Saturday, April 9, 2022
Weekend Wrap-Up (April 9th, 2022)
Monday, April 4, 2022
Review: What Matters Most by Courtney Walsh
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Monday, March 28, 2022
Review: Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin
5 stars
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Saturday, March 26, 2022
Giveaway + Review: The Case for Christ | Easter Movies on Pure Flix
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Review: Tyson's Run
Monday, February 21, 2022
Review: The Land Beneath Us (Sunrise at Normandy, #3) by Sarah Sundin
5 stars
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This book was Clay's story and it features a marriage of convenience (did NOT expect that!). I loved Clay and how he was protective of Leah. Their romance was so sweet and I loved seeing Clay grow throughout the story.
Something I loved about this series was how each book features prominent themes of forgiveness, grace, faith, etc. Such moving stories and I definitely consider this series a favorite.
All in all, The Land Beneath Us was amazing and I definitely recommend it.
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Review: The Sky Above Us (Sunrise at Normandy, #2) by Sarah Sundin
5 stars
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I thought I knew all the details on a certain event from the first book, but I was wrong. The Sky Above Us showcased there was more to that day than first thought. The book told a powerful story of redemption and grace. I absolutely loved that aspect. I also loved the transformation in both Adler AND Violet.
All in all, The Sky Above Us was a wonderful read and I highly recommend it...just be sure to read the series in order.
Monday, February 14, 2022
Review: The Sea Before Us (Sunrise at Normandy, #1) by Sarah Sundin
5 stars
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I didn't realize going in that this series was about a group of brothers that had a falling out. I love stories about families and this one was SO good. I loved reading Wyatt's story and I cannot wait to start the next book.
All in all, The Sea Before Us was an amazing read and I definitely recommend it. Written very well with great characters, a believable storyline, and rich with history. I loved it!
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Giveaway + Review: Church People Movie
Review: Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig
2 stars
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Monday, February 7, 2022
Review: The Cul-de-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson
3 stars
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Thursday, February 3, 2022
Review: The Heart's Charge by Karen Witemeyer
5 stars
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Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Q & A with Francine Rivers Author of The Lady’s Mine
1. You refer to The Lady’s Mine as your “COVID story.” Can you please explain?
What does a writer do when she is sheltering in place? Write. And write. And write some more! Sometimes it is so much more fun to live in a created world than the real one, and during the first and numerous succeeding shutdowns, that was what I did. Other than work in the vineyard and garden, I immersed myself in a fictional world. By the time I finished the manuscript, it was 194,000 words! It needed major cutting. But as I was still sheltering in place out here in California, the job of cutting turned out to be almost as much fun as the writing process.
2. What motivated you to return to the California frontier? What about this setting intrigues you?
I’m a native Californian, and I’ve always loved our state history, especially the gold and silver rush periods. Redeeming Love takes place from 1849 to 1851. The Lady’s Mine jumps forward to the 1870s silver rush. Men from around the world and all walks of life poured into the state, hoping to strike it rich. A few women came—some by wagon train, some by ship, some willing, and some not. It was a time of high drama, boom and bust. I think that’s what appeals to me most—the dreams that brought people, the grueling hard work that awaited them, the myriad stories of success and failure.
3. You have said that your stories often start with a question. What question prompted this story?
There were several questions. How does a person cope with being cast out of a family? Do we determine the course of our lives, or is there a plan already in place? Can one person change the character of a town? How can we offer a hand up rather than a handout to those in desperate need?
4. What themes in this story, set in the 1870s, have particular relevance today?
One of the themes is the oft-unfair treatment of workers. During the silver rush, it was common to have a mine owner rolling in wealth while holding workers in debt bondage. This is a common practice these days in human trafficking. We have laws now to protect workers, but without naming anyone, news stories abound of how one man at the top can rake in billions while paying workers minimum wage with few benefits. The nice side of fiction is to suggest other possibilities in how to conduct a business.
5. Your novels look deeply into characters’ motivations and emotions. What do you hope readers will learn from delving into the inner thoughts of the characters in The Lady’s Mine?
Don’t let the unfairness of life embitter you. Strive to do good no matter what others around you are doing. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Stand up and find practical ways to help the less fortunate. A handout is good for a day. A hand up can change a life forever. Speak truth no matter the cost. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Laugh. Enjoy life. Don’t hold too tightly to your own opinion. Listen and learn from others. And above all, live to please the Lord.
6. In talking about this book, you reference the apostle James, who said, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for the orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” What is one practical way we can work toward not letting the world corrupt us?
This will sound like a simple answer, but the best place to find out what and how to do something is through reading the Bible. It’s also the best place to learn what not to do. Lately, I’ve been writing out a few verses a day from a book of the Bible. Romans. It will take weeks to do it, but it is already helping me concentrate and think about what God is saying, the instructions He is giving. This isn’t something I’ve always done, but now find invaluable. Writing longhand slows me down and helps me concentrate on each word, phrase, and sentence. When we’re focused on the Lord, He shows us practical ways to live in this fallen world without becoming part of it.
7. What character in this story did you most enjoy crafting? Why?
Kathryn Walsh! She has strong faith, seeks the Lord, and does what she believes is right. She isn’t a quiet little lady in the pew. She’s fiery, opinionated, earnest, and determined to make the town she lives in better (whether men agree or not). When she realizes she’s wrong about something, she changes her mind. When she’s right, she plows ahead no matter the cost. She looks for ways to help people rise from poverty. Though she has few resources herself, she shares what she does have. She doesn’t judge anyone (except Matthias Beck!), though she is frequently judged by others (Beck being one). And she has a sense of humor. Frankly, I enjoyed getting to know her during the COVID shelter in place orders. And, of course, Matthias Beck also had his fascinating character traits.
8. Did this story develop in any surprising ways?
Kathryn’s business management scheme came as something of a surprise. So did the next venture that leads to the real change in Calvada. But I can’t explain all that without giving the story away.
9. Working on this story during the COVID lockdown, you said that one of your goals was to address serious issues with humor and grace. You commented, “Life had become too somber to add heaviness to it. We all need to laugh, even when days are dark—maybe even more so during those times. And we all want changes for the better and a happy ending.” How did this project accomplish these goals?
Writing as much as I did helped me pass the time while sheltering in place. In some ways, my life didn’t change. As a writer, I spend most of my life at home working. I was able to get through the frustration of the ever-changing rules and opinions by creating characters, scenes, and dialogue. There are so many situations in life that challenge us to trust God. It is so true there is nothing new under the sun. The “new normal” isn’t all that different from trials we’ve faced before. We all have a choice. Grumble and growl over the way things are. Or look for the good and the humorous aspects of life. I choose the latter.
10. What do you hope your readers come to know about God through this story?
Broken relationships don’t have to mean broken lives. Let (agape) love be the motivation for what you do and how you live. God can mold the most unlikely people into wise and gifted leaders. One person can change the course of a community. The Lord can make beauty from ashes.
The Lady’s Mine by Francine Rivers
ISBN 978-1-4964-4757-9 | Hardcover $27.99 | February 8, 2022
Preorder today: Amazon (aff link)
Monday, January 31, 2022
Review: At Love's Command (Hanger's Horsemen #1) by Karen Witemeyer
5 stars
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Friday, January 28, 2022
Giveaway + Review: Sons of Thunder: Redemption + Free 3-Month Subscription to Pure Flix
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Review: The Rancher's Christmas Bride (Bluebonnet Springs #2) by Brenda Minton
4 stars
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Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Review: Sunrise by Susan May Warren
5 stars
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