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

Be Still

Be still?  Today?  But there are so many distractions all around me, clambouring for my attention.  Demands on my time and energy tug at me.  The tyranny of the urgent, some have called it.  As if that weren't enough, my own thoughts are so scattered, lacking focus.

But in the midst of it all, God calls out to me. "Be still, my child. Come to me and find rest.  Listen to my 'still, small voice' leading you in paths of righteousness, bidding you lie down in the green pasture, so cool and refreshing."

So often, I come to the Lord with heart and mind full of requests, and yes, with suggestions on how He could answer them!  Nevertheless, He graciously extends an invitation. He, the King of kings, requests the honour of my presence! He loves when I come to Him with an open mind and heart, ready to actively listen, not saying a word.  I don't have to.  After all, He already knows.  In these times, my Father is longing to share HIS heart with me, for me to be satified and at rest in His love.  What a privilege, what comfort!

I cannot fully comprehend such a gracious invitation, but have tasted in a small way what it must be like.  When our daughters were small, they so often came to me with their requests.  "Mummy, could you please get me a drink?"  "Mummy, please read me a story."  And on it went, day after day.  Then one day, our oldest daughter came to me, dressed in her cozy pj's.  "Mummy."  She began.  Before she could finish her sentence, I jumped in, asking what she wanted.  Her reply warmed my heart.  "Mummy, I don't WANT anything.  I just want to curl up on your lap and cuddle.  I love you so much."  Does my Father's heart warm to such a response from His child?  I have every reason to believe it does!

I have posted a link to the wonderful song, "Be Still, For The Presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is Here."  May you be blessed as I was as you listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jblX88cA81A

BE MY VALENTINE

Valentine's Day has not always held a special place in my heart.  I can still remember those years in primary school, when it seemed that Valentine's Day was the focus during the first two weeks of February.  Our classroom would be lavishly decorated with red cardboard hearts, chubby cupids with their bows and arrrows, red and white streamers and lacey doilies.  My dread increased with each passing day.

My teacher would have us decorate brown paper bags and put our names on them, then attach them along the bottom of the blackboard ledge, in anticipation of that grand day when the bags would be filled with cards.  The cards had pictures of boys and girls, and had sentiments such as "Be my Valentine", "Valentine, Be Mine", "You are the one for me", and so on.

My mum took me shopping to buy a book of Valentines, which I carefully cut out, writing the name of a classmate as well as my own name on the back of each one, then placing it in a small white envelope.  I loved choosing special ones for each one in my class.

The day finally arrived.  As we entered the classroom, we each placed our Valentines in the appropriate bags, then waited until it was time to collect our bag and discover who had given us a special card.

I watched as others grabbed their bags and poured their cards out on their desks.  The children were giggling, giddy with excitement.  Most had their desk covered with those special cards.  Finally, I gathered courage to open my own bag, and there would be 3 or 4 cards in it.  Saddened, but not surprised, I placed those treasures back in my bag.  I was not one of the popular students, I was not one of the pretty ones, and did not have pretty clothes.  My hair was short and straight as a board, unlike some who had long flowing curls or ringlets.  Finally, the bell rang, and I sauntered off toward home, by myself.

As I think back on those early years, I wonder how many others feel as I did.  Neither pretty nor popular, just plain and ordinary.  Shy, sad, alone.

One day when I was 12, I reached into another Valentine bag.  In it there was one large heart.  On it were written words so loving and tender, words that stirred my heart and filled me with hope. "Lynn, I love you.  Jesus".  Joy overflowed as I sensed the embrace of the one who had sent that card.  For the first time, I knew that I was loved deeply and accepted, just as I was.  I wanted to run into the arms of the one who had sent that card to me that day.  And run I did, straight into the arms of the One Who loves and accepts me without condition, with an everlasting love.

There have been other loves in my life, such as my sweet husband, children, in-laws, grandchildren and dear friends.  But Jesus will always and forever be my one true love, above all others.  He had filled the emptiness in my heart as nothing else could.  Bags of valentine sentiments from classmates are nothing in comparison.  My heart is filled to the brim.  May that love spill over and touch those around me.  May they, too, come to know the love of our great Saviour.

"He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." 

(Zephaniah 3:17 - NIV)

No love song could ever compare with the one He sings over us, His beloved ones!

Happy Valentine's Day!

BOOK REVIEW - "THIN PLACES" by Mary DeMuth

In Thin Places - a memoir, Mary DeMuth takes us with her on an intimate journey into her childhood, detailing circumstances that lead up to where she is today.  This was not an easy book to write, as Mary exposes her past, becoming vulnerable and baring her heart. Mary was repeatedly abused physically, experiencing shame and wanting to please people, lonely and seeking to belong, looking for love in all the wrong places.  But Mary's story is not one of a victim, but of a victor, because she entered into a personal relationship with the God of redemption.

In Thin Places, Mary describes those moments when "the division between this world and the eternal fades. Thin places are snatches of holy ground, tucked into the corners of our world, where we might just catch a glimpse of eternity.  They are aha moments, the beautiful realizations." (quoted from back cover) 

In the telling of her story, Mary offers hope for all of us.  We may have experienced circumstances such as Mary describes.  She invites us to discover God through those circumstances, and to share that hope which He freely extends to all.

I found it encouraging that Mary is still on a journey.  Some questions still remain unanswered.  In spite of everything, Mary says "...the ultimate Author of my life is Jesus.  He has taken a frail, needy, empty girl and helped her to dance.  And even when she stumbles badly and makes a mess of her life, He still sees her, loves her, woos her, delights in her."

Thank you, Mary, for listening to God's voice and going to the painful places in order to touch the hearts of many hurting people.

http://marydemuth.com/ - Mary's website

Mary's blog

Thin Places is available through the following: http://www.amazon.com/, BarnesandNoble.com, Shelfari.com, Goodreads.com, Epinions.com, Librarything.com and Christianbooks.com.

To view the trailer for Thin Places, go to http://www.youtube.com/  and type in "Thin Places Mary DeMuth."

This is a book to be read slowly, allowing the message to touch your heart.  Then pass it on to a library, prison ministry or women's shelter.  And most important: consider giving the book to a friend who needs the message.

Thanks to Zondervan for providing a copy of the book for review purposes.