The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright

From Amazon:
Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather's Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house's dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide.

A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy's search leads her into dangerous waters and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives--including her own--are lost?

Murder mysteries aren't usually the first thing I pull off the shelves. Actually, I could probably count the murder mysteries I've read in my lifetime on one hand. But because I've been trying to expand my reading horizons this year, and because I'm searching for the good quality books and authors of today, I decided to push submit and request The House of Foster Hill. I'm glad I did. It was a newer experience, but one I don't regret. 

This book follows the stories of Kaine (I just love that name!) and Ivy simultaneously, however, their stories are set about 100 years apart. We enter Ivy's world first, plunging into the sobering world of death, as her father is the medical examiner in the tragic death of an unknown girl. Since she has confronted death all her life, she uses her time to write the stories of those who have passed away and she records it in a little book. While others in the community believe she's crazy, she knows there is something different about this girl's death and stops at nothing to bring the unknown to light. I really appreciated Wright's confidence and ability to begin a book with a distressing topic but use it to create the just horror for murder and yet wrap the book and reader in a faith-based message. The unknown girl found dead isn't the only one with a mystery around her for Ivy has her own story to live through the book and hers is one of soul-searching and courage. 

Kaine's story begins in Wisconsin as did Ivy's, but Kaine unknowingly stumbles across family history when she purchases a huge house. In order to avoid her stalker, Kaine has lived in continual vigilance and fear all her life, but she learns the meaning of trust and safety as she attempts to find evidence that her husband was murdered. She finds protection in a doggy friend, and begins the slow process of friendship with a few around her, all the while seeking to relive her past in order to bring justice to her husband and remove the stalker from her life. 

This story isn't all horror and tragedy. There are sweet moments of friendship and vulnerability. There is trust and justice. There is comfort and relief. And some of the greatest comfort and hope comes from a very unexpected place and person in the darkest of times. 

But this is a deep story, and for that reason (among others), I would not recommend it to young readers. There are a few instances where the romantic thoughts were unnecessary, in my opinion, especially as both parties were not married. However, I can only recall about two moments of that, so it's not excessive. Also, there is murder, human trafficking, abuse, stalking, and other topics that would be frightening if not handled with a mature mind. But for those who are able to process such topics, this book is an important reminder and an inside look into "everyday" lives of some people. We don't speak of human trafficking and murder much perhaps, but it's real, and it's good to understand the fear and terror that accompanies it so we can do something about it when the need should arise. And I think it's good to be reminded about the dark side of life once in a while in order to be able to support organizations and individuals who focus their time and resources on bringing relief to such victims.

Read carefully, but read deeply. 

Join me in 2018 for more reviews of fantastic books! Happy New Year. God bless.

*Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

War of Loyalties by Schuyler McConkey

From Amazon:
April, 1917.
A ring of German spies threatens the coastal town of Folkestone, England. Newly-recruited agent Ben Dorroll must uncover which British citizens are traitors to their country. When his first attempt at espionage falls prey to a trap laid by German sympathizers, the security of the British Secret Service is threatened. Feeling lost in a strange country and aching for a steady place to call home, he wants to resign and go back to his American medical work. But when he learns that his family identity holds the key to capturing the spy ring, Ben has no choice but to unite with the mysterious Jaeryn Graham so that the truth can be discovered.

In the aftermath of the Irish Rebellion, Jaeryn Graham's British colleagues look warily on his Irish background. Always up for a challenge, he thinks his new mission in the Secret Service should be an opportunity to prove his prowess. But after encountering death and alienating two agents, he finds the road to victory isn't as easy as he thought. Unless he can win the loyalties of his newest assistant, Ben Dorroll, his secret ambitions and his perfect success record will be destroyed.

So, guys. If you buy any books this year, this one should make it to your bookshelves. And then buy it for all your friends, too. (Jk, but not really.) I met Schuyler while she was working on her last drafts of this book, and I got to read it a little beforehand, but now I finally hold the print copy in my hands. And it's so thick...makes me happy.

I'm not even sure where to start with this book, because just you just have to read it to fall in love with Pearlie, laugh with Terry, and find a peaceful home with Ben and Charlotte. And of course there are so many more characters to love and learn from. This book is set during World War 1 and you'll experience some of the horror of war, the separation of families, the pain of betrayal, and the trust of friends and allies. Because of the variety of characters, I'm positive that each reader will find at least one character who they can identify with while following their struggles and joys to the very last page.

War of Loyalities is (as most well-written books are) 735 pages of heartfelt research, love, and dedication. I'm already a fan of historical fiction, but well-researched historical fiction is even better. Especially when it gets down the little things in daily life. There are moments of happiness and joy, but the sadness of war is a big part. A spy ring is no simple thing, and it's hard to live when your family, friends, and life itself are in danger. I appreciate Schuyler's willingness to tackle moral and ethical issues of war also. There are no easy answers for death, killing, pain, and murder, but that doesn't mean we shy from them. In fact, sometimes it's better we remember.

And so, entering the word of books, in the centennial years of World War 1, we have War of Loyalties. This isn't necessarily a "Christian" book, in the sense that it doesn't make faith it's main topic. However, I pray that, through the lives of the characters who clung to their faith regardless of the situations around them, you will find the hope and peace in the Lord again at the close of 2017.

Well done, Schuyler. Congrats. May this book be just the beginnings of stories and novels to come. Thank you for including me in this journey. :)

Favorite Quotes

"We do not break. While God is with us, we may crack and wear thin, but we do not break."

“You promised me when we came here that whatever secrets you had to keep, you would remain honest, upright, and God-fearing. God-fearing they may be, and upright I have no doubt, but you have just told me that they are not honest. If they were, you would be able to tell her the truth.”

“I ask you to wait, that’s all. Will you do that?” She lifted her chin resolutely and held back her tears. “I don’t think you have a right to ask me. But I will—if you wish it.”

"The murmured words stirred passion and wonder and heartbreak all in one—a savage, ancient sort of beauty. Then it died away, and after deliberating for a moment, Jaeryn turned back inside, and Ben pursued his own way homeward, rather breathless with what he had overheard."

"The empty house mocked him with its soft comfort and sweetness. How could such an angry soul collect so much beauty around her? From the rosewood wainscoting to the sticks of sweetgrass incense on the hall table, his mother had surrounded herself with all that was pleasing. She’d had that knack all her life. He could resign himself to the injustice, but try as he would, he couldn’t understand it."

"Neither of them knew they were standing where Terry and Pearlie had stood together, for Jaeryn was not there to tell them."

