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The Sands Of Sea Blue Beach by Rachel Hauck

Dec8

Immanuel, God With Us

The Sands Of Sea Blue Beach by Rachel Hauck is the most delightful contemporary Christian novel that I savoured and never wanted to end.

The novel is about family and love; and the love that God has for His children. The action is seen through the eyes of the two lead characters, mainly in ‘now’ but we also glimpse ‘then.’

There is a wonderful air of love pervading the whole novel. The lead characters offer delightful banter as they tease each other, producing smiles from the reader.

There is a pain in love associated with loss as a character feels rudderless and afraid to love, as she never wants to experience loving and losing again. “Love is a bit scary. You never know when the one you love could be ripped away from you.” This fear follows her from childhood and into adulthood. “I can’t go through life fearing the people I love will die.” She remembers her mother, “Mom always chose to love.” Love is always worth the risk.

A character withdraws from God. “God didn’t feel near when Mom was dying.” Even if we do not see or feel God, He always walks alongside us.”

In Sea Blue Beach there is the story of Immanuel, God with us. God is very much at the heart of the town. He needs to be at the heart of our lives too. “I didn’t need music to feel worthy because I’d found the One who made me worthy.” We find out who we are, by knowing whose we are.

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God Rest Ye Merry by Scott R Rezer

Dec5

Love Came Down

God Rest Ye Merry by Scott R Rezer is an absolutely charming dual timeline Christmas Christian novel that I loved. I never wanted it to end. It is the sixth book in A Festival Of Carols series but can be read as a stand-alone. I know that whenever I pick up a festive novel by the author, I am going to be delighted and experience a wonderful read.

The action is set in modern-day America and in Dicken’s Victorian London. The link between the two periods is Meg, who is passionate about all things to do with Charles Dickens.

In modern-day America we also meet Pastor Sean who is having a crisis of faith. “I need You [God]… I’m not even sure how or what to pray. I feel so lost.” In his lostness, Sam still recognises his need for a Saviour but says “there was nothing worse than a pastor who had forgotten how to connect with God.” Sean decides on a short sabbatical in order to sort himself out.

We see that guilt weighs heavy. It was a burden that Sean was never meant to carry for he had done nothing wrong but, in his grief, he misremembered events.

In Dickens’ London we see the plight of the poor. They were the subject of many of his stories as he wanted to raise awareness. There were a few philanthropists who believed, “these wee ones shouldn’t suffer on account of their births or low class.”

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From Realms Of Glory by Scott R Rezer

Dec5

A Christmas Miracle

From Realms Of Glory by Scott R Rezer is the most charming contemporary Christian Christmas novella that I loved. It is the sixth book in A Festival Of Carols series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Scott R Rezer has perfectly captured the love between a husband and wife; and God’s love for them. God’s faithfulness to the couple produces a Christmas miracle on which they can stand. Having a firm foundation in the love of God is vital especially in uncertain times.

Sacrificial love on behalf of both has brought them to this point – and it is their love which will propel them forwards.

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Until Leaves Fall In Paris by Sarah Sundin

Dec2

Extraordinary Acts Of Bravery

Until Leaves Fall In Paris by Sarah Sundin is a powerful Christian historical novel that I loved.

The action is set in Nazi occupied Paris as we follow two Americans who are both working against the Nazis in their own individual ways. Both guard their lives as they work in secret.

Factory owner, Paul, appears to be a Nazi collaborator but he holds a secret. His outward appearance earns him hostilities from his Parisienne neighbours. In contrast, God sees his heart and knows that he is working for the greater good. We need to be ware of making judgments on what we can see because it could be far from the truth.

Ballerina, Lucie, fights a very different war. She surrounds herself with books. Her bookshop is the perfect cover for her resistance work.

People have prejudices against others, even within church but “the church needed all the different gifts working together.” If we have not walked a mile in their shoes, we should not criticise the lives of others. We have no idea of the inner battles that are raging.

Four-year-old Josie is shunned as she is judged by her father. This is wicked as she is an innocent in all this. “The poor little thing shouldn’t suffer because her father was a heel.”

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