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Wednesday, October 8, 2025

James: Book One in The Servant Siblings by Jenifer Jennings

 


I had never heard of Jenifer Jennings when I discovered the book James on Amazon. It is the first book in the Servant Siblings Series which is a fictional telling of the lives of Jesus siblings immediatly before and right after the Crucifiction. Jame is Jesus' half sibling, the next in line according to age. He has the weight of the world on his shoulders as he tries to lead the family after Joseph dies and Mary follows Jesus in His earthly ministry. He is resentful and does not believe that Jesus is anything more than a charleton. 


This was a good story of what it may have been like to be Jesus, half brother. Would you believe the tales of your brother being conceived by god? His performing miracles, raising people from the dead while also stirring up the religeous leaders? Join James as he leads his siblings to Jerusalem to observe the Holy days.


So grab your favorite beverage and settle in for a good read.


All thoughts are my own.


From Amazon:

Amidst betrayal and resurrection rumors, James must decide where his loyalties truly lie.

James ben Joseph wrestles with the pain of his older brother’s death. He never believed Jesus was a rebel, but his brother’s radical teachings drew dangerous attention from the Pharisees.

Traveling to Jerusalem for Passover, James hoped to convince Jesus to abandon his reckless ideas and come home. Betrayal and conflict led to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, and to protect his family, James turned his back on his brother.

As rumors spread that Jesus has risen from the dead, James’ sorrow mixes with fear of persecution. Determined to protect his family from further chaos, he sets out to uncover who is spreading these dangerous claims. As the truth unfolds, James faces a decision that could change his and his siblings’ lives forever.

Step into the world of first-century Jerusalem and follow James on his journey of faith in 
James, Book 1 of the Servant Siblings series.


About the author:


Jenifer Jennings writes Historical novels that immerse readers in ancient worlds filled with Biblical characters and faith-building stories. Coming to faith in Jesus at seventeen, she spends her days falling in love with her Savior through the study of His Word. Jenifer has a Bachelor’s in Women’s Ministry and graduated with distinction while earning her Master’s in Biblical Languages. When she’s not working on her latest book, Jenifer can be found on a date with her hardworking husband or mothering their two children. Discover your next favorite book at: jeniferjennings.com.


What’s your most talked about book?


A message from Jenifer Jennings:


 Dear Reader,


I'd like to take a moment to introduce this fictionalized family of Jesus before you dive into their stories. There are some things you might encounter in this series that don't perfectly align with traditional viewpoints. First, remember you discovered this book in the fiction section. The story's primary duty, as with all fiction, is to entertain. While doing so, my writing attempts to shed light on Scriptural truths and show God's work in our lives in the context of history and ancient culture, but these do not make it Canon. Second, remember that simply because one sect of Christianity holds a certain viewpoint, doesn't make it the only correct one. There are many traditions of all sects that are based on human interpretation and bias that don't find solid footing in Scripture. I am not speaking of doctrinal theology clearly laid out in God's Word, but those viewpoints and practices unique to sects that are merely traditions. It is often a delicate task for a Biblical Historical Fiction novelist to separate modern views from historical facts, ancient culture, and Biblical truth. I'd like to offer a few considerations based on research that might rub against modern views in this series.

One of those viewpoints is that Joseph and Jesus were carpenters. Some of us have vivid memories of sermons and dramas depicting Jesus working exclusively with wood. While not completely outside the realm of possibilities, the truth of their profession may more accurately align with what we would call a "handyman." The Greek word 
tektón appears only twice in the New Testament and encompasses a more general career of "craftsman." One Biblical reference is to Joseph (Matthew 13:55) and one about Jesus (Mark 6:3). Both of these references are found in the story of Jesus' denial in Nazareth. Both also speak of his familial relationship with his mother Mary, his four named brothers, and "all of his sisters." These people became the primary focus of this series. This word was later translated as "carpenter" by people who had a plethora of fantastic wood available and who used wood in prominent ways in their time. The fact is that during Jesus' days in Nazareth, wood was scarce and what was available would not have made suitable building materials outside of shelves, doors, or tables. Almost everything else was made of stone. As the Jewish population was reaching the heights of its legalism, stone became the most prominent building material. They preferred stone to wood because wood absorbed impurities while stone did not. There have also been archaeological discoveries that reveal a stone quarry near Nazareth, which contained a workshop where stone items were produced on-site. A city called Sepphoris was also within walking distance of Nazareth and was undergoing mass stone building projects during the years of Jesus. These seem to point to a culture more focused on stonework over wood. Does that mean Jesus never worked with wood? Absolutely not. But these discoveries paint a picture in which Joseph, seeking to care for a family of at least nine people, might have focused his skills more on stone and taught his sons to do the same. This family might have had expanded skills in building design, woodwork, masonry, and more.