"We will go home soon. And until we do, I will be your home, my love."

“I want…I want a place that feels like home. A place where I can sweep the floors and put the washing on the line and polish the windows, and love it every day. When you were gone I didn’t have anyone to love, but I could always love home.”


"For the present, there was no threat in it and no sadness. Only a deep kind of ache for the past—an ache he was used to and could live with."




Because WoL deserves to be with books like these... :D

Whisper by Lauren K. Lotter

From Amazon:
Rachel's family raises purebred quarter horses, but even though she is surrounded by beautiful horses, she still longs for a horse for her own. And when her dad takes her to a local auction, she only has eyes for one horse - and one horse alone. A terrified mare tries to hide her fear beneath a hardened exterior, but Rachel knows better. Everything within her knows that they were meant for each other. Once they get her home, the challenge is on. Can Rachel convince a frightened, abused animal to trust again? Will the mare ever overcome her fear? And why is Ralph, a mysterious and dark-hearted stranger, so determined to steal the mare away? Join Rachel and her family as they struggle to teach trust and love to the beautiful grey mare. Will they ever succeed? And will Rachel ever find the perfect name for her?

This is a book I've had on my Kindle for a long time and have wanted to read for even longer. I've followed Lauren for a couple years now and her farm life and love for horses attracted me immediately. I also try to enable young authors to follow their publishing and writing dreams, so a book review is one of the ways I can do that. :) 

Whisper is a sweet story about Rachel and her desire to tame a fearful horse she's acquired. While her family is unsure as to how she'll do that, her father constantly reminds her to give and receive trust...and to wait on and pray to God for wisdom. I love the scattered bits of Scripture "jewels" that Lotter weaves into her story. Not preachy, but frequent and refreshing. I also enjoyed seeing Rachel and her sister interact with each other in a very real family setting. 

Throughout the book Lotter demonstrates her knowledge of horses as she sneaks in little bits of how horses think and how to train them, almost without the reader noticing. As a horse lover myself, I learned several things that I didn't know before--all while reading a book! This was one of my favorite parts of Whisper. 

I would say this book is written for readers aged 9-15 or so. Obviously, this depends on the maturity of the reader, but even though I'm in my 20s, I also enjoyed reading it. By way of (hopefully) constructive criticism, I could tell that this book was written by a newer author. There is nothing wrong with that and writing tends to improve with maturity and experience. I felt at times like I was being told most of what took place rather than feeling like I experienced it with the characters. The plot was simple (though would be still audience captivating for younger readers), and I actually liked reading a book that was wholesome, but that I didn't have to think too much about. 

I'm excited to see where Miss Lotter goes with her publishing journey, and I'd recommend this book to any young girl who loves animals and mysteries. 

Book Release and Giveaway! War of Loyalties by Schuyler McConkey

This is a happy day, everyone! Schuyler's book, War of Loyalties, has finally been released and is now out for sale in Kindle and paperback. I've waited long for this book, and having read one of the drafts previously, I know it's fabulous. You must get a copy. I'm 75% through already and it's amazing! ;) I've found one of my favorite characters in her story, and the plotline is just thrilling. Schuyler's joining me today. having written a blog post entitled The Heart of Story-Crafting in War of Loyalties. She shares a bit more of her work in writing and publishing here in this post. Watch for her other posts and tidbits about War of Loyalties on other book bloggers pages this week! Thank you so much, Schuyler. I'm proud of you and the hard work you put into this, and I'm happy to share in the small ways I can. Here's to many more books to come!

(Giveaway at the bottom of the post!)

*****

As I was sitting down to write this blog post, I got to remember some past special things about writing War of Loyalties.  I think what kept War of Loyalties simmering for the past seven years, apart from the grace of God, was the fact that it found its heart very early on. In another author interview (joy-live4jesus.blogspot.com) I said that I struggled with logic and plot early on in the book. But from the first serious draft of it in 2012, I never struggled with the heart of it. The characters showed up on set, and even though they morphed over time, I had a bond with them from day one. All of this effort to bring the book to print has really been the drive to publish characters I deeply, deeply love.

Each draft of War of Loyalties underwent extensive rewriting. But the pulsing heart remained. I had the core of the story down. I knew the people inside it, even though I did not always have words to express them yet.

So today, I’d love to share with you four things that captured the heart of War of Loyalties for me.

1.       The Handwritten First Draft

I will never forget the joy of crafting the first draft. It was just me, a bunch of loose-leaf lined paper, some regular pens, and a variety of folders the story kept growing out of. I generally wrote on my bed, or in our living-room recliner, and my most guaranteed time was snatching the 15 minute break we had mid-morning between our school subjects. The finished draft was 386 pages, I think—a far cry from the 750 it is now! While there wasn’t nearly enough espionage in it, it had some of the sweetest family times with Terry’s family interacting with Ben, and Ben and Jaeryn’s friendship was a lot simpler and closer than in the final draft.

I now keep the handwritten draft in a shoe box. I also have character profiles written with gel pen on cardstock, along with pictures pasted on. The first draft has little plot notes on the side, along with occasional random notes like “wash sheets” for myself! J

2.       The Music Playlists

Music has always been a huge part of the process since draft two. There are certain songs that still mean War of Loyalties to me. “Now and For Always”, from the Lord of the Rings musical, was something I would listen to while I exercised and thought about my book. The journey of Frodo persevering with the ring always felt like writing WoL, and that song will always bring back good memories. “I Vow to Thee My Country”, sung by Libera (the version with the violin opening) was a piece of theme music for the entire novel. I was finishing the third draft of the book in 2014, and as I worked on the last chapter, I listened to “I Vow to Thee” along with Billy Boyd’s “The Last Goodbye” to capture the nostalgia of what it felt like to work on something I had loved so long. Ryan Kelly’s lines in Celtic Thunder’s “Caledonia” capture Jaeryn to me. I think Terry’s personality is just about perfectly expressed with “Me and My Cello” (PianoGuys) and Charlotte and Ben’s relationship is “Dancing in the Minefields” (Andrew Peterson).  I like to joke that if nothing else, I supported Celtic Thunder on Spotify while I wrote this book. J

3.       The Pinterest Board

The heart of War of Loyalties has always been on my Pinterest board. It’s secret. (My apologies to anyone reading this!) But it has the photos that inspired the heart of this novel—the actors and objects that made me think of each character. It’s a heart-record online of the journey that I took when I was writing the second draft in 2013. There is so much memory on there that I wish I could download it to save.

