One of my favorite authors has done it again! Written a must read book. I always have a sense of hope after I read Mary's books even if the subject material is far from light. Please read my review and then promptly go to Mary's web site http://www.marydemuth.com or Amazon or your favorite bookstore to order the book!

Thin Places, Zondervan, 2010
By Mary Demuth

What an amazing book! A book which resonates with all of us in some way. Mary DeMuth bravely splays her heart and soul without apology in hopes of helping others see how God can also meet them in their thin places or those places of deep spiritual connection. It doesn’t matter how surprised we are at the places she takes us, we feel her joy and redemption through Jesus. Those of us, who have journeyed some of the same dark paths, feel our pain is shared at last. DeMuth writes this sensitive novel to encourage us to look for God more fully in our places of pain. I am a ‘tribe member’ of Mary DeMuth and her admirable writing, but there is one thing I’ve noticed about her works. In my humble opinion, feelings of unworthiness and pain are over expounded. But after reading Thin Places, I understand it better. She sat on her pain a long time.

It’s hard to put this book down. There are no excuses after reading this.

Jude Urbanski, author

Enjoy the remaining winter. I'm looking out at a massive snow storm, but thoughts of sunny days ahead are in my mind.

I wish you enough!
Jude

One of my new prized possessions is The Message New Testament by Eugene Peterson. I love his delightful turns of words in such an 'I get it' way. Since Valentine's Day is coming up, listen to his rendition of part of I Corinthians 13-the love chapter.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep scores of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Love like this is an ongoing endeavor isn't it? An ideal goal.

Enjoy the end of January, the Burpee Seed catalog is in the mail. Then Spring is so close we can smell it.

I wish you enough as well as a happy coming Valentine's Day.

Jude Urbanski

Go figure. I can't or don't make the time to write on my own blog and yet post a nice article on marketing on the blog of our Indiana Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. Lisa Harman, our wonderful outgoing president, just did a nice arm twist in her delightful way! And not only on me-on gobs of others. Check us out at www.blogger.com/Hoosier Ink.

Hoosier, of course, being Indiana. The story goes that the name Hoosier began when a knock at the door of a pioneer cabin was answered by "Who's here?" A little stretch to get "hoosier" but that's my story and I'm sticking to it. "Ink" is understandable I think.

I'm taking an on line class on writing just now and we're encouraged to formulate goals for 2010. Very specific ones to be exact. My pot is stewing with its lid rattling and I know it's time to hunker down with serious intent. All I need is a little time alone to think . . .

I wish you enough and a happy new year. If you have forgotten what 'enough' means, go back to my first blog.

Jude Urbanski

Thanks for stopping by to hear about Christina Berry’s fabulous debut novel!

The Familiar Stranger
By
Christina Berry

This well-written, debut novel tugs you in from the first page to the last. Berry pens a compelling story of a Christian couple in twisting plateaus and crises within their marriage.

Using alternating viewpoints, Berry creates a dynamic, fast moving pace, easily captivating interest with turns and surprises. The heroine’s less-than-sterling husband suffers amnesia from a traumatic brain injury caused by a car accident.

She promises God she’ll do everything she can to save her marriage, not realizing what those requirements would be. She’s puzzled by her husband’s similar commitment given the ragged state of their marriage before the accident.

A host of well-crafted secondary characters carry the plot nicely. Berry’s heroine struggles a little too often with her intense, emotional nature, but is quick to recognize God’s mercy in her frailties. The ending makes the reader want a sequel.

My daughter suffered a traumatic brain injury and amnesia and while her case was vastly different, Berry does a credible portrayal of her character, given his straight forward, uncomplicated case.

Berry does a great job on her debut novel. She'll do well.

Join the rest of the blog tour for Christina. Tomorrow check in at her web site www.christinaberry.net.

You may find the book at the following:
CBD.com and Amazon.com or ask any bookstore
to order the book.

Jude Urbanski, reviewer

For some time I've been meaning to post a review of my friend Alyson Madsen's book about survival after divorce. As you know, good intentions don't get us very far. But here it is!

The Road to Recovery:Survival Tips for “The Big D”
By
Alyson Madsen

This book sings to every divorced woman. Or man, for that matter. Run; don’t walk, to buy your copy.

Alyson Madsen, divorced after a lifetime of marriage, offers a trove of treasures and admonitions in her book about survival after divorce. The structure of the book’s A-B-C format promises good things ahead if one follows the recommended guidelines.

The Road to Recovery, based on time honored self-help philosophies, offers positive choices for healthy living while acknowledging the gravity of circumstances of the divorced person.
Each page takes a letter of the alphabet and offers specific strategies beginning with that letter. In my opinion, each strategy is designed to zing or zap, but in a good way. My favorite is “Calm Down; this isn’t forever.” Paraphrasing another well-known book, one might say “And it came to Pass.” Not to stay.

Adam Moore’s whimsical illustrations warm your heart and dovetail perfectly with Madsen’s how-to survival tips for life after divorce.

My husband and I, who now share a blended family, feel this little book leaves no excuse, no wiggle room for the divorced person to stay stressed.

Alyson Madsen is a long-time educator and presently teaches at The Youth Opportunity Center for Muncie Community Schools. She is a free-lance writer, a regular contributor for M-Magazine and is working on her first novel.

Author House of Bloomington, Indiana is the publisher. Books may be ordered from the AH website at www.Authorhouse.com or from the writer at alymadsen@aol.com or by calling 765-289-8869. Price is $15.95 plus tax and $2.50 for S/H if mailed. Amazon.com also carries the book.

Review by
Jude Urbanski,author
Urbanski4u@aol.com
judeurbanski.blogstream.com