Audrey's Search: Christian Fiction Book Review

 

It's rare that I stumble across an author that sweeps me clean off my feet, but Goodreads author, F. Tilly Brownne did it in Audrey's Search. I expected to like the book, but I didn't expect to be totally wowed by it. I hated to see the story end and would have given it more than 5-stars if I could have. It is a page-turning SWEET historical romance! 

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Review of “The Sword” by Elaine Ricker Kelly

 The Sword is a delightful and unifying resource for education and biblical conversation between egalitarian and complementarian Christians. Kudos to Elaine Ricker Kelly for her wonderful concept!

It was a quick and inspiring read and is perfect for anyone interested in cutting away barriers and building one another up in conversation and even friendly debate about women's roles.

The book includes Elaine Kelly's system of 104 flashcards, which provide a simple and entertaining guide in directing the egalitarian/complementarian conversation. The flashcards address opposition without endorsing it. These thought-provoking cards work just as well with individuals as with groups.

CAVEAT: They are excellent for different age groups and work just as well in adult gatherings as with teens or preteens.

Kelly stated her desire was to assist readers in working out their own views about the role of women in the home, church, and society. I believe her simple and engaging work will do just that. She absolutely succeeded in her goal of creating flashcards as a fun way to engage in healthy debate on what the Bible says about women’s roles in the home, church, and society. She did a brilliant job of creating an inspiring and empowering resource that either complementarians or egalitarians can comfortably use in their discussions.

I loved it and whole-heartedly recommend it.

The Sword: A fun way to engage in healthy debate on what the Bible says about a woman’s role: Kelly, Elaine Ricker: 9781738823307: Amazon.com: Books

 Elaine R Kelly writes inspirating and empowering fiction and non-fiction. She blogs on biblical equality, biblical interpretation, church history, women leaders, and the Christian feminist movement. 

If the topic of God and Women interests you, join the conversation HERE.

Quit Doubting, Trust God: Book Review

We are overcomers through the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Reading Christine's story of [often miraculous] answers to prayer is a faith-building experience and a great source of comfort. 

Hers is a powerful voice for faith and HOPE as she shares her life-changing story with the world. Miracles do happen and more often than we think! This really is a story that inspires me to quit doubting and trust God. 

CAVEAT: I don't think the author set out to do so, but she has written her book in such a way, it is easy to use as a daily devotional...which is what I am doing!  

Quit Doubting, Trust God: Young, Christine: 9781638741244: Amazon.com: Books

 

About the author: When God laid it on Christine Young's heart to write her story, she initially resisted. It was a hard story to tell, and she would have to relive it to write it. Sad and embarrassing things would have to come into the light, unflattering stories would have to be told, and old wounds would have to be ripped open. But the Spirit of the Lord persisted until she gave in, clicked on her computer, and typed “Chapter One."

Her hope is that we will find her story interesting and see that God is ever so faithful. He will never put on us more than we can bear, and He teaches us through the trials so they can become our greatest strengths.

Book Review: Catching the Wind by Melanie Dobson

 

History, mystery, and romance buffs alike will love the book, Catching the Wind. I did. And I'm a tough reader to please. I close more books than I finish. But I finished this one, and finished it fast. I just had to find out what happened next!

Melanie Dobson: Master storyteller and my newest favorite author. I followed her author page on Amazon. I don't want to miss her next release!

Book Sirens review of Jocelyn Andersen as a book reviewer

 

 Jocelyn vs. Goodreads: Jocelyn tends to be a lenient reviewer compared to other readers 

According to Jocelyn:

• The Green New Deal and Climate Change by Lynne Balzer is highly underrated
• The Brethren by Beverly Lewis is highly overrated
• Revenge by Ann Robbins Phillips is a hidden gem

(They nailed it! I totally agree with the assessment of my opinion of the books listed above)

Jocelyn's most popular review is for the book, Cutting the Passive Voice by Dianne E. Butts.

Masada: Thou Shalt Not Kill by Shimon Avish: Book Review

 

I am proud to give this magnificent piece of historical fiction a 5-star review. In the author's own words, "I offer this novel as one of many plausible explanations for what transpired at Masada during that very turbulent time in Jewish history…Based on my military experience and time spent living in an isolated desert agricultural community, I have added my thoughts to the postulations of the scholars who have come before me. I hope you have enjoyed my imaginations.” I certainly have. I loved it. And I can't wait for the release of the next novel by Shimon Avish!

