Batheshba: Reluctant Beauty by Angela Hunt

One of Ancient Israel's Most Famous Women--
As You've Never Looked at Her Before

One of the Bible's most misunderstood and misjudged women, Bathsheba comes to life in this new biblical reimagining from Angela Hunt. Combining historical facts with detailed fiction, this is an eye-opening portrait that will have you reconsidering everything you thought you knew about her.

After receiving God's promise of a lifelong reign and an eternal dynasty, King David forces himself on Bathsheba, a loyal soldier's wife. When her resulting pregnancy forces the king to murder her husband and add her to his harem, Bathsheba struggles to protect her son while dealing with the effects of a dark prophecy and deadly curse on the king's household.

My review:
   This is the second book in the Dangerous Beauty series by Angela Hunt. The first book was about Esther, and gave some interesting insight through that story. I so enjoyed it that I wanted to review this one.

  I can't remember ever reading a novel about Bathsheba. I have read the story in the Bible countless times and have even studied it in Sunday School and heard sermons about the story, but this is the first novel I have read that recounts the story through Biblical fiction. In the Bible story, we don't get Bathsheba's side. It is pretty much centered on David. Hunt has given us a glimpse into what it might have been like for Bathsheba by telling the story from her viewpoint. The book is written from the first person point of view, with the "I" in the story being Bathsheba. As always with Biblical fiction, the author took a lot of license and imagination to come up with the story, yet it doesn't go opposite to or contradict the Biblical narrative in any way.

  I found the book an interesting and fascinating read. To see, even through the lens of Biblical fiction what the whole ordeal may have been like for Bathsheba gave the story new light and meaning. Hunt did a great job of bring the tale to the medium of Christian fiction and did the story a lot of justice. I found the book hard to put down, and came away with new appreciation for the story.

About the author:

The author of more than 100 published books and with nearly 5 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Hunt is the New York Times bestselling author of The Note, The Nativity Story, and Esther: Royal Beauty. Romantic Times Book Club presented Angela with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. In 2008, Angela completed her PhD in Biblical Studies in Theology. She and her husband live in Florida with their mastiffs. She can be found online at www.angelahuntbooks.com.


Bathsheba is available from Bethany House Publishers, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Bethany House for the review copy.

Christmas Time, It's All About Jesus

Since Christmas is such a captivating time of year, it's the perfect setting for telling children about the miracle of the Lord Jesus Christ's birth. Using selected passages from the first chapters of the gospels of Matthew and Luke, Christmas Time - It's All About Jesus tells the story of Jesus' birth in a delightfully poetic and child-like way. The sensational illustrations create an unforgettable image, so a child can always remember the true meaning of Christmas. As an added bonus, Pastor Russ and Sue have developed devotionals to be used by families to enrich their Christmas celebrations. These are complete with attributes and names of Jesus, questions for discussion, and activities to do as a family to share Christ with those around them. Coupled together, this story and devotionals will enhance your celebration of Christmas during the season and all year long!

My review:
   This is a delightful book to help explain the real meaning of Christmas to young children. The author tells the Christmas story from the Bible accompanied by some great illustrations, all on a level that little children can understand. The last few pages of the book contain six Christmas devotions for children, and the book ends with an invitation to accept Jesus as their Savior. The story itself is told in rhyme, making it even easier for kids to understand and remember.

  There are a lot of Christmas books on the market for children, and many tell the true meaning of Christmas, but not many do it with the simplicity and plainness of this book. The author and illustrator have come up with a great book that kids should enjoy for years to come. It is  quick and easy read, and the devotionals are also very well written.

About the author:

Sue Murray Barksdale has been a pastor's wife, mom, and educator for over 30 years. She and her husband Russ live in Arlington, Texas, where Russ pastors the multi-site The Church on Rush Creek, a multi-site church. Sue has a BS in Elementary Education from The University of Houston and enjoys teaching at a public charter school in their neighborhood. Russ and Sue consider their relationship with their grown children and spouses and their six beautiful grandchildren as one of the greatest blessings in life! Their desire to leave a legacy of Christ-centered lives motivated them to write this book for their own family and all the children in their sphere of influence. This is Sue's second book, her first being G.I.F.T.S.: A Prayer Book for Kids and Those Who Love Them.

151 Things God Can't Do by Maisie Sparks

A delightful and uplifting book that surprisingly reveals God's unique promises for each of us. 

Think God can do anything? Think again. 

God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and limitless, but despite these characteristics, God is still incapable of many things: things that are against His very nature. 

In this creative and uplifting book, discover God's nature and His incredible love for YOU. You will be encouraged to know that God can't deceive you, God can't be wrong, God can't allow evil to go unpunished, God can't leave you unfulfilled, God's love can't quit, and so much more.

With scripture to back up each statement, you will find relief and joy in the things God can't do.

My review:
  As Christians, we often focus on what God can do. And that is encouraging and helpful, and is something we should do. This book goes from the opposite viewpoint and lists things God cannot do because of who He is. It is a simple little book with each page containing one thing God cannot do with a Scripture verse to back it up.

