Breaking Anxiety's Grip by Dr. Michelle Bengtson

Back Cover:
Discover true peace in an age of anxiety.

No question, we have a lot to worry about. Children, jobs, homes, health, finances, and more. The solution isn't to rid ourselves of the sources of anxiety--as if we could. Instead, we need to recognize that anxiety originates from a spiritual influence and that we can fight back using the God-given weapons of power, love, and a sound mind.

Sharing her own story of emerging from the battle with anxiety as well as the stories of others, Dr. Michelle Bengtson reminds you of your identity as a follower of Christ and of the peace he promises you in spite of everything. She provides tools to cope with the crushing emotional burden of anxiety now and, more importantly, shows you how to reclaim God's peace as a way of life so that you can break anxiety's 

grip.

I first met Dr. Michelle through Hope Prevails when she wrote about her challenges and victories with depression. Her writing style is clear and focused, and she liberally scatters Scripture through it all. Her second book about anxiety is very similar. 

Anxiety and depression often go hand-in-hand (though not always), and I found this book very helpful in defining anxiety. While I don't face the challenge of anxiety on a daily basis, I come in contact with people all the time who do, and sometimes it can be hard to relate if you don't know what someone's going through. Dr. Michelle gives examples from other people who describe how anxiety makes them think and feel which is helpful in defining anxiety in your own life and observing it in others. 

Dr. Michelle's foundation for anxiety is that it stems from a lack of trust in God. She defines anxiety in the first chapter and then goes on to explore some of the medical science behind anxiety. Her pages are filled with hope and a constant reminder to trust God. Fear, worry, and anxiety tend to spiral when crisis hits (not to mention the daily thoughts about what could happen but never do), and Bengtson writes from personal examples with cancer in her family. She guides the reader with helpful suggestion at the end of each chapter and often encourages verse memorization or placing verses on sticky notes all over your house. Her Recommended Playlists (first seen in Hope Prevails) also find their corner in this book too. 

Anxiety likes to use the questions of "what if" to bring us concern, worry, and fear, which ultimately lead to our lack of faith and unhealthy introspection. Dr. Michelle write about reclaiming the power that is all ours from the moment of salvation, and how, in Jesus' name and with Christ's blood, we can have freedom and victory over worry, anxiety, and fear. Bengtson also discussing living in God's love and how we can live in the moment of pain and still realize that God is good and His love is perfect. Her last chapter details how we must use the power of a sound mind in dealing with mental struggles. We do get to choose how we respond to trials or fears, and we have the choice to talk back words of Scripture to ourselves or give into the numbing, panic-inducing terror of anxiety. Changing our thoughts takes practice and time, but it does get easier with time, and Dr. Michelle reminds us that negative thoughts come from the reign of darkness and not of the Light of Christ. We can conquer through prayer against Satan and Scripture verses that turn our minds to the freedom in trusting God. 

*I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review. 

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

From Amazon:
Once, in a cottage above the cliffs on the Dark Sea of Darkness, there lived three children and their trusty dog Nugget. Janner Igiby, his brother Tink, their crippled sister Leeli are gifted children as all children are, loved well by a noble mother and ex-pirate grandfather. But they will need all their gifts and all that love to survive the evil pursuit of the venomous Fangs of Dang who have crossed the dark sea to rule the land with malice and pursue the Igibys who hold the secret to the lost legend and jewels of good King Wingfeather of the Shining Isle of Anniera.

Andrew Peterson spins a quirky and riveting tale of the Igibys’ extraordinary journey from Glipwood’s Dragon Day Festival and a secret hidden in the Books and Crannies Bookstore, past the terrifying Black Carriage, clutches of the horned hounds and loathsome toothy cows surrounding AnkleJelly Manor, through the Glipwood Forest and mysterious treehouse of Peet the Sock Man (known for a little softshoe and wearing tattered socks on his hands and arms), to the very edge of the Ice Prairies.

Full of characters rich in heart, smarts, and courage, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness presents a world of wonder and a tale children of all ages will cherish, families can read aloud, and readers’ groups are sure to discuss for its layers of meaning about life’s true treasure and tangle of the beautiful and horrible, temporal and eternal, and good and bad.

This series has been on my to-read list for a long time. While I first fell in love with the music of Andrew Peterson, this first book also brings out another side of his art life. Though primarily a story for children, Andrew Peterson writes in a way that delights readers of all ages. I love the creativeness in his fantasy elements. Things like real-life treehouses, toothy cows (which are actually quite dreadful), Fangs, clever names for places, socks for hands, and an annual festival that carries more adventure than meets the eye.

Andrew Peterson clearly marks good from bad. This is a key element that seems to be missing from many books today, and I'm grateful for the clarity in even a children's book. The Black Carriage carries a nameless fear with it. The Fangs of Dang represent a wicked authority in the land of Glipwood, and the untold family pain also holds sadness of its own. Good comes in the form of a little dog named Nugget, a wise grandfather's counsel, and the humor that perhaps only adults would pick up on.

I love how Peet the Sock Man's story is woven into the Igiby family's history. While reading it, I was reminded of the people who suffer from disabilities/special needs or mental health struggles. Peet and Leeli share a special connection (one which isn't always seen as a good thing by other family members) because of their physical limitations.

