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Christian Novel Review

Having always been an avid reader, since becoming a Christian I have found a wealth of reading material in Christian bookshops and in various second hand bookshops. I have found that in Christian novels one often finds truths that help in one’s Christian walk. I enjoy reading about how the various characters deal with life, and I also find I am the richer for reading a really good Christian novel. Certain authors, through their books, give you a real insight into their joys and struggles, which I find very interesting. The books which I am going to review are those which I have really enjoyed, and have read at least twice – some books, for example the “Mark of the Lion “ series by Francine Rivers, I have read at least five times each. The first books that I am going to talk about are the latest two novels by Francine Rivers,


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Tuesday 31 July 2018

DELAYED JUSTICE by CARA PUTMAN

Publication date 16/10/18.
DELAYED JUSTICE by CARA PUTMAN is a legal drama that deals with child abuse and generally overcoming the past. It is really worth reading, for the sensitive way the story is told, and for the really profound Christian message.
Jaime Nichol was abused by her uncle when she was eight years old, and only feels strong enough to make a case against him twenty years later. She is an attorney who works in the public defender's office. She is determined to make sure that everyone, whether guilty or not, has a fair trial. She has really good friend support, although only Caroline knows what actually happened to her as a child. She also has a new good friend in Chandler Bolton, who works with war veterans. He has been badly hurt himself and wants to help war vets get back into normal life wherever he can. All her friends, including Chandler, are Christians, but they use great wisdom in not trying to push her to accept their faith.
Chandler has a golden retriever called Aslan, who is a licensed therapy dog. He is also a comfort dog, and it is wonderful to see how comfortable eight year old Tiffany is with him.
It is a story about breaking down walls, starting over and overcoming fear. I can really recommend this book.


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Friday 27 July 2018

RETURN OF THE SONG by PHYLLIS CLARK NICHOLS.

Publishing date 18/9/18.
RETURN OF THE SONG by PHYLLIS CLARK NICHOLS is one of those books that really "stays with you"! It is a beautiful story, told with great sensitivity, and the characters are unforgettable. There is also sound Christian content running throughout and a feeling of God's hand being upon His children even when, like Caroline, they seem to have lost their faith.
I love the descriptions of life in the small town of Moss Point where Sam, the retired judge and his wife Angel, are the self appointed guardians of Caroline Carlyle, the musician who lives in their studio apartment. There are also the town busy bodies like the florist and the hairdresser who make it their business to know everything that is going on, and the twins, Ned and Fred, who are such lovable characters.
When Caroline finds an intruder playing a song on her piano that is known to no one but herself, and also when she makes enquiries about the whereabouts of her childhood piano, her well ordered and quiet life takes some new turns!
It is a truly memorable book and I am looking forward to the sequel.




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Thursday 19 July 2018

LADY OF A THOUSAND TREASURES by SANDRA BYRD.

Publication date 9/10/18.
LADY OF A THOUSAND TREASURES by SANDRA BYRD is a historical romance novel which takes place in England in 1866.
We meet our heroine, Eleanor Sheffield, at Lord Lydney's funeral at Watchfield House. Lord Lydney has given Eleanor, whose family business has been employed by him for many years in the curatorship and valuation of his treasures, to decide whether his son, Harry, is honorable and worthy of inheriting them, or whether the whole collection should be given to the South Kensington museum where it could be admired by many. In fact a donation to the museum would not only impress the members of the Burlington Fine Arts Club, but it would more than likely encourage more commissions from rich collectors for Sheffield Brothers, which had fallen on hard times.
Lord Lydney did not think much of Harry, whereas his deceased son Arthur had been his favourite. Eleanor has been disappointed in Harry, who went away for six months without any explanation, especially when she thought he was going to propose, but she is determined to make an honest decision.
At her father's death and her uncle's slow fall into dementia, Sheffield Brothers is run by Eleanor, who is an expert valuator and restorer in her own right, and Mr Clarkson who works with her.
I love the description of life at that time and also the comparison between worldly treasures and a person's worth to God and to others. The Christian message is firmly woven into the story, which is full of intrigue and well worth reading. I see that some of the characters are based on real people living at the time, and that almost all the items mentioned are real pieces.
As we see that some of the treasures that Eleanor is asked to evaluate are discovered to be fraudulent, we are reminded of the importance of integrity in our lives and actions. We also see that some people's pride will not allow them to admit that they have been duped into buying a reproduction! They feel their reputation is at stake!
I can highly recommend this book and will definitely be reading it more than once.



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Wednesday 11 July 2018

A TALE OF TWO HEARTS by MICHELLE GRIEP

Publication date 1/9/18
A TALE OF TWO HEARTS by MICHELLE GRIEP is a delightful read. The story takes place in 1853, in the time of Charles Dickens, and, in fact, we meet the heroine, Mina Scott, with a copy of David Copperfield that she is trying to hide from her father, Jasper Scott, the innkeeper.
I love the charming characters, the intriguing plot, the beautiful English and the constant quotes from Dickens' novels. I like the fact that the dashing William Barlow has changed radically since making his life right with the Lord, only to get badly caught up in a web of lies while trying to protect his uncle and save his mother's life.
In the novel we learn that it is best to trust the Lord with our problems and leave the outcome to Him, rather than working things out in our own strength, and we also learn what really is important in life. It is a story about second chances as well.
I can recommend the book for the lovely story, great setting in history, and good Christian message.



