Up from Dust by Heather Kaufman

 

Up from Dust by Heather Kaufman was an interesting read.  I love Biblical fiction as it seems to breathe life into the Bible to make it fresh for me.  I was intrigued by the subject of the back story to Martha, Mary and Lazarus.  After reading the book, I am conflicted about my feelings on this book.  There were parts that I enjoyed, but some parts I felt were stretching the ideas a bit too much for my taste.  The back story of the siblings was interesting and the love interest for Martha was captivating.  I also thought how Martha and her love interest met in secret was a bit of a stretch for that time in history.  The other thing I found disappointing was the lack of friendship with Jesus in the book.  While Kaufman stayed true to the Biblical account of things, I was disappointed that the close friendship that Jesus had with these siblings was not developed in the story as I had hoped.  It is a good read,  I just had expectations that were left unfulfilled.  I did like how Kaufman had end notes to direct people back to the Bible and explaining a bit of her thought process to why she took the direction in the story that she wrote.

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for the free ebook in exchange for my review of the book.

The Peasant King by Tessa Afshar

 

Throughly researched.  Old Testament history comes alive through rich characters and a mountainous Persian setting.  This is the perfect mixture of history, adventure and a delightful romance.  Man is rescued from a prison and falls in love with his rescuer.  Their adventure through the mountains is filled with suspense and self discovery.  The end brings about a fairy tale wedding given by a King.  It has it all.  This book is well worth the read!

This book continues the story from The Hidden Prince.  You do not need to have read that story to enjoy this story.  Jenna rescues her mother from Astyages’s prison.  Asher and Jemma’s mother have become friends.  So Asher is rescued.  The story reveals that Asher is the illegitimate son of Astyage.  Asher grew up in poverty, but learned to forge and sell weapons to his father’s enemies.

I love Afshar’s stories because I always learn more about history.  The other thing I enjoy is that Afshar’s characters end up teaching me about myself.  I feel like Afshar uses her characters as a mirror for me.  I learn about myself and how to strengthen my relationship with God.  This book taught me to not only look for the big miracles.  Many times a “God answers us little by little”.  Jemma talks with her father about how she felt so ordinary and wanting an instant answer to her prayers.  Her father, who lost an eye as a young man, told her that God often answers little by little.  How often do we rush past the little miracles that God provides for us.  I know I rush past them too often.  

My thanks to Tyndale House Publishers  and Netgalley for the complimentary ebook in exchange for this review.

Pearl in the Sand 2.0 by Tessa Afshar

 

Pearl in the Sand 10th Anniversary Edition once again strikes a chord in your heart.  Afshar's heart for broken people encountering God shines brightly in this captivating retelling of her first published book.  While this story is known and loved, it felt fresh once again due to added content throughout the story.

A Zonah from Jericho and a prince from the tribe of Judah are an unlikely match, yet Joshua and God approve of this marriage.  Rahab's past and Salmone's pure bloodlines provide a chasm that might not be overcome.  Salmone is a warrior who will not give up in battle, now he has to battle for the honest love of his wife.  Rahab has built walls around her heart as thick as the walls of Jericho.  She built these walls for protection and safety.  "Her choices were to trust God or to trust the monstrous fears of her heart."  What will she choose?

I always learn so many things about myself through Tessa Afshar's books.  This one was no different.  The title of this book is appropriate as I find pearls of wisdom throughout the story that help me on my journey. While I knew this book would be another precious gem, I didn't know of the beautiful facets the words would shine into my life once again.  There is beauty in the struggles of life.

"My little Jericho.   Don't you want to know why I call you that before you forbid me?  It's a picture God gave me.  You don't know this perhaps, but for Israel, conquering Jericho represented an impossibility.  Those high walls.   How were we to climb them?  Smash them?  In the end, God did the work.  Our job was to show up, day after day, ignoring every discouragement, persisting in what He had asked us to do.  Those walls came down not because of our strength, but because of God's.  You are that walled city, Rahab. In my flesh, I didn't have the resources to win you.  But God is dealing with us both."

This scene speaks into my life as I think about facing so many obstacles.  All God asks us to do is show up day after day doing what He asks us to do and He will take care of the rest.  Thank you for this gem.  This book will be treasured even more than the first.  I know it will be read many times in the future.

My thanks to Netgalley and Moody publishers for the complimentary ebook copy in exchange for my review of this book.

   

King's Falling by Ronie Kendig

 This is the second book in a series.  The complex storyline means you must have read the first book in the series.  I would also recommend having read The Tox Files series to fill in more background information.

