Archive | September 2019

Surf Smugglers by Melody Carlson

Open Hearts And Homes

Surf Smugglers by Melody Carlson is a fantastic historical romance and the third book in the Legacy Of Sunset Cove series but can be read as a stand-alone.

I loved returning to familiar faces. The year is 1917 and the war that was far away overseas has finally caught up with the American people as the draft is introduced. It is a difficult time waving young men off to war. The patriotic American spirit is alive for all to see.

There is a strong female camaraderie running throughout the novel. There are huge hearts who see the plight of others. Brave, forward thinking modern women are not afraid to rock the status quo.

Family is important. “Family… some we are born with and some we gather along the way.” What a beautiful image.

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The Teacher At Donegal Bay by Anne Doughty

Watch And Pray… It’s Alright

The Teacher At Donegal Bay by Anne Doughty is a poignant novel about love, life and loss. It is bittersweet as the reader follows a life that has been stifled.

The novel is set in Belfast in 1968 at the beginning of the troubles. Some characters are all inclusive. They see the person and not the religious label. Others are blinkered at best, filled with hate at worst.

A family is at the heart of the novel as we follow a twenty six year old married teacher. We hear her hopes and dreams and follow her interactions with her family and friends. A woman at this time was meant to marry and have children. If she did not, then questions were asked. It seemed incredible that a woman might actually want and like a career.

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Strands Of Truth by Colleen Coble

Legacy

Strands Of Truth by Colleen Coble is an exciting and gripping contemporary Christian suspense that will have the reader glued and guessing.

Legacies are important, as is heritage. We need to know where we come from in order to plot where we are going. Even more important is to know Whose we are.

A mother’s love is a powerful thing. It is protective and caring. If we are denied it as a child, we will lose our anchor in life and be continually searching for that love, never trusting as the foundations are not there.

We can trust God. He will be with us and walk through the storms beside us. “No matter what happened, God was with her in this.” Sometimes life is hard but God is faithful. “God saw her in this place. She had to hold on to faith.”

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Chosen by Michelle McClain-Walters

All God’s Promises Are Yes And Amen

Chosen by Michelle McClain-Walters is a powerful book about living out your life when you are chosen by God. “Living life as a chosen one is not about us. It is about the power of God.” It’s not about me. It’s all about Him.

Living as God’s chosen means living in the truth, being obedient to God, waiting on His timing and worshipping Him. We are called to live life with eyes on eternity, for the here and now is just temporary.

Michelle McClain-Walters refers to ‘microwave Christianity.’ We live in a world that wants it now. We are not here for instant Christianity, we are on a journey and a journey takes time as we learn lessons along the way.

We are called to be authentic. “Don’t put on a religious mask.” People need to see us being real. Sometimes we don’t understand it all but God is still good.

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