The second viewpoint is a much more delicate and highly debated one. Though I have no room here (or desire) to debate centuries' worth of viewpoints and traditions, I would like to address one person who might step into a different light in this series. While imagining the family surrounding Jesus, I had to come to decisions about his mother, Mary. Studying under Protestant teachings, I know views on Mary as I understand them significantly differ from those of other Christian sects. My goal in developing Mary as a character was not to paint in her light of a certain sect, but to show her as real as possible. Being human, she might have made choices that do not line up with certain modern viewpoints. I kept asking myself, "If she honestly believed her son was Messiah, what would she do in this situation?" Answering those questions in my imagination resulted in situations in these stories that might clash with certain modern viewpoints. That creative choice formed conflicts in this fictionalized world; another goal of writers. Though even those find resolutions as the series progresses. Characters in stories must grow, so they must start with a need for growth. This extended into Jesus' relationship with the people listed in the two passages about his denial in Nazareth. The view of the exact relationship is also a highly debated topic that will not find space to flush out here. I portrayed the simplest explanation that fit within the culture; they were his half-siblings, children of Mary and Joseph after their consummated marriage.

One glaring fact remains; we know very little about Jesus' family. We can make a few educated guesses considering culture and archeology and tie them to the casual mentions in Scripture. These foundations are what I built my fictional story upon; not modern traditions. My prayer is that these stories will help you see Jesus in the context of family and culture. The primary goal was not to paint a picture of perfection but one of reality and historical context. Let's take Bible people off their pedestals and put them in the dirt beside us. They were real, like us. They struggled, like us. And, like us, they encountered God and His Messiah who changed their lives.

~Jenifer Jennings

Monday, October 6, 2025

The Christmas Ring by Karen Kingsbury

 


Karen Kingsbury's The Christmas Ring is a sweet, clean, fast read. I enjoyed the story, the setting and the characters. It was a cool, windy day. I fixed a cup of tea and settled in to read, 3 cups of tea later the book was done. So if you have the time settle in with a book filled with love and a miracle or two.


I was given a copy of The Christmas Ring with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.


From Amazon:

See the movie in theaters beginning November 6--staring Kelsey Grammer, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Jana Kramer, and Jessie James Decker!

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

While searching for her family's long-lost heirloom ring, military widow Vanessa Mayfield meets handsome antique dealer Ben Miller. The two are drawn to each other and forge a friendship that soon becomes a deep and breathtaking romance. But neither are sure that what they've found can last.

As Vanessa organizes her annual Columbus Cares Christmas Military Dance, she looks forward to her daughter's return from college. But Vanessa hasn't told Sadie about Ben. After all, Vanessa hadn't anticipated finding love again after losing her husband. And now she wrestles with feelings that are becoming hard to ignore.

Just as Ben is about to declare his love for Vanessa, he learns more about her missing Christmas ring: her great grandfather found it in France on D-Day, and engraved on the band is a single meaningful word. The details confirm a terrible truth, one that Ben cannot ignore.

Certain he now knows where Vanessa's ring is, Ben leaves town in a frantic rush. But can he stop a certain sale, or will Vanessa's ring be lost forever? Days before Christmas, when all seems hopeless, Ben and Vanessa learn an important eternal truth: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.



