Janet Morris Grimes, Author/Speaker

Janet Morris Grimes – Writing and Speaking for the Pursuit of Sappiness

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Review of The Waiting Place: Learning to Appreciate Life’s Little Delays by Eileen Button

Oct 11

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Four out of five stars.

Book Description: 

The Waiting Place by Eileen Button

A collection of essays describing the beauty and humor that can be found in what often feels like a most useless state—The Waiting Place.

We all spend precious time just waiting. We wait in traffic, grocery store lines, and carpool circles. We wait to grow up, for true love, and for our children to be born. We even wait to die. But amazing things can happen if we open our eyes in The Waiting Place and peer into its dusty corners. Sometimes relationships are built, faith is discovered, dreams are (slowly) realized, and our hearts are expanded.

With humor and heart-breaking candor, Eileen Button breathes life into stagnant and, at times, difficult spaces. Throughout this collection of essays she contends that The Waiting Place can be a most miraculous place—a place where beauty can be experienced, the sacred can be realized, and God can be found working in the midst of it all.

My Review: 

I love books that meet you where you are, don’t require much from the reader, and you can pick it up and put it down as time allows, without hindering the enjoyment of it. The Waiting Place is just such a book.

Button writes from a personal place, as if writing a letter, sharing a window of her days. She shares funny details, but never too many; ironies, while still being respectful; and oddities, from the natural perspective of a young child in such a way that anyone can relate. As she describes the moments in her life she has been left waiting, usually with no control over the situation, she observes, she learns, she laughs, she makes notes for later, and when necessary, she cries.

After reading this book, I realize that Eileen Button is the type of person that would make a great friend. And, in my opinion, that is the sign of a great writer.

Well done for your first book project, Eileen. Well done.

Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson, and was not required to present a positive review in return. 

 

 

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Review of The Muir House by Mary Demuth

Oct 11

Posted by Janet Morris Grimes in review | 1 Comment

The Muir House by Mary Demuth

Four out of five stars.

             The truth about secrets is that they steal your joy, hold you hostage, and over time, build invisible walls that seem insurmountable. No one knows this better than Willa Muir. Moving past her past proved to be more difficult than she ever imagined; not so much because of what she remembers, but rather, what she does not. A proposal of marriage from the guy who was perfect for her, she finally had a chance to run headlong into her future. But with the holes that remained in her past, she was not whole enough to accept such an offer.

Fleeting visions and an entire year that was absent from her childhood memory propelled her to follow that void, no matter how dark the path may become. Angry at herself for running, she soon found that no one wanted her to uncover the mystery; perhaps more to protect her than themselves. Still, she had to know.

The Muir House paints a symbolic picture of a former funeral home, made over to become a Bed and Breakfast, in an ironic attempt to mask secrets of its own. A center point of the town of Rockwall, Texas, it is a common fiber in the lives of the people who call Rockwall home. But for Willa, the return to her home, her town, her past proves, at first, that this is the last place she belongs.

Mary Demuth writes with an uncommon transparency, facing troubling subjects head on. Such is the case with her character Willa Muir. Mature, questioning, broken, yet strong, independent, yet longing to belong.

I recommend this book simply to experience the unique story-telling ability of Demuth. I suspect that her fictional characters are based on complex people that have touched her life in one way or another, which is what makes them so real.

My only constructive comment regarding her characters is that I found some of them a bit distant and difficult to relate to, especially as they evolved from start to finish. But truth, once it is finally revealed, does change people, and Demuth dares to share those stories from all angles.

Demuth has become a master at sharing such stories. She holds nothing back, and healing is indeed a messy process, and a great story worth following.

Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book from Zondervan Publishers, but was not required to write a positive review in exchange.

 

 

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We Be Big: The Mostly True Story of How Two Kids From Calhoun County, Alabama Became Rick & Bubba with Don Keith

May 26

Posted by Janet Morris Grimes in review | No Comments

It doesn't get much bigger than Rick Burgess and Bubba Bussey

Four out of Five Stars.

Book Description:

The story of two unlikely radio hosts and what happened when they followed their faith and instincts.

