Category Archives: Book Review

In the Shadow of the River Book Review

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In the shadow of the river book coverI am a fan of Ann H. Gabhart’s historical fiction, however, In the Shadow of the River left me disappointed.

Set in 1881 In the Shadow of the River takes place on a showboat floating down the Ohio River. It begins with the foiled kidnapping attempt of 5-year-old Jacci, and follows up 15 years later with her still in danger.

There are likable characters, friendship, an interesting setting, mystery, and danger. Nevertheless, I found the retelling of the same information about Jacci’s history by multiple characters unnecessary. I realize this is a work of fiction, but there are too many coincidences for me to believe.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.

Have you read this book? If so, what was your impression of it?

I wish you well.

Sandy

Please enter your email address on the form located on the right sidebar to sign up to receive posts every Tuesday and Thursday. Thanks!

Good Catastrophe Book Review

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blue tree Good Catastrophe cover Good Catastrophe by Benjamin Windle combines the biblical story of Job with contemporary illustrations, to emphasize the importance of hope in our darkest challenges and struggles.

Written in a conversational tone, the author ponders what would happen if we reframed how we see hope amidst life’s challenges. He says hope is for the present. In the midst of the storm. Not just for some future day.

By the end of the book, he states that when we can’t understand what is happening, we can put our trust in God. Like Job, that is where our hope rests.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.

Have you read this book? If so, what was your impression of it? I wish you well.

Sandy

Please enter your email address on the form located on the right sidebar to sign up to receive posts every Tuesday and Thursday. Thanks!

Body of Proof Book Review

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Body of Proof book coverBody of Proof: The 7 Best Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus–and Why It Matters Today by Jeremiah J. Johnston, PhD, is not a light read. It is a book steeped in scholarly research to prove the case Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  

While setting out to prove we can be sure Jesus physically rose from the grave, Dr. Johnston laments his belief most followers of Jesus have a “woefully inadequate understanding” and says few are able to articulate the evidence that supports their belief in Jesus’ resurrection.

Body of Proof offers what Dr. Johnston believes are seven best reasons to believe in the resurrection:

  1. Society is transformed everywhere Christianity is introduced and embraced.
  2. Jesus called it.
  3. Jesus demonstrated resurrection power.
  4. No motivation to invent Jesus’ resurrection narrative is evident.
  5. Written and archeological sources overwhelmingly support the Gospel’s resurrection narrative.
  6. Only Jesus’ resurrection convincingly explains the conversion of people not previously his followers.
  7. Jesus’ resurrection is the only basis for making sense of suffering.

After he discusses his seven reasons, Dr. Johnston concludes his final two chapters by going deeper into scholarly research of ways to argue the authenticity and historicity of Jesus’ resurrection.

If you enjoy in depth scholarly research, Body of Proof may be the book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.

Have you read this book? If so, what was your impression of it?

I wish you well.

Sandy

Please enter your email address on the form located on the right sidebar to sign up to receive posts every Tuesday and Thursday. Thanks!

The Metropolitan Affair Book Review

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woman in metropolitan museumI enjoyed following Dr. Lauren Westlake and Detective Joe Caravello through the twists and turns of The Metropolitan Affair, by Jocelyn Green, as they worked to solve a mystery where not everything is as it appears, and wishing doesn’t make it so.

Filled with intrigue, mystery, romance, and way too many characters for me to keep track of, The Metropolitan Affair takes the reader on a page turning ride through 1924 New York City.

When old friends, Lauren and Joe, team up to solve the mystery of who is passing off forged art work as authentic amid Prohibition, Egyptomania, fraud, corruption, forgery, deception, and murder, they discover what is real and what isn’t.

If you enjoy Christian historical fiction with enough details to learn interesting facts about that time period, The Metropolitan Affair may be the book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.

Have you read this book? If so, what was your impression of it? I wish you well.

Sandy

Please enter your email address on the form located on the right sidebar to sign up to receive posts every Tuesday and Thursday. Thanks!

Your New Now Book Review

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your new now book coverRegardless of the season of transition you may find yourself in; Development, Separation, Cultivation, or Finished, Your New Now: Finding Strength and Wisdom When You Feel Stuck Where You Are by Nicki Koziarz might be worth your time. This is not a quick read. It is a book filled with thoughtful questions to spend time considering.

Your New Now uses the life of Moses as an example of change, and discusses four transitional seasons readers may currently be in. As she looks at Moses’ life, Nicki offers practical advice and biblical wisdom to help readers navigate those seasons of transition.

Between each section, Nicki built in a mini-Bible study readers can use for further study if they choose.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.

Have you read this book? If so, what was your impression of it?

I wish you well.