I think it's amazing how Peterson's talent for writing songs comes across in his characters, descriptions, and story-telling. He writes truth inside the funny, and lessons come from places least expected. There are so many secrets and the edge of danger is always present in the Igiby's travels, yet they grow together as a family and also as individuals. I really want to keep reading this series!



*I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review; all opinions are my own. 

Seventh City by Emily Hayse

About the Book:

“Let me tell you a story that happened so long ago that only the hills and rivers can remember the time . . . .”

All her life, thirteen-year-old Maki has heard tales of the legendary city of gold, buried deep in the northern frontier. But when her village is burned and her brother captured by cruel invaders, the legend becomes desperately real.

Armed with a wolf-dog and a heart of courage, Maki sets out on a journey that will demand all her strength and cunning. She is determined to bring her brother home at all costs. Yet as her quest leads her deep into a wilderness of ancient dangers, Maki realizes that even for her, some prices are too high to pay. 

From the author of Crowning Heaven comes a new and beautiful story! Emily Hayse's newest release, Seventh City, has filled some special places in my heart. As one who loves the rugged beauty of the outdoors, the one-on-one connection with a horse, and the soft warm fur of the wolf-dog breeds, this book satisfies in more ways than one. 

Maki is forced to grow up quickly as she and her brother are left to fend for themselves among the Invaders. When danger finds  her brother, she whispers "courage" to herself and follows along not realizing she will find more than she expects. I love Maki's loyalty to her brother and her feisty character. Yet among her very strong female role, she is tender and caring. She's clever and discerning when life is threatening and learns to give to her enemies even when she believes they don't deserve it. I think Emily did well creating her as a character and writing Maki in the first person POV. 

Willow Tam is my other favorite character. He is gentle and pursues Maki in friendliness even though she is so very wary of outsiders in her life. He recognizes loss and longing and is able to reach Maki's heart in ways even she isn't aware of. 

I love how Emily writes from her knowledge of horses and mushers. It is unique to see both in one story, let alone combined with a quest for treasure and and unknown city. From some of the previous blog tour posts, Emily mentioned that she herself didn't know whether the legend land of Inik Katsuk was real. I could sense that while reading, and I think it made for an amazing ending. I think all the characters end up finding things (whether physically or emotionally or mentally) that they didn't expect and it either grows them into a stronger person or reveals that flaws that will consume them. 

I love the heart that Emily put into this story--the same heart that is in Crowning Heaven, and I love both stories for it. The ending of Seventh City is bittersweet, but perfect. It ties up loose ends, but leaves the future to the imagination. Thank you for sharing this story with the world, Emily. <3

About the Author:

EMILY HAYSE is a lover of log cabins, strong coffee, and the smell of old books. Her writing is fueled by good characters and a lifelong passion for storytelling. When she is not busy turning words into worlds, she can often be found baking, singing, or caring for one of the many dogs and horses in her life. She lives with her family in Michigan.

Where to find Emily:

Website/Social Media handles:

Instagram: @songsofheroes
Twitter: @theherosinger
Website: emilyhayse.com 

Facebook: /theherosinger

Buy Links: 

-Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Seventh-City-Emily-Hayse/dp/1733242805/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=seventh+city&qid=1566967143&s=gateway&sr=8-1

-Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seventh-city-emily-hayse/1132869291?ean=9781733242806

-The Book Depository:
https://www.bookdepository.com/Seventh-City-Emily-Hayse/9781733242806

*I received a free copy for review from the author and publisher in exchange for my honest review. 

King's Shadow by Angela Hunt

From Amazon:
Two women occupy a place in Herod's court. The first, Salome, is the king's only sister, a resentful woman who has been told she is from an inferior race, a people God will never accept or approve.

The second woman, Zara, is a lowly handmaid who serves Salome, but where Salome spies conspiracies and treachery, Zara sees hurting people in need of understanding and compassion.

Powerful and powerless, Idumean and Jew, selfish and selfless--both women struggle to reach their goals and survive in Herod the Great's tumultuous court, where no one is trustworthy and no one is safe.

This possibly the hardest book of Hunt's to review. If you've read my previous reviews of her books set during the 400 Silent Years, you know they are packed with truth of the Messiah and history (and fiction) of the culture and times of the Jews and the countries around them. This book is no different, except that it is more complex in political and relational ways. Salome is King Herod's sister, and the person he trusts the most. Herod is placed on a precarious throne: under Rome, but in command of the Jews. Herod must appease both culture, nations, and religions in order to survive. His sister is perhaps the most important person helping him do just that. She and her servants are his eyes and ears, and no matter what she remains loyal to him. I found this special to see in a sister. Usually we read stories about wives or husbands or friends showing that kind of selfless loyalty, but not often do you see a woman who is hated by many, but clever, diplomatic, and able to serve the interests of the palace and Jews.

This is a time of turmoil and chaos. There is constant death even in the palace, as families vie for the throne and murder each other in order to gain it. Relations with Antony and Cleopatra are also a large part of this story, at least from a distance. The weight of ruling a nation weighs on Herod and Salome also bears that weight with loyalty and grace. Though neither would be considered believers in the God of Israel, Herod is half Jew, and therefore performs sacrifices and celebrations as the Jews do, but without heart.

