Tag: book review

Palace of Darkness: A Book Look Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer

I love history, but one of my least studied eras was ancient and biblical history. I’m finding a very fun way to explore the past through historical novels. Since my daughter is studying this era of history more extensively this year I have been drawn to these novels lately. 

The re-release of Tracy Higley’s novels has been exciting for me as she was previously unknown to me. This follow-up to City on Fire: A Novel of Pompeii is an excellent way to delve into the early church and understand how difficult it was to be a Christian at the beginning of the church age. We take this for granted and I often don’t think about. 
While the historical elements were fascinating and have inspired me to learn more about this ancient city, My favorite part about this novel was Cassia’s journey to salvation. I love novels where the main characters are changed by the end in one way or another. I love how the presentation of the gospel to her was laid out by the believers simply by living their lives with her. There is much to be said for living our lives in this way, the way Christ did. 
I also like that although there is romance involved in this story, it is not the central motivating factor for the character’s actions. I enjoy romance, but when the motivations of the main characters are always based on their emotions toward their love interest, I quickly lose interest. Higley’s novels are never like this. The romance is secondary and the plot is primary. Too bad more author’s don’t think this way!
Even if you haven’t ever tried a historical novel or one in the biblical genre, I encourage you to pick up this one. It’s a great one to delve into and includes suspense and unexpected twists and turns along the way!

Get to Know Mary: A Book Look Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer
My girls have been raised knowing a lot about the Bible. When Rose, my oldest daughter, was about 15 months old we started having nightly devotions and Bible time with her. This nightly routine has remained in place ever since and the girls make sure to remind us if we forget for a night!
Growing up as pastor’s kids ourselves, my husband and I know how easy it is for the truth of Scripture to become so common place that it loses its wonder. This doesn’t mean we stop training and teaching our kids, but it does mean we always need to be mindful that we should be making an effort to engage our daughters with Scripture in new ways. 
This new biography series for kids is a great way to engage your children in a new way. This beautifully illustrated book provides insights they may not have thought to ask about before. Alongside biographical information about the individual there are also many cultural and contextual explanations to help the individual feel more real.
Beth has really enjoyed this biography in particular. She likes reading about just about anything and was really excited when I showed this to her. The passages about Mary have always been some of her favorites. Whether winter is in the air or not she’ll frequently flip to the Christmas story when choosing on her own something to read. I asked her what her favorite part was and she said all the information on the sides. That is also my favorite part. I am thrilled for her to be digging deeper using historical and cultural information to understand some of the deeper meanings behind what is in the text. 
If you are looking for accurate and engaging books, these are the way to go. There are several titles to choose from in the series and I hope to get a few more for my girls!
Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook.com® <http://BookLook.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Grace-Filled Writer
From the time I first read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a young girl I loved C.S. Lewis. Lewis inspired my imagination and like so many other children Narnia has become real to me. I have read a few of his other works, including The Screwtape Letters with my middle school students in class and A Grief Observed right after we lost our first baby to miscarriage. Again and again Lewis’ works inspire and speak to me. 
I had never read Mere Christianity, but did so along with a study guide I reviewed a few months ago. At the time I didn’t realize this was actually a series of radio broadcasts completed for the BBC during the terrifying period of World War II. I have been fascinated with this period in our world’s history for many reasons, the biggest being my grandfather served during the war. I was all the more intrigued to learn about this radio series which was intended to give hope and meaning to life for all of England. 
I was very excited for the opportunity to review C.S. Lewis & Mere Christianity by Paul McCusker. We are long-time Adventures in Odyssey fans and I was very familiar with his name because of that. He also wrote the script for C.S. Lewis at War which dramatizes much of what I read in the book.

This historical account of what was going on behind this classic is simply fascinating. C.S. Lewis did not recognize at the time how full of impact this was or would continue to be decades later. This wonderful biographical and historical work will provide the story behind the classic.

I love how the many different players of this time in history are all given time. We not only find out about C. S. Lewis during this time, but many others such as James Welch, the director of religious broadcasting for the BBC, not to mention the historical details. All of these are strung together seamlessly so the reader can get the full picture behind this classic. I very much appreciated the use of breaks within chapters. This keeps the reader clear on the change of subject or individual creating diverse continuity.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was the perfect blend of history and biography written by an incredible story-teller. If you are a fan of C. S. Lewis’ works you will truly appreciate this historical account.

