A Light on the Hill

     BOOK REVIEW:   Though Israel has found relative peace, Moriyah has yet to find her own. Attempting to avoid the scorn of her community, she's spent the last seven years hiding behind the veil she wears. Underneath her covering, her face is branded with the mark of the Canaanite gods, a shameful reminder of her past captivity inn Jericho and an assurance that no man will ever want to marry her.
     When her father finds a widower who needs a mother for his two sons, her hopes rise. But when their introduction goes horribly wrong, Moriyah is forced to flee for her life. Seeking safety at one of the newly established Levitical cities of refuge, she is wildly unprepared for the dangers she will face and the enemies---and unexpected allies---she will encounter on her way.

     MY REVIEW:  This is the first of Connilyn Cossette's books that I have read. She writes Biblical fiction; not about Bible Characters, rather, Bible Happenings. This book is written of the Cities of Refuge inhabited by Levites and open for falsely accused manslayers, etc.
     The entirety of this book but for the introductory chapters have Moriyah on a frantic journey to a City of Refuge. She is pursued by the man she is to marry because she accidentally---well, that would be a spoiler. 😊  This makes the book very interesting, not slow and boring. It made me appreciate cars. And GPS. And shoes versus leather sandals. And hotels!
     But to the authenticity, it felt too familiar between Moriyah and the men she encountered. I have in mind that men and women didn't communicate except when married and few special circumstances. I understand it had to be otherwise in this book because of the storyline---Moriyah is escorted by a man whom she (of course) falls in love with---but it takes away from the authentic feel of the book.
     There were, however, some very good lessons in this book. Moriyah hides her face behind a veil for she has the mark of a temple priestess which draws stares and whispered condemnations. She withdraws into herself and in so doing, sets an unconscious wall against God, then despairs at His seeming absence from her. As she finds acceptance and peace in her life, she is able to let down that wall and let God in. He hadn't been drawing away from her, she had been keeping Him out, though unknowingly.
     I enjoyed this book, though the repeated dangers got a bit long at times. It is a light read with subtle lessons. And I enjoyed the culture insight, some of which is into the lifestyle of the Canaanites which was interesting to compare, both to the Israelites then and to the world today. 

  I received a copy of this book from BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS, and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. 

An Unexpected Role

     BOOK REVIEW:   The devastation of a ruined summer. The gift of a second chance. Can Josie learn the lessons she needs in order to discover her true self?  After a humiliating event and overwhelming peer pressure, 16-year-old Josie flees her home to spend the summer with her Aunt on a South Carolina Island. Her fresh start turns into the summer of her dreams as friendships grow, romance blossoms, and a series of thefts surround her with excitement. However, when tragedy strikes someone close to her, Josie realizes there are more important things than her reputation. As she sets out to solve the mystery she has become entangled in, she not only realizes the importance of relying on her faith but along the way also discovers who God wants her to be.

     MY REVIEW:   I did not realize when I requested this book that it was a Young Adult book. I know, it's easily seen in the book review, but I got caught on the last sentence and wondered how the author would bring that about.
     To review this book on the basis of how I viewed it would be unfair, as I have discovered I do not like Young Adult fiction. It's all hormones and drama and sulking and really horrible judgment calls. Josie annoyed me to no end with her drama and pouting. But to review it from the perspective I can imagine it being written from, it is actually pretty good. I know teenagers really do face the bullying and poor self-image and lack of perspective expressed here. And I like the way God is brought into the story. Josie's mom is a Christian (maybe Catholic, from the sounds of it) and encourages Josie with Bible verses. Aunt Lily is less so, but there is that dynamic there. And the good guy also has a relationship with God. By these, this book would be Christian, but it's still Young Adult, which I still don't like.
   
  I received a copy of this book from BOOKCRASH and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. 

