Archive | April 2017

The Search For A Home by Beatrice Smith

Apr10

So Brave And Faithful

The Search For Home by Beatrice Smith is the true account of a young girl’s early life as she and her family were caught up in the Rwandan genocide of 1994.

The book is not a comfortable read as one witnesses man’s inhumanity to man. The book does show the faithfulness of God and the faithfulness of a family. “I remember knowing from a young age that all we ever needed to do in a crisis and beyond was pray. And have confidence that God would always answer.” During times of turmoil God is the only steadfast one.

Beatrice Smith was just ten years old when the genocide began. She witnessed scenes that no one should ever see. She lost her home, her education and her country but she never lost sight of God and her faith in Him strengthened.

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Let Love Spring by Various

Apr10

Warm And Delightful

Let Love Spring is a delightful, warm collection of three Christian historical romances. All with their unique tales but very similar themes. All three stories will warm your heart and speak to your soul. A perfect collection for an afternoon’s light reading.

An Angel For The Cowboy by Jodie Wolfe has a warm family feeling that simply exudes from the story. There is the theme of putting others first reminding the reader of the Naomi and Ruth story in the Bible. Eldest sister Essie will go to extraordinary lengths to protect and nurture her sisters. The theme of hospitality is also present as the sisters open their home to a stranger. Family is important. Without it, it feels as if something is missing.

A delightful story to kick off the trio.

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Baggage Claim by Cathe Swanson

Apr8

Keep Me Sweet

Baggage Claim by Cathe Swanson is a cracking contemporary Christian thriller that I devoured, with heart racing as the action hotted up.

There are many themes including that of roots – everyone needs to know where they came from and no-one is ever an ‘accident’ – God planned out all of our lives before we were born. God’s plans are so much greater than our own and we can trust Him with our lives.

There are the difficult topics of violence and women’s shelters, alcoholism, drugs and teenage pregnancies – all areas of life that help to make the novel realistic to read. God can be found even in the midst of suffering. “She was glorifying God in that place, under those circumstances, and her church supported her.” church is important. Church can be our family too.

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Embracing Hope by Janell Butler Wojtowcicz

Apr6

Burdens Into Blessings

Embracing Hope by Janell Butler Wojtowicz is a contemporary Christian novel which I really enjoyed. Embracing Hope is a study of life and of grief. There is no one way to work through grief. There is no time limit on the pain. And there are multiple ways to deal with loss. Ultimately one has to work through the pain and the loss to find a new way of ‘normal.’

God is at the centre of the novel. “Follow His road map.” When life and loss hit, people either run to God or from God. The God of all comfort is also the God big enough to take our anger and our questions. “Lean on God. He’ll get you through this.” Grief lasts as long as it lasts but we need to “give it all to God, only He can set you free.”

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