About the author:



Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books are being developed into a TV series slated for major network viewing sometime in the next year. Karen is also an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University. In 2001 she and her husband, Don, adopted three boys from Haiti, doubling their family in a matter of months. Today the couple has joined the ranks of empty-nesters, living in Tennessee near five of their adult children.

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Untaken For Now: 12 Months Following The Rapture by C.O. Wyler


Untaken For Now is the fourth book in C. O. Wyler's end times series. I have been reading each book as they come out and the growth of AI from book one to book four is incredible. In the Book of Daniel, the prophet is instructed to "shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase" (Daniel 12:4). I truly believe that we are getting close. Ms. Wyler has done a phenominal job describing what life might be like after the rapture. I highly recommend this series of books, and yes they should be read in order. Book one, Untaken is always free on Kindle.


So settle in for an intriguing , if disturbing read. Make sure you are ready so that you are not among the Untaken.

I was given a copy of this book for review purposes, with no requirement for a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Roman's 10:9,10  9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.


From Amazon:

What does it take to survive the year after the Rapture happens? 

Follow Sarah and her friends as they experience the first year after the Rapture when the seven-year Tribulation has begun. As the One World League hunts them down, will those who believe in the One True God survive in their hidden home in the hillside of the rural Hackett farm, or will any become martyrs for their faith?

"C O Wyler's fourth novel in her end times series, Untaken for Now, will, I believe, excite believers in Christ's promise to rapture them and cause unbelievers to seriously consider their need to come to Jesus Christ for salvation. A truly God-sent story for these end days." ~ Terry James, Raptureready.com / Terryjamesprophecyline.com

"
Untaken for Now is more than a story of predictive events; it's a testament to humanity's future. It sheds a guiding light for all believers to follow and unbelievers to consider."  ~ Roger Campbell, book reviewer

"Author C O Wyler's unique and gifted writing style will captivate and challenge you to seek the Truth. Get all four books in this amazing series." ~ Sandee Christofferson, women's Bible study teacher


 About the author:

Born and raised in Southern California, Wyler is a Christian who lives in the Pacific Northwest. Having owned a business for over thirty years, she is retired and enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

The Journey: Following The Travels Of A Gideon Bible by R. Marshall Wright

 


I loved R. Marshall Wright's The Journey: Following the Travels of a Gideon Bible. I loved the characters, Mattie, Beasley, and the angel Gabriel were portrayed with wit and charm. I loved the idea of seeing all of the times the bible had been read by desperate people. I love the Bible verse quoted in the book; Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

And as enjoyable as the book was I believe the ending was my favorite part!

Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

I highly recommend this book. So brew up a pot of tea, have some hot apple pie with cheddar cheese and settle in for a great read!

All thoughts are my own. I read this book on Kindle Unlimited.


From Amazon:

Have you ever opened the drawer in a motel room, discovered a Gideon Bible, and paused to wonder? Has anyone ever truly read this Bible? Has it transformed or saved a life, or perhaps even impacted the lives of others?

Mattie Young stumbled upon an old, worn Gideon Bible tucked away in a box of donated books at the New to You Thrift Store. Though she initially tried to discard it, Beasley, a persistent influence in her life, kept bringing it back to her. Why was Beasley so insistent on this Bible being seen?

Originally it was placed in a motel in Avon Park, Florida, in 1972, by a member of Gideons International. As we fast forward to 2024, it found itself in Mattie’s hands in Coldwater, Michigan. What stories lay behind its travels?

Over the following year, God sent Gabriel to guide Mattie on her own journey, revealing the remarkable power of a single Gideon Bible to change lives. Get ready for a tale of discovery, inspiration, and the powerful ripple effect of God’s Word!



About the author:



Richard Marshall Wright writes under the pen name of R. Marshall Wright. He graduated from the University of Maine in Orono, Maine in 1969 and Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey in 1972. He is a retired evangelical pastor, and a retired U.S. Army Chaplain with 23 years Active and Reserve service to our country.

