Firefly Island by Lisa Wingate

There are times when I want to disappear into someone else's life, stepping away from the "real-life" around me.  Lisa Wingate's tales set in Moses Lake have provided just such an escape in the past and her new novel Firefly Island took me down a familiar road.

The back cover teases:

Mallory Hale's life quickly veers off course when she falls hopelessly in love. After a whirlwind romance, Mallory finds herself leaving the bustle and action of Capitol Hill for the remote town of Moses Lake, Texas--with husband, stepson, and a U-Haul in tow. 

A sweet, mishap-filled journey into marriage, motherhood, and ranch living ensues, and Mallory is filled with both the wonderment of love and the insecurities of change.

This is not however just a sweet little romance.  There is mystery and intrigue that kept me turning pages long after I should have been sleeping.

If you have journeyed with Wingate to Moses Lake in the past you'll want to read this addition to the series. If you haven't yet stepped foot in Moses Lake Firefly Island is a great place to start.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group.  The opinions I have shared are my own.

 

Revealing Jesus by Darlene Zschech

The back cover of this new devotional Revealing Jesus by Darlene Zschech asks:

Do you long for more of God's presence? Do you ache to see Him at work in your life? Do you desire His peace and rest? 

My heart answered "Yes.  Yes, of course."

Every year my husband and I choose a new daily devotional book to read and pray through each night before we turn out the lights, choosing to end the day the way we begin, by pouring His Word into our hearts and spirits.

Zschech begins each daily page with a passage of scripture.  What follows are stories, questions, words of faith that not only encourage but challenge.  I have found my faith being stretched, shaped and enlarged in ways I am sure delight the One Who I am reading about.

If you are looking for a short daily read that will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus make sure to add this book to your bedside table!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

 

Jesus Pure and Simple by Wayne Cordeiro

There is a common theme in my prayers.  I ask the Lord for invisibility, that when people look at me they would see Him.  To cast the proper reflection I need to know Him.  Jesus Pure and Simple the new book by Wayne Cordeiro sounded like another step in that direction.  The book cover teased me with the following:

When you focus on Christ, everything else falls into place. Your relationships. Your job. Your church. Your mission. It's all placed in the hands of Jesus, pure and simple.

Here's something refreshing: a pure and simple devotion to Christ. Sounds wonderfully inviting, doesn't it?

And the good news is that it's not about doing more or doing less. Because God created you in His image, the more you become like Jesus, the more you become the person you were created to be.

Cordeiro again and again reminds us to correct ourselves back to Jesus knowing that he is speaking to hearts that are easily swayed and prone to stray.  Hearts like my own.

I was moved to tears and to prayer by many of the stories shared.  Aha moments abounded in these pages.  I was most moved by the following information I had never heard before:

In the Bedouin sheepherders' culture, they know that if the sheep are flocked around the shepherd, predators will not attack, because the shepherd is there.  But predators will be patient and wait for a lamb to stray. 

The shepherd will leave the ninety and nine in the open field and go after that one lamb and bring it back.  He will forgive it, love it and say, "Stay!  Because I know that if you stray again it may be the end of your life." 

Now if this lamb has a propensity to stray, and if the shepherd finds it straying one time...two times...ten times...then he knows that the future of this lamb is in grave jeopardy...When the shepherd realizes the fatal pattern, he will hold the lamb firmly and break its front leg.  A struggle ensues, but the shepherd will methodically splint the broken leg, wrap it, and return to the flock carrying the wayward lamb on his shoulders.  He continues to cradle the lame returnee in his arms until the healing is complete.  And when the prodigal is finally able to sustain its own weight once again, a transformation has taken place along the way.  A new propensity has replaced the old pattern.

The lamb stays intimately close to the shepherd.

I'm sure the lamb did not understand why things happened in that manner any more than we comprehend God's ways in our lives.  It takes faith to trust His work, but the rewards are more than worthwhile

Could your life use a bit of realignment?  I challenge you to read this book and learn to fall in love again with the One Who was, Is and always Will Be Jesus, Pure and Simple.

I was given a complimentary copy of the book by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

 

Relentless Pursuit by Ken Gire

I had not heard of Ken Gire until I was given the opportunity to read Relentless Pursuit: God's Love of Outsiders, Including the Outsider in All of Us.

The back cover teases:

The Marginalized and the Ostracized; the Sinner and the Loner; You, Me... and Jesus.  We're all outsiders sometimes. Each of us has felt lonely in a crowd, or been passed over for a job opportunity, or been squeezed out by "friends." We've all spent time on the outside looking in. But take heart--Jesus will leave the ninety-nine just for you.

Now that I am numbered with the ninety-nine I sometimes forget the patience and passion Jesus spent to draw me and capture me.  As Gire shows us through tales directly from God's Word, Jesus, The Hound of Heaven (as portrayed by poet Francis Thompson) does not ever stop His chase.  Whenever there is the tiniest fragment of our heart that wanders the pursuit begins again.

I felt afresh the love of God as I turned each page.  I needed this book.  We all need this book.

Included after each chapter are questions to ponder that I believe would make for a great group study as well as personal reflection.

