THE CONFESSION by ROBERT WHITLOW

THE CONFESSION by ROBERT WHITLOW is a legal thriller with a difference. Not only is it an exciting read, but it is an in depth study of human emotions, not at all heavy or depressing but written in such an easy manner that one literally cannot put the book down. It is full of biblical truth and I found it most inspiring and thought provoking.
Holt Douglas is an assistant District Attorney and Trish Carmichael works in the Sheriff's office. They get together because of their mutual interest in a cold case which they both feel has not been properly investigated, suspecting a cover up by the authorities.
Holt is trying to make up for his past behaviour by being the best prosecuting attorney he can be, living his dead best friend's dream because of the guilt he feels for the lie he told the police at a drunk driving accident when they were teenagers. He thinks that he is safe in keeping the truth covered up, as he is the only one who knows what really happened, but, as his old friend Bishop Pennington says, "there is no statute of limitations on sin" and nothing is hidden from God. When Trish, who is a committed Christian, finds out the truth about the man she found so attractive and who she wanted to lead to the Lord, she makes a decision which has repercussions for herself as well as for Holt.
The issues of confession, forgiveness, mercy and grace run through the novel, as well as the danger of accusing someone without knowing all the facts. We see how a person's actions have consequences, and that true release can only come from confessing one's sins to the Lord. All the good works in the world are not enough to buy God's favour. Guilt and unforgiveness both have a devastating effect in a person's life. The importance of showing compassion rather than being religious and legalistic is also brought out clearly.
The characters in this novel are true to life and the story is well worked out. I really enjoy this author, especially the way he speaks of the importance of prayer, the supernatural power of God and the work of the Holy Spirit in people's lives.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

COLLATERAL DAMAGE by HANNAH ALEXANDER

COLLATERAL DAMAGE by HANNAH ALEXANDER is an exciting and worthwhile read wih liberal doses of suspense, romance and biblical truth.
The little town of Jolly Mill has become unsafe, especially to the Russell and Tyler families. Is there a serial killer on the loose or were people simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? This is what sixteen year old Emma Russell sets off to find out, much to Sarah Russell's dismay, as she fears that the secret she has hidden for sixteen years is about to come out into the open and that this will disrupt the lives of those she loves. She also fears for Emma's life seeing that her grandparents' deaths no longer seem to have been accidental.
In a small community like Jolly Mill, one would think it would be hard for a killer to hide, and speculation is rife. Could it be one of the people that Gerard and Megan are looking after at their shelter? Or could it be Nora who everyone knows has killed before? Or could the killer be against men and women in the ministry? As the story unfolds and the truth is uncovered, we see how jealousy, bitterness and unforgiveness can lead to downright hatred in a person's heart.
Nick Tyler is looking into the suspected murders, especially because his mother was killed with the Russells. Nick and Sarah were always the best of friends, having grown up together, and they seem to take on where they left off so many years ago - with their studies, Nick's disastrous marriage and divorce, and Sarah's secret having kept them apart for years.
Collateral damage can also be caused by hiding the truth and the choices we make, and there are always consequences. However, with the Lord we can put the past behind us, no matter what has happened, as He turns things around and gives us hope for the future.
It is a beautifully told story, with believable characters. We see how different people react to their situations and circumstances, and also, most importantly, we see how their spiritual lives are affected by all that they experience.
I really enjoy this author. She reveals so much biblical truth as she uncovers the human heart with all its fears, doubts and feelings of inadequacy, showing how a compassionate God really does "work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose".



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

OLD FASHIONED by RENE GUTTERIDGE

OLD FASHIONED by RENE GUTTERIDGE is a delightful read. This contemporary novel, from the screenplay of Rik Swartzwelder, is full of age old truths, is sensitively written, and the characters are well portrayed.
When Clay Walsh meets his tenant, Amber Hewson, his carefully constructed list of rules takes quite a lot of strain! For nine years he has tried to pay for the guilt he feels for the way he lived and especially for the way he treated women, by living an exemplary life. Instead of accepting God's forgiveness and forgiving himself, he tries to live rigidly by the Ten Commandments. He feels responsible for ruining two of his friends' lives until he realizes that the same God who saved him is quite capable of working in their lives as well!Unfortunately this rigidity in his beliefs and lifestyle has not only made people see him as decidedly weird, but it has turned him inward and made him quite self-centered.
Amber is a young woman with quite a lot of baggage as well, but she is outgoing and friendly. She desperately wants to be loved and feel attractive.
There is definite chemistry between them, and whilst Clay keeps to his rules Amber is constantly trying to crack through his self-control. She is willing to play along with his "marriage preparation", as behind it all she sees glimpses of the real Clay.
This is a love story with a difference, played out against the background of Clay's antique shop, where he repairs broken things, Amber's job at the florist shop, and their very different friends.
The dialogue is very amusing at times and there is a strong Christian message that flows through the book. I cannot wait to see the film, as I love this story!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

THE RECONCILED HEARTS TRILOGY by DORIS ELAINE FELL

THE RECONCILED HEARTS TRILOGY by DORIS ELAINE FELL consists of three novels from her SAGAS OF A KINDRED HEART SERIES, consisting of BLUE MIST ON THE DANUBE, WILLOWS ON THE WINDRUSH and SUNRISE ON STRADBURY SQUARE, the story carrying through all three novels, taking us on a journey through Europe, America and England. I really enjoy this author - her stories are beautifully told, her characters and their struggles well portrayed and the settings in the different places to which she takes us really come alive. There is also a strong Christian message.
Sacrificial love, adoption, marriage, family relationships, guilt and forgiveness are some of the issues dealt with in these novels, together with the redemptive power of the cross of Jesus Christ. The theme of the Prodigal Son coming home and the importance of mercy in relationships runs through all three novels.
There is romance, intrigue, art theft, the tragedy of war, and more, to make an exciting and enjoyable read which I can highly recommend.  Although each of the novels can be obtained and read separately, I think this trilogy is very good value and the novels are well worth reading in sequence.













- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

KEEPERS OF THE COVENANT by LYNN AUSTIN

KEEPERS OF THE COVENANT is the latest biblical novel by LYNN AUSTIN and the second in the RESTORATION CHRONICLES series. It is the story of the second return of the Jews to Jerusalem, led by Ezra, with the story starting with Haman's plot to exterminate the Jews, and the Lord's deliverance brought about by Esther's obedience. I love the way the author gives us such an insight into life at that time, both in Babylon and in Jerusalem. She vividly describes the fear felt by the Jews when the king signs their death warrant, and their bravery and determination when they are allowed to defend themselves. The novel follows the biblical account closely and the fictional characters enhance the story without taking away from the truth in any way. I like the relevant Scriptures that are brought in in just the right places.
The Temple is built, the Temple sacrifices are taking place and the Jews are trying to live according to God's Holy Law. Again in this novel we see the struggle the men of God have with understanding that, although He is a God of judgment, He also is a God of mercy and compassion. He demands obedience, but this obedience leads to His incredible blessings!
The fact that God has promised to bless the Gentiles who turn away from pagan worship to the true worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is clearly brought out in Amina's case. This young girl, with her crippled leg, who has been rejected and beaten by her pagan family, finds love and acceptance in a Jewish family who adopt her and treat her with love. It is through their kindness that she comes to know and love their God. Her sister, Sayfah, on the other hand, still sees the Jews as the enemy of her people and returns to her pagan lifestyle. The beautiful cloth that Hodaya and Amina, the crippled ones, weave, is symbolic of the beauty of God's creation, and how He can bring beauty out of all things. Biblical truth is also brought out in the pottery made by Ezra's family. We are reminded of the fact that the Lord moulds and shapes us as we yield to Him. We must also allow Him to refine us in the fire, getting rid of impurities and not cracking under the strain.
Reuben is badly affected by his father's death and seeks revenge for his murder. He is a blacksmith and he and his father made weapons to fight against the Babylonians. He turns against God and it is Ezra's patience and kindness towards him that brings him once again into a living relationship with the Lord. Here we see the Lord using Ezra to give Reuben a second chance.
I love the way the characters interact with one another and the way they are influenced, for good or evil, by the circumstances in which they find themselves. Their return to Jerusalem is compared to their ancestors' journey to the promised land. Ezra is compared to Moses as he also has a problem with rebellious people - not all of them have his vision for Temple worship and the study of the Torah. Ezra's wife, Devorah, is a real helpmeet to him, as, not only does she have an understanding of the Torah, having studied it with her father, but she helps him to see God as merciful and compassionate.
The importance of the spiritual restoration of God's holy people, of not becoming contaminated by pagan practices, of separating themselves and not losing their inheritance, and of keeping God's laws, is strongly brought out. These are all aspects of our Christian walk today and it is in our obedience that we are blessed and become a blessing to others. This is the story of our salvation.
There is so much to learn from this novel, the story is beautifully told, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

SECOND OPINION, NECESSARY MEASURES & URGENT CARE by HANNAH ALEXANDER

SECOND OPINION, NECESSARY MEASURES and URGENT CARE by HANNAH ALEXANDER are novels that are not only interesting, exciting and well written, but are also full of biblical truth. I particularly like the way the author sees Jesus as the Great Physician. I highly recommend them being read in sequence, but they can be read as "stand alones".
Dr Grant Sheldon and his teenage twins, Beau and Brooke, have moved to Dogwood Springs from the big city, where Grant practises emergency medicine at the hospital. Although Grant's wife, Annette, died two years ago, the family still miss her terribly. When Grant shows an interest in Lauren, who works with him at the hospital, Brooke takes an instant dislike to her. This changes and Brooke becomes just as keen for Lauren lto become her stepmother as Lauren's mother does to see her thirty-six year old daughter married! Brooke and Beau are very different, with Beau being the more serious one who is keen to follow in his father's footsteps by becoming a doctor, but the twins are very close and Brooke has a heart of gold under her loud and outgoing nature!
The novels cover a lot of from drug addiction amongst the youth and adults, the importance of forgiveness and of living one's Christian faith as opposed to legalism and getting bogged down in good works, and the dangers of criticism and bitterness. It is a small town community and rumours tend to be rife. We see how dangerous this can be. 
 The importance of family relationships is brought out strongly, and we see how Archer Pierce battles with the demands made on him by the church that he pastors and how it affects his relationship with the lovely Jessica Lane. 
The importance of putting God first in one's life, then one's spouse and children before other commitments like one's  work and church, is very well worked out by the author. The Lord wants all of us, body, soul and spirit, not just what is left over, even if our life is full of Christian service! Archer, in particular, realizes that without the Lord in his life he is nothing and can do nothing. This message comes through very strongly in the novels. We also see how different people react to the storms of life, and how they react better to love and understanding than a critical, "holier-than-thou" attitude.  Real friendship is shown between the Sheldon twins and Evan as well as between Lauren and Gina, to name a few, especially when Lauren is not afraid to warn Gina when she sees her about to make a fatal mistake by getting involved with a married man.
The characters are well portrayed.  They are real people with very real emotions, and we can relate to them and their struggles. 
I can highly recommend these novels and can't wait to read more books by this author.








