Archive | April 2022

Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Apr7

Absolutely Charming

Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is an absolutely delightful contemporary novel that will warm your heart as you learn what is really important in life.

In a small coffee shop in Tokyo lives are changed. The past cannot be altered but there are lessons to be learnt.

As people pass through the coffee shop, the reader has the opportunity to glimpse a fraction of their lives. We see that regrets need to be healed, relationships are the most important, and love never dies.

The book is absolutely charming. It has an ethereal beauty that calms the soul.

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A Year Of Mr Maybes by Judy Leigh

Apr6

Celebrating The Simple Things

A Year Of Mr Maybes by Judy Leigh is the most delightful contemporary novel about living your life to the full whatever your age.

It was so refreshing to have the leading characters in their seventies and eighties. Traditionally, people think of slowing down as they get older – but not this wonderful bunch of people. Life is for living. And life is for living now.

We get out of life what we put in. Within the novel we meet some very high energy characters who come together to make their village a better, cleaner, greener place. They are very community minded – needs are identified and met. New faces are made welcome.

The characters bounce off each other as friendships are formed. They bring out the best in each other – whether in their 20’s or 80’s. I loved the wise young man of twenty five with autism who dispensed wisdom to seventy year olds. We are never too old to learn lessons from the young.

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Eight At The Lake by Lin Stepp

Apr4

Chasing The Storms Away

Eight At The Lake by Lin Stepp is the most charming contemporary Christian novel that will lodge in your heart and leave you smiling.

The novel is about love and family. Eight children need rules to ensure lives run smoothly. Far from constricting us, rules are there to keep us safe. The reader is reminded that God gave us rules to live by and to keep us safe.

There is so much love within the novel – there is the love within families and the love of God and for God. We hear of a character who has been born again, strengthening and rebuilding her relationship with God.

Sometimes our earthly fathers are not so great and we fear repeating their pattern of behaviour but “our mistakes don’t have to be yours.” We are not destined to repeat the generational sins.

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Light The Way by Lin Stepp

Apr4

Positively Charming

Light The Way by Lin Stepp is a most delightful Christian contemporary tale and the first book in The Lighthouse Sisters series. I cannot wait for subsequent books.

The lighthouse plays a central role in the story. It reminds the reader that we are to shine God’s light into a dark world. We also see the pivotal role in rescue of the lighthouse’s light in illuminating those in trouble. Likewise, God looks out for us and will rescue us from our troublesome situations.

We are called to live out our faith. “Your strong faith has a good effect on me.”  We can never under estimate the effect our lives may have on someone else.

Family is important. When members of a family have problems, some run towards home, others run away for fear of parental disappointment. This reminds the reader that God longs for each of us to return to Him if we stray or mess up. He doesn’t want fear or embarrassment to keep us from His arms.

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