The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

A friend recommended this author and this series, so I was happy to be able to get a copy of The Healer's Apprentice to review. Medieval times fascinate me, even though I'm not a big fan of fairy tale romances. The Healer's Apprentice was interesting and enjoyable, but not great. The settings were detailed beautifully and the characters were fairly complex, but the overall writing style seemed a bit choppy and even awkward at times. Also, what should have been a surprising plot twist was easy to figure out fairly early on in the book. The relationship between Rose and Frau Geruscha was especially touching and well written, as were the themes of friendship, loyalty, courage, humility, and honesty.

So, all in all, it was an okay read.

The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke

World War II fiction is my favorite, and I'm always excited to find a new book from that era/genre. The Medallion was quite a pleasant surprise, and a new favorite! Set mostly in war-torn Poland, this book checks all the boxes. It's heartwarming, romantic, tragic, hopeful, historically accurate.... The characters are believable and easy to relate to, and every setting is described so that you feel like you're there. Though lengthy, the story never gets dull. As expected in a book about the holocaust, some parts of the book were hard to read because they were so raw and heartbreaking, but a thread of hope runs throughout. I was a little confused but the seeming change of the main character, Sophia, toward the end of the book, but I think I can understand it in the context of the trauma she went through. That was really my only complaint--that she seemed like a different person from the first half of the book. The ending was so well done, but that's all I can say without spoilers.

I don't remember reading anything by Cathy Gohlke before, but I'm excited to read more from her now. I really enjoy her style; it reminds me of Brock and Brodie Thoene's.

Empowerment by Catherine Parks

I have to admit, I’m very tired of constantly seeing blog posts and T-shirts and books and articles and advertisements about “girl power”. (It’s not that I think girls aren’t equal to boys; this isn’t the place for a full discussion on that.) So, when I saw the selection of books offered for review I was afraid this would just be more of the same stuff. It’s NOT! This book is exactly what true female empowerment should be about: living a life of total surrender to God—being who He wants them to be. True freedom...true worth...will only be found in finding His strength and power in our weakness and allowing Him to work through us. Through the stories of eleven women Catherine Parks encourages girls to do amazing things. Faithfulness and dedication are the keys to true success, and this book makes that clear. It’s a beautiful, well written collection of mini-biographies that will draw the reader in from the very first page. It’s a book that is very needed right now, and I highly recommend it for every girl on your life.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. 

Other Bodies by Joel Ohman

Abortion is a hot topic these days, as it should be. How anyone can justify the murder of innocent children, no matter how small, is beyond my comprehension! Somehow, no matter how many attempts are made to get through to those who excuse it or outright celebrate it, the results are usually the same: nothing changes. For this reason, I was excited to find out about the opportunity to review a new book that approaches the abortion debate from a completely new perspective. Other Bodies, a dystopian novel by Joel Ohman, is written from the perspective of a teenage girl named Hattie who finds herself in an unthinkable situation and has to choose, of course, between having an abortion or allowing her baby to live. 

While I enjoyed the writing style, I found the futuristic setting to be a little too imaginative and unrealistic. Also, there were aspects that were confusing and just didn't make sense. I wish certain points had been better developed; for instance, some things were described as extremely high tech and imaginative, while others obviously hadn't advanced at all in this future world. The ending seemed rushed. Still, it was a pretty good book and I look forward to reading more from this author. 

Overall, Other Bodies is an easy read and I think it will raise necessary questions and, hopefully, cause readers to reconsider if they are pro-choice or considering an abortion. A few situations were a little bit too suggestive, in my opinion, so I wouldn't be comfortable allowing my child to read this book until at least 13-14, if not older. But maybe that's just me. 

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. 

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. 

World Religions and Cults by MasterBooks

World Religions and Cults Boxed Set from MasterBooks.com

In a day when lines are blurred and nothing is black or white, it's more important than ever to know the truth.  A common belief is that all roads lead to God--that one can be a part of any religion and, as long as they are sincere, they're fine, but the Bible clearly teaches that there is one God, and one way to Him: His Son, Jesus Christ. Even the label "Christian" doesn't necessarily mean that one is truly a follower of Christ. Many call themselves Christians when they don't even believe or practice the basics teachings of Christ. In order to know the difference between the true and the false, and to instruct our children and to reach others with the gospel, we need to understand which beliefs are Biblical and which are not, and we must have at least a basic understanding of false doctrine. It can be intimidating to attempt self-education; there are so many different religions and off-shoots of those religions, and the amount of information available is overwhelming and difficult to sift through.

