Archives

Restoring Hope by Philippa Cleall

Jan2

Heaven Is Watching

Restoring Hope by Philippa Cleall is a powerful contemporary Christian novel about love, forgiveness, redemption and new beginnings. It is a beautiful story that warmed my heart and soul.

The setting is Wombat Valley in New South Wales. It is a charming small town where the leading lady flees to after years of domestic abuse. It is where her grandmother lived and where she feels safe to start again. “The dream she’d built from sorrow.” Our dreams are important; they give us a hope for the future.

A café is opened as she follows in her grandmother’s footsteps. It is a place of community. She was “building more than a café.” It is a place where the lost, the hurting and the vulnerable feel drawn to, and feel safe.

The grace that is received, is passed on to others. Words of encouragement that are planted into hearts, bud and blossom.

We meet characters who live out their faith. “She doesn’t push faith on others… she lives it.” People are drawn to those whose lives point to Jesus. They are not just hearers of the Word; they are doers of the Word too.

There is a group of women who have all suffered from domestic abuse. They learn about the power of forgiveness – what it is, and what it is not. They also learn that trust once gone, is not easily restored. It needs to be earnt.

Continue reading →

The Elusive Truth Of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano

Dec16

The Gardener Is Waiting

The Elusive Truth Of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano is an enchanting Christian historical novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The novel is written with elements of traditional story telling interspersed with actual historical figures. Over everything, God awaits, with His love and His heart calling each and every one of us.

Much of the book revolves around a garden. The reader recalls the Garden of Eden where God walked with Adam and Eve in His creation. God lives in our hearts as we read “from somewhere deep within the core of him, where God dwelled.”

Sometimes life happens and we lose sight of God. “Regret was a poison that never left the bloodstream.” Letting regret live in our hearts is not good for us. Anything that takes our focus from God, needs to be got rid of.

When we have known God, there will always be that longing for Him. “I’d cried out to God, begged for Him, and felt nothing.” Just because we feel nothing, does not mean that God is not there. God works in our lives. He sends people across our paths to point the way to Him. “He [God] uses people at times to set things right.”

God can clearly be seen in some people. “He ushered in the presence of God wherever he went… where Gordon Makepiece was, there also was God.” We are called to preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary to use words.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

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.”

Continue reading →