Kennedy's first year at Harvard wasn't what she was expecting, especially her off campus issues. But she's finally getting her panic attacks under control. And her friendship with Reuben has the possibility of becoming something more...
But Kennedy's life is about to take another unexpected turn when she and Reuben decide to go to the musical Aida. They never make it - instead they have a highly uncomfortable confrontation with a Boston police officer. Is this a case of racism or just police brutality? Kennedy and Reuben are faced with some serious decisions as they deal with the emotional and social fallout of what happened to them.
Feeling as if she is being pulled in multiple directions Kennedy must weight the potential outcomes of coming forward or staying silent. Is she a victim too or is Reuben alone the victim. Does the color of one's skin matter when determining whether or not a crime has been committed? Has Kennedy been blinded by her perceived notions of America? And can prayer be the answer to help her figure out what she should do?
Policed could be taken from the headlines of today's news. But Alana Terry adds an extra dimension to the headline as she reveals Kennedy's frustrations, fears, and anger both during and after the event. The issue is debated by those closest to Kennedy and Carl and Sandy may once again be the stability that Kennedy needs in this latest storm she finds herself being tossed about by. There is much food for thought in this book.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
About the Book:
When Kennedy Stern and her best friend Reuben drag themselves away from their grueling studies to enjoy a night off campus, getting pulled over by a belligerent cop isn’t in either of their plans. When the police altercation turns violent, the media notes Reuben’s dark skin and labels this instance of police brutality a hate crime.
Those Kennedy trusts the most warn her not to get involved, but she owes it to Reuben to pursue justice regardless of the personal cost. Nothing remains a secret when a frenzied media and an embarrassed police department delve into Kennedy’s and Reuben’s backgrounds.
Some truths, unfortunately, grow increasingly more painful the closer they get to the surface.
The Roots of Irish Wisdom Learning from Ancient Voices By Cindy Thomson
The Roots of Irish Wisdom explores not only the influence that Christianity had upon Ireland and her development as a nation, but the Christian influence that Ireland shared with the rest of the world - especially Western Europe.
The Irish fascination with the triad made the idea of the Trinity a well received truth. This also resulted in many facets of Christianity being presented within the aspect of the triad. Due to the isolated nature of Ireland as an island state Christianity flourished there while in the majority of Europe it was stifled during the Dark Ages. This was the Golden Age of Christianity as it was presented directly to the Irish people.
Roots takes a close look at both the saints of Ireland and the traditions that not only promoted the spread of Christianity across the island but helped return it to the people of Europe after the Roman Empire fell to its own instability. Patrick's influence is well known - born in the 4th century he never embraced his Christian upbringing until he was taken as a slave to Ireland. There having lost everything he opened his heart, his, mind and his eyes to all that Christ offered him. But it wasn't until he returned to the land that enslaved him that he shared the message of God to a land ready to hear and embrace the gift of salvation. Patrick's return brought a time of upheaval and chaos as the old pagan ways struggled against this Christian God - a God who was a Trinity. Patrick's influence on the whole of Ireland is honored and celebrated by both Catholics and Protestants.
The second saint Roots looks at is Brigid who lived in the late 5th / early 6th century. Brigid, a woman shrouded in mystery, was known for her giving to the poor. She cared for the refuges who came to Ireland from the instability that was consuming both the Roman Empire and Western Europe - no small feat at the time in which she lived. This giving spirit came from the belief the that the Lord resided within all who were poor. A good deed is never forgotten and this is the legacy of Brigid's life.
Some lesser known saints and their lives and influences as missionaries from Ireland to the rest of Europe are explored. Irish monasteries nurtured the Christian faith - these centers housed and trained thousands who helped spread Christianity from Ireland into the darkened regions of Europe who had fallen under pagan influences with the collapse of Rome. Learning Scripture was of vital importance and these centers were where Scripture was recorded and preserved - the most noted being The Book of Kells. The monasteries were also known for their high crosses - stone crosses which were carved to share the Biblical story with the common person who could not read.
This is a book that packs a great deal of information into a few pages. For those who are interested in either Irish history or Church history this is a fount of information that you'll want to turn to again and again. I was especially intrigued with the accounts of the Book of Kells, the high crosses and prayer. It is amazing how the very isolation that first kept Christianity from Ireland was the very thing that kept its message safe while the rest of Europe fell into the Dark Ages.
I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
All too often we are under the mistaken (and arrogant) impression that everyone understands the English language as we speak it in the Western world with all its subtle and implied meanings. But this is not the case and when the Bible is presented to those who aren't familiar with these subtleties much of the message can be lost, quite literally in the translation. Well, that is about to change for those who call Christ LORD and Africa home but have trouble grasping Western English. The Word of God must be revealed so that it can be known and understood by those who hear and read it.
And you can help make it happen by contributing to the KickStarter campaign that is seeking to bring this six year effort of love into the hands and homes of those who call Africa home.
