NEW BOOK REVIEW

Blind Faith - Love is Patient … By Kristen and Kevin Collier

When a friend arranges a blind date for young artist, Wesley O'Connell, he discovers Morgan Fürst, his date, truly cannot see. This insightful love story asks the question, do we walk by faith and not by sight? Is seeing believing, or is believing truly seeing?

“...not your every day, love story. The story looks at love from the inside out and helps the reader see the unseen. Highly recommended.” - Jack Foster, Book Illustrator

“I just love the characters! They ring true. Well-written, the authors have created a romance story that will be hard to put down!” - Sean Elliot Russell, Author of “The Jesus Boy”

“...a wonderful story with vivid characters. The writers show the story so well, I can picture everything as I read. I love Morgan and Wes.”
-Award-winning Author, Deb Allard


OUR REVIEW

A lovely romance told in a family friendly setting. The characters make you feel like you're included in a faith based home, where morals are taught and lived.

An easy clean read where love blooms despite handicaps that might make a difference to some, and where long distance relationships might or might not hold up!

A great introduction to the romance genre for middle school readers as well as us adults!


                             Amazon Review

NEW BOOK REVIEW

Taking God to Work: The Keys to Ultimate Success … By Steve Reynolds and David L. Winters



Taking God to Work challenges believers to break down the barriers between their spiritual life and their vocation. Using rock-solid Biblical advice, Christians are challenged to love others through their work. By combining faith and a heart of service, learn how to rise to new heights of success and freedom in your job. This book shows tangible ways to use your knowledge, skills and ability to co-labor with God each day. Help Him fulfill His plan to reach out to a desperately hurting world. Learn how to deal with troublesome co-workers, using wisdom and kindness to move to the next level in relationships. Watch your goals move from mere self-advancement to doing the most good in service to God.




OUR REVIEW
 Just how amazing is God?  Steve Reynolds and David L. Winters, authors of Taking God To Work, combined their anecdotes and biblical strategies in an easy to understand and everyday "guide book" of ways to maintain your sanity as you interact with various situations and diverse people.

Don't be fooled by the title, as this book is useful for those of us that are no longer in the work force but still have to deal with the wild and somewhat dysfunctional friends that are in our lives.

So how do we do that? The authors remind us that God is our CEO, our daily manager, our friend and best of all …"His office door is open." I enjoyed the stories of the Spotlight Features  along with the study questions to help personally drive home the importance of how God's teachings can be applied to us. 

Having trouble with:

Cursing, anger, lying, overeating, stress, fear, debt, anxiety … just a few in a huge list of trouble spots that bombard us and place us in "sticky" situations. Do you want to be free from living paycheck to paycheck … is that really possible?

Taking God To Work came into my life while studying the book of Daniel, and I found it so compatible with my studies that I couldn't stop reading it, as it enhanced the magnitude of the power God has given us to break the bonds that others put on us, if we will accept His word and love. 



                                   Amazon Review

NEW BOOK REVIEW

        Dancing in the Rain ... By Eileen Rife and Jennifer Slattery

Loni Parker, a music major struggling to find employment, seeks refuge at Camp Hope only to encounter the man who took her sight.

On the verge of college graduation, Loni Parker seeks employment as a music teacher, but no one will hire her since she’s blind. Or so she thinks. To take her mind off her troubles, her roommate invites her to spring retreat at Camp Hope in the gorgeous North Carolina mountains. Unbeknown to Loni, Michael Ackerman, the director, is an ex-con responsible for the accident that caused her blindness. When Loni warms up to camp and wants to return as a summer counselor, Michael opposes the idea, which only makes Loni want to prove herself all the more. Though she doesn’t expect to fall for the guy. Still, her need for independence and dream of teaching win out, taking her far away from her beloved Camp Hope . . . and a certain director.

Camp director Michael Ackerman recognizes Lonie instantly and wants to avoid her at all costs. Yet, despite the guilt pushing him from her, a growing attraction draws him to the determined woman. She sees more with her heart than the average person does with his eyes. But her presence also dredges up a long-buried anger toward his alcoholic father that he’d just as soon keep hidden. When circumstances spin out of control, Michael is forced to face a past that may destroy his present.