Prelude for a Lord: A Book Look Blogger’s Review

Grace-Filled Writer
There is nothing more relaxing than a cup of hot tea, a cozy spot on a the couch, and a good book…especially if the book is long! I love long novels that aren’t over too soon. I feel so satisfied when a novel touches me emotionally and when I get to stay in that place for a while. Extensive plots and character development are what I look for in a good story and these can only be accomplished well with lengthy prose. 
Camille Elliot is a new author to me, but this first novel of hers which I read has created a new fan! I had the chance to read this on our family camping trip this summer. I’ll be honest, camping is not my favorite thing so a good book which transported me to the elegance and wealth of the Regency Period was a wonderful reprieve. I have been a long-time lover of Jane Austen’s writings and therefore already felt the romance of this period. I’m also a musician and understand the passionate way one can feel as they are playing a piece. These two pairings made the story all the more engaging. 
I don’t want to give too much of the story away, but the basic premise revolves around Alethea Sutherton, an amazing violinist in a time when for a woman to play such an instrument was scandalous. She encounters Lord Dommick, a fellow violinist and a man haunted by war. This novel is filled with suspense and intrigue as it is discovered that Alethea’s violin, given to her by her beloved friend, is being sought by nefarious individuals. 
The development of the characters as the story progresses was just delightful. Plenty of time was given to see each of the main characters grow. I also appreciated the attention to side characters and their development as well. For instance, the aunt with whom Alethea lives is much more complex than at first glance, but rather than just stating this we see through her actions that what she shows on the exterior does not reveal her true heart. 

I highly recommend this novel. You will be transported to a different era and I doubt you will be able to put it down!

Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook.com® <http://BookLook.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Four Weddings & a Kiss: A Book Look Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer

This was such a fun book to read! I usually don’t enjoy books very much with stories be four different authors, but I’m so glad I had the opportunity to review this one. What made this compilation of books unique from others I have read was the frame story surrounding it. I really liked that there was a back-story to the stories leaving me wanting to see how the back story ended up!

Each of the four stories was written by different authors, but the book did not have a disjointed feel at all. Each had unique characters who developed and grew from beginning to end. For me, that’s what makes a good book. I love reading a novel where the characters travel on an emotional or spiritual journey. Each story had unexpected moments which is something else I like. I love historical fiction and many times they can be quite predictable, so I like when I’m taken by surprise.

The story frame was what interested me the most. I loved how it opened with 5 traveling preachers finishing up evangelistic meetings. Four of the ministers are seasoned while the fifth is new to ministry and has preconceived notions about what his life and his wife should be like. It is clear he is distraught and after discovering the issue has to do with a young woman he has felt the need to distance himself from because he is a minister the other four proceed to share some stories with him. The stories are all about other couples who they have had the privilege to know and marry. I really loved that the frame story was revisited at the end and we were given a resolution to that as well.

I can’t pick a favorite of the four stories. Most of the authors were new to me, but Robin Lee Hatcher is an author I’m very familiar with and I was not a bit disappointed with this novel! Her characters as always were well developed and interesting. What pleased me most was that the other stories were equally well developed and captivating. I’m pleased to say I’ve found 3 new authors to follow!

Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook.com® <http://BookLook.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Rocky Hill Fireman: Review

Grace-Filled Writer
I was so excited for the opportunity to review the Rocky Hill: Fireman series. These delightfully written stories by James Burd Brewster are a great way to teach kids about fire safety and the life of a fireman. I love the beautiful illustrations and my girls have thoroughly enjoyed each book in this series. Rocky’s motto, “Glad to do it!” is a running theme throughout the series and portrays the heart behind those who do this dangerous job. 
The series follows Rocky Hill as he begins his career as a fireman. He is courageous and strong, but nervous as he starts out with his new life as a rescuer. I like how each book follows the same character. My girls love reading series and can’t wait to find out what will happen with characters next!
Rose asked if she could read aloud the stories to her sisters and I happily agreed.  They are written on about a 3rd grade level and the text is easy to follow. When Rose was younger she always said she wanted to either be a fire-girl or police-woman. She’s moved on to other career goals, but still loves learning about these jobs! 
Grace told me she really liked the pictures. She had lots of questions about what different things were called as they read. Beth loved the stories too and said she wished she could meet Rocky! 
Ever since we took our field trip to the fire station last year the girls have been very interested in the fire department. When we were reading these books they would stop and say, “Remember when Mr. Mark showed us this at his station?” It was fun to think back and for them to have another connection to this high profession. 
I appreciate the author humanizes his main character. It is easy to think those who do such great and important work to save people are larger than life. These books are a great opportunity to show children anyone can be used to do great things. We related Rocky to our real-life fireman friend Mark and talked about what it must be like for Mark as he works. 
A wonderful addition to these books are the online resources! You can download coloring pages and even join the Glad to do it Club! It is clear the author has a heart for teaching kids about fire safety and has done a great job through is books which I highly recommend. 