“The Africa Study Bible is unique because it contains study notes written by Africans for Africans. For the first time, the African church will have a Bible with application notes that address the real-life issues that Africans deal with every day. Combine those features with an easy-to-understand Bible translation that speaks directly to the heart... and you have the potential to transform the lives of multitudes of leaders, lay people, and seekers. I’m delighted that the Africa Study Bible will soon be available to my African brothers and sisters.”
—Mark D. Taylor, Chairman/CEO of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
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Major Christian Organizations Partner to Launch Africa Study Bible
“The Africa Study Bible is a project that has almost unprecedented ability to positively influence the body of Christ in Africa, perhaps more than other single continental-wide project in the history of Christianity.”
--Dr. Danny McCain, University of Jos, Nigeria
Wheaton, IL – Millions of English-speaking Africans know and love Christ, but for many, God’s word is hard to grasp. With nearly every full evangelical study Bible written from the viewpoint of the United States and United Kingdom, Africans have lacked a resource that connects with their unique experience, hindering discipleship.
But that is about to change as major Christian organizations, led by Oasis International, are joining together to launch the Africa Study Bible (ASB), a six-year, cross-continental effort that has produced the first study Bible developed by Africans
“With the ASB, we’re bringing the power of Scripture to Africa in a new and culturally relevant way,” says Dr. Matthew Elliott, president of Oasis, publisher of the ASB.
“Under the leadership of an 11-member editorial board of scholars from across Africa, we’ve brought together 350 writers and editors from over 40 African countries, representing 50 denominations. This is an unprecedented project that will impact the global church.”
With the editorial nearly complete, Oasis, with the support of its partners, is inviting fellow Christians to join with them in helping get the ASB into the hands of Africans. With a goal of raising one million dollars to print the first 100,000 copies, Oasis is seeking private donors as well as launching a Kickstarter campaign, which began on April 18 and runs through June 16. Contributors to the Kickstarter campaign have the opportunity to receive incentives ranging from artwork prints to limited Italian leather editions of the ASB as well as all-expense paid trips to the launch of the ASB in the United States and in Africa.
“Our goal is to have the first run of the ASB available in Africa by the end of 2016,” says Elliott. “We already know of more than 100 million people in denominations and movements in Africa whose leaders want to use the ASB for discipleship so there is a lot of anticipation throughout the continent.”
Designed to grow the faith of African church members, teach them to evangelize their communities, and apply a biblical worldview to their society, the ASB uses the New Living Translation and includes 2,400 plus features such as application notes, stories and proverbs, touchpoints that link Africa and the Bible, learn notes that explain basic theology, and major theme articles that apply the Bible to key issues. Oasis plans to initially release the ASB in English with French and Portuguese translations in development. Oasis is also developing a full-featured app of the study Bible.
To support the effort, Oasis is partnering with Tyndale House Publishers to create the study Bible. Other participants include Campus Crusade for Christ, International, Willow Creek and Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit, IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students), Scripture Union, Africa Leadership, TransWorld Radio, Moody Broadcasting, Center for Early African Christianity, PJA (Publications pour la Jeunesse Africane), MMD Global, The Livingstone Corporation, InSight Books, Urban Ministries Inc., and the Association of Evangelicals in Africa, with additional participants being added on a regular basis.
“We have seen the hand of God in amazing ways throughout the development of this project,” says Elliott. “In the words of our supervising editor, Dr. John Jusu, the content of the ASB is bubbling up from the cultures of Africa. The biblical truth is percolating through our own cultures and stories to create a rich and textured tapestry that Africans can claim as their own.” --Dr. Danny McCain, University of Jos, Nigeria
Meet Dr. Matthew Elliott serves as president of Oasis International and project director for the Africa Study Bible.
Oasis International serves areas of the English-speaking world where people lack access to affordable Christian literature and the Bibles needed to mature in their faith. In these countries, the measure of annual incomes is often in hundreds, not thousands, of dollars. The great needs of Africa, in particular, drive Oasis to concentrate on this continent, where the Church is experiencing significant growth yet printed resources are scarce.
Matthew earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and master’s degree in New Testament at Wheaton College, as well as a Masters of Theology and a Doctorate of Philosophy in New Testament Studies from University of Aberdeen (Scotland). He was ordained at College Church in Wheaton, Illinois under Dr. Kent Hughes. He is the author of Faithful Feelings: Rethinking Emotion in the New Testament(InterVarsity UK/Kregel) and Feel (Tyndale House).
Matthew, his wife, Laura, and three children reside in the Chicago area.
For more information on Oasis and the Africa Study Bible,
Paralyzed
A Kennedy Stern Christian Suspense Novel By Alana Terry
Kennedy Stern feels that she is being followed. Since she was kidnapped she can't find the peace, the feeling of safety she once had.
Is this feeling of being followed, of being watch all in her head? Or is she really in danger? Those who read Unplanned will know what happened to Kennedy and Paralyzed is the after effect.
Kennedy is just trying to get past her memories. But until people stop recognizing her she knows she'll never be able to forget the fear and the helplessness she felt.
But when Kennedy's fears become reality just as Christmas break starts she is about to experience a Christmas she may not survive. One of kidnappers - Vinny - is still at large and until he is apprehended Kennedy is in danger. But is Vinny the only one Kennedy needs to be on the look-out for?
