My review of A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther by Joan Wolf.

Well, let me begin by saying that I love the story of Esther. Isn’t it just a lovely fairy tale?

This novel is no different. It was a quick read and it was delightful. I really felt sympathy for the characters and could not put the book (or mouse, since I downloaded it on my Kindle for PC) down.

I was disappointed that the author felt the need to create a fictional king. Why not use Xerxes, like most historical accounts suggest? The king in the novel was loving as a man and cold as a king. Xerxes was featured as this king’s brother. I wonder for this choice.

I was surprised that I felt real pity for Haman. The author created his character as a man hungry for the love of the king rather political power. He had such jealousy of anyone close to the king that it just ate him up. Haman was characterized as having a mental disease similar to the obsessions we read about in the news today. I was interested in this new characterization of the villain Haman.

I was hoping for more Biblical references and that the plot would more closely follow the Biblical account of Esther. I would think that Esther would have prayed more.

She was a very real and lovable character in this book. I love how she was characterized in her weakness. The Bible mentions that she fasted and prayed before appearing before the king to ask for an audience. In the book, there was only one meal with the king and Haman, instead of two.

The author left out the reward of Mordecai’s being paraded through the streets for revealing the plot to kill the king. Mordecai was probably the least important character in this book and I would have liked him to appear more interesting.

I understand that this book is fiction, but I can’t even call it historical fiction, much less Biblical fiction.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I just think it could have been better had it more closely followed the Bible and historical account.

I’m pleased to review This Little Prayer of Mine by Anthony DeStefano.

Such a sweet book! Gorgeous illustrations with such amazing details on every page!

From the publisher:

Nothing Compares to Childlike Faith

I know you’re up in heaven, God,
and can hear my voice from there.
I’m just a little child.
Will you answer my short prayer?

So begins this delightful book that affirms God’s readiness to answer our prayers, no matter what our age.

With engaging rhymes and beautiful illustrations, This Little Prayer of Mine assures children that God is always near–watching, listening, caring, and eager to respond to their requests. They’ll also learn that prayer isn’t just about asking for things, but about sharing their feelings of sadness and uncertainty as well as of thanksgiving and joy.

Most importantly, This Little Prayer of Mine reminds children—and those who love them—that they can trust God to tenderly care for them, no matter what the future holds.

This darling book really explains prayer to small children and why we should pray and what peace we can have from God who answers our prayers (whether He answers with Yes, No, Wait). This book addresses our fears and how we can give our troubles to our God who cares.

It certainly goes beyond the “Our Father” into something rich and powerful that children can understand. It shows how we should focus on others in our prayers and that God will reward a generous heart.

I love books that reinforce what I teach my kids. We strive to pray unceasingly, in all our daily activities, about everything. I’ve seen my kids grow in their prayers, from the little recitations at meal time and bed time to really creative and heartfelt beseechings to God. They know what they need and they know only Jesus can provide it. I am a proud mama.

I love the last few pages and how fun they are as the child envisions future possibilities and where God may lead. My girls giggled at the pictures of the kids playing in a band in the White House. Who doesn’t want to do that? Our family loves this book and it definitely will keep its place in our devotion basket!

• Age Range: – 5 years
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press
• Hardcover $5.99

Erwin Raphael McManus exhorts believers to unleash our faith in Jesus in his book, Unleashed.

He encourages us to dedicate our lives to being barbarians with our faith rather than complacent in conventional Christian religion. Appropriately, quotes and scene synopses from the movie Braveheart are sprinkled throughout the book. Always awesome to quote Braveheart. ;)
I was skeptical at first with the autobiographical sketches McManus uses to show his humanity and struggles as a parent, but any parenting disagreements aside, this is a good book to motivate Christians to do something more than warm a seat at church. As a parent, it convinces me that I need to disciple my children to be warriors for Christ rather than fall into the complacency trap so many “Christians” find easier than being different.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17

We are called to be different.

McManus reminds us of our duties as Christians as commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ.

We must be warriors, unleashed.

Author Bio:

Erwin R. McManus (BA, University of North Carolina; MDiv, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as lead pastor and cultural architect of Mosaic, a diverse, multi-ethnic church based in Los Angeles, California. As founder of Awaken, an entrepreneurial community, Erwin collaborates with a team of dreamers and innovators who specialize in the field of developing and unleashing personal and organizational creativity. A national and international consultant on culture, change, leadership, and creativity, he partners with Bethel Theological Seminary as a futurist and distinguished lecturer. He is the author of the ECPA Silver Medallion Award-winning book, An Unstoppable Force, and Seizing Your Divine Moment, Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul, and The Barbarian Way.