I've read a lot of Lynn Austin's books and loved them, this one did not disappoint.
Return To Me is set in the time of the Jew's return to Jerusalem, following their exile in Babylon, to rebuild the Temple. Iddo, a priest, is sure this is a sign of God's favor. Many have lost their faith, which is what sets them apart. His wife, Dinah, does not want to leave their home and children, whom are not ready to leave their comfortable lives.
Iddo's oldest grandson, Zechariah, goes with them. He feels torn between his family he left behind, and his grandfather's faith. But, he has a life changing encounter with The Holy One that changes him forever.
I have found that I love Biblical fiction. It really makes me think beyond the black/white we have in the Bible....in the sense of how did these people live, what did they have to go through? The day to day events that can shape you over time. Reading this book was no different. What it must have been like to have to live among people that really hated you, have to fear what would happen when you went to the well to retrieve water, or watched over your flocks? They return to the land given to them by God, but the Samaritans have taken over this land in the previous seventy years and are not happy, not willing to share. They also have the daunting task of rebuilding the Temple, which is in total ruins. What great faith they must have had to take the long journey from Babylon to Jerusalem, arrive to what has become a waste land filled with inhospitable neighbors, and to begin the rebuilding.
I believe this to be a must read, and look forward to more in this series!
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Grandkids
Those that know me, know that my "first" (biological) grand baby was born this past halloween.
There is no grandma in the world that is more proud than I.
The above picture was done by his other grandma, Angie Gage. (my boys' step mom)
She did a great job! I had it blown up to an 8 X 10, and it proudly sits on my shelf above my desk.
Scream by Mike Dellosso
This is the first book of Mr. Dellosso's I have read. I love a good Christian Suspense story and I have to say "I'm hooked"!
From the book:
Otherworldly Screams... — A Madman on the Loose... — This Time the Stakes Are Higher Than Ever — While talking to his friend on the phone, Mark Stone is startled by a cacophony of otherworldly screams. Seconds later, a tragic accident claims his friend's life. When this happens several more times -- screams followed by an untimely death -- he is compelled to act.
Battling his failure as a husband and struggling with his own damaged faith, Mark embarks on a mission to find the meaning behind the screams and hopefully stop death from calling on its next victim. When his estranged wife is kidnapped and he again hears the screams as she calls from her cell phone, his search becomes much more personal and much more urgent.
I love the fact that the hero, Mark Stone is human...he owns his own Auto Repair Shop, struggling to deal with the fact that he betrayed his wife, and his faith that seems to be failing.
The villain, Judge, is not as cold-hearted as you would expect. He's kidnapping women, yet shows a compassionate side as well.
As the story unfolds, the reader knows what Judge plans, so the suspense continues through the story. I definitely had a hard time putting this book down! I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.
From the book:
Otherworldly Screams... — A Madman on the Loose... — This Time the Stakes Are Higher Than Ever — While talking to his friend on the phone, Mark Stone is startled by a cacophony of otherworldly screams. Seconds later, a tragic accident claims his friend's life. When this happens several more times -- screams followed by an untimely death -- he is compelled to act.
Battling his failure as a husband and struggling with his own damaged faith, Mark embarks on a mission to find the meaning behind the screams and hopefully stop death from calling on its next victim. When his estranged wife is kidnapped and he again hears the screams as she calls from her cell phone, his search becomes much more personal and much more urgent.
I love the fact that the hero, Mark Stone is human...he owns his own Auto Repair Shop, struggling to deal with the fact that he betrayed his wife, and his faith that seems to be failing.
The villain, Judge, is not as cold-hearted as you would expect. He's kidnapping women, yet shows a compassionate side as well.
As the story unfolds, the reader knows what Judge plans, so the suspense continues through the story. I definitely had a hard time putting this book down! I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Second Time Around by JoAnn Durgin
Book Two of the Lewis Legacy Series.
I so enjoyed the first in this series, that I was excited to start the second. Sure wish that darn four letter word, work, would stop getting in the way! LOL
Seriously, I was so happy when this book arrived, but as OCD as I am, I had to wait until I finished the book I was currently reading first.
