Everywhere Holy by Kara Lawler

Apr3

Standing On Holy Ground

Everywhere Holy by Kara Lawler is a powerful book about finding God everywhere. – He is in the mundane as well as the miraculous. We find Him in the valley and on the mountaintop. We meet with God in nature and in church. God is everywhere we are. He is nowhere we are not. “I could meet Him everywhere and anywhere if I’d only look.”

God is alive. He is with us now. We have not left Him somewhere in a past experience. The author explains that the same God of her childhood is the same God of her adulthood. She changed. He does not.

There are times when life feels like we are walking through a fog. We need to know that this too will pass. Whatever we go through, if we look for God, we will find signs of Him everywhere. “A holy beauty is everywhere.”

We cannot stop life happening to us but we can choose how we respond. We need to let go of what we cannot control and breathe in blessing. “There is no mess too big to stop me from seeing life in colour.” Remember when we can’t, God can.

Continue reading →

Dark Corners by Darren O’Sullivan

Apr3

Building Suspense

Dark Corners by Darren O’Sullivan is a cracking psychological thriller that will have the hairs on the back of your neck rising as the tension builds.

The novel has two time frames – now and twenty one years earlier – the action is inextricably linked. The reader holds their breath as the novel counts down from six weeks before the event. It was to be an event from which no one recovered and an event which would forever bind the people together.

Secrets unite and secrets split apart. A secret shared may be a trauma released or a burden picked up. PTSD follows the characters down the years.

Continue reading →

The House At Silvermoor by Tracy Rees

Apr2

Riveting

The House At Silvermoor by Tracy Rees is an epic historical novel set in the south Yorkshire coalfields and beginning in 1897, moving into the new century.

The reader sees the hardship of the time. The miners are at the mercy of their superiors and the coal face. Their days are long and dangerous. Their futures bleak. It takes guts, determination and dreams to break out of the mould. The reader ‘experiences’ the hand to mouth existence. If the miners don’t work, they don’t eat. Tragedy is never far away.

The turn of the century saw a society very much divided into the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots.’ There was a strict hierarchy that was seldom breached.

Against this backdrop, friendships form. Some friendships always think of others first, even sacrificing their own dreams. Some are kind and loyal.

Continue reading →

Star Rising by Janet Ferguson

Apr1

Co Pilot For The Journey

Star Rising by Janet W Ferguson is a charming contemporary Christian novel that will warm your heart and soul as you read about a God who loves us far too much to ever let go.

God’s presence wafts over the whole novel. We see characters who are new Christians trying to set their lives in alignment with God.

In contrast we see characters who let life’s disappointments pull them away from God. Life may be hard but it will be even harder if we withdraw from God.

The readers hears of child abuse that shaped a character. At first, in pain, a character turned to drink and drugs but then “she’d learned to take her pain and anger to God.” She had to “remember, you can’t. God can.” When life is hard we must press into God. Let Him exchange our pain and anger for His peace.

We all need second chances because we all mess up. In God, it is never too late to have a fresh start. If once we knew Him but we walked away, the good news is … God will never let us go. He holds on to us with a passion and He will not stop pursuing us until we rest in Him.

Continue reading →