I‘ve wanted to read this book for months, and it does not disappoint. The gripping tale of two families facing atrocities of WWII Pole, it takes you through pain, fear, and trusting God through the absolute worst of circumstances. We experience the power of lies and how they can lead to destruction. Try to read this book without crying...it can‘t be done.

“We Hope for Better Things” is a poignant novel across three time periods with three different women: a small town in Michigan during the Civil War, the 1967 Detroit riots, and present day. Each time period deals like biracial relationships and the struggles against prejudice. The consequences of choices made because of prejudice are far reaching. It‘s a story you don‘t want to end.

This book was an out-of-genre pick for me, one I don‘t regret. It‘s the story of 3 women, each caught up in a unique tragedy, and what happens when their lives intersect. A terrible accident sets off the events, and a mystery that must be solved to understand it. Unraveling the mystery and how to heal when tragedy strikes are the important components of the book. Bring tissues for the ending.

You can never go wrong with a book by Lynn Austin. The books tells the tale of the unlikely friendship of two women of different social standing, Eve and Audrey. It details their experiences in WWII and its aftermath. The book explores identity and faith in the worst of circumstances. The worst part is reaching the last page, knowing you can‘t continue the story of these two courageous women. “If I Were You” is a stellar work of fiction.

This devotional for kids is amazing! It has been perfect to do first thing in the morning with my daughter. I love it for making the names of God relevant to kids‘ life circumstances. On top of that, the illustrations are phenomenal. This is a worthy book to pick up and do with your kids.

This third book in the Daughters of Zelophehad series did not disappoint. Full of unique plot twists and turns, it gave a glimpse into what it was like for the Israelites to take possession of the land of Canaan. If you are unfamiliar with the story of the true story of the Daughters of Zelophehad, you can find this part of it in Joshua 17:3-4. Read all three books. They are wonderful reads.

I have read several novels on Esther, and this is the most recently one. I think the title is a bit of a misnomer because the most well-rounded character was not Esther, but King Xerxes. Most of the other characters are a bit flat. As a result, this is a fast, lightweight read. I will say that this book tries to be very faithful to the historical timeline and that is refreshing.

This is a unique novel, told from the perspective of the disciple Thomas‘s twin, a sister, and Jesus‘s brother Jude. It‘s a novel about disbelief and the journey toward belief. I really appreciated the perspective of what did Jesus‘s actions look like to the average person around him. It illuminates why it was so hard to believe He was God. I highly recommend it.

I have read many books on suffering. I can unequivocally state this book should be at the top of the list for developing a theology of suffering and how to be a companion to sufferers. The book examines our thoughts and attitudes in suffering and how to conform them to scripture. The insights into how others treat us, how we react, and what we can do better are stellar. The author interweaves her experiences with suffering as well.

I love Biblical Fiction books that bring to life little known stories of the Bible. This is book 2 in the Daughters of Zelophehad series. It‘s a romantic tale told to the backdrop of the battles of Jericho and Ai. I appreciate the author illuminating the struggles these girls would have faced to claim their inheritance. ❤️

Finished this book last night. This was a very different book than I normally read. The book tells through flashbacks story of Brighton and Angel, two children growing up in an insane asylum in the 1920s—1940s. It describes the struggles of the children and tortures faced by the patients. I have only two complaints with the book in the way it ended. If you want a very unique read, this is your book.

Loved, loved, loved this book! It was the perfect end to this 4 book series. Making Tirzah a spy was a marvelous plot twist. I enjoyed the strategy and intrigue involved in this early period of the Judges. It gets 5 stars for making me cry.

Happy Release Day!

I read this book prior to watching the videos. It can easily stand on its own. It does an amazing job teaching what does the Bible mean by wilderness and how it applies to our lives. Of special note, the chapters on Psalm 23, Jesus‘s temptation, and the Good Samaritan as stories of the wilderness were eye-opening.

This YA book popped up on my Amazon recommendations. I thought it would be great for my son who is learning ASL, and I was not wrong. The author does a masterful job using ASL grammar as part of the dialogue of the characters. You gain an understanding of the rhythms of the language. You experience the tension of navigating the hearing world as a Deaf person. Everyone should read this book.

Finished this book yesterday. Sections 1 and 2 were quite stilted, but Section 3 was a more enjoyable read. My big pet peeve was the author using all Hebrew versions of people and places without a conversion guide listed in the book. Many can be figured out, but still. Help the reader out. 😊

Reading “Nice” is like ripping a band-aid off a wound you didn‘t know you had. It forces you to look in the mirror of your Christianity and exposes your underlying motivations. There‘s no going back after this book. A powerful message for all women. Are we seeking to be true followers of Christ or are we just trying to be “nice”?

