Every Time I Feel the Spirit by Shannon W. Dycus

Every Time I Feel the Spirit by Shannon W. Dycus

4 stars

This is Bible Study and not an actual novel, but it still offers a great perspective on studying Biblical women from a different perspective. Dycus compares Biblical women to women (usually diverse women) who have impacted culture through magnificent ways. I really liked the two cross narrative approach. Each chapter is formatted like a Bible study with a breathing prayer, Scripture to read, commentary, questions, and ending breathing prayer. I enjoyed the process of walking through the Scriptures and reading the commentary. Do I think this is a good Bible study? Yes. I think it is specifically targeted to Mennonite religion, but since I’m non-denominational I believe all denominations could benefit from this perspective. I also found the diversity of this Bible study very important. Most Bible studies are very white-centered and it was enlightening and culturally relevant to read alongside women who have impacted others cultures and our world. I would recommend this Bible study on the diversity aspects that can be learned from as well as embraced and connected to by those who are from these same backgrounds. It’s so important to have diverse literature, but equally important to have diverse Bible studies and Christian literature. I loved this for that! I loved the commentary on Mary, Vashti, Anna, Naamah, and the unnamed woman who can’t walk. It’s so refreshing to come across new perspectives on commentary on women in the Bible especially since her main goal is to always hear the voice of women in Scripture to find her own voice (it’s inspiring and similar to my own journey). This Bible study is strong and I’m so honored to have been given a copy to review. I enjoyed the perspective and while I didn’t always agree with all the commentary (mainly the one on Jairus’s wife) it enhanced my interaction with Scripture and with God. I also enjoyed learning breath prayer technique at the end and understanding more about it. It’s a beautiful practice that I’m looking forward to trying.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 3.5

Plotastic Scale: 4.25

Cover Thoughts: I love the cover. It may be cheesy, but I’m sucker for it.

Thank you, Netgalley and Herald Press, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

You can purchase this book on Amazon here! (I'm an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission if you use this link.)

Have you read Every Time I Feel the Spirit? Do you plan to? What are some Bible studies that you've done or enjoyed doing? Let me know down below in the comments!

Why Girl, Wash Your Face Promotes Selfish Ambition and NOT the Gospel

Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

1 star
I’ve been wrestling with this book since I finished reading it. On first reading, I was smitten with Hollis’s personality and likability. Honestly, I feel manipulated. After months of dreading even writing or contemplating my overall thoughts on Rachel Hollis’s book Girl, Wash Your Face, I’ve come to one conclusion. This book promotes a self-help religion with plastering Jesus’s face on it to appeal to Christian women who are not strong enough in their faith to have developed discernment by reading the Word. The thing is I fell for the trap. I truly believe that the Devil convinced me to believe some of the lies Hollis spouts for a second even though the lies she wrote immediately left me feeling uncomfortable and should have been a red flag. What were those initial gut-feelings that should’ve been trusted?

• Her obsession with money and gaining personal items for wealth or influential knowledge saying, “HEY, LOOK HERE I AM RICH!” There was a chapter dedicated to her buying a fancy watch and this made me uncomfortable because Scripture warns us not to store up things with us because they will not follow us into heaven and chasing money, glory, and power are not akin to chasing the kingdom of God. Here’s the thing, if Jesus said not to hoard things for your benefit or greed then this is a red flag. I’m also struck by the story “The Rich and the Kingdom of God”. This story perfectly showcases why and how Hollis’s entire brand Christianity is thrown out and can be fed to the pigs. It’s not a true following of Jesus. It’s a following of man. Adam didn’t die for me on the cross. Jesus did and I refuse to believe and fall trap to the pretty packaged lies that Hollis wraps up in, “Girl, you got this. God has you, too. But remember that you have this more than God.” This is FALSE DOCTRINE AND IS DANGEROUS. It plants false seeds of discord into the minds of the church and it completely follows the teaching of false teaching of Jesus not being at the center.