Zara begins the story as an innocent girl growing up in a typical Jewish home. Soon Herod and Rome's men bring disaster and pain to her family and she matures quickly as she faces death and uncertainty. At a young age, she is betrothed to a sandal-maker's son: the best option to make sure she was at least provided for if anything should happen to her family. However, she is clever with her hands, and God has another purpose for her life. Soon she is brought to Herod's court as Salome's servant. She has freedom of movement within the palace, and performs important work for her mistress.

Herod's decline begins with his execution of the wife he adored (but couldn't trust). His mother-in-law is ever-scheming for ways to have her line on the throne. Zara is forced away from her family to work in the palace, and Salome is loyal to a fault to her brother and his work. Yet in the fear, uncertainty, and broken dreams of them all, God is preparing His nation for the Son he will send. Herod, too, is an instrument in God's hands, whether he realizes it or not, and Zara begins to search and find out who this HaShem is to her personally. And in the end we see the hope of the Son of God come to us: Immanuel.

I feel like this book didn't have much hope in it. It was a time of turmoil and death and scheming royal families. It's heartbreaking, but I think Hunt did well with what she had. Under the shadow of the King's court, God placed His Son. Here's to the fourth and final book of the Silent Years series!



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

Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart by Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal

Back Cover:
"This message of God-defined sexuality is one every woman needs."--Dannah Gresh, author of And the Bride Wore White

For the modern Christian woman, embracing God's design for sexuality can often feel like an impossible pursuit. As the culture around us seeks to normalize things such as lust, pornography, erotica, and casual sex, you may be feeling immense pressure to conform. In this relatable and encouraging book, Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal share honestly about their own struggles and victories and dig into topics such as

· how your longings for intimacy point to a deeper need
· why God's original design for love, passion, and sex is good
· how to deal with secret sexual struggles
· and much more

Kristen and Bethany invite you on a personal journey to discover and reclaim a biblical vision for your sexuality--one that is good and relevant and will lead you toward true hope and lasting freedom.

"In a world riddled with sexual confusion, brokenness, and pain, I rejoice that voices like Kristen's and Bethany's are helping young women find their way--His way--and pointing them to the redeeming love and grace of Christ."--Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, author; teacher/host of Revive Our Hearts

This is Kristen and Bethany's newest (and third) book. Their first book, Girl Defined, dealt with God's design for women and topics such as beauty, self-worth, and femininity. I haven't read their second book, Love Defined, yet, but I hope to soon! I remember seeing the contents page from a couple people who were on this books release team and wondering how Kristen and Bethany would tackle these topics. I also remember hearing a few people shocked just from reading the table of contents. However, fear not. There is nothing too explicit or too detailed, and younger to older teens can safely read this. 

I appreciated the beginning chapters on our broken sexuality and our design especially. Both girls write honestly about their childhood upbringing and how that influenced their thought processes. They begin with the foundation that we are all sexually broken and discuss how they first began to understand the longings of their own hearts. They describe why they wrote this book and how we need to embrace sexuality as it is given by God with passion and purity. 

Society, and especially Christian circles, it seems, tend to view lust as a guy's problem. But it's not just that. Women also struggle with it just as much. It's just not talked about. But Kristen and Bethany bring that to light and share testimonies of women who decided to break that stronghold sin pattern in their life and seek help. They also bring to light what sex is, who it's meant for, and how it's a beautiful picture of what God intends for a husband and wife to enjoy. 

While this book is detailed regarding the biblical ways that sex should be viewed, I did find that it didn't define many of the struggles that girls face. There were topics discussed that I felt should have been defined rather than assuming that everyone knows what they are. However, Kristen and Bethany also provide many quotes from well-known speakers and authors which I found helpful and beautiful to read. Sometimes paraphrasing and citing just doesn't convey the same thought as another's words. 

This book includes discussion questions, helpful thoughts for singles, and an appendix regarding healing from sexual abuse. I believe this book is a gentle introduction to topics that need to be discussed, but not completely helpful in that many terms and issues aren't defined, but just generally talked about. It's a book of encouragement and testimony to those who have found victory over sin and healing in the present. Kristen and Bethany present the glory of our sexuality as our Creator intends it to be. 

*I was given this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review. 

Assured by Greg Gilbert

From Amazon:

Despite our professions of belief, our baptisms, and our membership in the church, many of us secretly wonder, Am I truly saved? We worry that our love for Jesus isn't fervent enough (or isn't as fervent as someone else's). We worry that our faith isn't strong enough. We struggle through the continuing presence of sin in our lives. All this steals the joy of our salvation and can lead us into a life characterized by legalism, perfectionism, and works righteousness--the very life Jesus freed us from at the cross!

But Greg Gilbert has a message for the anxious believer--be assured. Assured that your salvation experience was real. Assured that your sins--past, present, and future--are forgiven. Assured that everyone stumbles. Assured that Jesus is not your judge but your advocate. With deep compassion, Gilbert comforts readers, encouraging them to release their guilt, shame, and anxiety to rejoice in and follow hard after the One who set them free.

