Review: My So-Called Life as a Submissive Wife: A One-Year Experiment...and Its Liberating Results

My So-Called Life as a Submissive Wife: A One-Year Experiment...and Its Liberating Results by Sara Horn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Description:

Can a modern wife be submissive to her husband?

In her highly anticipated sequel to My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife, author Sara Horn takes on one of the most widely debated subjects for a Christian wife--marital submission.

What does biblical submission look like for wives today? And why is submission viewed as such a dirty word by so many women and men in our culture, including Christians? Can a happily married couple live out the biblical model of submission and be the better for it?

Horn takes on a one-year experiment to seek answers to these questions and to explore what it means to be submissive as a wife and "helper" to her husband. The answers--and her discoveries--may surprise you.

This unique, entertaining, and thought-provoking personal account will challenge women to throw out their preconceived notions of what a submissive wife looks like and seek fresh leading from God for their lives and marriages today.

My Review:

I love Sara's honesty in this book! She shares the good and the bad, the struggles and successes, her thoughts on how the world views her choices and her desire to follow God as well as her confusion as to what submission really is.

Her writing is humorous and to be honest I can't imagine trying an experiment such as this while living with my in-laws and then adding my grandmother-in-law to the mix as well! She manages to keep it all together...mostly. She even shares how the changes she made let to changes in her husband as well.

The only thing that was missing was direct instruction on what it is to be submissive, but that is something I love as well. God didn't give a step by step depiction of what submission to a husband is, probably because submission looks slightly different in every marriage. God laid the groundwork and left the rest up to us to work out, which Sara quickly picks up on. Like her, though, sometimes I wish the instructions were a little clearer! :)

So I highly recommend this for every engaged or married woman to read if they truly want to honor God and their husband in their relationship. This isn't a throwback, obey your husband without thought, male dominating concept. This is the way to a marriage that really is forever after.

I did receive an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

review: The Testing

The Testing Description:

It’s graduation day for sixteen-year-old Malencia Vale, and the entire Five Lakes Colony (the former Great Lakes) is celebrating. All Cia can think about—hope for—is whether she’ll be chosen for The Testing, a United Commonwealth program that selects the best and brightest new graduates to become possible leaders of the slowly revitalizing post-war civilization. When Cia is chosen, her father finally tells her about his own nightmarish half-memories of The Testing. Armed with his dire warnings (”Cia, trust no one”), she bravely heads off to Tosu City, far away from friends and family, perhaps forever. Danger, romance—and sheer terror—await.

My Review:

So I admit, this is very similar to another post apocalyptic, dystopian novel that was recently released as a movie.  Although the candidates in this testing don't know what they are getting into, and actually want to participate, and the candidates are at least graduates of their local schools, the premise is the same.  Kids going through a terrible ordeal in a fight to come out on top.  Many readers would stop right here and figure they have read this book already.  Don't.

Cia makes this book worth reading (much like the lead character in the all to familiar The Hunger Games).  She is sweet, caring and lovable.  We see her struggle to stay true to who she is, struggle with doing what is right despite the circumstances, struggle with new love, etc.  She really does make this book worth reading. 

The only thing I didn't like is that it's a cliffhanger.  We are left at the end of the book still scratching our heads and trying to figure out what the real purpose of the test is as well as the motives of some of the candidates.  So while you may be familiar with the story line, you will find yourself enjoying the journey from beginning to end. 

Still not sure if The Testing is for you?  Download and read the free prequel here, starring Cia's older brother.

Review: Little Star

Little Star by Anthony DeStefano

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a sweet tale of a little star who wanted to shine bright and light up baby Jesus! In typical story book fashion we meet Little Star, who doesn't really seem to fit in with anyone. When a special reward was offered to the star that could shine the brightest. Little Star wasn't even considered.

But on that special night, Little Star was the one who saw the promise in the birth of a baby in a lowly manger. Little Star sacrifices everything to touch Jesus with his love and light.

The illustrations are gorgeous, the story is touching and beautiful. In all honesty I cried reading it. This story has been added to our yearly Christmas book list.



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Review: Jakobe's Assignment

JaKobe's Assignment (Angel Trilogy) by Elizabeth Baker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Description:Pastor Jonathan Phelps believes in angels. Yet, the idea of unseen beings actually roaming the halls of Grace Community Church never entered his mind. Angels surely had some kind of purpose somewhere, but never in an unimportant backwater like Thyme, Texas. The thought of a warrior showing up in his office would have shaken him to the core! Angels never do things like that. Do they?

It’s been 700 years since JaKobe worked on earth, but when his curiosity is piqued by Rachael’s strange request, he finds himself once again on assignment doing the very things he once thought were behind him forever. Serving Adam’s offspring and advancing the Kingdom while enemies multiply on every side is all in a day’s work. And, this specific assignment is one job JaKobe is determined to finish before midnight.

My Review:

Jakobe's Assignment is a fictional story along the lines of This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness in that it deals with spiritual warfare. We are given a glimpse of Elizabeth Baker's interpretation of the actions of angels as a result of humans living life.

We meet a preacher who "just wants to see God's doing something that matters and know that (he's) part of it". His wife, who presents herself as the good Christian woman, struggles with having a real relationship with God. We meet a young, unmarried, pregnant gal whose experiences with church were not good, a member of the choir going through some terrible times and yet her faith stays strong and a few others. Throughout it all we see the spiritual battles that are being fought around them as angels protect them and guide them.

I have to say that at times the storylines feel disjointed and can be difficult to follow. Other than the pastor, his wife, and an elderly mentor, we don't really get to know any of the humans. The same can be said for the angels. So this really isn't a character driven book.

However the concept is interesting enough to keep us reading and there are some wonderful truths hidden within the covers.