Matthew 19:16-26
16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do 

to get eternal life?”17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. 

“There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18 “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not 

commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor 

your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 “All these I have

 kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you 

want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will 

 have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, 

he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, 

“Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than 

for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard 

this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus 

looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are 

possible.”

“When you really want something, you’ll find a way. When you don’t really want something, you’ll find an excuse.”
• What about finding God first? What about going to Jesus in prayer and asking Him if this desire of your heart is from your flesh and your glory or to further the kingdom? What about those moments where you don’t want to do something because it puts you out there and instead of relying on excuses of “I don’t want to”, you rely first on the Spirit’s prompting instead of the desires of your heart. Why is the heart dangerous and our ambition selfish?

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
1 Chronicles 28:9
“…For the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. 

If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you 

forever.”
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value 

others above yourselves,

Friends, Rachel Hollis does not follow Paul’s words in Philippians. Girl, Wash Your Face is all about SELFISH AMBITION and putting yourself ABOVE OTHERS. That is NOT THE GOSPEL. Jesus did not die for us to put ourselves above others. He died for us, so that we would be right with God and never have to feel the weight of our own sins when we acknowledge and accept him as our SAVIOR. Jesus is not Hollis’s savior. I think her husband is. There are some very uncomfortable chapters about how her husband mentally abuses her and then how she accepts him back. I believe that this message is not only dangerous to promoting fairytale romances that continue to enable and perpetuate dangerous relationships, but markets a man as a savior instead of Jesus.

This book is all about the promises you make to yourself and the goals or dreams you have set. I’m sorry, but goals can be selfish. If you didn’t pray for guidance in setting these goals and if it’s to put your name before Jesus’s name, then the dream and goal you have is selfish. Point blank. That’s a sin problem that needs to be handed to Jesus in surrender and not gripped tight while scribbling it down in a notebook and then taking your life by your own hands. Living life your way and not God’s way is DANGEROUS. It leads to sin that could be avoided (because always remember that God is merciful and always provides a way out, but we often don’t take it because it’s harder), pride, lust, gluttony, selfish ambition, a god-complex (personal idolatry), and believing that you are better than everybody else. None of these messages are backed by the Bible or Scripture and I pray that this book will eventually stop being marketed to other Christians as Biblical truth, because the only truth here is Hollis’s truth and it is not in alignment with the Word.


Have you read or heard of Girl, Wash Your Face? What are your thoughts on the book? Do you believe the message is good and sound or dangerous? I'd love to hear your own personal thoughts. Let me know down below in the comments!

Blog Tour: Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau (Review + Excerpt)

Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau

First book in the Beast Charmer series

3 stars

Leena is an exiled beast charmer. She makes a living catching low-grade beasts to stay alive and has made many enemies of Charmers and humans alike. Her latest enemy has put a hit on her and this assassin is like no other. The Cruor are assassins that have been raised from the dead and can control the shadows. After Leena defeats a Cruor and nearly kills him, the leader—Noc—decides to use this hit for his advantage and get some beasts. Will Noc carry through with assassinating Leena? Will Leena be able to prove that she isn’t evil by taming the Myad and proving herself as a worthy innocent to the beast? Who has the hit on Leena and why do they want her to be apart of a ritual sacrifice? I usually don’t pose questions in writing a synopsis, but I figured if these questions pique your interest then this will probably be a book for you. Kingdom of Exiles has a fun plot. The plot follows the vein of most paranormal fantasy novels, but this novel is heavy fantasy (which was an aspect I liked). Martineau has some interesting world-building and I found the concepts of both the Charmers and the Cruor to be interesting and complex. The writing, itself however, lacked in complexity and stank of swoon-worthy cringe. Some of these lines were so unnecessary and completely took out of the story. Here are some examples:
“The confident jerk of her chink threw me, and some of the anger stoking in my core snuffed out. I couldn’t help but admire the way she carried herself. Like an assassin unafraid of death.” (Not too bad, but my eyes still glanced at the back of my head briefly.)
“Please cut yourself. Cut yourself, and let me pretend to fuss over you. Let me get a napkin and wipe away the blood so I can save it for the taming. Please.” (This one was SO WEIRD. It’s even weirder out of context. I can’t believe I read this in a book.)
“Jealousy was a beast, and I feared Leena was the only Charmer skilled enough to tame it.”(Puns and cringe all at the same time.)
“The Myad wasn’t the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Noc would always win that contest.(You could be killed this is not the best time to judge beauty, Leena.)
“He’d absolved me of my transgressions. Clean. I was clean. And worthy of being his.” (Thought she was talking about her love interest. No, it’s her beast who seems to be Jesus.)
“You don’t have to worry about me… I don’t have feelings for you. It’s safe.” (One of those I’m lying about my feelings tropes. How YA.)
Don’t even get me started on the part when the Charmers mentioned Noc being Leena’s mate. I had Sarah J. Maas flashbacks so hard that I swear I thought I was in ACOTAR for a second. Obviously, the writing is this book’s weakest feature. This can be both a hindrance for the reader who reads a lot or a blessing for a reader just looking for a quick and easy read. It’s all those boxes. I’m still laughing about these quotes even as I wrote them.



Whimsical Writing Scale: 2.25

Leena isn’t a bad heroine. She has some depth. There are added layers with her secret past, banishment, and lover gone wrong. It’s a fun time, typical to the genre, but fun nonetheless. I also really liked her scenes with taming the beasts for the Cruor assassins. Those scenes made this book for me. The Charmer aspect of this novel is really strong and it was fun.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 3

Noc has some good features, but I wasn’t ever really swooning over him. He didn’t steal the show for me. In fact, out of all the Cruor characters I liked him the least which isn’t really winning this dead guy many points in the romance department. He is also a very grey villain for a while which was fun and I kind of wish he hadn’t fell in love with Leena because I lowkey wanted to see them dual and one of them die. I am writing a fanfiction for this novel in my review. Time for me to talk about something else.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 2

The Villain- Boring. Typical and you don’t even get to find who put the hit on her at the end of the book. The sequel is, I’m expecting, going to be all about hunting down this mystery woman. Lowkey wish Noc was the villain because it would’ve added so many layers to this plot.


Villain Scale: 2

The Cruor are my favorite thing. Seriously, if you love friendship and brotherhood dynamics (which are apparently I trope I’m a sucker for) then this is for you. Think ACOTAR with the Night Court or The League from the League series. Be still my beating fangirl reader heart. Calem is the playboy with a heart of charm and he is a goofball. I adored him and he was so funny. Ozias is my absolute FAVORITE of all the characters in this book. He’s awkward, but sweet and full of awkward charm. Kost was dark and brooding and the most annoying of the characters, but his layered background was kind of fascinating. (Also, if Kost is in love with Noc and Noc refused to let himself fall in love or Kost would die, does this mean that Noc isn’t straight? I will admit that does make Noc more layered than most paranormal romance heroes.)


Character Scale: 4

Overall, this novel is fun. It’s not incredibly complex and I didn’t like the ending. I probably won’t be continuing with the series because I didn’t like the direction shift (unless we follow a different POV other than Leena and Noc then sign me up). This is perfect for fans of the paranormal romance genre and fantasy readers who like some lighter high-fantasy.


Plotastic Scale: 3.5

Cover Thoughts: This cover is gorgeous and even though she looks awkward I like it a lot.

Thank you, Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

 

Publication Date: June 25, 2019

Assassin’s Creed meets Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in this gripping, epic fantasy romance trilogy.

My heart wasn’t part of the deal when I bargained for my life,

But assassins so rarely keep their word.