Most believers will struggle with assurance during their journey as a Christian. Whether that doubt is self-inflicted or forced on them by circumstances or others' opinions, it's important that we know how to combat that doubt with the words of Scripture. Gilbert subtitles this book "Discover grace, let go of guilt, and rest in your salvation", and his first three chapters deal with the three main sources of assurance. These three sources don't save us, but if we are trusting in the cross of Christ, then we will find confidence in our salvation or conviction of our sin (if we are not saved).

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the first source: because of Jesus, we have assurance and confidence that we are permitted to stand before God's throne. Because of a works' based society and mindset, we tend to believe that we must prove our righteousness or make ourselves sinless for the moment that we enter God's presence. But not so..."our confidence that we belong in the presence of God is not self-confidence; it's Christ-confidence." Interestingly, Gilbert also notes that we must understand the complete bleakness and hopelessness of our own lives because of our sin. Knowing this leads us to realize that there is absolutely nothing we could do to even pretend to be righteous for a small amount of time and "earn" entrance to God. However, in Jesus, we have complete, unhindered, unlimited, access to the throne of God because He never failed. That is where our assurance and rest comes from. "...what the Bible actually teaches is that true assurance grows from an abject realization of our hopelessness. Why? Because that hopelessness drives us to Jesus, who is infinitely trustworthy and therefore a solid foundation for assurance."

The second driving source of assurance is the promises of Christ. Sometimes we tend to make salvation and belief something harder than what Jesus offers to us. We believe our faith isn't strong enough, or our doubt is too strong. But that ends up turning faith into something that we muster up on our own, something that we ultimately make and provide. That's not the faith God gives. His promises of assurance in His word span eternity past and future. We will never have faith that is good enough or worthy enough. We will never bring something to the table that is more than what God expects, and despite the fact that we're broken people, God promises rest to the unfailing, unfaithful, and hurting and holds His promises as sure and steadfast because of His perfect Son.

The third supernatural assurance of salvation is that of the Spirit's witness in us. I appreciate how Gilbert talks about this. Sometimes people can mention the Spirit and His work in us as something abstract or something we can't grasp. Or just something silly altogether. But Gilbert takes us to Scripture, showing us that during our silent whispers of fear and dread, the Spirit inside us flashes the "Abba! Father!" into our hearts taking hold and reminding us that He stands before God and claims us as a child of God. Gilbert mentions that the Spirit isn't something special given more to some than others at the time of salvation. It's something each Christian has at the moment of salvation, and you have it all. Every bit and completely whole. If you don't have His Spirit, you are not of the kingdom of God. I loved how Gilbert also mentioned the times when it seems like the Spirit is silent or gone, and in those times it should spur us to seek the promises of God in Scripture for purposeful gospel study. He also says that these three sources of assurance, are on an equal level. They work together to provide an unconditional foundation for the believer.

Gilbert uses the last half of this book to discuss the lies of assurance, fruits of obedience, good works (and how people misuse them), besetting sins, and the perseverance of the saints in seeking assurance. I found the chapters on obedience and good works most helpful because people tend to teach and believe that our good works demonstrate our salvation. They do, but not in the sense that they keep us saved (or save us in, the first place). Our good works flow from a grateful heart for salvation. He also talks about the passages in Scripture which lists many grievous sins and how those are meant to assure us that we are not continually walking in them which confirms our salvation. His explanation of 1 John and how to read that book with the eyes of a believer was very encouraging as well. It is not meant to make Christians doubt their salvation. It is meant to help us know that we are already saved--that was John's purpose in writing.

"Besides, the very mark of a Christian with regard to sin is that they will keep fighting, keep wrestling and striving, keep running the race set before them. And that's exactly what you're doing. Listen, your battle with sin will not last forever, and the Bible's promise is that you will outlast your sin. You will live to see it pulled from your heart by the roots and vanquished. It will take its last breath as you take your first in the bright air of eternity. Live and fight and trust Christ for that day." -Greg Gilbert, Assured, pg. 135

*I was given this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review. 

Romanov by Nadine Brandes

From Goodreads:
The history books say I died.

They don’t know the half of it.

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them . . . and he’s hunted Romanov before.

Nastya’s only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya’s never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn’t frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her . . .

That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other.

I love this book. While Nadine wrote a compelling first few lines (lines I think she's quite proud of, and rightly so), it was the Dedication that made me stop and think and remember. I think all people have experience hurt, and some have dared to hope, many have forgiven, but I think few have lived or thrived after. Maybe this story will help those few, too.

Nastya deals with pain from the very start of the Bolshevik Revolution. Those opposed to her family were not kind necessarily or gentle. Even the slower social media of that time period was successful in promoting lies or rumors about the Romanov family.

I really enjoyed the history woven into Nastya's story. I had only heard glimpses of the lost Russian princess story and listen to a few songs from a soundtrack, but it was intriguing and I wanted to research it more. I recalled the disease of hemophilia in the royal family, and I liked how Nadine incorporated it into the story, along with the fantasy element of spell writing. The wiggling spells were unique and the relief that an activated spell brought to Alexei was relief to the reader too.  Being a rider, I loved any part that included horses and riding. :D

I think perhaps the Romanov kindness to everyone and anyone, including the harsh soldiers, was a sweet character trait among them all. The ex-tsar won many hearts to him by living a life of kindness and demonstrating that not all rumors or propaganda is true, and Nastya also lived her life with the same desire to be kind to all (though it didn't come as naturally to her).

