and subtly lead you into compromises you never intended to make. But you can resist the pressures—or reclaim your purity—by building a strong foundation of integrity.

This book, ideal for study with Every Woman’s Battle, is designed specifically for single women and will give you the tools you need to resist temptation and discover true fulfillment. Through practical and biblical lessons you’ll be equipped to:

· understand the unique components of female sexuality
· discern your personal areas of vulnerability
· design a defense plan to protect your heart and mind, as well as your body
· allow God to satisfy the desires He placed within you

Each weekly study section—designed both for individual and small group use in eight-week or twelve-week tracks—guides you deeper into God’s Word, then helps you personalize and apply the principles that will help you live in sexual and emotional purity.

With excerpts from Every Woman’s Battle and Every Man’s Battle, this handy workbook can be read on its own or as a follow-up for those who have already read the aforementioned books. Not only are there excerpts provided but also thought-provoking discussion questions to evoke reflection on the part of the reader.

When I was a teenager, my mom and I read together Shannon Ethridge’s book Every Young Woman’s Battle. Ethridge deals with the topic of sex and sexual compromise in an unashamed and honest way. Admittedly, some of the topics and questions dealt within the book embarrassed me. However, after reading it I realized that sexual and emotional temptations are something we all are challenged with and—the good news—there is a way to conquer temptation through the power we find in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Every Single Woman’s Battle reinforced all of the things I learned from Every Young Woman’s Battle so many years ago. I answered the discussion questions a little differently than I would have as a teenager, but reflecting on the mistakes I’ve made and how I want to change was a positive journey to take. That's why I believe this book is helpful for the woman who is struggling with sexual and emotional compromise and also the woman who hasn’t experienced compromise of that kind. Knowing how we will be attacked and how to devise a game plan makes all the difference when it comes to fighting compromise.

Read an Excerpt of Every Single Woman's Battle

We were provided a complimentary review copy of this book by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing.

Book Beginnings | August 5, 2011

How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments. Include the title and the author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you would like, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line, and let us know if you liked or did not like the sentence. The link-up will be at A Few More Pages every Friday and will be open for the entire week.

This week I've been reading The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I've been working on it for the past few weeks in between other books, but I'm nearly finished. The first lines come from the introduction, which is a fictional account in first-person view of someone discovering a scarlet letter. Intrigue already, right? I was shocked by how long the introduction is . . . it's about fifteen to twenty percent of the entire book! It goes on and on and on about a custom house before it even reaches the finding of the letter; but I wouldn't dare skip it. For simplicity, I edited out the very long sentence where the character discusses the first time he had an "autobiographical impulse."

It is a little remarkable, that—though disinclined to talk overmuch of myself and my affairs at the fireside, and to my personal friends—an autobiographical impulse should twice in my life have taken possession of me, in addressing the public. The first time was three or four years since. . . . And now—because, beyond my deserts, I was happy enough to find a listener or two on the former occasion—I again seize the public by the button, and talk of my three years' experience in a Custom-House.

Other than the length of the introduction, I'm really enjoying the mysteriousness of this book!

Fiction | The Final Hour

"You're not alone. You're never alone."

     Charlie West has held on to that believe, but now he's starting to wonder. He went to bed one night an ordinary high-school kid. When he woke up, he was wanted for murder and hunted by a ruthless band of terrorists. He's been on the run ever since. Now he's stuck in prison, abandoned by his allies, trying desperately to stay a step ahead of vicious prison gangs and brutal guards. And a flash of returning memory tells him another terrorist strike is coming soon. A million people will die unless he does something. But what? He's stuck in a concrete cage with no way out and no one who can help. Charlie has never felt so alone—and yet he knows he can't give in or give up . . . not with the final hour ticking away.

Coming out this month, The Final Hour is the fourth and last installment of Andrew Klavan's exciting young adult series, The Homelanders. Expectant readers might be shocked by the contents of this book: Who knew life for Charlie West could get worse? A swirl of clanging cells, prison breaks, terrorist plots, and flashbacks, The Final Hour is the perfect conclusion to such an adrenaline-pumping series as The Homelanders.

After reviewing The Truth of the Matter, the third book in The Homelanders series, I got first dibs from Thomas Nelson on reviewing the fourth and final book. When I received the third book, I actually didn't realize it was the third in the series, and I was a bit worried that I'd have no clue what was going on. Thankfully, as most books in a series (sometimes annoyingly) do, The Truth of the Matter recapped so that I knew what was going on. The Final Hour does the same, but just enough so readers aren't confused after the long time between book releases.

In this conclusion we find Charlie West in prison. Because of his involvement with The Homelanders, a group of terrorists bent on destroying freedom, Charlie's been locked away indefinitely. Of course, we know that Charlie's innocent; he only got involved with The Homelanders to help the U.S. stop them from completing their plan to attack an American city. Charlie knows the exact location of the attack: he just doesn't remember it. Since he took a drug to erase his memory so that he wouldn't reveal anything important to The Homelanders, he's been having memory attacks that slowly and painfully help him to remember. But the time of the attack is coming, and he still doesn't remember. If he doesn't, many lives will be lost, and he'll be held responsible.

The Final Hour is the perfect conclusion to a great young adult series. If you've been anxiously awaiting this book, you won't be disappointed.

By the way, after a quick Internet search I discovered that this series is currently being turned into a movie. I can't wait!

Visit Andrew Klavan's Website |  Read an Excerpt of The Final Hour

I was kindly provided a complimentary review copy of The Final Hour from Booksneeze.