Rick & Bubba are the most unlikely broadcast stars imaginable, yet hundreds of thousands of loyal listeners start their day with them every morning. Beyond that, they break the biggest no-no rule for secular radio as they openly share their faith in Christ and their common-sense way of looking at the world. Now, in We Be Big: The Mostly True Story of How We Became Rick & Bubba, readers learn how this unlikely pairing came about. Alternately hilarious and heartbreaking, this is also the highly personal story of two men who—like most of us—resisted stepping through the doors God opened for them, opting for the easier path when tested. When they finally decided to follow their instincts and their faith, though, not only did they became amazingly successful, but also a truly powerful platform became theirs.

My Review:

I knew of Rick & Bubba before reading this book,  but was excited to get to know them better.  Though they were not carried in the market where I lived, their reputation for sharing their faith in the midst of sharing the details of their day-to-day lives had spread. The way they described the events of September 11, 2001 as they happened, with their ‘whatever this is, we’re all in this together’ approach, solidified the reason people listen to morning radio. Rick and Bubba, by opening the doors to their family lives, invited their hundreds of thousands of listeners to join their family as well. They have achieved a level of success that defies all recommendations made by experts in the radio industry; by being themselves and following wherever God leads them, their listeners continue to follow them no matter where they have to go on the radio dial.

I enjoyed reading this book as much for the view of what goes on behind the scenes in radio as the story itself. I find it a fascinating world, and Rick and Bubba made it even more so. While Rick pursued his wife-to-be on the air, as a joke at first, their listeners rejoiced when years later, she finally gave in to his public cries of devotion. They described the difference in radio and television, with their 7 year stint doing a live radio show on tv, something they struggled with at first, until they returned to what they knew best, two guys having a great time together on the radio each morning. Only then did they consider their television show a success.

Make sure to keep reading this book to the end, because it is there that the reader learns of the loss of Rick’s toddler son, Bronner, who died tragically in an accidental drowning. This threw the Rick & Bubba show into the limelight like never before, as their listeners grieved right along with them. Bubba took the radio show for that week, staying live, and sharing his own grief of watching his best friend suffer. Rick stepped up to the pulpit to deliver a message at his son’s funeral; a message that he gives Jesus all the credit for, since he remembers none of it. The video of Rick’s eulogy for Bronner, nick-named Cornbread, has gotten millions of hits on Youtube, and introduces a relationship with Christ in a beautiful and meaningful way.

I highly recommend this book. I am better because of it, which is how I measure all books that I choose to read. It is worth the investment in time, even if you have never heard Rick & Bubba on the air.

Disclaimer:

I received this book through the Booksneeze program with Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a favorable review.

 

 

 

 

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Review of Max on Life by Max Lucado

Apr 27

Posted by Janet Morris Grimes in review | No Comments

Max Lucado, Max on Life

The conversation I’ve dreamed of since I first read Max Lucado just took place. In written form, of course.

After 25 years of writing books, with more than fifty to his credit so far, Max held a question and answer session. Not about himself, personally, but about his God, and what he continues to learn about him to this day. Those raising the burning questions come from varied backgrounds; from not-yet Christians to lifelong church goers, from worn out debates to brand new possibilities, from the youngest of children to the most experienced in life. People asked, and Max did his best to answer.

I appreciate the type of book that allows you to search for something in particular, but keeps you turning pages longer than you first intended. This could be considered a research book, preparing the reader for pelting from a doubting world. This could be considered a spiritual growth book, allowing the reader to rest in the fact that the message has never changed, and that scripture truly answers each question. This could be considered a book of preparation for anyone wishing to enter a ministry, because it addresses the issues that caring, hurting people carry around with them. If someoen ever hopes to reach an audience, then understanding the heart of that audience is an important first step.

Most important, this is the type of book my 17-year-old daughter might pull off the shelf when confronted by one of her Atheist friends, or another teen who is struggling with finding a way to matter in a world that clearly says they do not. When she searches for answers, this will help her find them, or at least show her where to start.