Things like:
God can't allow anything to escape His notice
God can't renege on His Word
God can't allow Himself to manipulated
And many more.

  This book could easily be read in 10-15 minutes, but is a book to pull out and read one a day. Though it is small and doesn't have a lot of words in it, it says a lot and is an encouraging little book to remind us of how good God is.

About the author:

MAISIE SPARKS is a wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend. A writer by profession, she also scribbles on the backs of church bulletins--which is how this book got started. Several years ago, she stumbled upon the art of spiritual direction and learned the difference between being still and doing nothing. Since then, she's been sharing contemplative spiritual practices with anyone who's willing to listen for God's loving voice in the silence.


151 Things God Can't Do is available from FaithWords, part of the Hachette Book Group.

Thanks to FaithWords for the review copy.

10 Things Great Dads Do by Rick Johnson

Great dads raise happier, healthier, more successful kids

But how do men go about being that great dad? Fathering expert Rick Johnson offers ten practical strategies to help men become the dads they want to be, including

· helping their kids find the humor in life 
· surrounding their family with healthy friends and role models
· communicating clearly with their children
· helping their kids develop self-esteem and respect for others
· being a gatekeeper when it comes to their kids' social circle
· setting reachable goals for themselves and their children
· and more.

My review:
   I am not, nor ever will be a father; but I try to review some books that I think are beneficial to others. This is one such book.

  The book is an easy, but interesting read with a lot of helpful advice. The author approached it a little differently than I expected, but in a much better way than I expected. Using experiences from his life as a child, father, and grandfather; along with experiences others have related to him, he came up with the ten things great dads do.

  In addition to what was mentioned above, he addresses how important it is for the parents to have a good relationship with each other and to have friendships with others their own age and even addressees the issue of how men can work at having friends. The author pulls together so much more than just how to interact with and discipline your kids, to show there is a lot more dads need to do to make their home the kind of home it should be, and to raise the kind of kids he wants to raise. This is a very valuable resource for any father still raising kids.

About the author:

Rick Johnson is the bestselling author of That's My Son; That's My Teenage Son; That's My Girl; Better Dads, Stronger Sons; and Becoming Your Spouse's Better Half. He is the founder of Better Dads and is a sought-after speaker at many large parenting and marriage conferences across the United States and Canada. Rick, his wife, Suzanne, and their grown children live in Oregon. To find out more about Rick Johnson, visit www.betterdads.net.


10 Things Great Dads Do is available from Revell Publishing, a part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for  the review copy.

On This Foundation by Lynne Austin

Stone by Stone, the Wall Will Rise Once More Around God's City

When news reaches him that Jerusalem's wall is shattered and its gates burned with fire, a distraught Nehemiah seeks God's guidance in fasting and prayer. Granted an unexpected leave from his duty as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah sets out for Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall--never anticipating all the dangers that await him on his arrival.

The leaders of the surrounding nations become his fierce enemies, plotting to assassinate him and stop the wall's reconstruction forever. A drought, meanwhile, has left the country impoverished, with many families resorting to selling their children as bondservants just to keep from starving.

Capturing the rebuilding of the wall through the eyes of a number of characters, On This Foundation is the powerful conclusion to The Restoration Chronicles. This exploration of faith in the midst of oppression offers hope that, in spite of appearances, the gracious hand of God is upon those who believe.

My review:
   I used to dislike Biblical fiction, and I think the reason I did was that what I read years ago were mostly romance stories set in Bible times. In more recent years, some authors have come along who study the Bible and do the stories they tell justice. Lynn Austin is one of those authors. This is her second Biblical fiction series, and every book has been top notch. There is some romance, but it isn't the main focus.

  This novel is the third book in The Restoration Chronicles. Every novel in the series is set during the time period of the captivity of Israel. This one takes up the story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Even being raised in the church, Christian school, and Bible college; my knowledge of Nehemiah pretty much was: he was cup-bearer to the king in captivity, the king sent him back to Jerusalem so he could work on the city, he rebuilt the walls, and bad guys tried to stop him.

  Lynn Austin has taken up her pen (or keyboard) and brought the biblical tale to life and filled in some of the gaps with her imagination. This isn't a light fluff novel that you can read in an hour. It comes in at 466 pages and is far from fluff. Not doing the biblical narrative any injustice at all, she takes literary license and tells the story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls in a way that really opened up the story to me in a new way. There are people and things from the Bible all throughout the book along with people and things added by the author, and it all adds up to make for a great read. I found the book a fascinating and easy read, though it does have depth and meaning that too much Christian fiction has.

  It is obvious that these books have taken a lot of work, study, and I am guessing also prayer.... and it shows. Lynn Austin has another book she can be proud of.

About the author:

   Lynn Austin has sold more than one and a half million copies of her books worldwide. A former teacher who now writes and speaks full-time, she has won eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction. One of those novels, Hidden Places, has also been made into an Original Hallmark Channel movie. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and make their home in western Michigan. Learn more at www.lynnaustin.org.


