Glad to have you visit my little corner of the blog world! I'm a minister's wife and stay-at-home mommy.
Here you will find LOTS of book reviews, because I LOVE to read. You'll also get a little peak into our family life as we seek to raise the three gifts from the Lord with which we have been richly blessed and a little of the things I'm learning as I daily surrender to the Lord in complete trust. This life isn't always easy, but it is an adventure like no other. At the end of each day, I rest in the faithfulness of Almighty God.
Praying you are blessed by your visit with me!
Eugene Peterson was born in E. Stanwood, Washington and grew up in Montana. He is married to Janice Stubbs and they have three adult children.
Peterson studied at Johns Hopkins University and taught biblical languages and English Bible at the New York Theological Seminary. Currently, Peterson is a full time writer, poet and professor Emeritus of spiritual theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Eugene began work on The Message New Testament with only the Greek text before him. The fresh insight and authenticity in The Message comes only from Peterson's intimate knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew languages and his own pastoral sensitivity.
In addition to The Message, Peterson is the author of:
Christian Basic Bible Studies Series
Answering God
Reversed Thunder
Sayings of Jesus
Subversive Spirituality
Where Your Treasure Is
The Message 100: The Story Of God In Sequence From Bono's Foreword to The Message 100: "When the good book connects with our good lives, when the word sings in our hearts, there is a holy spirit busy in the translating. The most luminous of all translations of the word was the one into a single unizue life, that of Jesus of Nazareth. The poetic heart of The Message is that there is no dogma apart from the flesh becoming word...Peterson too has the heart of a musician, his intellectual rigor and humility saving him from the vicissitudes that have the rest of us banging tambourines as he lays out a feast on the altar. While a lot of the time we're all still babbling in Babel, in The Message Peterson is often speaking in tongues - a language that decodes and deciphers us, the reader; a language to approach the very subject of God." From Peterson's Preface To The Reader: "If there is anything distinctive about The Message, perhaps is is because the text is shaped by the hand of a working pastor. For most of my adult life I have been given a primary responsibility for getting the message of the Bible into the lives of the men and women with whom I worked. I did it from pulpit and lectern, in home Bible studies and at mountain retreats, through conversations in hospitals and nursing homes, over coffee in kitchens and while strolling on an ocean beach. The Message grew from the soil of forty years of pastoral work."
The Message 100 is organized into 100 readings designed to draw readers into "the unfolding story of God revealing Himself to the people He dearly loves". This offering from Tyndale is organized chronologically so as to give readers God's grand redemption story to be experienced like a novel and not a textbook. Peterson encourages readers to "read in an attentive, immersive way"... "A way that will allow you to be moved by the things that move God."
Each reading begins with some brief comments by Peterson to orient the reader to what they are about to read. The portions are numbered in a bold 3 digit style (001, 002, 003, etc.) making it easy to keep up with where you stop and start as you read. The text is not broken up into chapter and verse but more in a "passage" style with chapter and verse references to the side.
I love the organization and feel of The Message 100. God's story, His "love letter" if you will is given to us to draw us to Him and His ways. Peterson and Tyndale have given us a valuable and easy way to read His story with the hopes and prayers that His story will become our story.
*I received a complimentary copy of this resource for the purpose of providing this review.
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling
author who believes her readers
should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with
unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.
Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two
Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier,
Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library
Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction
award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction
Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith,
Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers
Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various
groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her
husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and
would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms
listed at her website.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Two murders have rocked the city of Houston. Are they the work of a serial killer, or is a copycat trying to get away with murder?
That is the question facing Special Agent Bethany Sanchez, who is eager for her new assignment in violent crimes but anxious about meeting her new partner. Special Agent Thatcher Graves once arrested her brother, and he has a reputation for being a maverick. Plus, their investigative styles couldn’t be more opposite: he operates on instinct, while she goes by the book.
When hot leads soon fizzle out, their differences threaten to leave them deadlocked. But an attempt on their lives turns up the heat and brings them closer together, and a third victim might yield the clue that will help them zero in on a killer. This could be the case of their careers . . . if they can survive long enough to solve it.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Deadlock, go HERE.
