Archive | October 2018

Indivisible by Travis Thrasher

Oct6

Tie A Yellow Ribbon

Indivisible by Travis Thrasher – oh wow, oh wow, oh wow – what a powerful contemporary Christian novel showing the effects of a military chaplain at war, on the whole family. My emotions really went through the mill and were shot to pieces. I ‘felt’ for all the family. As an outsider looking in, I could ‘see’ all their pain.

Indivisible is a microcosm focusing in on one family, of a macrocosm happening the world over. An army chaplain going to war in Iraq in 2007 is the focus of the novel. He “head(ed) off into the unknown with God.” Faithful to God’s calling, the chaplain wanted to shine light into the dark places. “He didn’t like the destination God had picked, but there was no better place to be than where God calls you to be. ”

Continue reading →

The Road To Renewal by Kirby Lee Davis

Oct4

Focus On Jesus

The Road To Renewal by Kirby Lee Davis is a Christian novel that certainly messes with your head. I enjoyed it, although at times I found it hard to get my head around the action – what was real? What was imagined? The novel was certainly realistic as it showed the battles we all have inside our head as our spiritual side wars with our flesh side.

When life hits hard and keeps hitting, what do you do? “It’s [the cross] the only hope I’ve got.” Sometimes we find ourselves clinging on and just surviving more than coping. It’s at times like these that we really need to keep focused on the cross and remember what Jesus did for us.

Life throws choices at us. We have decisions to make, paths to choose and consequences that follow. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and try to respond how He would. If we mess up, we must not beat ourselves up but learn the lessons, forgive ourselves and move on.

Continue reading →

Eternity Between Us by Stephenia H McGee

Oct4

The Search

Eternity Between Us by Stephenia H McGee is a fabulous Christian novel set in 1861 during the American Civil War. The action is a mixture of fact and fiction and keeps the reader entertained. I read the book in just one sitting as I could not put it down.

War is fought under many guises – the abolition of slavery, taxes, political gain- but the sad truth is, everyone loses. How can a country become so divided as to fight its own? Families were torn apart as sides were chosen. Hospitals were set up to tend the wounded from each particular side. “Shed the colour of their coat and they were the same underneath.” Some medical personnel chose to heal from just one side. Others chose to heal all men.

Continue reading →

The Doorstep Child by Annie Murray

Oct3

Absolutely Heartbreaking

The Doorstep Child by Annie Murray is the third book in a fabulous historical series set in Birmingham. This novel has Evie at its heart and covers the years from 1950’s- 1970’s. It is absolutely heart breaking. My emotions have been torn apart.

Evie, whom the reader met in War Babies, was born in 1943, always unwanted and uncared for (she was the ‘wrong’ sex), Evie has searched to belong and be loved. Evie is a delightful character with a good heart, full of love. I know it’s just a story but I really wanted to give Evie a home!

The Doorstep Child is about family, community and love. It has the heart wrenching topics of illegitimate children and unmarried mothers and all the stigma that brings, homosexuality and mental health. The 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s really seem like the dark ages to the modern reader who is horrified at the attitudes and treatments.

Continue reading →