Archive | November 2020

The Far Side Of Heaven by D.L. Gardner

Nov5

Charming

The Far Side Of Heaven by D.L. Gardner is a charming contemporary Christian Christmas novella that will swell your heart as you read.

The story is about being open handed and hearted, using your gifts and talents to help others.

The spirit of generosity is alive in the small mountain town where strangers quickly become friends.

There is the theme of trust. Being hurt in the past means a character is cautious of giving their heart away. Sometimes we just have to take a chance on love.

Continue reading →

A Christmas Homecoming by Brenda Anderson

Nov4

Thy Will Be Done

 Christmas Homecoming by Brenda Andersonis the most delightful Christian contemporary short story. It features in the Mosaic Christmas Anthology II, A Star Will Rise. It is also part of the Coming Home series and it was wonderful to meet up with familiar faces.

The story shows the importance of prayer and trusting in God. God is always good even when our circumstances are not. There is power in prayer. We need to be flexible and be prepared to alter our plans to follow God’s plan, which is far better than ours.

Marriage and family are important. The love of a family radiates from the pages of the book.

Continue reading →

Forgiven Again by Gina Holder

Nov2

The Way Back Home

Forgiven Again by Gina Holder is a powerful contemporary Christian suspense. It is the second book in the Shadows Over Whitman series. I recommend reading book one No Greater Love first.

The novel is a story of redemption and finding your way back to God. Sometimes in life we journey away from God and can find ourselves in the wilderness of life. “If she called out to God for help, would he hear her this time?” Yes. Absolutely. God hears our every cry. It is us who doubt that He hears us. “Don’t bother. God’s not going to hear you.”

In our ‘lostness’ we may become bitter. We need good people around us who will point us back to God.

Names are important. “Annie had believed God cared, but Kathleen knew better. “ A name change signifies a character change – in this case the character associates her name Annie with weakness and Kathleen with strength. God does some of His best work when we admit our weakness for then we lean on His strength.

Continue reading →

The Red Ribbon by Pepper Basham

Nov1

Hope And Truth

The Red Ribbon by Pepper Basham is a Christian historical murder suspense with its roots in reality. It is part of the True Colors series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Pepper Basham has created a marvellous tale with a strong, feisty heroine at the core – very much a modern woman for 1912. She is encouraged and championed by her childhood friend. She writes under a nom de plume for the local paper as female writers were not seen to be able to write seriously.

There is the fear of bad blood tainting the generations but as Christians we are all cleansed by the blood of Christ. Fear immobilises us. “Fear don’t speak truth.” Fear keeps us captive with lies. “You can’t keep livin’ in fear… She only has the hold you give her.” We all have the choice as to what we let take root in our mind and in our heart. We can choose to “hold on to truth or ride the wind of fear.” Let us look to God and live in truth.

Sometimes it feels like we journey through life alone. Even, or especially, in the darkest of times, God is with us. “God hadn’t left her alone.” We were never promised a trouble free life. We were promised that God would never leave us nor forsake us.

Continue reading →