Posts

A Mighty Love by Vanessa Miller

Image
I enjoyed A Mighty Love by VANESSA MILLER very much. When Malcolm turns up at a Bible study, it really shocks Shay. Shay, a Christian long before Malcolm, finds Malcolm reading a Bible hard to believe and accept. All of a sudden she begins to distrust him. She's on a familiar trail. Shay mistrusts all men thinking  guys only want a woman's body. I don't think Shay had ever thought about men as true Christians putting the Love of God first in their lives. Really, the novel becomes a battle between Shay  and her inner demons. Finally, her friend Darla reminds her  to trust God. He is indeed able to take care of every situation she will face on the job and in her love life. Darla believes that God is in control. She believes we can faithfully trust Him not to allow others to hurt us beyond His plan for us or our ability to handle the pain. It's a quick read but a very worthwhile read. I found myself thinking about how easy it is to trust God when there aren't any

While The World Watched by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

Image
At 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama in Sept. 1963 a terrible and planned catastrophe took place inside the church. Men with great hatred in their heart for people who were not of their race decided to bomb the church during Youth Day. This was a special day for young black people and their parents, relatives, siblings, friends and neighbors. The girls were dressed in white. The boys in dark pants and white shirts with ties. Sadly, that Sunday was interrupted by a bomb thrown by men in the community. One little girl, Carolyn, lived not far from one of the men who would be charged with the crime. The only warning given, and it wasn't really a warning was a phone call received by Carolyn because she worked or helped out in the church office. She picked up the phone that Sunday morning and heard two words "three minutes." She had no idea what these words were pertaining to or who had made the telephone call. It is known that shortly the church would be

HOLY MAYHEM by PAT G'ORGE-WALKER

Image
It's too bad all churches aren't as eccentric and wildly enthusiastic as Mount Kneel Down Non Denominational Center. While the congregation praises THE LORD, other members are continuing to feed their habits of greed and anger. I felt really upset with Deacon Whistle who has the nerve to embezzle funds from the church. As I looked at him, I also looked at myself. I'm not embezzling church funds, but I'm far from an ideal Christian. Let's just say I'm taking care of my hateful habits without the help of detectives and a family that includes members like the two Godmothers Joy and Patience. I am also without the help of cousins like Porky and Lil' P. Each of these characters I have named are fun, really hilarious is the right term. Pat G'Orge-Walker's mix of crime with religion and a hair salon are wonderful. This is the novel to read for calming all those strung out nerves. If I didn't feel like laughing and wanted to stay

THE TWELVE TRIBES OF HATTIE by AYANA MATHIS

Image
This is a wonderful novel about a family's move from Georgia to Philadelphia, South to the North. AYANA MATHIS helped me keep track of the time in American History by adding the year at the beginning of the chapter. THE TWELVE TRIBES OF HATTIE begins in 1925. The novel ends in 1980. It is amazing how many important issues are covered in the novel: marriage, death, child rearing, Mental health, motherhood, family harmony or disunity. Really, I began to understand more deeply all families are really alike in one way. There is the struggle to understand one another with love while each person in the family reaches out for change. I would add change to the list of issues involved in the novel. Hattie is like a river. Her tributaries, children, branch out and widen. Each branch of the river seems to grapple for away to gain personal strength away from the mother figure. Hattie is portrayed as remote but not hateful. I am use to mothers being portrayed as very good or ve

THE WILD GOOSE CHASE CHRISTMAS by JENNIFER ALLEE

Image
KINDLE Net Galley Abington Press I enjoyed this Christmas novel by Jennifer Allee so much. A Wild Goose Goose Chase Christmas is about family love. However, it is an honest novel. Just because we're family doesn't mean there aren't any disagreements and misunderstandings. I think family is like friendship. The only difference is with family you live together, grow up together knowing each others most secret flaws and of course, it's impossible to pick family like you would pick a friend. Izzy's family is going through many difficulties during the happiest time of year. Yes, I have to accept it. Difficulties occur at Cristmas time too. The women in Izzy's family haven't always gotten along together. It beginning to look like a recurring pattern of frustrated feelings between mothers and daughters. Izzy's mother, Janice, didn't have a good relationship with her mother. As a matter of fact, Janice, after her mother's death, i

WHEN RAIN FALLS by TYORA MOODY

Image
I have read other works by Tyora Moody. So when I bought this one it didn't surprise me. Her writing is flawless. I hope she continues to write mysteries. In Charlotte there is a woman named Candace. Candace epitomizes the meaning of when it rains, it pours. Candace's husband and best friend were murdered. Candace can't turn to her mother for comfort or counsel because she also has died. Candace is the mother of a boy and a girl. The girl doesn't help matters because she is going through her own growing pains. The title of the novel definitely fits this woman's story. WHEN RAIN FALLS what should a person do? How do you go on with life? Tyora Moody gives the answers through the lives of her characters. This is why it's great Christian fiction. The novel takes you down to the depths of man's inhumane side. Then, lifts you up with the words of THE LORD. In my mind I thought about what it takes to survive when you find yourself alive b

TIDEWATER INN by COLLEEN COBLE

Image
On Hope Island near Virginia Beach there is a large inn. The name of the inn is TIDEWATER INN. COLLEEN COBLE shares the details of Tidewater Inn's decorative beauty immediately. In this way I knew all that would happen for good or bad in the novel would tie back to this property. I was not surprised to learn the main character, Libby Holladay, worked as a historical restorer of homes. Libby does not really work because she loves restoring and researching the past of these aged buildings. It is her dream job. The house was definitely in the Federal style, as she'd been told. Palladian windows flanked a centered door, or rather the opening for a door...She could almost see the original occupants in this place." Libby Holladay will inherit the Tidewater Inn. However, the inn is like an abused person. It comes with a set of destructive problems. It seems each person involved with the inn is unhappy or unable to find God's meaning or love in their life. It is incredi