Soon Nastya is entrusted with the final spells that are left in the country, hoping they will be a means for the family's salvation when necessary. The adrenaline and anxiety that accompanies that responsibility wears on Nastya, but her father's wisdom and her own learned patience teaches her to wait and trust even in the darkest moments. I loved how the family lived in exile yet hoped for changed hearts and smiles even when they knew deep down rescue was not certain at all. They made birthdays something even when there weren't any presents. They allowed themselves to love, even when they knew love could be taken from them. They remained a family when the Bolshevik army threatened to tear them apart.

My only wish for this story is that it was longer. I felt at the end that it was short, or maybe ended quickly, but maybe that was just my love for the characters and the story. I think the fantasy element of the spells was well done (not creepy at all, for those who are wondering), and it added in what was missing or unknown from the historical parts. For those who have experienced hurt in their lives, Nastya is given many choices that we all face: whether to forgive or remember, to heal or hurt, to erase or save memories. Read Romanov to see how Nastya and her family battle the hearts, minds, and danger of the Bolshevik Revolution, and see that though miles, memory, and time may divide, the bond of hearts endures.

The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright

From Amazon:
Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, in 1908. When clues lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a post-mortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death.

A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother--who is battling dementia--compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman who haunts the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns--and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.

As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, can they overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined?

I hesitated long and hard before ordering a review copy of this book. I loved Jaime's previous book The House on Foster Hill and I didn't want to be disappointed. I saw that it included the idea of a ghost and used the setting of an asylum. Put those two things together and normally you'd have a book or genre that I'd tend to stay away from. But I kept seeing it on social media when it came out, and so I read up on the book and the history of it. Then a while later, I went and read reviews from others who read it. Like one review said, the ghost idea has a "perfectly logical explanation" and indeed it does. 

I've been slowly and informally learning about mental illnesses over the past couple years. I see and hear of people just pushing the idea aside or of medical practices that just try to drug the problem away. I think it's an uncomfortable topic for most people because we aren't taught how to deal with it. Or sometimes people just don't think it exists. But those who suffer from even the more "minor" mental struggles such as anxiety or depression could tell you just how crippling it can be in the best of moments. Jaime Jo Wright explores the challenges of anxiety in her character Heidi. While Heidi doesn't know she has a story of her own that she's not aware of, she knows her mother's failing health (dementia) is bringing some things to light. Her new journey will teach her what true faith is--finding identity in her Designer and allowing others to help her when her efforts can go no further. 

Thea has her own challenges as well. While not necessarily the added burden of a mental illness, she indeed is harassed with questions of her past, since she was abandoned by her mother as a young child. As a photographer, she finds security and a sense of direction in an unexpected person, Simeon Coyle. Thea has a rough start finding business, requiring her to take unconventional methods to develop her photographs, but Simeon shows her a better way to capture the souls of the asylum--to remember those who are sometimes intentionally unremembered. Mr. and Mrs. Amos show her the gentleness and caring of true faith. 

Pleasant Valley is where Heidi's and Thea's story collide. While not pleasant in most aspects, I loved how Wright incorporated so many aspects of life's struggles in one story. She touches on mental illness, autism, child abuse, trauma, anxiety, dementia, murder, legalistic Christianity, and family division based on Protestant and Catholic beliefs. It's a complex story with a simple faith outlined through it all. Heidi and Thea are providentially given the right people in their lives to encourage and redirect them to Jesus. Usually it comes from unexpected people in unexpected ways. Each woman comes to find healing through their challenges and pain, even when answers don't make their life easier. 

I think for some, this could be an intense and somewhat scary read. While I believe that spirits do exist (both good and bad), I don't believe that they unintentionally walk the earth haunting people, so the moments that could have been unnerving were not so for me. And like the review I read previously, the ghost-like appearance has a very logical explanation. I so appreciated reading about a character struggling with anxiety because it's a common struggle today and few have the people or resources to help them walk through it. And I'm so glad another author is bringing the life of those in an asylum to life. 

There were so many themes I loved in this book, but one of them was that human love and help comes from unexpected people. That faith means fixing your eyes on Jesus and the rest follows. That it's okay to find people you can trust again. It's okay to be broken and realize that you can't fix your life. But that healing comes through pushing through the pain and fear. That's it's okay to know that strength usually comes from a point of great weakness. And to never find your identity in your circumstances, but in the Creator who makes all things new. 

*I was given a copy of this book from Nuts About Books for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. 

20 Questions!

So a Twitter friend posted this last year I think, and I loved it and decided it should be a blog post. So here goes. :) (These are answers relating to fiction works. I read lots of non-fiction too.)

1. My favorite genre to read last year was fantasy/allegory and historical fiction. So far I seem to be continuing that trend. I loved finding new authors and the ones I found usually wrote from those two genres. I love historical fiction because I can learn things while having people and places come alive through past events. I love fantasy because really it's someone writing about our world and our lives, just in another place and setting.