Can fear truly be powerful enough to paralyze someone? Is it so strong as to shake the very foundations of one's most firmly held beliefs?
This is Kennedy's continuing story as she learns to cope with life in America, life as a pre-med college student, and as a survivor. We are taken through Kennedy's emotional battle as she tries to return to her new normal.
This is a exciting and thrilling read that will definitely keep one in suspense as to what is going to happen next. Believe me you will want to read Unplanned first to full appreciate what Kennedy is going through. I highly recommend this book if you like fiction suspense.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book in exchange my honest review.
About the Book:
Kennedy Stern has returned to campus after surviving an abduction, but old scars cut deep. Vivid flashbacks and terrifying dreams paralyze her, threatening to ruin her academic career and any chance she has at peace or happiness. This mental anguish, however, constitutes only a small fraction of her post-traumatic nightmare.
A partner in Kennedy’s kidnapping remains at large and will not stop until he has silenced her witness permanently. His violent resolve risks not only her life, but the safety of anyone who tries to help.
Kennedy must engage in a deadly battle of the mind as she struggles to stay alive. While fighting on two fronts — one psychological and one physical — the question isn’t whether she’ll come out of the war stronger in the end.
The question is whether she’ll come out of it at all.
The newest release from inspirational suspense author, Alana Terry, whose Christian Fiction has won awards from Women of Faith, Grace Awards, Readers' Favorite, and several others.
Reef Libre CUBAThe Last, Best Reefs in the World By Robert Wintner
Political forces have kept Cuba's waters and reef habitats relatively safe over the years from tourists, economic development, and the destructive aquarium trade. But this protected world may soon be threatened as barriers to Cuba are dropped.
Reef Libre explores the untamed beauty that lies beneath the surface of the sea while examining the Cuban culture and the potential changes that may be coming as travel restrictions are lifted.
Unlike most of the world's reef systems Cuba's are alive and thriving with an abundant and vast variety of species coexisting within this self-sustaining environment. The aquarium trade has decimated most of world's reefs as "collectors" harvest species that are vital to the health and vitality of these fragile ecosystems.
The book is filled with photos of this Cuban excursion from both land and sea. Much of the land focus is Havana - the life style, the people, and the political ideologies that have shaped this land isolated from industrialization and capitalistic greed.
But the true beauty comes from the sea - images most will never see for themselves are brought vividly to life. Vibrant colors, graceful artistry that no artist's brush could ever create.
But this beauty and vibrance lies not only on the pages of this book as there is an included DVD Reef Libre The Movie. Much that can be found within this book can be seen on this DVD, but where the book offers still images the DVD captures the reef as it lives. We are brought into the very essence of the life of the reef. With over 45 minutes of video one can almost feel as if one is actually there. To experience such beauty one can only be grateful to the author, Robert Wintner and his team for allowing us to take part in the experience.
This set would make a lovely gift - perfect for the armchair world traveler, the ocean aficionado, or anyone with even a passing interest in Cuba.
I was provided a copy of this book through iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
About the Book:
Cuba reefs host apex predators and coral cover at optimal levels. While Cuban reef vitality may be linked to economic default and no shoreline development, no agricultural pesticides or fertilizers and limited human population growth, the Castro regime is aggressively developing its reef potential.
Seas to the south are now 100% shark protected.
Most Cuba travelogues advise “getting off the beaten path,” but Reef Libre examines that path, to see where it might lead as things change. Will Cuba reefs remain protected? Or is this perilous age of natural decline a last chance to see a healthy reef system?
Robert Wintner and the Snorkel Bob Jardines de la Reina Expedition herein provide narrative insight with photos and video. First stop is the baseline: Havana urban density. Down south at Cayo Largo, reef collapse seems imminent with 600 guests changing daily, and the phosphate-laden laundry water flowing directly to the deep blue sea. Will Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism step up with the Jardines de la Reina paradigm? Rising from the Golfo de Ana MarÃa, Jardines is a thousand square miles of mangrove estuary, for ages compromised by constant extraction of its biggest predators, taken as food. Protected, it now rises on the world reef stage.
A DVD comes with the book in a paper sleeve glued to the inside cover. Reef Libre, the movie, runs about an hour.
Best known as Snorkel Bob in Hawaii and around the world, Robert Wintner captures Cuba above and below the surface with urgency and hope. As a pioneer in fish portraiture, Wintner demonstrated social structure and etiquette in reef society. Reef Libre goes to political context, in which human folly will squander Cuba’s reefs as well—unless natural values can at last transcend political greed. As pundits joust over who did what to whom and why, Wintner ponders reef prospects in view of political changes.
Robert Wintner has authored many novels and story collections. Reef Libre is his fourth reef commentary with photos and his first overview of survival potential in a political maelstrom. He lives and works in Hawaii, still on the front lines of the campaign to stop the aquarium trade around the world.