 

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Book Review: Once an Insider, Now Without a Church Home

 

 One couple's faith crisis due to the infiltration and spread of Authoritarianism, Calvinism, Complementarianism, and Covenants....

"Pastors quote other pastors and align their teachings with the teachings of other men and staying true to those teachings becomes more important than finding and adhering to God's Truth...And then people suffer." --Amanda Farmer in, Once an Insider Now Without a Church Home, 2018.

 I resonated with the experience of Amanda and Gordon Farmer on too many levels to go into in detail, but suffice it say I wholeheartedly recommend this book to every Christian who is either in a leadership position or who just wants to be a good brother or sister in Christ [to those whose past experiences with pastors and church leadership has been confusing and painful].

After twenty-five years of faithful service and fellowship with a church family they loved, the Farmers found themselves marginalized, lectured, shamed, weighed in the balances and found wanting by the same leadership they had participated in bringing into the church to begin with. 

Any Christian who may have experienced shame, confusion, and hurt during encounters with respected church leadership, can benefit from reading about how the Farmers connected what was happening to them with Calvinism and Complementarianism (their church had never previously been aligned with either). 
 
In attempting to be good Christians and faithful members of their church, Amanda and Gordon Farmer found the respectful dynamics that [had always existed] between the leadership and church membership had dramatically changed--but only in favor of the leadership.  

This book does not describe isolated and rare incidences. I believe the paradigm shift described in this story has become the norm in thousands of churches. Farmer identified complementarianism as the source of some but not all of the problems she and her husband encountered and did a stellar job of telling the story of one couple's spiritual journey and the metamorphosis of one church that went from a more congregational form of church governance to almost absolute authoritarianism, with only three or four at the top making most decisions--and those few strictly chosen according to gender. 

Farmer writes:

"Women have been left totally out of actual leadership roles. The only ministries open to women in the church are now kitchen duty, teaching children's Sunday School, Children's Church, nursery, and baking and cooking for meals. We have become polarized as to men and women's roles. Men no longer assigned in the nursery or children's church or the kitchen. No women count the money (except me in the past**), no women ever read scripture from the front, or facilitate an adult Sunday School lesson, or lead a life group."

**The author was former church treasurer.


I recommend this book to every Christian, regardless of  church affiliation or whether their experience has been good or bad. Do you feel loved and affirmed in your Christian experience? That is awesome! But what about those who attend your church or group who have had devastating experiences in former congregations. Once an Insider..., can help you better understand and help meet the emotional and spiritual needs of wounded brothers and sisters in Christ. If you are a wounded Christian yourself, this book will help you understand that you are not alone.
 

Churches are where Christians go to worship our Creator and Savior, to meet, fellowship, and hopefully establish true friendships with other Christians, to learn of and help bear one another's burdens, to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. But sadly, congregations where this was once a healthy and fulfilling dynamic, find that what was once joyful service and commitment with true friends who shared a passion for the gospel, has been undermined by covenant requirements and authoritarian leadership determined to implement step by step, systematic theology that leaves little to no room for unity beyond almost absolute agreement with church positions, covenants, and by-laws. 

This type of authoritarian approach to congregation building, weeds out "dissenters" [who may in fact be true and faithful Christians]. Legalistic covenants, suppresses true unity, fellowship, and Christian growth, replacing these with stifling uniformity and a cult-like following of people depend almost exclusively on leadership for most Bible truth and who are kept in line through fear of ridicule, shame, or being labeled as divisive.

Gordon and Amanda Farmer, through devastating personal experience discovered the painful realities and fruit of pervasive popular movements within evangelical Christianity, where those who dare to voice disagreement with the declared consensus of the leadership, are marginalized and finally neutralized through being labeled as divisive, immature, trouble-makers. 

Amanda Farmer's first-person and heartbreakingly transparent account provides many examples of  how both men and women suffer and the faith crisis that can and does result from Calvinistic authoritarian and complementarian leadership within churches.

 ....Buy the book, HERE. Read it. Share it. Give it to your pastors, spiritual leaders, friends, and family as gifts.

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Book Review of Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy

 

Dianne Butts has produced an invaluable resource for women facing unplanned pregnancies and who may be considering abortion as a solution.

Her book, Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy, is a compilation of stories as told by women who have faced that dilemma. Some of the women in the stories chose abortion and others did not.