The Burden is Light

     BOOK REVIEW: Forget success, comparison, and applause. There's a better way to measure what matters.  Cemetery headstones are as diverse as the people they represent. But all have one thing in common---the birth and death dates are always separated by a small dash. Our whole lives on earth come down to that dash.
     Most of us want to have our eventual dash reflect truth and goodness, beauty and joy, depth and meaning. Imagine the peace of knowing you will have no regrets as you finish this race called life because you lived each day in a way that mattered for the moment and for eternity. New York City pastor Jon Tyson wants to make sure that is the story of your dash.
     But that doesn't come easy. Your story is not neutral or unopposed. A constant tug-of-war between the ways of this world and the wonder of the gospel competes for your attention.....and your heart. The Burden is Light shows how to overcome the distractions that lure us to "mislive" for prosperity, pleasure, and performance. There's a better way forward. Discover it and you'll find your voice and purpose through a beautifully countercultural, God-centered life.

     MY REVIEW:   I have never heard a more clear, comprehensible description of life on earth. A simple dash, the smallest line between birth and death. A sliver of space and time granted each of us. No time to fall under the influences of Comparison, Competition, Control, Cursing, Complacency, Judgment, Pride, or Distraction. Jon dedicates a chapter to each of these habits, or mindsets, and why we can't allow our precious dash to be whisked away by these things. He then gives the antidote, or reverse mindset---the right way to live.
     One section that stood out to me was on Comparison, and several reasons it comes so forcibly to us. Sometimes it is a false sense of identity, or a lack of one. Or a fear of living less than those around us. Whatever the reason, living in a constant comparison with those around you will never leave you feeling successful, or even important. There are always going to be people better than you in different areas. But when we put our identity and security in Jesus, we are freed from the burdens of comparison.
     Another section I want to reference is Control. We as humans do not like feeling helpless. And being human, we think we actually can control life. There are different reasons for trying to control people and circumstances around us. A prevalent one is Fear. Fear of being ignored or passed-over, fear of rejection or losing those we love, fear of the consequences of what we see happening around us. But when we try to control everything, we always lose. "Control is an illusion. The more we seek to mitigate risk by seizing power, the more we drive people away and distance ourselves from God. Rather than securing our future, we jeopardize it." (pg 69)"The reverse to Control is Surrender. Surrender to God, to let Him rule our lives, rather than trying to control it ourselves.
     The last section I want to mention is Judgment. "When we walk around judging people rather than advocating for them, we facilitate the work of the Enemy in their lives. When we read the Gospels, we find it wasn't the immoral but the self-righteous who were the biggest hindrance to the mission of Jesus in the world." (pg 136) In place of judging others on the tiny picture we can see, we need to extend Mercy. The same Mercy God extended to us.

   I received a copy of this book from BLOGGING FOR BOOKS. I was not required to write a positive review, all opinions expressed are mine. 
   
   
   

The Scribe

      This is the fifth book in Francine Rivers' Sons of Encouragement series. And it is about.... Silas.
Francine Rivers is a favorite author of mine, so I was really looking forward to this book. Especially as I like books about Bible characters we don't hear much about.
But I'm afraid I was disappointed. I couldn't keep my attention focused, and for only being a novella, it sure took long enough to read through.
This disappointment will not, however, keep me from reading the rest of the series. I will hold out hope that of the five, I will find at least one that is worth reading all the rest.
To look to the subject of the book for a bit, Silas is a character I would only know as having sung with Paul in prison. Francine takes "creative liberty" with Silas's roles, but one would need to if attempting many pages on him, as we are not told much in the Bible. I like thinking about those people who are mentioned but a little. Another approach I liked, was the "humanness" portrayed of Paul and Peter. Told from the perspective of Silas traveling with them, we can see how very "human" these great men were, which makes me appreciate their witness all the more.

I got this book from myreaderrewardsclub.com, which, if you aren't aware of it, you should become so. You collect points for reviewing Tyndale and NavPress products, posting on social media, inviting friends, and a few other bonus activities. You then use these points to get....... free books!