We will use this thread to discuss possible books to be used for any of the categories for the 2012 Christian Reading Challenge. 

Each month will have its own topic.

Feel free to post any questions or comments about Christian books, authors, etc.

Peace to all who enter.

I finished reading The Case of the Bouncing Grandma (Bouncing Grandma, Bk 1)  Author: A. K. Arenz

Overall I enjoyed the book.  Easy to read and follow.  Mystery was interesting but not real complicated.  Since romance books are not my favorite genre, I did get a little irritated with how they had  the main character acting over the police detective. 

I had posted somewhere that I had in my mind a picture of a white haired grandmother as the main character.  Way off the mark.  She was 52 and blonde. Broke her leg in a skate boarding accident.

I enjoyed it enough that I found book 2 on Ebay and bought it.

Lawman-In-Charge by Laura Scott  (Love Inspired Suspense)

I'm not generally a big fan of the Love Inspired books, but this one was for me a pleasant surprise.  It was primarily a murder mystery with a romantic element thrown in.  It held my interest throughout.  I'm using it for the law enforcement category.

I'm still skipping my way through the oldest books in my TBR pile. I just finished my third Heartsong book, Love Worth Finding (Heartsong Presents, No 657):: Cathy Marie Hake. I have been using these for a few minutes of light reading before I go to bed at night. This book was a good little romance. It was interesting and different from many other Christian fiction books, in that neither of the main characters were Christians, when the story began. This was my first book by this author. I especially appreciated the excellent dialog.

I finished listening to The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis a few days ago.  I enjoyed the clever tactics the devils used to lead their "patients" off the path of Christianity.  It made me pause to consider many things in my own life, as they advised each other on how best to do things or how the patient escaped their plans. 

Just finished Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis this morning.  I liked the logic he employed in many of his arguments.  In the introduction, he writes that he contacted pastors from 4 other churches to get their opinions.  He gets deep into a topic, but stops short of the point where the sects of Christianity start to branch in theology. 

Just finished The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis.  One particular part really caught me last night and I started bawling. 

Jennifer, of the 3 C.S. Lewis books you've just read, I've only read Mere Christianity, which I thought was an exceptionally good book. I tried to read the Screwtape Letters a couple of times, but never could make myself continue, as it made me kind of anxious. Will you share more about The Problem of Pain? Your post made me curious.

In "The Problem with Pain" Lewis was talking about how sadists and masochists often only engage in these kinds of activities with people they trust.  It made me think about how much pain we sometimes experience with our significant others and how we (and they) only endure it because of our love for each other.  This wasn't Lewis's point if you actually read it in context, but that's what went through my mind.  I was having a rough day and it really got to me.

I understand what you mean about "The Screwtape Letters" making you anxious.  It really challenged me when I was listening to it because it made me look at myself honestly in how I think and how I feel about things, like going to church or participating in group activities, or how I react to certain things.

I have The Problem of Pain on reserve at my library because of the comments here.  It is coming from another branch, so I should have it in the next few days.  Prayers, Lenora

Just finished Surprised by Suffering: The Role of Pain and Death in the Christian Life by R.C. Sproul. It was an interesting discussion of suffering and death in the Christian life and a reminder that God is always with us even in the midst of suffering.  I liked that there was extensive Scripture quoted to back up his positions.  

Edited to fix link

Thanks for the good information, Jennifer. I decided that I will put the Problem of Pain on my WL. It sounds like an interesting and valuable read.

I saw you said there was a topic for each month but I can't quite figure out what it is. There's everything from classics to Heartsong romances mentioned in here. :-)

Jamie - It is a monthly topic to post reviews for the books that we have read that month.  Could be romance, mystery, non-fiction, etc. as long as it is Christian.

I recently finished Flies on the Butter by Denise Hildreth.  I had heard from several CF swappers that this was a very good book so was excited to finally get a chance to read it.  I was not disappointed.  It was a great book.  An easy read but still very thought-provoking.  I would definitely recommend it!

Yvonne--I put Flies on the Butter on my RL. My TBR pile is way too big right now, but I love Southern fiction, especially books set in the Southeast.

I have read the following:

Promises, Promises :: Amber Miller ISBN-13: 9781597899390 - ISBN-10: 1597899399 fits category 1 (new author). The book is a Heartsong Presents with just 170 pages.  It is set in the 1700's and tells of a young girl whose parents are killed in an accident.  She builds  the family farm and finds romance as well.  I give the book 3.5 stars. I posted it on my bookshelf.

No Place for a Lady: A Novel :: Maggie Brendan ISBN-13: 9781607515753 - ISBN-10: 160751575X  can go in category 1 (new author), 5 (walk & talk), or 7 (cowboy).  I plan to use it in category 7 and put the book in the Off the Beaten Path swap.  Crystal Clark travels from Georgia to Colorado where she learns to run a ranch, finding romance in the process.  The book gets 4.5 stars from me.