The stories also include the fathers, some of whom encouraged the abortion alternative while others did not.  

There are no stereotypes in this book. The women whose voices we hear are from all races and ages from unmarried teenagers to married or unmarried adults with families of their own. 

There is not another resource like this for girls and women facing the most difficult choice of their lives. 

Lay-people, pastors, and counselors need to read this book and keep extra copies on hand to give away. 

Butts approaches the issue compassionately and knowledgeably. Her book is a safe read for women who have had abortions and feel there is no one they can talk to.  

I give it five stars and highly recommend it.

 Author and speaker, Jocelyn Andersen, is an eclectic Christian writer. She is a Bible teacher who writes about many subjects including Bible prophecy and equality of the sexes. She is best known for her advocacy in domestic violence awareness. Her book, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, has been a staple in the library of resources on that subject.  

To receive Jocelyn's newsletters, subscribe HERE.

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To Contact Jocelyn: Use the contact form in the sidebar of her blog at www.jocelynandersen.com to leave comments on her books, to reach her with questions, or to request for her to come and speak at your group. 

The Bible Permits Divorce for Non-physical Domestic Abuse

 

At a time when Evangelicals are declaring the Bible does not allow divorce for physical abuse, Waneta Dawn, author of Behind the Hedge, A novel dealing with abuse in a Christian family, is declaring that non-physical domestic abuse breaks the marriage covenant, and if not repented of and permanently discontinued, is severe enough to permit Christians to divorce biblically.

A survivor of abuse herself and former facilitator for a batterers intervention program [dealing with male abusers through the Department of Corrections], Waneta Dawn understands the dynamics of abuse from both personal and professional experience and has crafted a story that powerfully illustrates how an abuser’s pattern of power, control, and entitlement sinfully permeates the fabric of his family’s life, and seriously damages the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health of each member. 

Fiction lovers, this book is for you, especially if you love page-turning, character driven, stories!

Behind the Hedge, shatters the myth that one incident of physical abuse is an unusual or isolated, knee-jerk, behavior sparked by some fault or act of the victim. This view is extremely dangerous to all who are involved in or are exposed to the abuse, that includes the abuser, the victim, and their children who witness, and are victims of, the behavior, and who may choose to adopt attitudes and beliefs that will justify tolerating abuse or the mistreatment of women and girls. 

Behind the Hedge, follows Yvette, a hard-working farmwife, as she grapples with the meaning and application of biblical submission to her husband, struggles to align her beliefs and behavior with God’s word, endeavors to correct the misbeliefs and warped attitudes of their teenaged sons, and patiently offers security to her fearful six-year-old daughter. 

While Yvette craves warmth and love in her marriage, her husband, Luke, uses bad theology and scripture abuse to force compliance from his wife and children. As Yvette learns the truth that sets her free, she changes how she relates to her husband and offers an opportunity for redemption.

This is a beautiful and compelling story that beyond its powerful educational and redemptive message, is simply a great read!

 Behind the Hedge, A novel, is an excellent resource in domestic violence awareness and learning to respond biblically and compassionately to the very urgent issue of domestic abuse among Christians. 

 

Waneta Dawn is available for comment. She can be contacted through her website at:  www.wanetadawn.com 

Book Review of, SOUL PURSUIT, by Chip Tudor: A Private Investigator Mystery

 

   Let me begin by saying, that I love the cover. Great job! 

I would definitely pluck this book off a shelf to see what's on the back cover...which says the book is packed with "action, humor, and personal reflection," (all true) as the main character, Jack, in a dual pursuit, searches to find, Jimmy, a brother in arms, and in the process, finds his own soul. 

You can't imagine my delight when I realized that while the main character was experiencing personal challenges and undergoing a character arc that would ultimately lead to a spiritual transformation, the author had somehow along the way, managed to subtly turn a story about tracking Jimmy, into a story about Jimmy himself. 

Brilliant! I found that I knew Jimmy, before I ever laid eyes on him. I bonded quickly with the main character and thoroughly enjoyed this book.

 Soul Pursuit, by Chip Tudor, was an absolutely delightful read. It has it all, riveting plot for a plot driven story, action for action lovers, relatable characters for those who love character driven fiction, and spiritual depth. What else could a reader ask for? Anyone who loves Christian fiction and enjoys private investigator mysteries, will love this story. 

*Caveat: The novel has large print, which I so appreciated, and I would definitely read another Chip Tudor novel. So, Chip, how about adding me to your beta reader list?