Watch the video:
I have enjoyed ALL of DiAnn's books, especially her FBI Houston series. I think living just outside of Houston drew me to this series. My family and I relocated to Houston a little over a year ago and strangely, I found DiAnn's FBI Houston series as somewhat of a "welcome committee"! I hope to meet her in person sometime soon. You can read Deadlock as a stand-alone novel; however, I would strongly suggest reading the entire series. DiAnn's characters are complex and reading the series as a whole will allow you the joy of seeing the characters' progression and transformation. DiAnn writes stories with a perfect blend of romance, suspense and faith that isn't "preachy" but realistic and believable. There is a genuineness to her characters and their stories that is particularly endearing. Her books have a permanent place on my keeper shelf. I hardly read fiction books twice...I know I will read DiAnn's again.
DiAnn was gracious in answering some questions for us. Enjoy this interview with her:
1. How did you become interested in
writing?
I can’t remember when I wasn’t in fiction mode.
Before I could hold a pencil, I created stories. After I could hold a pencil, I
wrote stories. The power of the written word intrigued me then as now—the sound of words,
the look of them on the written page, the ways words are used to entertain,
inspire, and encourage others.
2.
What can you tell us about the setting of this novel?
Deadlock,
a
romantic suspense, is set in Houston, Texas. My city. My home. Familiar
landscapes add more authenticity.
3.
Who are the main characters?
Special
Agent Bethany Sanchez steps into the violent crime division of Houston’s FBI. She’s a bit of a
perfectionist, and her own worst critic. However, she has reservations about
her new partner, the same man who put her brother in jail. To make matters
worse, he has a reputation of getting the job done, no nonsense, and a
womanizer. Are the rumors true?
4.
Special Agent Thatcher Graves is ready to work with his new partner, but she’s hard to get to
know. He’s uncertain if he
can trust her, and he has to know she has his back. Recently he made a decision
to become a Christian, but his past party-image stops him from revealing the
changes in his life.
5.
Which of the characters surprised you the most in this story, and how so?
Bethany
refused to give up on her relationship with her family, even though they chose
her felon brother over her.
6.
How did the writing of this story impact you as a person or as an author?
Definitely
the family dynamics. We all have family members who don’t share our beliefs
or values. This deepened my awareness of unconditional love woven with
obedience to God’s principles.
7.
Why is this story important to you?
Three
reasons:
1.The
complexities of dealing with a depraved mind.
2.Showing
the cultural differences between Bethany and Thatcher and their friendship
resulting in love.
3.Creating
an action-packed story about Houston’s
FBI, their dedication and commitment to keeping people safe.
8.
What would you like your readers to take away from this story?
God’s sovereignty in
all situations of life—family, career,
friendships, love, and obeying laws that correspond with God’s principles.
9. Are there some specific lessons you
hope readers will learn and apply to their lives after reading your book?
God is bigger than our problems -
whether that be career, spiritual, or personal. In Deadlock, not only
did professional problems attack my hero and heroine, but family dynamics.
10. When you are not writing, what do you like to
do? Do you have any hobbies?
I enjoy reading,
cooking, gardening, and grandkids! I’m
very much into good health and exercise to keep my body and mind in the best
shape possible.
11.
What can you tell us about Deadlock?
Two
murders have rocked the city of Houston. Are they the work of a serial killer,
or is a copycat trying to get away with murder?
That
is the question facing Special Agent Bethany Sanchez, who is eager for her new
assignment in violent crimes but anxious about meeting her new partner. Special
Agent Thatcher Graves once arrested her brother, and he has a reputation for
being a maverick. Plus, their investigative styles couldn’t be more opposite:
he operates on instinct, while she goes by the book.
When
hot leads soon fizzle out, their differences threaten to leave them deadlocked.
But an attempt on their lives turns up the heat and brings them closer
together, and a third victim might yield the clue that will help them zero in
on a killer. This could be the case of their careers . . . if they can survive
long enough to solve it.
I’m Elizabeth, a blessed child of The King. I’m a middle-born daughter, military officer’s wife, homeschooling mama, writer, closet DIYer, and, dare I say it, Downton Abbey addict. May I also mention that I love both my history and my coffee rich.
I am formerly Amish and my heritage is very dear to me and thankful to be so accepted among my still Amish family. I can still speak PA Dutch, too! You can learn more about my Amish family in my first book Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl.
