What is your favorite type of book? What are some of your favorite authors! I would love to hear in the comments below.
My favorite type of Fiction is one that draws my heart in and gives it a warm hug. When the characters trust God in a way thats woven deep into the story in such a way that makes God the hero.
My favorite type of Non-fiction is when the author writes in a way that helps me see things in a different way. I love when an author writes in a vulnerably in a way that brings things in my heart, tucked away as “inappropriate”, to light and reminds me I am not the only one who feels this way. They have felt that too and it’s better to bring it to light than shove it aside.
Now onto my reviews for the month of May!
The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof
Topic or themes I saw: Freedom from bondage, internal and external.
Who it may interest: Historical fiction lovers, anyone who wants to read about the circus in the late 1800’s. Those who love Francine Rivers and Lynn Austin will love Joanne Bischof. Anyone who loves deep heartfelt stories.
Story: Ella and Charlie’s lives intersect when Ella sacrifices her job to be a nurse for orphaned infant Holland, who is in Charlie’s care. Ella’s faith has been battered and broken by her past. Charlie’s faith is strong, but he is forever marked by a decision he made to free Holland. This is a beautiful story of redemption, freedom from bondage, and a self-sacrificing love.
Ease of reading: Easy
Main takeaway: It doesn’t matter where you come from, what society deems you as, Jesus laid down his life for you and gives you a life free from bondage. He can take your heavy burdens and give you rest.
Extra thoughts: I loved this book so much. It had such deep meaning and pulled my heart in completely. I checked it out at the library, but it’s one I will buy a copy for my shelf at home.
Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes
Topic or themes I saw: Letting God stitch our life story together. Finding Hope amidst pain and loss. Thanking God for gifts he gives to keep us afloat through the brokeness. How individual broken things together can build something beautiful.
Who it may interest: Anyone who loves deep, heartfelt, duel time, or WW2 type novels.
Story: The story of Annie and Bob both pulled my heart in emotionally and swept me away mentally to Ansel by the Sea in a magical kind of way. It’s a story of finding hope, healing, and the the blessings of a close community.
Ease of reading: Easy
Main takeaway: Small acts of obedience can be so impactful. There is so much power in seeing people and caring. There is power in following the Spirit, He’s who works all things together.
Extra thoughts: I absolutely love Amanda’s writing style. It’s more than a story, it’s moving. There were SO many sentences that made me stop and marvel over the beauty and meaning. So many short profound sentences that were wrapped in the magic of the context around it. So deep, so poetical, so beautiful. I love books that not only tell a good story but somehow zoom out so the reader can see the process of life unfolding in ways we can’t see when we are simply taking steps of faith. We take these steps of faith with the characters and get to see how it plays out. It increases my faith for my own steps of faith I can’t see the end result in. This was one of those books for me. Ananda has a way of weaving lessons in ordinary things in a way that holds deep meaning. Lessons are woven in so many nooks and crannies of this book in such an easy to digest way. You may not even notice the lesson but you feel it deep in your soul. The lessons themselves are part of the action and by themselves all at the same time. It’s an amazing art. In my opinion this book is a must read!
The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox
Topic or themes I saw: Finding belonging. Finding safety in people again. Healing from emotional scars. Finding healing in community. Working through hurt and depression. Feeling unworthy and rejected because of past experiences. Losing and finding yourself. Believing in people and caring about people over our own pride.
Who it may interest: Anyone who loves duel time novels. Anyone who loves deep, heartfelt, character-driven fiction.
Story: So much of this story is my story wrapped in different circumstances. The path through depression, the struggle to find belonging, the kindness of people when I didn’t feel like I deserved it. The wrestle with feeling unworthy to accept gifts. Healing from hurt. Finally seeing how God loves me and every other human on this planet. Amanda writes in a way that brings pain and healing to light in a gentle hope filled way. She takes a homeless man, an abandoned baby, a depressed pastors wife, an elderly lady who is alone, and a young lady who left an emotionally abusive relationship ship and weaves them all together to paint a beautifully moving story.
Ease of reading: Easy
Main takeaway: I loved this book so much, it did amazing things for my heart. I’d say my main takeaway is everyone is worth loving and even tho we don’t always get it right we keep trying to love and keep trusting God with the results. This book will go in top favorites for me!
Expect Something Beautiful by Laura Booz
If you are a mom with kids at home, READ this. I feel like that review should suffice :).
Topic or themes I saw: Joy and sorrow. Peace and pain. Hope in hard. Beauty in the midst of broken.
Who it may interest: Those who want to know beauty can be stronger than the burden.
Story: You know sometimes you shove something deep down because you tell yourself you shouldn’t feel a certain way? Yet, it’s still there lurking. Then someone says something that gives you permission to feel it and all of the sudden everything changes? That’s what many of these chapters did for me. Stuffed feelings can’t be transformed. Realizing I’m not the only person on the planet that feels a certain way and it’s ok to bring it to light…now that can be transformed. Laura Booz writes from a very vulnerable real way. She shared her struggles then how God transformed them. Many of these stories shone light on things I shamed myself for. Her vulnerability allowed me to bring to the light those feelings for what they were and realize I’m not an awful person just a person who struggles with the brokeness of the fall but Jesus conquered it. Sharing stories changes stories, that’s what hers did for me and I know it can for other mothers too. The beginning of the chapters were usually a wrestle, the end was transformation and how God can work that same transformation in the readers heart as well. She is no stranger to grief. Yet she finds beauty. She points to that beauty in a very real, poetic, beautiful writing style.
Ease of reading: Easy
Main takeaway: Life is hard but we can find beauty.
Extra thoughts: At the very end of the chapters is a section with a scripture, a song, a related reading resource, questions to consider, and a prayer. I found those sections incredibly helpful as well. Laura pulls us into the joy and delight in life while showing us how to rise above the defeating feelings and hard circumstances to find pure delight in the gifts God has given us.
Shadows in the Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp
Topic or themes I saw: The difficulty of re-entry to civilian life for veterans. PTSD. I love how the author wove happily ever after in through the story. The desire to have that and wrestling through what it looks like when it’s not there. Finding beauty in the broken. There was also this theme of doubting yourself. While this was displayed through the PTSD I could totally relate to it in different circumstances. Lastly, doing anything to protect the ones you love.
Who it may interest: Suspense/action WW2 historical fiction lovers.
Story: Oh how I was rooting for Sam. His heart was so good and he was trying to do the best he could but kept failing, or finding himself in bad circumstances. He felt misunderstood and trapped in what felt like impossible circumstances. I resonated with him so much. I wanted to walk into the pages and give him a hug and tell him good job. This story was told through Sam and his wife, Annie’s, perspective. Sam returns from war and wrestled with ptsd. Soon he starts seeing things on their property but no one believes him. Is it PTSD or is it real?
Ease of reading: Easy
Main takeaway: Broken can be used for good, we get to choose to live in the light, to conquer the shadows and see beauty even if our life isn’t perfect.
PS isn’t the cover amazing?!
