Christian Shelves

It's Friday! This week, I'll be reading: 📘 Christian fiction: Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other by Bethany Turner 📗 Christian non-fiction:  Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis I'm also hoping to sneak in some time with historical fiction as it's been a while 😀 I can hardly believe that October is just around the corner!

For National Good Neighbour Day , I thought this fun title from Melissa Ferguson would fit the bill! The Cul-de-Sac War is just the guide to neighbourly relations, right? 😂 (Fine, it's an American holiday and I should spell it the American way, but I can't let go of the "u".) Book Synopsis In this charming rom-com, two enemies find something they never expected in one another—taking "all's fair in love and war" to a hilarious and heartwarming new level. Actress Bree Leake doesn't want to be tied down, but just when it's time to move on again, Bree's parents make her an offer; hold steady in Abingdon for one full year, and they will give her the one thing she's always wanted—her grandmother's house. Her dreams are coming true... until life throws her some curve balls. And then there's her new neighbor. Chip McBride. For the first time in her life, she's met the person who could match her free-spirited air—and it's drivin...

Believe it or not, I first followed  Tim Challies when I started blogging almost 20 years ago. At the time, he was known for keeping a continuous streak of blogging and providing meaningful content as one of the more prominent Christian bloggers (and as a Canadian, to boot!). I appreciated his book reviews as he provided a balanced approach in handling sticky theological concerns; this was when the emergent church was emerging (ha!) and Tim's blog provided a reprieve from all of that. When Tim started writing and publishing books, I was keen to add them to my bookshelves. Fast forward a few decades later, and he's probably quite well-known for many of his books, though I still enjoy his blog. Imagine my delight when a few years ago, I saw that he published a book called Visual Theology: Seeing and Understanding the Truth about God with Josh Byers. Book Synopsis We live in a visual culture. Today, people increasingly rely upon visuals to help them understand new and difficult ...

One of the things I have really appreciated in reading the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series is the opportunity to discover new authors.  Tara Grace Ericson is a name I've seen pop up from time to time, so I'm delighted that I could finally read my first book from her. Forgiven by the Hero is the sixth book in this series, which means that I am a third of the way to being done! Book Synopsis They weren’t searching for love, but a snowstorm might help them find it. Megan Warren is secretly Marcus Warner, best-selling author of adventure thrillers. Hiding away in a remote cabin near Freedom, Colorado is the perfect escape to meet the looming deadline from her publisher. Her peace and quiet keeps getting disrupted by the gruff Search and Rescue Officer using the mountain as training grounds, but she doesn't mind the interruptions. Derek Held trusts dogs more than people, and his life revolves around training the best Search and Rescue dogs in the country. When he meets a myste...

This isn't an easy post to write because as I've been developing more content for this blog and for my Instagram account, I've actually grown a little weary of what book consumption looks like. While I definitely enjoy reading and have a heart for sharing Christian books and promoting Christian authors, I'm reminded that it can quickly become a rat race for the next best thing, or the latest and greatest amongst Bookstagrammers. I'm not trying to be morose or anything, but I am evaluating my place in all of it. I think what's making my heart change a little bit is that in trying to point to the amazing Christian content out there, I'm contributing to a system where the basic premise is how much we can consume. I stopped by the local Christian bookstore as they had a sale a while back, but after holding a few books that I was thinking of getting and then feeling convicted that I had so many at home to read, I put them back. I rarely leave bookstores without m...

It's Friday! I'm a little late today after a pretty long work day, so I'm looking forward to getting into these books even more. This week, I'll be reading: 📘 Christian fiction: Kayak Girl by Ivy Emerson 📗 Christian non-fiction: What Every Christian Needs to Know about Judaism by Rabbi Evan Moffic Kayak Girl comes out next month, so keep your eyes peeled for this new release ❤️ I'm grateful to receive a review copy of this book; stay tuned!

