"Salvation Is an Adventure," a blog for Catholics, recently reviewed God, Help Me: How to Grow in Prayer: "I have mentioned in a couple of my recent blogs the importance of prayer. Prayer and Sacrifice discusses the need to sacrifice ourselves in prayer and force ourselves to do it even in the midst of feeling spiritually desolate. Beckman addresses this issue that we all face in our prayer and encourages his readers to be consistent in prayer despite how we feel. I make specific reference to Beckman's book in Honesty and Consistency, which are two main themes of prayer in his work." Read the complete review here.

"My Vocations," a blog for Catholic women, posted the following review of Choosing Beauty: A 30-Day Spiritual Makeover for Women:

"This book is perfect for the tween-young lady in your life. Or for a woman struggling with her identity/confidence. I really liked that this book teaches the virtues and breaking them down to make it easier to retain.

I really wouldn't recommend doing this book in a day. You can read it in that short an amount of time, but I'd really take the time to do the questions and praying about each chapter on the daily level. The reflective questions really make you stand back and see how you treat others, treat yourself, and most of all, treat God."

Read the complete review here.

Posted on Amazon Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars George Martin does it again, June 15, 2009
By Karl A. Schultz "Karl A. Schultz" (Pittsburgh, Pa) 
Meeting Jesus in the Gospels is the latest in high quality biblical spirituality works from one of Roman Catholicism's most gifted lay writers.
Mr. Martin has the rare capacity to write accessibly without oversimplifying material and alienating intelligent readers. His books are equally edifying for scholars and novices. Meeting Jesus has short, pointed reflections with helpful practical applications. You can't go wrong with any of Martin's books, including this one. This book is one you'll want to refer back to and share with others. A long-time biblical educator, George has done it again.
Highly recommended for both Catholics and non-Catholics of all levels of biblical familiarity. Order the book here.

"Happy Catholic," a blog for Catholics, posted the following review of Hiking the Camino: 500 Miles With Jesus: 

"This is a simply written, accessible volume in which Father Dave shares the revelations that God brought him through the simplest things. Even a lost sock could be an opportunity to learn. Along the way, we not only see what such a pilgrimage entails, but Father Dave also reminds us of some of the basic tenets of Catholicism and how to keep a lookout for God’s hand in all we experience, both good and bad. I especially appreciated his reminder that Christ is our king and we serve him. That has rung through my mind since I finished the book."

Read the complete review here.

Hanging Out With JC and His Mom

"Snoring Scholar," a blog for Catholics, published the following review:

"When Karen Edmisten’s book, The Rosary: Keeping Company With Jesus and Mary arrived, I found the 'something else' I had been seeking (though I couldn’t have told you I was looking for it). For one thing, there’s the title. I love the image of the rosary as a time to just hang out with Jesus and his mom. It has given me a whole new approach to my morning rosary, an entirely new paradigm. Coupling that idea with Fr. Groeschel’s concept of the rosary as a place has been a breath of fresh prayer for me.

But then, diving into the book itself, I was enamored. When I said this is one of the best books I’ve read and when I advised you to buy a copy for your own mother, I wasn’t exaggerating. Unlike so many devotional helps, Karen Edmisten doesn’t flowery-phrase you to death. She says what needs said -- I had quite a few 'ah-HA!' moments -- and she shares enough from her own experience that I caught myself, a few times, looking over to see if she was standing over my shoulder" [emphasis added]. Read the complete review here.

Posted recently in Catholic News Service:

"Gina Loehr, in her book, Real Women, Real Saints: Friends for Your Spiritual Journey, offers brief spiritual portraits of 102 Catholic women who have been declared venerable, blessed or saints.

Loehr's ability to tell the story of each woman of faith in a concise manner and presenting the diversity of temperaments, occupations, challenges, education and background of these Catholic women is admirable.

From the illiterate doctor of the church, St. Catherine of Siena, to the scholarly St. Edith Stein, what brings them together and unites all these women is their belief and fidelity to God. Real Women, Real Saints reveals the quality of faith and love of these women who often lived their Catholic faith in the midst of opposition and ridicule.

Loehr states in her introduction, 'Every story in this book tells of a relationship between the Savior of the universe and a woman who loved him enough to live in harmony with his will.'

The short vignettes offer insight into the life of faith and expose some lesser known saints although it fails to provide the reader with any reflection or meditation for their own life of faith..."

Read the complete review on the Catholic News Service website, here.

"Building Cathedrals," a blog for young mothers by seven Princeton University graduates, posted a review of  Graced and Gifted: Biblical Wisdom for the Homemaker's Heart: "I am re-reading Graced and Gifted and I highly recommend it to all of our readers. Kimberly writes like a big sister who gently guides you in what you need to know, humbly sharing what she has learned through experience." Read the full review here.  Eight additional reviews of this book can be found here.

Non-Domestic Goddess, a blog for mothers, posted the following review of God, Help Me: How to Grow in Prayer, by Jim Beckman:

I have a confession to make. When I learned my rote prayers years ago, I thought that was all I needed to know to “pray.” I have routinely said my Our Fathers, Glory Bes, Rosaries, and Novenas for years, thinking that I had it all figured out.

I didn’t.

This book, titled God, Help Me by Jim Beckman, has helped me to see how inadequate my prayer life really was. I now view my prayer life as a burgeoning relationship with God, instead of an obligatory recitation of daily prayers I have known since childhood. I can now be silent and meditative and let God speak to my heart.

The author clearly describes how we let our modern culture interfere with our prayer life. He outlines the excuses we all come up with (and I am as guilty as anyone else of these) and how to change our mind set so that we overcome these excuses and continue on our faith journey. Something that struck me was how he explained that we are never stagnant on our journey--we are either moving forward (toward God) or backward (away from God). That really hit home for me.

Read the full review here.

Emmaus Talk has published a review of Hiking the Camino: 500 Miles With Jesus.

"It has a wonderful narrative that made me laugh out loud, cry with joy and even go immediately to my parish priest for reconciliation after reading the clothes washing story; it's that powerful and relevant." Read the complete review here.

The Catholic Company has posted an insightful new review of Gina Loehr's Real Women, Real Saints   here. You can find all active reviews of this book at  here.