Derailed by Tim Irwin, PH.D.

Although I am no longer in the corporate world, I thought that this book would have great insight into life in general. We all have character flaws that not only impact how we relate to co-workers, but those same characteristics can also roll over to home, church, any organization that you may participate in. Derailed gives insight into how those character traits can make you or break you. The six executives that were profiled were not monsters of the corporate world, they were simply blinded by ambition and unable to see how their personality and in the long run character affected everyone around them. Everyday people can have the same character flaws, not necessarily ambition, but arrogance or many other flaws that prevent them from seeing how their behavior affects others. Tim Irwin presents the idea that those flaws are not necessarily setting you up for failure or derailment, but you have to be willing to see yourself beyond the end of your nose. Derailed was an excellent book that I would highly recommend to anyone in leadership, but also to anyone who has to deal with others on a regular basis. Employees, church parishioners, moms and dads will benefit from the information found on those pages. It will make a person look in on themselves to see just how they interact with others and realize that the whole idea of being a bull in a china shop gets you nowhere. You get more bees with honey than vinegar, so we all need to soften our tone and think before we react. I personally gained knowledge into myself and will try to apply it to my everyday life. I am thankful that I received this free copy from Thomas Nelson for review. It was well worth the read!

The Sweet By and By by Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck

I recently had the privilege of reading Sara Evans The Sweet By and By. I have had the book for awhile and life happened. No better explanation of why I haven't read it than that. Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck took us to a place that I think many people sit in life. They take the time to tell the fictional story of Jade Fitzgerald. Jade's story could be any of our stories. She had a hippie mother and father who seemed to be as much a hippie as her mother. Sadly their lives go different directions and they divorce. Jade and her brother Aiden are along for the ride, as most children of divorce find themselves. The story moves forward to Jade finding love and eventually having to face her past to even think about having a successful future. How true is that for all of us? The old saying of life just happens is a hard pill to swallow for so many. With out Christ in our lives, life can seem like an endless journey of pain and destruction. I related to Jade in so many ways. I never had panic attacks as her character experiences, but looking back I can see a huge difference in myself before I became a Christian and after I became a Christian. I am definitely not perfect, but life has been greatly improved by coming to Christ. Jade's character goes through so many ups and downs throughout the story, which makes the story feel even more authentic. Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck created a fictional story that could mirror so many different lives out there today. The realism in this story not only makes you feel for the characters, but also draws in you and keeps you reading to the end. I happen to be a child of divorce, so I could relate on a very intimate level with the main character Jade and how she felt relating to her father, but you don't have to be a child of divorce to relate to the story. All of us have trials and tribulations in our lives and how we overcome those challenges is what strengthens us and makes us examples of Christ to the world. God never said that become a child of his would be easy, but he did say that he would be at our side through it all, even if we have not professed our sins and ask for Him to come into our heart. He is always there, watching over us and guiding our steps. I would highly recommend this book to all of my friends that love to read and even to those friends that may not be avid readers. The storyline flows along well and keeps you wanting more. Just be sure that you have a box of tissues handy as there are times you will need them! The Sweet By and By is an excellent book, that can help even the hardest of hearts to grow closer to Christ!