OUR REVIEW

"A name he no longer used-one that sickened him to his core." Doesn't this certainly make you want to find out why? Dancing in the Rain by Eileen Rife and Jennifer Slattery was a surprising change of pace from the typical Christian romances I have on my book shelf. An unusual setting mixed together with a blind  girl and a "hunky" but possible dangerous guy sets this story on a brisk pace.

I had to keep reading to see if Loni would finish her commitment to an adventure she signed up for and find her inner faith and strength to deal with the added disadvantages that were thrown at her. No family to help, no guide dog to maneuver her through the woods and plenty of camp activities to push her out of her comfort zone.

I enjoyed this novel not only because it was a clean read, but also it introduced me to the world of blindness. Would Lonie be able to deal with the life God gave her and the man who changed her life, and can Michael really find what he is looking for? Take a chance on this read and you'll be surprised.

                           Amazon Review
                        

NEW BOOK REVIEW

 

 

                                    Healing Love ... By Jennifer Slattery

 

A news anchor intern has it all planned out, and love isn't on the agenda.

Brooke Endress is on the cusp of her lifelong dream when her younger sister persuades her to chaperone a mission trip to El Salvador. Packing enough hand sanitizer and bug spray to single-handedly wipe out malaria, she embarks on what she hopes will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

But Brooke is blindsided by the desperation for hope and love she sees in the eyes of the orphans she encounters. And no less by the connection she feels with her handsome translator. As newfound passion blooms, Brooke wrestles with its implications for her career dreams.

Ubaldo Chavez, teacher and translator, knows the struggle that comes with generational poverty. But he found the way out – education – and is determined to help his students rise above.

When he agrees to translate for a mission team from the United States he expects to encounter a bunch of "missional tourists" full of empty promises. Yet an American news anchor defies his expectations, and he finds himself falling in love. But what does he have to offer someone with everything?

 

 

OUR REVIEW

 

Brook Endress was in search for fresh ideas to set her apart at the news station, but all her efforts were set aside as God stepped in with His own plan. Healing Love by Jennifer Slattery weaves a few different story lines in such a way that doesn't let you put this novel down.

 

Two countries that are extremely different hosted the events of several lives, which kept me wondering what could God make of all this? Slattery dug deep with my emotions of the unique cultural differences that I was not familiar with, but admire those who step forth in God's direction even though there could be a painful outcome. The lives of children and the depth of love makes this novel a must read.

 

                                   Amazon Review

 

 

NEW BOOK REVIEW

                                    Growing Kids with Character ... by Hettie Brittz





In Growing Kids with Character, author Hettie Brittz helps you identify your child's natural bent and how that affects your parenting journey. Through Hettie's famous tree metaphors, you will discover how to let kids excel at being who they naturally are.
Learn how to:





Cultivate your child's unique way of encountering, following, and worshipping God

Disciple and discipline based on your child's very own blueprint

Recognize your child's strongest characteristics and apply that knowledge to everyday life

Speak your child's unique dialect (or "tree language") to foster effective communication

Help your child recognize and celebrate God's individualized design for others

OUR REVIEW

Growing Kids with Character by Hettie Brittz is a great guide for new and struggling parents that flows with Biblical teachings. Brittz starts off with a few memories of her mom and thinking that she would not let the same things happen to her children as her mom did to her. But as time went on, God touched her heart and mind, and so this book begins.

If you love nature you will enjoy the comparisons of children to specific types of trees and plants as the common ground is growing to be strong in the Lord, bending but not breaking.

Brittz explains how parents also grow and change and that ... "sometimes we can do everything right and still have to look on as our children make poor choices. Like your own mistakes, a child's serious blunder is not necessarily a sign of bad parenting."

I think you can give this book a once over read, and then go back to use the different chapters as guides and tips to encourage yourself as well as your children.