My three book series with Howard Books (a division of Simon & Schuster) is a dream come true. The series is titled The Promise of Sunrise. In this series you will live through World War 2 from an Amish perspective and experience their unique struggles as conscientious objectors during wartime. What happened if one of their members enlisted? What was it like to serve at the Civilian Public Service Camps for years with almost no compensation? How did Amish women and families cope when a son or father was drafted? I look forward to taking you back into the richness of these years of Amish history through fiction.
Elizabeth can be reached through the Contact link on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK
World War II Marine Joe Garrison returns home from war longing to be a father to his deaf daughter, Daisy, only to find that she is attached to Esther Detweiler, the Amish woman who has raised her since his wife’s death in this touching historical romance.
Orphaned as a child, Esther Detweiler is used to caring for herself and her ailing grandmother. They made the best out of a hard life and poverty without asking for help. They even take in her shunned cousin’s deaf daughter, Daisy, when her mother dies and her father goes off to war. When Esther’s grandmother dies, Daisy is all she has.
When war veteran Joe Garrison returns, all he can think about is recovering from the horrors of war and building a relationship with his seven-year-old daughter. Daisy, however, is unwilling to leave Esther, whom she loves. Joe and Daisy get to know each other again, but Joe struggles with nightmares and fatherhood is proving to be more difficult than he imagined. Esther loves Daisy and despite her Amish ways, Joe finds himself drawn to her as a woman and not just a caregiver.
As their love blossoms, Joe decides to send Daisy away to a school for the deaf which propels their lives into turmoil and a battle for love and family.
My Thoughts:
I had stopped reading Amish themed books a while back. Books based on the Amish had all begun to sound the same to me. But something about Promise to Keep drew me to read it and I was not disappointed! Younts writes with such vivid description that I felt a part of the story. Her characters are complex and their journey and transformation is beautiful. Younts captures wartime tensions and transports readers back in time. You will want to read this one!
And thanks to the generosity of Howard Books, one of you will! I have one copy of the book to give away to one of my readers. The winner will be chosen on Wednesday, October 28th. Just leave me your answer to this question in the comments section along with a way for me to contact you should you be the lucky winner:
"What is your favorite genre to read and why?"
*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of review. A positive review was not expected and all opinions are my own.
About the authors: The late Kara Tippetts was the author of "The Hardest Peace" and blogged faithfully at mundanefaithfulness.com. Cancer was only a part of Kara's story. Her real fight was to truly live while facing a crushing reality. Since her death in March 2015, her husband, Jason, is parenting their four children and leading the church they founded in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Jill Lynn Buteyn is the author of "Falling for Texas," an inspirational novel, and a recipient of the ACFW Genesis Award for her fiction work. She has a bachelor's degree in communications from Bethel University. Jill lives near the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two children.
About the book: Just Show Up (David C Cook, October 2015)
Kara Tippetts's story was not a story of disease, although she lost her battle with terminal cancer.
It was not a story of saying goodbye, although she was intentional in her time with her husband and four children. Kara's story was one of seeing God in the hard and in the good. It was one of finding grace in the everyday. And it was one of knowing "God with us" through fierce and beautiful friendship.
In Just Show Up, Kara and her close friend, Jill Lynn Buteyn, write about what friendship looks like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry, and even cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up. My Thoughts: I read Kara's book The Hardest Peace a while back and it completely undid me in every way...convicted, challenged, comforted and offered peace. All the while reading Kara's and her family's journey through her cancer diagnosis and the unbelievable hard that followed, I kept asking myself, "How in the world does one love someone well through such hard things?" Just Show Up answered my question.
"Most often it's those who come without answers or agendas who are the most helpful." Kara Tippetts (pg. 10)
Published and released after Kara's passing, Just Show Up was "written" through some of life's hardest moments and by one of the sweetest beautiful friendships of Kara and Jill in the midst of the hard. Throughout the book, the value of the gift of silence and the beauty of community is expressed by both Kara and Jill. In the book, readers hear from Kara as she and her family worked their way toward the goodbyes that were inevitable and also from Jill as she "showed up". Jill teaches readers by example.
