All In by Mark Batterson

Mark Batterson is a best-selling author and I hate to admit I’ve never read him before. You can bet I will be reading him in the future.

There are so many nuggets in this book, I cannot hope to give them justice. The author says, “If Jesus is not LORD OF ALL, then He is not Lord at all.” Ultimately, the book explains how so many believers are not fully experiencing what God has for us/them, because we/they have not fully given ourselves to Him.

Using clever illustrations, Batterson encourages you to give 100%, stop being a rim-hugger, and take the hike. Experience God, don’t just observe Him.

An excellent book, well-written and easy to read, All In is definitely a book to read. Five stars!

 I received a complimentary copy of this book for an unbiased review.

Jennifer by Dee Henderson

Always a fan of Dee Henderson’s books, I eagerly awaited my opportunity to learn more about the O’Malley’s. A prequel to the O’Malley series, Jennifer was a heartwarming little novella giving some nice background to Jennifer’s story. I liked the way the gospel was clearly presented, the way Tom was patient with Jennifer’s exploration of faith, and the way  **spoiler alert** Jennifer grapples with her diagnosis in light of the loving God she just met. **end spoiler**

Though maintaining Henderson’s characteristically great writing, I wish Jennifer had been a full-length novel to go along with the others in the series. It was a charming love story, but didn’t pack quite the punch the other books in the series did. Having said that, reading it did make me anxious to go back and reread the rest of the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House with no expectation of a positive review.