On This Foundation is available from Bethany House Publishers, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Bethany House for the review copy.

Valley of Decision by Lynne Gentry

Litfuse Publicity Group, Howard Books, and Lynne Gentry invite readers to third-century Carthage for a thrilling time-travel adventure in Valley of Decision, the explosive conclusion to The Carthage Chronicles. In her latest release, Gentry brings her thorough research of the Plague of Cyprian to life as she examines the power of family connections. 

Thirteen years ago, Dr. Lisbeth Hasting made an impossible decision to leave third-century Carthage and her husband, Cyprian, behind for good to protect their daughter, Maggie. Summoning all her courage, she struggled to move on with life and keep her promise to Cyprian to keep their little girl out of harm's way. 

Years later, that little girl is now a headstrong young woman starting to chafe under her mother's protective wings. Craving an opportunity to express her independence, Maggie decides to do what her mother appears to be unable or unwilling to do: She secretly returns to the third century on a quest to bring her father back. When Lisbeth discovers what Maggie has done, she is left with no choice but to follow.

With Maggie's surprise arrival in Carthage, chaos ensues. Finding her grandmother on trial for murder, she attempts to save her, but her efforts only spark a riot that nearly destroys the plagued city. Only one thing will appease the wrath of the new proconsul of Carthage: the death of whomever instigated the riot. 

My review:
  Time travel books aren't very common on the Christian market, so this series intrigued me. I bought the first and reviewed the second, enjoying both a lot; and have been watching for the last book in the trilogy to come out.

   The whole series is set in the third century in Carthage, and this third book is set when open persecution of Christians is in full swing. The author brought back the same characters and suspense and drama from the other two books and spun a great ending to the series. I read the book when I wouldn't have to put it down as I knew I was going to want to read it all in one sitting, which I did.

  Even though the series is fictional and there is no time travel, the books are based on historical events and some historical people. Though I hoped one such historical person was not going to be killed off, things didn't go quite the way I hoped, but the author had a good explanation for doing so.... though I still didn't like that part.

  This series of books, though entertaining and a very enjoyable read, they should serve as a warning that the persecution faced by Christians years ago could happen even here in America.

  Kudos to  the author for finishing out her great series with a terrific ending in this third novel. I highly recommend the whole series, and they definitely need read in order.

About the author:

Lynne Gentry has written for numerous publications and is a professional acting coach, theater director, and playwright with several full-length musicals and a Chicago children's theater curriculum to her credit.

Her love for writing stories was born while growing up on a Kansas dairy farm as she longed for adventure and dreamt of traveling to exotic places. She likes to write stories that launch modern women into ancient adventures, such as The Carthage Chronicles series (Healer of Carthage, Return to Exile, and Valley of Decision).

Gentry is also an inspirational speaker and dramatic performer who loves spending time with her family and medical therapy dog.


Thanks to Litfuse for  the review copy.

Miracle Drug by Richard Mabry, M.D.

Overcoming these odds will take more than a miracle drug---it will take a miracle.

The infection wasn't supposed to happen, but it did. The treatment was supposed to take care of it, but it didn't. Then Dr. Josh Pearson discovers why---his patients, including the former President of the United States, have been dosed with a different strain of the original virus, one that is universally fatal. The only chance for survival is treatment with an experimental drug, but the manufacturer might already have discarded its supply.

As if treating the President of the United States isn't stressful enough, the situation goes from bad to worse when Rachel Moore, a nurse Josh is falling in love with, falls ill. With the nation's eyes on him, Josh must pull off a miracle to save a man who holds a good deal of power and the woman who holds his heart.



My review:
   Richard Mabry has become one of my favorite authors. His books are the perfect blend of medical drama, suspense, and romance; and are always hard for me to put down once I start reading them. This book was not an exception to that, and due to my being mixed up with review dates, I didn't realize this book review was due today until halfway through today..... so I came home from work and have been reading it all evening.

  And it has been an enjoyable read. Mabry came up with a terrific plot and wound it around some great and liable characters..... and some not so likable characters, and set the whole drama in a hospital. Not only does it have the usual suspense and mystery that Mabry's novels have, this book also had a bit of political intrigue and international drama. I thoroughly enjoyed the book with its many twists and turns, and had a difficult time knowing who the bad guys were, so there were some surprises.

  Mabry uses some medical technology in the book, but it is either explained or is terminology even non-medical people would be familiar with. This is a novel the author can be proud of, and is one I highly recommend.

About the author:

A retired physician, Dr. Richard Mabry is the author of seven critically acclaimed novels of medical suspense. His previous works have been finalists for the Carol Award and Romantic Times Reader's Choice Award and have won the Selah Award. He is a past vice president of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the International Thriller Writers. He and his wife live in North Texas.


Miracle Drug is available from Abington Publishing.

Thanks to Litfuse for the review copy.