Beautiful Things Happen When A Woman Trusts God by Sheila Walsh - Book Review

From the back cover copy: "Do you ever question God's ability to catch you when you fall? Do shame, fear, and brokenness keep you from fully trusting God? Do you secretly believe your dreams are unreachable?  You are not alone!  This is a book about trust."

In her latest book, Beautiful Things Happen When A Woman Trusts God, Sheila Walsh once again shares her heart's struggles with us so transparently. Sheila gives us examples from the lives of Biblical characters, peppering each chapter with illustrations from her own life and the lives of others. In spite of life's overwhelming circumstances, encountering Christ with a trusting heart "sets beautiful things in motion," Sheila reminds us.

I love the way in which Sheila delves into the Biblical accounts of ten people, (Tabitha, Paul, David, Joseph, Gideon, Abraham, Samson, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, Anna), showing us their trusting responses.  The truths that this book highlights bring hope, encouragement and purpose to our lives.  Sheila includes a discussion guide for book clubs, as well as an in-depth Bible study filled with challenging questions.

In the introduction, Sheila recounts how she and her sister would swing in the park.  She trusted her mother to push her.  One day, her sister was pushing her, but then got tired.  The neighbourhood bully came along and began pushing her swing.  She didn't trust him, and was terrified.  She said "when trust was absent, the swing turned into a nightmare. Who was pushing the swing made all the difference in the world.  The heart behind the hands pushing the swing changed everything."  Sheila shows us through her book that we can indeed trust the heart behind the hands, when it is God calling us to trust Him.

Sheila Walsh is a speaker with Women Of Faith, and has writtn many books.  She lives in Texas with husband, Barry and son, Christian.  Follow Sheila at twitter.com/sheilawalsh or on facebook.com/sheilawalshconnects.

Pick up a copy of Sheila's book at your favorite bookstore, or order through http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.christianbooks.com/

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for a copy of the book for review purposes.

"SOMEWHERE TO BELONG" by Judith Miller - Book Review

Somewhere To Belong is the newest release by award-winning author, Judith Miller.  This historical fiction is set in 1877 in the Amana Colonies in Iowa.

The author's love for history is reflected in the many details of daily life in the villages of Amana.  In this setting, devout Christians believe in co-operative living, a simple lifestyle, and faithful service to God.

The story is told in the first person, alternating between the two main characters, Johanna Ilg and Berta Schumacher.  Johanna has lived her entire life in one of the villages, but longs to see the outside world.  Berta, on the other hand, has come from Chicago with her parents, who want to show her a simpler life.

Berta has a naturally rebellious spirit, and resists the idea of remaining in  the village.  It falls upon Johanna to train Berta in village ways.

As the story progresses, it is discovered that both families are harbouring secrets.  Where will these girls find somewhere to belong?

I enjoyed reading this book, and learned much from the description of village life in the Amana colonies.  The author has included so many details, that I could feel I was there, walking on the streets with the girls.  Yes, it is another 'bonnet book', but with a twist.  Those who are familiar with Judith Miller's previous books will not be disappointed, and it is a good introduction for first-time readers as well.

*** Judith Miller has done extensive research into life in the Amana Colonies.  If you would like to ask her questions regarding the colonies, you may contact her at http://www.judithmccoymiller.com/

"A copy of this book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  It is available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

HERE BURNS MY CANDLE by Liz Curtis Higgs - BOOK REVIEW

Set  in 18th century Edinburgh, Here Burns My Candle will grip you from beginning to end.  The year is 1745.  The Dowager Lady Marjory Kerr, together with her sons, Lord Donald and Andrew and their wives, Lady Elisabeth and Janet, have taken up residence in Edinburgh.  The Kerrs have come from Selkirk, but Elisabeth and Janet are from the Highlands.  By all appearances, things are going well for the Kerrs, that is, until the arrival of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his rebel army. But things are not as they seem.  Inside their hearts, they carry secrets...

This story is so rich in detail and description, I felt like I was walking the High Street of Edinburgh, with all its wynds and closes, experiencing all that was a part of daily life. Servants, society ladies, merchants, soldiers and others add color to the story.  In addition to engaging all my senses, I was also caught up in the emotional struggles of the characters, agonizing with them over every painful decision, and asking myself what I would do, how would I respond, given those circumstances. I often reached for a tissue to wipe away the tears, in order to bring the next page into focus!