This storyline is character-driven.  Having so many characters can be confusing at times.  All of the characters are a part of a black ops team, Reaper, that is trying to find The Book of Wars before the Armeggedon Coalition, ArC tries to take over the world's economy.  Leif Metcalf is the leader of Reaper.  He has a 6 month blank in his life that he is desperate to find an answer as to what happened.  His girlfriend, Iskra Todorova, is desperately looking for her brother who might be part of an evil Superarmy of ArC.  This super army is activating members and then killing them.  Reaper's mission is to figure out who is going to be activated and try to stop the activation.  Friendships start to break, while the team works to accomplish its mission.

Once again, Kendig packs action, suspense, and intrigue into one powerful story.  The action is at it's peak, and you have to wait for most of your questions to be answered in the next story.  If you enjoy military action, suspense and intrigue this series is for you.  Go out and buy Storm Rising and King's Falling you won't regret the ride.

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-copy to read in exchange for my review. 

Daughter of Rome brings Aquila and Priscilla to life

  Once again the reader is drawn into a possible back story to some Biblical characters.  This story brings us into the first-century church that is struggling to grow outside of Jerusalem. Priscilla is the daughter of a Roman general, who is living a life more like a slave than that of a daughter of the privileged class. Aquila is the eldest son of a wealthy merchant, that is working as a tentmaker in Rome.  How can these two people come together when they have such different backgrounds?  Leave that to the pen of Tessa Afshar.  She is able to intertwine these two people in a way that is interesting and thought-provoking at the same time.  This story has secrets that can kill a person or tear apart a marriage.  There are a lovable dog and an orphan that you will cheer for when he finds his forever home.  Then there is the enthusiasm of Priscilla and Aquila for Jeshua that is contagious.  Their hospitality breathes life into a fledgling church.

Once again, Afshar's research and theological studies breathe life into characters in a way that you feel you have met these people.  I feel like I have been to Corinth and sat in on meetings with Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila.  I had never thought of the unique position that Priscilla had of being a leader in the church at a time when women were not leaders. Yet, Priscilla is named as being a leader in scripture.  This story helps to flesh out why this might have been possible.  This story is filled with grace and forgiveness.  As is typical with an Afshar story, I come away learning more about myself and how to give grace and forgiveness to others.  I am always changed in positive ways by reading Ms. Afshar's books. 

My thanks to Tyndale House Publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-book copy to read in exchange for my review.

Until the Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette

  Until the Mountains Fall is the third book in the Cities of Refuge series.   You could read this story first without being confused, but it is best if read as the third book in the series as Cossette ties up a few things from the beginning of this series.

Rivkah is the main character.  She has recently lost her husband to a tragic accident, and her father wants her to fulfill the Leverite marriage to Malakhi.  Rivkah is independent, and strong willed.  She works as a scribe for her father who is priest.  Rivkah doesn't want a loveless marriage, and decides to run away.  She hatches a plan with her friend Nessa to leave their quiet town of Kedesh and go to a Canaanite festival in the nearby town of Laish.  This begins an adventure of serious consequences that Rivkah and Nessa may never be able to return from.

Malakhi is a handsome young man who has the eye of many young Jewish girls.  Yet, he only has eyes for Rivkah.  While he was the young he played many tricks on Rivkah to capture her attention and maybe receive a smile from his friend.  All of these tricks come back to haunt him as a young man who is willing to fulfill the Leverite marriage to Rivkah.  He suffers quietly as Rivkah tries to get Malakhi to divorce her because she is an awful cook, or destroys his clothing.  Malakhi's patience is proven time and again.  Once Rivkah disappears, Malakhi trains to be a warrior like his father.  This ultimately brings about the reconciliation of Rivkah and Malakhi after many years of pain and heartache.

I loved this story and was pleasantly surprised to have a new spin on the parable of the Prodigal Son.  The unfailing love of family overflows from this story.  Cossette's research, relatable characters and insight into life during the Old Testament will draw the reader into the story.  I couldn't put the book down.

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for the complimentary e-book in exchange for my review.

Storm Rising is true to its title

Leif (Runt) Metcalf gets to star in this story.  While he played a role in the Tox Files stories, you do not have to have read those stories to understand this one.  Kendig produces another rapid fire military suspense thriller.  The opening line "He'd never killed a woman before, but now was as good a time as any." hooks you for a thrilling ride.  Leif is tasked with finding the ancient manuscript, The book of Wars, that is mentioned in the Old Testament.  He finds he is not the only one looking for this text. Iskra (Viorica) Todorova is trying to secure the text to gain her freedom from the Russians.  While Leif and Iskra battle the fireworks of attraction, they also form a tenuous working relationship.  There are storms that form internally as well as externally that this team has to fight.

I loved this book and am anxiously awaiting the next book.  While I wait, I will have to reread the other books that have the Metcalf family in them.  Kendig packs in so much action it leaves you breathless.  Finding out that there really is an ancient text mentioned in the Bible blows me away.  I love that there is a bit of truth to these fictional stories that capture my imagination.  Can't wait for the second book in this series to come out.

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for the e-copy of this book in exchange for my review.