Luther and Katharina A Novel of Love and Rebellion By Jody Hedlund
Katharina von Bora was of the noble class given to the church at a young age. But she dreamed of a life outside Abbey after reading the words of Martin Luther. But escaping from the cloister was only the beginning. Her life as a nun had not prepared her for what laid beyond the world she knew.
Martin Luther wanted change - a return to the Scriptures. But the reform he sought was being used as a means of seeding rebellion and revolution across Germany. But rebellion against the nobility could end the princes's protection of the Reformation.
Plagued by doubts Luther suffered as outside pressures and expectations closed in around him. Determined to stay apart from the world and its temptations, Luther never planned to marry. But our plans are not necessarily God's plans.
Katharina was not a woman whom one would expect to lower herself to wed a man of a lower class And yet she had nothing to tempt a man of nobility - no dowry, a name without a title, and a quickly passing youth.
Many are familiar with Martin Luther and the Reformation which he helped flame into being, but the woman he married is not as well known to the general population. This is their story - Martin Luther had already flamed the flames of reform across Germany when his words reached Katharina in the cloister in which she had spent 19 years. His words gave her the courage needed to leave behind all that she knew. She in turn would help him conquer the doubts and fears which lead to bouts of depression.
Two more unlikely people would never be expected to make a marriage and yet they were who the other needed - each a strength to the other's weaknesses. Katharina was the woman who was meant to marry the man who was viewed as the reformation and he was the man meant to marry a woman who escaped the life of a nun.
This is a story of sacrifice and change. A story of love unexpected. A story of new beginnings.
Some aspects of the traditions and expectations of this time are rather shocking and perhaps a tad disturbing. It is interesting to see the differences with how they lived compared to how we live today. Perhaps we would have a greater appreciation of what we now enjoy if we could experience even a day or two of their lives.
As we approach the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's reform efforts it is amazing to see how far we have come and yet many are still searching for the way to win God's favor.
Discover the woman who reformed the reformer by marrying him and taking his name as her own.
I was provided an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Author Interview:
1. Your latest book, Luther and Katharina, details the true romance between Katharina von Bora and Martin Luther. What led you to this remarkable story?
As I homeschooled my children and gave them history lessons, I began learning a lot about some of the great heroes of the faith. I was particularly fascinated by the wives of these great heroes, especially those who were long forgotten by our modern world, women who had stood by their husband’s sides during dangerous times and had helped shape those men into the heroes they became. I wanted to bring these women to life for our modern generation. I wanted to tell their stories.
Katharina von Bora is one of those women who has been largely ignored by today's culture, but she's a strong woman whose story deserves to be told every much as her husband's. I'm excited about sharing her story, about her daring and dangerous escape from a convent, how she met Luther, and how the two of them overcame many obstacles to eventually fall in love and form a strong marriage.
2. Katharina von Bora is a name that most people would never connect with Martin Luther. Why do you think it’s important that we uncover and shine a light on some of the forgotten female figures who helped shape the Church?
My goal is to give a voice to the forgotten women of the past. Since most of history has been written by men, unfortunately all too often the accounts neglect to include or minimizes the many women who played critically important roles in the shaping of history.
As a mother of five children and a wife to a husband in Christian ministry, I've had a firsthand learning experience of the incredible work load and responsibility that comes with raising a family, being a wife, managing a home, as well as helping do all of the things necessary to provide emotionally, physically, and financially for our family. As I go about this calling God's given me at this stage in my life, I have a greater appreciation for the women of the past who also struggled through the same issues (but without all of the modern conveniences that I have!).
I believe modern women will benefit from hearing their stories, will be incredibly encouraged to see these women who persevered through discrimination and found the strength to use their God-given abilities to make a difference. Not only did they make a difference in their era, but today (decades and even centuries later) we can see the fruits of their bravery and strength. These women of the past have encouraged me to persevere and to use my skills and talents to make a difference in my time. No matter how big or small that difference might be, I want to be faithful to leave an impact, just as those women did
3. What was the biggest surprise in researching this story?
As I dug into the research, the thing that surprised me most was that Luther and Katharina didn't experience "love at first sight." In fact, they had no thought of marrying each other. Katharina was a woman of noble birth and Luther a man of peasant beginnings. They were in two different social classes, which doesn't sound like a big deal to us today. But at that time, social class was extremely important.
After leaving the convent, Katharina expected to marry a nobleman. And even though Luther preached the goodness of marriage and encouraged other monks and nuns to leave their convents and get married, he had no intention of getting married himself. So, the question begs answering, how did these two opposite people with opposing personalities and aspirations, end up together? You'll have to read the book to discover the answer!
4. At the time of the story, how were Luther’s teachings and writings already inspiring change and revolution?
At the start of the book in 1523, Martin Luther had already been declared a heretic by the pope and the church. He'd already nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenburg church (which detailed his concerns about the corruption within the church). He'd already faced an inquisition by important people sent by the pope in the city of Worms. He'd faced the Emperor himself and had refused to recant his teachings and writings. He'd been excommunicated and declared a heretic. And since that time he'd essentially been hunted down so that he could be burned at the stake for his beliefs.