4.       The Rush of a Deadline

Another one of the heartbeats of the book was trying to get a chapter a week done for beta readers in 2013. (Kaleigh prayed for and encouraged me constantly during these chapters!) At first the chapters were sent early on in the week, but as my writing rhythm shifted, I ended up sending chapters on Saturday night just before midnight (I wouldn’t let myself go after midnight because that was Sunday, and I didn’t want to write WoL on Sundays.) It was always a delightfully angst-filled rush of adrenaline, wondering if I would get it done on time. Somehow WoL has always coincided with big occasions. I finished the first draft on New Year’s Eve, and the second draft on Christmas Eve. The third draft was finished the day before Easter, and the final upload onto Createspace happened on the night before Thanksgiving.

While the timing wasn’t always convenient, it was always super helpful. I found the weekly accountability of sending the chapters invaluable. I always got to look forward to encouraging feedback, and every week I had to think about what plot threads I needed to continue. This helped me get the core of the final book started, even though it would need a couple of big rewrites before it was in its final shape.

Thank-you so much for having me on your blog today, Kaleigh! It was so fun to think about these things, and you were such a huge encouragement in the War of Loyalties writing process. This book wouldn’t be here without you. J

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/War-Loyalties-Folkestone-Files-1/dp/0692970541/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511961389&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=war+of+loyalties%2C+schuyler+mcconke

Giveaway

First Prize Winner:

-Paperback copy of War of Loyalties

-“Jaeryn’s Vow” 8x10 poster

-Custom War of Loyalties mug

Second Prize Winner:

-Ebook of War of Loyalties

-Real vintage Folkestone postcard (this is a postcard that has actually been posted in 1917.)

Third Prize Winner: (open to international winners)

-Ebook of War of Loyalties

 

Wordpress Giveaway Link:

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9759b4114/

US residents only for 1^st and 2^nd prizes. Accounts created solely for giveaways not eligible.

About the Author
Schuyler McConkey is a writing teacher, book reviewer, and ministry leader living half of her life in happy fellowship with her family and spending the other half in angst-filled fictional worlds. She is passionate about classic, Dickensian stories and characters who encounter deep struggles touched by grace. Irish music, British movies, and chai lattes provide the fuel for her dreams.

Hitler's Cross by Erwin Lutzer

Back Cover:
"Dein Reich komme," Hitler prayed publicly--"Thy Kingdom come." But to whose kingdom was he referring?

When Germany truly needed a savior, Adolf Hitler falsely stepped in. He directed his countrymen to a cross, but he bent and hammered the true cross into a horrific substitute: a swastika.

Where was the church through all of this? With a few exceptions, the German church looked away while Hitler inflicted his final solution upon the Jews. Hitler's Cross is a chilling historical account of what happens when evil meets a silent, shrinking church, and an intriguing and convicting expose of modern America's own hidden crosses. 


My Twitter feed just happens to be a place where ministry updates and book lover thoughts collide, and when I saw several people raving about this book, I decided to review it next. I was pretty sure I would love Lutzer's style of writing, and I wasn't disappointed. Like Rescuing the Gospel, Lutzer writes with clarity and detail, yet in a conversational style.

This year I have been drawn to the history during World War 2 and have already read several historical novels of the time period. While much of the history is tragic, I enjoy the life reminders and accounts of people who were willing to stand up for what they believed despite the cost.

Hitler's Cross is a little deeper though. Many people believe the Holocaust never happened. Others shake their heads and wonder what kind of man Hitler must have been to carry out such an awful role. But despite some obviously glaring differences, Hitler was an average man. He believed himself a Christian, he was very "spiritual", and he was deeply involved with the public, even before his rise to power. He knew people and he knew politics, and he used these both (if somewhat unfairly) to place himself on the "throne" when the people needed him most. The conflict of church and state, the Treaty of Versailles, and general instability of the nation, gave Hitler the abililty to comfort the people and demonstrate his leadership. I appreciated understanding how Hitler used religion and spirituality in his life. I do not doubt that he was involved in Satanic and demonic activity, but hearing it from Lutzer clearly demonstrated that the terms "Christian" and "spirituality" mean many things to people.

Hitler didn't rely simply on his own mind and thoughts to bring a massive change to his country. There were psychologists, speakers, and authors that Hitler drew from or promoted (with or without knowing it). Men such as Karl Marx, Georg Hegel, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky profoundly shaped the thinking of Hitler.

I loved Lutzer's thread of Providence through this whole book. Despite the horrific deeds of Hitler, we see God (or as he believes "Fate") leading the events of history and being specifically involved in Hitler's life. Lutzer deals with the role of Fate and God in this book and clearly explains the terms and how each were demonstrated in history. Lutzer unpacks the anit-semitism of the time period, and tackles the topic of who was in charge: God or Hitler. This book is full of interesting history, along with the stories of Deitrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Niemoller (this man's testimony is so encouraging--never heard of him until this book), and quotes from various other men and women who decided to speak out for those who couldn't.  I also appreciated learning about the German Christians. They were a group who sat on the fence regarding issues much of the time. Some kept preaching but did it secretly, while others decided to go along with Hitler's demands so they wouldn't be arrested. But some, not under the label of German Christians, decided to preach the Gospel and suffer if necessary, because God had called them to defend the poor and outcasts of society.

As Lutzer says, "Suffering gives the Cross its most enduring witness." Pick up this book if you get a chance, and thank God for the churches and invidividuals who decided to live fully while preparing to die.




*I received this book free from Moody Publishers. All opinions expressed are my own.

