About the Book:

What if the life we long for isn’t elsewhere but rather right here, waiting to be discovered?

Joshua Luke Smith believes the greatest lie facing our generation is that the life we long for lies beyond the life that we have. We so easily learn to disdain the inconveniences and interruptions that infuse our everyday. But the real transformation happens when we look at our life as it is and dare to announce: This is the main event.

With devotional depth and prophetic wisdom, and interspersed with the author’s original poetry and blessings, This Is the Main Event is your invitation to awaken to the sacred in your ordinary life. The pathway is through three spiritual practices, as Joshua commends, each proclaiming a transformative truth:

• LAMENTATION: you are allowed to name your pain
• CONSECRATION: you are called to let grace change you
• ADORATION: you are invited to live in the wonder of God’s daily presence

It’s easy to see the bills, packed lunches, traffic jams, dentist appointments as mundanity, but then again, God comes to you in the shape of your actual life. Joshua Luke Smith writes from the raw materials of his own ordinary life—toddler tuck-ins, recovery meetings, flat tires a mile from home—to speak to yours. As you’ll soon discover, every moment becomes meaningful when you recognize the God who meets you in it—a holy encounter accessed in the everyday.

My Thoughts:

I met Joshua Luke Smith in Oxford at Hutchmoot UK a number of years ago and I found his way of communicating truth very down to earth and engaging. I started paying attention to the things he was doing and I loved his book “Something You Once Knew.” So I was excited about the release of This Is The Main Event and even more excited to be offered a copy for review. The book did not disappoint. There is something so sincere about his writing; it slips off the page and connects to my life, even though my life looks very different from his.

I appreciated the very clear sections of the book and the fact that all throughout the book the main idea was reiterated over and over again in the midst of the varying stories and reflections. It was so helpful that even though the book takes you through many places along the journey you never lose sight of the plot. I would pause, put the book down and walk away remembering that the life I long for is hidden in the life I have.

This Is The Main Event is encouraging, engaging, and easy to read. More than that the truth that is being shared could be life changing if you let it. I absolutely recommend you pick up this book and let the words speak to you in your own unique life situation.

I received a free digital copy of this book. My endorsement and opinion are entirely my own and were in no way required of me.

Today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season of preparation for Easter. We turn our eyes again to our mortality and our need for a Savior.

Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.

Turn from sin. Be faithful to Christ.

May God our Father forgive us our sins and bring us to the eternal joy of his kingdom, where dust and ashes have no dominion. Amen 

(The Church of England, Absolution B 84)

“The choice for your way has to be made every moment of my life. I have to chose thoughts that are your thoughts, words that are your words, and actions that are your actions. There are no times or places without choices. I know how deeply I resist choosing you. Please, Lord, be with me at every moment and in every place. Give me the strength and courage to live this season faithfully…” Nouwen

About the Book:

In 1793, a storm propels Lili forward through time, kindling a love that transcends the ages.

Fleeing the clutches of Robespierre’s revolutionary Tribunal in France, Lili Minet makes a desperate escape on a ship headed to England, but her dangerous flight takes an unexpected turn when a violent storm catapults her off the ship and eighty years into the future, leaving her stranded in the unfamiliar world of 1873 England.

When lighthouse keeper Armitage Pierce rescues a woman from the tumultuous sea, he does not anticipate her silent, cold response to his gallant efforts. Though he is wary of this woman and her odd behaviors, he finds she is just as wary of him. And he can sense that she is not telling him something of great import to her. Only Armitage’s grandfather, a man seasoned by the mysteries of the sea, can seem to penetrate Lili’s defenses to offer her support. But as Lili heals from the physical and emotional wounds of her ordeal and Armitage continues to offer light and safety to her, a tender friendship blossoms between the two.

Yet the shadow of danger looms as the threat that chased Lili from France all those years ago reemerges in her new present. Together Lili and Armitage must navigate the challenges of a romance that grows to defy the boundaries of time and the perils that reach across the decades to ensnare Lili. As the storm clouds gather, Lili and Armitage face the ultimate test—discovering whether their bond is strong enough to rewrite the pages of history itself to save them and their love.

My Thoughts:

I like Sarah Eden’s writing and I’ve read almost everything that she has written. I also love time travel books so I was very excited to see The Tides of Time advertised and happy that I was offered a review copy to read.

The mechanics of the time travel were left a little more vague than some other tales. The how and why are wrapped up in speculation and seem devoid of any particular purposeful guiding power. Maybe that will be developed in the next installment in the series.

The book is well written and the character development is engaging and believable. I think Eden’s sweet spot is her Regency era society family novels and though she is a competent writer in other settings I have often felt like that special spark doesn’t always carry over. I wouldn’t say that about this book. Though the setting jumps between the French Revolution and an isolated island off of England’s south coast I felt very much immersed in both settings. The “spark” was there.

But the setting of Lili’s past and family became a bit of a barrier to my enjoyment of the book. I had less than no desire to read a novel about the atrocities of the French Revolution. Then there was the villain, with his hatred, his choices and stubbornness when the possibility to leave the path he had been on was offered. It was just plain heartbreaking. While the narrative was well done, Lili’s story is heavy and hard, filled with grief and sadness. Perhaps it’s just where I find myself these days, but the tension that drives the story and doesn’t leave even as the last sentence is written left me trying to decide how to rate this book. While Lili and Armitage have a beautiful narrative of building trust and then love, I felt that there just wasn’t enough in the love story to balance the weight of the grief for this to be considered an enjoyable read. I ended the book feeling weary of the ongoing fight, even while I appreciated the ways that hope was highlighted.

But maybe you find yourself with enough emotional space to walk deeply into a difficult story looking for the small glimmers of light and hope in the middle of a great darkness. In that case, this would be a good book for you to pick up.