Luther went into hiding for a time, but continued to write and preach. During that time, his band of followers began to grow exponentially. As Luther's popularity grew, his teachings spread and made their way secretly into the convent where Katharina lived. When Katharina and some of the other nuns heard Luther's views on the unnaturalness of cloistered life and the goodness of marriage,
something about his message resonated deeply within them. And their lives (and many others like them) would never be the same again.
It's also thought by some that Luther's teachings incited the peasants in Germany to revolt against authority. Although Luther was of peasant origin and was tempted to side with the peasants, he maintained his relationship with the Elector and a number of other princes.They finally gave the Reformation and the gospel their allegiance in a move that likely wouldn’t have happened had Luther sided with the peasants during the Peasant Revolt. He had alienated himself from the peasant class, but in doing so had preserved the success of the Reformation.
5. Beyond the entertainment factor, what do you hope your books bring to your audience? What do you want a reader to walk away with after having read Luther and Katharina?
First I hope that after witnessing the great commitment of faith of believers in past ages, readers will come away with a greater commitment to their own personal faith especially in light of the difficulties and trials that may come our way. If a man like Martin Luther was willing to go to the stake for what he believed, that should give us courage. And if a woman like Katharina von Bora risked her life, comfort, and future for her growing faith, that too should inspire us to do the same.
Second, I hope that readers will have a greater appreciation and understanding of the dangers and difficulties that many went through in their efforts to preserve the gospel of Jesus and to correct corruption. Again, I ask readers to consider what they're willing to face in order to stand against corruption and to speak the truth in today's culture that is once again shifting away from Scripture.
About the Book: Katharina von Bora has seen nothing but the inside of cloister walls since she was five. In a daring escape, Katharina finds refuge with Martin Luther and seeks his help to pair her with the noble, wealthy husband she desires.
As class tensions and religious conflicts escalate toward the brink of war, Martin Luther believes that each day could be his last and determines he will never take a wife.
As the horrors of the bloody Peasant War break out around them, the proud Katharina and headstrong Martin Luther fight their own battle for true love, in one of the greatest love stories of history.
Jody's Bio:
Jody Hedlund is a best-selling and award-winning author who loves history and happily-ever-afters. She makes her home in Midland, MI with her husband and five children. When she's not writing another of her page-turning stories, you can usually find her sipping coffee, eating chocolate, and reading.
If I was asked to describe this book in just a few words I would use the following:
Haunting
Beautiful
Heartbreaking
Triumphant
This is a story that will leave a lasting and profound impression on you. This is a story you need to read.
Gretl Schmidt is just 6 years old when war takes everything from her - everything but her dream. The dream that wakes her from her sleep. The dream that haunts her.
A young girl hated among her own people - a Protestant German Jew. Sent away with what remained of her family to Auschwitz, Gretl managed to escape into the unknown regions of Poland. Here she meets the man who will change her life forever.
Jakob Kowalski is fighting to free his people, his country, from the German invasion when a mistake is made - a mistake which he will have to live with. While dealing with his guilt he offers to aid a young girl who has escaped from the very people he is fighting. But Gretl's fair Germanic features and Protestant roots are a problem in a country that is both Catholic and Polish.
As the war concludes an opportunity is presented that may provide Gretl with both a proper home and a family who will love her. But to do this she must leave behind Jakob and all that she has known and learned over the last four years. She must be silent on her Polish experience, her Catholic ties, and her Jewish grandmother. She must be a pure Aryan and a Protestant if she is to find a family that will take her into their home and their hearts, if she is to be one of the few chosen to become a child of South Africa.
As Jakob tells her before they part, ...always remember you're Gretl... If you don't allow others to influence who you are, you'll have something no one can take away from you. It doesn't matter what other people are like, or even what they call you. You must continue to be Gretl. Gretchen....
The Girl from the Train covers approximately a 15 year period of time - the time needed to transform the young child Gretl into the young woman Grietjie. The time needed to reunite two people who were necessary to one another. This is a story of the triumph of the human spirit, a story of love - a love that spans the years, and a story of perseverance in the face of prejudice.
If you need a suggestion for a book club this is one you should read. There are many books that are chosen as a selection for a book club and they are awful - there is no hope, leaving the reader in a state of despair and depression - offering nothing to make the experience worthy of your time. This book is not one of those books - yes there is tragedy, there is loss but throughout there is hope and hope is a powerful draw.
I was provided an advance uncorrected copy of this book by the publisher through the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.
About the Book:
A sweeping international love story that celebrates the triumph of the human spirit over the inhumanities of war and prejudice.
Six-year-old Gretl and her sister jump from a train bound for Auschwitz, her mother and grandmother unable to squeeze between the bars covering the windows. The daughter of a German soldier, Gretl understands very little about how her grandmother's Jewishness brought her first to the ghetto, then to the train, and now, to the Polish countryside where she wanders, searching for food and water for her dying sister.
