The Melody of the Soul Series: Music of Hope (Book 1) Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Gilead Publishing (January 16, 2018) Language: English ISBN-10: 1683700406 ISBN-13: 978-1683700401 Introduction Violinist Anna Zadok and her grandmother were the only ones remaining in their family who hadn't been transported to a labor camp. Their being Christian didn't matter, because by birth they were Jews, so their fate was sealed. Eventually, they would get their deportation ...
The Gift of Christmas Past – a Litfuse Review
Introduction Cindy Woodsmall is well-known for her Amish fiction. I used to read Amish fiction regularly, but I've taken a break from the genre. When I saw that she and her daughter-in-law co-authored a contemporary novel, I was interested! The Gift of Christmas Past quickly introduces the reader into the worlds of teenage foster child Hadley and rich teen Monroe. Hadley finds herself in a position that no foster kid wants to be, and she relies on Monroe to help her escape. When the situation ...
Many Sparrows by Lori Benton – a review
Many Sparrows is an Early American History novel written by Lori Benton. It takes me back to twenty years ago when, as a teen, I was fascinated with my Native American ancestry. It all began with having watched the movie The Last of the Mohicans in high school. What spawned was a deep interest in learning about the different tribes of Native Americans. I next read the novels The Last of the Mohicans and Follow the River, and my love for these stories runs deep. When I received the opportunity ...
Israel-God’s Heart: Landscapes and Legacy of Israel Review
Israel, God's Heart is a beautiful "coffee table" arrangement of aerial photographs that will take your breath away. I've never been to Israel, but I've always wanted to. Its rich history and beauty have always drawn and intrigued me. Ron Gafni, the photographer, has captured some beautiful scenes that are simply breathtaking. Israel, God's Heart has captured some of the landscapes that I've never seen before--areas I've heard described but never seen. Inside each of the five ...
Review of Brave is the New Beautiful
Brave is the New Beautiful: Finding the Courage to be the Real You is a book that, to me, gives a new look at what truly is beautiful. So many of us are focused on thinking that beauty is defined by expensive clothes, jewelry, trips to the nail and hair salons, staying thin and looking gorgeous on the outside. This book looks beyond the appearance into the beauty that is within everyone--waiting to be tapped and shared. Author Lee Wolfe Blum has beautifully chronicled stories in this book from ...
Trust My Heart Review & Giveaway
Trust My Heart, written by Carol J. Post, was a really fun read! If you're looking for a contemporary Christian romance that is light-hearted and fun, definitely give this one your time! I was drawn in because of the heroine's name Jami. It is rare to see my own name in a book. After I decided that the book description sounded good, I wanted to read Trust My Heart! The two main characters, Grant and Jami, seemed like real people. Both had flaws (oh boy--don't get me started on Grant!) that ...
Review of Through Waters Deep & Giveaway
Riveting, powerful, edge-of-my-seat excitement are words I'd use to describe Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin. Mary and Jim, the main characters, work so well together. Sarah knows how to weave her characters so that they function together in the story without difficulty--no weird vibes or fake-feeling characters. There are several secondary characters involved, but not so many that I was getting everyone confused. Each person's role in the story was specific and defined, and Sundin paid ...
Beyond the Ashes Review
Rising from the ashes is definitely a phrase that one would use to describe Beyond the Ashes. The leading character, Ruby, is a widow who has decided to devote her life to nursing after the loss of her husband. When she chooses to join her brother Robert in San Francisco's post-earthquake rebuilding in 1906, she's made the decision to also accept what life there brings her. I really appreciate the detail that Karen took in writing this ...
Summer’s List by Anita Higman
Great summer reading! Summer's List by Anita Higman is a sweet heart-tugging story about a young woman whose only remaining relative, her grandmother, has devised a "bucket list" so to speak for her granddaughter as her dying wish. Summer feels honor-bound to fulfill her grandmother's wish, so she sets off to strike off everything on that list. Along the way, Summer is reunited with her childhood friend Martin and she finds that her friend has had his share of heartache. Summer and Martin ...
Who’s the New Kid Review & Giveaway
Who's the New Kid? is a book that intrigued me from the moment I saw the cover. I was drawn to the story of Breanna, a nine year old girl who was obese. The book is written by Breanna's mother Heidi Bond. Heidi puts into detail the struggle that they as a family went through: the reality that Breanna had a problem with food and that her little brother was following suit, the taunting at school, and the difficulty of finding the combination of diet and exercise that would help Breanna. The book ...
Heart Sisters Review
I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read this book. It is so moving, so convicting, so encouraging--all at the same time! How is that?! It's easy--friendship is all of those things at different times, if we're honest. And honesty is what this book is all about. Natalie, the author, gets down to the nitty gritty when it comes to the honest truth about the good and bad of friendships. She very strongly suggests that in order to maintain a good friendship, that we ladies need to "get right ...
The Inn at Ocean’s Edge Review
Gripping, moving, page-turning The Inn at Ocean's Edge kept me busy! Fully invested in the story, I made it my mission to determine who the villain was, only to have my "bad guy" ruled out! If you enjoy a suspense novel that will keep you motivated and determined to see resolution, this one's for you! Colleen Coble's novels are fantastic as a general rule, and this one was no different. The plot was solid and engrossing. The interweaving of several secondary and tertiary characters into the ...