Exiled Charmer Leena Edenfrell is running out of time. Empty pockets forced her to sell her beloved magical beasts—an offense punishable by death—and now there’s a price on her head. With the realm’s most talented murderer-for-hire nipping at her heels, Leena makes Noc an offer he can’t refuse: powerful mythical creatures in exchange for her life.

Plagued by a curse that kills everyone he loves, Noc agrees to Leena’s terms in hopes of finding a cure. Never mind that the dark magic binding the assassin’s oath will eventually force him to choose between Leena’s continued survival…and his own.

The Beast Charmer Series:

Kingdom of Exiles

The Frozen Prince (coming early 2020)

The Shattered Crown (coming late 2020)

Praise for Kingdom of Exiles

A Bookish Staff Read Pick

A June LibraryReads Pick

 “Impressive debut…Martineau’s intricate world-building melds traditional high fantasy with a hint of Victorian sensibility, then elevates it with endearing characters and a deliciously complex story that will leave readers anxiously awaiting the second book.” D—Publishers Weekly, STARRED review and Best Book of Summer 2019

“A powerful new voice in fantasy romance, Martineau has crafted a stunning story full of razor-sharp intrigue, delicious characters, and a love story you never want to end. Keep an eye on Maxym M. Martineau. If I'm not mistaken, we have a bona fide genius in our midst.” —Darynda Jones, New York Times bestselling author

“Maxym Martineau weaves an irresistible blend of adventure, magic, and romance. A unique world full of danger and intrigue and a delightful ensemble of characters will leave fans of fantasy romance breathlessly awaiting more from this author. Prepare to be charmed!” —Amanda Bouchet, USA Today Bestselling Author

Maxym M. Martineau is an article and social media writer by day and a fantasy romance author by night. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Arizona State University, and lives with her husband and fur babies in Arizona. Connect with her at MaxymMartineau.com or through Twitter and Instagram @maxymmckay.

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SAS6S0

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Apple: https://apple.co/2UVUenq

BAM: http://bit.ly/2ub6AsV

Author Website: MaxymMartineau.com

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EXCERPT – Beast Taming

Leena

Outstretched wings coated in vibrant teals and emeralds went taut, and [the Myad] tilted his nose upward to sniff the air. Built like an oversize black panther, the lithe jungle beast exhaled, shaking his mane from left to right. The peacock streak running the length of his spine and tail shimmered in the sun. A plume of feathers exploded around his head, standing tall between his ears. Gold casings masked his ankles and heels, protecting the weak points of his legs.

I’d never seen anything so beautiful. Powerful. I took a small step forward. The brush crunched beneath my feet, and the Myad skewered me with his blazing gold gaze. Thin tendrils of blue light streamed from his eyes.

“Grundy.”

Without further prompting, plates shifted along Grundy’s body, and two fat arms pushed outward. Once his soft hooves met the earth, a shallow divot appeared in a circle around the men. As one, they gasped, crashing to the ground under Grundy’s invisible weight. Calem sputtered, lungs working overtime to keep oxygen flowing through his body. Face flat against the earth, Oz groaned into the dirt. Muscles ticked along his back as he fought against the weight to no avail. Kost cursed and dug his fingers into the ground.

Noc alone managed to remain on his knees, palms pressed flat to the earth. Fissures of pressure cracked around his fingertips. Slate eyes lanced with frustration speared my heart, and a low snarl broke free from his lips.

Such power. I was wrong. The Myad wasn’t the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Noc would always win that contest.

A rumbling growl sounded from deep in the Myad’s belly, and heavy paws thudded against the banks of the pond as he stalked toward me. Fifteen minutes, and Grundy’s gravity manipulation would fade. I mouthed an apology to Noc before turning to the beast. Palms outward, I slowed to a stop a few feet in front of the creature. No weapons. No beasts. No threat. A cool sweat misted above my lips. To be in front of something so powerful…

The Myad’s tail flicked from left to right. Pulling back his muzzle to reveal a row of elongated teeth, he growled. I willed my breath to remain steady. Blue wisps began to stream from the gold plates in his legs. He’d take flight or pounce if I wasn’t careful.

