Children of the Stars by Mario Escobar - A Book Review

  

This is a book from which it is difficult to emerge. The reader becomes completely immersed in the lives and travels of Jacob and Moses Stein as they seek to find their parents while avoiding being captured as Jews are being rounded up. One can only feel immense gratitude for all those who sacrificially gave of themselves and their resources, often risking their own lives, as they assisted those trying to escape the horrors of occupation and the camps.

Mario Escobar is a deep thinker who expresses himself with the beauty of words, as evidenced by the multiple highlights I have within the pages of this book. He reveals the souls of people represented by his characters and of those who truly lived in the difficult times in which this book is set. He also reveals great pieces of wisdom for all times, ones readers will want to hold onto. This is a book to be treasured, and I am grateful to have received a complementary copy from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are completely my own.

The Woman Who Stayed: Uplifting Stories to Encourage and Inspire by Denny Coates - A Book Review

   

This book reminds me of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the His Mysterious Ways column in Guideposts magazine. Some of the stories are touching; others show how God still works supernaturally in our time. The stories are quick reads with 31 stories in the 120 pages. Some are historical, others contemporary. Each is an inspiring reminder of the hope we can find in God through Christ. If you or someone you know is need of encouragement, I would recommend The Woman Who Stayed.

I am grateful to have been gifted a copy of this book by the author's sister. It is my privilege to share my thoughts on this book with you.

More Than We Remember by Christina Suzann Nelson - A Book Review

   

If you are sitting down to read to be entertained and escape the stresses of the world and your day, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a book that addresses social issues of the day with plenty of raw emotion, More Than We Remember is just the book for you. The book focuses on the lives of three women whose stories intertwine. Deputy Emilia Cruz is working hard to further her career, battling the good ole boy system, while raising her teenage daughter and caring for her husband who suffers from traumatic brain injury caused by an accident with someone driving under the influence. Brianne Demanno is a struggling artist who resigned her counseling job after one of her favorite clients committed suicide. Addison Kilbourn is the wife of a popular high school coach who has been accused of being under the influence and causing the death of a single mom with three sons. Nelson carefully addresses the challenges of holding onto one's faith when tragedy strikes. Her dialogue is crisp and well written. She builds a strong sense of empathy for each of her characters. No spoilers here, but the ending, while satisfying, does not wrap everything up with a bow because there are consequences for behaviors and choices, and often those consequences fall on the innocent.

I am grateful to have received a copy of More Than We Remember from Bethany House via Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Above the Bay of Angels by Rhys Bowen - A Book Review

   

Isabella Waverly, a young woman born into an educated family, had fallen on hard times brought on largely by her father's alcoholism. Forced into servitude, her future looked bleak. That is until serendipitous circumstances presented themselves. Bella recalling one of her father's favorite sayings, seized not only the day, but a new future as well, but would stepping into a future meant for someone else come back to haunt her one day? Might it lead to her being accused of murder?

Rhys Bowen placed me firmly into nineteenth century London and Nice. Through her delightful storytelling I caught a glimpse into the lives of British royalty and those who served them. I do wish that I had snuck a peek at the historical notes at the end of the book before reading the story as some of the characters and events I had assumed to be fictional were not! I am happy to have learned of this award winning author, and to have received a copy of Above the Bay of Angels in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

A Light Last Seen by Grace Greene - A Book Review

    

A Light Last Seen is a coming of age story, a story of second chances. Jaynie Highsmith had a difficult childhood. Her father died in a drowning accident before she came into this world, and her mother drowned her sorrows in booze and men. Jaynie's brother, Mitch, looked after her the best he could, but it was her relationship with their neighbor, Ruth Berry that fed her spirit. While Jaynie had things in common with her mother, such as their tempers, she tried to be forward looking rather than living in the resentment of the past as her mother did. Was it possible that while working toward a better future she had missed the good things in the present? There are life lessons to be learned in A Light Last Seen. Grace Greene reveals these through her well-developed, sometimes quirky characters and her genuine dialogue ripe with emotion. She is a gifted author, one that I am glad to have discovered through her Wildflower series and one I highly recommend.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of A Light Last Seen in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

The Theft of America's Soul by Phil Robertson - A Book Review

    

While the voice of Phil Robertson the self-proclaimed redneck outdoors man can be heard in this book, the voice of Phil Robertson who holds a masters degree, the Bible student, repentant sinner, and disciple-maker is loud and clear. He separates the lies of the evil one who is loose in this world from the truth of the God of the Holy Bible. If Americans, especially American Christian, took his Scripture-based reasononings to heart, our nation would be on the road to health rather than destruction. In this book Robertson is challenging American Christians to take hold of these truths, to reject the lies from the enemy that America has embraced, and to walk in the way of love, not merely embracing truth but sharing it with a lost and hurting people from all walks of life.