Soon, Gretl finds refuge with Jakob, a Polish freedom fighter, and his family, where she is sheltered until the end of the war. Gretl is then sent away to a new life, a new name, and a new faith in Apartheid-era South Africa. As she comes of age in this strange place, she confronts its prejudices as she hides the truth of her past from her new family.
When Jakob makes his way to South Africa many years later, Gretl and Jakob are reunited in a love story that transcends time and distance and survives the ravages of hatred and war.
About the Author:
International bestselling author Irma Joubert was a history teacher for 35 years before she began writing. Her stories are known for their deep insight into personal relationships and rich historical detail. She's the author of eight novels and a regular fixture on bestseller lists in The Netherlands and in her native South Africa. She is the winner of the 2010 ATKV Prize for Romance Novels. Facebook: irmajoubertpage
The Prince Who Was Just Himself By Silke Schnee Illustrations by Heike Sistig
The third prince was a little different than his two older brothers. He wasn't as quick as they were and he seldom spoke. But he had a caring and loving heart. This caring would one day save the kingdom he called home. Because of his caring he was able to touch the heart of the kingdom's greatest threat - Scarface.
A simple act of compassion can touch even the hardest heart. And sometimes the least likely person becomes a hero because he fights with his heart rather than a weapon.
The Prince Who Was Just Himself is a story that was inspired by the author's own son Noah, who, like Prince Noah, was born with Down syndrome. The greatest lesson to take away from this story is that by being one's self - one person can change the world around them without making an effort to be someone they aren't.
There is also information about Down syndrome found at the back of the book that a parent or teacher can use to answer any questions that might arise after reading this story.
I was provided a copy of this book by Handlebar in exchange for my honest review.
About the Book
The royal couple is looking forward to their third child. "He looks a little different," muses the king at Prince Noah's arrival. "He is not like the others," agrees the queen. Soon they notice what a very special person he is, even though he can't do everything his brothers can.
When the youngest prince disarms the cruel knight Scarface, the nation's most dreaded enemy, with an act of compassion, everyone finally realizes how good it is that each person is unique.
This delightfully illustrated fairy tale for children three years and older instills appreciation for children with Down syndrome and other developmental challenges, making it a valuable aid for teaching tolerance in the home or classroom.
The author is Silke Schnee, who is a journalist and the mother of a child with Down syndrome. This book has wonderful insights into the joy children with disabilities can bring those around them.
What Others Are Saying
"A gentle fairy tale about a young prince with Down syndrome who saves his kingdom from a menacing knight.... [It] offers a special needs child in a positive, starring role and can be read simply as a satisfying fairy tale....The author, herself the mother of a child with Down syndrome, and the illustrator ably introduce a difficult subject in a fictional context with a light, sure touch." --Kirkus Reviews
Kate Whitby was at that age where she was in between - still a child and on the verge of becoming a young woman. A time when her character and person were becoming unique and knowable to those closest to her. Unfortunately those closest to her often didn't see her or notice who she was becoming. But this was all about to change - and the change was one that would forever alter her family.
Over the course of a few days a series of events in Evergreen, Colorado, and nearby Denver are about to collide and Harrison Lodge, along with Kate's family, is about to be caught in the middle.
Kate is determined to protect those she loves, but there isn't a lot an 11 year old girl can do. But Kate can guard the secrets everyone is keeping - secrets that if revealed could hurt her family. Kate's kindness doesn't stop with her family. She is one of those rare individuals who cares about those around her, those whom she sees in need, those whom are hurting. And when she finds Charlie Fuse, a young man on the run and in need, she offers him what she can - refuge within Harrison Lodge.
But Charlie is a hunted man. And those who are after him won't let anyone stop them from finding their prey and if those in Harrison Lodge get in the way..., there are ways to deal with problems.
Hiding Places is a well-written book that will hold you captive from the opening scene. This is a story about family. What makes a family a family? Is it the ties of blood? Is it a choice? Bonds of loyalty? Unconditional love?
How do the choices we make affect those around us? And just how far out do the ripples we make reach out? Hiding Places examines how the various characters lives intersect and entangle because of the choices they each make. How do we hide from those closest to us? And even more importantly why do we hide parts of who we are from our family?
Having read a few of Erin's books in the past I was delighted to discover this newest gem from her. Her books always make one stop and think after the book has been put down. In this case one has to wonder what am I hiding and why. Hiding Places is a suspense filled offering that will keep you guessing and wondering from cover-to-cover.
If you are looking a book club reading suggestion I highly recommend this book - it is doubtful anyone would be unable to read this book or find it unpalatable. There are characters whom one will love and whom one will despise. And then there are those with whom one will find empathy even if they are unfathomable to one's way of thinking.
I was provided a copy of this book by the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.
About the Book:
Family means safety. Family means protection. Until it doesn't.
Eleven-year-old Kate Whitby leads an invisible life, the youngest member of her odd family. They live in their historic small-town hotel, where she is an expert at keeping everyone's secrets: her sister's a thief, her great-grandmother isn't as crazy as people think, her mother lives in the past, and her beloved grandfather might have killed his best friend.