Kicking on the charm, I knelt before him. Rosewood light spilled outward, but he didn’t blink. My heart traded places with my throat, and I swallowed twice before exhaling deeply.

Step one: Blood of the murderer. With my eyes locked on his, I extracted the vial from my breast pocket. Another growl simmered in the back of his throat, and I paused.

Easy now. My heart thundered in my ears. I popped the stopper off and poured Noc’s blood into my cupped hand. The Myad’s nose twitched, and he lowered his head to sniff the substance. Slowly, his scratchy tongue grazed my skin. Sheer power thrummed from his touch. I’m sure he tasted the raw flavor of Noc’s magic in the blood. The icy heat of it threatened to sear my skin, and the scent of burnt honey and hot metal tainted the air.

Once the beast licked my hand dry, he sat back on his haunches and studied me, the corded muscles of his legs rippling beneath black fur.

Step two: A token of loyalty. Proof that, if the taming were a success, I was as much his as he was mine. That we would never abandon each other. With bloody, shaking fingers, I took my opal ring off my hand.

“Your mother left this for you.” My aunt had held out a tiny box with silver clasps. My eager fingers had wrenched it open. There, lying in a bed of violet silk, was the rose-gold ring my father had given to my mother as a promise of his love. The one I now wore at all times.

This ring was my last tie to Hireath. My last tie to a memory that I cherished above all else. My parents had died trying to tame a beast beyond their capabilities. It seemed fitting that, if this didn’t work, I’d go out the same way.

Hot tears stung the corners of my eyes, and I bowed to the Myad, extending my palm toward him. Blue tendrils of vapor streamed from his eyes and looped through the ring, lifting it to the space before him. A crown of pure gold burst through his black fur. His feathered mane shot outward, and the tendrils carried the ring to the center of the headpiece. The gold rippled and molded, allowing for the jewelry to become part of his plumage.

Fighting back cries of joy, I tossed a quick glance over my shoulder to steal one more look at Noc. Eyes wide and jaw tight, he strained against Grundy’s pressure. Muscles bulged along his neck, and his fingers trembled. The detachment he’d wielded earlier was gone, and there was nothing but concern shining in his intense stare.

My heart twisted. Too bad it took me putting my life in danger for him to look at me like that.

Turning back to the Myad, I slowly undid the belt from my breeches. The Myad tilted his head, eyeing the black leather contraption. A low warning growl rumbled at the back of his throat.

It’s not a weapon. I promise. Folding my belt, I shoved it into my mouth between my teeth. Not a single sound. I breathed deeply and focused on the beast realm. My power flooded outward, pulsating to the cadence of my heart. The Myad stood before crouching low against the ground. Tension gathered in all his muscles, and he eyed my left shoulder. Screwing my eyes shut, I clenched down on my belt.

I heard the kick-up of dirt as he lunged. The back of my head smacked against the ground, forcing my eyes open, and a blinding heat surged from my shoulder as his fangs sank easily into flesh. The world slipped out from beneath me as pain blurred the lines of the trees and the sky, blending colors in ways that shouldn’t have been possible.

***

Excerpted from Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau. © 2019 by Maxym M. Martineau. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Are you excited about Kingdom of Exiles? What are some of your favorite paranormal fantasy novels? What tropes get you in the gut? Let me know down below in the comments

Not Forsaken: Finding Freedom as Sons & Daughters of a Perfect Father by Louie Giglio

Not Forsaken: Finding Freedom as Sons & Daughters of a Perfect Father by Louie Giglio

