Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

Non-fiction - 3 stars

This is a cute little book written by a pastor from Nebraska whose four-year-old son, after a hospital ordeal with a burst appendix, tells his dad that he met Jesus and other family members in Heaven. Definitely not for the cynic, or those who do not believe in God, this book's message is about the power of prayer and God's love for us. I enjoyed reading it (only took me about 3 hours), and its message definitely left me thinking about my life as a Christian parent. Nothing earth-shattering or mind-blowing, just a sweet story.   

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Fiction - 4.5 stars

I loved reading this book. The series is one of George's favorites, and I thought I'd at least read the first one before the show starts on HBO in April. I am so glad I did. It is a fantasy book told from the point of view of several characters spread out among "the Seven Kingdoms." They are all very complex characters, and the events in the story are often unexpected because of the sheer ambition and self-serving agendas of the players of the "game of thrones." Martin's character development is top notch, and you quickly get to know the characters, whether you like them or not. I am so excited to see how HBO adapts this - plus Sean Bean plays a critical character in this first book. How can you go wrong when Sean Bean is present?