Max on Life

Max Lucado is a popular Christian author and speaker. In his latest book, Max on Life, he tackles many of the questions he has been asked over the years. The book is a large – and insightful – FAQ resource.  The questions are grouped by categories, and I really liked the topical index in the back of the book that made it easy to find questions related to certain topics.

Max answers each question with a brief, easy-to-read essay. His overall tone is gentle counsel and hopefulness, and his responses are conversational and encouraging.

I was interested in reviewing this book, as I am familiar with Max Lucado, but had not read any of this previous works. This book was a great introduction to his ministry.

I also liked that most of his responses were applicable to Christians in general, rather than a specific faith tradition. This book was not at all “preachy” and there was no finger-pointing. In fact, I’d say that his responses would be applicable to almost anyone – it’s a great guide to living a good life.

I enjoyed reading through the book, in no particular order, to learn what he had to say about the many different topics. Due to the breadth of material in the book, he was not able to give a “deep dive” on the questions. Often that was adequate, but there were some questions where I would have liked to have been able to read more about what he thought on a particular issue.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

In Front of God and Everybody: Confessions of April Grace

In Front of God and Everybody: Confessions of April Grace by K.D. McCrite details highlights from 11-year old April Grace’s summer vacation, told from the often-hilarious perspective of April Grace herself.

April Grace seems older than her 11 years in her thoughts and observations. The book is geared toward Tweens, but as an adult, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading April Grace’s musings and antics!

I did feel that at times the author tried a little bit too hard to make April Grace funny, but there were also quite a few parts where I laughed out loud. April Grace says (or thinks) what everyone else is thinking, but is too polite to say!

The story line was quite enjoyable. April Grace deals with snooty new neighbors, an older sister who things she is Queen Bee and her beloved Grandma trying to impress the new man in her life.

The new neighbors are as rude as can be, yet April Grace’s parents do the Christian thing (for entirely too long in my opinion) and take them in. I thought the author did a good job of slowly allowing those two characters to grow and develop. And, of course, it took April Grace telling it like it is for part of that to happen.

April Grace’s sister worships the new neighbors, and takes emulating Isabel St. James a little too far. I did like the irony that her sister wants to be seen as fashionable, proper and elegant … while being saddled with the decidedly country name of Myra Sue.

April Grace can’t wrap her head around her grandma dating, wearing makeup or … gasp … kissing her boyfriend, which makes for a very amusing subplot of the story. Not to mention, this man is extremely loud, extremely obnoxious and seems to be hiding something – which April Grace picks up on, but no one believes her. I really liked the mystery woven into the latter half of the story.

All in all, an enjoyable book I would recommend to others!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.