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New & Notable Book Reviews

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I love writing book reviews and I love reading them. Since I cannot possibly read and review all of the interesting books out there, I publish occasional round-ups of reviews written by other writers. Here are a few notable links I’ve collected over the past few weeks.

The Betrayal by Douglas Bond. Reviewed by Tony Garbarino. “This novel faithfully portrays Calvin’s brilliance, and character, but more importantly, his love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The chapters are brief and direct, written in a style that moves the story forward and keeps the reader wanting more.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books)

A Woman’s Wisdom: How the Book of Proverbs Speaks to Everything by Lydia Brownback. Reviewed by Staci Eastin. “All the book is solidly biblical and helpful. The final chapter on Proverbs 31 was, in my opinion, the strongest chapter in the book. This chapter is often boiled down to a giant, unrealistic “to-do” list, but Lydia managed to bring out the heart issues behind the actions, all while grounding it in the gospel.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Matthew Henry: His Life and Influence by Allan Harman. Reviewed by John Brand. “If, like me and many others, you are thankful to the Lord for Matthew Henry’s Commentary and perhaps some of his other work, you will want to learn about the man himself and there’s no better way to do that than to read this biography.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books)

The Roots of the Reformation: Tradition, Emergence, and Rupture by G. R. Evans. Reviewed by Carl Trueman. Here’s a book that didn’t live up to its promise. “The Reformation section is unfortunately replete with errors of historical fact, some of which are very serious, even if a few are possibly the result of typos. The sheer number of these errors renders the book a liability in the classroom and undermines its stated purpose as a textbook.”

Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault by Justin and Lindsey Holcomb. Reviewed by David Steele. “A fine piece of work that is honest, transparent, and accurately unpacks the baggage that tragically has been laid at the feet of so many people in this country. … Their aim is to offer hope to victims of sexual abuse; hope that is found in the sacrificial work of Christ on the cross and the gospel.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Different by Design: God’s Blueprint for Men and Women by Carrie Sandom. Reviewed by Priya Samuel. “As a married woman, this book has renewed and strengthened my desire to pursue godliness by the grace of God which enables me to say “no” to the worldly and sinful idea that submission is a sign of weakness or timidity and embrace the truth that being a helper in submission to my husband is indeed an act of faith and courage.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Shame Interrupted by Ed Welch. Reviewed by Bob Kellemen. “I recommend Shame Interrupted because [1] it is a biblical theology of the gospel way of movement from shame to reconciliation. … [2] because Welch makes it clear that the cross is the best summary of what God says to unworthy people. … [3] because Welch does not stop with looking to the cross. … [4] because Welch does not pretend.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books)


  • Weekend A La Carte (October 10)

    How a Boeing 737 MAX survived a nosedive at the speed of sound / One saving word / The Wild West of commercial surrogacy / The best apologetic is you / Why baseball for 6-year-olds is breaking the bank / The trouble with kids’ sports / Rise Under / and more.

  • Free Stuff Fridays (Harvest House Publishers)

    This week, the blog and this giveaway are sponsored by Harvest House Publishers. Help your child see how the Bible is organized and how key people, events, and themes in each of its books connect. The Bible Infographics for Kids Bible Handbook uses fun, colorful, easy-to-follow visuals to give kids helpful context as they read…

  • A La Carte (October 9)

    John Piper on marriage miracles / Why I regret getting a vasectomy / Vaccinated against God / A worship leader’s take on the Caleb Flynn case / Pastor, you will get hurt / Addressing the pastor shortage with the gospel / Podcast recommendations / Kindle deals

  • A La Carte (October 8)

    How you handle criticism is a test of your humility / The rise and fall of Jim Bakker / One simple principle for a more satisfying marriage / Why churchgoers escaped the ‘sex recession’ / Should Christians use apps like TikTok or Instagram? / Parenting like Aslan / Suffer and do not sin / Kindle…

  • Truths to Preach to Your Sorrow

    4 Truths to Preach to Your Sorrows

    All has been well, and your life has been good. It has been easy to love God and trust him, to pray to him and sing his praises. But then suddenly you are struck by a great trial or a deep sorrow, and for a time it can be difficult to adjust. Here are truths…