Two Fold Adventures!

First of all I want to say this is a special blog because this is my first time participating in a blog tour and I'm so excited that it is with this book that I've begun!!  I, Saul is such a fun yet thought provoking book. We start our story with our hero a seminary professor Augustine Knox going through his everyday not knowing with one phone call God will give him a life changing moment. The next chapter we jump into history and meet Dr. Luke and the apostle Paul during his last imprisonment in Rome. At first it jars you jumping back and forth between the worlds but almost immediately you will become so drawn to both worlds you won't notice or mind because you'll be right in the middle of each world and when you see how they connect, which you find out early on, you won't be able to put the book down. This book has everything adventure,mystery, even a little romance. The writing is so vivid that as you read you'll find yourself in the middle of the story. You'll be in the prison with Paul or running from corrupt cops with Knox. This book is a must read!!!

ABOUT THE STORY

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 23, 2013—Jerry Jenkins’s novels have sold more than 70 million copies, qualifying him as one of the best-selling novelists of all time. In his new release, I, Saul (Worthy Publishing, Aug. 27, 2013), Jenkins presents his latest masterpiece: a compelling international thriller that catapults readers from present-day Texas to a dank Roman dungeon in A.D. 67, then down the dusty roads of ancient Israel, Asia, and back to Rome.

An adventurous seminary professor, Augustine Knox, is drawn into a deadly race to save priceless parchments from antiquities thieves, and discovers a two-thousand-year-old connection with another who faced death for the sake of the truth. I, Saul consists of two riveting adventures in one as readers are transported between the stories of Augustine Knox and the man who would become the Apostle Paul.

I, Saul will keep readers turning pages as it offers new insight into the fiery early days of Christianity when Saul of Tarsus vowed to put an end to the new sect, whatever the cost. A fast-paced story filled with political intrigue, mystery, and rich historical detail, I, Saul is the thrilling tale of loyal friendships tested by life-or-death quests, set two millennia apart. With this new work, Jenkins again delivers the sort of novel that has made him a household name.

Jenkins artfully depicts biblical times and characters, relying heavily on research and expertise provided by noted pastor and biblical scholar, Dr. James S. MacDonald.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jerry B. Jenkins’s novels have sold more than 70 million copies, including the phenomenal mega-best-selling Left Behind series. Twenty of his books have reached the New York Times best-seller list, including seven that debuted at number one, as well as the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal best-seller lists. Jenkins has been featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine. Jerry and his wife, Dianna, live in Colorado.

In Broken Places: A review

Brokenness is such a vague and huge topic and so prevalent in our society today in all it's forms that only the brave attempt to understand it and are willing to be God's instrument to fight it. Michele Phoenix is one of those brave authors who attempts to show us this through the life of her characters especially the main character Shelby. This story has quickly become one of my favorites. There are so many themes to explore in this story but I won't overwhelm you I'll only mention a couple because you must read this book yourself. I love to read but there are only few books that I get really excited about and this is one of them. Two themes that I saw and reached out and grabbed me are relationships and pain. The relationship our main character has with her brother, mother, and especially the one she has with her father which leads the one with her half sister. Michele shows us how those relationships help Shelby to discover who she is and to be able to start raising her half sister. Pain was a theme I did not want to see but impossible to overlook. Especially with the references to C.S. Lewis's Shadowland and the flashbacks from Shelby's childhood. Another aspect of the book which appealed to me because once upon a time I wanted to teach, so her interactions with her students was very special to me. There's more I could say but i want you to find out yourself. This is not an easy read by  means but once you get started you'll want to read more and go back to what you've read for a second look.  If you like stories about characters of strength, love and discovery you'll love this book. 

About The Book: Shelby’s life isn’t glamorous, but it is predictable—and that’s the way she likes it. A survivor of her father’s violence, she has spent a lifetime creating a safe existence devoid of dependence. But her carefully managed world begins to break when, under staggering circumstances, she becomes a single mother to four-year-old Shayla. In a drastic attempt to escape her childhood’s influence, Shelby moves to Germany, but she quickly discovers how intimately linked memory and healing are—and how honestly she must scrutinize her past in order to aspire to a richer future. As she juggles a new job, a new culture, a new daughter, and the attention of an enterprising man, Shelby’s fresh start becomes a quest for the courage to be not only a survivor, but someone who prevails.

Author Website: www.michelephoenix.com


This book was given to me for my honest review.

Justice or Mercy.......