This book was an intellectual feast for the soul. Spoiler alert: What knocked this book down a star for me was the final chapter before the epilogue. The book wrestled with the character's idols about love and men. She comes across as a sex-crazed woman. She finally puts her dependence on God, but the book takes it back in the end by focusing on sex as the culmination of her relationship with Lewis. This damaged the underlying thesis of the book.

This book is an amazing study of Ezekiel. It breaks down all the difficult passages and makes it easy to understand the central message of the book. The word study sections are a bonus. Without a doubt, this study makes the beauty of Ezekiel shine through.

This book reads like a poorly written research paper. The majority of the book is made up of huge block quotes and conjecture. It sadly falls short of informing the reader about the life of Polycarp.

Looking for a Christmas novel? Check out this book! It‘s a wonderful imagining of the story of the Magi. And if you know nothing about the Parthian empire as I did, this book will have you Googling as if you were watching “The Crown,” but this book is more factual.

This novel is a brilliantly retells the story of the Exodus through the life of Kiya, an Egyptian woman. We experience terrors of the plagues and Kiya‘s journey of faith. This is not a book to be missed!

I love a book that turns all our carefully held assumptions upside. We all assume the woman at the well was immoral. What if she wasn‘t? This story explores that possibility through incredible hardships the woman might have faced in that culture as a widow and her amazing encounter with Jesus.

My favorite Biblical Fiction novels explore lesser recognized passages of the Bible. This book is a crowned jewel in that regard, creating a back story to Numbers 26: 33, Numbers 27: 1-11, Numbers 36, Joshua 17: 3-6. The book highlights the struggles of these five young women and their unstoppable faith in God. This story is fast-paced and full of heart-pounding action.

“Esperanza Rising” is a beautiful middle school novel based on a true story of the trials faced by Mexican immigrants to California in the early 1900s. The book portrays the struggles in a way that is easy to understand for this age group. It‘s one weakness is that it assumes students understand the various migrations of people groups and why they were coming to California.

A friend once said she never gives 5 star reviews to a book unless it makes her cry. Well, this is a 5 star book. It‘s for a middle school audience about Ally, a sixth grade girl with dyslexia. It‘s a poignant tale of misfits finding hope in the midst of difficult struggles.

I read this book for a junior high literature class I‘m considering teaching next year. It‘s a Christian Young Adult dystopian fiction book and the first of a series. Without a doubt, the book is a fast-paced read, pushing forward the events without little nuances. The characters‘s emotions are stated, not felt. Overall, not a bad read for someone in that age category.

I‘m not a fan of giving bad book reviews, as I was really looking forward to this book. But the writers have not learned the first principle of grief: Do not put the dead person on a pedestal. More than half of it was written by people who never met Rich, but are sure he would still think this or that 20 years later. Most are random memories twisted to spiritualize them. There were, however, 3 wonderful chapters in a 267 page book.

In the words of the author, this novella is a “symbolic fantasy parable” of Psalm 23. It tells the gospel story through the lens of the Psalm. It‘s a haunting tale through death to joy. The symbolism is well done and brings great depth.

“Deep Calling Deep” is a beautiful novella based on Psalm 42 and Paul‘s first imprisonment in Rome. The book also includes the story of Sextus Burrus, a man with a fascinating historical background, interwoven with the visit of Ephroditus from Philippi. But the story truly shines when the spotlight is on Timothy. This is truly a beautifully written book.

This is now my second favorite Biblical Fiction book on the church of Philippi. The novel tells the story of the slave girl who could tell the future and the jail keeper. Interwoven in the story are the various Biblical characters and how the church was built in those early days. Also included was political intrigue by the government of the city. Overall, a well done work.

This version of Esther‘s story stands out to me for it‘s willingness to tackle the perspective of Xeres. While the novel itself toggles between Esther and a palace servant, the story also gives us thoughts and motivations that may have driven the king. This was my favorite book in the 3 part series.

I read the book before watching the movie, and it is an amazing read. You are carried along through the agony of Paul‘s last days and his friendship with Luke. You cannot help but cry at the ending. A worthy read.

“Like the blind, we grope along walls, trying to feel our way forward. We look for light in darkness, for brightness while we step along deep shadows. We look for justice from unjust men, for deliverance from those who cannot deliver us. We look for perfection in imperfect situations.”

I quite enjoyed the retelling of Bathsheba‘s story. Angela Hunt doesn‘t pull any punches on this one. She portrays the ugliness without being indelicate. My only complaint is there a phrase she uses over and over again to the point that you cannot believe the characters would speak that way. It takes a little away from the realism, but overall a great book.

“Never usurp the right of the Almighty to plan your future...HaShem is always at work, even when you can‘t see Him.”

This was a fascinating view of the story of Samson and Delilah. It turns the typical black and white view on its ears which the author states was inspired by Samson‘s inclusion in Hebrews 11. What results is a far more sympathetic picture of both Samson and Delilah‘s actions. Since so little is known about either character, this book leans more heavily to the fiction side, but is a powerful tale of what bitterness can do to the heart.