I very much enjoyed this sequel to Bringing Maggie Home. Kim Vogel
Sawyer does a great job of writing an exciting mystery, while delving
into relevant topics like forgiveness, grace and brokenness. Meghan
DeFord is a cold-case detective assigned to get to the bottom of the
mysterious disappearance of a banker who left for work and was never
seen again. The case stirs up wounds from her own past by her own absent
father. Meghan must choose between bitterness and resentment or healing
and restoration.
Some favorite characters from the first book
return in this one: Meghan's mother, Diane, and her grandmother, Hazel.
Both are women with difficult pasts who have found healing and hope in
their faith and relationship with Christ. Both are wonderfully warm and
funny and add much to the story.
Another relevant topic that
Unveiling the Past addresses is marriage. Meghan's husband, Sean, longs
to start a family, but Meghan is reluctant and fearful. They both
struggle to express their feelings and must learn how to communicate and
understand each other.
If you enjoy contemporary Christian
fiction and like a good mystery, you will definitely enjoy Unveiling the
Past. Although it is a sequel, it does stand alone if you haven't read
the first book, Bringing Maggie Home.
Monday, May 11, 2020
Stories That Bind Us by Susie Finkbeiner
I just recently discovered author, Susie Finkbeiner, and she has quickly become a favorite! I loved her latest book, Stories That Bind Us. Set in the 60's, this historical Christian novel sucks you into the story right away. At age 40, Betty Sweet unexpectedly becomes a widow and is overcome with grief. She and her husband never had children and she was a homemaker, so she has no family or career to distract her.
While struggling with to find her purpose in life, Betty's estranged sister,Clara, and her young son come to visit and Betty quickly falls in love with her nephew, Hugo. When Clara spirals into the darkness of depression and is hospitalized, Betty is left to care for Hugo. Although inexperienced and unsure, she turns out to be a wonderful mother figure for her nephew and delights in telling him wonderful stories that she weaves just for him.
This oh so charming tale is a joy to read and I enjoyed very page, reluctant for it to end. Although a sweet story, it also deals with raw topics like depression, suicide, and racism. If you have not yet discovered master storyteller, Susie Finkbeiner, I urge you to check her out. I'm quite sure you can't go wrong with any of her books, but this one would be a great place to start!
While struggling with to find her purpose in life, Betty's estranged sister,Clara, and her young son come to visit and Betty quickly falls in love with her nephew, Hugo. When Clara spirals into the darkness of depression and is hospitalized, Betty is left to care for Hugo. Although inexperienced and unsure, she turns out to be a wonderful mother figure for her nephew and delights in telling him wonderful stories that she weaves just for him.
This oh so charming tale is a joy to read and I enjoyed very page, reluctant for it to end. Although a sweet story, it also deals with raw topics like depression, suicide, and racism. If you have not yet discovered master storyteller, Susie Finkbeiner, I urge you to check her out. I'm quite sure you can't go wrong with any of her books, but this one would be a great place to start!
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Blaze of Light: The Inspiring True Story of Green Beret Medic Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor Recipient by Marcus Brotherton
I've read many books on World War II, some on World War I, but not many at all on the Vietnam War. Blaze of Light is a fascinating (and sometimes horrifying) memoir of the life of Green Beret Gary Beikirch. I enjoyed all the details in this book, it started with Gary's childhood and went all the way through present day. I felt that this really gave a deeper picture of who Gary is and what motivated him to first of all enlist in the army and then to go on to become a Green Beret medic in the US Special Forces.
The depictions of the war in Vietnam were disturbing to be sure. The blood shed and lives lost were astronomical. Gary was gravely injured while stationed as a medic in the village of Dak Seang. He was hospitalized for ten months, recovering from gunshot wounds, and an explosion that filled his body with shrapnel and ripped apart his stomach and intestines. He nearly bled to death, was paralyzed from the waist down and had an colostomy bag. He was in excruciating pain and unconscious much of the time, but it was while he was in the hospital that he met Jesus.
Gary's life didn't immediately change. He was not miraculously healed of his injuries. He still dealt with PTSD from the war. He still distrusted people and had anger issues, but the Lord was working in his life. God used many people, Gary's cousin and her husband, Gary's long-estranged father, a college professor and most of all Gary's wife, Lolly, to help heal his emotional wounds. God also used his own creation, the Appalachian wilderness as a place of spiritual healing for Gary.
If you like true stories of courage, adventure and overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, you will definitely enjoy this book, as I did.