As I mentioned above, this was the first of Ken Gire's books I have read.  I will surely not be the last.

I was blessed to receive a free copy of this book from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.


 

My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade

I love a book that makes me weep with wonder at how God can move in people's lives, so of course I was interested in reading My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade.  This is part of the back cover description of the story:

Upon her arrival in Redbud, Kate meets Matt Jarreau, the man hired to renovate the house. Kate can't help being attracted to him, drawn by both his good looks and something else she can't quite put her finger on. He's clearly wounded--hiding from people, from God, and from his past. Yet Kate sets her stubborn heart on bringing him out of the dark and back into the light... whether he likes it or not.

There are many lessons within the lines of My Stubborn Heart about asking, and listening and waiting to hear what God's choices for your life are.  It isn't easy to surrender your own will and desires; to set aside your own plans in obedience to God's voice, but it is indeed worth it.

Wade's pacing kept the pages turning, and though I found that this story held little that surprised me, I'm still happy that I went along for the ride.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The opinions I have expressed are my own.
 

Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate

Not long ago I was charmed by Lisa Wingate's first novel about Moses Lake, Larkspur Cove, so when Blue Moon Bay, set in the same location became available I was eager to dive in.

Even with the following promo on the back cover I was still surprised by how much mystery and suspense filled the pages.

For Seattle architect Heather Hampton, a trip back to tiny Moses Lake, Texas, is hardly in the plan. Yet because a promotion hinges on the sale of the family farmland, Heather heads to the last place she ever wanted to go. She's determined to return home, signed contract in hand, the next day.

But the currents of Moses Lake take visitors on unexpected journeys. As Heather's stay lengthens, she discovers a family steeped in secrets and an unexpected connection to local banker Blaine Underhill, despite his opposition to Heather's project. With each new revelation and question, Heather can't help but wonder if the handsome banker--and the family she has come to know again--are crooks or crusaders. Somehow she must find out the truth before she loses everything she has worked for and everything she's found on the shores of Moses Lake.

Once again I was captivated by the sights, sounds and movements in Moses Lake, turning page after page, trying to make sense of the riddle Heather was pondering:

The future is a blank page, but not a mystery.

Heather finds her answers and deepens her faith in ways she never expected.

If like me, you love a good story, come on down to Moses Lake and get lost in the tale of Blue Moon Bay.  You won't be disappointed.

Lisa Wingate is a popular inspirational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books, including Tending Roses, A Month of Summer, and The Summer Kitchen. Lisa and her family live in central Texas.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bethany House

The opinions I have expressed are my own.
 

The Emancipation of Robert Sadler, Chapian & Sadler

I was intrigued when I read the following description of The Emancipation of Robert Sadler The Powerful True Story of a Twentieth-Century Plantation Slave by Marie Chapian and Robert Sadler.

Over fifty years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Robert Sadler was sold into slavery at the age of five--by his own father. Originally published in 1975, this is the no-holds-barred tale of those dark days, his quest for freedom, and the determination to serve others borne out of his experience. You won't forget this poignant true story of good triumphing over evil, of God's grace, and of an extraordinary life of ministry.

I knew this would not be an easy read.  My heart was torn as I read these powerful words about man's inhumanity to his fellow man writen from a very personal perspective.  I admit to having a bit of trouble reading the conversations written in the regional dialect, but I am glad that I pressed through.

This story is a testimony to God's faithfulness to save and protect those who choose to surrender their lives into His hands.

My favourite tales were those of Sadler's ministry adventures, how God blessed his obedience by showing Him wonderous example of His power in miracles of healings and salvation.  We could all learn a lesson here about both listening and really hearing God's voice.

Marie Chapian is a Christian counselor and author or coauthor of more than thirty books, including the bestsellers Telling Yourself the Truth and Free to Be Thin. She founded Marie Chapian Ministries in 1982 to teach and equip the body of Christ. She lives in Southern California.

Robert Sadler (1911–1986) was born near Anderson, South Carolina, in 1911. He was sold into slavery at the age of five and escaped at fourteen. Eventually he moved to Ohio but traveled extensively sharing the gospel and ministering to others at every opportunity.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The opinions I have shared are my own.
 

A Good and Perfect Gift by Amy Julia Becker

Written across the back cover of A Good and Perfect Gift Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny by Amy Julia Becker is the line -

Sometimes joy shows up when you least expect it

Nodding my head in agreement because I know that God's plans and thoughts are higher than ours, I continued reading the rest of the cover:

Things don't always go as planned--especially when it comes to our children. When her first baby, Penny, is given a frightening diagnosis, Amy Julia's world comes crashing down. Could she continue to trust God's goodness through what felt like personal tragedy? But challenging surprises often lead to unforeseen joy, and disappointments can turn into blessings. This wise and beautiful book is more than a courageous story of raising a child against the odds--it is a journey through the unexpected ups and downs of life and the discoveries that come along the way.

