Books of Summer

I've always loved to read, but it seems like I haven't gotten to do much pleasure reading in the last few years. This summer, I had a lot of free time while I was babysitting and traveling, so I actually got to read a good bit. These are just a few of my summer reads. Check them out (all of these are available at any bookstore or at www.Christianbook.com).

Predator by Terri Blackstock

When I first started reading this one, I wasn't sure that I was going to like it. It's about an online predator that uses Internet communities like Facebook and MySpace to find and track his victims. Since it seems like everyone is on sites like this now (including me), the plot was really close to home. Once I got into the story, it was great. There's a killer on the loose, lots of suspects and mystery, and a budding romance for the main characters, Krista and Ryan. I would especially recommend this one for teen girls that are on sites like Facebook and MySpace. It gives lots Internet safety advice in a way that would keep their interest, and it just might make them think twice about Tweeting every move they make. It also deals with big issues like grief, doubt and trusting God through hard times.

Intervention by Terri Blackstock

This is one of the best Terri Blackstock books I have ever read! The story pulls you in from the very beginning and keeps you glued to the page until the end. The main character, Barbara, tries to send her addict daughter to rehab (again), but her daughter disappears on the way to the rehab center and the woman that was escorting her is found murdered. Barbara has to drop everything to find her daughter, who is wanted for her escort's murder, and clear her name. It's a story about God's protection, patience and healing. READ THIS ONE!

The second book in this series will be out in February 2011, and I can hardly wait!

The Me I Want To Be by John Ortberg

Okay, so this one isn't in the "just for fun" fiction stack, but so far, it has been a really great book. This is the first John Ortberg book I have read, and I was pleasantly surprised by how funny and easy to read it is. I'm about half-way through this one and I have already learned a lot. This book is great if you don't have a lot of time to read through an entire book at once. The chapters and short and are set up in sections so you can easily use this to help with your daily quiet time or Bible study, and you can pick it right back up pretty easily.

The idea is that we all have different versions of "me" - the person we pretend to be, the person we really are, the person we have the potential to be, the person God created us to be...and how to live in the freedom of being yourself - the person God created you to be. Great thoughts so far... I am hoping to do the Bible study that goes with this with some friends later this year as well.