Book Review - Miriam's Song

 There are a handful of authors who come to mind when I think of biblical fiction; Jill Eileen Smith, author of series like The Wives of King David and Wives of the Patriarchs, is high on that list for a very good reason. Smith has a knack for taking women who are briefly mentioned in the history of our faith and making them feel real to our generation. She does this once again in Miriam's Song, walking us through the life of the woman we tend to think of as Moses's sister without realizing what her reality may have looked like.

From the time of her famous brother's birth, throughout her life in Egypt and the time of their deliverance from the hands of Pharaoh, Miriam serves her people and her God with all that is in her. Still, her heart aches for more. He speaks to her in dreams, but she longs to meet Him face to face the way that He meets with Moses. The delicate handling of this complex situation is what singles Jill Eileen Smith from the crowd and makes Miriam's Song a must-read.

Miriam's Song is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online from the following:

Christian Book        Barnes & Noble        Amazon

Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - Facing the Dawn

From the very beginning of Facing the Dawn, I felt like I could relate to Mara Jacobs. We both think we really ought to have it all together, and we both really don't have it all together. However, the main character of this novel by Cynthia Ruchti struggles with the weight of her family's world on her shoulders. A son prone to scrapes with the law, a daughter with a penchant for trouble, and the little boy of the family who struggles with more than a little boy should have to carry, all relying on Mara to keep the family afloat while their humanitarian dad is doing great things halfway around the world. When it all comes falling down around her ears, Mara finds that going through it alone isn't God's plan. Pushing through the wall of grief and the rippling consequences of her husband's death is a burden that Mara doesn't want to share. Being surrounded by people who love her carries her along the arduous path toward restoration.

I greatly appreciate the way the author carried the story. At times I felt that there would never be enough time left in the book for Mara's healing; I noticed that pages kept turning and still the journey was so slow that it could not possibly be accomplished by the time I ran out of text. I also appreciate the value of those who came alongside Mara to support her and who are supported by her, in spite of the fact that she seems to be depleted to the point of dysfunction. The story comes full circle in due time.

Facing the Dawn is currently available from your favorite local bookseller, or online from the following retailers:

Christian Book        Barnes & Noble        Amazon

Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - Unknown Threat

US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell knows that his colleague and friend, Thad, was murdered. He knows that someone is targeting him and the rest of his team. He suspects that the events are linked, but he's too close to the situation to see the big picture. And the agents of the Raleigh RAIC are struggling to connect the dots while constantly dodging bullets. Enter FBI Special Agent Faith Malone. Sure, Luke and Faith work well together on interagency events, but Luke has very personal reasons not to trust the FBI and he can't keep his mind from wandering to unprofessional thoughts about Faith. How will they ever figure out who is targeting the Raleigh Secret Service agents? And how will Luke and Faith ever figure out what may or may not be going on between them?

Lynn H. Blackburn can craft romantic suspense that will utterly blow your mind, and she proves it again with the debut of her Defend and Protect series in Unknown Threat. Action and romance combine eloquently to give the perfect balance of "Oh-my-gravy" and "What-the-what?!?" I thought I had it all figured out about half a dozen times before I gave up trying and followed where she took me. Now I sit and anxiously await the release of the next book in the series, because we all know it will be amazing, too!

Unknown Threat by Lynn H. Blackburn is available now from your favorite local bookseller, or use the links below to order your copy online today.

Christian Book        Barnes & Noble        Amazon

Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.