Cover Reveal: War of Loyalties by Schuyler McConkey

It's been quiet around here, but not for long! I've got a book review coming up hopefully this month, if not, then early next. But today is the cover reveal of an author-to-be friend of mine. She's been dedicated to writing this book for years and is finally reaching the publishing stages. Reading through one of her previous drafts made me want to hold this book in my hand, and I'm most excited to announce that the cover reveal is today! This book has loveable (and hate-able ;) characters set in World War 1. Join Ben and Jaeryn on their individual and collective journys as they seek out the truth regarding the spy ring in Folkstone, England. So tell your friends, send texts and emails, follow Schuyler on Facebook and Goodreads, and share the word that War of Loyalties will be here November 30th!

~~~

Release Date: November 30th, 2017

Book Description:
April, 1917. A ring of German spies threatens the coastal town of Folkestone, England. Newly-recruited agent Ben Dorroll must uncover which British citizens are traitors to their country. When his first attempt at espionage falls prey to a trap laid by German sympathizers, the security of the British Secret Service is threatened. Feeling lost in a strange country and aching for a steady place to call home, he wants to resign and go back to his American medical work. But when he learns that his family identity holds the key to capturing the spy ring, Ben has no choice but to unite with the mysterious Jaeryn Graham so that the truth can be discovered.

In the aftermath of the Irish Rebellion, Jaeryn Graham's British colleagues look warily on his Irish background. Always up for a challenge, he thinks his a new mission in the Secret Service should be an opportunity to prove his prowess. But after an encounter with death and alienating two agents, he finds the road to victory isn't as easy as he thought. Unless he can win the loyalties of his newest assistant, Ben Dorroll, his secret ambitions and his perfect success record will be destroyed.

Join the Fun!
Add War of Loyalties on Goodreads
Follow Schuyler on Facebook
Check out more about War of Loyalties at My Lady Bibliophile

Movie Review: All Saints

From the Website:
ALL SAINTS is based on the inspiring true story of salesman-turned-pastor Michael Spurlock (John Corbett), the tiny church he was ordered to shut down, and a group of refugees from Southeast Asia. Together, they risked everything to plant seeds for a future that might just save them all.

After trading in his corporate sales career to become a pastor, Michael’s first assignment is All Saints, a quaint country church with a dozen members. It comes with a catch: he has to close the church doors for good and sell the prime piece of land on which it sits. While developers eagerly eye the property and the congregation mourns the inevitable, Michael and his family look forward to moving on to an established church where they can put down roots.

But when the church hesitantly begins welcoming Karen (kuh-REN) refugees from Burma—former farmers striving for a fresh start in America—Michael feels called to an improbable new mission. Toiling alongside the Karen people, the congregation attempts to turn their fertile land into a working farm to pay the church’s bills and feed its newest people.

Jeopardizing his family’s future by ignoring his superiors, Michael must choose between completing what he was assigned to do—close the church and sell the property—or listening to a still, small voice challenging the people of All Saints to risk it all and provide much-needed hope to their new community.

My thoughts on this movie are somewhat scattered and few, but that's because I watched this movie last week and am just now posting a review. All Saints comes out in theatres tomorrow! 

While I wouldn't say that the production and quality are exemplary in this movie (they aren't bad though), I loved it for the quiet country setting and close community. I also think that two major aspects of this movie apply directly to the North American culture today. Michael comes to a dying church (called All Saints) just after vowing to obey his church authority even when he disagrees (which I don't completely agree with in concept). However, his heart isn't cold towards the small church family and he doesn't desire to kick them out and close the church doors. He struggles with his priorities and responsibity to his denomination, while caring for the people under him. While I don't align myself with Michael's denomination, I think his struggle as a pastor and as a man with those under his care is a real one. Churches today (especially in Canada) are dying and closing often. And sometimes the hours of work placed into people and land and property are unrewarded. Even failure is possible. Michael faces challenges and ultimately failure in this movie and I think that is portrayed well. 

As Michael pastors All Saints, the Karen refugees come seeking shelter and worship. Because only one speaks good English, they end up holding two services: one for the Karen, and one for the previous members. The church members weren't all excited about receiving these poor people, but they do come to accept them and cherish them. I think this is an important part for us today with the amount of refugees. I know that the refugee population isn't something the individual person has much say in, but it is our job to love the foreigner, welcome them, and help them transition to the culture while also respecting their differences. I think there is much hostility to refugees and those attempting to immigrate and it's hard to watch. In the Old Testament God specifically commands the Israelites to love the foreigner and leave some of the crop for them so they would be provided for. They were not Israelite-born, but they were loved by God nonetheless, and He still commands today that we love our neighbors. 

Michael risks his heart, home, and health in staying with the Karen and All Saints, but he does so out of love for them. And I love this about the film--the struggle to commit and to stay even when you face failure and hardship. There was one theological point at the end that was rather glaring and I didn't quite appreciate; that of all religions coming together to create community. Perhaps it was meant well in the setting of the movie, but I do not believe it helps with the "coexist" mentality of todays religions. There is only one God and He does not allow competition with His glory, and there is no rival to His throne. Other religions do not just fall alongside of Him and believers cannot fellowship with those of other faiths like they would among their own. It was a small comment, but it referenced a bigger point of the movie, and it was one I majorly disagreed with and wanted to mention. But despite theological differences, I found much encouragement from this film and I would encourage those who know their beliefs to go watch it and learn to stand strong even when life threatens to capsize our faith. 

*I will hopefully be receiving the book about this film in the next couple months! This film is based on a true story, so I'm excited to read and see how they compare. 

*Movie has been provided courtesy of Sony Entertainment Releasing Canada and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

From Amazon: 
Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?

Peter Holstein, given his family's German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered.

But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors' scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he's more than his name?

My favorite thing about this book is that it contains authors and stories and libraries. Having a couple author or author-to-be acquaintances myself, I know a little bit of the author and story world from their perspective. 

Rosemary begins a new "assignment"--stealing an estate. While she has no idea where this will lead or who she will meet, she readily takes up the dare...and maybe gets more than she bargained for. However, she quickly takes on the role of librarian with really no idea about what she's getting into. 