"Showing up is not a new concept, but sometimes it feels that way. Something in our culture has told us to pull back, to protect ourselves from hurt, from people, from entering in with one another. And there's a reason for that. Showing up can get us hurt in the biggest ways. People disappoint and wound us. Or, in the case of walking through suffering with a friend or loved one, it can hurt beyond anything we've ever imagined. Take-me-out-at-the-knees, ugly-cry hurt.
"So, year, showing up isn't easy at times. But maybe that's why there's such value to be found in it. I've learned real beauty lies in the good that comes out of the hard. While walking through suffering with a friend or loved one can hurt in the biggest ways it also brings the greatest blessings. It changes people. Showing up can be the greatest gift ever given or received." Jill (pg. 17-18)
Kara and Jill allow us into their journey and through some of the most intimate moments and thoughts, they teach us how to just show up.
Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician who writes "medical suspense with heart." His novels have won multiple awards: a semifinalist for International Thriller Writers' debut novel; finalists for the Carol Award, Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and Romantic Times' Reader's Choice Award; and both finalist and winner of the Selah Award. "Miracle Drug" is his ninth published novel. He and his wife live in Frisco, Texas.
About the book: Miracle Drug (Abingdon, September 2015)
Overcoming these odds will take more than a miracle drug---it will take a miracle.
The infection wasn't supposed to happen, but it did. The treatment was supposed to take care of it, but it didn't. Then Dr. Josh Pearson discovers why---his patients, including the former President of the United States, have been dosed with a different strain of the original virus, one that is universally fatal. The only chance for survival is treatment with an experimental drug, but the manufacturer might already have discarded its supply.
As if treating the President of the United States isn't stressful enough, the situation goes from bad to worse when Rachel Moore, a nurse Josh is falling in love with, falls ill. With the nation's eyes on him, Josh must pull off a miracle to save a man who holds a good deal of power and the woman who holds his heart.
My Thoughts:
I love medical mysteries and Richard Mabry writes them well. Miracle Drug contains the perfect mix of medicine, mystery, tender romance and faith. Mabry includes the medical jargon in such a way as to not be over the heads of his readers but sometimes the explanations came off as very elementary. The characters were two dimensional and the scenarios are believable. Miracle Drug is an easy and intriguing read that draws you in at the beginning and doesn't let you go until the very end. While the "who" behind the evil plot was revealed a bit too early, Mabry's story line keeps you reading. The subject matter is current and causes the reader to constantly ask, "What if" while reading.
*I was given a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of giving my honest review. A positive review was not expected.
Bonnie S. Calhoun is Owner/Director of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, owner/publisher of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Northeast Zone Director for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and the ACFW ‘2011 Mentor of the Year.”
She loves to write with body count, blood, or blowing things up. She also has mad skills at coding HTML, and website design. And she lives in a log cabin in the woods with fifteen acres and a pond full of bass, though she'd rather buy fish at the grocery store. Bonnie shares her domain with a husband and two cats, all of whom think she’s waitstaff!
Her latest series is a YA dystopian with Revell titled Stone Braide Chronicles. The first book Thunder published in 2014. The second book Lightning published Oct 2015. There are also two FREE e-book short stories. Tremors is the prequel to Thunder, and Aftershock (short story) comes before Lightning.
ABOUT THE BOOK
After she found her real father, life for Selah should have felt settled. But the horrors have just begun. In her broken world of toxic earth and tribal clashes, Selah must battle the forces of nature alongside those in the Mountain who are calling for her blood. Haunted by the pain of mounting losses, she forges on, seeking her lost family and
uncovering new mysteries. But the ultimate betrayal of her own body may soon make her quest impossible as it becomes apparent that what has made her new could also drive her to a life of madness.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Lightning, go HERE.
My Thoughts:
YA dystopian novels are not my favorite; however, Calhoun has made a believer out of me! I loved her character Selah and enjoyed reading this portion of her journey. Calhoun draws you in with adventure and action and keeps you reading with an action and emotion filled plot. I did not read the first installment in the series and feel like I missed important parts of Selah's story, so I certainly recommend reading the books in order...Tremors, Thunder, Aftershock, then Lightning.
