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The Sound of Sleigh Bells. Can’t you hear them? I always think of Christmas even though I’ve never ridden in a sleigh.
As a young girl Beth Hertzler dreamed of riding in a sleigh. Now, as a young Amish woman she’s in mourning long after the death of her fiance. Living with the guilt of what happened, Beth shuns all social activities.
Beth’s well-meaning conniving Aunt Lizzy hatches a plan to get Beth to live again. And the plan involves a talented wood carver named Jonah.
I have always enjoyed Amish Fiction and have read many of Beverly Lewis’s novels. So when presented with the opportunity to read an Amish Christmas tale, I didn’t hesitate to accept.
Cindy Woodsmall has written a sweet story about two people, each having experienced tragedies and how forgiving oneself can heal old wounds.
To see Cindy’s interview on Nightline about her novels click here: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=7676659&page=1. Her interview comes after the commercial.
If you would like to learn more, visit the publishers website: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307446534
**Note: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
Are you tired of being ordinary. Yeah? Me too.
John Bevere in his book Extraordinary says that “there is an innate desire in each of us to rise above commonness.” He added that the most popular movies of all time are not love stories, mysteries, thrillers, etc but instead have characters that have beyond-human abilities or powers. Why are we drawn to them? Because we were created to live extraordinary lives.
Bevere’s book looks into what gives us, as Christians, the ability to live extraordinary lives.
I usually read non-fiction books with a highlighter in hand and almost every page in this book has multiple passages marked. And many of those passages are scripture. I could list quote after quote from this book that spoke to me.
I highly recommend reading to find out how grace and faith work together to make your life extraordinary.
Summary:
Grace brings believers into relationship with God. But many Christians don’t understand that grace is also the power source for incredible joy, success, and peace in life. In Extraordinary, John Bevere presents a logical, compelling, and deeply inspiring case straight from Scripture for living a life far above “the ordinary.”
Author Bio:
John Bevere is an internationally popular conference speaker, teacher, and author of bestsellers, including The Bait of Satan, Drawing Near, and Driven by Eternity. His award-winning curriculum and books have been translated in over sixty languages and his weekly television program, The Messenger, is broadcast around the world. John and his wife, Lisa—also a bestselling author and speaker—reside with their family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit his ministry website at www.messengerinternational.org.
For more information or to purchase a copy visit Random House, Inc.
The second pirate book I started while on vacation at Myrtle Beach was Pirate Hunter by Tom Morrisey. I wish I had time at the beach to finish it there, but unfortunately we had to return home.
I’m a HUGE fan of Tom Morrisey.
The main character, Greg Rhode, a marine archaeologist is a Carolina and Duke graduate so I was immediately hooked. Then I discovered he also played in his father’s bluegrass group much like my real life friend David Kinton who also graduated from Carolina–his group is called GrassStreet. David and his lovely bride, Stephanie, are active in my church–music, youth, Awanas. We’re blessed to have them when they could so easily be pulled to another church in Durham.
Tom Morrisey is a master story teller. I wrote about his book, In High Places, in another blog.
Essentially the book is two books–a modern tale of treasure hunters and an 18th century tale of pirates. The stories are expertly woven together and are parallel stories of fathers and sons, forgiveness, and romance(which I always love).
If you like stories about peril on the High Seas with rich detail and a satisfying ending read Pirate Hunter.
Don't ask me why I took pictures of my son's feet
I’m back from a long weekend at Myrtle Beach, SC. My peeps and I have stayed at the Caribbean Resort for the last three years. So this year, I thought it appropriate to read Pirate themed books. And that I did.
The first book I read was the Blue Enchantress – Charles Towne Belles Book 2 by MaryLu Tyndall.
What you’ll find in the Blue Enchantress:
A captive woman
A sacrificial rescue
A raging storm
A maniacal sea captain
A shipwreck on a deserted island
Donald Maass says to have your character do something he would never do. And the author did this in a most excellent way. Her vivid descriptions put me on the decks of the tall ships. I could hear the waves lapping on the shore. Oh, wait a minute, those were actual waves lapping.
