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!