As a people what do you think our philosophy should be when we are wronged Justice or Mercy?? Most people Christian or not our philosophy has been justice since we feel that mercy is giving those who have wronged us permission to hurt us again. This is one of the central themes in Karen Witemeyer's newest novel Stealing the Preacher. The story starts off with a bang as we witness the kidnapping of Crockett Archer brother of Travis Archer our hero from Ms. Witemeyer's last novel Short Straw bride. This is the sequel but you get enough information that this story could stand alone. Though the theme can be found throughout the story it is subtle enough that each character comes through and it is still enjoyable. Ms. Witemeyer brought joy, fun and humor to a frontier Texas town in her story. This novel has a little bit of everything romance, a little action, and a little thriller. Justice and mercy are vague topics but she made it very clear and concise with the relationships of the characters in the story. "Stealing The Preacher" has inspired me to be stronger in reaching my family members and those around me for Christ. For those who Love historical fiction and who like a touch of humor, and action this story is a must read!!! It will be released June 2013


This ebook was provided for me by Netgalley for my honest reviews all opinions posted are mine alone.


About the Story:
On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can scarcely believe it when he's forced off the train by a retired outlaw and presented to the man's daughter as the minister she requested for her birthday. Worried this unfortunate detour will ruin his chances of finally serving a congregation of his own, Crockett is determined to escape. But when he finally gets away, he's haunted by the memory of the young woman he left behind--a woman whose dreams now hinge on him.

For months, Joanna Robbins prayed for a preacher. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. A man to help her discover answers to the questions that have been on her heart for so long. But just when it seems God has answered her prayers, it turns out the parson is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett to stay in her little backwoods community? And does the attraction between them have any chance of blossoming when Joanna's outlaw father is dead set against his daughter courting a preacher?



Author Website: http://www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Sorry!!!!! Apologies!!!

To those of you who have decided to take this blogging journey with me I apologize for the delays so far. I have been going through culture shock and felt overwhelmed that this journey is too much for me but the stories I've read so far have inspired me showed me how much there is to analyze and say that I am compelled to continue so in a few hours you will see the fruit of those labors. Once again I ask your forgiveness and ask you to come join me on this journey once more!!!  

The Guardian Review...

The Guardian by Beverly Lewis is one of those feel good stories like a comfortable blanket that you want to keep going back to. This is the third book in the hickory lane series so it was good to get back there and to hear Ella Mae "the wise woman's" home spun wisdom again. Though it is a really stand alone since only the location and a few characters are mentioned. By the end of the story you feel like you know each character    and you can't wait to spend time with them. The relationship between Jodi and Maryanna is really special. Two women from two totally different worlds, at first cautious then they learn that when it comes down to it we suffer the same things in this world love and lost. Maryanna helps Jodi heal and Jodi helps Maryanna open up again.  The first theme that I gleaned from this story is to let God direct our lives. That is one of the hardest things to learn to do total dependence on God even when we don't understand what he is doing. As Ella Mae said "I've learned that sometimes I have to give up my right to know and simply believe that God's knowing is enough." The next one would be that The Guardian reminded me that no matter what emotion including anger the best place to go is to God in prayer. For example when Ella Mae explains how mad she was at God when her husband died and how she poured it out to God. The miracle is he takes our pain as his own to heal us. Such a great principle to remember. Though an avid reader this is only my second Beverly Lewis novel the first was The Fiddler and I would say her reputation is well deserved.  I really enjoyed this story if you are looking a book to enjoy on a rainy day then I would highly recommend this book you'll come away feeling good.  It will be released on March 26,2013

This ebook was provided for me by Netgalley  for my honest reviews all opinions posted are mine alone.

About the Story:
When Jodi Winfield comes to Lancaster to house-sit, the last thing she expects to find is a disheveled little girl alone on the side of the road. The young teacher is mystified when she learns there have been no reports of a missing child, and the girl herself is no help, since she can't speak English. It's as if the child appeared out of nowhere.
Then Jodi turns her attention to Hickory Hollow--and the cloistered world of the Old Order Amish--in search of answers.

Author info@ http://www.beverlylewis.com/

A Light at the End....

Out of the most tumultuous and troublesome times in our lives God creates our greatest moments. This is what takes place in Bethany’s life. She's an upwardly mobile young adult who seems to have everything working for her she's a talented architect and has a handsome lawyer as a boyfriend. Within a month she loses everything and ends up back where she swore she would never return. This is where God starts knocking on her door. I enjoyed watching Bethany grow and watching her fight with God which is never a good idea though for some reason we end up doing it any way. What was also fascinating was her relationship with Robin. It showed that God is so powerful even in our pain he can use us if we let him. To me what was missing was a change in the relationship between Bethany and her mother it was never resolved but I guess real life doesn't always work that way. If you want hope for lost relationships then this is your story. It was a great read highly recommend it.

