The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge - By Tony Dungy & Nathan Whitaker

 "This year, dare to be uncommon every day."

In this one year daily devotional, Super Bowl champion coach, Tony Dungy, challenges you to be more than the world is calling you to be, to live a life of integrity by daring to be "uncommon." Each devotion includes Scripture and closes with an Uncommon Key - an application or action to implement based on what you've just read.

Insightful daily readings focus on the following themes: Core, Family, Friends, Potential, Mission, Influence, & Faith.  Coach Dungy does an excellent job speaking honestly and encouraging you to action through the uncommon keys.  Football fans and athletes alike will enjoy this book. 

I love that Coach Dungy is outspoken about his faith. That itself is an uncommon thing. Coach Dungy is the Tim Tebow of coaches. I am enjoying the devotions and look forward to becoming more "uncommon" this year. Are you ready to take the challenge, and dare to be uncommon too?

To view the author video or get more information check out the following links:
www.coachdungy.com/index.php/the-one-year-uncommon-life-daily-challenge/
www.coachdungy.com
www.tyndale.com

The publisher has given me an additional copy of this book to give away to one lucky winner.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Tyndale Blog Network book review blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Smitten - by Billerbeck, Cobble, Hunt, & Hunter

The major industry in Smitten is closing leaving the residents worried about their town's future. Then one woman gets an idea to capitalize on the towns name and turn Smitten into a romantic tourist destination. Will the town residents get behind this idea, and will the tourists come?

Follow four of the Smitten women through each of the novellas as each woman has an opportunity to find love and become Smitten along the way.

I have read three of these authors before and was looking forward to this book. However, I did not like the storyline and thought it was a bit cheesy and predictable. It was a fun idea having four authors who are also great friends themselves write each of the four characters, but I just wasn't "Smitten" by it.

Disclaimer: As a book reviewer I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Dug Down Deep - By Joshua Harris

Unearthing What I Believe and Why it Matters

Many Christians are just going through the motions, unsure of what they believe, unable to articulate the details of their faith, maybe just going to church, but not digging any deeper. But in this book, Harris challenges us to dig down deep.

Harris shares candidly about his own beliefs and explains the meanings of words like orthodoxy, theology, and doctrine. These words are not always common in today's churches. I admit that prior to reading this book I couldn't define these words myself.

If you are ready to dig deeper in your own faith, read this book.

Disclamer : As a book reviewer I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Heaven is for Real for kids - By Todd & Sonja Burpo

A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back. As told by Colten Burpo to his parents. Illustrated by Wilson Ong.

After an emergency appendectomy, three-year-old, Colten Burpo shares this amazing story of his time in Heaven. In this children's adaptation, based on the best selling book Heaven is for Real, Colten shares details about Heaven just for kids. He explains what Heaven is like, and tells of how Jesus really, really loves the children!

Each page is beautifully illustrated and includes a Bible verse. Colten shares a very special message: Heaven is for real, and you're going to like it!

Disclosure:   As a book reviewer I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

One Call Away - A Memoir - By Brenda Warner

Answering Life's Challenges with Unshakable Faith

Brenda Warner is the wife of NFL star Kurt Warner, the mother of 7 children, a registered nurse, a former marine, and Vice President of the First Things First Foundation, the organization she co-founded with her husband.  This is her story of facing life's challenges with faith.  Brenda shares candidly her struggles through divorce, betrayal, a deadly tornado, single motherhood, and parenting a child with disability. Her journey takes her from receiving food stamps, to being married to a wealthy football superstar.

After her first marriage fails, Brenda decides she wants a husband who shares her faith, but instead she ends up dating Kurt Warner, who was not a believer at the time.  Kurt eventually becomes a Christian, they get married, and he goes on to have a successful football career. I am not much of a football fan and wasn't a big fan of the book either.  Even though this story has a happy ending, it isn't a good idea to become seriously involved with someone who doesn't share your faith.

I liked that Brenda shares openly and honestly about what she has dealt with.  However, I felt that the book sends a mixed message. Brenda made some poor choices early on. She does not talk specifically about how God saw her through those difficult times.  In fact it seems like her faith is an after thought, and not her main focus.  But this book shows that God can still bless someone even after they have made mistakes and  God really is only one call away.

Disclosure: As a book reviewer I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

A Place Called Blessing - Where Hurting Ends and Love Begins - by John Trent with Annette Smith

Josh is orphaned at age 4 and put into foster care. After a tragic accident three years later, he is labeled as "unadoptable" and raised in a group home. A Place Called Blessing is the story of how Josh puts his life back together after a difficult upbringing. His life is changed by an unlikely friendship with a new co-worker named Mike, when Mike's mom offers him the a room to rent. In their home, Josh receives unconditional love, and the gift of a blessing for the first time in his life.

A Place Called Blessing is a quick enjoyable book you can read in one sitting. It is a fictional follow up to the book "The Blessing" by Dr. Trent and Gary Smalley, which identifies the five elements of the biblical blessing that every person needs. Through Josh's story of redemption and blessing, readers are shown how to give the gift of a blessing to others. This is a wonderful, feel-good book, that will inspire you make your home a place called blessing.

This book ends with a invitation for you to be a part of the Blessing Challenge - One million people choosing to change the life of one child - their child!

Disclosure: As a book blogger I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Waiting Place by Eileen Button

Learning to Appreciate Life's Little Delays. 

We all spend time just waiting. The Waiting Place is a collection of stories from the author's life.  It reads more like an auto-biography, than a self-help book.  I was expecting a lecture on the importance of patience, or not letting life pass you by while you wait.  Instead, Button shares her message very subtly through examples of waiting from her own life. 

This would be a good book to read while you are waiting. Though it was not what I expected, Button is a great story teller.  I enjoyed the unique perspective and glimpse into the life of a preacher's wife.  She wonders why her life is defined by her husband's career and not her own.  Though she is a teacher and a mother she is always introduced as the pastor's wife. In the Waiting Place, she shares numerous stories, both humours and emotional, from different periods of waiting and reminds us that some of the most priceless gifts can be discovered while waiting for something else.

Disclaimer: I received this book free through the booksneeze book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.