I love the character of Peter. While I couldn't really relate to Rosemary as a character, Peter provided a kindred spirit throughout his story. Accused of being a traitor to England (because of his last name), and struggling to be a public figure because of his stutter, Peter relies on his faith to carry him through difficult times. Peter has access to the king, as Peter's family took on the role of counseling the royal families through the years and wants to use this and other documents to prove his loyalty to the Crown. He struggles internally but I love how his faith makes his life real and how he doesn't hesitate to stand up for himself or others who need it.

I love Peter's life...how he writes so intensely that people can knock on his door for hours and he won't notice them, and yet how he remembers to provide for his librarian should she need food. He writes secretly under a pen name, but doesn't shirk from asking for criticism in an indirect way. He and Rosemary have an interesting relationship, and I'll leave you to decide how it all works together. I had a hard time getting into the book and actually getting through it; somehow it felt like something "big" was missing in plot or action, but I can't put my finger on it yet. The romance wasn't completely to my taste, but for those who enjoy that sort of thing, it was written well. I don't know that I'll pick up the next books in the series, but perhaps I will because they'll be set during the war years. And I want to see who Mr. V really is. ;) 

Check this book out if you're interested in thieves, royalty, romance, and libraries! :) 

*Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Movie Review: The Case for Christ

Movie Website: 

A hard-driving journalist, Lee Strobel was exactly where he expected to be at work: on top. His award-winning investigative reporting recently earned him a promotion to legal editor at the Chicago Tribune. But things weren’t going nearly as well at home where his wife Leslie’s newfound faith in Christ went against everything Lee believed—or didn’t believe—as an avowed atheist.

Utilizing his journalistic and legal training, Lee begins a quest to debunk the claims of Christianity in order to save his crumbling marriage. Chasing down the biggest story of his career, Lee comes face-to-face with unexpected results that could change everything he knows to be true.

Based on Lee Strobel’s award-winning bestselling book and starring Mike Vogel, Erika Christensen, Faye Dunaway, and Robert Forster, THE CASE FOR CHRIST will be available on Blu-ray™, DVD & Digital HD August 15.

I haven't done a movie review for a while, and I'm still deciding if I'd like to make it a habit, but when I heard of The Case for Christ coming out, I wanted to see it. When scouring through second-hand bookshelves and thrift stores for hidden treasures, I have often seen the book The Case for Christ sitting in the "religious" section, and I picked it up and skimmed through it a couple times but never bought it (yet ;). 

I really enjoyed this film. While though not one of external drama and action, the quiet workings of the Lord in people's lives was refreshing. Lee Strobel begins the movie accepting a promotion and we soon find out that he is a staunch atheist. He has a precious daughter, however, and an incident in her life begins the conversion of Leslie, Lee's wife. I loved Leslie as a character. She didn't try to change her husband, though she didn't hesitate to witness to him. But she loved him for who he was and prayed faithfully for him. There are moments of tension in their relationship simply because of the opposing faith backgrounds for them. Lee begins a project to destroy the arguments for Leslie's faith and ends up with answers that are different than he expected--answers coming from even those who don't profess Christianity. 

The message of this movie is definitely the story of Lee's journey to demolish the Christian faith. However, my favorite part of it was Leslie's story and faith through it all. The actors portray emotions and scenarios well. I would have liked the arguments for true Christianity to be a little more fleshed out and full, but the foundation was there, and I realize that a movie can only contain so much. I have found it a recent "trend" in current Christian movies though to portray a strong message, but not always strong logic for Christianity. Today's generations are in need of good arguments to answer skeptics questions, defend the faith against persecutors, and quiet the doubts of our own hearts at times. And I do think this is an area that needs to be improved in. But all in all, it was a good movie--one that captured my attention and told the story of a young family who found Jesus in unexpected ways. 

You can find out more details about The Case for Christ HERE. 

*Movie has been provided courtesy of Mongrel Media and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

High as the Heavens by Kate Breslin

From Amazon:
In 1917, Evelyn Marche is just one of many women who has been widowed by the war. A British nurse trapped in German-occupied Brussels, she spends her days working at a hospital and her nights as a waitress in her aunt and uncle's café. Eve also has a carefully guarded secret keeping her in constant danger: She's a spy working for a Belgian resistance group in league with the British Secret Service.

When a British plane crashes in Brussels Park, Eve is the first to reach the downed plane and is shocked to discover she recognizes the badly injured pilot. British RFC Captain Simon Forrester is now a prisoner of war, and Eve knows he could be shot as a spy at any time. She risks her own life to hide him from the Germans, but as the danger mounts and the secrets between them grow, their chance of survival looks grim. And even if they do make it out alive, the truth of what lies between them may be more than any love can overcome.

Sometimes the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover" holds true. I don't really like the covers of the previous book I reviewed or this one, but I decided not to let the cover stand in the way. I'm glad I didn't. After all when it comes to a book, I'd rather have one with good, solid content, than just an appealing cover. 

I've always loved the World War periods, and while I don't find the heartache and destruction a pleasant thing to read about, I appreciate the history and find it interesting. 

I found this book an amazing read. The plot captured my attention quickly, and it taught me a little bit more of the hidden side of the war, the guilt people can carry, the killings that tore through peoples' hearts, and the inner wrestlings of those who stood with the Allied forces. It also demonstrated that there were good Germans sympathetic to the plight of those less fortunate, and while they couldn't necessarily do much, we do wrong if we think that all Germans were enemies. 

I thought the character development of Eve was well done for most of the book. The reader will learn to love her and struggle with her as she works among Germans, but works against their evil methods. She's a nurse, and I love that nurses in the wars took on roles more like doctors when serving the mass amounts of injured soldiers. She helps heal British and Germans alike and remains somewhat protected because of her kindness. But beneath her healing hands lies a wounded heart--one that she's not sure how to heal. 

I do think the resolution of Eve's personal struggle could have been deepened and lengthened. It just felt like a very speedy resolution after a whole book of following her life and then using one scenario and one page to bring her to the ultimate conclusion. I do think it was a good plot and scene to use, but drawing her thought process out more would have helped the reader to follow her victory like we followed her through struggles and failures. 

There is a frequent amount of romance throughout the book. However, since it was between husband and wife, it did not disturb me at all and I thought it was well done. Because of the level of romance, though, I would recommend this book for mature readers. 

Very well done, Kate! Will definitely be picking up your books wherever I can find them. :) 

*Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Egypt's Sister by Angela Hunt

From Amazon:
Five decades before the birth of Christ, Chava, daughter of the royal tutor, grows up with Urbi, a princess in Alexandria's royal palace. When Urbi becomes Queen Cleopatra, Chava vows to be a faithful friend no matter what--but after she and Cleopatra have an argument, she finds herself imprisoned and sold into slavery.

