CHOSEN PEOPLE by ROBERT WHITLOW

Publication date 6/11/18.

CHOSEN PEOPLE by ROBERT WHITLOW is right "up there" as one of the best books I have ever read! I have enjoyed all this author's novels, but this is definitely my new favourite. What an inspirational read!
Hana Abboud is an Arab Israeli follower of Jesus Christ, who is asked by the American law firm where she works to help Jakob Brodsky, a secular Russian Jew, to obtain justice for a family who suffered terrible loss at the hands of terrorists in Jerusalem. Although Hana is proud of her family's heritage, she recognizes and follows the Jewish Messiah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Running through the story is an almost palpable love for the Jews as God's chosen people, for His holy city Jerusalem, and for His people, whether Jew or Gentile. We see His purposes unfold, the awareness of His Presence which is especially close in Israel, and the times of refreshing only He can bring.
It is legal suspense at its very best. It is a story of courage and conviction against a backdrop of subterfuge and hatred.
I feel that the main characters in the book are actually Israel, the land God gave to His chosen people, and the City of Jerusalem.



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AS THE TIDE COMES IN by CINDY WOODSMALL

AS THE TIDE COMES IN by CINDY WOODSMALL is both heart-wrenching and hopeful. It is a lovely book and one I will definitely read more than once.
Abandoned by her mother and growing up in foster care, Tara longs to know the love of a family, and feels she has a family at last when she takes over the care of her two half brothers at the age of eighteen.
When tragedy strikes, she sets off for St Simon's Island in South Georgia. She is in denial, has recently had a head injury and subsequent surgery, and is taking heavy doses of Vocodin for the pain.
I don't want to tell you any more of the story as I might spoil it for you if I do.
I love the characters, especially the Glynn Girls, and the humour that runs throughout the book. We get to feel Tara's pain and Gavin's desperation, and through it all we see the hand of God, in even the most horrible situations. We are made aware of the fact that it is always safe to trust Him, no matter what happens. We get a real sense of his love and caring.
The Christian content is really good, the story is gripping, and I can highly recommend this book.



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HIDDEN AMONG THE STARS by MELANIE DOBSON

HIDDEN AMONG THE STARS by MELANIE DOBSON is such a special book that I really cannot recommend it highly enough. It is a historical romance novel which takes place in 1938/39 in Austria at the time of Hitler's take over of that country, and also in the present, when Callie Randall, known by the children at the book store, run by herself and her sister Brie, as Story Girl, finds something interesting amongst the pages of an old German copy of Bambi..
Through her research into what she finds in this old book, she meets Dr Josh Nemeth and his daughter Ella, and they join forces to try and find the hidden treasure. She overcomes her fear of the unknown and of letting people get close to her by traveling to Lake Hallstatt to try and find out what happened to her very dear friend Charlotte's mother, a mystery which seems somehow tied in with what is hidden in the pages of this copy of Bambi.
The author's obvious love for the Jews and horror at the atrocities meted out to them by Hitler and the Third Reich, as well as the way the truth of Scripture is woven throughout the book, really spoke to me. Jesus is portrayed here as the greatest of all Jews, who willingly died to save us and to bring hope to this crazy world, where hatred so often reigns in men's hearts. We see how different people deal with the evil that is suddenly in their world - some indifferent or too afraid to help, and others prepared to make huge sacrifices.
The importance of reading, especially for children, is also close to my heart, as are Austria and Vienna, where I have seen the Judenplatz as well as many other places that are mentioned in the book. I also love the fact that Callie is a blogger and researches the authors of the children's books in her store. I also like the way music runs through the story. The characters are very real and the author makes us feel what they are feeling. This is a book that I will definitely read more than once.





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