                                                         Amazon Review







Join Hettie and other parents to learn how to grow kids with character at her Facebook Live event, plus enter to win a family fun prize pack!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• One copy of Growing Kids with Character
• A $50 pizza restaurant gift card to take your family for a night out
• A grow-your-own herb and vegetable garden kit to make your own pizzas at home as a family

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 3. The winner will be announced at Hettie’s Facebook Live Party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Hettie and other parents, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{More About Hettie Brittz}

Hettie Brittz is a South African–born author, international speaker, and a foremost voice in parenting advice and personality styles. She is the author of “(un)Natural Mom,” the developer of the Evergreen Parenting Course, and the codeveloper of Tall Trees Profiles. She heads up Tall Trees Consulting (USA).
Find out more about Hettie at http://hettiebrittz.com.
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NEW BOOK REVIEW

Drawn by the Frost Moon: Love the War Woman (Creek Country Saga Book 5)   ...   By April W Gardner

War woman Fierce Mink has loved Tall Bull as long as memory. He is beauty and power, but in the secret pockets of her spirit, he is vastly more. He is the brave to whom she swore her heart, the friend to whom she owes her life, and the chief to whom she will never be bound. Soon, he will be required to take a wife, but lamentably, Mink is severe, intimidating, hard-bitten by war—qualities a man appreciates in combat, not so under the bearskins. But perhaps it’s best he’s blind to her, for he clings viciously to the Beloved Path, and unbeknownst to him, she has joined her fire with Jesus.

Since his youth, Chief Tall Bull has treasured Mink. Even now, in their turbulent refugee world, she is comfort; she is home. Better yet, she shares his passion to preserve the Beloved Path and his fight to start anew in a land where they are no longer hunted. Then, a startling omen: before the blood moon, Tall Bull must make restitution for his transgressions, or the spirits will take payment. From her. A tragedy he would die to prevent.

Another portent looms—that of a horde of bluecoat soldiers pecking at their borders, threatening to drive the Red Stick Defiance into uninhabitable swamps. The Defiance will not go quietly, and as Tall Bull prepares for a brutal strike, he realizes the bluecoats aren’t his only enemy, and Mink’s life isn’t all he stands to lose. 


OUR REVIEW

"Long have I loved you..." torturing her with his tender, broken voice. "In some fashion or other, I've loved you since the morning I saw wolf tracks in the dirt and knew you had saved me." Romance laced with a cool sensuality dominates this epic novel. Drawn by the Frost Moon: Love the War Woman (Creek Country Saga Book 5) by April W Gardner intertwines Drawn by the Frost Moon: Bitter Eyes No More (Creek Country Saga Book 4) with an emphasis on Tall Bull and Mink's tumultuous love story. 

In this saga, Gardner focuses with great detail the settings, events and native language used in the 1800's. I felt it was a little difficult to focus on the story while referencing the meanings of their cultural activities and their type of tribal interaction. I found it a bit lengthy but it was simply amazing as  Gardner meticulously introduced the cast of characters, timelines and clans to help the reader get the right perspective on the power that women held in their village..."the women were the neck that turned the head. And what a strong neck it was." This story is truly a work of love by Gardner!

A great opening scene brings us back to the heart of the story. Strong emotion flows within the battles, friendships and the intense love that deepens as the story grows with the Spiritual Journey. It was fun to recognize a couple of characters that I read in Bitter Eyes, joining the two sagas into one main story. Although this novel is in a series, it can be read as a stand alone.

If you enjoy Historical Fiction Romance with intense detail, this is a must for your reading list.





                         Amazon Review                                          

  
                                                 

NEW BOOK REVIEW

                                              Love, Life, and the List ... By Kasie West

                                 
What do you do when you’ve fallen for your best friend? Funny and romantic, this effervescent story about family, friendship, and finding yourself is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han.
Seventeen-year-old Abby Turner’s summer isn’t going the way she’d planned. She has a not-so-secret but definitely unrequited crush on her best friend, Cooper. She hasn’t been able to manage her mother’s growing issues with anxiety. And now she’s been rejected from an art show because her work “has no heart.” So when she gets another opportunity to show her paintings, Abby isn’t going to take any chances.
Which is where the list comes in.
Abby gives herself one month to do ten things, ranging from face a fear (#3) to learn a stranger’s story (#5) to fall in love (#8). She knows that if she can complete the list, she’ll become the kind of artist she’s always dreamed of being.
But as the deadline approaches, Abby realizes that getting through the list isn’t as straightforward as it seems . . . and that maybe—just maybe—she can’t change her art if she isn’t first willing to change herself.