The Bride Bargain (Prairie Promises, Bk 1) :: Kelly Eileen Hake ISBN-13: 9781602601758 - ISBN-10: 1602601755 can go in category 4 (lesser known publisher - Barbour Books), 5 (walk & talk), 15 (comedy), or 17 (whole series).  Getting kicked off a wagon train leads Clara and her aunt to many adventures, including romance.  I give the book 4 stars.

Get Cozy, Josey! (Steeple Hill Cafe) :: Susan May Warren  ISBN-13: 9780373786268 - ISBN-10: 0373786263  has Josey and her husband and their toddler twins doing a missionary stint in a small village in Siberia. It fits category 4 (lesser known publisher - Steeple Hill), 5 (walk & talk), 9 (spirit lift),15 (comedy),16 (chick lit) or 17 (whole series).  This book is #3 in the series and gets 4.5 stars from me.  I posted it on my bookshelf.

It's Easy Being Green: One Student's Guide to Serving God and Saving the Planet :: Emma Sleeth ISBN-13: 9780310279259 - ISBN-10: 0310279259  was posted to my bookshelf.  I give the book 3.5 stars.  It is written by a teenager and focuses on being good stewards of our earth.  It tells easy ways to adjust your lifestyle to be greener. It is non-fiction and can fit category 1 (new author), 2 (commentary, if you stretch it), or 5 (walk & talk).

Sophie's Heart :: Lori Wick ISBN-13: 9781565073111 - ISBN-10: 1565073118 gets 5 stars.  This book made me laugh and cry.  Sophie helps a grieving family and finds romance too.  It can go in category 5 (walk & talk) or 19 (over 400 pages).

Lenora, Thanks for your reviews. Sophie's Heart sound like a good book, and one I would probably enjoy.

Finished That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis.  I didn't care for it as a standalone book and I liked it even less as an end to the "Space" trilogy.

I had previoulsy enjoyed Out of a Silent Planet a few years ago.  Ransom learned what behaviors were proper and how life should really be by his interaction with the Martians.

I thought Perelandra wasn't too bad.  In it the Venusian giggled and laughed and taught him what he was doing wrong through speaking with him and showing him how things worked on her planet.  At the end it fell apart because the allegory was just way too "in your face" for me.

In this final book, I knew what Lewis was going for, but I felt he missed his mark.  Mark's confusion and pride is a truthful look in how we can be so easily blinded by those around us and by our own desires.  But I felt little empathy for him, Jane, or any of the other characters.

I finished reading this one on Sunday.  I give it 4 stars.  I noticed others that had read it and posted reviews gave it 5.

Waking Hours (East Salem, Bk 1) :: Pete Nelson, Lis Wiehl

Not going to say a whole lot because I submitted a review on it for the blog.

I will say that it was a slow read for me.  It did keep me intrigued though.  I am one of those who read the ends of books way before I ever get there and the story line still kept me guessing.  Part of the story I think is being laid for the next book in the series because a good many things weren't explained in this one.  The mystery (concerning the murder) side of the book was resolved.

I tried to read this one:  When the Devil Whistles :: Rick Acker that I had received for Kindle as a freebie.  Read about a hundred pages and gave up on it.

It might have all come together but it seemed like there were two different stories going on in the book with two different sets of characters and it just started irritating me.

3 stars

Heartland (Audio CD) (Unabridged)Author: Davis Bunn, Tim Lundeen (Narrator)
 

I was a little confused, when I first started listening to this book. I knew it was some kind of fantasy, but I couldn't quite figure out what was going on. More and more the author pulled me into the story, and I really found it to be intriguing. The main character, Jay Jay, was a good guy, and if he would have been filmed in one of the old Westerns of the 1950's, he definitely would have worn a white hat! Davis Bunn wrote a great story that should appeal to both men and women. Great characters, lots of action, and a little romance. I gave it 5 stars.

Kay, I read "Sophie's Heart" in 2 days even though it is a long book.  The faster I read something, the better it is.  You can tell that I really liked this one.  Prayers, Lenora

The faster I read something, the better it is.

This made me chuckle, Lenora. I'm more of a ponderer (is that a real word)? I read a little...stop and mull...read some more.

I found a couple of books I read this month to fit the Western challenge of the Christian reading challenge unexpectedly:

Love Finds You in Revenge, Ohio Author: Lisa Harris and Love Finds You in Deadwood, South Dakota (Love Finds You)
Author: Tracey Cross

Both are westerns in that the settings are in small western towns, with a sheriff going after the bad guy(s)................