He has been married to his wife, Lynn, for fifty years. They are blessed to be able to spend summers on a lake in Michigan and winters in Sebring, Florida. They have two children and five grandchildren. Marnie is married to Arick and is the eldest and has been a stay at home mom rearing three active boys...Luke, Levi, and Loden. She holds a Masters degree from Northwestern in communications and is a writer. Trevor is married to Lori and is a successful pastor in Findlay, Ohio. And he too writes. His two are Emma, who is the oldest grandchild, only girl, and her brother Cole. They are extremely proud of everyone in the family

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Hidden In Time (Livingstone Chronicles book 2) by Michael Phillips

 


For the most part I enjoyed Hidden In Time, the second Adam Livingstone book. The action was engaging, I enjoyed traveling to exotic places and I liked the characters. However I do not totally agree with all of Mr. Phillips' theology. I was disappointed in the ending. It felt hurried and incomplete. I would enjoy reading a third book, but as it has been many years I don't believe that there will be a third Livingstone book.



I read this book through Kindle Unlimited. All thoughts are my own.


From Amazon:

From the bestselling author of the Secret of the Rose series comes this Holy Land thriller featuring archaeologist Adam Livingstone.

 


Jerusalem 1121 AD. A Frenchman from the order of the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon continues on a quest far more secretive than the crusades. Descending into the caverns below the city, he will find what he's been looking for. But an earthquake will ensure the artifact and its secrets remain untouched for centuries . . .


 


Now archeologist Adam Livingstone's discovery of the Ark of Noah has stunned the world. But as he and his team struggle to remove the priceless treasure, there are many who conspire against them . . .


About the author:



MICHAEL PHILLIPS (b.1946), one of many in a rising generation of spiritual offspring of C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, and the legacy of the Inklings, has made it his life’s passion to promote the teachings of these giants of the past.

Following the tradition of C.S. Lewis, he stands with others through the years who have shared a vision to awaken interest in the man known as the “Father of the Inklings,” including the names Kilby, Yates, Hein, Sadler, Reis, Robb, Amell, Triggs, Raeper, and many contributors to this important work. Through their efforts, MacDonald’s legacy lives on in the lives of thousands of spiritual grandsons and granddaughters.

Michael Phillips is widely known as George MacDonald’s redactor, publisher, and biographer, whose vision and editorial expertise–building upon the forerunning work of C.S. Lewis, Elizabeth Yates, and Rolland Hein–helped bring MacDonald back from obscurity in the 1980s when his realistic novels had been nearly forgotten. Author and editor of over 100 books, Phillips’ efforts helped ignite the MacDonald renaissance of recent years. As one of those responsible for the widespread renewal of MacDonald’s influence, Phillips is recognized as among the world’s foremost purveyors of MacDonald’s message, with particular insight into the Scotsman’s heart and spiritual vision.

Michael Phillips is considered to be one of the most versatile and prolific Christian authors of our time. To those unfamiliar with his work, the question, “What kind of books does Michael Phillips write?” has no easy answer. He began his distinguished writing career in 1977 with several non-fiction titles. Since that time, he has authored over twenty non-fiction books, most notably dealing with the nature and character of God and the Fatherhood of God. After turning to the writing of novels in the mid – 1980s, Phillips has penned some sixty fiction titles of great variety. The enormous breadth of his faithful audience is testimony that his writings are universal in their appeal. Most of his series have been best sellers in the Christian market.

In the 1970s Michael Phillips discovered the writings of Victorian Scotsman George MacDonald, whose books were foundational in leading C.S. Lewis out of atheism into Christianity. Phillips soon made it his life’s work and passion to bring to public attention the literary and spiritual links between MacDonald and Lewis. If MacDonald is the “father of the Inklings,” Phillips calls himself one of thousands of “sons of the Inklings.” Inspired by the groundbreaking work of two other pioneers with similar vision to his own, authoress Elizabeth Yates and Wheaton’s Dr. Rolland Hein, Phillips recognized that MacDonald’s realistic fiction novels were in precarious danger of being lost to history. He knew that new publication avenues were needed. To accomplish the goal of bringing MacDonald’s name back into prominence, he set about preparing and releasing updated and edited editions of MacDonald’s novels, as well as republishing MacDonald’s novels, sermons, and poems in their original editions.