I received access to read this book from the publisher. My thoughts in review are my own.

About the Book:

In a world on the brink of war, two hearts must navigate shadows of uncertainty.

Inga Klein’s carefree life in New York takes a dramatic turn when she sails for Berlin, Germany, to serve as the secretary for America’s ambassador. Amid the glamour of life at the embassy, she continually finds herself at odds with the straitlaced and imposing Benedict Kincaid, the diplomatic chief of staff who harbors deep misgivings toward the German-born Inga.

As Europe hurtles toward World War I, Benedict’s determination to keep America out of the conflict adds to the already tense atmosphere. Despite their relentless sparring, Inga and Benedict succeed in keeping the embassy afloat through one crisis after another. But when they run out of diplomatic options, a marriage of convenience may be Inga’s only hope of escape from the impending war.

My Thoughts:

When Stars Light the Sky is the second book in a series. I did not read the first book and had no problems reading this book as a stand alone novel.

The story was interesting. I learned a lot about the time period and about diplomatic relations during the years heading into World War I. The perspective of ambassadors within Germany at this juncture was one I had never considered. I also learned a lot about world travel in those days, including the fact that passports were rare. So, on this level I found the book fascinating.

The characters were also interesting and I enjoyed learning about their lives and how they related. The thing about Elizabeth Camden is that she narrates a story. The events are narrated, the feelings are narrated and the interactions are narrated. Sometimes it feels a bit more like a biography than a novel. (There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! It’s just her style). That said, I never felt like I could step into the life of any of the characters. I was watching them from the outside. I think that’s why the word interesting seems to be my most concise description of the book. I observed the story rather than lived it. It was a good story and it was definitely worth the read.

I a big fan of the right book for the right person at the right time. Not everything has universal appeal. If you are an emotional reader who wants to lose yourself in the book, this might not be the right novel for you. If you are fascinated by history and interested in the details of the time seen through the eyes of the characters then this book is exactly what you’ve been looking for.

I received a digital copy of this book for review and these are my honest opinions.

About the Book:

Can the lonely thread of her life be woven into a new and finer pattern?

When Saoirse Fagan arrives at Drumboe Castle to start her new job as housemaid, she is dismayed to learn that the lord of the house passed away a week prior. Already running from the tragedy that claimed the lives of her family members, Saoirse wanders the road through the darkening glen with nowhere to go until Aileen McCready offers her a lift and a place to stay for the night.

Aileen’s brother, sheep farmer and weaver Owen McCready, is known for his intricate and impeccably woven tweed. But when he’s injured, his entire livelihood is endangered. A new–and distracting–mouth to feed adds fuel to the fire, and Owen struggles to keep his family afloat. Though Saoirse is eager to help, even offering to learn the weaving craft, Owen is hesitant to accept aid from this strange young woman, no matter how inexplicably magnetic he finds her.

But Saoirse is not one to give up easily. She’s determined to convince the McCreadys that they need her–perhaps as much as she needs them.

My Thoughts:

Heart of the Glen is a story of finding hope in despair and redemption in the midst of the fallout of our own mistakes. Jennifer Deibel writes stories in which tragic circumstances are part and parcel of the narrative. Set in Ireland, this tale begins with a young woman’s guilt and grief and moves through the pain and challenges of an entire community.

Perhaps more than I remember from other novels, this book carries a strong reflection on the Scripture and how God often uses tragedy to bring about His triumph, with the story of Gideon taking a central role.

It’s a story of friendship and a story of finding love. It doesn’t have a happily ever after ending and yet the ending is completely satisfying in the sense that God is at work in each and every life, making a way forward, even while the characters are having to lay down things that they would cling to along the way.

I enjoyed the book. It was thought provoking and really highlighted how easy it is to believe the lies that we tell ourselves rather than trust in the Lord. It also highlighted the beauty of community and the faithfulness of God in the midst of all the brokenness of the world.

I received a free digital copy and am giving you my honest opinion of the novel.

About the Book:

Only one person can give her the freedom she seeks–but is it worth the risk?

Maisie Kentworth is being forced to stay on her parents’ ranch. After a short-lived relationship with the wrong man, she’s worried about inflaming things further between her former beau and her protective family. Left to rue her mistakes, she keeps busy exploring the idle mine at the edge of their property, where she discovers a great treasure.

Boone Bragg is also stuck. With his parents on vacation, the management of Bragg Mining falls on him, and one of his advisors wants him as a son-in-law. One wrong move, and Boone will end up either offending an associate or marrying a woman he can’t endure.

While closing up a spent mine, Boone gets two surprises. One is a spitfire farm girl who’s trespassing with a pickax, and the other is the amazing crystal cavern that she’s discovered. Suddenly Boone sees a way to overhaul the family business. With part of the cavern on Kentworth land, Boone makes Maisie a proposal that he hopes will solve all of their problems. Instead it throws Joplin into chaos, and it will take all of Maisie’s gumption to set things right.

My Thoughts:

Sometimes you just need a light and humerous story to unwind with and that’s the type of book that Reginna Jennings provides. A quick read full of the mischief the title promises, I enjoyed the unlikely story of country girl Maisie and distracted businessman Boone. The geode cavern was fascinating and the story endearing.

I was given a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the Book:

Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Lord Frederick’s Percy’s past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice.

My Thoughts:

It’s a bit hard to decide what to share without revealing spoilers, but I absolutely loved this book. When Lord Frederick chooses to marry an American for money to sustain his British estate neither he, nor his bride, could have imagined the gifts in store for them. I loved the characters and the gift of God that allowed all the things that went wrong, by selfish choices and diabolical plans, to create something more beautiful than they could have imagined.

I loved the hope and the commitment to joy that came through this sweet and challenging story. I would absolultely recommend this book.

I received a free digital galley of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.