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

REKINDLED by TAMERA ALEXANDER

I have just re-read REKINDLED by TAMERA ALEXANDER and enjoyed it just as much as the first time I read it. It is a beautiful love story which is full of biblical truth.
Kathryn Jennings comes from a wealthy Boston family and her husband Larson, the love of her life, feels guilty that he can't give her all that she has been used to.
When he goes missing in a snowstorm on Christmas Day, she does all she can to keep the land and the homestead that was Larson's dream and has become her own.
There is a message of forgiveness, redemption and the importance of truth in a relationship, amongst other things. We see the Father's love and His protection for His children throughout the story. We also see Him as the God of second chances. I can highly recommend this novel as a really good read.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

MICHAL by JILL EILEEN SMITH

MICHAL by JILL EILEEN SMITH is the first novel in her Wives of King David series. The story is sensitively told and the characters are beautifully depicted. Even though it is a work of fiction, the story sticks closely to the Bible and is told around the relevant verses.
The author tells us of the passionate love between young David and Saul's youngest daughter, Michal, their separation due to the king's jealousy and anger towards David, and how this love turns to burning hatred in Michal's case.
We see the difference between David's trust in Yahweh in the midst of all his problems, his humility and desire to please his God, and Michal's sense of importance as the daughter of a king and as David's first wife. We see how his love for the Lord pours out of his heart in psalms of praise, whereas she tends to blame God for her problems. It is only when everything is stripped from her that, in the loneliness of her chambers in the palace, she turns to Adonai in humility and experiences the joy of His forgiveness and presence in her life. This leads to her experiencing David's forgiveness and reconciliation with him as well. Her bitterness and pride melt away and are replaced with love for God and for her husband.
I like the way the interaction between the characters is portrayed, as there is so much biblical truth here that is applicable in our own lives today, and also the vivid description of life in those days. I admire the author for her research and knowledge of the Scriptures, which is combined with her story telling ability! I can highly recommend this novel.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

WORDS OF CONVICTION by LINDA J. WHITE

In WORDS OF CONVICTION Linda White shows the importance of words in analyzing a person's character and state of mind. It is an exciting thriller and I can highly recommend it. The characters and their struggles are very real and are well portrayed.
F. B. I. agent Kenzie (Mackenzie) Graham is a psycholinguistics specialist who is in Washington to help uncover the underhand dealings of senator Bruce Grable, when the senator's five year old daughter, Zoe, is kidnapped. She is asked to stay on and help with the case using her special skill, namely uncovering what people may be hiding by analyzing their words and behaviour.
We see how the senator, and eventually his wife, change from being rude and demanding to being grateful for all that the agents are doing to help find their little girl. Their priorities change and the things that used to be important to them fade into insignificance. In the end we even see how their marriage relationship improves when they begin to understand one another.
Kenzie, whose mother is cold and critical, unlike her father who she loved dearly, comes to understand how Beth Grable feels left out of her daughter's life, due to Zoe's devotion to her father.
Kenzie finds herself in dangerous situations and overcomes her fear of enclosed spaces and spiders, amongst other things, with the help of the God who she has been ignoring since her father's death when she was twelve. Scott, the agent in charge of the operation who is an old friend of hers and a committed Christian, encourages her with the Word of God at just the right time. The novel clearly shows how people are convicted by God's Word and how He draws us to Him through His truth and the witness of those who live out their faith.
Both Kenzie and John Crowfeather are afraid of loving because of each losing the most important person in their lives, and need to let go of their negative feelings towards God before they can love again. What they go through in trying to find Zoe before it is too late helps them to do this and draws them to one another.
We are kept guessing right to the end of this nail biting drama!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

IN PERFECT TIME by SARAH SUNDIN

IN PERFECT TIME Is the third book in SARAH SUNDIN's WINGS OF THE NIGHTINGALE series and is just as well worth reading as the first two. Although I always like to read books in sequence, the novel can be read on its own. The story takes place towards the end of the Second World War. The author paints a picture of the joys and struggles of the characters against a backdrop of horror, fear and pain.
When flight nurse Kay Jobson first takes an interest in Roger Cooper, the good looking pilot, she sees him as a challenge. She has just dropped one of her many boyfriends and doesn't see any reason why she can't put Roger into the empty slot! She is mortified by the fact that her flirting doesn't have the desired effect on this clean living Christian man.
In the beginning neither of them know the reasons behind the other's behaviour. Roger is attracted by Kay but is afraid of losing control of his emotions, having been pretty wild as a young man, even getting a girlfriend pregnant, with disastrous results. Kay, for all her flirting, doesn't let any man get past first base. She has been brought up by a strict preacher father, who never went further than the book of Job, which he interpreted in quite the wrong way. This has left Kay with a feeling of unworthiness. With her it is all about controlling the men who lust after her. Because she was never good enough for her father she feels that she can never be good enough for God. Roger's family, particularly his father, tend to ridicule him and keep telling him he will never amount to anything. Roger is led by the Lord to give his precious bible to Kay and he gently leads her into the truth of God's word as his friend Lou did for him.
Kay and Roger go through a lot together and their relationship is full of ups and downs. Roger is afraid of hurting Kay as he did his high school girlfriend and Kay feels he sees her as a tramp. Underneath it all they are very similar, both having a poor self image. It is interesting to see how they relate to one another as they allow the Lord to lead them. They each have a burning ambition - Roger to be a drummer and Kay to be chief nurse - and they try very hard to impress those they know can help them in these areas. Eventually they see the importance of letting go of the past and letting God have His perfect way in their lives and of accepting His forgiveness for all they have done wrong, whether real or imagined.
In this novel we are reminded of the Father's loving presence in His children's lives and of His redemptive power. We also see how He can turn things around for good and how His timing is always perfect. I can highly recommend this book. It is not only very exciting but it is full of biblical truth.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

