BOOK REVIEW - Refining Fire

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Twenty-two-year-old Militine Scott is in training at the Madison Bridal School in Seattle, yet she has no intention of pursuing marriage. What respectable man would have her? But she has found the school provides the perfect opportunity to keep her unsavory past hidden. Thane Patton, though fun-loving and fiercely loyal to his friends, hides a dark secret, as well. He finds himself drawn to Militine, sensing that she harbors a haunting pain similar to his own. Will they allow God to make something new and beautiful from the debris of their past?

MY REVIEW: 
If you frequently read book series, you probably understand the long wait until the next book is released.  Tracie Peterson's books are no exception - I have eagerly awaited the rest of the story in several of her series.  With the Brides of Seattle , I was so excited to start reading the next book, Refining Fire.  After the first book, Steadfast Heart, I was ready to continue in the drama of the Madison Bridal School and the ladies living there.

Refining Fire is the story of a bridal student, Militine Scott, and her surprising relationship with a local boat maker, Thane Patton. I say the relationship was surprising because Militine had no interest in a husband (she was a student in order to seek shelter from her past).  I really enjoyed their story in the book because both Militine and Thane had  pasts filled with violence and remorse that with God's help they would overcome.  Each found their refuge in Seattle and were surrounded by friends who were strong in their faith.  Neither had a strong spiritual life, but together they began to grow in their faith and discovered true love.  We all have something in our past that we wish to escape and the question is where and in Whom we find our refuge.

If you have been enjoying this series, it is obvious that the heroine is Abrianna Cunningham and she continues to be the primary character.  Abrianna does not let you down in this book as she finds herself in several predicaments and also a love triangle.  The two suitors are local carriage maker, Wade Ackerman, and the wealthy businessman, Priam Welby.  I enjoy Abrianna's addition to the series due to her spunk and determination to serve her Lord and minister to those in need.  What a spirit she has!  Her comebacks to the new pastor, Ralston Walker, were witty and had me laughing as I read them.  At first I thought maybe Abrianna and Pastor Walker might have an "opposites attract" relationship start, but I was very relieved that was not in the plot-line.  Pastor Walker was definitely a character I was not sad to see exit the story.  I think if I was a character in this book, I would have to give him a good "what for".

Tracie Peterson never fails to deliver a book with vivid imagery and an interesting plot-line that is rich in history.  I was not aware of the 1889 Seattle Fire and cannot imagine seeing my entire city engulfed in flames.  I think her choice in title, Refining Fire, was reflective of the burdensome fire in Militine and Thane that wore at their hearts.  God is no stranger to overwhelming fires and He can certainly tame them and bring about a beautiful refinement.  Beauty from ashes!

I was provided this book for free as an Advanced Reader Copy by Bethany House, a division of Baker House Publishing, for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW - Sing For Me

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
When a good church girl starts singing in a jazz club and falls for the music—as well as a handsome African American man—she struggles to reconcile her childhood faith with her newfound passions.  Raised in the Danish Baptist Church, Rose Sorensen knows it’s wrong to sing worldly songs. But Rose still yearns for those she hears on the radio—“Cheek to Cheek,” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”—and sings them when no one is around.  One day, Rose’s cousin takes her to Calliope’s, a jazz club, where she discovers an exciting world she never knew existed. Here, blacks and whites mingle, brought together by their shared love of music. And though Rose worries it’s wrong—her parents already have a stable husband in mind for her—she can’t stop thinking about the African American pianist of the Chess Men, Theo Chastain. When Rose returns to the jazz club, she is offered the role of singer for the Chess Men. The job would provide money to care for her sister, Sophy, who has cerebral palsy—but at what cost?  As Rose gets to know Theo, their fledgling relationship faces prejudices she never imagined. And as she struggles to balance the dream world of Calliope’s with her cold, hard reality, she also wrestles with God’s call for her life. Can she be a jazz singer? Or will her faith suffer because of her worldly ways?  Set in Depression-era Chicago and rich in historical detail, Sing for Me is a beautiful, evocative story about finding real, unflinching love and embracing—at all costs—your calling.

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE: http://www.karenschreck.com/

MY REVIEW:
I confess that I am drawn to books by the cover art...horrible, I know.  While book shopping at Mardel, my eye was drawn to a low shelf and there packed amidst several possible reads was a beautiful art deco font showing the title of "Sing for Me".  As a long time fan of Ella Fitzgerald and Rosemary Clooney, it is no wonder my eyes spotted this cover.  I've had this dream of being a modern-day lounge singer since probably about my sophomore year in high-school.  (That was about the time I discovered Harry Connick, Jr, my second musician crush...sorry Rick Springfield).  As I have gotten older and lost most of my singing ability, I am okay with letting Jane Monheit and Diana Krall carry that honor.