Becker begins her story with the birth of her first child, born with unexpected challenges.  She takes her readers along with her on a winding journey, from her child's first breath, the numbing words from doctors, the questions she has for herself, her husband and God Himself.  We are welcomed in to her struggles to fight her own expectations of what life should be; her failed attempts to not draw comparisons to other's children; and an adjustment to a new "normal".

This book forced me to confront my own ideas about "special children" and the God Who doesn't make mistakes.

Becker's words flowed like good fiction and I hope she will write more about not only Penny, but her other children as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers a Division of Baker Publishing Group.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

 

Veiled Rose by Anne E. Stengl

As I have mentioned before, one great benefit of maintaining this blog is the opportunity to receive books to read and review.  I had a choice of fiction selections and the following description of Veiled Rose by Anne Elisabeth Stengl caught my attention:

Rose Red trusts no one with her secret. She hides in the forest, her face veiled in rags, shunning the company of all save her old father and her nanny goat. Her life is bleak and lonely.

Until she meets a privileged young man sent to spend his summer in the mountains. Headstrong young Leo startles everyone by befriending Rose Red, and together they begin searching for the monster rumored to be stalking these lands.

But the hunt, which began as a game, holds greater risk than either imagines. Soon both are forced to test their trust in each other as a far more terrifying scourge puts their entire land at risk.

When the book arrived I was surprised to find that it was fantasy/allegory.  I suppose I thought the description itself had been an allegorical illusion to a more realistic novel.  I had agreed to read, and read I did, sometimes finding myself wrapped up in the story of Leo and Rose, more often wishing I had not begun.  Perhaps that is how each of the characters felt about their journey as well.

What was good and was what evil is hard to discern here.  I found myself trying hard to find Christ between the lines.  Only the mention now and then of "the Name" that served as protection rang true in my spirit. 

Spoiler alert*****
I was waiting for a thundering victory that I never found.  There really is no happy ending here, no ending at all in fact, just more beginnings.

I will pay more attention next time I select a novel and choose realism over fantasy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House a Divsion of Baker Publishing Group.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Earthen Vessels by Matthew Lee Anderson

Does your body really matter?  Does it matter too much?

This is how the back cover describes Earthen Vessels Why Our Bodies Matter to Our Faith

In this provocative book, Matthew Lee Anderson explores how our bodies interact with our faith. How have recent generations of Christians been shaped by the culture around us in this regard? What can we do to push back? Through a deeper understanding of our physical lives, God can bring the dry bones of our faith back to life.

As a Christian woman living in the 21st century I have struggled with much of what Anderson addresses here, and though he gives no pat answers or formulas he does provide much to ponder and pray about.  Are we shaping the world or allowing the world to shape us?

In a world striving to attain an impossible standard of beauty, I was moved by these words:

The power and the pattern for our bodies are those which we see in Jesus Christ.

We need bodies that ae shaped by the gospel within gospel-centered communities and trained by gospel-centered practices.

As I continue to learn what it means to abide in Christ I recognize in deeper and deeper ways that life is not about what I look like, or sound like, or feel like, but rather I am called to allow the life of Christ to manifest in me.  I believe there is much here that will help us with that quest.

I believe parts of this book require a second or even third reading.  If you are interested in maintaining your current mind frame, leave this book on the shelf.  If you are willing to allow the Lord to lead you into fresh revelation, I encourage you to dive in.

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Whole Bible Story by Dr. William H. Marty

Dr. William H. Marty has written what he calls The Whole Bible Story Everything That Happens in the Bible in Plain English.  In his introduction he writes:

When you write a book, editors want you to be able to state its purpose in a sentence or two. Here's my attempt: The purpose of this book is to tell the story of the Bible.

It is not a paraphrase of the Bible's sixty-six books, and it is not intended to replace Bible reading.  My hope is that it will motivate people to read the Bible.

Dr. Marty leads us through stories that many of us know, in chronological order.  He does not include the Books of poetry and prophecy from the Old Testament nor any of the the Epistles that follow the Books of the Gospel.

Though the content is well covered, as a writer myself I did not sense the flow of story in Dr. Marty's words.  To me this read much more like very expanded chapter notes from a study Bible.

I was disappointed in the style, but I do believe that the author's purpose was accomplished; his words did indeed drive me back to the pages of the Bible.

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

Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate

Life rarely follows the course we expect.  Both Andrea Henderson and Game Warden Mart McClendon discover that truth as they each find themselves back home at Moses Lake.

Lisa Wingate alternates chapters and point of view between Andrea and Mart, weaving in strands from their pasts as she moves the story along in present time.  Histories that include a broken marriage, a tragic accident and more bends than the backroads Andrea learns to drive, have lead to broken dreams and shattered faith.

God's hand is upon both of these main characters, who find themselves drawn together in a mission to help a strange young girl who appears to be living with the slow and reclusive Len across the lake.  Hurts overflow as they learn to trust God and each other. 

I found this novel engaging. It was easy to like the characters I met as I turned the pages and I felt compelled to read on to see how God would smooth out all of the rough edges and work all things for His good purposes.

You can read Chapter 1 at Bethany House Publishers Media page HERE and I believe you'll find yourself, like I did,  wanting to read more.

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