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.