His multi-dimensional efforts resulted in a new generation of readers having access to MacDonald’s books again for themselves. Phillips is also known as George MacDonald’s biographer. His George MacDonald, Scotland’s Beloved Storyteller, was the first major biography of MacDonald produced in the U.S. and remains one of the best selling MacDonald biographies of all time.

As his own volume of work reaches a stature of significance in its own right, Phillips is regarded, like Lewis and Hein before him, as one of many successors to MacDonald’s vision and spiritual legacy for a new generation.

Monday, August 18, 2025

Rift In Time by Michael Phillips

 


I origionally picked Rift In Time as my next read believing it to be a time travel book. However it is not about time travel at all. I began reading and found myself enthralled by a book that I can only describe as being Indiana Jones meets Ted Dekkar. Adam Livingstone is an agnostic archeologist on a quest to find Noah's Ark. Upon finding what he believes to be Noah'sArk Adam's life is turned upside down. I loved following Adam and his team to exotic places as they look for antiquities while being thwarted by agents of the dark side. I loved the way Michael Phillips wove adventure with spiritual warfare. I am looking forward to reading book two Hidden In Time.


So if you are looking for edge of your seat adventure grab a copy of Rift In Time and settle in for a great read.


I borrowed a copy of Rift In Time by Michael Phillips from Kindle Unlimited. All thoughts are my own.


From Amazon:

The bestselling author of the Secret of the Rose series turns to the Holy Land, where the supposed discovery of Noah's Ark challenges a new world order.

 


Arabia, 1898. A sole pilgrim embarks on a quest to verify the truths of the Old Testament—and is murdered ever so close to the proof he seeks. A revelation that will remain undiscovered for decades . . .


 


Turkey, present day. Scientists, historians, and preachers have dreamed of this moment for centuries. Now archaeologist Adam Livingstone is minutes away from a discovery that will catapult him into worldwide fame—and prove that Noah's flood was no fairy tale. But as Adam begins the tedious work of unearthing the artifact, a secret cabal of financial and media giants cannot allow their diabolical plans to be destroyed—by letting the truth see the light of day . . .


 


"[An] exciting thriller." —
Library Journal


About the author:



MICHAEL PHILLIPS (b.1946), one of many in a rising generation of spiritual offspring of C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, and the legacy of the Inklings, has made it his life’s passion to promote the teachings of these giants of the past.

Following the tradition of C.S. Lewis, he stands with others through the years who have shared a vision to awaken interest in the man known as the “Father of the Inklings,” including the names Kilby, Yates, Hein, Sadler, Reis, Robb, Amell, Triggs, Raeper, and many contributors to this important work. Through their efforts, MacDonald’s legacy lives on in the lives of thousands of spiritual grandsons and granddaughters.

Michael Phillips is widely known as George MacDonald’s redactor, publisher, and biographer, whose vision and editorial expertise–building upon the forerunning work of C.S. Lewis, Elizabeth Yates, and Rolland Hein–helped bring MacDonald back from obscurity in the 1980s when his realistic novels had been nearly forgotten. Author and editor of over 100 books, Phillips’ efforts helped ignite the MacDonald renaissance of recent years. As one of those responsible for the widespread renewal of MacDonald’s influence, Phillips is recognized as among the world’s foremost purveyors of MacDonald’s message, with particular insight into the Scotsman’s heart and spiritual vision.

Michael Phillips is considered to be one of the most versatile and prolific Christian authors of our time. To those unfamiliar with his work, the question, “What kind of books does Michael Phillips write?” has no easy answer. He began his distinguished writing career in 1977 with several non-fiction titles. Since that time, he has authored over twenty non-fiction books, most notably dealing with the nature and character of God and the Fatherhood of God. After turning to the writing of novels in the mid – 1980s, Phillips has penned some sixty fiction titles of great variety. The enormous breadth of his faithful audience is testimony that his writings are universal in their appeal. Most of his series have been best sellers in the Christian market.