The faith element was expertly woven into the plot.
This book did not disappoint. An excellent beach read.
My Peeps
Sunrise
Summary:
His New York Times–bestselling phenomenon The Prayer of Jabez changed how millions pray. Now Bruce Wilkinson wants to change what they do next. You Were Born for This will inspire readers to look for the miracles God is ready to do through them on a regular basis.
Author Bios:
One of the world’s foremost Christian teachers, Bruce Wilkinson is best known as the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller The Prayer of Jabez. He is also the author of numerous other bestsellers, including A Life God Rewards, Secrets of the Vine, and The Dream Giver. Over the past three decades, Wilkinson has founded several global initiatives, including organizations that recruited and trained thousands of Americans to address hunger, AIDS, and poverty in Africa. Bruce and his wife, Darlene, have three children and six grandchildren. They live outside Atlanta.
David Kopp has collaborated with Bruce Wilkinson on over a dozen bestselling books, including The Prayer of Jabez. He is an editor and writer living in Colorado.
Click here to read an excerpt: You Were Born For This:7 Keys to a Life of Predictable Miracles
For more information click here.
When I first saw the title I thought, I need to read this because I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. Maybe this book will give me some insight. I didn’t find my perfect career, but I did discover a part of my life as a Christian that I was missing–partnering with God’s Holy Spirit to meet the needs of others.
I teared up several times as I read the stories of how God used people like me to miraculously meet the needs of someone hurting–whether financially, spiritually or emotionally.
Seemingly chance encounters can be orchestrated by God to work a miracle in someone’s life.
So, what do I want to be when I grow up–NOW? I want to be used as a delivery agent for God to deliver his miracles all to His Glory.
This book was written for Christians to help improve their serve. I believe serving in this way is an excellent way to open the door for witnessing to hurting people.
Read You Were Born for This to see if you are overlooking daily miracles.
This is an example from scripture of a miracle encounter:
Acts 8:26-39 (New International Version)
Philip and the Ethiopian
26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a]eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”[b]
34The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”[c] 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
The Transformation.
I recommend reading Stay Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich.
The book starts with this sentence:
Preoccupied by troubling news, Cassandra accidentally broiled a batch of cookies.
What you’ll find in the book:
A woman with shattered dreams and a broken heart.
A childless couple.
Bad Betty.
A mysterious snow globe.
A Cowgirl Bride
New found purpose for more than one character.
Summary:
The last thing that Cassandra Higgins expects out of her Sunday is to be mesmerized at a collectors’ convention by a snowglobe. She’s enjoying some shopping time, with husband Ken at home tending their brood of four young boys, when she’s utterly charmed by the one-of-a kind globe containing figures of three dogs and a little girl with hair the color of her own. She can’t resist taking the unique globe home– even if means wrestling another shopper for it!
The beautiful snowglobe sparks long-dormant memories for Cassie, of her beloved Grandpa Wonky, the stray she rescued as a child, and the painful roots of her combative relationship with her mother, “Bad Betty” Kamrowski. Life in Wanonishaw, Minnesota is never dull, though, and Cassie keeps the recollections at bay, busy balancing her boys, her home daycare operation, and being a good friend to best pal Margret. But after a strange–flurrious, as Cassie deems it–moment happens with the remarkable snowglobe, Cassie and the people she loves are swirled into a tumultuous, yet grace-filled, and life-changing journey.
With the quirky, close-knit Midwestern small-town feel that made Charlene Ann Baumbich’s acclaimed Dearest Dorothy novels so popular, Stray Affections invites you to experience the laughter and the healing of second chances.
Author Bio:
Charlene Ann Baumbich is a popular author and speaker and an award-winning journalist. In addition to her Dearest Dorothy series of novels, she has written seven nonfiction books of humor and inspiration. A bungee-jumping, once motorcycle-owning grandma and unabashed dog lover, Charlene lives with her husband and rescued dog Kornflake in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. She loves telling stories, laughing whenever possible, and considers herself a Wild Child of God.
