Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree: A Novel, of The Islam Quintet, book 1 of 5, tells an exquisite historical tale.

I have always been fascinated by the Spanish Inquisition. I wrote a research paper on the psychology of these events in high school. My teacher, a sports coach, probably didn’t read it or understand it because I got a perfect 100. This novel brought me a fresh perspective of these historical events. I knew the broad textbook and encyclopedia version of the events, but this book brought emotion and something more personal to it. The Spanish persecuted not only Jews, but those who practiced Islam. The book explored some of the politics behind the persecution and this was enlightening to me. While I am a Christian, I certainly don’t support intolerance or forcing people into the faith. Many people of that time lived in peace for generations despite religious differences and the political upheaval was a bit of a surprise as family members turned against each other. While many stories romanticize the events, it was war and ugly and heartbreaking. Many converted in outward appearance to save themselves, their families, and their businesses. This book helps to put it all into perspective. It’s accurate enough that I could use this to teach this period in history and literature when my kids are older.

There’s a lesson in this, still for us, today.

The writing is poetic, combining storytelling and poetry with history and philosophy. Of course, there are love stories and intrigues. The characters are complex and I love this one and hate that one, as I, the reader, am supposed to. I love sympathizing and getting “into” a story! It’s everything a great novel should be. Some of the plot was told in flashback as memories of the characters. I expect some of the mysteries to be explained in the rest of the series. When I realized the book was over, I was upset! I wanted more. Instant gratification.

Here are the other four novels in the series. I can’t wait! (That’s the sign of a great writer. When I can’t put the book down and can’t wait to finish a series!)

About the Author

Tariq Ali is a novelist, journalist, and filmmaker. His many books include The Clash of Fundamentalisms: Crusades, Jihads and Modernity; Bush in Babylon: The Recolonization of Iraq; Conversations with Edward Said; Street Fighting Years: An Autobiography of the Sixties; and the novels of the Islam Quintet. He is the coauthor of On History: Tariq Ali and Oliver Stone in Conversation and an editor of the New Left Review, and he writes for the London Review of Books and the Guardian. Ali lives in London.

I love Liz Curtis Higgs . I knew I would love her holiday book The Women of Christmas: Experience the Season Afresh with Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna and jumped to review it.

It’s a quick read, only took me a couple evenings. I love her conversational style of writing. It’s like she’s just telling me a story. I want to curl up on her sofa with some tea or coffee and just chat.

This is not the typical advent study. It does discuss Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna, but it’s so refreshing to hear this spin on it.

These women are brought alive in the books as we ponder each verse, each event, the omissions as well as the details. Even thought I’ve read the verses in the Bible numerous times and taught them to my children each holiday during our advent studies, I learned so much and prayed through this book that it would touch my girls’ hearts this season. I plan to read a chapter or so each day for my girls. I just know they’ll love it!

Each chapter open with a beloved Christmas carol or hymn and those set the themes for the chapters. Love this! I’m also fascinated by the description of the angels and the important they play in the Christmas story. Interspersed are encouraging and enlightening quotes from women from Liz’s online Bible study. Women just like you!

Silence is just as important as shouting in the Christmas story and in our Christian lives. The ultimate theme in the book for me was the difference in voices, all important to God in their own way: struck silent, singing, praising, shouting, praying, pondering, worshiping.

I love how God uses the ordinary in extraordinary ways. We idolize people in the Bible stories, imagining they were so different and we could never do that, but oh, yes we can! These women were faithful. Elizabeth’s husband questioned. Mary’s betrothed worried. Despite it all, they were obedient. I pray that I could be obedient and faithful too. God can use anyone for His purposes.

Eight wondrous chapters tell the tales of these three ordinary women surrounding the coming of Christ as a babe. A study guide helps us on the journey to celebrate this event with joy.

Click over here to download a free Leader Guide!

