Everything's Coming Up Josey by Susan May Warren

This book has been in my to read basket for a while. I am so glad I finally picked it up and read it. I am not a huge fan of the first person voice you find in Chick Lit. It is not always done well, but it is in Josey.

Josey lives in the same small town where she grew up... living a rather plain and boring life in her opinion. Her sister gets married and the boy Josey has loved for ever (at least she thinks she might love him) shows up with a woman who could easily be a model. Could life get any worse!?  What is the purpose.. why is she here? Josey needs answers.

And she finds one in the form of a missionary.  As he speaks at her church, Josey feels certain God is calling her to Russia to teach English.  (He is calling isn't He? Or maybe she just needs to run away and the timing of this offer is perfect.)  So off to Russia she goes!

The reader is given a birds-eye-view (or maybe it would be better to say a Josey-eye-view) of her adventure as she balances learning a new culture, roommate, and love interests (yes, I said Interests.. plural) along with seeking to figure out her relationship with God.

Lots of laughter and fun in this book, as well as a few tears and a lot of soul-searching as Josey seeks to follow God's will and not her own.

And fun note.. there is a sequel, Chill Out Josey.  Looking forward to continuing on this adventure with Josey.

the happy room by Catherine Palmer

I am struggling with how to review this book.  I didn't love it but I didn't hate it.  Not so much due to writing style or such, but I think the subject matter is what caused this less than positive feeling. It is, to me, a rather depressing book from the get-go and while there are some good things that happen along the way and it is written with some upbeat happenings at the end, it still ends on a sad note to me.  

the happy room (the author has the title in all lower case) is a book that focuses in on three siblings... sibling who grew up in the Mission field in Africa.  They are all grown now and each have lives that were greatly effected by that time and their personal perception of it.  One sister is married and living the perfect life letting no one see any unrest or sadness or struggle in her life or her family... one sister is battling for her life with anorexia... and the brother is angry with the world and God and himself for allowing his wife to leave with his son.  Truthfully, they are all a mess!

Debbie's illness brings them together and forces them to face the truth of their upbringing and of their current life.  They find there were some good memories and a lot of hurt that came from not fulling understanding why their life was as it was.

It i interesting to see how 3 siblings live essentially the same life and yet interpret it so differently.  

I have no doubt there are those who will love this book.  Maybe the timing was just wrong for me. If you are looking for a fun uplifting read, this is not it.  If you want something that challenges or digs deep, this is not it.  But if you want a glimpse into the lives of a dysfunctional Christian family and how God can work even in the midst of the mess, then this book is for you.

Monday Morning Faith by Lori Copeland

I am a big fan of Lori Copeland's fiction. Her books are usually light and funny and a joy to read. Monday Morning Faith doesn't fit that bill. Now let me quickly say it was a joy to read... a wonderful book... but far from light and funny (although there are some hilarious scenes!). In Monday Morning Faith, Copeland seems to step out a bit and present a look deep inside the heart... a heart satisfied with the Status Quo... a good heart... a heart that loves the Lord, lives a good life, does good things, sits in church every Sunday... but a heart that is satisfied to do just that... sit and not grow.

Johanna Holland is a never-married 40 year old librarian with a nice comfortable life... but all that is about to change. In a matter of weeks she goes from caregiver of her elderly parents to single lady with time on her hand.... and then Sam enters the picture. Sam is everything Johanna is not... at least she thinks he is. He is a widower with a call to missions... active hands-on missions in Papua New Guinea. And somehow he is able to convince Johanna to accompany him on a mission trip to this far away place.

We watch as Johanna attempts to adjust to life in the jungle among natives who speak no English with missionaries who haven't been able to break the language barrier with the natives. There are snakes... mud...monkeys... animals that are considered sacred and so can't be eaten...disease... crime (in a fashion)...heat... bugs... none of the comforts of home... isolation...

So does Johanna survive? Does she decide God is calling her to missions or does she decide He just wants her to stay home? I want give that part away, but I will tell you it is not what most of us would assume is going to happen. Copeland gives things a bit of a twist.

Throughout the book the reader is privy to Johanna's thoughts... to her struggles and questions ... her excitement and heartache... her anger and frustration... her love and compassion... I loved that the most. It was enthralling to me to watch everything play out inside her as I also watched things happening to her and around her.

Like I stated at the beginning, this is not a light and easy fun read. It certainly isn't difficult read, but it is a bit heavier than Copeland's normal fare.. and soo worth it! This is definitely one of the best books I have read this year. Very challenging, thought provoking and insightful.