Did you know that September 20-26 is National Dog Week? This is a great book to read to celebrate.
I’ll be giving a copy of this book to my friend who would love to do what the characters did at the end of the book.
Click on this link to hear Jonathan Clements talk about the agent/author relationship: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/christian-devotions/2008/11/18/christian-devotions-speak-up
Sigh. I’ve been across the table from this agent. He even helped me “complete” the title to the screenplay I’ve written: Poison Ivy Bride (back in 2006), a romantic comedy. Okay, so I had not written it at the time I pitched to him, so I came home and wrote it in a month. Unfortunately, he rejected it because it did not have enough twists.
Hopefully now I’ve learned how to add twists. In fact, my last completed novel has a lot of them. So, I got the twist factor down, now I need to learn how to add detail. Maybe in another few years I’ll get that right.
But each time I attend a conference I come away with something new–sometimes I come away with just a little more confidence that maybe I can do this and that spending a large amount of my at home waking hours writing is worth it.
The next year(at the same conference) I pitched the Bride story to Dr. Ted Baehr. He told me that I made a good presentation. I went back to my room that evening and could not sleep. I tossed and turned until I had an epiphany about my story. I ate breakfast with Dr. Baehr and his wife the next morning and told him about what I concluded overnight, and strangely or divinely enough, he told me something (I’ll not share that here) that solidified the thoughts that had kept me awake–my story is an allegory of Christ and his bride the church.Why did it take me a whole year to figure that out about my story?
Anyway, one day I would love to see my Poison Ivy Bride on the big screen– maybe with a few more twists, but representing something of more spiritual value than I originally realized.
See Dr. Baehr discuss the movie starring Sandra Bullock. Click Here: ALL ABOUT STEVE. It’s worth watching the review.
I’ve been thinking about the book reviews in my last two posts.
The issues I had with both books had to do with the faith of the characters. It bothered me that the characters didn’t show a deep faith. I figured out why I had a problem with that.
You see, I want a deep abiding faith. I don’t want the only thing people can say about me at my death is, “she always attended church.” Attending church is easy. In fact, you can sit in church with a smile on your face while your mind is in some other far away place called imagination. No, that is easy. Instead, I want more.
Why?
Because I know a man who was also God. He came for the purpose of freeing slaves. Slaves to sin.
And he freed me. Therefore I don’t want a mediocre faith–Lukewarm.
–
Revelation 3:15-17 (New International Version)
15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
–
If you take the church and prayer out of Rose House, the story doesn’t change much.
For instance if a character is on drugs at the beginning of the book, and not at the end, I want to see how faith in God–through the person of Jesus–made a difference. I didn’t see that.
Now had that same exact story come from the secular arm of that publisher, I would not have had the same response. It was published by the Christian division. In my opinion the book could have been published as a secular book and could have sold well there(in general, I liked the story).
I read secular books. I don’t expect to see a strong faith element. But from a Christian publisher, I do.
I don’t know? What are your thoughts?
ROSE HOUSE by Tina Ann Forkner
Summary for Rose House
A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope.
Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms.
She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.
What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.
A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.
To learn more about this book, please visit:
My comments on the story:
I loved the story line. I could picture Rose House as a beautiful place deserving to be on the cover of House Beautiful or some such magazine. The cover art for the book is outstanding(I love roses). And I loved Truman, the artist.
My only problem with the story is that the faith element is a little weak–superficial. They go to church. They pray. But I didn’t see any real grappling with faith. I know, I know, fiction is for entertaining, not preaching, but I would have liked to have seen faith at work in the lives of the characters or renewed or new faith in the lives of those who struggle with sin–like the sister Geena(I love stories of redemption-and while she was redeemed at the end, I can’t say it was because of her faith). I’m sure someone else reading this story would think the opposite. So don’t take my word for it.
Even so, I enjoyed reading the book.
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