The depictions of the war in Vietnam were disturbing to be sure. The blood shed and lives lost were astronomical. Gary was gravely injured while stationed as a medic in the village of Dak Seang. He was hospitalized for ten months, recovering from gunshot wounds, and an explosion that filled his body with shrapnel and ripped apart his stomach and intestines. He nearly bled to death, was paralyzed from the waist down and had an colostomy bag. He was in excruciating pain and unconscious much of the time, but it was while he was in the hospital that he met Jesus.
Gary's life didn't immediately change. He was not miraculously healed of his injuries. He still dealt with PTSD from the war. He still distrusted people and had anger issues, but the Lord was working in his life. God used many people, Gary's cousin and her husband, Gary's long-estranged father, a college professor and most of all Gary's wife, Lolly, to help heal his emotional wounds. God also used his own creation, the Appalachian wilderness as a place of spiritual healing for Gary.
If you like true stories of courage, adventure and overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, you will definitely enjoy this book, as I did.
Monday, March 9, 2020
Don't Forget to Remember by Ellie Holcomb
Don't Forget to Remember by Ellie Holcomb is such an adorable book! It is oversized, perfect for reading to the little one in your life. It's pages are thick, like a board book so it is sturdy and very well made.
The story line is about how every aspect of creation speaks to us of how much God loves us and will never forget us. The words are simple, yet beautiful. I like the rhythm and cadence of the words and so will the children you read it to.
The illustrator, Kayla Harren, has created gorgeous artwork on each and every page. The book is chock full of fun, colorful scenes, ranging from a meadow to a jungle to the ocean. There are both children and animals on each page. Children of every nationality and animals of every kind. There are many, many things to point out and talk about all throughout the book.
The only minus I would give this book is that there are no children with any sort of different ability. I would have loved to see a child with crutches or a wheelchair, a child with glasses or hearing aids, or a child with Down's Syndrome. Other than that, Don't Forget to Remember is a completely charming book and I would highly recommend it to parents or grandparents.
The story line is about how every aspect of creation speaks to us of how much God loves us and will never forget us. The words are simple, yet beautiful. I like the rhythm and cadence of the words and so will the children you read it to.
The illustrator, Kayla Harren, has created gorgeous artwork on each and every page. The book is chock full of fun, colorful scenes, ranging from a meadow to a jungle to the ocean. There are both children and animals on each page. Children of every nationality and animals of every kind. There are many, many things to point out and talk about all throughout the book.
The only minus I would give this book is that there are no children with any sort of different ability. I would have loved to see a child with crutches or a wheelchair, a child with glasses or hearing aids, or a child with Down's Syndrome. Other than that, Don't Forget to Remember is a completely charming book and I would highly recommend it to parents or grandparents.
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Isaiah's Legacy: A Novel of Prophets and Kings by Mesu Andrews
I am a big fan of Mesu Andrews! I love Biblical fiction and I think she is one of the best authors that writes it. I very much enjoyed her last book, Isaiah's Daughter and had been looking forward to Isaiah's Legacy. In the end, I did also enjoy Isaiah's Legacy, but I will say I wasn't sure for a while there that I could even finish it. I completely understand that sexual depravity, idolatry and witchcraft were common practices of the day, but I honestly could hardly bear reading about some of it. It was very disturbing and difficult to read about. I wish that the introduction had come with a warning of some of the subject matter.
So, if you are able to set that aside and not be too bothered by it, you will love this book. It is a wonderful story of redemption and the power of our God who never gives up on his lost children. I recently finished reading through the Bible and I must say that Isaiah's Legacy really brought fresh, new insights to Kings and Chronicles.
The life of Manasseh, who the Bible says did much evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings), is indeed fascinating, albeit horrifying. Manasseh reigned as king of the nation of Judah for 55 years and led his people to participate in idol worship, child sacrifice and many other abominable practices. If you haven't read about him, I will not spoil the ending for you but you can be assured that his life (and this book) are exciting indeed.
So, if you are able to set that aside and not be too bothered by it, you will love this book. It is a wonderful story of redemption and the power of our God who never gives up on his lost children. I recently finished reading through the Bible and I must say that Isaiah's Legacy really brought fresh, new insights to Kings and Chronicles.
The life of Manasseh, who the Bible says did much evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings), is indeed fascinating, albeit horrifying. Manasseh reigned as king of the nation of Judah for 55 years and led his people to participate in idol worship, child sacrifice and many other abominable practices. If you haven't read about him, I will not spoil the ending for you but you can be assured that his life (and this book) are exciting indeed.
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