STRANDED by DANI PETTREY

I can highly recommend STRANDED by DANI PETTREY as an exciting read with strong Christian content. I have read the first two novels in the series and am reading SILENCED, the fourth novel, at the moment, but each can be read on its own.
When Darcy St James joins the Bering cruise ship in order to help her friend and former partner in investigative reporting, Abby, find out what is going on on the ship, she has two surprises. The first is scary and unpleasant as her friend disappears after a brief conversation with Darcy, and the second is pleasant but also a bit scary when she finds that Gage McKenna, the man she is in love with but knows she can never have an ongoing relationship with, is also on the Bering in charge of the island adventure expeditions.
We meet the McKenna family, together with Landon and Jake, who we met in the first two books, and I really enjoy the way the author handles the characters and their relationships with one another and with the Lord.
Darcy, who is determined to find her friend before it is too late, asks a lot of questions and finds herself in great danger. Gage, who has had a bad relationship and has lost his baby boy, is drawn to Darcy's God through what they go through together, and no longer blames Him for his misfortune.
It is a story that keeps you guessing and is hard to put down. Things are not always as they seem and it is hard to know who to trust. In the novel we see how determination and trust in the Lord go a long way in uncovering hidden evil.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

SEEDS OF EVIDENCE by LINDA WHITE

SEEDS OF EVIDENCE by LINDA WHITE is not only an exciting thriller but it is a sensitively written novel which is full of biblical truth. I actually read it through a second time as I felt I had lost a lot by reading it too fast the first time!
Kit McGovern, an F. B. I. agent, is spending two weeks' leave at Chincoteague, off the coast of Virginia, when she comes across a boy of about eight washed up on the beach. Although it would have been easy to let the local authorities take the case, she feels she needs to do so in order to obtain justice for this little boy who seems so lonely and lost lying there!
A surfer at the scene helps her drag the body out of the surf and she finds out later that he is a homicide cop who is renting her grandmother's cottage for six months. His name is David O'Connor, and he is taking time off after a shootout where he was responsible for a boy's death. The experience scarred him both physically (his shoulder was shot) and emotionally. He also carries emotional scars from an alcoholic stepfather and a failed marriage. He is used to doing things alone and can't understand how lonely he feels when he is not with Kit, seeing he has known her for such a short time!
Kit, on the other hand , bears scars from being rejected by her mother and then by her ex husband Eric. She feels she wasn't good enough and that is why they left her, and, as a result has lost faith in God, feeling He has left her too!
I love the descriptions of the sea, the bird life, and the scenery. It is in this beautiful and peaceful setting that Kit and David become involved in a case involving migrant workers, illegals, drug running, kidnapping and human trafficking. The story is well told and exciting and the book is hard to put down. The characters and their struggles with forgiveness, relationships, and trust issues are very real. In fact both Kit and David need to relinquish feelings of anger and even hatred before they can get on with their lives. There is such a message here of letting go of one's past, trusting in God's love, and living life with joy and gratitude. I can really recommend this novel.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

IN THE FIELD OF GRACE by TESSA AFSHAR

TESSA AFSHAR has done it again with IN THE FIELD OF GRACE, a biblical novel based on the story of Ruth! The fact that this is a novel does not in any way take away the truth of the biblical account. We come to know Naomi, Ruth and Boaz as people with emotions to which we can relate, and the godly way in which they deal with what life throws at them is a lesson to us all.
The meaning of the "kinsman redeemer" and of Christ being our Kinsman Redeemer is well brought out in the book, as well as that of the importance of compassion, forgiveness and devotion to the Lord and His people.
The novel is a joy to read and I can highly recommend it.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

PROOF by BILL BRIGHT & JACK CAVANAUGH

PROOF by BILL BRIGHT & JACK CAVANAUGH is an amazing book and well worth reading. It is definitely a courtroom drama with a difference! The story takes place in the time of the Fulton Street revival in America in 1857 and it is written in a style reminiscent of Dickens.
Harrison Shaw has just qualified as a lawyer and is amazed when he is given an internship with the well known J. K. Jarves. However, he is soon disillusioned with the situation when he sees the cruelty of the man, and gives up the internship.
This leads to him feeling the full measure of the man's vindictive nature, and when Victoria is touched by the Spirit of God, all hell breaks loose, ending with J. K. Jarves suing the old North Dutch Church for the "ruination" of his daughter and demanding that the Holy Spirit appear to defend Himself!
Harrison comes from humble beginnings, unlike Victoria Jarves, but they are both drawn to the notorious Five Points district, albeit for different reasons. Victoria is a determined young lady with many surprises and she torments Harrison unmercifully at first, but she makes a one eighty degree turn when she is born of the Spirit. She is particularly moved by the testimony of three wives who pray for their husbands without them being aware of it.
I particularly like the descriptions of the faith of the men and women from all walks of life who who take God at His Word, of the hunger for God at this time of revival and of the way the Lord honours the prayers of the faithful and pours out His blessings, leading men and women to deep and lasting repentance. It was an exciting time, and this story is so encouraging when we remember that this is the same God who desires to do the same amazing works in our lives today!
We see how Harrison, who feels responsible for saving the world, also feels he has let God down when he fails to prove the truth of Christianity in the courtroom! Victoria has already told him that it makes him feel good when people thank him for his works of charity and that he must not try and fight spiritual battles in his own strength. There is quite a message in that for us all!
I found this novel not only enjoyable but also deeply inspirational.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

