No one ever said that life is fair. Things go wrong. Life throws you a curve ball. Suddenly you find yourself struggling to figure out what is next. Where Will You Go From Here? by Valorie Burton strives to help others deal with those times when “life doesn’t go as planned.”

When I sat down with this book, I was equal parts excited and apprehensive. I’ve read other self-help books, and I’ve always found them to be hit or miss. A little part of me asked myself why I’d gotten this book in the first place.

Then, I dug in, and I found myself fascinated and amazed. I found a book that not only helps guide someone through the rough patches in life, I found a book chocked full of good advice for every-day living, for every-day happiness. I put tabs on pages that had particularly profound quotes, scripture versus, and/or thoughts.

I think what amazed me more than anything about this book is how perfectly laid out it is. Every chapter has a specific focus and within that focus it sticks with a specific formula, ending with showing you that you have everything you need to cope: using the power of your thoughts, words, actions, relationships and prayers. As an added bonus each chapter includes with a real-life story bringing the focus of that chapter to life.

As I went through the book, I found myself giddy… I finally found the perfect “self help” book. It taught me a lesson. It walked me through applying that lesson to my own life. Then it showed me how that lesson helped others. All of it done with a personal touch, so it didn’t feel I was being lectured. It felt like talking to a friend.

I would definitely recommend this book, not just to someone dealing with a hard time in life, but to anyone who wants to arm themselves to deal with life’s little obstacles.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group book review bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

It’s rare that I pick up a book that I have a hard time really getting into, especially when its a daily devotional that only asks I read a couple pages a day. However, 31 Days of Power was a book I just had a hard time getting into following.

31 Days of Power is subtitled “Learning to Live in Spiritual Victory.”  Perhaps it was my own fault for not following that the book would be focused so heavily on spiritual warfare against Satan. I expected the book to be more uplifting, and feeding my spirit in a positive and empowering manner. However, what I found was regular references to Satan and evil in the world. There was praise and thanks, but it general focused on thanks for being saved from “my enemies.”

The book is based around Scripture, however it is scripture versus that have been paraphrase and interpreted. It does make for easier reading — each one a prayer and devotional — however, I wish there had been more straightforward bible passages included. I like a book to be either an original devotional, or I like bible passages. This seems to be a hybrid of the two, and it just made it difficult for me to really get into it.

Now, as I have said, the book asks  you only read a page or two every day for 31 days. Its not asking too much out of your day, and as you read you find yourself going into a place of worship and reflection. And it is in that fact that I DID like the book. I also enjoyed that each chapter had lines for you to add in your own intercessions, making the book even more personalized.

I do not regret reading this book, and I will probably come back to it in the future in times of spiritual need. However, on a whole, I was left disappointed.

NOTICE: I received this book as part of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers “Blogging for Books” program.