4.5 stars

Not Forsaken tackles the topic of what it means when our earthly fathers have fallen short of being good dads and how it severely impacts and misconstrues our view of God. This book is powerful. This book hurts to read. I made peace with my own father and the hurt that came from being raised in a household predominately ran by abuse from the paternal figure, but it still made me cry. It made me cry because I was once this broken girl who refused to call God a father because I thought it was not only distrustful to God but because I had a lot of baggage when it came to the word “father”. I remember sitting across from my Life Group leader my freshman year of college after giving my life to Christ and how she told me about how she called God a father and what that meant for her as a child who was fatherless. I was angry in that one-on-one. I was angry because I didn’t want God to be my Father. I didn’t want to associate Him as a dad because while I had already forgiven my father I was still blinded and held captive by random memory waves abuse that would bring forth fear, anger, hurt, and loneliness. Somehow along the way, I started called God, “Father God”. When I start every prayer it’s always with, “Hey, Father God,” or “Father God”. I don’t know where the healing took place where I made this change exactly but I do know the minute I accepted God as my Father in every sense of the word true healing took place and I became a Daughter of the One True King who really knew her identity and just pander to Christian phrases and terminology of “God is my Father”. God really did become my Father and this book was like a full circle reminder of the healing process that God did in my heart. Giglio is a fantastic writer and listening to this audiobook was like a sermon series dedicated to God being my Father and how Jesus mirrors this in Scripture as well as walking through what it means to be born again. I love the heart of this novel. I love that Giglio wrote this like a series of sermons bleeding together because it’s powerful. Is this a perfect novel? No. I didn’t always love every second of it but I came pretty close to it. This book has power. If God is your Father and you know that, read this book. If God isn’t your Father yet, but you know Him or believe in Him, read this book. If you don’t know God at all and don’t even know if you believe in Him because your own father failed you, read this book. Read this book and let God speak something to you. He walked me through my own hurt and pain and brought abundant healing. My father and I have a pretty good relationship today. We talk and he often confides in me with stories of true pain from his childhood that he has rarely shared with others and not even with my own mother because with healing and forgiveness came a Daughter of God who learned how to pray for my father and with my father on this earth despite the pain that the past may reflect because I don’t look at my father and see the past anymore and this is something to rejoice about.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 4.5

Plotastic Scale: 4.5

Cover Thoughts: This cover reminds me of Not That Bad by Roxanne Gay and it also has the word “not” in the title. I subliminally pick up books that look similar.

Thank you, B & H Books, for providing me with a copy of the audiobook of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

 

Have you read Not Forsaken? Do you like to listen to nonfiction audiobooks? What are some that you would recommend that are narrated by the author? Let me know down below in the comments! 

Untroubled: Devotions and Prayers for Finding Calm in a Chaotic World by Marian Leslie

Untroubled: Devotions and Prayers for Finding Calm in a Chaotic World by Marian Leslie

2 stars (DNF @ 34%)

Untroubled is a devotional book that is marketed as focusing on escaping chaos on refocusing and centering yourself in the calm that Jesus provides. I really wanted to like this book. From the start I struggled. I struggled to connect to the devotionals and often found myself becoming frustrated with the abrupt ending of each devotional. I have read a couple of devotional books now and I must admit I've read devos shorter than this that lead me to feeling more connected to God's word and challenged in the areas where I was lacking and needing more of Him. Sadly, this book left me frustrated because I noticed this pattern of storytelling that leads to nowhere. Leslie often provides stories that at first seem to be in alignment with Scripture at the beginning of the devotional, but quickly peter off into random questions and then a prayer that is as long as sentence fragment. It left me feeling uncertain of whether I was reading the full devotional. I guess my own personal opinion is that Leslie would stop the Spirit from moving because she met a word count or page quota for the devo and it just didn't feel right. I sought the Lord's advice and He told me to leave this one behind. I don't think I'll be returning to it due to my own personal preferences in devotional books. I think there is something to be gained if you are looking to supplement your Bible reading with a devotional book, but this one was not for me.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 2

Plotastic Scale: 2

Cover Thoughts: I really love this cover. It's eye-catching and kind of cheesy, but I love the colors.