Torn from her family, her community, and her elevated place in Alexandrian society, Chava finds herself cast off and alone in Rome. Forced to learn difficult lessons, she struggles to trust a promise HaShem has given her. After experiencing the best and worst of Roman society, Chava must choose between love and honor, between her own desires and God's will for her life.

The Intertestimental Period isn't one we know much about, and while this silent era spans 400 years between the Old Testament and New Testament, history didn't not end. People kept living and growing as the Lord intended them too. There is much we don't know about these years, and many questions we might have, but some of them won't be answered until we reach heaven. Angela Hunt's story during this period captures a little of what it might have been like and what people might have done.

The history intwined in the pages of this book is amazing. I love how Hunt captures the culture and beliefs of the Jews. HaShem is the name Hunt uses most for the Lord God in the book, and I think it brings the Jewish faith and practices into reality. She uses rabbis, and Scriptures, and other writings to emphasis the continuation of the Old Testament in the lives of the family of Chava. While I don't necessarily care for the way Chava's father continually sought to arrange her marriage and the way in which HaShem supposedly revealed His will to Chava, I don't think they are misused by the author. The Lord does indeed speak to His children in different ways, and some parts of culture (arranged marriages) did, and do, exist.

I love Chava's commitment to HaShem's will. She denies herself, her passions, and her desires because she delights to do the will of God. She suffers for it, and while she searches for resolution in her life, she continues to find refuge in HaShem's words and vision to her.

Cleopatra is an interesting character. I appreciated how Hunt wrote of the pagan, Greek and Roman society without condoning it. Cleopatra's life is not one lived under the guidance of HaShem and royalty's lives are riddled with immorality and violence. While the Jews would never dream of living in the manner of the Alexandrians, they know how to worship despite the culture around them, and they know how to interact and live with those who blatantly sin.

Among the death and sadness that surrounds Egypt and Rome, the Jews continually await the coming of Mashiach--the Prince of the world mentioned in Daniel's prophecy. This is a theme that unites the book and gives the people hope in a pagan culture.

The Author's Note was amazingly helpful. I loved how Hunt detailed which historical details were fictional and which weren't. Because I love history and fiction together, I learn a lot when history is woven into a story. This is a beautiful story of God's revelation to a faithful Jewish girl and His redemption in a nation despite the darkness of the culture.



*I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.

War Room by Chris Fabry

Back Cover: 
Tony and Elizabeth Jordan have it all — great jobs, a beautiful daughter, and their dream house. But appearances can be deceiving. Their world is actually crumbling under the strain of a failing marriage. While Tony basks in his professional success and flirts with temptation, Elizabeth resigns herself to increasing bitterness. But their lives take an unexpected turn when Elizabeth meets her newest client, Miss Clara, a wise, older widow who challenges Elizabeth to start fighting for her family instead of fighting against her husband.

From the award-winning creators of Fireproof and Courageous comes War Room, a compelling drama with humor and heart that explores the power that prayer can have over marriages, parenting, careers, friendships, and every other area of our lives.




The Kendrick brothers and the Sherwood Pictures films have had incredible impacts on Christians and non-Christians alike. Providing hope and encouragement to thousands, they once again presented a powerful message through their latest film War Room. However, this isn't a movie review, but a book review. Hundreds of books have movies made about them, but several (if not all) of the Sherwood movies have books written after the movies. This is one of them. I read the Courageous book after viewing the movie, and while I was unsure of what I would think, I was amazingly surprised. I had no hesitations about reading War Room after seeing the movie,

While this book centers around Tony and Elizabeth's marriage and family, I especially loved following Miss Clara's story. In the movie, she's mainly the mentor for Elizabeth and indeed that is her position for most of the story. However, a book is able to take the time to enter into each person's thoughts while a movie cannot. Living in Miss Clara's past and hearing her thoughts left me thinking that I got to know her by sitting where Elizabeth sat. Maybe even drinking some of that lukewarm coffee. ;)

Some of the lines I could tell were taken directly from the movie, and I appreciated how the book stayed true to the movie, only adding in extra scenes, thoughts, and dialogue. One of the other things I appreciated about this book is the added scenes regarding Elizabeth's struggle to trust her husband. While she didn't know what was going on in his life all the time (and that didn't automatically change once he repented and surrendered to God), she knew she needed to trust him in order to effectively produce lasting change in his life. You see Elizabeth learn to respond, pray, and interact in solid, biblical manner once she has repented of her own faults. See, in relational difficulties, it won't help to recognize another person's faults--we all know other people have faults. It's only when Elizabeth decides to change her own life and become a prayer warrior that she saw others around her change.

Tony and Danielle's relationship is also detailed more in the book. Danielle wants her father's affection, but senses that he has no time for her, causing her to draw back from him (and his angry outbursts also push her away). Her development throughout the story is precious, and her comments are just as funny as in the movie. Each time I read one of her lines I could hear her voice in my head.

So yes, definitely read the book. It will fill in all the little spaces that a movie cannot. Worth a read.
And maybe a thought or two. ;) 

Grace is Greater by Kyle Idleman

Back Cover:
No sin is so great, no bitterness so deep that God's grace cannot transform the heart and rewrite the story. But grace is so hard for us to understand.

It doesn't make sense.
It's not fair.
It can't possibly cover over what I've done.

Perhaps nothing is as difficult to explain as God's grace. The best way--perhaps the only real way--to understand it is to experience it.

In Grace is Greater, bestselling author and pastor Kyle Idleman leads us past our hang-ups toward an understanding of grace that is bigger than our mistakes, our faiulures, our desire for revenge, and our seemingly impossible situations. Through powerful stories of grace experience, this book will help you truly grasp God's grace...even if the Christians around you have failed to live it.

I requested this book back in February when it was being released, but it ended up somewhere in the mailing system and I didn't receive it. I requested it again because I really wanted to read it and to make a longer story short, I ended up with two copies. Needless to say, one will be a gift for someone. ;)

The news of the bestselling author of Not a Fan spread widely when it was released, and I read and heard smatterings of people's opinions of the book. Other than that, Kyle Idleman was an unknown author to me. And because I sense that the concept of grace (after salvation) is an infrequent one among conservative Christian circles, I needed another reminder of it.

As the subtitle suggests, Idleman writes on "God's plan to overcome your past, redeem your pain, and rewrite your story". This is a big topic, and while not exhaustive, his Biblical details and experiences demonstrate that he has been shown how grace works through his own life. I love his chapter titles and how they contrast two character traits "More Forgiving Than Your Guilt" and "More Beautiful Than Your Brokenness", being the first two. Idleman writes in an informal lecture style and sets apart important quotes every couple of pages.