2. Currently I'm rereading Chuck Black's Kingdom and Knights of Arrethtrae series. I'm on book 3, Kingdom's Edge, and it's every bit as good as it was the first time. (So were 1 and 2, too.) It's like an extended allegory of the Bible, including Shadow and Silent Warriors (representing demons and angels, respectively). Jewish history, and the Messiah, and daily life combined, and it is written simpler for younger people, but adults love them too.

3. The first book I remember loving was Norman the Doorman. I haven't seen any other kid read it ever and I don't even know if it's being published anymore (that makes me feel old). It's about a mouse, and it was a horizontally long book (not the regular size or square kids books). It had lots of pictures and I remember asking dad to read it over and over again. I still remember phrases from it. The first chapter books I remember loving were The Black Stallion series, and the Misty of Chincoteague series. Both about horses...animals I still love and ride today. The list of books I loved just grew from there on.

4. A book series I wish would be adapted to film would be the Kingdom/Knights of Arrethtrae series and Black's other series Wars of the Realm. A stand alone book I wish would be made into a movie would be Crowning Heaven (Emily Hayse), Pendragon's Heir (Suzannah Rowntree) or Counted Worthy (Leah E. Good).

5. This one is hard...favorite protagonist is probably Ben from War of Loyalties (Schuyler McConkey) or Reese from the Oneness series (Rachel Starr Thomson). I really can't decide. :P

6. Favorite antagonists really aren't my thing. I don't tend to like them at all and typically can't imagine them being a favorite. I'll keep thinking...

7. I wrote simple stories for school when I was little, but I'm not a story writer as such. I do remember writing a story about a dog sled team and about a rabbit who needed a friend, but I've written non-fiction and poetry in greater quantities as I've gotten older.

8. So I used to believe the Lord of the Ring movie series were better than the books. However, having read them through a second time, I have changed my mind. The books are so full of amazing quotes (so are the movies), and rereading them makes me just want to read them again. However, I will say that the Hobbit movies are better than the book (though I did enjoy the book). It's a lighter story (and it was meant to be so), but I love the deeper side of relationships and life that the movie brings out.

9. Best book this year so far, is The Return of the King (3rd book in the LOTR trilogy).

10. I don't have one favorite author, so I'll list lots. :D Angela Hunt, Rachel Starr Thomson, Mesu Andrews, Lynn Austin, K.M. Weiland, Chuck Black, Patrick Carr, Suzannah Rowntree, Schuyler McConkey, Emily Hayse, Leah E. Good, Rosemary Sutcliff, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Douglas Bond, and Nadine Brandes. To name a few. ;)

11. I'm not sure I have a least favorite genre. I usually like books from all different genres. It really depends on the author and the book, not so much the genre for me. There are some very obvious genres I would refrain from reading, but typically, I'm willing to try most stories in different settings.

12. I have way too many books that I'd recommend to friends. After all, I have six bookshelves (might be seven soon), so I'm not really sure where to start. The last book I recently loaned to a friend was Crowning Heaven. I'd also recommend War of Loyalties (Schuyler McConkey), Exile (Rachel Starr Thomson), Pendragon (Suzannah Rowntree), and A Time to Die (Nadine Brandes).

13. I haven't really watched many film adaptations of movies, and the ones I've watched recently, the book was written after the movie. However, I do love, love, love the extended edition of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. I also recently watched Paul, Apostle of Christ and read the book by Angela Hunt. Super well done.

14. Probably the Bible. I haven't counted, but I am quite sure that I have reread the Bible more times than I've ever read any other book. I don't often reread, though it is my goal to do it more this year.

15. Well, the books I don't expect to like are the ones I haven't read yet. I usually expect to like a book and often I do. There are few that I have read and not liked in some way. Usually that happens with non-fiction, more than fiction.

16. I'm very bad at reading classics. If Little Women and Little Men are classics, then I love them (also the movies). Same with Swiss Family Robinson. I have Emma and Pride and Prejudice on my shelf, but I haven't read them yet. My reading habits so far have consisted of reading ancient books (that nobody knows about) or brand new authors (also which nobody often knows about, it seems). But it makes an amazing platform for sharing new stories. :)

17. Different books have impacted me at different stages of life, so truly there is no one book, and often times they happened to be non-fiction works. However, Dreamlander (K.M. Weiland), War of Loyalties (Schuyler McConkey), and Renegade (Rachel Starr Thomson) have been the most influential in the last five years or so. I love the challenges of faith, and journeys of friendships in each of them. Basically I love seeing faith meet real life and how it plays out in peoples' lives.

18. Actually, I have met two authors already. One being a friend, and the other a Sunday school student of mine. :) However, I think that meeting Nadine Brandes would be amazingly fun. I love her Instagram stories (especially of baby-life), and her YouTube videos are so friendly and personable. But I'd love to meet Angela Hunt and Emily Hayse and K.M. Weiland and ask them All the Questions about why they wrote their stories.