ALWAYS IN SEPTEMBER by DORIS ELAINE FELL

I have just come across ALWAYS IN SEPTEMBER by DORIS FELL in my bookshelf, and cannot believe I haven't read this fast-paced novel before. I like the story, the setting in Paris, the believable characters, and, most of all, the Christian message. It definitely will not be the last book I read by this author!
Andrea York is an ambitious young fashion journalist who wants to have her own fashion line one day. When she is sent by her boss to follow the fashion scene in Paris, she is excited and feels her career is about to take off. However, she is loathe to leave her grandmother who is failing fast. She goes to see her and promises to visit her grandfather's grave in Normandy for her.
Andrea has no idea of the intrigue in which she will become involved, nor does she know that this trip will lead to the love of a godly man and a renewed relationship with the God she has been ignoring lately.
The novel is well written, the plots well worked out, and the character analysis excellent. I only wish the sequels were out in Kindle.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

BRIDGE TO HAVEN BY FRANCINE RIVERS

I have been looking forward to reading BRIDGE TO HAVEN by FRANCINE RIVERS ever since I saw it was going to be released in April and have certainly not been disappointed! It is the story of a broken young girl's journey towards salvation. It is really well told and full of biblical truth and I highly recommend it.
Abandoned at birth, Abra feels she is nobody and is unable to accept the fact that she is worth anything or that she is loved by Pastor Zeke or Peter and Priscilla. This leads to her rebellion as a teenager and to her looking for love in the wrong places. It is only after she has made a complete mess of her life that she realizes that she has been loved all along.
Abra is a a good actress, having pretended all her life in order to cover up her deep-seated unhappiness, and actually nearly loses herself in the role she ends up playing. We see the importance of the word of God as she remembers the words to the hymns she used to play in church. Mitzi made her play and sing them over and over, knowing that the unhappy young girl would one day need something to draw her back to the Lord. We also see the importance of intercessory prayer and of never giving up on one's loved ones, even when things look impossible in the natural. It is so true that those who are the hardest to love need to be loved most of all!
The story brings to mind the parable of the Prodigal Son, and also the Father's love for wayward Israel as described in Hosea chapter two.
The characters are beautifully portrayed, and throughout the story one is aware of the Lord's presence in their lives. Their emotional struggles are sensitively brought out, together with the results of the choices they make, not only in their own lives but also in the lives of others. Pastor Zeke and Joshua play important roles in Abra's life, and show Christ's mercy, patience and unconditional love towards her. They also show faith in God when all seems lost. It is largely through their love for her that she comes to accept the Father's love and His forgiveness, and is made whole.  I highly recommend this novel.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

WHILE MORTALS SLEEP by JACK CAVANAUGH

I knew I would enjoy WHILE MORTALS SLEEP by JACK CAVANAUGH as I have read HIS WATCHFUL EYE, the second novel in the Songs In The Night series, several times. In fact, I have yet to read a book by him that I haven't found inspiring because of the strong Christian message in his novels.
While Mortals Sleep is the very moving story of Pastor Josef Schumacher who starts out as a strong supporter of the Fuhrer until he realizes what this apparently charismatic leader is really doing to his country and his people. Josef refuses to compromise his Christian values, in spite of his father in law's advice, and is horrified to see how far his mentor is prepared to go in order to keep his family safe.
Josef loves his wife, Mady, and is looking forward to the birth of his child. He is conflicted as he doesn't want to cause trouble for them, but his conscience won't allow him to do nothing when Jews and children are being murdered.
We see his bravery and faith being tested to the extreme.
We see Mady, who is full of complaints about her husband, coming to love him in the end.
Josef's stand for the truth even reaches the Nazi youths who come to his church.
Against the backdrop of Germany in 1940, the characters make every day life during that horrific time very real for us, and show us how the choices that they made affected their lives and those of their loved ones. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. I have just bought Above All Earthly Powers, the third book in the series, and cannot wait to read it!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

ON DISTANT SHORES by SARAH SUNDIN

ON DISTANT SHORES by SARAH SUNDIN is the second book in the WINGS OF THE NIGHTINGALE series.  I have recently re-read both books (I reviewed WITH EVERY LETTER on 7th September 2012) and am looking forward to the third novel which is yet to be released.  In enjoy reading books in sequence, but of course each can be read as a stand alone novel.
Georgie Taylor joined the flight nurse programme because of her best friend Rose.  Georgie has been pampered and loved all her life by her family and boyfriend, Ward, and is called "baby" by them all! She battles with fear and is afraid she will not be able to cope in an emergency, causing danger to the soldiers in her care.  When she goes through tragedy and also shows fear in an evacuation, she feels that maybe the Lord is telling her that she should go home to the farm and live safely with her family and Ward.
John "Hutch" Hutchinson is a qualified pharmacist who is unable to become an officer, much to his chagrin, and who becomes bitter and resentful due to the lack of respect he is shown by some of the officers. He also loses his fiancee to another man.  He thinks that things would go better for him if pharmacists were treated the same as doctors in the army. It is only when he humbles himself and realizes that he is obsessed with wanting to become an officer, instead of accepting the situation and doing the best job he can, and chooses to please God instead of man, that he finds peace.
Hutch and Georgie become friends, and we see how they encourage each other. Their relationship is difficult as she is an officer and he isn't allowed to fraternize with her.
When Georgie is faced with tragedy and also with a frightening evacuation where she nearly fell apart, she feels that the Lord must be telling her to go home to the farm, her family and Ward.   When she goes home on leave she knows that she has started to grow as a person through all she has experienced and is no longer prepared to allow others to make decisions for her or to"baby" her. 
It is in the midst of the horrors of World War II that the characters live out their lives, showing bravery and faith in the face of death and disaster. The story is well told and exciting, the characters are very real and there is a strong Christian message.  I can highly recommend this novel.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