My favorite chapters dealt with grace and mistakes, brokenness, and regrets. Reading this book reminded me of when I read through Future Grace by John Piper, and while not as extensive, the content was encouraging. Idleman deals with other such topics as remorse, repentance, communities (of grace), forgiveness, obedience, repression, vengeance, gratefulness, and so much more. All backed by Scripture, personal examples, or testimonies of others who have lived, given, and received grace.

Idleman shows us how grace is greater, and how we all need it. He defines grace, explains its purpose, demonstrates its necessity, and gives grace through his writing. Grace isn't something we pay for, earn, hold back from others, or just forget about. We may not ever see examples of it around us, but we have a God of grace who daily showers us with it. We receive grace without asking, but for it to truly be grace received, it must be grace shared.

Favorite Quotes

Grace is only grace if it goes both ways. Receiving it from God but refusing to give it to others isn't an option.

//

People who repress resentment over hurts they've received tend to see everything through a negative lens.

//

...ultimately what matters most, what people need most, is God's forgiveness, not ours.

//

God's power is attracted to weakness. His grace comes running to those in need.

//

When a story has been spoiled, it's easier to follow and understand. We lose some of the suspense, but perhaps knowing how it will end allows us to not just endure the journey, but actually enjoy it.

//

God is good. Grace is greater. 

*I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

Between Heaven and the Real World

Back Cover:
For decades, Steven Curtis Chapman's music and message have brought hope and inspiration to millions . Now, for the first time, Steven openly shares the experiences that have shaped him, his faith, his family, and his music in a life that has included incredible highs and faith-shaking lows.

Discover the stories behind some of his best-loved songs. Walk with him as he and his wife, Mary Beth, navigate the joys and trials of marriage and family. Cheer for his return to the stage after doubting that he culd ever sing again. and SEE God in the aftermath of the tragic death of their five-year-old daughter Maria.

Poignant, gut-wrenchingly honest, yet always hopeful, Steven offers no sugary solutions to life's toughest questions. Yet out of the brokenness, he continues to trust God to one day fix what is unfixable in the space between heaven and the real world.

I don't remember the first time that I heard Steven Curtis Chapman's music, but I remember that one of the first few songs I heard was "Glorious Unfolding". I remember that the words rang deeply with what ever Christian hopes for--a "happily ever after" ending. And while no one ever experiences that completely, there is a taste of it here on earth.  Chapman sung that while our story is important, it's only a shadow of the glory that is to come. He gives hope for the current "story" we're living, but points to the future hope of a new heaven and new earth. Listening now to his music, I recall that there wasn't anything specifically impressive about his voice, but it was the message of truth in each line of his songs that remained with me. "Take Another Step" and "Finish What He Started" were two others I remember because of the biblical truth and relevance to life's paths. God's promises in keeping us secure and giving us strength, but also our responsibility to keep going even when we feel like we can't. 

So after knowing that Chapman produced theologically rich songs, I checked out his book to review after it was published. I didn't know much about his or his family's life, but reading through his story, I think I know a little more. ;) He begins with his own childhood family setting and allows us to enter in to his home, his family, his insecurities, and his character. I appreciated his honesty and willingness to share the influence of the good and bad teachings from his parents. I firmly believe that how we view God often relates back to how our parents related to us, and a little of that was shown in his book as well. Chapman has struggled with his voice all of his life; sometimes to the point of not knowing if he could continue. He wasn't blessed with the audience captivating voice, as some are. Rather his gifting was in quickly producing songs that related to his audiences and often times resulted from his own life struggles and joys. And this music is what gives healing to his family and his audiences. 

His journey into recording and entering the music realm was also one of great difficulty, but he did not give up. He sought God and his family's opinions in order to know if he should continue to pursue his calling. This book may be emotionally hard for some to read. It's deep, but it's a rich deep. I loved the counseling aspects to it. After the death of their little girl, Curtis and Mary Beth (his wife) chose to be open about their pain and confusion to those around them. They struggled with anger and chronic depression but chose to seek out healing and help consistently. He highlights some of the questions, the arguments, and counseling sessions that they go through, and how it brought them closer to God, and closer to understanding one another.  And how it resulted (for Chapman) in several songs and albums that still reach to the public today. 

While I'm not in the challenge of the music spotlight, and while I may not participate in all their lifestyle choices, I was challenged to see a man and his family who were humble enough to live vulnerably through their weaknesses. He interacted with hundreds of music professionals and top recording artists. He collaborated with other singers and spoke to the thousands who listen to his music. He didn't hide his pain or joys from his audiences, and he continually cried out to God when life brought challenges. One of his most recent songs was written for the movie "War Room", and it's called "Warrior". His words are powerful, and they have inspired people to live strong, but weak, lives in Jesus--ever pressing on to know Christ more while we live between heaven and the real world.

*Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Visual Theology by Tim Challies and Josh Byers

From Amazon:
We live in a visual culture. Today, people increasingly rely upon visuals to help them understand new and difficult concepts. The rise and stunning popularity of the Internet infographic has given us a new way in which to convey data, concepts and ideas.

But the visual portrayal of truth is not a novel idea. Indeed, God himself used visuals to teach truth to his people. The tabernacle of the Old Testament was a visual representation of man’s distance from God and God’s condescension to his people. Each part of the tabernacle was meant to display something of man’s treason against God and God’s kind response. Likewise, the sacraments of the New Testament are visual representations of man’s sin and God’s response. Even the cross was both reality and a visual demonstration.

As teachers and lovers of sound theology, Challies and Byers have a deep desire to convey the concepts and principles of systematic theology in a fresh, beautiful and informative way. In this book, they have made the deepest truths of the Bible accessible in a way that can be seen and understood by a visual generation.

I purchased this book shortly after it was published, and I began reading it about two months later. I finished reading it at the beginning of April, and it was a great encouragement to me. I have followed Tim Challies blog for several years now, and have learned much from his simple explanation of doctrines or applications of life truths. And I'm pleased to support a Canadian pastor. ;) 

This book covers the main aspects of the Christian life in how he relates to God and others. While this isn't an exhaustive doctrinal statement on evangelical beliefs, the truths it unpacks are fundamental to a healthy Christian walk with God. Challies and Byers lead you through topics such as growing close to Christ, understanding His work, becoming like Him, and then living for Christ. Each section then expands into several chapters on important subtopics: Gospel, Identity, Doctrine, Vocation, Stewardship, Relationships, etc.

