#38: Harvest of Rubies

I recently signed up with bookbub.com, a site that daily sends e-book selections at either reduced prices or even free ones.  Harvest of Rubies, by Tessa Afshar, is one I downloaded (for free) when I noticed that it loosely based on the story of Nehemiah...a Kelly Minter study I participated in last summer.

In this Christian fiction, we meet Sarah, a scribe, who, at the encouragement of her cousin Nehemiah, uses this talent that results in her working for the Queen, who later arranges a marriage for her with Darius.

This novel perfectly portrays the grace of God who always is there, waiting, when one drifts away from Him. Through her hardships and challenges, she again leans on Him and renews her relationship with the Lord.

Tessa Afshar, a writer of Christian historical fiction, converted to Christianity in her twenties, after having been born in Iran and raised as a Muslim.  Her desire to increase women's awareness they they are loved...please read more here from her in a letter she has written to her readers.

If you are a fan of Christian historical fiction, then please consider reading this one.  AND...good news!...only after finishing and continuing to read the author's notes at the end did I learn that this is a series which continues with Harvest of God...just released last month!  Yay!

Books 15-37...Behind!

Admission...guilty!  In writing book reviews, I simply got behind and that mole hill soon became a mountain!

Over summer break, I will say I did enjoy reading two series by Charlaine Harris:  Aurora Teagarden and Lily Bard...they are two of my favorite fictional ladies, and I highly recommend both series.

The only young adult novel I read was The Twelve-Fingered Boy...and was glad to learn this is the first in a trilogy!

Note:  both above authors are from Arkansas!  That did seem to be a theme for me this summer!

For our faculty book club, I read The Ender's Game and really look forward to seeing it on the big screen this November!  Note to self:  re-read  City of Bones (coming to the big screen this month!)...now have it sitting beside me.  One more thing about books going to the big screen....I did watch The Host by Stephanie Meyer.  Loved it!  I read the book a couple of years ago, and I appreciated how close the plot line it remained.

As always, anything by Richard Paul Evans is simply fantastic...as was his newest release in The Walk series:  A Step of Faith, which continues the journey of Alan as he continues to heal from his emotional wounds from the loss of his wife.

“We must all walk in faith, for to live without is to live frozen in circumstance. Even if the faith, or dreams of our past have been shattered, as they often are, we must gather up the shards and dream again– for achieving dreams is not a single act of will, but, like the felling of a tree, a process of small, steady blows. It is the short footfalls of a great walk.”

Have I quit reading?  No!  I currently have six books going...two for church, two for school,two on the Kindle, and one for our faculty book club...and now a re-read of City of Bones.  AND I promise to resume writing reviews!

I would recommend your reading this article "14 Books to Read Before They Hit the Big Screen," of which I have read six.

Please share...what have you  read good this summer?!

#14: Death Comes to Pemberley

 

An extension of Pride and Prejudice, P.D. James' novel Death Comes to Pemberley continues the plot line of the characters.  Almost like reading a series!

Chosen as the April read for our faculty book club, I began the novel, created a chart of characters, then stopped, and began to read Pride and Prejudice, for I just could not keep the characters all straight.  Thus, with this in mind, I do recommend reading P & P before reading Death Comes to Pemberley.

On the eve of the autumn ball, Elizabeth's sister arrives, all distressed, claiming that her husband Wickham has been murdered.  The plot continues as this conflict reaches its resolution.

James mastered the time period and and Austin's syntax and diction, which furthered the authenticity of this novel.

My favorite Pride and Prejudice character may be Jane, although I connect with Elizabeth more.  Now, I would enjoy reading a novel that "extends" the story of Jane and Bingley.  Yes, a good idea!

#13: Pride and Prejudice

Happy 200th birthday, Pride and Prejudice!  This makes me a nerd, but I even bought my copy on the weekend before its birthday.  A lovely copy it is.  Only, after our BHS Reads Book Club chose P.D. James' Death Comes to Pemberley did I read Pride and Prejudice, which I am embarrassed to say I have never read.  I have now, though, and can finally watch the movie!

I loved the novel. Yes, language is early 19th Century, but I so appreciate Austin's character development of the Bennett family. Resonating with me, Elizabeth was the character with whom I most bonded, maybe because my character echoes her own?

More to come...

#12: Unconditional

As I led the study on this Christian movie, I read the based-on-the movie novel Unconditional.  Inspiring.  One that affects the heart.

Sam, whose husband was killed in shooting, struggles to overcome her grief, resulting in the ultimate low moment from which she was saved when she is needed to help save a child involved in a hit-and-run.  While at the hospital, Sam is reunited with childhood friend Joe.

Based on the life of Papa Joe Bradford, this movie illustrates perfectly the redeeming love of God, Who, ever mindful, never forgets His children, again reminding the viewer that His timing is Perfect.

I encourage all of the above...the four-week Bible study, the novel, and the movie.  I experienced them all...and was truly blessed.

#11: Warm Bodies

Author Issac Marion takes us to a future world of zombies in his novel Warm Bodies, a first for me, for I normally just visit the land of vampires and other such common fantasy type characters.

This novel I purchased again at the recommendation of a student, a male this time, who asked if I had read the novel, which he thought was better than the movie.  Hummm, so, of course, I had to read the novel before watching the movie (that I will have to review later...still have to view it).

Absorbing, I found myself wanting to read...late into the night...to finish this novel...

More to come...

#10 Plain Promise

A local book store's book club of the month choice, I read this...and then was not able to attend the meeting (although I keep having high hopes of attending one sometime)...I read Beth Wiseman's Plain Promise, another series, of course...which I now own!

I enjoy relaxing reads about the Amish life....

More to come...