MY REVIEW

This is going to be the most unusual review that I have ever done...why? Because I'm reviewing Love, Life, and The List by Kasie West without reading the end as of yet...why?...read on.

Will this story effect you the same as it did me, probably not as we are all in different places in our lives at different times, feeling the ups and downs that befall us. Ms. West  doesn't need to write with a ton of descriptions, as what she does give us through the story plays as a movie in my head with my own visions of the characters.

I absolutely loved the character development which I could easily relate too. (although they are young adult and I am not) My emotions were stirred as Cooper and Abby grew and changed, and how Abby's depth of feelings made her step out to become bolder and stronger and to take her rightful place in the art world. I also could see a new Cooper emerging even though it might not be a better one...we'll see at the end of the book.

I stopped at a particular point in the book (not giving any spoilers) where Abby and her new friend make a plan to claim what she thinks she really wants, to step forward and realize the person she really is and what to do about it.

I myself realized what a new found freedom can come from just looking inside yourself to find the real you (as Abby did with her List) and to see what you are made of. Confusing?  Not really! When I come home tonight after using MY new found freedom and rightful place, I plan to curl up with Love, Life and the List and see how their ending turns out, no matter which way it goes, hoping they will be as happy as I plan mine to be.

So...strange as this review is, this is an amazing read for all ages...full of fun, youthfulness and great insight.




                                        Amazon Review



 

NEW BOOK REVIEW

The Logos Life: (Missionary Stories) ... By Natalie Vellacot

Natalie Vellacott took a two-year break from her job with Sussex Police and joined the Logos Hope Christian missionary ship. The ship, staffed by volunteers from sixty-five different countries, was sailing the waters of Asia. Natalie began by serving visitors in the mayhem of the International Café before moving to the isolated recesses of the ship’s dangerous freezers as store-keeper. Having fallen in love with a group of street teens addicted to solvents in the Philippines, she ended her commitment as administrator of the largest floating book-fair in the world. Join Natalie on her often hilarious adventures amidst an inevitable multitude of cultural catastrophes as she attempts to bring knowledge, help and hope to the people she encounters along the way.


OUR REVIEW

The Logos Life by Natalie Vellacott was a pouring out of  heart and soul of her incredible stint on a Christian missionary ship, Logos Hope. The ship was already filled with dedicated workers, but God opened a door for her to serve and work doing a multitude of tasks.

Getting prepared for this work was not easy, as Vellacott had to take a total of nine injections which made her incredibly sick, but still pressing on and facing many hardships she encountered an almost humorous reaction amongst friends that serving on this kind of ship was some kind of luxury cruise. Not the case!

While reading this book, I highlighted many passages that jumped out at me or seemed quite amazing but decided to read this story as a journal that could have been sent to me by a friend, detailing the many adventures, mishaps, happiness and sadness that had befallen her.

Thankfully, Vellacott had a two person cabin due to her age and background in Police work while having her being selected to have a "family" to be connected with ... "we are one body made up of many parts, each and every one is important and dependent upon the other." Cor. 12:12-31

After intensive training, the group was off and as prepared as possible, with so many interesting interactions amongst staff and visitors. Fighting off a scary sickness possibly from some kind of bit was only one of many incidents that I found almost too much for one person to bare. The wrap up of this adventure was very touching and heartfelt, as I'm sure it will be in Vellacott's memory forever.

An enjoyable read that you can put down and take up again, not missing a beat as a young woman's dedication to make a difference in the lives of others, really DOES make a difference with God directing her path.


               Amazon Review

NEW BOOK REVIEW

                                                         The Siren .. By Kiera Cass

A sweeping stand-alone fantasy romance from Kiera Cass, author of the Selection series.
Kahlen is a Siren, bound to serve the Ocean by luring humans to watery graves with her voice, which is deadly to any human who hears it. Akinli is human—a kind, handsome boy who's everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. Falling in love puts them both in danger . . . but Kahlen can't bear to stay away. Will she risk everything to follow her heart?
Originally self-published, The Siren has been completely rewritten and redesigned.