Thank you, Netalley and Barbour Books, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

 

Have you read Untroubled? What devotional books do you enjoy? Let me know down below in the comments! 

Disciple Her: Using the Word, Work, Wonder of God to Invest in Women by Kandi Gallaty

Disciple Her: Using the Word, Work, & Wonder of God to Invest in Women by Kandi Gallaty

4 stars

“Discipleship is intentionally equipping believers with Word of God through accountable relationships empowered by the Holy Spirit in order to replicate faithful followers of Christ.”

Disciple Her is a novel different from most Christian disciple books because it specifically looks at how to disciple women. Women and men are very different, which means discipling is different. Some advice and tricks that work for men are not always successful with women and some that work for women don’t always work for men. The Gallaty’s are known for Replicate Ministries and their Disciple program which they call “D-Groups”. Gallaty’s husband has written countless books on discipleship, but Disciple Her is one of the first discipleship novels published specifically for women. Kandi Gallaty is doing something great here with being openly bold about sharing her own discipling techniques with the women in her life and what works and what doesn’t. I love discipling women! I have been blessed with the honor of discipling three women and seeing numerous other women come into a Life Group I co-lead this past year and give their life to Christ and be challenge to expand their view of what they thought their relationship was versus how they could strive to know and walk in deeper relationship with Jesus. I also had the privilege and honor of following Jesus’s final commands to His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Discipling is doing this exact command (I also baptized two of the girls I disciple- PRAISE THE LORD) and these experiences changed me completely. My girls that I discipled were all so different from each other in how they saw, spoke to, and understood Jesus and this was the greatest challenge for me. None of my tricks or preparations worked because I had to learn through the guidance of the Spirit how one thing works in prayer for two girls, but not for another (just one example). Because of my own discipleship experience I was open and curious to hearing and seeing what Gallaty had to say.


Gallaty is a relatively strong writer. There are a couple of hiccups and a few questionable passages, but they aren’t consistently prevalent and I, overall, enjoyed the experience of reading this novel. I was challenged in a lot of the areas I failed in my first year of discipleship (which was creating women who were ready and prepared to disciple others- they are ready, but still hesitant of their own knowledge) and this convicting moment while reading was so enlightening and challenged/inspired me to pray specifically for women who will become disciple-makers after our time together, which I had never thought to pray for before. Her discipleship process is very similar to the one that I learned through the college ministry I serve and I saw that she references some books that we read or have been recommended, so it’s cool to see that the discipleship process crosses over in so many different ways outside of a college campus.


Personal qualms: Gallaty is obsessed with memorizing Scripture, which is great but I think the more you memorize Scripture the less it imprints on your soul. What I mean by this is that intake of large quantities of memorizing Scripture becomes more of a game or challenge instead of a meditating experience on what work God or the Holy Spirit is doing in your life or current season. Memorizing is important, but I don’t know if I think it should be done weekly. Personally, I think it has merits, but it also gets lost in the shuffle. I personally care more about the Word being spoken to me in context of someone’s life instead of a verse being recited for the sole purpose of checking a box and patting yourself on the back. She also doesn’t consistently do one-on-ones which I think is important to the discipleship process. Anyone who wants a one-on-one and is consistent in showing up the small group, Life Group, or D-Group should get this opportunity and it shouldn’t be a “only if our schedules sync up or if you are living in sin and we need to discuss it” thing. Combatting living in sin consistently can be done through consistent one-on-ones and being accountable in a personal individual setting. I am also not okay with people being given the ultimatum of confess your sin to the group or be kicked out. Being kicked out of a discipleship group should not be an option. I’m going to use Judas Iscariot as an example. Do you think that Jesus wasn’t aware of Judas stealing money from his ministry and planning to kill him? No, he makes it abundantly clear that he knows as they are breaking bread before his arrest when he says that one who sits and eats alongside him will betray him. JESUS DID NOT KICK JUDAS ISCARIOT OUT DESPITE KNOWING HE WAS A SINNER. He let Judas make the ultimate decision to follow through on this betrayal and sell Jesus out for money and basically leave the disciples by his own choice. Leaving a group has to be by someone else’s choice and not because their sin is weighing down a group and making things complicated. That’s when you need to get with your girl and pray and pray hard for chains to be broken. If after that she chooses to leave, then let her go. Jesus will guide and heal her in His way and not yours.