THE AUSCHWITZ ESCAPE BY JOEL ROSENBERG

THE AUSCHWITZ ESCAPE is the first historical novel by JOEL ROSENBERG and it is well worth reading for anyone who is serious about their walk with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! There is a great deal we can learn from this account of the atrocities carried out against the Jews in the German death camps. Whilst it is true that there were also Gentiles imprisoned by Hitler's regime, it was his unrelenting and diabolical desire to wipe out the entire Jewish nation that is so well described in this book. This is so relevant in today's world where we see anti-Semitism reaching new heights! The Bible tells us that the person or nation that brings harm to the Jewish people touches "the apple of God's eye" and will surely bring His wrath upon them. Conversely, those who bless His people will be abundantly blessed.
In the novel we see godly Christians such as Jean-Luc, a pastor, who is imprisoned for helping Jewish refugees, and who continues to minister to the prisoners inside the camp.
Against a backdrop of evil, of man's inhumanity to man, we see glimpses of tremendous courage and faith, and also God's miraculous intervention, not only in the day to day life of the prisoners, but also in the escapes themselves.
We see how God can bring good out of even the most impossible situation when we trust Him. We see how Jacob Weitz grows as a person through the suffering he endures. We see how his training under his beloved uncle Ari develops him into a strong member of the Resistance, and how he is taken prisoner when he is locked into a cattle car with some of the prisoners he is trying to liberate, and how his boyish naïveté is quickly changed into determination to survive.
After his escape he is frustrated at the seeming disinterest of those in authority in America and Britain, and their inability to see how their failure to act is costing more Jewish lives every day.
Running through the story is Jacob's love for his friends and for the beautiful Abby.
It is a story of horror and of hope, of hatred and of sacrificial love. It is very well researched and historically true. It is a book that I will read many times and I can highly recommend it. It is most thought provoking and leaves one with a desire to tell the world to wake up before it is too late, and make sure there is never another holocaust!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

IN THE SHADOW OF JEZEBEL by MESU ANDREWS

IN THE SHADOW OF JEZEBEL is another historical novel by MESU ANDREWS that I can highly recommend, for enjoyment and suspense as well as for biblical content and Christian truth.
It is the love story between Jehosheba, Jezebel's step granddaughter, and Jehoiada, Judah's high priest, which mirrors Christ's love for His bride, the church.
There is a wealth of biblical fact blended with enough fiction to make the story flow, and the whole brings the story of 2 Chronicles chapters 21 to 23 vividly alive for the reader.
Jehosheba has been brought up by her stepmother, Athaliah, to be a priestess of Baal and is largely driven by fear. She loves her father, king Jehoram, and is horrified by the way he is treated by Athaliah when he is suffering. His sickness and death has been prophesied by Yahweh's prophet because he turned away from the ways of his godly father, Jehosaphat, and even killed all his brothers. Athaliah has no time for the God of Judah and uses sorcery and cruelty to get her own way. She wants to rule Judah, even as her mother, Jezebel, rules Israel. The description of life in the royal palace at the time is well portrayed - full of pomp and intrigue. It is contrasted with the simple life of the Temple priests and the poverty of the common people.
When the beautiful young Jehosheba marries the elderly High Priest, Jehoida, she has many issues due to her upbringing. We see Jehoida's infinite patience with his young bride which leads to her emotional healing when she turns to his God. We see the contrast between the godliness of Temple worship as opposed to the wickedness of pagan worship and between the fear that comes from Baal and his priests, and the fear of the Lord that leads to obedience. Sadly, even some of the Temple priests and Levites have been caught up in the lure of pagan pleasures and there are not many left for service in the Temple.
Jehoiada is strong physically and spiritually. He is awed when Yahweh speaks to him through the Urim and Thummim and also when He speaks to both him and Jehosheba. Yahweh will not be mocked and we see how His children triumph in the end. The seed of David is saved, as it has been prophesied. In the book this is also largely due to Jehosheba's fervour, faith and courage.
It is a wonderful story, beautifully told! In no way do the fiction elements detract from the truth of the story and I cannot recommend this novel highly enough.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

DARK HOUR by GINGER GARRETT

DARK HOUR by GINGER GARRETT tells the story found in 2 Chronicles 21 to 23 of the wickedness of Athaliah, wife of Jehoram the king of Israel. She is Ahab's daughter and follows the sorceries of her mother Jezebel. She is determined to rule Judah and destroy all David's descendants in order to stop the worship of Yahweh and draw God's people into sin. I can't believe I have had this amazing book sitting on my shelf and hadn't read it before yesterday! Ginger Garrett brings the story alive and the characters are well portrayed as very real people. It is obvious that she has done a tremendous amount of research as she brings out the clash between the worship of Yahweh, the One True God, and that of Baal and the many pagan gods. The description of life at that time is well portrayed.
We see the Lord's miraculous intervention in keeping David's heir alive in hiding until he can become king of Judah when he is seven years old. We see Jehoshebeth's bravery and reliance on Yahweh as she snatches baby Joash from certain death at the palace and hides him at the Temple.
It is interesting to see how relevant things that happened in Bible days are to the days in which we live.  We shudder at the atrocities performed by self-seeking women who want to take over the God-given role given to men and also at the wholesale slaughter of babies so that Athaliah's wicked scheme to take over the throne may succeed. The story of Satan's attack on mankind, often through women, runs through the Bible from Genesis to Revelations, as does the promise of Christ's victory over the forces of darkness.
The story follows the Bible account closely and the message is in no way diminished by it being a work of fiction. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