When an author draws me into a story that I don't think I will prefer, it is a good thing and Bonnie Calhoun has done it.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of review. A positive review was not expected. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rick Barry is the author of Gunner's Run, another World War II novel, Kiriath's Quest, and over 200 articles and fiction stories. In addition to being a World War II buff, he is the director of church planting ministries at BIEM, a Christian ministry operating in Eastern Europe. He holds a degree in foreign languages, speaks Russian, and has visited Europe more than fifty times. Rick lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.
About the book:The Methuselah Project (Kregel, September 2015)
Nazi scientists started many experiments. One never ended.
Roger Greene is a war hero. Raised in an orphanage, the only birthright he knows is the feeling that he was born to fly. Flying against the Axis Powers in World War II is everything he always dreamed---until the day he's shot down and lands in the hands of the enemy.
When Allied bombs destroy both his prison and the mad genius experimenting on POWs, Roger survives. Within hours, his wounds miraculously heal, thanks to those experiments. The Methuselah Project is a success---but this ace is still not free. Seventy years later, Roger hasn't aged a day, but he has nearly gone insane. This isn't Captain America---just a lousy existence only made passable by a newfound faith. The Bible provides the only reliable anchor for Roger's sanity and his soul. When he finally escapes, there's no angelic promise or personal prophecy of deliverance, just confusion. It's 2015---and the world has become an unrecognizable place. Katherine Mueller---crack shot, genius, and real Southern Belle---offers to help him find his way home. Can he convince her of the truth of his crazy story? Can he continue to trust her when he finds out she works for the very organization he's trying to flee?
Thrown right into pulse-pounding action from the first page, readers will find themselves transported back in time to a believable, full-colored past, and then catapulted into the present once more. The historical back-and-forth adds a constantly moving element of suspense to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Rick Barry has written the ultimate "past meets present" story. His love for and knowledge of World War II history shines through in The Methuselah Project. Barry's vivid portrayal will make readers wonder and think, "Could our bodies actually be manipulated so that we essentially live forever?"
The plot is intricate and the characters are well developed. My only criticism with the book is that it lagged in places and was too easy to lay down and come back to later. With that said, readers will want to come back and see how the story ends. This is a story of finding one's self, finding worth and finding home. Roger - Methuselah Man - finds all three and so much more.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of review. A positive review was not expected and all thoughts are my own.
To see what others are saying about the book, you can visit HERE.
RITA and Carol award nominee Kathleen Y’Barbo is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than forty novels, novellas, and young adult books. In all, more than one million copies of her books are currently in print in the US and abroad, and her books have been translated into Dutch, German, and Spanish, to name a few.
Kathleen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She holds a BBA from Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School and a certification in Paralegal Studies, and is a former member of the Texas Bar Association’s Paralegal Division.
A tenth-generation Texan, Kathleen Y’Barbo has four children of her own as well as seven bonus kids she gladly inherited when she married her own hero in combat boots (read about their real-life romance here!). Kathleen is proud to be a military wife, even if it did mean giving up her Texas drivers license.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A new cowboy romance from award-winning author Kathleen Y'Barbo.
Artist Sessa Chambers may never recover from losing her prodigal son. Even as she grieves the tragic decisions that led to his death, and left her with a toddler to raise, she’s asked to work on her dream project—restoring carousel horses for the Smithsonian. But she can’t do it on her own…
Dr. Trey Brown can’t pick up a scalpel again. Yes, he acted in self-defense, but the events of that awful night haunt him. He was trained to save lives, not take them. When he goes to the young man’s widowed mother to apologize, she’s not at all what he expected. For one thing, she’s not as alone as he thought—not with the fearsome ladies of the Pies, Books, and Jesus Book Club in her corner. For another, she’s beautiful, and being in her presence is more jolting than any eight-second bronco ride from his former rodeo days. Before he knows it, she’s captured his heart as easily as they capture the fireflies gracing Sessa’s Texas ranch.
How can they overcome their past to embrace a future together?
My Thoughts: Firefly Summer is the perfect read to still your heart away for a little while and get lost in a story of unbelievable pain and amazing restoration. You feel this story from page one to the turning of the last. Y''Barbo's characters are well developed and ones you won't soon forget. Sacrifice, love, faith, forgiveness and courage are the themes of Firefly Summer. Y'Barbo does an excellent job of showcasing a mother's heart with genuineness. You will love the whole cast of characters, especially the members of the Pies, Books and Jesus Book Club! And we all need a Coco in our lives! Trey and Sessa's relationship is nothing short of breathtaking to read.
