Archive | March 2018

I Was Just Wandering by Jeff Lucas

Mar7

Amusing And Insightful

I Was Just Wandering by Jeff Lucas is a marvellous collection of Jeff Lucas’ musings on life. Split into thirty four short chapters, I chose to read one each night.

Jeff Lucas has remarkable insight into life. His observations, whilst unique to him, also have universal appeal. I certainly recognised myself (and others) at many times throughout the book.

Jeff Lucas is refreshingly honest about his Christian walk. No one is on a continual high and there are many valleys and even doubts. “My striding along with Jesus is occasionally punctuated by stop offs at smothering doubt, prayerless speechlessness and furtive little sprints into indiscipline. Sometimes I find myself in the wilderness of despair.”

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With You Always by Jody Hedlund

Mar6

The Mouse And The Lion

With You Always by Jody Hedlund is a delightful Christian historical romance. It is the first book in the Orphan Train series which promises to be fabulous. Fact blends with fiction to produce yet another charming feel-good tale.

The novel explores being true to ourselves. We need to be the person God created us to be. It is no good trying to work to be someone else. One size does not fit all. We are all unique.

Poverty was terrible in New York City in 1857. Lack of work, overcrowded tenements and gang warfare made life precarious. Women went west in search of work to avoid falling into the trap of prostitution to feed their families. It was an era of exploration as well as exploitation.

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An Awakened Heart by Jody Hedlund

Mar4

Step Out In Faith

An Awakened Heart by Jody Hedlund is the most delightful Christian historical novella. It is the prequel to the Orphan Train series.

The story is set in 1857 and concerns the plight of the poor in New York City. Packed into overcrowded tenements, the poor did what they had to to feed their families. “Immigrant women should have more choices than prostitution or death.” Their ‘choices’ were forced on them by circumstances.

Churches seemed more concerned with “feeding their souls while allowing their bodies to languish.” However God had other plans.

God’s plans are so much greater than ours. He opens hearts and minds, bringing people together who can orchestrate His vision. When He places a dream in your heart, it cannot fail no matter what men say.

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Veiled by Cyana Gaffney

Mar4

You Go Before Me

Veiled by Cyana Gaffney is an absolutely cracking contemporary Christian suspense that draws the reader in from the start.

The opening immediately presents the reader with questions. “If only she could go back and make different choices.” I was hooked. What different choices were needed? What had she done?

The novel is cleverly constructed with the timeline fluctuating and the character focus changing. I clung on to the action with trepidation and anticipation. The ending was brilliant and has set me up for book two. Let me assure readers though, the ending did wrap up my questions but whetted my appetite for what is to come.

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