224 pages

$14.99 Hardcover

I am excited to review a book by one of my favorite Christian authors, Lynn Austin. Return to Me is the first book in The Restoration Chronicles series.

I devoured this book in a couple evenings, staying up too late and having a “book hangover” in the morning. While I didn’t develop a love for any of the characters like I have with her other books, I love the theme and plot of this one.

It really hit home for me.

This book is set in Babylon and covers the return of the Jews to rebuild the temple. Families are torn apart as some decide to stay where they’ve built successful businesses and others decide to heed God and return to Jerusalem and struggle to rebuild His temple. It’s a longer and more arduous process than they thought, with opposition from the leftovers from before the captivity. They intermarried and resort to pagan ways. Some regret leaving Babylon and long to return to comfort, similar to the Exodus story and the grumbling then.

“But who wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice everything they have now for their children’ future?” the main character, Iddo, admonishes his sons and neighbors.

Sadly, many neighbors and his sons chose to remain in Babylon, where they felt safe and secure. Sadly, many of us choose to stay where we are safe and secure, rather than go into the unknown, seeking God, obeying, receiving His blessing. And sadder still, many choose hardened hearts and comfort knowns rather than venture out in faith to what God has planned.

The tradition of Shabbat is a theme in the book. I love Iddo’s recollection of his mother:

“She didn’t have to cook or clean or wash anything for entire day. She could rest and play with us, sing to us.”

I pray that my children will remember me as kindly, that I took time each day to play, rest, sing.

As I researched the Festival of Booths, Sukkot, and prayed how to incorporate its lessons into our Christian studies and prayer lives…I loved this quote: “The booths remind us of how temporary our lives are…How we are strangers and sojourners in this world. And they remind us how very much we depend on the Almighty One for all our needs.”  We need to be ever grateful, ever remembering that God provides all.

Another theme was the strife between the newly returned Jews and the Jews who were left behind when they were taken into captivity. They try for a compromised peace, even though the people living in the valley have become pagan and do detestable practices against Jewish law and tradition. How often do we compromise with the world and call it making peace? It may not be sacrificing children (but our society condones abortion), witchcraft (but Christians post their astrology horoscopes in their Facebook feeds) or polygamy (how many Christians think the Bible’s teachings on sex are for a simpler time?), but compromise is still sin. We don’t glorify God by compromising with the world.

Some of the characters were flatter than I would like. I didn’t have much sympathy for Dinah. But it may be my life right now. I look forward to the rest of the series! The details are stunning and I want to travel to Israel!

Hardcover: $19.99

Paperback: $14.99

eBook: $14.99

Liz and I reviewed Rock Harbor Search and Rescue: Lost and Found by Thomas Nelson. This is the second installment in the Rock Harbor series for young adventurers. I’m sure it will soon be a favorite series for our three girls!

Details from Thomas Nelson:

*ages 7-12

* 241 pages

*Book #2 in a mystery series from bestselling fiction author Colleen Coble

*Girls will be drawn in by the mystery, exciting search-and-rescue scenes,  relevant social issues, and adorable rescue dogs

The review:

I wanted Liz to read it before I gave it to Kate. She inhaled the book in no time. Twenty-five chapters plus epilogue. A fun mystery for girls.

She was thrilled to have something to read besides her school books for a change.

Liz approves!

Here’s what my tween daughter has to say:

This book is well-written and fun to read. I especially love that Emily has Phantom of the Opera bedroom décor. I love the characters, but I wasn’t surprised by the mystery plot. I think my sisters will like it!

We are rather Phantom of the Opera obsessed at our house. All four kids sing it and love it. We’re having a PotO party the end of this month. So, of course, Liz latched onto that wonderful detail. Apparently, many characters cross over from the author’s adult books too.

Liz turns thirteen next week and is a very advanced reader. This book is really too young for her reading level, but I wanted her to preview it for her sisters.

Tori is 7 and Kate is 6. Kate is my other reader. {Tori would rather do anything else than read.} So Kate is already reading this and loving it. And I’m happy.

