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One Final Visit to Curry, Alaska

Don’t you love a novel series where the setting and characters are so memorable that they live in your imagination long after finishing the final page? “The Heart of Alaska” collection written by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse and published by Bethany House is just such a series, and although “Under the Midnight Sun” is the final saga we will hear from the Curry Hotel family, their stories will long live in my memory! Continue reading →

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Not My Favorite Fantasy… Guest Review by Hayley

“To Best the Boys” by Mary Weber is the first book I’ve read by this author.  Releasing from Thomas Nelson in March of 2019, this book is targeted to a young adult audience and is set in a fantasy world in the province of Caldon. Continue reading →

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A Springboard For Outdoor Adventures! – Guest Review by Hayley

“This Outdoor Life” by Laurie Kehler is a new release from Harvest House publishers.  As you can see from the subtitle “Finding God in the Heart of Nature”, this book is a treasure trove metaphors between God and His Creation. Continue reading →

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A Beautiful Metaphor of “Pruning Open” Our Lives

Have you ever heard of the gardening technique called “pruning open”? I hadn’t either, until I read the fascinating, challenging, beautiful new book written by Michelle DeRusha and published by BakerBooks in the new year of 2019. Entitled “True You: Letting Go of Your False Self to Uncover the Person God Created”, this compelling book is based on a powerful and easy to understand (but not always easy to apply) metaphor that is so perfectly fitting for us as Christians. Continue reading →

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This Beautifully Designed Bible is a Work of Art – Guest Review by Hayley

I was looking for an NIV translation Bible, and this one was the obvious choice for many reasons.

As a musician, my eye was caught immediately by this gorgeous hand-painted design of musical notes and symbols winding among the delicate flowers against a mint green background.  It is truly beautiful and inspiring. Continue reading →

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A Health and Wellness Guide with a Biblical Foundation

Sometimes a book’s title accurately and succinctly describes exactly what you can expect to find within the pages. That is the case with a new book by Nelson Searcy and Jennifer Dykes Henson – “The New You: A Guide to Better Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellness”. Published by BakerBooks early in the new year of 2019, this book is a practical yet exciting, user-friendly resource to help us form new habits and, consequently, improve our health. Continue reading →

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Heather Holleman’s New Book Reminds Us That We Are Chosen for Christ

Heather Holleman is an author I greatly respect, as she always challenges me to think outside the box and dive deeper into some of the key verbs of Scripture. I’ve previously enjoyed her books “Included in Christ”, “Seated with Christ”, and “Guarded by Christ”, and was excited to begin her newest work from Moody Publishers entitled “Chosen for Christ: Stepping Into the Life You’ve Been Missing”. As Heather urges us, “It’s time to stop letting rejection write your story”. Continue reading →

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Fascinating Biblical Fiction About One of Judea’s Greatest Leaders

Angela Hunt’s masterfully written biblical fiction always exceeds my expectations. As we step into the pages of the story, we are carried back in time to Israel before the birth of Jesus, and can see, hear, smell, taste, and almost touch the ancient setting that envelops us. Ms. Hunt’s newest novel is just as incredible (and based on historical fact) as her previous works, and is a continuation of her “Silent Years” series. “Jerusalem’s Queen: A Novel of Salome Alexandra” is the story of one of Judea’s greatest rulers, who lived in the time period between the writing of the Old Testament and the New Testament. In fact, Salome Alexandra’s reign ended only a few years before the Messiah was born, and her peaceful influence over Jerusalem (after a time of unrest and horrific atrocities from the leaders of the nation) paved the way for Jesus’ lifetime. Continue reading →

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Great Ideas For Forming Life-Giving Habits

Habits can be life-changing, either for good or for bad. When habits are formed that help you to grow spiritually, the results will pay off exponentially in every other area of your life, as well. A new book from Moody Publishers written by Darryl Dash is entitled “How to Grow: Applying the Gospel to All of Your Life”, and is filled with practical ideas for forming life-giving habits that incorporate Bible-reading, prayer, and other spiritual practices into our everyday life. Continue reading →

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An Incredible Debut Novel

Have you ever read a book that was challenging, emotional, and perhaps even uncomfortable – but at the same time you couldn’t put it down because it was so richly written, engrossing and empathetic? This was my experience with “We Hope for Better Things”, an incredible debut novel written by Erin Bartels and published by Revell. This story weaves the past and present into an unforgettable journey told through the eyes of three women united in the same family, but separated by years of time. Continue reading →