Maybe it was the excitement of starting the book or the stress I am currently going through in my job, but I had a hard time getting into the story of the book.  It is well-written and seems to be true to the time period, so I am sure I was to blame for my slow beginning.  I enjoyed the characters and appreciated the different dilemmas each were going through, but I was anxious to get to the music and romance. When that began to develop and became forefront, my interest fortissimo-ed and I finished the last half of the book in about a day.  I loved how the author included lyrics from hymns and standards throughout the story.  I found myself singing them all as I read and that makes a great read for me!

There are two evils addressed in the book - prejudice and stubbornness - and both of these give a painful ache to my heart.  Judgement has to be the most hurtful behavior in the world as it leads to much worse.  The judgement given to me since early childhood has not been the color of my skin or the religion I practice, but any judgement is hurtful and leaves permanent scars on the soul.  If I could have one wish granted, it would be that people would think first to accept differences rather than to punish them.  Let us live a life lead by love!  After all, we as Christians, are called to be examples of Christ who was Himself the truest form of love.

As I was finishing this book, the tragedy in Charleston occurred and I found myself crying for the families of the victims and the community.  I was saddened that in 2015 the cruelty of skin-color prejudice is still prevalent in our country.  It breaks my heart and I can only imagine the sadness it brings Christ who loved each one of us enough to sacrifice Himself for our freedom.  Oh, how I pray, that somewhere over the rainbow we can finally overcome this obstacle.

BOOK REVIEW - How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible

BOOK DESCRIPTION & AUTHOR'S WEBSITE
Do you feel like you should read the Bible more?  This book will help you want to read it.  Keith Ferrin has been talking to churches for years about enjoying God's Word. Here he shares the most helpful ideas and habits you can start using today. You will find ten proven tips that are equally practical whether you are a longtime Bible student or simply exploring what this life-changing book is all about.  Aimed at deepening your relationship with God, these simple suggestions will help you focus more easily as you read, remember Scripture better, and most importantly, enjoy the Bible and its Author more than you ever dreamed possible.
http://keithferrin.com/

MY REVIEW

"You have not truly mastered any part of the Bible until that part of the Bible has mastered you" - Bob Shinrock.

 

I met Jesus in 1982, but I fell in love with Jesus in 2001 when I felt His calling and discovered my spiritual gift was teaching.  I am somewhat of a study nerd...I love the research of studying and then sharing what I learn with others.  This is most evident in regards to His Word.  I love the Bible and cannot get enough of His story.  This book will be a reference I keep on hand to gift others I meet who desire to know how to read the Bible with a "relational" approach.  It is that helpful and I wish I would of had it years ago!

Ferrin has written a wonderful reference for new and long-time readers of the Bible.  I enjoyed the personal way in which the book was written.  It was as if he were sitting with you at Starbucks sharing with you his 10 tips for having a better time "hanging out" with God.  With his one-on-one writing style, it was easy to become motivated to put the tips to use.  The tips are practical in that they are lined out in a good format and they are easy to understand.  This practicality made the book extremely motivating.  It feels as if he were your Bible Reading Coach and reminding you that it can be so much fun.

"How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible" has truly encouraged me and I look forward to working through the challenges he presents at the end of the book.  Even though my time with the Bible is frequent, I do see that I can sometimes fall into the "informational" reading approach.  It is so easy to find yourself there in a dutiful feeling instead of a desiring feeling.  My heart so desires time in the arms of my Redeemer and getting to know Him more deeply.  The book has also refueled my love for sharing the Bible with others and I have asked my Pastor to possibly facilitate a Small Group to put these useful tips in the hands of my fellow church members.

I was provided this book for free as an Advanced Reader Copy by Bethany House, a division of Baker House Publishing, for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW- Until the Harvest

BOOK DESCRIPTION & AUTHOR'S WEBSITE
When family tragedy derails Henry Phillips's college studies, he's left unmoored and feeling abandoned. The only things that can tamp down his grief are the family farm, his fiddle, and an unexpected friendship with sweet but unusual preteen Mayfair Hoffman. Unfortunately, Mayfair's older sister, Margaret, despite her spray of freckles and cute, turned-up nose, has a completely different effect. His grandmother's helper, she's always around, ready to push his buttons, and it seems at first that she doesn't care about his troubles. Henry soon realizes, though, that Margaret's facing her own struggles. Mayfair's health and unique gift sit at the heart of those worries. Henry and Margaret soon find themselves relying on each other as potential tragedy collides with growing hope in a warm story of family bonds and the surprising ways healing finds us all.  http://sarahloudinthomas.com/

MY REVIEW
Personally, this was a very inspiring book to read. I chose to read it because it was set in the Appalachians and I have liked other books set in this area of the country. However, this book was SO much better due to the spiritual message that flowed through the story. It was an engaging read as I finished the book in only 1 day (I was home recovering from surgery, so pain was my only distraction).