This story is about two newlyweds, Marc and Natalie. They've only been married two months when an accident leaves Natalie with amnesia...oh, she remembers bits from her childhood and attending college, but she has no memory of her husband, Marc!
Again, I found the story line very realistic and well written. I could see things as they happened, feel what the characters were feeling. I love the fact that this book shows the lengths a person would go to help their partner in life...a book that is pro-marriage. Some would find that strange in this day and age. But, then, it is also a story about Christian faith, so that makes the difference. I also appreciate the fact that the characters are allowed to be real. No "perfect Christian" persona's....awesome, since there are no perfect humans today, only one lived, died, and was resurrected on the third day, our Savior, Jesus!
This story is told from Marc's perspective...he still feels it was a miracle he was able to get Natalie to date and marry him, now he faces finding a way to make her fall in love with him all over again, or as the title states, "The Second Time Around"
Marc's pastor suggests he get in touch with the crew of TeamWork Missions, a ministry Natalie loves. We get to see Sam and Lexa from Awakening. (yeah! missed them already). I love that Marc finds a new friend, and role model, in Sam. And then there is the mysterious Mr. Davis that Marc meets at the hospital...can't say too much about him, without ruining the story line, but he plays a small, but very important role!
I feel like I'm not giving this story justice here, maybe my thoughts are just not connecting today...please understand that I highly enjoyed this story and am looking forward to ordering the next in the series.
Monday, November 11, 2013
"Unspoken" by Dee Henderson
I have enjoyed all the books I've read by Dee Henderson. I like the mixture of a good suspense, some romance, and Christian Faith. I have to admit that it took me longer to get through this book, not only due to the length of the book, but I had a hard time sticking with it. To be fair, I have to admit that I have little interest in antiques or coins, so I got lost in some of those details.
The story begins with Bryce Bishop...a bored, but successful rare coin dealer. Until Charlotte makes a mysterious appearance one night, She has a large collection she wishes to sell to him. If he refuses, she will open a store right next door.
Soon, Charlotte's secret begins to unravel. She and her twin were kidnapped at the age of 16. While her sister "escaped", Charlotte spend four long years with her kidnappers. She has not spoken of what happened in those years, and even though it's been 18 years since her release ,there are still threats to her family.
I was disappointed in the fact the reader never really gets to know Charlotte. With the exception that she was kidnapped and was having trouble accepting that God is a loving God, due to her circumstances, that's all that is revealed about her.
I think Bryce's character was a little too "good". He was an honest, God fearing man, but that's all I got out if it. No flaws, no fights or major disagreements. In a word, boring.
No real suspense, or danger to any of the characters, nor did Charlotte have any part of solving the mystery of the kidnappers.
The story begins with Bryce Bishop...a bored, but successful rare coin dealer. Until Charlotte makes a mysterious appearance one night, She has a large collection she wishes to sell to him. If he refuses, she will open a store right next door.
Soon, Charlotte's secret begins to unravel. She and her twin were kidnapped at the age of 16. While her sister "escaped", Charlotte spend four long years with her kidnappers. She has not spoken of what happened in those years, and even though it's been 18 years since her release ,there are still threats to her family.
I was disappointed in the fact the reader never really gets to know Charlotte. With the exception that she was kidnapped and was having trouble accepting that God is a loving God, due to her circumstances, that's all that is revealed about her.
I think Bryce's character was a little too "good". He was an honest, God fearing man, but that's all I got out if it. No flaws, no fights or major disagreements. In a word, boring.
No real suspense, or danger to any of the characters, nor did Charlotte have any part of solving the mystery of the kidnappers.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
As you can tell by the title, I love to read, love my grandkids, and chocolate!
This blog will be dedicated to the first two. (I mean, what can you really say about chocolate, except awesome!)
I've read so many books, it would be too complicated to go back and write a review for every one, so I'll just begin with my latest. Maybe I'll have time to go back in-between books.
This blog will be dedicated to the first two. (I mean, what can you really say about chocolate, except awesome!)
I've read so many books, it would be too complicated to go back and write a review for every one, so I'll just begin with my latest. Maybe I'll have time to go back in-between books.
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