"Abiding Darkness" Breath-Taking Character Driven Fiction

I was so impressed with this novel, that I not only placed a review on Amazon, but also contacted the author through his website  www.johnaubreyanderson.com

Here is  a copy of my note to the author:

John, I just finished reading, Abiding Darkness, for the second time (remember  you sent me a copy in 2008? [I forgot it was actually 2007]). 

If it is possible,  I loved it even better the second time around. I placed a review on Amazon. I  want to thank you for writing that incredible story. It was an emotional and inspiring read for me. I cried and laughed and cried and laughed while I stood in awe of a talent I can only hope to have a fraction of.  I am still a huge fan and am reading the next in the series, Wedgewood Grey, for the second time as well. Promise me, you will never stop writing!

To Readers:

This is a breath-taking character-driven story and top-drawer spiritual warfare fiction. Frank Peretti fans will love this book!  Anderson wraps his pen around the English language like no one I have ever read before. I first read a John Aubrey Anderson book in 2007 and wrote a ridiculously gushing review at that time (It was so gushy gushy, it earned me a letter and a signed review copy of another one of the author's books [the first in the series]), which I treasure to this day. And I do not take back a word of that review!).

My only regret, is that I placed the review on a blog I no longer have and neglected to put it on Amazon as well. So the original review is gone forever. I will be posting another review of that book soon. 

Back to, Abiding Darkness. It is a novel with depth and scope most authors only dream about but rarely achieve. 

Besides being an AWESOME read, the way the author presents relations between his racially diverse characters is even more relevant and inspiring for today's readers than when he first crafted this amazing tale. I am a long-time fan of Anderson and his "Black and White Chronicles" series.

As a Christian fiction writer, John Aubrey Anderson's regard for the Word of God and his desire to know God and to make him known shines through every word of this inspired work. I am proud to recommend it to readers of all ages.

My Tweet (are you following me on Twitter yet?): 

Get it Get it Get it! (link: http://amazon.com/Abiding-Darkness-Black-White-Chronicles/dp/0446579491) amazon.com/Abiding-Darkne… If you love riveting #SpiritualWarfare awesome character based #fiction, I guarantee you will love this bk I just read it 4 the 2nd time & am astounded all over again at John Aubrey Andersen's extraordinary talent & skill as a #writer

My Amazon Review:

Wow wow wow! I am bowled over by Anderson's skill as an author. To say he is a master wordsmith is an understatement. I just read, Abiding Darkness, for the second time.  it was  an emotional a read for me the first time I read it, and it was no different the second time around! I cried, I laughed, I cried and laughed some more. And now, I am going to read the next book in the series for the second time as well.  A copy of Abiding Darkness was given to me to read, and how glad I am to have received it. This series has made me a  huge fan of John Aubrey Anderson!

What an adventure! What a romance!

 What a faith builder! I am so glad the publisher sent me a review copy of this book. I have yet to be disappointed by a MaryLu Tyndall novel! This book will enthrall  Historical Romance, Spiritual Warfare, and Fantasy Fiction fans. I loved the story so much, I immediately purchased the first book in the series (She Walks in Power) which I am reading right now. https://www.amazon.com/She-Walks-Love-Protectors-Spear/dp/0999176390

The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall

Woo Hoo! Look what I'm reading!!

I am racing into the finale and MaryLu is not disappointing me. My FULL review is coming....So, Click the link. The book is available for pre-order (both print and ebook are same price! ...For now).

 Seriously,  I am one of MaryLu Tyndall's BIGGEST fans. She's edgy gals. She's edgy....

The Falcon and the Sparrow by M. L. Tyndall

Jesus is the only way, truth and life, and God is still on his throne even when bad things happen to good people--or when we can't make sense of personal tragedy. And let's not forget that all things do work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. M. L. Tyndall's newest novel sports a remarkably courageous heroine (even when she's terrified!), who finds out all of the above are true. I truly appreciate the biblical integrity with which Tyndall writes and, as always, her wit and imagination. On a personal note: Mary Lu, you fairly cracked me up more than once while I was reading The Falcon and the Sparrow. I loved it. I love surprises too, and that was a nice plot twist you threw in for us, your faithful readers. I love your books and can't wait for the next one! For more info on M. L. Tyndall's The Falcon and the Sparrow visit http://www.mltyndall.com/