Max offers as much truth as possible, mixed with his careful opinion in areas where the Bible may be silent. He treats the questions with respect, acknowledging the fact that it’s the questions that force him to dig deeper. He never claims to have all the answers; but in his own personal attempt to find them, he shares insight that makes sense, his growing knowledge from his constant journey. I sense that had he written this book at the beginning of his years as an author and minister, it would have a very different outcome. The same is true if he tackles these same questions 25 years from now.

For me, the greatest value of this book was found at the end; a seven-page addendum entitled The Write Stuff. He never simplifies the process, but shares why he continues to write, to find new words to express God’s story. He shares his struggles with the editing process, but admits that his words are better because of it. “Writing is not glamorous work. But it is noble, holy, and worthwhile,” Max shares, spurring his readers on to share their story in a written word if there is no way to silence it.

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Review of The Final Summit: A Quest to Find the One Principle That Will Save Humanity by Andy Andrews

Apr 26

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The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

3.5 out of 5 stars

I first heard of Andy Andrews as a keynote speaker at a Women of Faith Conference. Later, I discovered tidbits of information on his past, on how he started literally from underneath a bridge and made the choice to change his life. Somewhere along the way, he decided to see how many people he could bring with him along for the ride as he perches on the New York Times Bestseller List in a myriad of categories on a regular basis. As noted for his speaking as for his writing abilities, his methods for keeping the attention of an audience, and inspiring them to be better because of their time spent with him, is impressive.

To me, the opportunity to read any of his books is an appealing way to get to know this inspiring individual, even if it is through a piece of fiction. The writer becomes as important as the story, and I went into this experience prepared to adore the story because I already admired its writer.

I won’t say that I was disappointed in the story, but rather that I loved the premise and thought there could be so much more to it.

So, on to that story. What if some of the most notable members of our history, the ones whose decisions affected the greatest number of lives, gathered together to offer their opinions on what is wrong with today’s world, and how to change it? An intriguing question, and Andrews uses one of his beloved characters from “The Traveler’s Gift” to answer it. Written as a sequel, the reader need not be familiar with the first story in order to fully understand this one.

David Ponder, the aging main character of this story, gets the opportunity to lead such a summit, charged with tapping into the wisdom of past ‘travelers’ of world history to answer the question, “What must change in order to save humanity?” The group is given 5 chances to come up with the two-word answer.

What followed was lengthy discussion; imaginary dialogue on what needs to change, and why. At this point, the book became too easy to put down. Maybe I expected more action, or perhaps I expected God to become more of the solution.

It’s is a good story with a good message told in a creative way. I learned a great deal about history, and it is evident that Andrews researched the actual characters in great detail before including them in his summit. I consider it more of a self-help type of book along the lines of How to be Highly Effective more than a story that changed my life in some way. It reminded me of a movie where the entire movie shows the chase for the secret to life, but the audience is left walking out of the theater thinking “Is that all there is?”

Still, nothing can take away from the accomplishments of Andrews, what could be gained by reading this book and studying the thought processes of some of the most notable, and effective, members of world history. I recommend this book for the the food for thought alone. It is nice to wonder what Abraham Lincoln or King David would say if they were here facing the world with us today.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers 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.”

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Review of Heart of Ice by Lis Wiehl with April Henry

Apr 5

Posted by Janet Morris Grimes in review | 1 Comment

Heart of Ice is chilling

Four out of Five Stars.

About the Book The Triple Threat Club novels follow three fiercely intelligent women—a TV reporter, a Federal prosecutor and an FBI agent—as they investigate crimes as current as today’s headlines. The Triple Threat women have faced intense situations before…but never such a cunningly cold-blooded murderer. Elizabeth Avery is a stunningly beautiful woman. But her perfectly managed exterior hides the ice cold heart of a killer. She ingeniously manipulates everyone who crosses her path to do exactly as she wishes–from crime reporter Cassidy Shaw, who thinks Elizabeth is her new best friend, to a shy young man Elizabeth persuades to kill for her. As Elizabeth leaves a trail of bodies in her wake, Federal prosecutor Allison Pierce and FBI agent Nicole Hedges must piece together clues from seemingly unrelated crimes. Can they stop her before she reaches her unthinkable, ultimate end-game?