Why is this book so awesome?

It’s a great Christian alternative to the teen series I read when I was younger and the various series I’ve seen in the bookstores and online available now for kids and youth. This series has wholesome themes, decent dialogue and plot, and respectful characters rather than inappropriate boy-girl relationships and adult themes.

I think this is a great book to spark a conversation about adoption and foster care, whether you have adopted children or not.

Liz, Kate, and I had some interesting conversation about adoption. We discussed Jesus and how He was adopted by Joseph and how we are adopted as children of God when we accept salvation.

I like having books that are alternatives to popular culture. We read lots of historical fiction and non-fiction for school, and this is great for some downtime reading. I don’t have to worry they’ll read something inappropriate, like in other books. I trust this author and publisher and that’s so refreshing.

Can’t wait for more in the series!

Liz and I reviewed 8 Great Dates by Dannah Gresh. A Girl’s Guide to Best Friends and Mean Girls and Talking with Your Daughter About Best Friends and Mean Girls.

The Girl’s Guide can be read together with or without the Mom’s book.

This could not have come at a better time.

We homeschool, and so I never really thought I would have to deal with my kids being bullied. I mean, we don’t participate in many outside the house activities. Two play soccer and our church attendance and Liz has Civil Air Patrol. We limit our activities and evaluate and reevaluate to keep aligned with our family goals. I like being home together and eating dinner together every night. On our crazy Tuesdays, we bring a casserole or Crock Pot to soccer practice and eat at the picnic table between soccer practice and CAP.

My kids are in between the ages of the other kids at church. Liz has no peers. And the other families’ lifestyles are different than ours and that sometimes causes contention. There’s a girls ministry in place, but it’s not a fit for my girls.

And Liz is such a bleeding heart. She trusts. She’s gullible. And I don’t want that to go away, not completely. I love that she’s the social butterfly and loves everyone and sees the best in everyone she meets. She’s the opposite of me!

But, she recently realized that a girl she thought was a friend is just on a power trip and has said and done mean things. She’s been using Liz and is not a real friend at all. It was heartbreaking. It’s harder to hold on as they grow up and away. These books are a great help to get through issues like these together, and with God. It’s good to have a guide so I don’t mess it up, get angry, express my own emotions from my past, or forget anything.

The activities in the books are meant to be completed in a group setting. We don’t really have enough of a girl group to get together to do these. But I can do them with my three girls with quite a bit of success.

I don’t want my girls to be mean girls and I don’t want my girls to be hurt by mean girls. But I can’t wrap them up in Bubble Wrap. I can prepare them and, with God’s help, lead them in the way they should go. I can help them succeed with friendships when they experience relationships with other girls.

What’s a Secret Keeper Girl?

Well, she’s a lot of things. And she’s NOT a lot of things.
She’s NOT a mean girl.
She’s a girl whose friendships are full of kindness…

The girl’s book has two parts. Part one has 6 chapters of “self-help.” Part two has 6 meditations – Bible studies about our best friend, Jesus. Part two is full of fun activities while learning how to be a friend. Liz thought some of these activities were a bit silly, but she’s turning 13 next month. Some of the concepts were great review.

Recommended for tweens – ages 8-12

The mom book has three parts. Part one is a how-to. Part two are the 8 dates. Part three are devotions, FAQs, and resources. I look forward to completing the “dates” with my daughters. Listening to the free audio files offer a unique perspective.

About the Author:

Dannah Gresh is the founder of Pure Freedom. She has sold well-over one million copies of her books, making her one of the most successful Christian authors targeting teens and tweens today. She is the author and creator of Secret Keeper Girl, a line of mom/daughter connecting resources and live events aimed at tween girls and their moms. Dannah and her husband, Bob, have three college-age children—Rob, Lexi, and Autumn. She is shamelessly in love with her labradoodle, Stormie, and lives in State College, PA.