Although this story takes place in another time and place, the human heart remains the same, and can only be softened by the love and mercy of God.  Among other things, this is a story of a growing faith and trust in our Almighty God, the One Who is truly faithful.

This is a story with intense drama, a real 'page-turner'.  It is so well-written.  Liz is a master story teller, and she has done her research, checking each detail for accuracy.  18th century Scotland certainly comes alive through this amazing story.

Here Burns My Candle has its roots in the biblical account of Ruth and Naomi.  I look forward to "the rest of the story" in Liz's next book, Mine Is The Night, scheduled to be released in Spring 2011.

From the back cover copy: "A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteeth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home."

Here Burns My Candle may be ordered through Amazon.com
, http://www.christianbooks.com/ and through you local bookstore.

For more information about the author, go to her website, http://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/.  While there, check out other books by Liz, read her biography and sign up for her email newsletters.  Join Liz on her facebook fan page and on Twitter.

Here Burns My Candle is published by WaterBrook Press.

HERE BURNS MY CANDLE by Liz Curtis Higgs - AUDIOBOOK

Och, lass!  Are you in for a treat!  Here Burns My Candle, the latest Scottish historical novel by Liz Curtis Higgs, is available on Audiobook!  Furthermore, it is unabridged (yes, the WHOLE story!), and is read by Liz herself!

So, grab your plaid, a cup of tea and a thick slice of Mrs. Edgar's seedcake, and join Liz as she recounts this gripping story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption in 18th century Edinburgh.

The Audiobook is produced by Random House Audio (http://www.randomhouseaudio.com/  and is available through http://www.amazon.com/.  The audiobook consists of 13 CDs.  Total listening time: 16 1/2 hours.

FOUND ART by Leeana Tankersley - BOOK REVIEW

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"Found Art: Discovering Beauty in Foreign Places" is a memoir of the year author Leeana Tankersley lived in the Middle East with her navy SEAL husband during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  As the story unfolds, Leeana finds her life and her soul have been changed forever.

With an artist's eye, Tankersley uses each chapter to piece together moments and memories from her journey to create a work of unexpected beauty; a handwritten note from Kuwait, a braid of fringe from a Persian rug, an original poem, a bit of basting thread, a swatch of black silk from a borrowed abaya, a mesquite leaf, a navy SEAL trident, a receipt from the Russian-Georgian restaurant on Louisiana Street.

Found Art emerges, a literary collage created from salvaged stories of loss, hope and belief ."- taken from back cover copy.

Found Art is an amazing book by a debut author.  Leeana's writing puts into words what many of us feel, but often cannot express.  Leeana takes us along with her to a part of world which most of us will never experience, and yet she enables us to engage all our senses as we journey with her.  We feel with her as she learns what it means to be in a foreign place, and she helps us see that all of us have 'foreign places' in our own life experience.  The truths about which she writes go straight to the heart and soul in a redemptive process which only God could orchestrate.  Leeana's journey resulted in transformation.  She says "We can resist the beauty the beauty that is waiting for us (in foreign places), but if we will enter the frightening place - if we will engage ourselves in the context of this new culture - we will see that there is no shortcut to transformation."  I was deeply moved by Leeana's writing, which caused me to look for 'found art' in the collage of my own life's experiences.

Leeana's book is published by Zondervan, and is available through http://www.amazon.com/ and wherever fine books are sold.

Thanks to Zondervan for providing a copy for review through the http://www.blogspottours.com/ program.

For more information, see Leeana's blog at http://www.gypsyink.com/.

HERE BURNS MY CANDLE

The latest Scottish fiction by Liz Curtis Higgs released today!  Here Burns My Candle, set in 1745 Edinburgh, is based on the biblical account of Ruth and Naomi.  I am anxiously anticipating the arrival of my copy, and when I have read it, will review it on this blogsite.

The book can be purchased through http://www.amazon.com/ , http://www.christianbooks.com/, other online bookstores, as well as through your local Christian bookstore.


Click on the following link to read an excellent interview with Liz.  Blessings to all, and happy reading!

interviewsandreviews.blogspot.com