The newest release from the pen of Lynn Austin is a sequel she never planned to write… But oh my, I am so glad she did! “Legacy of Mercy” is the continuing story that began in “Waves of Mercy”, which released from Bethany House a couple of years ago. This follow-up to the sweeping saga of a young girl desperate to find meaning in her future, and a middle-aged woman struggling to make sense of her past, is just as compelling, just as well-written, and just as un-put-downable as the first, except this time all the loose ends are masterfully tied up, and the longed-for closure is provided. Continue reading
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When Susie Larson says that she’s “never written a more raw book”, her readers take notice. Almost from the moment I picked up her newest release from Bethany House entitled “Fully Alive: Learning to Flourish – Mind, Body & Spirit”, I could sense that this was a powerful work, and as I began reading this feeling was solidified into fact. Susie holds nothing back, as she pours her heart and soul into the pages. It is overflowing with what can be nothing less than God speaking through her, and the result is a book that I think will be transformational in the lives of many. 
I have long been waiting for the second installment in Mary Connealy’s “High Sierra Sweethearts” series from Bethany House, ever since the first story released earlier this year. “The Reluctant Warrior” picks up right where “The Accidental Guardian” leaves off, and reveals the stories of two characters who we’ve already become acquainted with. 
Allison Allen is a Revell author who is noted for her ability to explore themes of purpose, value, and identity in original and unexpected ways. This is exactly what I discovered as I read her newest book, entitled “Thirsty for More: Discovering God’s Unexpected Blessings in a Desert Season”. If you’ve ever felt like you are experiencing a dry season where God feels distant and far away, or if you are currently going through a desert time right now, this is the book for you… 
I love time-slip novels, and I also tend to choose books set in the World War Two time period. That made “Hidden Among the Stars” an easy choice for me, as it incorporates two interwoven stories, a contemporary one, and a historical one set during WWII. 
“Defiant Joy” – it really does feel like we must act in defiance to the world if we are to experience joy in this life. The mainstream society is governed by worry, fear, guilt, shame, and so many other things that stand in the way of this joy that is supposed to be the birthright of the sons and daughters within the Kingdom.
I always feel like sighing after finishing the last installment of a series, as it brings both a sense of completion and a feeling of regret that the journey has concluded. Suzanne Woods Fisher’s “Nantucket Legacy” trilogy, published by Revell, has now come to a close with “The Light Before Day”. The fascinating Quaker history combined with an intriguing plot, memorable characters, and a second parallel tale told through a decades-old journal, all combine to make this series one that I am glad to have read. 
First off let me say, I’m going to try my best not to gush incessantly and ecstatically about the following novel, and instead calmly provide several well-founded reasons as to why you simply MUST READ THIS BOOK for yourself! “A Rumored Fortune” is the second novel written by the incredibly talented Joanna Davidson Politano (her first was the extraordinary “Lady Jayne Disappears”), and published by Revell in 2018. It is a beautiful story filled with treasure hunts, thoughtful analogies based on Scripture, characters who you instantly either adore or abhor, a sweet but unlikely romance, and a Victorian castle that holds unimagined secrets deep within. If you enjoy Christian Historical Fiction, I recommend that you place this story at the top of your reading list – it is simply too good to miss! 
All stories affect us to some degree, but in some cases when the topic strikes such a chord in our hearts, we hold the story up beside our own lives as a filter to perhaps look at life a little differently than we did before. The issues surrounding slavery, and the courage of the men and women who helped the slaves escape their prison, are a prime example of a very poignant slice of history for many people. I have only read a handful of stories set during the Civil War, but Tara Johnson’s newest novel is definitely one of the most memorable. “Engraved on the Heart” was published by Tyndale House in the fall of 2018, and is a moving saga of courage, faith, and love. 
“Hope Your Heart Needs” by popular author Holly Gerth is a lovely little addition to the devotional genre. Published by Revell in 2018, “Hope Your Heart Needs” is the newest title in the growing list of books by this author. 