In the 1970s Michael Phillips discovered the writings of Victorian Scotsman George MacDonald, whose books were foundational in leading C.S. Lewis out of atheism into Christianity. Phillips soon made it his life’s work and passion to bring to public attention the literary and spiritual links between MacDonald and Lewis. If MacDonald is the “father of the Inklings,” Phillips calls himself one of thousands of “sons of the Inklings.” Inspired by the groundbreaking work of two other pioneers with similar vision to his own, authoress Elizabeth Yates and Wheaton’s Dr. Rolland Hein, Phillips recognized that MacDonald’s realistic fiction novels were in precarious danger of being lost to history. He knew that new publication avenues were needed. To accomplish the goal of bringing MacDonald’s name back into prominence, he set about preparing and releasing updated and edited editions of MacDonald’s novels, as well as republishing MacDonald’s novels, sermons, and poems in their original editions.

His multi-dimensional efforts resulted in a new generation of readers having access to MacDonald’s books again for themselves. Phillips is also known as George MacDonald’s biographer. His George MacDonald, Scotland’s Beloved Storyteller, was the first major biography of MacDonald produced in the U.S. and remains one of the best selling MacDonald biographies of all time.

As his own volume of work reaches a stature of significance in its own right, Phillips is regarded, like Lewis and Hein before him, as one of many successors to MacDonald’s vision and spiritual legacy for a new generation.

Sunday, August 10, 2025

The First Flame: Awakening Of The Twelve by Marc Lessard

 


I enjoyed reading this book about the first days of the church. Marc Lessard did a good job of telling how the church came into being following the death of Jesus, covering the Resuurection, Pentocost and the salvation of Paul. This book is a retelling of the book of Acts.I love the way The First Flame show cases God's power and Grace. It is a great book to point you to the Bible to dig deeper into the Word of God to get the backstory. This book is well worth reading.


Iraed this book on Kindle Unlimited. All thoughts are my own.


From Amazon:

🔥 What if the story of Acts wasn’t just history—but a call to awaken something deep within you?

In the shadow of a brutal empire, a spark was lit that would ignite the world. The First Flame: Awakening of the Twelve brings the Book of Acts to life like never before—through a sweeping, cinematic journey of miracles, martyrdom, and the unstoppable power of faith.

Step into the sandals of the apostles—ordinary men and women transformed into spiritual warriors. From Peter’s fearless sermons to Stephen’s final stand, from Saul’s shocking conversion to the miraculous healings and bold defiance of Rome—this is more than a novel. This is the origin story of the Church, told with pulse-pounding drama and soul-stirring truth.

🔹 Perfect for fans of biblical fiction, Christian thrillers, and spiritual transformation
🔹 
Witness faith that defies empires and transforms hearts
🔹 
Feel the fire of the Holy Spirit again—and carry it forward

Will you take up the flame?


About the author:





Marc Lessard is a Christian author, speaker, and storyteller whose writing is fueled by a radical encounter with God’s grace and a deep love for His Word. A lifelong believer who experienced personal transformation through the intercessory prayers of his wife and the power of the Holy Spirit, Marc now writes to help others encounter the same flame that changed him.

His debut novel, The First Flame: Awakening of the Twelve, is a vivid retelling of the early Church’s explosive birth, crafted with historical depth, spiritual boldness, and dramatic flair. Combining years of biblical study with a cinematic storytelling style, Marc’s work is designed to draw readers into the heart of Scripture—where miracles, martyrdom, and mission collide.

When he's not writing, Marc can be found sharing the Gospel, serving in ministry, or spending time with his wife—the prayer warrior and partner who helped ignite his calling. Together, they live to see lives changed by the same Gospel that turned the world upside down.

Monday, July 28, 2025

A Trial Of Innocents by Michael Swiger

 


I found A Trial Of Innocents to thoroughly engrossing. I loved all of the twists and turns of the legal system. It was particularly interesting to see how the author merged two cases into a mirror image of each other. I believe it forces a person to think about perspective and how guilt and innocence can be twisted to suit the narrative of the person telling the story.I feel the characters were well developed and believable. The plot was good and kept me engaged. I highly recommend this book .