19. I think more people should know about Rachel Starr Thomson. I can't remember where I was first introduced to her, probably social media somewhere, but the first book of each of her series is free on her website. She has a large following and also speaks at conferences and retreats and such, but everyone I mentioned her to doesn't seem to even know about her. Her insight into Scripture is amazing and she writes stories that take spiritual matters and make them tangible (or so it seems). She writes the hard stuff in ways that people would readily accept. And she has a membership for readers so you can get access to all her new books first (because why ever not?).

20. My favorite series is the Oneness Cycle by Rachel Starr Thomson. Favorite book...well, I'd have to have one for each category and genre. There's no way I could have a favorite book. However, I think most of my favorite books are mentioned in this post, so read them sometime and let me know what you think! You can also find reviews of many of them on the Alphabetized Book Reviews page.

What would be some of your answers to these 20 questions?

2018 Book List

I conquered 42 books last year! I also found some new favorites, and was excited to read a lot more historical fiction and fantasy. (Yes, I did read two books twice--partly because I forgot where events and quotes were and needed to reread them in order to review them properly. :P) What was your favorite book to read last year? I think mine was Outcast by Sutcliff and Nadine Brandes Out of Time series.

1. Seeds by Rachel Starr Thomson 
2. Where We Belong by Lynn Austin 
3. Beasts and Queens by Suzannah Rowntree 
4. Queechy by Elizabeth Wetherell 
5. Fawkes by Nadine Brandes 
6. Isaiah’s Daughter by Mesu Andrews 
7. A Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron 
8. Facing the Giants by Eric Wilson 
9. Shock of Night by Patrick Carr 
10. Refugees by R. A. Denny 
11. Paul, Apostle of Christ by Angela Hunt 
12. The Shattered Vigil by Patrick Carr 
13. Beloved Mess by Kimm Crandall 
14. The Wounded Shadow by Patrick Carr 
15. Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot by Mo Isom 
16. Miriam by Mesu Andrews
17. Return to Me by Lynn Austin 
18. Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin 
19. A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers 
20. On This Foundation by Lynn Austin 
21. Outcast by Rosemary Sutcliff 
22. A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes 
23. A Time to Speak by Nadine Brandes 
24. A Time to Rise by Nadine Brandes
25. Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar 
26. Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen 
27. Even Now by Karen Kingsbury 
28. Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury 
29. Through the Eyes of Hope by Lacey Buchanan 
30. A Cap for Corinne by Zillah K. MacDonald 
31. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater 
32. Journey into God’s Word by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays 
33. The Girls’ Guide to Conquering Life by Jonathan and Erica Catherman 
34. Outlaw by Ted Dekker
35. Dig Deeper by Nigel Baynon and Andrew Sach 
36. The Return by Lacey Sturm 
37. Wayfarer by K.M. Wyland 
38. This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti 
39. River to Redemption by Ann H. Gabhart 
40. Jerusalem’s Queen by Angela Hunt 
41. Wayfarer by K. M. Wyland
42. Jerusalem’s Queen by Angela Hunt 

It's Okay Not to Be Okay by Sheila Walsh

From Amazon: 
We've all experienced that moment where we wish we could start all over again. Failed marriages, lost friends, addictions, lost jobs. This is not the life we imagined. Yesterday can sometimes leave us stuck, sad, shamed, scared, and searching. Sheila Walsh encourages readers to face the pain head on and then start again, from right where they are. She shares that when she discovered "I'm not good enough and I'm good with that," everything started to change.

In It's Okay Not to Be Okay, Walsh helps women overcome the same old rut of struggles and pain by changing the way they think about God, themselves, and their everyday lives. She shares practical, doable, daily strategies that will help women move forward one step at a time knowing God will never let them down.

The term "self-help" isn't one I like to use. While I understand the label and what it's meant to imply, I think it gives a wrong approach when Christians use it. Not everything in life is about "self"; in fact, our lives were meant to point to a Creator, and when the term "self-help" is used, it points to us instead. So when I saw the first line on the back of Sheila Walsh's book I was happy. Not self-help. God help.* God is help and He gives that help to us. 

This is probably the latest book review I've ever done. I try to be on time, but this wasn't a book I could just sit down and read through--even when I wanted to catch up. Walsh's words make you think and each chapter has several quotes pulled out from her writing and made into a page of their own. Each chapter also has questions and ideas for reflection at the end. 

Chapter one starts out by showing us that while it's okay for us not to be okay, we never should stop there. There are steps to moving forward and sometimes we need motivation and a reason to take that first step. Usually that means being willing to admit the truth about yourself, your situation, and God. She talks about the questions that consume our mind during struggles and how we can change the way we think, but first we have to know that we're stuck and needing help. God is in the business of changing lives and creating something beautiful out of brokenness, but we have to be willing to admit our hurt and understand that change happens through God's strength. One of the reasons that it's okay not to be okay, is that Jesus has made us right with God no matter what goes on around us. 

Only an internal transformation will truly change external behavior. Every battle begins in our minds, not with our behavior. We can behave a certain way and remain unchanged. If we want to change how we act, we have to change how we think. 

Sheila Walsh talks about the "what ifs" that plague our minds and tells us to do things afraid, even when you don't have all the answers. Sometimes you just don't know until you do something. And sometimes even when we step out in faith it seems like God doesn't meet us there. But it's when we reach the end of ourselves that God is able to transform our hearts and minds and allow His truth to be louder than our fears.