My Review:

My favorite aspect of the Triple Threat Series is the realness of the three main characters. Though they each have high profile jobs and face untelling dangers, they are regular women, struggling with self-esteem, weight, and even a possible cancer diagnoses. Their reactions are believable and endearing, the bond between them never in question, even if circumstances create a brief distance between them.

This particular story is action-packed, with countless twists that keep the pages turning quickly. Almost three or four separate stories in one, the evil mind of Elizabeth took her places I could not have possibly guessed in advance. A master manipulator, she found ways to have others do her dirty work for her, so it came as a surprise when she took matters into her own hands, so to speak. A serial killer who made sure she could never be to blame.

I would not categorize Heart of Ice as Christian Fiction, so much as a great suspense novel. There are a few moments where Allison or Nicole question their faith, and prayer becomes a greater part of the story at the end, but it was not a common undertone throughout the story. There are many adult elements, handled as tastefully as possible while still painting a true picture of what these characters were capable of doing. Obviously, the numerous, seemingly unrelated crimes and murders take center stage, making this more of a thriller than what I would refer to as Christian Fiction.

I felt that the reader was left hanging a bit with the Foley case, the case that pits the opposing viewpoints of the three women from the beginning of the story. As it was ongoing, they worked through their doubts, but it became anti-climactic and had nothing to do with the rest of the plot, so it almost became a distraction.

Other than this, I highly recommend any of the books in the Triple Threat Series because they are well written and intriguing, this one, even more exciting and disturbing than the last.

Disclaimer: I was provided an advance copy of Heart of Ice by Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for this review. I was not required to write a positive review.

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Review of The Falling Away by T.L. Hines

Mar 16

Posted by Janet Morris Grimes in review | No Comments

Two out of Five Stars.

Demons, both literal and symbolic, is the best way to describe the latest offering by T.L. Hines. Though I consider this story to be along the lines of paranormal fiction, it depicts the struggles of Dylan Runs Ahead, a member of the Montana Crow tribe, as he is haunted by his past, including the disappearance of his younger sister years before, something for which he blamed himself. Add to that, the death of a good friend, the explosion in Iraq that completely mangled one of his legs, and Dylan finds himself trapped by a web of his own horrible choices, mixed with some assistance from the demons that continue to beg for more of him.

Without giving away the ending, I was thankful that it led to a place of understanding and a bit of triumph, considering the darkness that bogged down most of the story.

For me, personally, this story was difficult to follow. The most intriguing parts, presented as flashbacks throughout, entailed Dylan’s time in Iraq. The characters were real, likeable, and Hines perfectly depicted the isolated lives of the soldiers, never knowing who to trust as they dismantled explosives intended to kill them, at least several times a day. I would have preferred a complete novel on that story.

As it was, the story bounced around from present to past, from conversations with demons, some inside his head while others he spoke to face to face, and cult-like communities mixed up in international drug trafficking. A battle between the Chosen and the Falling Away, but I found most of the characters difficult to like, relate to,  or follow. Including the main character, Dylan, at times.

Some have described this story as breathtaking, a rush to the finish. If you are into supernatural or paranormal fiction, this book may be just the thing for you. I am not one of those people. I found it more of a chore, limping to the finish and still wondering what just happened.

This book was provided by Thomas Nelson, as part of their BookSneeze program.

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Review of A Dad of His Own by Gail Gaymer Martin

Feb 23

Posted by Janet Morris Grimes in review | No Comments

My first experience with the Love Inspired Series of books, I was anxious to see how romance was broached underneath the spotlight of Christianity, and came away touched by a great story and impressed by the reality of it as well.