This ebook was given to me by blogging for books for my honest reviews all opinions posted are mine alone,

A Journey with Words...

                                       
Words are one of the most important assets we have in our world today. It’s one of the many and easiest ways we express ourselves and to make our wants, needs known. Well in Words by Ginny L. Yttrup we travel with Kaylee and Sierra as they use words as their navigators through their lives till they learn who the ultimate word is. We meet ten years old Kaylee first as she explains what words have come to mean to her. She learns and stores words in her mind so she can take them out when things get too much for her. We meet Sierra on the anniversary of the worst day in her life. Where she tries to bury every emotion she ever had so she doesn't have to feel pain anymore. Both lives seem destined for disaster till they meet by accident near a cemetery. The parallel journeys that Sierra and Kaylee take to freedom are so inspiring to me because in some ways I hide behind things also and I don't get involved with people as I should. Sierra had to go through her own process of freedom and dependency to have the strength to help Kaylee go through her journey. The characters touched me as I was watched them evolve especially Kaylee. One of my favorite scenes is where Sierra baptizes and recommits her self to Christ after realizing there is not much she can do herself for Kaylee only God can help. Watching Kaylee go through all the emotions she was not allowed to feel before now that hurt and when she had her first breakthrough with Sierra I was tearing. Another thing I observed from Sierra is that in order for her life to have any meaning and also for her to move on is that she had to stop being self centered and start focusing on others in her life. She learned to put someone else’s happiness before hers. What I learned most from this story is the harder we try to hold on to the controller of our world, the harder things are for us and the more tied up and bottled up we feel. To experience real freedom we have to let go and let the real controller handle everything he is the expert. I think this quote “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son." He gave His Word.” Encompasses what this story is all about and what each character learns. That this quote is straight from Kaylee which makes it even more inspiring. There is a last theme that Ginny Ytrup discusses which is truth and confession. Lately this has become my own theme since my prayer group have been discussing just this topic. Just as Kaylee and Sierra have discovered there are sins and other truths that must be confessed in order to be free and live in the truth. The subject matter was heavy but I really enjoyed this book hopefully you get it and enjoy it too.

The thoughts written above are just my humble opinions.

Pearls of Faith and Love...

Imagineyourself In ancient times and it's a drought year your family has nothing leftto survive on!!! Worst you are a girl of barely sixteen what can you do!!! Thenyou hear you  overhear your parentsdiscussing selling like you are their last peace of Gold!! well this is whereour Journey begins with Pearl in the sand by Tessa Afshar.  Our main character Rahab is told by herfather after eavesdropping the night before that the only way for the family tosurvive this season is if she sells herself as a prostitute at the temple. Ican not imagine what goes through a young girl's head when you are told this, Tessatries to give us an inkling of it though it can never be enough. Rahab goesinto business for herself and rejects her culture’s way of life. Through heringenuity and wit she thrives and becomes a sought after courtesan. Though inall this time she feels a loneliness and anger cause she feels betrayed by herfamily and they feel embarrassed by her profession. It is at this times shehears about a ragtag group of nomads who follow a strange nameless and facelessGod which intrigues her due to the stories of his compassion and his  power. What astounds me is that Rahab startsto believe in God and follow the little she knows about his ways on the strengthof those stories alone and what’s even more inspiring is that she never turnsfrom this faith. Soon we meet those nomads called Israel and our other maincharacter Salmone. So our journey unfolds with Salmone and Rahab as they try tocome together. As you can tell I really love this story of faith, love andredemption. Tessa Afshar creates unforgettable characters in Rahab and Salmone.She makes you want to come back again and again to see how they fought theirbattles. As Rahab fights feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness and Salmone fights with what he believes arefeelings of what he thinks is righteous pride, they learn battles are easierwon when fought together.Though thisbook is full of so many truths the one that stands out to me is God's mercy andhis Love though many may scoff, in this cynical world nothing is better thanknowing that I matter to the king of the universe and what goes on in my lifeis important to him. If you’ve read the book tell me your thoughts.

Thesethoughts are my own and none were solicited…. 

Hello!! And Welcome!!

Well this is my first journey into Blogging territory, so bear with me those of you that are locals. I want to write this blog to share and hear comments about those stories that have made an impact on any aspect of my life especially my faith. Which is why I'll mostly be talking about Christian Fiction. My favorite authors right now are Tessa Afshar, James Rubart, and Karen Witemeyer. These Authors have made me stop and think about my relationship with GOD, my family, my church, and my role in the community. You'll probably see a review for each author in the coming weeks so look out for those. Tell me your favorite Christian Fiction Authors.