Devoted to the people she loves-more than they have ever been to her-Kate vows to protect each one. Charlie Fuse has lived on the streets since his alcoholic father threw him out. When Charlie's powerful street family tests his loyalty by demanding that he kill the son of a rival gang leader, he refuses. They frame him for the murder, forcing Charlie to run.
When Kate finds Charlie injured and penniless, she hides him from his enemies and her uncharitable relatives, unaware that he has a connection to her family as old as the hotel itself.
The murderous gang tracks Charlie down. To flush him out, they take the clueless family hostage and threaten young Kate. Even then, Kate keeps Charlie hidden, putting all her childlike faith in one terrible hope: that the family who has never been able to protect her before might learn how to do it now.
About the Author: Erin Healy is the bestselling coauthor of Burn and Kiss (with Ted Dekker) and an award-winning editor for many bestselling authors. She is a member of ACFW and Academy of Christian Editors. Her novels include such thrilling stories as Never Let You Go, The Baker's Wife, Stranger Things, and Motherless. She and her family live in Colorado.
Edited by John Warwick Montgomery and Gene Edwards Veith
Where Christ is Present is a book of contemplation with each chapter written by different author. Through this book we will take a look at the Church of today in contrast to both its beginnings and when Luther acted upon his convictions.
Have we unknowingly fallen back into the trap which Luther found the church of his day mired in? Have we rejected the truth of Christ's message in favour of works and self-justification? If so, we are no better off than those who spent their lives in fear that they could never "buy" enough merit with earthly priests to earn a chance to fall before God in His seat of judgment much less gain salvation.
But does this fault lie with us or with Luther for fighting against the ills he saw within the church? Has our lack of unity hurt and hindered our spiritual growth? Or has it rather been a blessing - allowing believers to come to their own conclusions in regard to Scriptural validity and their own consciences?
These various writers will help us to weed our way through to the truths about the Reformation and what Martin Luther's motivations were when he stood up to the church. Each chapter includes bibliographic source references so that we can see that their ideas are not just pulled out of a hat, like a magician's trick, but rather painstakingly researched and vetted.
Each chapter is enlightening, but during my reading three really resonated with me.
Chapter 5 The Way of Salvation The Gospel by Rod Rosenbladt in which various church doctrines are compared in how they view the Fall, its effects, and how Christ's death and resurrection SAVE the sinner.
Chapter 6 The Means of Grace The Word and Sacraments by Harold Senkbeil in which we delve into how we attempt to bridge the gaping divide between us and God. Do we turn to the Word? The Sacraments?
Chapter 9 Christian Liberty, the Arts, and J.S. Bach by Craig A. Parton in which music in regard to the Christian and worship is explored. Should our music change with the world around us? Or should it be drawn from the Scripture? Different denominational views are shared as we go through this chapter.
This book is both informative and thought provoking. Be sure to have a dictionary nearby as there are a few words that you'll need to look up as you work your way through. You won't be sorry that took the time to read this book and explore the Church of today and yesterday.
I was provided a copy of this book through iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review and tour participation.
Book Description for Where Christ Is Present:
Five hundred years ago, the church of Jesus Christ underwent a Reformation.
A lot happened after Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the castle church door in Wittenberg. But the fallout was not simply the start of Protestantism. The Roman Catholic Church also recast itself in response to Luther’s call for reforms. And contrary to common belief, Martin Luther did not set out to start a new church. Rather, he was trying to reform the church that already existed by reemphasizing its essence—namely, the “good news” (the gospel) that Jesus forgives and saves sinners.
The unity of the church was broken when the pope rejected this call for reform and excommunicated Luther, starting a chain of events that did lead to the institutional fracturing of Christendom and to a plethora of alternative Christian theologies. But, as many – including conservative Catholics – now admit, the church did in fact need reforming. Today, the church – including its Protestant branches – also needs reforming. Some of the issues in contemporary Christianity are very similar to those in the late Middle Ages, though others are new. But if Luther’s theology can be blamed – however unfairly – for fragmenting Christianity, perhaps today it can help us recover the wholeness of Christianity.
In the hope of that wholeness, Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Veith commissioned these essays celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, gathering some of the best contemporary voices the Lutheran church has to offer.
And we need these voices! The religious climate in the early 21st-century is simultaneously highly religious and highly secularized. It is a time of extraordinary spiritual and theological diversity. This book will propose the kind of Christianity that is best suited for our day. The remedies offered here are available by way of the same theology that was the catalyst for reforming the church five hundred years ago.
Authors’ Bio:
John Warwick Montgomery is the author of more than sixty books in six languages. He holds eleven earned degrees, including a Master of Philosophy in Law from the University of Essex, England, a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, a Doctorate of the University in Protestant Theology from the University of Strasbourg, France, and the higher doctorate in law (LL.D.) from the University of Cardiff, Wales. He is a Lutheran clergyman, an English barrister, and is admitted to practice as a lawyer before the Supreme Court of the United States and is a practicing avocat, Barreau de Paris, France. Dr. Montgomery currently serves as Distinguished Research Professor of Philosophy at Concordia University Wisconsin.