Click here to read more.

Best Friends and Mean Girls is available for $12.00 or on Kindle.

A Girl’s Guide to Best Friends and Mean Girls is $10.00 or on Kindle.

I can’t even tell you how Wrecked, this book, wrecked my world.

Wrecked by Jeff Goins

As Christians, we’re not supposed to actually admit that. We’re supposed to be content in all circumstances and all that. It’s eyebrow-raising to admit you’re feeling a hole in your heart or soul. Yet, I feel like that all the time. And, yes, it’s a different feeling than that God-shaped hole the Bible thumpers hawk to the unsaved heathens. I’ve been there too. I was one of those.

The tagline: When A Broken World Slams into Your Comfortable Life. Do you feel it too? The status quo has never been comfortable for me. But fear does hold me back. I have responsibilities. I have a husband and kids. I homeschool. I write. I have deadlines.

I have a past. It doesn’t define who I am anymore, but it’s there nonetheless.

This book is a phenomenal call to action for Christians to dig out of their fear holes and do something meaningful. It can be small. It can be seemingly insignificant. But God sees. Lives will be touched. Mountains will be moved. Just act. Just do something. Quit dreaming about that something and sitting paralyzed in fear. Prioritize. Figure out what you can do. There’s a whole broken world outside your office window or front door just waiting for you to act.

What is true compassion? Get out of your comfort zone and stop being so selfish and self-centered and go do something for Jesus. Make it sooner rather than later.

Everything you now do was once something scary and new. Are you gonna sit around in complacency forever? Be salt. Be light.
I’m not saying you should quit your job and leave your spouse and kids to run off to Africa, but do something within your messy little world to make a difference for somebody else.

Pray.
Focus.
Go. Do that.

Nothing matters from the past. What matters is the future.

Six Reasons to Get Wrecked

1. Because life is not just about you.
2. Because we long to be part of a bigger story.
3. Because adventure without sacrifice is ultimately unfulfilling.
4. Because the most dangerous place to be is on the couch.
5. Because if you don’t act, maybe no one will.
6. Because comfortable isn’t enough.

Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into your Comfortable Life is available in paperback or for Kindle. Go buy this right now and get wrecked. You’ll be so grateful.

A raving review of City on Fire by Tracy Higley!

Just in time for the opening weekend of the movie Pompeii, check out this great Christian historical fiction novel by Tracy Higley!

A great novel by author Tracy Higley, City on Fire: A Novel of Pompeii accurately shows history from the perspective of early Christians.

I just love historical fiction.

I so loved this story! Captivating! I love the Shakespearean and/or Greek dramatic elements of Ariella’s life and how Cato rescues her and their love unfolds. Just beautiful. I couldn’t put it down.

Extremely well-written and characters highly developed for a Christian historical fiction novel. TL Higley stands out in her field. She does her research. I am so proud to be a part of her “caravan” – a Facebook group of her supporters and fellow travelers, homeschoolers, writers, Christians.

Love the plot development of a major historic event. What might have happened to Jews and Believers at that time? What happened to survivors or people living near Pompeii? We travel with TL Higley and through her amazing imagination, we can ponder how it may have gone. Love the strong female characters who have faced trials and come through better and find Jesus in the mix.

I was so excited for Ariella and Cato becoming Christians! (yeah, I get into fictional characters like they’re real…)

I was very interested in the Roman and early Christian history that Ms. Higley weaves throughout her novel.

I think it’s great that she doesn’t glorify the Roman customs because it’s a Christian novel. She mentions the sinful activities without being vulgar and…good conquers evil!

Because of its historical and Christian content, I feel comfortable letting my tween daughter read it next quarter when we get to that time in our history studies. I know she’ll love it and it will enable some amazing discussions!

Ms. Higley graciously sent me a copy of her book to review. She offers some great resources for homeschoolers on her blog. (I’d love to accompany her on some of her research trips!)

Purchase now.