Essentials for Life: Your Back-to-Basics Guide to What Matters Most by Marcia Ford - A Book Review

When I first began reading the book Essentials for Life by Marcia Ford, I was drawn in by its straightforward approach. So many books that claim to be spiritual guides just go on and on, but this one gets right to the basics and what is really important. I love how it is scripturally based through and through. I read the book straight through, but I plan on using it as a guide for spiritual meditation. If I have something that has been worrying me in my life or something that I need to work on as a Christian, this book can be a great guide for me to get started. Ms. Ford is not telling us her experiences to show us what matters most, but she is instead drawing upon the only teacher we need - God's Word. With her suggestions of where to look as a starting point, I can begin to explore more deeply and grow closer in my relationship with God. Thank you, Ms. Ford, for making it simple because it really is so simple. "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."

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Cover of Darkness by Alex LeFevre - Book Review

They say you can't judge a book by its cover. This is usually used to say that the book is better than the cover makes it seem. In this case, it's the reverse. When I read the synopsis of the book Cover of Darkness by Alex LeFevre (published by Dorrance Publishing), it appeared to have promise. A vigilante Ninja fighting crimes on the street, out to thwart a terrorist plot to take over the country. It has merit. I was proven wrong, however. I was never really able to get into the book. By page 40, I lost interest, but I continued reading so I could give it an appropriate review and see if it turned out any differently. The book drags on and on, with very few significant events happening within the first half of the book. A part of the book that seems as if it would be very climactic fails to deliver and ends abruptly. I appreciate LeFevre's desire to be a writer, and I feel that with more practice he could become an excellent writer. Cover of Darkness could have been a better book if LeFevre had developed the character of Conrad Peterson instead of focusing on several different events that were going on in different locations. Supposedly, Peterson was driven to fight crime because of the murder of his fiancee. A much more interesting book could have been made if Peterson had instead been hunting for his fiancee's killer. LeFevre should not give up writing, but he should develop his craft to make a more intriguing and exciting story.


I received a complimentary copy of Cover of Darkness by Alex LeFevre as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.