Life, Love and Books

    The Prince and The Prodigal by Jill Eileen Smith   This is a retelling of the biblical story of Joseph alongside the story of his eldest brother Judah.  We find Joseph being trained to take over as the heir to his fathers flocks. Which causes much strife between Joseph and his elder brothers  to the point of causing grief for their elderly father. Joseph finds himself in a very foreign land as an servant to powerful man. While back with his family, eldest brother Judah is struggling with the guilt that came with selling his younger brother to slave traders. Weighed down with seeing his father grieving for his beloved son, Judah chooses to move away and settle in a different land. Each of the brothers are taken on very much different journeys that leads them down a path that intersect later in life. Jill Eileen Smith takes a well known bible story and gives us a deeper insight to it. She helps us to see deeper into the relationship between Joseph and his elde...

Woman of Sunlight by Mary Connealy It is always a delight to read another book by Mary Connealy, she writes stories that capture us and will not let us go . Her latest series Brides of Hope Mountain does not disappoint us. In the second installment to the series, we find Ilsa Nordegren getting stir crazy after a long recovery from an illness. The Warden family had blown into the sisters lives turning their quiet oasis into a uproar. But what the sisters never thought they would find was love. , Mitch returned home a rich man looking to reunite with his family, but he finds the family homestead abandoned. When he finally locates his family up in the mountains, to his surprise he finds they have found sanctuary with three sisters. The youngest sister black haired  Ilsa catches his eye and intrigues him.   When the danger follows Mitch up into the mountains, he has to face the truth that he needs to find whoever has a price on ...

Claim Your Crown by Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien Young Women in todays society are living in a world that teaches them to be dissatisfied with their body image. Society's standards say that we need to look, act or be a certain way and at times it is a double standard. Deep down inside they are longing for more then what is offered by the people around them.  In this book we meet a beautiful young lady who has faced some insecurities of her own and has overcome them. By using her deep insight on the many subjects that touch young women today, she brings some new light to each of these that helps us to understand it better.  By dismantling lies and myths that have been fed to us by society, Tarah helps us to see the truth that our heavenly Father. By bringing us to a better understanding of how He loves us so much that He longs to bestow a crown on each of our beautiful heads. I would recommend this book to all young women to read!! "I voluntarily ...

Listening to Love by Beth Wiseman   In the second installment of the Amish Journey series, we find englischer Natalie Collins and Lucas; the older brother of Levi Sheltar having friday night suppers together. As time passes, the two have become very much best friends to the concern of their family and dear friends Levi and Mary. The opinions of those around them, starts to frustrate Natalie, who adamantly says that it is friendship only. But deep down she is realizing that her feelings have grown toward love for Lucas.  Lucas loves getting to talk with Natalie in the late night hours, but time has come that he has to face the truth of the struggle between their two ways of life. To leave would cause so much pain for his family. Also he knows that asking Natalie to walk away from her plan to become a veterinarian, would break her heart. But the more time they spend together the truth starts coming out that they have feelings for each other When Natal...

                  Until The Mountains Fall (Cities of Refuge Book 3) by Connilyn Cossette In the third installment of the Cities of Refuge series we revisit Kedesh, where Malakhi is now faced with marrying the one woman he has loved since he was a child. The only thing is she had been  his older brothers wife, who was now a widow and being commanded by the law to marry the younger brother of her deceased husband. Rivkah has no interest in marrying her deceased beloveds  younger brother and makes a decision to flee the city of her childhood. With plans of using her talents as a scribe to provide for herself, she escapes what she thinks is going to be her worst nightmare. There is a price for leaving the protection of her father and the safety of the city of refuge, this price takes a toll on Rivkah. After the disappearance of the one woman he has ever loved, Malakhi throws himself into t...

Shelter of the Most High by Connilyn Cossette In the second installment of the Cities of Refuge series, we find the young Eitan as an adult living in Kedesh. The last eleven years he has been haunted by the tragedy from his childhood, while struggling with the boundaries placed on him by his mother's husband. When his life is suddenly changed when two young women are brought into the city of Refuge. Sofea has grown up with the freedom of the ocean around her, never realizing it might save her cousin's and her life. One day their village was attacked and they was kidnapped by the marauders that wiped out the village. When Sofea and her cousin escape they find themselves being rescued by a band of warriors from Kedesh. This city has provided a refuge for so many that have came thru its gates, now it has become a  safe haven for Sofea and her cousin. While Eitan considers the city of refuge his prison, all he has ever wanted is to train and become a warrior to pr...

Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson This book brings to Pre-Civil War Savannah Georgia, to the home of a very staunch Confederate family. We meet Debutante Keziah Montgomery who is being brought out to meet her potential suitors, but her family hides a very deep secret from the public eyes.  This beautiful young woman has lived her life being forced to hide her illness from others. Now she has to be the object of attention for the balls and parties  to come. When one evening she runs into an old classmate that introduces her to a very life changing truth. It is at this moment she feels she can do something to help others out of the circumstances by becoming an conductor in the underground railroad.  Dr Micah Greyson never dreamed he would come back home and run into his childhood classmate at a ball.  But the moment Keziah waltzes back in to his life, he is taken in by her beauty and reminded why he...

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar In the newest novel about the Biblical time period by Tessa Afshar that is based in the city of Corinth. We are introduced to a young woman Ariadne who chooses to run away,  when she finds out she is going to be forced to marry a very mean man.  She finds safety in the home of her estranged father in the bustling rich trade  city of Corinth. Longing for a close relationship with Galenos, she stumbles on a very dark secret that had destroyed her father's marriage. Galenos is a Greek of high birth but he is also the infamous thief who has been robbing from the corrupt of the city.  When her fathers life is in danger,  Ariadne chooses to risk everything she has longed for to become Galenos apprentice. Blessed with a very unusual talent of athletic ability, she uses this to continue her fathers exploits leading her deeper into dangerous territ...

Judah's Wife: The Silent Years #2 By Angela Hunt In the second installment of "The Silent Years" series we meet a young Leah on the eve of the time for a choice to be made of who is to be her husband. To her surprise the man who had rescued her and her friend from a young group of Hellene's. This man that her father has chosen for her to marry, is her way out of the home of strife and contempt. But then the peace that Leah has longed for is interrupted by Judah's Father's plan resist the King's decree. This resistance leads to a war that costs her father in laws life and put Judah, in charge of the resistance.  The one thing Leah has longed for is a home that is full of peace is being taken from her by her husbands choice to fulfill his fathers dying wish. She can not understand why her new family has chosen to stand for the One True God. Also, Leah does not understand what kind of God would destroy her chance at peace.  This story is told th...

Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette The sequel to the Out From  Egypt  is Wings of the Wind, just like the first two books we are introduced to some very amazing characters. Several characters from the first two books have a part in this book, along with meeting Tobiah and Alanah. The dedication and love of Tobiah is very touching to the heart. A man who would choose to take a stranger as a wife,  to provide protection for her from the dangers around them. Alanah is very strong and determined woman who has never seen what true love looks like in her life. Raised in a household full of men, with not knowing a touch of a woman since she was a little girl. Two very different characters that meet in a very dangerous situation and overcome many obstacles in their path to love.   I love reading biblical fiction, Connilyn Cossette takes a fresh look into the bible stories of our childhoods. As I was reading this book, I delighted in learning more abou...

An Encounter with the Saviour thru the Women of Easter!! A Review of Women of Easter by Liz Curtis Higgs. "This Season of Grace, Deepen Your Faith in God Who So Loved the World that He Gave Us His Son."    A quote from Amazon   As I read this book it gave me more insight into the Easter story, a very different outlook. Liz breaks down each verse and brings it to life with her writing. We meet the women who followed our Lord thru his journey to the cross. Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene are just a few of the women that are spoken about. Each of these women played a special part in the ministry and journey of Jesus Christ. It amazes me how much women are held highly by our Lord. He cared enough to speak to the women and provide comfort for them even in his time of suffering. He put aside his cares to think of provision for his mother while he was on the cross. Then he chose to appear to a very shaken up  Mary Magdalene after his...

Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctors Personal Journey through Depression by Dr Michelle Bengtson As a board-certified neuropyschologist, Dr Michelle Bengtson has seen the devastation that depression causes to people. In her practice she prescribed the most effective  treatments for her patients. When one day the tables turned and she was now the patient suffering from depression; struggling just to get thru one day at a time. Using the same treatments that she prescribed for her patients, she felt worse than before. Seeking to find the hope she needed to overcome depression she turned to the one book that showed her grace, The Bible. Taking from her experience, Dr Bengston writes the words that most people struggling with depression will recognize. Taking her training and blending it with a vital missing piece, she shows us that we can pull thru even if it does not feel like we are going to make it. If you are someone who is struggling with depression or you know someon...

Really Bad Girls of the Bible More Lessons from Less-than Perfect Women by Liz Curtis Higgs She did it again, Liz Curtis Higgs has taken the bad girls of the Bible and brought them to life in her latest book. We are introduced to some very overlooked women in the Bible, Jael, Medium of En-dor, Athalia and Herodias. Also some women that touched lives thru the things they did, Bathsheba, Tamar, the Adulteress and the Bleeding Woman. Each of these women did things that were bad or something that was considered bad in that time period in the case of the Bleeding Woman. Each chapter highlights one of these womens stories and at the end it gives us insight that we can learn from each of these women. I loved reading Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible, so when I got the chance to review this book I jumped at it. Liz does an amazing job of taking the stories of the women in the Bible and bringing them to life for us 20th century women. I would recommend this book to anyone as a study...

The Quieting by Suzanne Woods Fisher  In the second book in  "The Bishops Family" series we meet Abgail the niece of the bishop who has come with her sister to help her uncle out in their time of need. Her second goal is to finish her father's genealogical project for a client that lives in Stony Ridge. Unbeknownst to Abgail, her grandmother has other plans for her elusive granddaughter. She has set her sights on finding a husband for Abgail and plans on finding the right one there in Stony Ridge. Stony Ridge is not overrun with eligible bachelors, except for one who is not right for Abgail in many ways. Bearing the last name Glick and a relative to the church bishop that is at odds with Abgails's uncle. Dane Glick has his sights set on marrying Abgail, but she does not have her sights set on marriage. Her goal is to help her father break out of his mood of melancholy that he is stuck in. As the conflict grows between the two families, relationships...

Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar  This story is so beautifully written and touched my heart as a daughter of Christ. I have always known of the verse that speaks of the woman with a problem with bleeding. This book dives deep into the life story behind the women who got a short notation in the New Testament. My heart broke as I read this story of a woman who was broken and lost. The moment that she finds healing brought a rush of relief and peace that flooded my soul. Elianna is a young girl whose life has been touched with sorrow. When the loss of her little brother affects the whole family, when another tragedy hits the family.  Elianna has to step up to take over the family business, while caring for her family.  With her talent for design she draws more business to her father's textile trade. Still longing for the forgiveness that she seems to be not able to find, her world seems to just unravel in front of her. Choosing to sever the one tie ...

The Gift of Friendship  By Dawn Camp This book takes a deep look into friendships and how it effects women of all walks of life. A collection of stories that has been gathered together from an amazing group of women who took time out to share some of the ways other have touched their lives. Take some time out of your busy day and dive into this book for a breath of fresh air. Learn to cherish the friendships that we have and to build other along the way. I truly loved getting to read this book, it made me think back on the many friends I have made in my life. This book was given to me for a free review from Revell Reads.

The Prophetess (Deborah's Story) by Jill Eileen Smith Deborah's life was touched with tragedy when her father and brothers was slaughtered by the enemies of the nation of Israel. In this very dark time period of her life, she is called to lead God's people back to him. Deborah never asked to be the one to lead her people or to be the one sitting as a judge for them. As she sees visions with a voice she feels compelled to be there for them. Will her family ever be able to see that the work she is doing will lead them to the freedom they are longing for. Will her people trust her to hear the word from God calling them to turn from the idols they have set up. Another beautifully written story about a very strong woman in the bible, that is mentioned as a judge of the nation Israel. It shows that God not only chose men to do his will, but also a woman who was chosen to do a very big job in a very hard time period. Jill Eileen Smith artfully crafts a story out of a...

Miriam  by Mesu Andrews The second novel in the A Treasures of the Nile series by Mesu Andrews brings us to many years after Moses exile from Egypt. We find Miriam taking care of her elderly parents and earning a meager living as a healer of her people. The oppression that has grown heavier on the Hebrews has caused so much struggles for God's people that so many have wandered away from EL Shaddai. When her younger brother comes back from the wilderness with a message of deliverance for God's people. This message leaves Miriam and her family reeling with the news that they may be able to see freedom. As each of the plagues hit Egypt the Hebrews struggle with seeing the love that EL Shaddai is trying to show them. Will they see the hope that is in front of them and place their trust in Moses as he fights to lead them from slavery to freedom.  Mesu Andrews delves into another bible story and brings it to life right before our eyes. Her way wit...