Archive | January 2016

To Get To You by Joanne Bischof

Jan25

Sacrificial Love

To Get To YouTo Get To You by Joanne Bischof is a contemporary Christian romance and the first book in the Wild Air series. On the surface it is mainly a road trip but delve deeper and you will find hidden treasures.

The main theme is that of fathers. God our Father will never let us down. Earthly fathers are not so perfect. Earthly fathers may leave us, sometimes through no fault of their own. Responses to being left can vary from hurt and anger if abandoned, to grief and love if it was unavoidable.

The theme of hurt is present in the novel. Riley is hurting and has been for years. He has dealt with his hurt in varying ways but none is a healthy response. His latest attempt is to lock up his heart and to shut the world out, however “the only problem with shutting the world out was that it also shut in the pain.” Riley removed himself physically from his painful memories but failed to do so mentally.

Continue reading →

A Lesson In Love by Autumn Macarthur

Jan24

Choose Life

A-Lesson-in-Love-A Lesson In Love  by Autumn Macarthur is book three in the Maclean’s series but can be read as a stand-alone. It is a sweet Christian contemporary romance.

There are several themes within the novel and a major one is that of doing life alone. Sarah’s mother is ill. Sarah tries to carry all the weight on her shoulders. In the past people and even her church have let her down. Sarah now has trust issues, with the run off being that Sarah lives her life in isolation, just her and her Mum. She is reluctant to let others in and she won’t even rely on God. She relies purely on herself, giving herself a burden that she was never meant to carry.

This life of isolation means that Sarah has unintentionally shrunk hers and her mother’s lives. Each time she refuses help, she increases their isolation. What will it take for Sarah to ask for or accept help? Sarah believes that “I have to stay strong. Accepting help will make me weak.” This reminds the reader that if we will just let Him in, God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.

Continue reading →

Light Bird’s Song by Sydney Betts

Jan21

Faithfulness Even In His Silence

Light Birds SongLight Bird’s Song by Sydney Betts is the sequel to A River Too Deep. It is an adventure Native American Christian historical romance and is set in 1839. It can be read as a stand-alone but for maximum enjoyment I recommend reading book one first.

Light Bird’s Song was an amazing read, full of godly truths and themes. Sydney Betts does not write ‘preachy’ novels, but writes novels that will speak to your heart and strengthen your faith.

The novel has God very much at the heart, as Light Bird says “the Creator is either who He says He is or a vicious enemy. He cannot be both.” Each individual in the novel and the reader too must decide who God is. For Light Bird He is the centre of her life. Her most treasured possession is her Bible, it brings a smile to her face and deep joy to her heart. Oh that we today would treat our Bibles with respect and awe. The Bible is God’s letter to each and every one of us. For a full life, we would be wise to follow His advice.

Continue reading →

Just Kin by Caryl McAdoo

Jan20

Running Away

Just KinJust Kin by Caryl McAdoo is the sixth book in the Texas Romance series. It is a historical romance and this book follows the fortunes of Lacey Rose and Charley. It can be read as a stand-alone, however characters and events from previous novels are mentioned so for maximum enjoyment, reading the series is best.

Lacey Rose is just sixteen years old when her best friend and the love of her life, Charley goes off to fight in the American civil war. In a letter Charley writes that they are ‘just kin’. This upsets Lacey who decides to set off to find her Comanche father.

The theme of running away is prevalent in the novel. Lacey runs away, not only from her home but from her situations. She even seems to run away from God as she chooses some rather dubious lifestyles. In an attempt to hide, she changes her name. She cannot hide from God who loves her.

Continue reading →