I thought the book was a sweet love story. At first, the main love story seemed to be Henry and Margaret, two people trying to find their place in the world with the fear of an unknown future. Who doesn't love a story of two somewhat lost people being brought together by God?  I can relate to both of the characters, but more so with Margaret and her struggling belief in God's love for her.   The book suggested that maybe she couldn't really love until she better understood how much God loves her.  As I became more involved in the story, the TRUE love story seemed to be between God and all the interesting characters. He was very active in all their lives.  God's love shined so bright through His precious vessel, Mayfair (Margaret's younger sister). My eyes filled with tears when Beulah looked at Mayfair and said "I don't need to look into your eyes to feel your love".  My deepest desire is to offer this much love, kindness, and "peace of mind" to those I come into contact with in this life.

There were a few other insights I pulled from the story that I would like to share because I think they are sometimes forgotten in our lives today.  The first is the value of the wise elders in our lives.  In the story, all the older characters were full of wisdom that they so freely gave to the Henry and Margaret.  I cannot tell you the amount of wisdom I have learned from my grandparents and church members - they are such a blessing to my life.  The second is the value of the love we offer through our talents and gifts.  There is a focus on the healing that Mayfair offered her community, but I also enjoyed the telling of how Perla stretched food through hard times and I truly feel that Margaret showed love to Beulah and Emily by cleaning their homes as they were no longer able to themselves.  We all have something we do really well that we can use to serve those around us.

What a story! "Until the Harvest' was a sweet read and is well written by Sarah Loudin Thomas. I am very grateful to Bethany House, a division of Baker House Publishing Group, who provided me with the book for my honest review.

JOURNAL - Scripture Journaling!

Journaling has been such a blessing to my spiritual life - especially in the way I read and understand the Bible.  As an audiovisual learner and an obsessive list-maker, using these study skills in my journaling has really opened my eyes to things I have missed in His Word.  The Inductive Study Method created by Precepts has also played a huge role in my understanding of the Bible.  I find it uses a lot of investigative journalism methods that I learned in school and helps to keep me focused as I study.  Honestly, I have a mind that wanders when I try to study - learning to block out the distractions is not something I have mastered.  Whatever your study skills were in school, you should give them a try with your Bible study.  You may be surprised at the impact as well!

READ - Coffee Book Tag

I stumbled on this tag watching Booktube videos and thought it looked like fun.  Hope you enjoy my picks and let me know if you liked or disliked any of them.

JOURNAL & BOOK REVIEW - The Butterfly and the Violin

After church today, I felt the pull to work in my art journal.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to get some paint on my fingers.  As I sat down at my art table, I turned on one of my favorite Pandora stations, Classical for the Soul, and the violin strings became my muse for the afternoon.

Earlier this month I read "The Butterfly and the Violin" by Kristy Cambron.  The book takes place in both WW2 and today.  The plot revolves around the story of Austria's Sweetheart, a young violinist named Adele Von Bron.  Together with her boyfriend, Vladamir, they risk their lives to help Jews escape from Vienna and she finds herself a prisoner in Auschwitz.  It was a hard book for me to read because the descriptions of camp life seemed so real.  For me, it was similar to reading "Night" by Elie Weisel because you JUST CAN'T take anymore, but then you NEED to know the outcome.  The story set in today's New York is about Sera James, a New York art dealer, who has a sentimental attachment with a painting of our heroine Adele.  Sera finds herself in California with a gentleman, William, who owns a copy of the painting and they team up to search for the original.  In the book you get to experience two love stories both connected to the painting of a beautiful survivor who found her strength in God to produce creativity in a time of adversity.  Many a tear fell as the book came to a close - well, truthfully, I sobbed.

I tried to capture the idea of the book as my art journal page.  Please meet my vision of Adele in about the middle of her stay at Auschwitz- before she shaved her head, but well enough into her look of starvation.  The book says she had beautiful blond hair and I can't remember if her eye color was mentioned.  I knew I wanted her eyes to draw you in and I hope I was able to carry that off.  Although the butterfly was a brooch in the story,  I added this as a necklace pendant.  I used the idea of her tattoo as a way to date my page.  Since the search for the painting was key to the plot, I put a bold black frame around my image of Adele.  I really felt like "creativity in adversity" was being placed on my heart as I read the book, so I added this as text on my page.  As somebody who has her fair share of adversity, I know the impact creativity plays in healing.  It has been my salve many a time!