The One with the New Favorite Book

You know that feeling you get when you're turning page after page of a fantastic book? It's thrilling, gripping, consuming. You just want to finish it, to find out what happens in the end? But then, as soon as you read the last word on the last page there's a pit of sadness in your stomach. You wish the story would just go on and on. You don't want to find another "good book" because you just finished reading the best story of all time. 

That's how I've felt every since Wednesday morning, right after I finished the last 20 pages in Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I flew through this book. I just couldn't put it down. (And that's not normally the case with me and books. I love a good book, but it's rare that I'm totally caught up in the story I'm reading.) Last Friday, my husband and I went to our little local library. 

(Side note: can we just say how much we miss our awesome library system in Michigan and our branch of the library where the librarians knew our names, had our books ready, loved talking with us, and were genuinely sad to see us leave. It was a really big library too, and they knew us and liked us. We weren't an annoyance to them, but their faces seemed to light up every time we walked in the door. I miss that. |end rant| )  

On a whim I decided to check out this familiar title to see if I would I would enjoy it. I had heard the basic premise of the story (Hosea's saga), and I'd thoroughly enjoyed 2 other books by Francine Rivers And the Shofar Blew and The Scarlet Thread. Shhhhuuure. Why not?! I needed another book to read anyways. 

The preface to this novel was absolutely heartbreaking gut-wrenching. I didn't know how I could go on reading. But something kept me going, calling me in deeper and deeper into the lives of Angel and Michael. And before I knew it, I was closing the book for the last time, having been moved so deeply by these characters and their close connection with the biblical story of Hosea.

I don't want to say much about the story. I would give it all away. But I encourage every woman to read this book. It is soul-stirring--a beautiful picture of redemption and restoration, depicting the way our God seeks us out in all our wretchedness and loves us without condition.  

I pray your heart will be moved as mine was. 

The One with the Sweet Dreams

I finishing reading Mine Is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs during our family camping trip in Kentucky. I'm not one to say, "I just can't put this book down!" but I could whole-heartedly say that about this novel. I turned page after page on the 8 hour trip south and only dozed off twice--a record for me! The story was so gripping, though even my cat naps were filled with dreams of the characters' stories. I was thoroughly engrossed in their drama. 

Despite the fact that this novel was the second in the series (following Here Burns a Candle), I didn't have any problem following the story. Higgs writes beautifully and thoroughly, leaving no reader behind. 

This is a story of redemption, of faith, of salvation, of family. Elizabeth Kerr and her mother-in-law, Marjory, are forced to leave their affluent lifestyle after being widowed by their politically rebellious husbands. Trials await them around every corner, but in the end Christ redeems them and brings overwhelming blessing into their lives.  

I would encourage you to pick up a copy of this historical fiction entitled Mine Is the Night very soon! You'll love it, I promise! 

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The One with Harry Potter

I'm a late bloomer. At least where fads are concerned. :) Harry Potter books first took my peers by storm in 8th or 9th grade. For the past eleven years, I have firmly opposed even the idea of of reading these widely popular books. 

I think most of my hesitancy lied in the subject matter. I want to take every thought captive, to avoid any circumstances that detract from or dishonor my great God. I still hold firmly to that conviction. My attitude towards these books have changed, however. I started reading book one on Wednesday and finished book two on Friday. Yeah, they're THAT good. 

I love that they're easy reads. If I'm reading for enjoyment, I'm not looking for a challenge. JK Rowling writes with a fairly simple vocabulary, yet includes excitement, real life emotion and lots of laugh-out-loud character remarks to keep the reader totally engaged. The stories are fun yet totally fictional. It doesn't feel like Rowling is trying to force this reality on me as I read, but rather take me along to this imaginary world of Harry Potter. 

Why are they ok to read after dealing with my convictions? I feel like this topic of reading material is only appropriate if the reader is a mature, firm in their faith, reading only for enjoyment. Young readers should be closely monitored if they're allowed to read these fiction novels in order to carefully monitor their understanding of reality. If an individual (specifically a teen or adult) has a solid filter of faith in place that can sort through incoming fact and fiction, evil and good, I believe the parents and other educators have done their job. We can't govern what others watch or read forever. We can only teach them how to filter through the reading of God's Word. 

All of that said, I will honestly say, I'm loving the Harry Potter series and look forward to owning the hard covers soon. :) 

What about you? Are you a Potter fan or would you rather steer clear?

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The One with the Miracle of Mercy Land

It's hard to know where to begin when it comes to River Jordan's novel, The Miracle of Mercy Land. There is so much emotion, so much suspense, so much frustration, so much beauty, so much triumph.  

This book tells the story of the young woman named Mercy Land who was born and raised on the back rivers of Bittersweet Creek under the faith and wisdom of her Mama and Daddy and her Aunt Ida Mae. Throughout the story, she continually recognizes the impact those individuals have had on her life--on making her who she has become. Mercy has a beauty and softness accompanied by a strength and fierceness that are unrivaled, and she uses her unique mix of character qualities to alter the path of her life. 

 She is committed to her work at The Banner, the Bay City paper, and will go to any lengths to present a full, honest story. Mercy is also influenced by Doc Phillips, editor-in-chief of the newspaper. This old sage and mentor of Miss Land, comes in contact with a book that has the potential for changing his life--and the lives of everyone he's ever met. He and Mercy face impossible decisions, all while fighting the overwhelming pull of the mysterious book. 

Throughout this gripping story of love, of commitment, of heartbreak and restoration, the reader joins Mercy and Doc as they play with destiny in a very real way. 

I highly recommend this novel! Special thanks to WaterBrook Publishing for providing me with this book for reviewing. 

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