This is one of those books on which upon closing the back cover I will reopen the front cover to begin again. There is more here than can be taken in on a first read. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Theft of America's Soul from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck - A Book Review

    

Deep, heavy, emotional...all words to describe The Fifth Avenue Story Society. This story clings to you, wrapping itself around your heart, burrowing into your thoughts. When you reach the last fifth of the book, you will be hungering for the light, the hope that if offers. This is no lighthearted romance, even though love is at the heart of the story. While a work of fiction, the story centers around important truths. This is a story to be reflected upon and to find your reflection in. Please come find your seat in The Fifth Avenue Story Society.

I am very happy to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill - A Book Review

   

Tom Threadgill is a new-to-me author whose work I will be on the watch for in the future. Collision of Lies is a great suspense novel. Detective Amara Alvarez is anxious to transfer from the Property Crimes Unit to Homicide. She could never have foreseen how helping a distressed mother of a child who had died in a bus crash three years earlier could have advanced her efforts toward that goal. Nor could she have imagined the intricate and devious plot she in collaboration with a Texas Ranger and the FBI would have to unwind. Not to be cliché, but Collision of Lies truly is an edge of the seat read.

I would classify this book more as a clean suspense or mystery than as a Christian fiction novel, but either way, I would highly recommend it to mystery and suspense fans. The story is well-plotted, vital information is well paced and placed, and characters and dialogue are believable. I am grateful to have received a copy from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Veiled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green - A Book Review

   

I will admit that it took me several chapters to get into this book, but once the mystery was revealed I was hooked. I am glad that my past experiences with this author gave me the motivation to keep reading knowing the hook would come.

Set in 1871 Chicago, the story gives the reader the insight into what we now would refer to as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) both from the perspective of survivors of the Great Conflagration and of Civil War veterans, especially prisoners of war, and their families. The author's extensive historical research into the treatment of burns and of mental illness in the setting of this story is quite evident, and it plays a huge part in the story. Recent research shows that fiction readers tend to be more empathetic than those who don't spend much time reading fiction. I would venture to say that it is books like Veiled in Smoke and authors like Jocelyn Green that contribute to this. One's heart cannot help but go out to the characters in this story, even to those who are on the wrong side of the law.

I highly recommend this book and am happy to have received a copy from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin - A Book Review

   

While I truly enjoyed the first two books in Sundin's Sunrise at Normandy series, The Land Beneath Us is by far my favorite. While the stories of Clay Paxton's courage in the face of intense Army Ranger training and participation in D-Day, and orphan Leah Jones' courage in meeting all of the obstacles that life threw her way was extremely engaging, it was the number of well-developed, meaningful themes that make this book stand out. Sundin deals with forgiveness through analogies to the stories of the Prodigal Son as well as Joseph and his brothers. She also deals with the important topics of prejudice and self-centeredness vs selflessness, while emphasizing the importance of integrity. She does this through superb character development.

I highly recommend this book, but do suggest reading this series in order to insure the best reading experience. I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

The Blizzard Bride by Susanne Dietze – A Book Review

   

I am still in love with the Daughters of the Mayflower series even after eleven books. It's not so much about the family connections as walking through America's history and frequently encountering events that I was unfamiliar with. In this case the event was the Children's Blizzard that struck the plains on January 12, 1888 in which 213 children perished. (Don't worry the author doesn't become overly focused on the depth of this tragedy.) I was also unfamiliar with how widespread the problem of counterfeiting once was in our country. (Please take time to read the 'Historical Notes' section at the end. It is quite interesting.)

While the mystery in this book is easily solved by the reader, the events leading up to the culprit's capture keep one totally engaged. The story's theme of forgiveness is well done. I am grateful to have received a copy of The Blizzard Bride from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley in exchange fro my honest opinion, which is that this is an great read. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Women of Courage: Sojourner Truth - a Book Review

Sojourner Truth was a very familiar name to me, but I was amazed as I read this book how little I truly knew about her life. She was, as I did know, an abolitionist, but I was unaware of her work in the women's rights movement or of her Christian evangelism. Born Isabella Baumfree, she went by the name Belle, taking her masters' last names as her own. At about forty-six years of age she decided to become a traveling evangelist, and wanted a new name for a free woman. She selected the name Sojourner from Psalm 39:12. Later she adopted the last name Truth from John 8:32. The life she experienced as Belle was much different than I expected,and even included living as part of a cult. Her accomplishments as an illiterate woman of color living in the 1800s are truly amazing. Obstacles that would seem unconquerable in or own time appear as mere inconveniences to Sojourner who memorized much of the Bible, traveled around the nation in spite of having very little money, and consulted with presidents.

This book is plainly written with an emphasis on facts without embellishment. It is a quick read, but quite inspirational. Sojourner deserves honor and recognition for her role in our nation's history. I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.