Besides those few problems, Gallaty’s discipleship method is sound. I received a lot of new ideas and promptings from the Spirit, so I’m excited about a new year of discipling. God is so good and amazing and it’s awesome to see His hand upon a woman’s life whose purpose is to faithfully disciple women. It’s inspiring. I pray that it’s something I can consistently do throughout my life. I recommend this novel to anyone who feels a tugging on their heart about discipleship or who wants to learn more about it.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 4

Plotastic Scale: 4


Cover Thoughts: I love this cover. It’s simple, but the pattern is so pretty. 

 

You can purchase this novel on Amazon here! (I'm an Amazon Associate and do make a small commission if you purchase anything with this link.)

Thank you, B & H Books, for providing me with a physical copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Have you read Disciple Her? What do you know about discipling people or have any experiences? Share your testimony about discipleship down below in the comments! 

The Body in Question by Jill Ciment

The Body in Question by Jill Ciment

1.5 stars

The Body in Question opens up follow an unnamed woman who we only know as Juror C-2. She is a juror on a high-profile case concerning the murder of a baby boy who is alleged to have been set on fire with his diaper by his older adopted sister who is autistic. C-2 has developed an interest in Juror F-17, a younger man who works with cadavers at the local university as a professor. He offers a more promising escape from her husband who is on the brink of death due to all of his aging health issues. This story centers around two plots: the trial case and deciding on the conviction of a suspect and the secret love affair between two jurors that can compromise the case. Ciment’s writing style holds a lot of promise and her overall writing was intriguing and gripping enough to capture me as a reader. Her character development is strong enough to carry a story while attaining a sense of allusiveness that prompts the reader to carry on reading about this chaotically twisted scenario. She is very talented, but this talent did not save the overall story itself because the story and the characters we follow is what lacks her. The writing for me really went downhill in the second act, mainly because we were not longer following secret jurors but openly horrendous people. The mystery was gone and the truth ruined the novel for me.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 2

I’ll be honest I was so intrigued by this novel at first. The story telling aspect of all of the identities of the jurors being secret from the reader in the first part and the case that we follow in the court room were fascinating. But this book made me angry. This book made me angry because it shows how incompetent our juror system is in the United States. How prone the jury is to bias as well as how easy it is for jurors to fall asleep or be caught up in their own lives instead of paying attention to the case. This court case was a mess held by an incompetent jury that was too focused on getting fed, laid, and having fun on the government’s dime. I walked away from this book annoyed and angry at the direction the book took in the final part. I really did not like the character direction of the C-2 and F-17 when their identities are revealed. I particularly hated the treatment of C-2’s husband. This woman was a stone-cold sociopath with little emotions towards others because her own personal gain was more enlightening and important. I won’t reveal the characters’ names or the cases important facts because I think those are fun to discover on your own (stay away from the synopsis).


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 1

Swoon Worthy Scale: 1

Character Scale: 1.5

I was unimpressed with this novel. I wanted more and I expected more, but it didn’t live up to what I wanted (especially in the second act). Overall, if the concept intrigues you and you enjoy reading about court cases, then The Body in Question may be for you.


Plotastic Scale: 1.25

Cover Thoughts: I like the cover if I glance at it, but the longer I stare at it the more I don’t like it.

Thank you, Penguin’s First to Read program for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

You can purchase this book on Amazon here! (I'm an Amazon Associate and would get a small commission if you use this link to purchase anything on Amazon.)

Have you read The Body in Question or have you heard of it? Are you interested in picking it up? Let me know down below in the comments!