Book Review: The Calling

 

The Calling

Collecting the Fading Embers of God’s Kingdom

by Mark A Walton

Pub Date 01 Sep 2023

ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op

Christian| Nonfiction \(Adult\)| Religion & Spirituality

Victory Editing and Netgalley provided me with a copy of The Calling for review:

The process of deconstruction must be followed by reconstruction. It was Jesus' plan.

The purpose of Jesus' ministry was to destroy the power structures around human pride and misguided faith. It was accomplished through the messianic secret and riddles related to parabolic teaching.

The Calling is marked by unsettling revelations, codes, symbols, and coincidences that only God could conceal. A paradoxical tension exists between mankind's pride and the Bible's encoded rules. 

The cavernous vacuum is where God's work is completed. Through Jesus' potent parabolic language and each biblical author's mysterious code, God remains hidden in plain sight.

 During our exploration of the valley of darkness, dry bones gain breath. In pursuit of mutual glorification, fallen angels and humans undergo specific trials. As this project systematically dismantles the messianic secret, people hidden in the shadows of life are discovered. 

The Problem:

Through a deeper dive into biblical teachings, The Calling addresses the modern problem of the church exodus. A deeper understanding of why mankind was created adds invaluable nuance to the Bible. 

Though deconstruction has become mainstream, it often ignores Jesus' love for everyone. Although The Calling approaches faith similarly, it dives deeper into the text.

I give The Calling five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Cold Pursuit

 

Cold Pursuit

by Nancy Mehl

Pub Date 11 Jul 2023 

Bethany House,Bethany House Publishers

Christian| Mystery & Thrillers| Romance

I am reviewing a copy of Cold Pursuit through Bethel House and Netgalley:

Whenever you're looking for a good, clean Mystery/Suspense novel, Nancy Mehl's works are always a good choice, and Cold Pursuit didn't disappoint.

A case that went horribly wrong still leaves former FBI profiler River Ryland suffering from PTSD. In search of a fresh start, she moves to St. Louis to be near her ailing mother and starts a private investigation firm with her friend and former FBI partner, Tony Clair. Soon, they are approached by a grieving mother who seeks answers about her son, who went missing four years ago. Despite River's knowledge of the boy's near-certain death, his mother must find closure, and River and Tony must solve the case, no matter how cold it might be.

However, as they follow the boy's trail, which gets more complicated at every turn, they find themselves in the path of a killer determined to punish anyone who stands in his way. River and Tony race to stop him before he kills again, but an even more dangerous threat emerges, stirring up River's past and plotting to destroy her future.

I give Cold Pursuit five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Rebecca

 

Rebecca

by Shannon McNear

Pub Date 01 Jul 2023 

Barbour Publishing,Barbour Fiction

Christian| Historical Fiction

As a member of the Netgalley review team, I am reviewing the book Rebecca by Barbour Publishing, Barbour Fiction.

You'll be transported to Roanoke's Lost Colony by reading this book:

Mato'aka is the daughter of a Powhatan chieftain and a woman of unknown descent. Initially, she regards the strange men from across the eastern waters as mere curiosity. After a while, though, she finds herself torn between fascination with one of their leaders and her own people's opinions and ways, becoming a pawn in their delicate and dangerous game of politics. Having shared the grief of a husband and baby daughter who have sadly passed away, she is drawn to a young Englishman, John Rolfe.



Is it possible for her to live among the English of Jamestown, accepting their ways and even changing her name? Could her destiny be linked to the Lost Colony of Roanoke?



Authenticity and vividness are hallmarks of Shannon McNear's portrayal of history.

I give Rebecca five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Once There Was A Child

 

Once There Was a Child

by Darlene Pscheidell Kwarta

Pub Date 20 Oct 2022 | Archive Date 17 Aug 2023

Atmosphere Press

Biographies & Memoirs| Nonfiction \(Adult\)

I am reviewing a copy of Once There Was a Child through Atmosphere Press and Netgalley:

Darlene always felt like an outsider as a child, and she was drawn to those like her. She learned sign language from her deaf neighbor, Joe, and was the only one in the neighborhood who knew how to communicate with him. Darlene was inspired by Helen Keller's story. As did the movie Teacher Teacher, which tells the story of a teacher with many demons working with a lonely, severely autistic boy. These teachers introduced both of these children to a world they might not have known otherwise. Darlene wanted to make a difference. 

Darlene Kwarta chronicles her journey with neglected children in her first book, ONCE THERE WAS A CHILD.

I give Once There was A Child five out of five stars!

Happiest Reading!

Book Review: The All-American

 

The All-American 

A Novel

by Susie Finkbeiner

Pub Date 11 Jul 2023 

Revell

Christian| Historical Fiction

Revell and Netgalley have provided me with a copy of The All-American A Novel for review:

It is 1952 and nearly all the girls 16-year-old Bertha Harding knows dream of getting married, keeping house, and having children. Baseball is Bertha's dream. She reads every sports story in the paper, plays ball with the neighborhood boys, and even writes letters to the pitcher of the Workington Sweet Peas.

Life comes crashing down when Bertha's father is accused of being a Communist Party member by the House Un-American Activities Committee. Having been shunned and disgraced, the Hardings move into a small town where they only know their shy Uncle Matthew. When Bertha gets the chance to audition for the Workington Sweet Peas, she packs her bags for an unforgettable adventure.

I give The All American five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Rabble Starkey

 

Rabble Starkey

by Lois Lowry

Pub Date 13 Jun 2023 

HarperCollins Children's Books,Clarion Books

Romance| Teens & YA

Netgalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Clarion Books sent me a copy of Rabble Starkey for review:

By the time she is twelve, Parable Ann Starkey, better known as Rabble, has seen her share of trouble. One month after Rabble was born, her father abandoned her and her teenage mother, and she went to live with her grandmother, Gnomie. 

Rabble craves stability more than anything else, and she may have found it now, living with her mother and the Bigelows. For the past four years, Rabble has lived with her mother, Sweet Hosanna, in the Bigelows' garage. Veronica Bigelow is twelve, too, and she's more than Rabble's best friend; she's like a sister to her.  

When Veronica's mother is hospitalized due to mental illness, the Starkeys move into the larger house to help Mr. Bigelow take care of Gunther, Veronica's younger brother. Rabble feels more at home as the two families grow closer. The feeling of being part of a family has been formed. This feels like forever for Rabble, but can it last?

I give Rabble Starkey five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Tiger Daughter

 

Tiger Daughter

by Rebecca Lim

Pub Date 15 Aug 2023 

Random House Children's,Delacorte Press

Children's Fiction| Middle Grade

A copy of Tiger Daughter was provided to me for review by Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, and Netgalley:

The story of Tiger Daughter is both heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time!

First-generation Chinese immigrant Wen Zhou is the daughter of Chinese migrant parents. Her parents expect her to succeed in school, especially her father, whose strict rules make her feel trapped. In her dreams, she would like to create a future that is more satisfying than what her parents expect for her. 

A boy named Henry, who is also a first generation immigrant, becomes her friend. Despite struggling with his English, he is the smartest boy at school and understands her better than anyone else. Together, they plan to take an entrance exam for a selective school far from home in order to escape. 

It will take all of Wen's tiger strength and resilience to get herself and Henry through tragedy. 

I give Tiger Daugter five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!