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Monday 9 July 2018

THE LADY OF TARPON SPRINGS by JUDITH MILLER

THE LADY OF TARPON SPRINGS by JUDITH MILLER is a romance novel that takes place in 1905 during the time of diving for sponges at Tarpon Springs, Florida.
When Doctor Lucy Penrose hears from her friend and lawyer Zanna Krykos that the contract her deceased father signed to buy three diving boats and employ Greek divers to run a sponging business, could not be cancelled, and that Lucy would have to honour the contract if he should die, she is devastated. Zanna, who lives with her very boisterous Greek family, is naturally fluent in Greek and agrees to run the business for her friend.
The two young ladies are both determined to succeed in their careers, in fact Zanna became a lawyer without her father's knowledge or permission. He feels a woman's job is to get married and have babies, and keeps threatening to send her to Greece with her grandmother to find a Greek husband!
Fifty Greek spongers arrive, headed by Nico Kalos, and Zanna has her work cut out getting the Greek men to listen to her. She and Nico have to learn to work together in order to succeed.
When things start going wrong, we wonder how long it will take before Zanna and Nico find out what or who is sabotaging their business. There is quite a lot of suspense and there are some very colourful characters. I enjoyed the novel for the lovely story and good Christian message.





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Saturday 7 July 2018

THE RECKONING AT GOSSAMER POND by JAIME JO WRIGHT

THE RECKONING AT GOSSAMER POND by JAIME JO WRIGHT is a fascinating read, and one cannot help getting involved with the characters that make up the story as their secrets are gradually brought to light.
We are taken through the history of Gossamer Grove from 1907, when Libby Sheffield and her friend Calvin find Deacon Harrison Greenwood hanging from the rafters, to the present day when Annelise Forsythe is left a trailer full of photos, mostly of herself, by Eugene Hayes, a homeless man who was a vet of the Vietnam war.
Annelise and Libby's stories run parallel, and, as they dig for the truth, so many secrets are uncovered, including their own.
The Greenwoods are a proud family who see themselves as founding fathers in Gossamer Grove. They, together with Annelise's parents, will do anything to escape scandal. When Annelise Forsythe and Garrett Greenwood own up to their sin they are able to start on the path towards forgiveness. However, there is someone who will do anything to thwart Annelise's plans to build a homeless shelter for people like Eugene Hayes, who society has forgotten.
Libby also has someone who plays on her guilty feelings. This, together with the strange obituaries, are making her feel very vulnerable. The twin revivalist brothers, with Jedidiah's judgmental preaching, cause havoc in the town. Libby also needs the message of grace that was freely given on the cross, in order to be set free.
This is a mystery thriller with a good Christian message and I really enjoyed it.




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Tuesday 3 July 2018

DEAD DRIFT by DANI PETTREY

DEAD DRIFT is the fourth and final novel in DANI PETTREY's Chesapeake Valor series. Having read the first three novels, I have been looking forward to seeing how the author was going to finish everything off, and I am definitely not disappointed! The book can be read as a stand alone, but I really recommend that you read the novels in sequence.
I have read and enjoyed all of Dani PETTREY's books, but I think Dead Drift has become my new favourite. I like the way she balances an exciting story and quite a lot of romance with good Christian content. In fact we see how the characters have grown in their commitment to the Lord over the years.
It is interesting to see how Kate will react to Luke after he has been gone for over seven years, and we also wonder if Griffin will ever be able to solve his sister's murder. Add to this the very real threat of a terrorist attack in America, and the search for the elusive Ebeid, and you have a really riveting story!
I can highly recommend Dead Drift for anyone enjoying romantic suspense novels.



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Monday 2 July 2018

INDIVISIBLE by TRAVIS THRASHER

INDIVISIBLE by TRAVIS THRASHER is the story of Darren and Heather Turner and their three children, whose originally happy family is not at all the same when Darren comes home from deployment in Iraq, where he has been serving as an army chaplain. It is a novelization of Indivisible, The Movie, and it is based on a true story.
It is the most amazing book, which opens our eyes to the reality of war and the tremendous courage that both those in the armed forces and those who are left at home need in order to cope. The raw emotions shown and the desperation of those who are trying to trust the Lord in horrific situations is shown throughout.
Darren and Heather start out knowing that the Lord has called them to this service, his to the soldiers who are going through hell on earth and hers to the wives who are struggling at home, especially those who have lost their husbands. Their faith is important to them, and they minister the truth of the Gospel in their various roles, but there comes a time of burnout when Darren comes home and is still ministering to those with needs. It seems as though their marriage and family life is over. His home coming is not the wonderful occasion to which they have been looking forward. He cannot let go of the horrors of war until eventually he is forced seek help for himself if he is to save his family.
As in all of life's experiences, it is only when we stop relying on our own strength, put on the full armour of God, and trust Him to see us through, that we are victorious over the attacks of the enemy.
The book is full of Scripture references and real life instruction in a story that really is a classic. I cannot recommend it highly enough.