Gene Edward Veith is the Provost and Professor of Literature at Patrick Henry College, the Director of the Cranach Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary, a columnist for World Magazine and TableTalk, and the author of 18 books on different facets of Christianity and Culture.
A first year college student adjusting to life in the States.
A brand new pregnancy center desperate for new volunteers.
A mysterious phone call from a girl who's far too young to be pregnant.
UNPLANNED
from winning suspense novelist Alana Terry
After volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center, Kennedy Stern finds herself a pawn in a deadly
game of intrigue, at the mercy of those who consider a few innocent lives a small ransom to pay
for victory.
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Did You Know? (Writing trivia from Alana Terry)
I started writing Unplanned at 12:15 am on January 1, 2015. The neighbor’s fireworks
helped keep me awake.
The first draft of Unplanned was completed in three weeks.
About fifteen percent of Unplanned was composed on my dictation program, where I
spoke the words out loud and the computer transcribed them. It had more errors to correct but
was easier on my eyes and wrists than typing.
My research for Unplanned included interviews with an OB nurse, a crisis pregnancy
center director, an EMT, and an FBI field agent.
I went to college just outside of Boston, near where Kennedy studies.
Like Kennedy, I was also a premed student. When I took the MCAT I scored higher on the
writing section than on biology.
In Unplanned, Kennedy is reading Crime and Punishment for her Russian
lit class. It's a book I've read three times, once in high school, once in my own college Russian lit
class, and once after I graduated.
Kennedy's roommate is rehearsing for an adaptation of Twelfth Night, which is my
favorite Shakespeare play.
When I was a volunteer for our local pregnancy center, I received a call very similar to the one
Kennedy receives from Rose. I never did figure out who the girl was.
During one round of edits, I deleted the word just 93 times, even 103 times, and
at least 23 times.
Even though Unplanned is the first book in the Kennedy Stern Christian Suspense
series, it shares characters with my other books. Kennedy’s parents are the missionaries in
Slave Again and Torn Asunder.
While I worked on Unplanned was the first time I’ve gotten choked up while writing.
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This is a hard book to read not because it badly written but because the story is so brutal in the hardships that two young native North Korean missionaries faced in bringing the message of God to a land repressed. The very thinking of God is considered a crime within North Korea. Yet Hannah and Simon not only think about Him they desire to spread their knowledge and His love to those who have yet to hear of Him
But their love for one another could destroy all they are working for. Can they withstand the torture and the threat of torture to one another to safe-guard those to whom they've shared the message of hope with? And are Hannah and Simon willing to give up everything to bring the Message of eternal hope to a nation that has lived without hope?
Torn Asunder will make one look frankly at one's own life. One's own problems and trials will seem trivial when compared to the lives of those lving in North Korea. And the freedoms that we have to worship are vastly in contrast to the persecutions faced there.
Alana Terry's writing will deeply touch your heart and will move you to tears. One can only wonder how one would fare in similar a situation. How firmly does one believe in the face of persecution and the threat of death to the one holds most dear? Alana writes a beautifully brutal and honest story that will make you stop and think.
I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
Old Fashioned
Novelization by Rene Gutteridge
Screenplay by Rik Swartzwelder
Chivalry
makes a
comeback
Clay Walsh has made a vow to be a changed man. He no longer wants to be the man that he was, even if it means isolating himself away. He wants to treat women with the respect they deserve. Clay's ideals are the source of ridicule in the town in which he lives. His theories on love and romance are odd and outdated, but he has been living by them for nine years. He has yet to meet the woman who understands his views.
But when Amber Hewson arrives in town his theories are about to be tested. Something about Amber draws him and terrifies him at the same time. Amber senses something about Clay is different though she's not sure what it is exactly. But when her apartment needs a repair she learns quickly what about Clay is different - he won't do the needed repair and be alone with her in the apartment. His "rules" confuse and intrigue her, but how do you get to know another person when you don't know the rules?
This is a book that I highly recommend - the values Clay lives by are in fact ones that I was taught from a young age and men and women who live by these standards are hard to find today. Pressure to conform to the lax morals of today come from all sides and it is hard to stand for what one believes as evidenced by the ridicule Clay faces (even from friends).
I think my favorite line comes from Betty - "You know, marriage is kind of like a tea bag. You don't know how strong it really is till you get it in some boiling water. And the water don't boil till you're over the heat, and the heat don't come till you say, 'I do.'"
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Tyndale through TBCN/BookFun in exchange for my honest review.
About the Book:
Former frat boy Clay Walsh has given up his reckless lifestyle and settled down to run an antique shop in a small Midwestern college town. Determined to put his partying ways behind him, Clay has become notorious for his lofty and outdated theories on love and romance. But when Amber Hewson, a free-spirited woman with a gypsy soul, rents the apartment above his shop, Clay can’t help being attracted to her spontaneous and passionate embrace of life.
New to the area, Amber finds herself surprisingly drawn to Clay and his noble ideas, but her own fears and deep wounds are difficult to overcome. Can they move beyond their differences and their pasts to attempt an “old-fashioned” courtship?