So brew up a pot of coffee and settle in for a great read.


I borrowed a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.


From Amazon:

A Child Lost. A Secret Buried. A Trial That Changes Everything.

When a pregnant woman is savagely beaten and left in a coma, the town demands justice—and a nonverbal special needs man is quickly arrested. The case explodes in the media, and the calls for the death penalty grow louder.

Prosecutor Lori Franks is determined to win at all costs. Years ago, she sought an abortion. Now, she’s seeking the ultimate punishment for a man accused of doing the very same thing—ending a life in the womb. But when a chance DNA test reveals her own baby was switched at birth, Franks launches a custody battle for the child she once tried to destroy.

Enter Danial Solomon, a defense attorney with a heart for truth and a past he can’t forget. As he battles both Franks and the broken justice system, he uncovers a chilling web of conspiracy, corruption, and deception that could cost him everything—including his life.

A Trial of Innocents is a fast-paced, faith-filled legal thriller full of moral tension, courtroom drama, and redemptive grace.

Readers call it “Grisham with a Christian twist.”
Already a #1 Amazon Bestseller.

Get your copy today. The truth won’t wait.

Reader praise for A Trial of Innocents:

★★★★★
 Wonderful and riveting -- Grisham with a Christian twist!

★★★★★
 I read this book in one sitting! -- There were several stories intertwined, and the development was handled perfectly!!! I recommend the book to anyone who likes a good who-done-it with a little spiritual message tucked in!!!

★★★★★
 Wow! Just wow! -- Great story, it just kept me coming back to read more. Just about the right balance of thrilled and spirituality. Love it.

★★★★★
 Courtroom Drama at its best! -- Swiger wrote complicated characters and wove a wonderful murder mystery and courtroom drama in this book. He also showed the wonderful way God is with believers in the storms of life and works in their lives to accomplish His purpose and will.

★★★★★ 
Captivating Suspenseful Read -- Outstanding thriller, filled with spiritual insight as well as twists and turns and unexpected surprises. If you like the writings of John Grisham, add this author to your arsenal of books. Each character was fully developed and added to the suspense.

★★★★★
 Watch out, John Grisham -- Michael Swiger has written an amazing legal thriller with a Christian point of view. What a wonderful relief to read an intriguing mystery with no dirty words or graphic bedroom scenes!


About the author:



Bestselling Author

Michael Swiger is the award-winning author of the Innocents Series - inspirational, suspense-filled legal thrillers that have perennially topped the Amazon bestseller list. He is the founder and Executive Director of True Freedom, Ohio’s largest prison ministry. Swiger served 17 years as an accomplice to a crime committed by his older brother. While incarcerated Swiger graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, before earning a degree in Applied Theology at the Reformed Theological Seminary. He became the first Ohio prisoner to be commercially published since O. Henry in 1902. Swiger lives near Cleveland with his wife and two children.

Saturday, July 26, 2025

Leah: Unnoticed. Unwanted. Unloved. by Amanda Bedzrah

 


Leah: Unnoticed. Unwanted. Unloved. by Amanda Bedzrah helps bring to life the story of Jacob, Rachel and Leah from the bible. Ms. Bedzrah did extensive research into Jewish history and the Bible in order to offer an authentic prtrayal of what life may have been like at the time that Jacob worked to earn Rachel as his wife. After Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Rachel's older sister Leah, Jacob must labor another seven years for Rachel. 


As a result of the switched brides Leah is condemed to a life of always being less than. No matter what she does her husband always prefers her sister, his second wife. I loved the way that this book brought understanding as to how Leah may have fealt. It is a very good book.


I read this book and state that all thoughts are my own.


From Amazon:


Lying in bed next to ‘the man of her dreams’, Leah is crippled with fear and unable to sleep. She knows that her husband Jacob is going to wake up to her, not “the woman of his dreams”.