A couple other reviewers were disappointed by the amount of visuals/infographics in Visual Theology, and while I went into the book knowing others opinions, I wasn't disappointed at all. I am a visual person, but I tend to focus more on what's written than on pictures. So for me, I think the frequent visuals captured the topics, subtopics, and definitions well. I love how they would break down the chapters into a visual that brought all the minor topics into once place, demonstrating how they were related. Check out some of the visuals HERE. So far my favorite is the identity in Christ visual, but I loved the infographics in the four acts of the drama of God. Those were especially interesting, as I hadn't previously thought of God's work in peoples lives and the world in the way Challies and Byers presented it. I also enjoyed reading the marginal notes which included resources for further study. 

Even after reading through this book, I find some of the visuals popping into my head as I study, work, read, or listen to lectures and sermons. This is a great book for families...one that you can leave lying around, and even if you don't have time to sit down and read it, the visuals will encompass some of the main truths of life and encourage and exhort you to view theology in an accurate way. It's a book that connects the dots between theology and practical living. The bright colors and fresh reminders of already known truths were encouraging. Grateful to have a copy make its home on my bookshelf. 

The Knight's Map by R.C. Sproul

From Amazon:
This new and forthcoming title from R.C. Sproul offers a captivating story for young minds to grasp the importance of biblical inerrancy. Parents and children follow a young knight who loses his way, but discovers a map that points him to the right path. Features stunning illustrations, a special section for families to interact and discuss the content, as well as helpful Bible memory verses. Releases February 2016.

This book did indeed release early this year, and I saw the word spread through social media regarding its publication and release. While I don't regularly read much children's literature, the lack of solid teaching for young minds has been noticed among the budding authors and publishers. I have seen stories and books for children increase over the last several years, and I'm excited to see where it all leads. 

When I saw R.C. Sproul offering this as a gift for any ministry support, I decided to review it to spread the word around. The lettering and bold, yet elegant, cover caught my attention. The book tells the story of Sir Charles and his question to find the Pearl of Great Price. The Great King provides Sir Charles with a map to guide his way, and as long as he sticks to the map, he finds things as the Great King says. However, there are many distractions and obstacles along the way and he nearly forsakes his quest. 

The language is simple yet well-written and easy for a child to understand. Throughout the story there are stories within stories, which I suppose could be confusing for younger minds, but not a big concern. The focus of the story points to Jesus and to the inerrancy of the Scriptures and the leading of the Spirit. The illustrations are amazing. I loved them--they are real, yet capture the essence and words accurately. Children will enjoy this feature greatly. I'd be pleased to offer this book to any young child, knowing that they and their parents and family would also benefit from it. Included in the back are questions for further discussion, along with supporting Scripture passages. May this book bless all its young hearers. 

If you want to find the Pearl of Great Price, 

and you want to get safely to the top of the mountain, 

you must trust the map the Great King gave you.

2016 Book List!

I know we're three months into 2017 now, but I thought posting my book list might give you all some new reading material if you're searching! Have you read any listed here?

How many books did you read this year? Any favorites?

2016 Book List

1. Grace Triumphant by Alicia A. Willis
2. Grieving: Our Path Back to Peace by James White [Kindle]
3. Kingdom’s Dawn by Chuck Black
4. Not recommended.
5. David: A Man of Passion and Destiny by Charles Swindoll
6. Soul Friends by Leslie Parrott
7. Burning Light by Rachel Starr Thomson [Kindle] (book 2/3)
8. Dorie: The Girl Nobody Loved by Doris Van Stone
9. Pendragon’s Heir by Suzannah Rowntree [Kindle]
10. Behold the Dawn by K.M. Weiland [Kindle]
11. John (St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary) by R.C. Sproul [Kindle]
12. The Gospel of John: Believe and Live by Elmer Towns
13. Jesus is the Christ by Leon Morris
14. Dreamlander by K.M Weiland [Kindle]
15. The Methuselah Project by Rick Barry [Kindle]
16. Streams in the Desert for Graduates by L.B. Cowman
17. Grace Triumphant by Alicia A. Willis
18. Fully Alive by Larry Crabb
19. Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible by Wayne Grudem, C. John Collins, Thomas R. Schreiner
20. A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
21. Ben Hur by Lew Wallace
22. Grasping God’s Word by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays
23. 12 Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur
24.  A Man Called Outlaw by KM Weiland [Kindle]
25. Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? by Carolyn McCulley
26. Worth Living by Mary DeMuth
27. Behold, the Lamb of God by Russ Ramsey [Kindle]
28. Rescuing the Gospel by Erwin Lutzer
29. Storming by K.M. Weiland [Kindle]
30. Not recommended.
31. Girl Defined by Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird
32. Lion of Babylon by Davis Bunn (book 1/3)
33. We Two Alone by Ruth Hege
34. The South Sea Whaler by W.H.G. Kingston
35. A Path through Suffering by Elisabeth Elliot
36. Terrorism, Jihad, and the Bible by John MacArthur
37. Why Trust the Bible? By Greg Gilbert
38. Heroines of the Cross by Publishers of Christian Literature
39. Heather and Snow by George MacDonald [Kindle]
40. Aesop’s Fables translated by George Fyler Townsend [Kindle]
41. Healing Ruby by Jennifer H. Westall [Kindle] (book 1/3)
42. Exile by Rachel Starr Thomson (book 1/5)
43. Hive by Rachel Starr Thomson (book 2/5)
44. Attack by Rachel Starr Thomson (book 3/5)
45. Renegade by Rachel Starr Thomson (book 4/5)
46. Rise by Rachel Starr Thomson (book 5/5)
47. Breaking Matthew by Jennifer H. Westall [Kindle] (book 2/3)
48. The Power of Together by Jim Putnam
49. The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
50. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A’Kempis
51. Back to the Cross: Surprising Truths from Shanghai by Angela Oltmanns [Kindle]
52. Can I Be Sure I’m Saved? By R.C. Sproul [Kindle]
53. By Divine Right by Patrick W. Carr [Kindle]
54. Her Mother’s Secret by E.D.E.N. Southworth [Kindle] (book 1/3)
55. The Master’s Garden by Joyce A. Scott [Kindle]
56. Words that Sting by John Stang [Kindle]
57. The Temple and the Tabernacle by J. Daniel Hays
58. Hope Prevails by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
59. When God Doesn’t Make Sense by James Dobson
60. 7 Women by Eric Metaxes
61. Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Quereshi
62. 20 Things We’d Tell Our Twenty-something Selves by Kelli and Peter Worrall
63. The Doctor by Ralph Connor
64. Heart to Heart by Rachel Starr Thomson
65. The Dating Manifesto by Lisa Anderson [Kindle]
66. Speaking of Homosexuality by Joe Dallas
67. Intended for Evil by Les Sillars
68. Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
69. When Others Shuddered by Jamie Janosz
70.  Cloak of the Light by Chuck Black

Short Stories (not novels/books)

1. Coffee Cake Days by Amanda Tero  [Kindle]
2. Journey by Rachel Starr Thomson [Kindle]
3. Debt of Mercy by Amanda Tero [Kindle]
4. Of Men and Bones by Rachel Starr Thomson [Kindle]
5. Magdalene by Rachel Starr Thomson [Kindle]
6. The Fox Went Out by Schuyler McConkey [pdf]
7. The Angel Knew Papa And The Dog by Douglas Kaine McKelvey [Kindle]
8. The Dairyman’s Daughter by Legh Richmond [Kindle]
9. Cross Purposes and The Shadows by George MacDonald [Kindle]