It was a year ago that I started this blog. I remember working so hard on the title, because I wanted it to encompass a little of everything. I found that mustering up the mental energy to write anything longer than a Facebook post just wasn't there. But I love to read, and I love passing along book recommendations, so that has been the focus of this blog so far. When I start writing about other things, we'll all be surprised!
My first blog post was a book review of Miracle In a Dry Season by Sarah Loudin Thomas. You can see that post here: http://bookkisses.blogspot.com/2014/08/review-miracle-in-dry-season.html.
I've been learning as I go, and things now are looking better than that first post did. To celebrate this "Blogiversary", I am giving away a copy of Thomas' second book in the Appalachian Blessings series, Until the Harvest. You can see the review for that here: http://bookkisses.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-until-harvest-by-sarah.html
Use the Rafflecopter below to enter. This is for U.S. residents only. Thanks for reading my blog!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday, August 21, 2015
Monday, August 17, 2015
Book review: The Pilgrim by Davis Bunn
She
was just a pilgrim, about to make a pilgrimage from Caesarea to Jerusalem, on
foot. Then why did an army meet her in
the harbor? Why did she have an assassin
tracking her?
Helena,
former wife of a Roman emperor, mother of Constantine, was a Christian, and an
outcast. The story of her pilgrimage is
historically based, at a time when persecution of Christians was the law of the
land in ancient Rome.
As
she journeys with her small entourage, they must learn to trust each other. More importantly, they must learn to trust in
God in ways they had never needed to before.
As Helena makes this spiritual journey, it is a spiritual journey for
the reader as well. Lessons of trust,
forgiveness, and compassion endear the characters to the reader.
This
is not a long story, but I was fully involved in it. I did not know much about this period of
history, so it was exciting to watch the events unfold. I highly recommend this book to those who
enjoy history, Church history, and stories of faith. I received a copy of this book from the
publisher, Franciscan Media, in exchange for an honest review, which I have
given.
About the author:
Davis
Bunn is an award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million
copies.
His
work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four
Christy Awards for excellence in fiction and his 2014 induction into the
Christy Hall of Fame.
Davis
divides his time between Florida and England where he serves as Writer In
Residence at Regent’s Park College at the University of Oxford. Visit Davis at http://www.davisbunn.com.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Book review: Refining Fire by Tracie Peterson
"There was no easy way to move a dead body. Militine Scott had this on the best authority."
Isn't that a great opening line?
Militine
Scott lives and trains at the Madison Bridal School in Seattle. Although she has no desire to marry, there
she feels safe from being discovered by anyone from her past. She is best friends with Abrianna Cunningham,
niece of the school’s matrons who have raised her since she was orphaned. Abrianna is impulsive and headstrong, yet
entirely devoted to God and serving Him.
Thane Patton is a poor, hardworking friend of the girls, and is best
friends with Wade Ackerman, a carpenter who has been Abrianna’s friend since
childhood.
The
foursome work together under Abrianna’s leadership to open a soup kitchen,
providing lunch for homeless men on Seattle’s waterfront. Abrianna has such compassion for the destitute,
and longs to do even more for them. This
leads her to accept a courtship from wealthy Priam Welby, known throughout
Seattle for his underhanded dealings.
Throughout
the story, the foursome grows in their relationships with each other and with
God. Thane especially respected Wade’s
faith, and saw the difference it made in his life, enough to reach out to God
on his own.
Because
of the social mores that were proper to follow in the late 1880s, the book had
a serious tone to it. But several
characters, especially Abrianna, certainly lightened it up.
Plot
twists (which I won’t spoil) made this an interesting book to read. As the second of the Brides of Seattle
series, my enjoyment or understanding of the book was never impeded by not
having read the previous book. Those who
enjoy historical romance will enjoy this book.
Those who have a heart for the downtrodden will especially relate to
Abrianna.
I
received this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for an honest
review, which I have given.
About the author:
Tracie
Peterson is an award-winning, best-selling author of over 100 books. Having given her heart to Jesus at the young
age of six, Tracie has always felt called to some form of ministry, and writing
fulfills that mission field. Tracie
received her first book contract in November, 1992, and saw A Place to Belong published in February
1993 with Barbour Publishing’s Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively for Heartsong for the
next two years, receiving their readership’s vote for Favorite Author of the
year for three years in a row. In
December, 1995, she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany
House Publishers. Tracie was awarded the
Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and the
2011 Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers. Making her home in Montana, this Kansas
native enjoys spending time with family-especially her three
grandchildren-Rainy, Fox, and Max.
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