Captured immediately by the likable characters of Ethan Fox and Lexie and Cooper Carlson, the story carried itself quickly into the challenging backgrounds of these three. Linked by the struggles of cancer, each one approached their struggles differently. Cooper Carlson, a 7 year old who knew nothing but his life in and out of hospital beds, he kept his hope alive, wishing for the simplest of things. To go to school like everyone else. To play outside without getting tired. And to one day see the Grand Canyon. Lexie, Cooper’s mother, assumed the role of protector for Cooper, making sure she stayed strong for him, never allowing herself to depend on others. For Ethan, his faith remained strong even through the earlier loss of his wife. Still, he remained guarded to allow his heart to become involved with Cooper, for fear he might one day meet that same fate.

The relationships grow naturally for these three, as they each learn to dream bigger than they ever thought possible, learning about faith along the way. Faith in God comes easily for Cooper, who easily turns to prayer in his childlike belief that God can heal him, and make a few of his dreams come true as well. Ethan demonstrates a deep belief that God is always at work, and eventually yields to the path he believes God is leading him with Lexie and Cooper. And Lexie, hesitant to trust anyone but herself because of her painful past, questions everything and holds herself back before finally opening her heart to the idea that she could feel loved once again, both by God and by Ethan.

Gail Gaymer Martin helps her readers to see into the hearts of each of her characters. Though the path to a happy ending takes some dramatic and painful turns, the reader experiences understandable emotions while still celebrating the growth and evolution of their journey. A Dad of His Own is heartwarming, never preachy or forced, and can easily take a reader captive for a wonderful afternoon.

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Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half with America’s Cheapest Family by Steve & Annette Economides

Sep 28

Posted by Janet Morris Grimes in review | No Comments

Four out of Five Stars.

The title alone does a great job of explaining the purpose of this particular book. The Economide family of 7 shares tips they have learned and perfected over the past 25 years as they have earned the right to be named as “America’s Cheapest Family.” Filled with tips for every level of bargain shopper, from beginning to expert, every family can benefit in some way from this book. This family has perfected their technique to the point that they only shop once a month,so they demonstrate how to save money by planning ahead and going to the store less often. Start by going weekly, then every couple of weeks, gradually taking control of impulse spending and buying whatever is placed in front of  you.

What Dave Ramsey does for finances, Steve and Annette Economides do for the grocery bill. By removing common excuses of too little time, not knowing how to cook, bad location with few store choices, or the lack of coupons and sales ads, they encourage their readers to take charge of their grocery purchasing experience, once and for all. Sharing a keen awareness on how stores market to each consumer, the reader will better understand how to form a plan and shopping timetable that works specifically for them. This book will show how to shop on your own terms, rather than on theirs. Know prices, so that you can recognize a great deal when you find one. Ask questions. Understand the system, so you can use it to your benefit.

My personal favorite tips were how to take advantage of the “price match” guarantee for superstores, such as Wal-mart and Target, the use of rain checks to capture a great deal even when a targeted item is sold out, and on how to save money when you do choose to dine out. With minimal effort, each reader should be able to make an immediate dent in their grocery budget, freeing that money to be better used elsewhere.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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Vanishing Stories by Deborah Willis

Aug 30

Posted by Janet Morris Grimes in review | 1 Comment

2.5 out of 5 stars

This series of short stories features memorable characters, freshly written in a way that brings their disenchanted lives to life. Each story features an absence or abandonment of someone, leaving the remaining characters, along with the reader, to figure out where to go from that point. The reader wonders as secrets are unearthed; infidelities, betrayals, death and bad decisions create a web of unspoken brokenness that surrounds each character. The endings are anticipated, but never predictable. There are few resolutions  to each story, but rather a defeated acceptance of the way it is.

Deborah Willis is a master storyteller, brave enough to tackle a few tales from the second person point of view, placing the reader as the main character. Though bouncing in and out of timelines created slight confusion, each journey ebbed and flowed with relative ease.  Her approach varies per character, per story, per outcome; raw and never redundant.

Overall, I found each chapter as depressing as the next, showing people who settle, afraid to dream enough to step out of their misery. Lives filled with alcohol and drugs, broken promises and weakness, and one damaged relationship after another. Based on the title, I expected the unhappy endings, but was ill-prepared for the unhappy beginnings and the warped existence they described. Fiction, for me, is an afternoon escape. But this book took me to a hopeless place to which I have no intention of returning.

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