OUR REVIEW

You never know how strong true love is until you've met your soul mate. Kahlen, a beautiful Siren cursed to serve the Ocean, finds love where words are not allowed and relationships are forbidden. She knows living in his world would definitely kill him. What she didn't know was he consequence of living without him.

 

Debra Sue        

Kiera Cass, author of the Selection Series, has a way of bringing her readers into the story by allowing us to feel the wide range of emotions from the character. We cry with them, endure their sorrow and sometimes even rejoice at the little accomplishments along the way. Siren is a novel that allows us to see love in a mythical fantasy.

 

 

                                     Amazon Review

 

   

NEW BOOK REVIEW

Ghosts in the Old Attic (A Sam Cooper Adventure Book 6) ... By Max Elliot Anderson


Sam Cooper is about to get the surprise of his life. His parents plan to leave Harper’s Inlet and move to Louisiana, where they will open a bed and breakfast.

When the family arrives, Sam’s cousins have some pretty wild-eyed stories to tell about a “haunted” mansion nearby. He and his cousins begin exploring the creepy place. Where were those noises coming from and the strange lights at night? There is also a rumor that the reason this place is “haunted” is because there is buried treasure hidden someplace.

As the cousins are investigating, Sam’s parents have been looking for an available property they can afford.

Sam was in for another surprise when he found out about the rundown mansion his parents finally chose to buy. Who is trying to discourage them from moving in and why?

Will the family be able to open the bed and breakfast before it’s too late, or will they lose all their money?


OUR REVIEW

"It's okay to be a little scared. But if you wake up every morning and tell God you need Him to help you in your day...He will." What a great theme that runs through Ghosts In The Old Attic (A Sam Cooper Adventure Book 6) by Max Elliot Anderson. This is such a great book for all ages, although I would think middle school kids would related to the adventures of Sam and his cousins.

I particularly liked that the "ghosts" kept the adventure moving, while Dad helped explain that there is a dark side to life which people battle with and accept, but if you dig deep enough you'll always find that God has the real answer you are looking for.

I did jump into this series, but it is a stand alone story, fast paced with easy to like characters with a realistic setting. An excellent read!

                              Amazon Review

NEW BOOK REVIEW

                        Be: Biblical Wisdom for Children ... By L.A. James

A unique, Christian, read aloud book designed to enable parents and grandparents to easily share Biblical wisdom with the children in their lives.
Don’t read it once and put it on the shelf. Take the book further. Each purchase comes with the ability to download free resources, which will enable you to impress God’s word into the minds and hearts of the children you love.


OUR REVIEW

Absolutely breathtaking illustrations that enhance a corresponding  bible verse presented in a simple but yet inspiring text.  Be: Biblical Wisdom for Children by L.A. James captures each scripture with amazing art that will make you feel the connection with God's holy words.

It will capture the imagination of children and hopefully open dialogue with an adult about the wonders of God. This is not only a book for children, but adults will appreciate the peacefulness that seems to deepen as you read on.

I fell in love with Be Discerning (Mathew 10:16) and  the corresponding art, but by the time I reached Be Renewed (Psalm 103) my heart opened with joy!

This is an amazing, unique book that can bring about conversations or just relax and enjoy God's beauty.


                           Amazon Review

NEW BOOK REVIEW

                                             Bridgers: A Parable ... Angie Thompson


Three boys. One choice. No turning back.

Peyton is a rising star in the church who is well on the way to reaching his biggest dreams. Levi is a pastor's son struggling to live up to his faith under pressure from all sides. DaVonte is a kid from the wrong side of town who would be content if he and his friends were just left alone.

When an act of violence presents a sudden decision, each boy's answer will shake the community to its core and shape its future forever. Love and truth face off against fear and pride in this modern extension of one of Jesus' best-known parables.


OUR REVIEW

"I guess I look like the kid you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley, ..." With an opening like this, I knew the young adult  Bridgers: A Parable by Angie Thompson was going to tell me a story that would hold conflict and most likely trouble.

The Parent's Note in the beginning give parents the option of reading the book first, explaining the reason why Thompson used the references she did. 