Walsh uses the life example of Joseph for chapter five when she discusses that we have to let go of what we can't control. We (often) perceive things in different ways than God does, so then we end up not seeing the complete picture as God plans our lives. While man may create devastation around us, God intends all things to be used for our good, and resting in that fact can give us the grace to rise above our disappointments. When we can understand fully that we are completely not enough in any way for anything, Jesus takes what we can give, and provides the rest through grace in the moment. Even when dreams are deferred, the hope we have in God will ultimately not disappoint us.

Sheila talks about how we view the scars that this world gives us. Some are invisible; others are obvious. But through obedience and the grace of Jesus, we can face the past and go on with grace, choosing to view those scars in light of God's mercy and our willingness to get up again and go on one more time. We are free in Christ, and we don't need to hide who we are or how God fashioned us. We aren't supposed to be bound by the labels that society gives us. We are real, but we're all broken, and understanding that Christ is the hero of our stories allows us to be human.

We can't be perfect. We shouldn't stay where we are. We are broken, and we will need healing again and again, but Jesus is our redemption and He makes us whole again. When we can set aside the judgment of the people around us and realize that in Christ we are justified, then we are free to love with abandon. Nothing separates us from that love, and that gives us the strength and courage to get up over and over and move forward--even when we're not okay.

You are not what happened to you. You are a child of God.

*italicized words are quoted from It's Okay Not to Be Okay
*This book was provided free from Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review.

Of Fire and Lions by Mesu Andrews

From Amazon:
Survival. A Hebrew girl first tasted it when she escaped death nearly seventy years ago as the Babylonians ransacked Jerusalem and took their finest as captives. She thought she'd perfected in the many years amongst the Magoi and the idol worshippers, pretending with all the others in King Nebuchadnezzar's court. Now, as Daniel's wife and a septuagenarian matriarch, Belili thinks she's safe and she can live out her days in Babylon without fear--until the night Daniel is escorted to Belshazzar's palace to interpret mysterious handwriting on a wall. The Persian Army invades, and Belili's tightly-wound secrets unfurl with the arrival of the conquering army. What will the reign of Darius mean for Daniel, a man who prays to Yahweh alone? 

Ultimately, Yahweh's sovereign hand guides Jerusalem's captives, and the frightened Hebrew girl is transformed into a confident woman, who realizes her need of the God who conquers both fire and lions.

I didn't read the description of this book before I requested it, and every time I saw the title, I wondered what years of the Bible it would cover. For some reason, Daniel never came to mind, and fire and lions were quite a puzzle to me whenever I was reminded that I needed to read and review it. :)

This book opens by introducing us to Abigail, a mother to a large family, yet somehow shunned and estranged from them--all while living under the same roof. Her faithful companion and servant Mert is sure that things would be different if Abigail would just share her life story with them. But Abigail's not convinced. We also meet Daniel, Abigail's husband, who within minutes is dragged off to interpret a dream for King Belshazzar. The rest of the family seated at dinner is left shocked and distressed, especially since Daniel and his wife are now elderly.

After a couple chapters, we are thrown back in time to Jerusalem and Abigail's childhood in the court of the king. In the chaos that marks the court, Temple, and the years of Jewish history, she is soon an orphan--her life spared by the command of her mother to hide in the Temple. As Babylon takes Judah captive, Abigail must learn a new way of life, that of a servant to four boys: Daniel, Hananiah, Michael, and Azariah. While knowing what was expected of female servants in serving young men, Abigail fears her role, but knows it's the only way to survive. Daniel's kindness slowly wins her trust, and her intelligence leads him to instruct her in all that he's able to learn.

The God of the Israelites faithfully protects Abigail, even when she's separated from her friends, attacked by temple men and forced into pagan temple work. While in today's century professing Christians might turn their backs on God, Andrews shows how that could happen differently back in Daniel and Abigail's time, and Abigail ends up as a high priestess to Mithra, a pagan god.

I love Andrews attention to detail in her books. The names of the pillars of the temple, the bread in the Holy of Holies, the curtain decorations, the cherubim, and the Ark of the Covenant especially. Andrews addresses the controversial topic of eunuchs throughout Of Fire and Lions, because it is part of royalty life. I like her take on it, and while Daniel chooses to marry, his three friends have a revelation from God, as to what being a eunuch really means. Andrews weaves the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's trial by fire, and Daniel's own personal testing in the den of lions. The history regarding King Cyrus and King Darius was very interesting, and Andrews explains a bit more of in the notes at the end of the book. She also does an excellent job allowing kings to be kings in all authority (whether right or not), while also demonstrating that God works through them in providing mercy to the Jews--whether that takes place in everyday court life or in the return of the Jewish exiles to rebuild Jerusalem.

Another story of hope and redemption through pagan kings, friendships with queens, wicked priests and temple workers, plagues and health, secrets and vulnerability, and war and miracles. Just like the Jewish captivity had an end for God's people, so our captivity here on earth and in these bodies has an end when the Son of David returns to claim his throne.


*This book was provided free from the publisher. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review.