Sandy

Please enter your email address on the form located on the right sidebar to sign up to receive posts every Tuesday and Thursday. Thanks!

After the Shadows Book Review

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woman walking toward mansionThere is so much to like about Amanda Cabot’s latest Christian historical fiction novel, After the Shadows. Well-developed characters to love, an intriguing mystery to solve, a blossoming romance to root for, and of course, several characters to dislike.

Set in 1882, when Emily Leland returns home to Sweetwater Crossing, Texas, after her abusive husband dies, instead of the welcome she expects, she finds her father dead. Not believing the doctor’s report for the cause of death, she sets out to discover the truth. Along the way, she reconnects with old friends and makes new ones. One such friend is Craig Ferguson who works with Emily to solve the mystery of her father’s death.

After the Shadows is a fast-paced page-turner whose mystery unfolds bit by bit right up to the final page. If you enjoy Christian historical fiction with a touch of mystery thrown in, this may just be the book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.

Have you read this book? If so, what was your impression of it?

I wish you well.

Sandy

Please enter your email address on the form located on the right sidebar to sign up to receive posts every Tuesday and Thursday. Thanks!

Faith, Doubt, and God’s Mysterious Timing Book Review

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One of the things I especially appreciate in Faith, Doubt, and God’s Mysterious Timing by Laurie Polich Short, is the way she takes familiar stories from the Bible, and points out how God met each person in their faith and doubt to show his perfect timing and sovereignty.

We read about Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Joseph, Moses, David, Paul, and others in these pages. We see how, through faith, they navigated God’s seeming unanswered prayers, and way-off timing. And we understand, just like them, we can trust the One who orchestrates our path.

There are many nuggets of inspiration within the pages of Faith, Doubt, and God’s Mysterious Timing. In case you’re wondering if this is a book for you, here is one of Laurie’s nuggets. The call to hardship is not a sign of God’s displeasure. Laurie Polich Short

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.

Have you read this book? If so, what was your impression of it?

I wish you well.

Sandy

Please enter your email address on the form located on the right sidebar to sign up to receive posts every Tuesday and Thursday. Thanks!

The Lord Bless You Book Review

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Author Terry A. Smith states his book, The Lord Bless You: A 28-Day Journey to Experience God’s Extravagant Blessings is about how much God wants to bless the people he created. He says it is about how we can embrace God’s blessings in our life, and how we can bless the world around us.

The author defines blessing as being in harmonious relationship with God who wants to do good in us, to us, and through us.

Perhaps The Lord Bless You can best be summed up as this. God is good. God wants to be in relationship with you. He wants to do good in you, to you, and through you.

In short, God wants to bless you so you can be a blessing to others.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.

Have you read this book? If so, what was your impression of it?

I wish you well.

Sandy

Please enter your email address on the form located on the right sidebar to sign up to receive posts every Tuesday and Thursday. Thanks!

The Sound of Light Book Review

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Set in the early 1940s during the Danish resistance movement of World War II, The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin has everything I enjoy in Christian historical fiction. Well-developed characters to cheer for with a touch of romance, historical accuracy without getting bogged down in the details, fast paced compelling story full of suspense and intrigue.

In The Sound of Light, Sundin creates a compelling action-packed story of Dr. Else Jensen and Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt; resistance fighters willing to sacrifice everything for Denmark’s freedom from Germany. Hard questions are asked. Hard questions are answered. None of them easy.

If you enjoy Christian historical fiction centered around the events of World War II, Sarah Sandin is the author for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.

Have you read this book? If so, what was your impression of it?

I wish you well.

Sandy

Please enter your email address on the form located on the right sidebar to sign up to receive posts every Tuesday and Thursday. Thanks!

Something Greater Book Review

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I found much to ponder and glean from Something Greater, by Jentezen Franklin. In this book, Jentezen suggests we can discover God’s best for our life right where we are by looking for buried acres of diamonds. He references Russell H. Conwell’s lecture, Acres of Diamonds, to remind us that although we may think the place where we are right now is worthless, there is hidden potential.

With examples from Scripture, Jentezen’s life, and the lives of others, Jentezen suggests we must learn to see, value, and grow what we have. Right where we are. He recommends we don’t worry about what tomorrow will bring, and stop living in regret of what we did or didn’t do yesterday.

Jentezen concludes by saying our joy, purpose, peace, and hope are here and now. He suggests we start digging in our own backyard for these things, and watch as God unfolds diamonds in places we think is a valley of dry bones.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.

Have you read this book? If so, what was your impression of it?

I wish you well.

Sandy

Please enter your email address on the form located on the right sidebar to sign up to receive posts every Tuesday and Thursday. Thanks!