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of each book in this series directly from the author for review. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way. 

The Universe: Moms of Master Books Review

Grace-Filled Writer

Another title for you from the Moms of Master Books! This month we’re reviewing the newest title in the series Investigate the Possibilities from Master Books (and imprint of New Leaf Publishing Group). This is a wonderful series. For all you PBS fans you’ll find this has the feeling of Sid the Science Kid. Lots of investigation and exploration for the child and opportunity to record their findings in their own journal. What I’ve seen of this series makes me want to see more!

My girls are infatuated with all things space-related, especially Rose. She has so many questions…How far away are the stars? Why can we only see the moon at night? Can we see the planets? This Universe: From Comets to Constellations will go a long way in answering her many, many inquiries! The 20 investigations cover all areas of the universe from a biblical perspective which merges observation science with the truth of Scripture. Just like every other title from Master Books I know I can trust both the scientific evidence and biblical perspective to point us to truth and understanding of the world around us.

It saddens me to hear to volatile hatred expressed towards anyone who believes in an inerrant Word of God. The anger and disdain shown towards anyone who dares to express the view that there is a divine Creator rather than random chance does not make sense to me. Why can there not be respectful disagreement and discussion in this area? It seems that the current tone of discussion will allow neither, yet I want my girls to be very aware of the views which oppose biblical creation. My reasoning is so they can not only choose for themselves what they will believe, but also be fully equipped with knowledge of why they can stand on the truth of the Word of God. This is just one more tool in my library of resources to not only answer their questions, but fuel their curiosities!

Okay, so enough about why I’m loving this book! Let me get down to the details. Each investigation has an introductory story followed by a simple experiment which uses around the house kinds of items to help better understand properties and concepts about astronomy. Following this is a deeper explanation of the history and observational science used to piece together our understanding of the universe. Included in this area are full explanations of opposing viewpoints on evolution and why they are believed by those who do not follow Scripture, but also why we can trust God’s Word as true. Finally is explanation of how the experiments and activities connect for a full appreciation of the ideas presented. The final portion gives both comprehension and discussion questions as well as opportunity to further explore more deeply into the subject.

The girls really liked looking at the beautiful color pictures in each investigation. I appreciated the inclusion of history as well as observation of science. Our cat was enjoying our time checking this new book out as well.  Zoe loves it any time we hang out on the floor and let her snuggle on our books. This book is going to be a lot of fun to explore this summer!

The investigation we looked at first was observing the movement of the universe in space. Since that isn’t something we can actually do in our homeschool, we did a smaller version of it using a balloon and a sharpie. Cool! We blew balloons up just a little and dotted them with a marker. Then we deflated them to see how closely the “stars” were to each other and blew it up again to watch it expand! I didn’t tell them what to expect, but did tell them what the dots represented. The amazed smiles on their faces as we watched the “stars” expand! It was a great way to visually show them this principle. 
Also included in this series are investigation journals and teacher’s guides for each book. These are really nice additions to the set. You can feel very confident in using this for your curriculum as there are more than enough resources to guide you through. 
Disclaimer: I received The Universe as well as the teacher’s guide and students journal as part of the Moms of Master Books Team. I was not required to give a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way. 

The Queen’s Handmaid: Book Review

Grace-Filled Writer
I’ve found a new genre of fiction which I now love! This is the second novel from Tracy L. Higley I’ve reviewed…and loved! I love history and historical fiction, but I’ve stayed away from anything that wasn’t American History. I pretty much stayed with novels set in the 1800’s. I’m so glad I gave something different a try. 

It may be because my oldest daughter and I are studying this period of history extensively, but I found it much more interesting than I would have a few years ago. Set in the time of Cleopatra (About 40 years before Christ’s birth) and follows the journey of her oldest son’s nurse, Lydia, as she travels from Egypt to Israel in search of her own heritage. 