My only negative comments about the book are nothing to do with the author's writing or story but with the editing. The poor job of editing only hurt the way the story was relayed. Words were repeated or left out and made particular parts of the book hard to read.
Thank you Kathleen for the signature sticker to place in my book!
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of providing a review. All thoughts are my own. A positive review was not required.
Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling author of twenty-seven books, including A Light in the Wilderness and A Sweetness to the Soul, which won the coveted Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Center. Her books have been awarded the WILLA Literary Award and Carol Award for Historical Fiction and have been finalists for many others. Jane lives in Central Oregon with her husband, Jerry.
You can connect with Jane through her website found at www.jkbooks.com.
Eliza Spalding Warren was just a child when she was taken hostage by the Cayuse Indians during a massacre in 1847. Now a mother of two, Eliza faces a new kind of dislocation; her impulsive husband wants to make a new start in another territory, which will mean leaving her beloved home and her mother's grave - and returning to the land of her captivity. Haunted y memories and hounded by struggle, Eliza longs to know how her mother dealt with the trauma of their ordeal. As she searches the pages of her mother's diary, Eliza is stunned to find that her own recollections tell only part of the story.
Based on true events, The Memory Weaver is New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick's latest literary journey into the past, where threads of western landscapes, family, and faith weave a tapestry of hope inside every pioneering woman's heart. Get swept up in this emotional story of the memories that entangle us and the healing that awaits us when we bravely unravel the threads of the past.
My Thoughts:
Kirkpatrick has a gift of bringing history alive in the pages of her stories. Her deep research and attention to detail is remarkably evident in The Memory Weaver. Readers will find themselves very easily swept away to another time and place. Kirkpatrick wastes no words, but carefully weaves life lessons of faith into the dialogue and thoughts of her characters;
"I didn't know then that the healing of old wounds comes not from pushing tragic memories away but from remembering them, filtering them through love, to transform their distinctive brand of pain."
Eliza's story is told through her memories alongside the diary entries of her mother. Kirkpatrick seamlessly uses the two to reveal a period in history and a mission of which many may be unaware. This is a story of a woman whose strength and faith will challenge and encourage readers. You will be blessed in the time it takes to read this book.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of giving an honest review.
Angela Hunt has published more than one hundred books, with sales nearing five million copies worldwide. She's the New York Times bestselling author of The Tale of Three Trees, The Note, and The Nativity Story. Angela's novels have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. In 2008, she completed her doctorate in Biblical Studies and is currently completing her Th.D. Angela and her husband live in Florida, along with their mastiffs.
You can connect with Angela at her website found at www.angelahuntbooks.com
One of Ancient Israel's Most Famous Women - As You've Never Looked At Her Before... One of the Bible's most misunderstood and misjudged women, Bathsheba comes to life in this new biblical reimagining from Angela Hunt. Combining historical facts with detailed fiction, this is an eye-opening portrait that will have you reconsidering everything you thought you knew about her. After receiving God's promise of a lifelong reign and an eternal dynasty, King David forces himself on Bathsheba, a loyal soldier's wife. When her resulting pregnancy forces the king to murder her husband and add her to his harem, Bathsheba struggles to protect her son while dealing with the effects of a dark prophecy and deadly curse on the king's household.. My Thoughts: Bathsheba is the second installment in Hunt's A Dangerous Beauty series. The first novel was Hunt's reimagining of Esther's story in Esther: Royal Beauty. In this series, Hunt in introducing the concept of "tob"...
"The Hebrew text has two words that are typically used to describe personal appearance. One, yapeh, is rather mild and means 'good looking.' The other, tob, when applied to women's looks, conveys sensual appeal. This woman is so beautiful that she arouses the desire of men who see her." Sue Poorman Richards/Larry Richards
Hunt's reimagining is told from the vantage points of Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan. I appreciated that much of the dialogue and "story" followed very closely to what we find in the Bible. Hunt's artistic liberty and impeccable research added to this creates a perspective that is plausible and one that will make you think and search the Scriptures on your own. Hunt knocked this one out of the ballpark. You will enjoy this journey.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own and a positive review was not expected.