I found the story to be extremely realistic, the fact that it could have taken place in any major city or small town was right on spot. Thompson's characters were true to life and surprisingly I understood their actions although they were a bit shocking at the beginning, as you would never have thought Christians would act the way they did.

The story takes two version of one incident and intersects them at a surprising point. What happens next should make Christians dig deep in their hearts and open their eyes to what God has taught us as opposed to what the world has taught us.

I loved the name of the book and the explanation of how it came about bringing in the meaning of the cover. This is an excellent read for all ages, as we find that the power of God can overcome any prejudices developed over the years.


                                                Amazon Review

NEW BOOK REVIEW

                                     Reuben's Big Test ... By Natalie Vellacott

Nine year old Reuben is being bullied. He wants to be brave but he’s afraid. He doesn’t know where to turn or who will help him. What about a teacher or his close friend Joseph? Should he ask God for help and is he sure that God will hear him?

What will Reuben do when it seems he is being forced to choose between God and science at school? Should he answer the questions as his teacher wants him to, or stand up for his faith?

Does Reuben have the courage to report a crime he has witnessed or confront a thief by himself? Is his final decision brave or just really dangerous?

Join Reuben on his final interactive adventure as he learns what it means to be brave in different situations and as he faces up to his biggest test of all.


OUR REVIEW

Reuben's Big Test by Natalie Vellacott is the last of a three part series. We find Reuben facing the most challenging issue today in schools...bullying.

By reading each section and asking the choices that are given in the book help us discover how our own children may feel and possible react to any given situation that encourages bullying or being the end result of bullies.

The book also touches on God's creation and just how much kids may know. "Children, look. The Big Bang is one theory about how we came to be here. Reuben and Joseph have provided another theory from the things they have read in the Bible. Is that right boys?"  I think this opens the door for a great discussion in a group of kids and their friends, or even the classroom by bringing questions in on an elementary level.

This story is a great sharing activity to help children be brave and find the courage to make the right choices with God's help and teaching.

                                   Amazon Review

NEW BOOK REVIEW

                                   Destitutio Quod Remissio ... By Brett Armstrong


For decades, Roman Senator Marcus Servius labored to become a wealthy and admired patrician man. But now, his world is shattered. After he is exposed as a Christian during a time of intense persecution, his home, wealth, and prestige are stripped from him. The most painful loss of all is that of his beloved wife, Cassandra. Destitute and wary, Marcus prays he will be delivered from his enemies' hands as he struggles to realize a new path.

In desperate need of help, Marcus disguises himself and embarks on a dangerous journey to find Benjamin Truvias, the leader of a hidden church and the man responsible for Marcus's conversion. After Benjamin offers aid, Marcus's life finally finds needed direction. Yet, the more he helps the church through persecutions, the closer he comes to finding who betrayed him. Caught in a maelstrom of intrigue and deception, should Marcus discover the awful truth of who caused his fall, he must choose between vengeance and forgiveness--a decision that will affect the fate of all the believers in Rome.

Destitutio Quod Remissio is the timeless epic tale of a man's struggle to rebuild his life amid ancient Rome after he loses everything he loves and his faith is tested in ways he never imagined.


OUR REVIEW

"Incapable of moving. Incapable of speaking. Incapable of perceiving the destruction wrought upon him, in full." Let's face it, readers by now will know they are in for a complete enthralling mystery. Destitio Quod Remissio by Brett Armstrong has done his research of Christian pain and suffering in Roman times.

The detailed descriptions of the building profiles with their angular bases, ornate inscribed reliefs, and creamy stone columns puts us right at home in this setting and ready to walk along side the characters. The opulence of the wealthy magnifies the slavery of the lower class, as well as the danger and possibility of death of being a Christian.

The main character is Marcus, who has lost his beloved wife in a treacherous fire and now on the run to find particular people that could answer many of the questions of betrayal. Each character is brought to life, making me really feel their intense stress of each situation Marcus puts himself in.

Without giving away any spoilers, I have to say I didn't see the twists that came during his search, and a credit to the author that I did get angry at a couple of characters for the parts they played. My reaction was...seriously, how could you did that?!