This beautiful tale weaves history throughout the pages in a way that doesn’t feel as if you are reading a history book. I’ve become a huge fan of living books, books which tell history in a story-like way. This is an excellent example of how one can enjoy learning history. I knew Cleopatra existed, but had no idea what time frame or what she was really like as a ruler. This was not an area I remember studying in grade-school. I actually did a little historical research of my own as I began reading because I wanted to make sure I knew when it was taking place. 

I really enjoyed Lydia’s spiritual journey as well. She struggles with knowing what or who to follow religiously because of the Egyptian, Greek, and Jewish cultures she has learned. She knows she must choose, but it is a long process, not a quick decision. 

I also was surprised at many turns this novel took. It helped to be rather unfamiliar with the history surrounding the story, but I love a novel that keeps me guessing. So much already published is predictable and I’m more excited to read author’s who don’t take the predictable route. 

Even if you don’t normally read historical fiction or this particular time of historical fiction I urge you to give this book a try. I think you’ll find yourself as drawn to it as I was!


Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook.com® <http://BookLook.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Heart’s Pursuit: Book Review

Grace-Filled Writer

One of my current favorite author’s is Robin Lee Hatcher. I really enjoy her style of writing and that her stories tend to hold some suspense beyond the typical boy-meets-girl romance. I always look forward to getting my hands on her next endeavor!

The Heart’s Pursuit was an interesting read which took twists and turns I wasn’t expecting. That’s always a fun change. As an avid reader I can often predict the plot development of a story and anytime I’m surprised or caught off guard by a certain turn of events I’m thrilled.

The plot is also unique. A young woman, Silver Matlock, is jilted at the alter. She hires a bounty hunter, Jared Newman, to find him merely to recover the family money and jewels which he pilfered away. Their journey is difficult and takes unexpected turns and Jared discovers information about a different criminal he is hunting for a very personal reason. You’ll be quickly drawn into the lives of each character as they travel across the west both seeking justice for different crimes.

I thoroughly enjoyed the character development of Jared and Silver, the hero and heroine of this western story. Several books I’ve read recently have been lacking in the area of character development, but I can always count on Robin Lee Hatcher to provide interesting, imperfect individuals who grow in their personalities as well as their relationship to God.

I also love that her stories draw the reader to think more about God and His role in our lives, but she isn’t preachy. Some author’s write entire sermons. This isn’t wrong, but I don’t particularly enjoy reading a story I feel is preaching at me.

If you’re looking for a good read this summer pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed!

Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook.com® <http://BookLook.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Bluebonnett Bride: Review

Grace-Filled Writer
I’m always game for reading a new author! I had never read any of Colleen Coble’s books, but had heard good things about this author. I was interested in the premise set in the early 1900’s, around the time of Anne of Green Gable’s setting. I’ve also always been a fan of stories about mail order brides, so I dove into this with a lot of anticipation.  
Elli, the main character has traveled from Finland and a very wealthy upbringing to escape a man she believes to have been involved with the death of her father to start a new life as the wife of Nathan White and mother to Nathan’s four-year-old niece, Hannah. The first day of their marriage begins in turmoil as Elli is attacked for no apparent reason in her own new home. Soon more attacks and trouble begin to test the fragile threads of Elli and Nathan’s barely begun marriage.
Although the story-line had promise, I was actually a little disappointed in this novel. It is a very light read and only took about and hour and a half to read. That is nice in some ways for me because I do not have enormous amounts of time for leisurely reading. I completed most of this as I waited at a doctor’s office and it was simple enough to follow that I wasn’t distracted by all going on around me. 
My disappointment came in the actual content. The conversation between the characters seemed forced at times and rather unnatural and the background information vital to the story was inserted in what felt like awkward moments at times. I also felt there was a lack of character development which I like in my fiction. Part of this may be due to the length of the novel since it is not very long. 
I was also a little disappointed in the references to faith. While I’m not a fan of fiction that preaches at its reader, I do appreciate seeing the faith of the characters more than merely quick prayers for help or a passing reference to their spirituality which is what it felt like with this novel. 
I don’t know that I will be reading more in this series, but I would definitely recommend this author to a younger audience just getting ready to step into more grown up Christian fiction. I’m planning on having my daughter (she is eight now) read it in a few years when she is more mature. 

Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook.com® <http://BookLook.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.