DISTORTION by TERRI BLACKSTOCK

DISTORTION by TERRI BLACKSTOCK is the second book in the MOONLIGHTERS series, and follows after Truth Stained Lies, which I reviewed on 21/3/13.
Juliet Cole is devastated when her brilliant surgeon husband, Bob, is shot and killed in front of her, and is even more devastated when she realizes that all was not as it seemed in her husband's life! As she keeps discovering more and more about  the man she has been married to for years, who seemed to be such a good husband and father, she gets really angry and determines to fight for her children's safety. They have been drawn into a dangerous situation and Juliet and her sisters, Cathy and Holly, her brother, Jay, and their friend, Michael, work hard to help uncover the truth.
Who can they trust when the very people they have always trusted have not proved to be reliable? The three sisters who work part time for Michael, the P.I, work tirelessly to solve the murder so that Juliet and her sons can live without fear.
Juliet is a strong Christian and we see the contrast between her faith and the mockery of that of her husband, who was a "pillar of society" and deacon in the church. It is reminiscent of the way she and her siblings were let down by their pastor father who left them and ran away with his secretary. We see how she manages to forgive those who have wronged her and also her unconditional love for little Robbie.
Once again this is the story of ordinary people dealing with the problems that life throws at them. It is a most exciting thriller with interesting characters. I enjoy their interaction with one another and the strong sense of family and friendship. This is contrasted with Bob's seeming indifference to his family and the danger his greed and lust have caused them. We are left with the impression that he may have been trying to make things right at the end, which action may well have led to his assassination.
This is a novel about betrayal, the importance of truth and transparency, forgiveness and compassion. It also shows the importance of the choices we make and the effect they have, not only in our own lives, but in those of our loved ones. I enjoyed this novel immensely and am hoping there will be a third one in the series. Whilst it can be read on its own, I recommend that you read Truth Stained Lies first.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

DRUMMER IN THE DARK by T. DAVIS BUNN

DRUMMER IN THE DARK by T. DAVIS BUNN takes place in the Washington political scene and is full of intrigue. It is a political thriller which is very hard to put down. We see the frantic activity in the money market as Hayek carries out his diabolical plan to cripple America, getting rid of anyone who gets in his way. He is working towards the total collapse of the United States currency.
Wynn Bryant and Jackie Havilland each have their reasons for wanting to see Pavel Hayek destroyed. Jackie is a private investigator who is employed by Esther Hutchings, wife of the United States Congressman who has been stopped by illness from carrying on with his mission to bring financial reform to America, to investigate Hayek. Congressman Hutchings, a committed Christian, has seen the imminent destruction of the American financial system, brought about by illegal activities in the banks and hedge funds. He has also been lobbying to help third world countries financially, and wants this to be a global trend. Wynn is put forward by his brother in law, Grant, as Hutching's successor, with strict instructions to fight the Jubilee Amendment, which Hutchings and his followers feel will save America's economy.
Wynn feels that he has been thrown in the deep end, but instead of playing safe and going along with what is expected of him by Grant and his cohorts, he makes it his business to find out what the Jubilee Amendment and Graham Hutchings stand for. His is a lonely road as he stands for the truth, as is Jackie's, and they form a strong bond as they strive to do what is right. There are also those like Colin and Eric, who work for Hayek, who are willing to expose the truth about his activities, at great danger to themselves.
Wynn and Jackie start out on the wrong foot, but they come to realize that they can trust each other and are on the same side. They each have issues to deal with due to their similar family situations and have much to work through. Jackie holds Hayek responsible for her brother's death. She is forced to face her worst fears when she agrees to investigate Hayek's group, and both she and Wynn find themselves in grave danger as they try to uncover the truth.
In this novel we see the ends to which men are driven by greed, and the wickedness of many who are in positions of authority, as opposed to the compassion and kindness we are called to show to others by the Lord Himself. We see these traits in Wynn's sister Sybel, who has a living relationship with God and lives to serve those less fortunate than herself. She has always been a huge influence in Wynn's life, but, whilst she has the same missionary zeal that their parents had, Wynn blames God for taking his parents' attention away from him, and also for allowing them to die in Cairo in His service. It is Sybel's greatest desire to see her little brother saved, and she hopes that all he goes through will lead him to the truth. She feels that he has just been existing for far too long, and that is why she manoeuvres him into this job.
I enjoyed this novel immensely. It is exciting and informative, and has a strong Christian message.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

WINNER TAKE ALL by T. DAVIS BUNN

WINNER TAKE ALL by T. DAVIS BUNN is a sequel to THE GREAT DIVIDE and is every bit as good. It is a Marcus Greenwood courtroom drama with many of the same characters as in the first book, and I highly recommend that the novels be read in sequence, although they can each stand alone.
I particularly enjoy Davis' descriptions which make the settings and the different characters' emotions come alive! This, added to an exciting plot and a strong Christian message, makes this an extremely good read.
In The Great Divide we see Marcus facing up to his demons, and in Winner Take All it is Kirsten's turn to face up to her past. We see the importance of honesty, especially as far as relationships are concerned, and of not expecting perfection of one's partner or of oneself.
When Marcus is asked by Dale Steadman to represent him in a child custody case, his first instinct is to refuse, as Dale is now head of New Horizons, the factory that he does battle with in The Great Divide. Dale's ex-wife, Erin, is a beautiful opera singer, who seduces Dale and then kidnaps their child, Celeste, who she has never taken notice of before. Dale adores his baby daughter and is willing to do anything to get her back.
There is a definite undercurrent in the case - why would a woman, who doesn't love her child, kidnap her and try and overturn Dale's custody order, making him out to be an unfit father?
It is while Kirsten is involved in helping Marcus with the case, and while she has to revisit places that evoke nothing but bad memories, that the healing begins and she is able to feel love for Marcus at last.
Their relationship is in stark contrast with that of Dale and Erin and even with that of Kedrick and Evelyn Lloyd. Both Erin and Kedrick are obsessed with their love of opera and with their sense of self-importance.
The novel is fast-paced and exciting and we are kept in suspense till the end. I guarantee you won't be able to put it down!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