Enter World Religions and Cults by MasterBooks. Here is a description from the website:

These three volumes are a must for laymen, church leaders, teachers, and students wanting to understand the trends in our culture and around the world where certain religions dominate, helping you discern truth and guard your faith. When you understand a religion’s origins and teachings, you are in a better position to know how to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ as you take the good news to those in false religions. Prepare yourself, your family, and your church to answer questions and share the gospel with non-Christian friends and skeptics, and defend against the rise of religions and cults in our culture.

I was able to access the ebook versions of the three books in exchange for an honest review. I haven't had the time to read through all three, ovbiously, but what I've read I've loved. There is so much information packed in these pages! I am learning so much, and I'm eager to learn more. I will be adding these books to the Bible/Apologetics courses my children will be taking this year and in the future. I truly believe that these books will equip them to face a confused and questioning world with confidence, and most importantly, aid them in reaching out to others with the gospel! I highly, highly recommend these books.

Thank you, New Leaf Publishing Group, for my review copy. All opinions expressed are my own. 

A Beautiful Read

I am fascinated by anything and everything British, so I snapped this book up in a hurry. Andrea Lucado reminisces about her time spent studying at Oxford and her crisis of faith in a colorful, beautiful way that makes you feel as if you're walking the rainy streets with her or sitting on the banks of the Thames beside her, listening to her story. This was an enjoyable read--meandering, a little confusing at times because of little rabbit trails--but very enjoyable. I wish Andrea's questions about her faith had been resolved more clearly, but maybe that's the point. We all have questions, and not all of them will be resolved in this life. But that's where faith comes in. Where it becomes real. 

English Lessons is a beautiful book to curl up and read while drinking a cup of hot tea (of course) and listening to a fire crackle. 

3.5 stars from me. 

ATG Today

I was given the opportunity to try out and review a new app, called ATG Today (Awakening to God). It's available on iTunes and Google Play. 

With a simple, easy to use format and a great design, this app encourages me to daily "check in" and gives me a verse to focus on for each day, as well as writing prompts and a place for a photo. These are all combined into a Timeline, making it easy to see highlights of my life, as well as keep track of answered prayers. It's practical, encouraging, uplifting, convenient.... 

I appreciate anything that encourages me in my walk with God, and this app is a great tool for that! 

You can find the ATG Today app here. 

More about the app:

About Awakening to God Today (ATG Today):

A devotional journal to help you enjoy your walk with God, with thanksgiving from your heart, everyday touches and prayers. Inspiration for 8 minutes with God at the start of your day, learning to hear His voice, memorize scripture, pray and journal. Lots of great ideas to build your faith, share scripture, encourage others and strengthen family devotions.

You can watch the video ‘How Do You Keep Living After the Death of Two Children’ at: www.awakeningtogod.org and see Mission, Vision and Strategy under About.

A little about the founders: 

Gerald & Jeannie Long experienced success and wealth based on the values of the world and also the deepest grief and suffering from the death of two of their three children.  On their journey, God has revealed His grace and glory to them in extraordinary ways.  In particular, they’ve experienced how God is able to redeem the most painful areas of our lives and turn them around for good.  Gerard has caught a deep awareness of eternity and Jeannie has experienced God’s presence and glory when she was close to ending her own life.  Their marriage has triumphed when all seemed lost and they’ve learnt invaluable lessons on their unbelievable journey.  And, they have a very clear message of God’s calling for each Christ follower to obey the Great Command and the Great Commission.

The purpose:

·         to inspire and encourage thousands of people in their walk with Christ (hopefully, leading to another ‘Awakening’ – see 2 Chron 7:14); and

·         to raise the funds to: dig a well in 100 villages in India, provide 40,000 meals to widows and orphans, 15,000 mosquito nets and a medical team for immunizations, cataract operations and other services.

Watch promo video: (60 sec) - https://youtu.be/QmYoDXjHi8o