Jacob worked and served Leah’s father Laban for seven years to marry her younger sister Rachel, but on the night of their wedding, the brides were switched; the right man was married to the wrong bride.

As Leah anticipates, his dissatisfaction is not hidden; his rejection is immediate.

Seven days later, Jacob marries Rachel after promising to work another seven years for her.

Leah is now left in a place of pain and bitterness. A fearsome war erupts. She is in a battle for her husband’s affection – not with an enemy, but with her own sister!

Will she ever be loved and accepted?

Can God use a woman like Leah: unnoticed, unwanted, and unloved, to change history?

This book is a fictional retelling of one of the greatest Bible stories of all time. It is a story of love, deception, betrayal, competition, heartbreak, and forgiveness.

It reminds us that God has a plan and purpose for our lives. No pain is ever wasted with God!


About the author:


Amanda is a wife and a mother to three beautiful children. She is an author, a prayer minister, an inspirational speaker, a restoration catalyst, and a mentor. Amanda is passionate about seeing people restored and living a full life beyond salvation.

She is a passionate Bible teacher who uses practical examples to teach godly principles. She is a Law Graduate (2:1 LLB Hons) from the University of Wolverhampton, a Prince 2 Practitioner, and she is certified in Business Analysis Practice.

Amanda is also the founder and CEO of Empower a Woman (www.empowerawoman.org), a UK-based non-profit organisation that is set up to meet the needs of vulnerable women.

Today she is in a much happier place. She is restored, healed, and delivered and is driven by her own personal mission statement for change:

Just because I can’t do everything

Doesn’t mean I won’t do anything

Even if I can only do something

I REFUSE to do nothing

Sunday, July 13, 2025

Vanished by Dr. David Jeremiah with Sam O'Neal


 

Vanished follows the life of Lt Colonel John Haggerty in the months leading up to the Rapture. I found this book to be well written and engaging. I liked all of the characters and found myself cheering them on, hoping they would make the right decisions. The events in the book seem realistic, as though they could happen at anytime.  Although it doesn't say I feel this is the first of a series and I eagerly look forward to reading the next book. 


I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.


From Amazon:

The end of the world . . .

As leader of a special military unit charged with stopping potential pandemics before they spread, John "Haggs" Haggerty has a front-row seat to the sharp increase in natural disasters that precede the Rapture--including plagues, earthquakes, famines, wars, and rumors of war. And each crisis is becoming more intense.

Meanwhile, his own world feels like it's falling apart. He's still caught in the grief of messing up his relationship with his ex-wife, and he's trying to keep it together so that he can show up for his adult daughter before she wants him out of her life entirely. As both personal and professional situations push him to the brink, Haggs finds himself stretched further than ever in his desire to be the kind of good person he knows he should be.

Just when it seems as if things might turn around, Haggs is forced to decide between his need to find solutions and his need for personal redemption.




About the author:



Dr. David Jeremiah serves as senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. He is the founder and host of Turning Point, a ministry committed to providing Christians with sound Bible teaching relevant to today’s changing times through radio and television, the Internet, live events, and resource materials and books. A bestselling author, Dr. Jeremiah has written more than forty books, including Agents of Babylon, Agents of the Apocalypse, Captured by Grace, Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World, What in the World Is Going On?, The Coming Economic Armageddon, God Loves You: He Always Has—He Always Will, and What Are You Afraid Of?. Dr. Jeremiah’s commitment to teaching the complete Word of God continues to make him a sought-after speaker and writer. His passion for reaching the lost and encouraging believers in their faith is demonstrated through his faithful communication of biblical truths. A dedicated family man, Dr. Jeremiah and his wife, Donna, have four grown children and twelve grandchildren. Connect with Dr. Jeremiah on Facebook (@drdavidjeremiah), Twitter (@davidjeremiah), and on his website (davidjeremiah.org).




Sam O’Neal is Senior Writer for Write Great Stories, where he serves authors and publishers as they produce great stories and great books that help advance God’s kingdom. He has worked with numerous New York Times bestselling authors and resources in that capacity.