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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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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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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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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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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