NO LEGAL GROUNDS by JAMES SCOTT BELL

To really see the wickedness of man personified, look at the character of Nicky Oberlin in NO LEGAL GROUNDS by JAMES SCOTT BELL. Whilst he has the excuse of an abusive childhood and a hard and lonely time in college, he is an evil man with no time for God and is out to wreak revenge on Sam for no apparent reason.
Sam Trask is a successful lawyer with a lovely wife, a rebellious teenage daughter and a sensitive and loving younger son. While he is dealing with his daughter's rebellion and a heavy work load, he is contacted by Nicky Oberlin, who he barely remembers from college. Things become ugly fast and the Trask family realize that they are dealing with a dangerous sociopath.
Sam and his family are believers, although his daughter, Heather, only really comes to a serious commitment when her life is in danger.
In this novel we see the importance of trusting God, especially when things are going from bad to worse and also of not allowing the past to destroy the present, We see the ends to which Sam will go to keep his family safe in the nightmare in which they are living.
It is a gripping story with a strong Christian message. Another thriller that is hard to put down.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

FINAL WITNESS by JAMES SCOTT BELL

FINAL WITNESS by JAMES SCOTT BELL is not only one of the most exciting thrillers I have read but it also contains a strong Christian message. Once you start reading this novel I guarantee you won't be able to put it down!
I really enjoy a courtroom drama, and this one does not disappoint.
Rachel Ybarra is a law student who is working as an assistant at the U. S. Attorney's office, and is thrilled to be asked to assist her boss, Alan Lakewood, in his prosecution of a Russian mobster, Jaroslav Supevsky, who is being tried for murder. She wants to be a federal prosecutor one day.
She and FBI agent Jeff Bunnell have something in common in that they are both feeling the effects of the murder of innocent people, and they have more in common in the end when Jeff is drawn back to the God he used to know. Rachel is a born again Christian who really lives out her faith in the face of intense danger, although she lives in fear for her own life and the lives of those she loves. The characters are very real and well portrayed. There is a sense of evil and darkness in the criminals, and we see how Jessica Osborn Holt and Grigory (The Man) react when Rachel quotes Scripture to the crooked defense lawyer and hit man respectively, when they threaten her.
We see Rachel's determination to protect Deanna Natale, how she bonds with her and even leads her to Jesus. Deanna was meant to be the final witness, but there is more truth that comes out in the end and we can't help feeling that there is more than one witness that makes a difference to the outcome of the case.
I can highly recommend this novel.

A PROMISE KEPT BY ROBIN LEE HATCHER

A PROMISE KEPT by ROBIN LEE HATCHER is a beautifully told story of forgiveness and the faithfulness of God.
Allison Kavanach, who is divorced from her husband Tony, moves to her great aunt Emma's log house in order to make a new start in life. Allison feels disillusioned as she really believed Tony would be delivered from his addiction to alcohol and that God would heal their marriage. Instead he went from bad to worse and walked out when she gave him an ultimatum. 
It is here in this beautiful place, encouraged by the secrets she finds in her great aunt Emma's journals, that the Lord restores her relationship with Him as she reads his Word and draws close to Him again. She makes some good friends and really settles in to her new community and is beginning to heal when her daughter, Meredith, asks if her father can come and spend Christmas with them. Allison is not keen on the arrangement, but agrees for her daughter's sake. The holiday goes surprisingly well and leads to them spending more time together as a family. I like the way Allison's and Emma's stories run almost parallel, although they are different. Both stories show the goodness of God and the importance of trusting Him, not only with one's own life but with that of one's loved ones.
The Lord does answer prayer, there is no doubt about that, but the answers don't always come immediately or in the way we want them to. It is in the waiting and trusting that we grow as Christians. The story is sensitively told and it is close to the author's heart as it is really her own story.

THE NOBLE FUGITIVE by T DAVIS BUNN & ISABELLA BUNN

THE NOBLE FUGITIVE by T. DAVIS BUNN and ISABELLA BUNN is the third book in the HEIRS of ACADIA series, but it can be read as a stand alone novel. The story is set in 19th century America and England, during the abolitionist movement. It is an interesting and exciting read and full of biblical truth.
John Falconer, a former slave trader, is now a fugitive because he knows too much. Although a law has been passed to stop any new slave trading, he has proof that it is still not only flourishing, but is backed by some very influential people. Since coming to salvation, nauseated by the wickedness he helped to perpetrate, he is now on a quest to see slavery abolished once and for all.
Serafina is a beautiful young Venetian girl, of noble heritage, who has escaped her parents and who ends up at Harrow Hall, near Bath in England, where Falconer is hiding out with American friends who are pamphleteers working with William Wilberforce.
There are many twists and turns in the novel and there is much intrigue. We see the magnitude of God's love and forgiveness towards even the vilest of sinners. We see repentance at work in Serafina, who has behaved so badly towards her parents, due to imagining herself in love with her art teacher. We see her grief, not only at Luca's betrayal, but also at the way she has hurt those she loves. The authors also paint a lovely picture of the grandeur of Venice during that period at the beginning of the book.
Falconer, a big man, with a scarred face, shows great tenderness, especially towards little Hannah and Serafina. He is their protector. He is amazed at the portrait that Serafina draws of him which is so different from the hideous picture on his "wanted" poster. It shows an inner beauty due to the change the Lord has brought about in him.
Falconer falls hopelessly in love with the lovely Serafina, and feels he will never be good enough for such an aristocratic young lady, whilst she has been so hurt by Luca that she feels she will never be able to love again.
I love the historical setting of the novel and the interesting characters. There is a strong message of the importance of making one's life right with God, of the battle between light and darkness, and of corruption in high places. I can highly recommend this book.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad