Review \\ No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado

In this compelling quest for the Messiah, best-selling author Max Lucado invites readers to meet the blue-collar Jew whose claim altered a world and whose promise has never been equaled. Readers will come to know Jesus the Christ in a brand-new way as Lucado brings them full circle to the foot of the cross and the man who sacrificed His life on it.

I've had a difficult time coming up with something to say about No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado. What can I say about Max Lucado's books that has not already been said?

If you are aware of Lucado's style, then this book will be no surprise to you. It contains chapters that to some seem island-like and choppy and to others seem the perfect blog-type entries that can be read individually in about five minutes. I lean a little more towards the choppy-thinking side. I didn't like that I felt I had to break between chapters since most carried separate ideas and equally deep thoughts that I needed time to ponder. But there is pleasure in the fact that I could set the book down for about a month and then return to it without difficulty.

The thing that I like most about Max Lucado is that, in each book he writes, he asks the reader to really take the time and think. Sure, one chapter is an easy two to five minute read, but the feeling and question it contains lasts long after you put the book down. No Wonder They Call Him the Savior offers the perfect opportunity to ponder and discover the character and purpose of Jesus Christ.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers. All opinions of this book are my own.

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.

You Were Made to Make a Difference

You Were Made to Make a Difference by Max Lucado and Jenna Lucado Bishop (with Natalie Gillespie) is an inspiring, practical guidebook for teens of all ages. (This is the teen version of Max Lucado's Outlive Your Life.) By presenting the first church of Acts in an easy-to-read style, Max Lucado and his daughter Jenna teach teenagers that they can make a difference, no matter their ages or limitations.

In the pages of You Were Made to Make a Difference, I found comfort and inspiration. I am a huge fan of books that teach me, a teenager, to live beyond the world's normal standards. In my own life, I am striving to make a difference, and this book gave me more thoughts and plans for outliving my life.

The point of the book is this: no matter your age, no matter how much money you have, no matter your family situation, no matter your limitations; God can use you. God wants to use you. I cannot argue with that at all.

Content aside, this book is just fun to read. It has really cool designs, stories of other teen's make-a-difference lives, and extra info about ministries that accept teenage help. I must say that I am a huge fan of Max Lucado's writing style. I have read several of his teen books in the past, like He Chose You, Just Like Jesus, It's Not About Me, Facing Your Giants, and 3:16. I love the fact that he doesn't over-simplify the information like some authors do, assuming that just because the book is written for teens, the book can't have a powerful, in-the-world-not-of-the-world message.

It is interesting to note that I read the above mentioned books when I was twelve and thirteen. I was interested to see how You Were Made to Make a Difference would affect me now, as an older teenager. But it was completely applicable to my life now. I think this book would be a great read for anyone from 10 to 20 years old.

So spend some time with Jesus. Ask him to change you. Ask him to love through you. Then...THEN...you can make the difference you were designed to make. (199)

I received my copy of You Were Made to Make a Difference
free from Thomas Nelson Publishers via booksneeze.com.
I was not paid to review this book.
I was asked to give my honest opinon of this book,
and Thomas Nelson Publishers in no way influenced my review.

Finally!

I finally received You Were Made to Make a Difference in the mail this weekend. I had been waiting for it from Thomas Nelson Publishers and had decided that I just wouldn't get it! I ended up emailing them because I was worried I had done something wrong (it was my first time requesting a book). I got a very kind letter back saying that they were back ordered and waiting for the next shipment. The representative even told me that they would be in next week and within a couple of days after that I got to open the wonderful package!

Now, aside from the fact that the postal worker decided to cram it into the box by folding it, (Yes! It came pretty much bent out of shape. I stuck it under a couple of heavy books and it flattened out nicely.) I am so pleased with this book! I am already half way through it, and it is amazing!

I will tell you all about it when I'm done.

On another note, I am dissapointed with my reading this month. I haven't gotten some books read that I wanted to have finished by now. But I know what the reason is: school! I now have so many other things to read that I don't have enough time to read the things that I want to read. It's craziness. Usually at the end of the day I'm just too mentally exhausted to read a great biography or delve into the world of nursing. I end up making a potato out of myself in front of the TV.

I will catch up one day, though!

Also, please note that there is an amazing Kindle giveaway going on! Click the button on the sidebar to find out how to enter, general rules, extra entries, etc. You have until October 4th to enter.

Bless you!

I found a site a couple of days ago called BookSneeze. It's put out by Thomas Nelson Publishing and it basically gives bloggers free books. The only catch is that the person who receives the book must (1) blog about it and (2) post their review on a store website (like Amazon.com, Walmart.com, or the like). Believe me, I read and re-read the information provided. I asked someone about it. Then I signed up! I just requested my first book, "You Were Made to Make a Difference." (See sidebar.) I can't wait until it gets here! So expect a very meaty review of it in the near future. Happy reading!