Strength of overcoming the fear of being found out to be a Christian was sheer terror and how the characters in the novel handled this was very diverse and interesting.


                                          Amazon Review

NEW BOOK REVIEW

A Missionary in Manila: (Missionary Stories) ... By Natalie Vellacot




Natalie Vellacott, a former police officer, set off from England hoping to make a difference as an independent missionary to the Philippines. After a bumpy beginning in Olongapo City, she settled in the nation’s capital Manila becoming quickly immersed in Filipino culture. Attached to an evangelical church in Cubao, she worked with the homeless people for several years.

How do you deal with a landlord who wants immediate access to your dwelling at all hours of the day and night? What to do when a large group of barely clad homeless people are eagerly awaiting a Bible study in the middle of a typhoon? Or when the bus you were hoping to travel on has a list of suspended conductors? Where to turn when an eight months pregnant, homeless lady faces the very real prospect of giving birth in the street? Or when a little beggar girl says that a relative put her in a sack and threw it in the river? Who will win the battle for supremacy, the kitten, the cockroach or the ever- growing numbers of mice that have invaded? And of course, what has happened to the “rugby boys” addicted to solvents?

Find answers to these questions and others as Natalie seeks to bring the Good News of saving hope in Jesus to Manila’s urban poor. 



OUR REVIEW

"This account is a true story. However, some names may have been changed to protect the identities of individuals." Oh yeah, when I read that I knew I was in for a treat. Even the cover of  A Missionary in Manila: (Missionary Stories) by Natalie Vellacot grabbed my attention with those suspiciously sweet looking  mischievous little guys.

Vellacot runs the reader non-stop with amazing vignettes of her missionary work in the Philippines. Even though I have never been there, I truly caught the flavor of the country and people. Being a true story, my jaw dropped many times with what she had to deal with, some happy some sad and some just plain crazy! Some of her English translations made me laugh as she tried to explain that "Jesus was living in my cat," or "My coffee likes to drink me."

How Vellacot described the sadness of homeless children, the everyday substance abuse, pregnant young girls and a multitude of other everyday lifestyle will make you admire those who are serving God for His glory.

I think it takes special people called by God to do missionary work, serving others and helping meet their needs just to live a basic life. As Vellacot states: "We are a product of the culture we live in...We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We stand in need of His rescue."

Whether you are called to be a missionary or not, this book will sink into your soul at how the mighty power of God works within us.

                                        Amazon Review



                                                

NEW BOOK REVIEW

 Coming Out Of Egypt (The Egypt Series Book 1) ... By Angela Joseph


When Marva accidentally kills her father while trying to protect her younger sister June from him, she anticipates a new beginning far from "Egypt" where they once lived. But her new life is fraught with fear and anxiety. She has become the detective's chief suspect, her teenage sister is too beautiful for her own good, and her supervisor wants to teach her more than her job requires. In addition, she has to sort out her mixed feelings for her childhood sweetheart. It's enough to drive a girl to drink - which she does - until Cicely, Marva's former teacher intervenes. She patiently mentors the girls and leads them to Christ.
But Cicely has problems of her own, and as Marva watches her deal with and overcome heartbreak, she begins to understand the true meaning of love, forgiveness and faith in a God who can bring her "out of Egypt." But the noose still hangs over her head. Will Marva be punished for her crime, or will she find compassion and understanding? The dark matter covered in this book is offset by the exotic setting and the rich, cultural references of Trinidad and Tobago.


OUR REVIEW

Coming Out of Egypt (The Egypt Series Book 1) by Angela Joseph is not your typical mystery, romance Christian novel. The main content was very painful and I believe after reading the author's notes, based on gathered facts from Joseph.

The story is centered around two sisters that endured a horrific childhood, and the consequences that happened. The subject matter was intense and very sad for me to read, and I will refrain from giving out any spoilers. Be aware that this is an adult book with a lot of emotional and spiritual turmoil.

I did like the questions at the end of the book to use as guidelines for open discussions about forgiveness and deliverance, but I felt the writing could have been a little more polished and needed to flow a bit more evenly.

 

 

                                     Amazon Review