Many thanks to Bethany House Publishers and LibraryThing for providing a complimentary copy of Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Thoughts content is also posted on LibraryThing. Book Synopsis Julia Monroe has just turned forty and hopes this next decade goes much better than the last, in which she became a young widow raising two children on her own. With both her boys off to college, it's time for new beginnings, and she can finally focus on expanding her New Orleans-based cleaning business--but God has other plans. Samuel Reed, the ruggedly handsome Green Beret who broke her heart over twenty years ago, has returned to town and is the kind of distraction she never saw coming. After their first interaction in years leaves her mind spinning and her emotions out of control, Julia knows she needs to keep her distance from him if she wants any chance of keeping history from repeating itself, but her meddling best fri...

In the wake of horrific abuse taking place in evangelical churches and organizations, Christians and non-Christians alike have been victimized and abused by those in power. This heartbreaking and tragic scenario is unfortunately, not altogether uncommon. When news broke regarding Bill Hybels and Ravi Zacharias (and many others), one of the voices that spoke to these scandals was Wade Mullen . I appreciated his stance in that he was sensitive to the victims while being unrelentingly firm in how perpetrators should be treated. As a result, I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to read  Something's Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuse and Freeing Yourself from Its Power . Book Synopsis “Am I the only one who sees this―am I just imagining things? Is something wrong with me . . . or could this be abuse?” Maybe you don’t know for sure: all you know is something feels off when you think about a certain relationship or interaction with an institution or organization. You f...

Last week, I shared about the first novella in the Finding Ever After anthology. I'm grateful that I was able to borrow the second novella in this book, Entanglements by Rachel McMillan , from Kindle Unlimited. I wish I could read the other half of the collection; however, I'm glad that two books exist out there to access! Book Synopsis Nic Ricci is a North End piano tuner and part time math tutor who wants nothing more than to compose; but there are few pennies to be found and an ailing father to support. When a well-paying opportunity arises as a rehearsal pianist for a wealthy heiress giving a recital at the Boston Conservatory, Nic grabs at the chance. He does not, however, anticipate a beautiful, intelligent woman frustratingly accompanied by a chaperone and promised to a brute of a fiance. Esther Hunisett is trapped by her father’s poor business decisions, her dowry and future attached to a man who will save her family’s estate. With little to barter before her life is ...

I'm going to be slightly controversial and admit that as fun as relationship tropes can be, I'm pretty troped out. I do say this having recently participated in a relationship trope trend that's been going around; however, I've had mixed feelings about tropes since I first started writing about it (I assure you, my intent is not to be discouraging about things that *most* people enjoy just for the sake of being a contrarian). What I'm noticing is that tropes—notably within the romance genre—are becoming shorthand for a compelling description of an author's book, and in some ways, can almost take away from the experience of reading well-crafted sentences instead. It's almost as if its overuse is causing a form of immunity against it, where my eyes have more and more started to glaze over when seeing countless tropes used to describe books. I'm now skipping a lot of these posts on Bookstagram because I would rather find a more comprehensive description o...

Friendly PSA: This is a reminder that Christmas is in 100 days. Better get your 🎄📚 ready! In my case, might I suggest the following? 📘 Christmas novellas by Melody Carlson (pictured here: Christmas at Harrington's , The Christmas Shoppe , and A Royal Christmas ) 📘 Joy to the World by Carolyn Miller , Amanda Barratt , and Erica Vetsch 📘 On the Way to Christmas by Sheila Roberts , Melissa Ferguson , and Amy Clipston 📘 The Perfect Love Song by Patti Callahan Henry 📘 The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado 📘 The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury I'm grateful to have a few Christmas books on hand to bring me into the season. I'm also looking forward to adding to this collection as I've encountered a few new books over the years that point to Jesus as the reason for the Christmas season. How delightful that we have all the more reason to celebrate!

This Friday, I'm taking a breather from reading—more like a Friday pause. I have lots on the go and a ton of new work projects. Earlier today, I felt confident that I could find a few new titles to start on. Throughout the course of the day, more and more fires had to be put out, and I realized that my brain could not give attention to four urgent tasks all requiring focus at the same time. I still have some past titles to work through and am really looking forward to a break. On top of multiple forms of employment, I also volunteer heavily in my community, so September shouldn't catch me by surprise (and yet it does!). Thankfully, with the seasons changing, it's a reminder that I can stop and enjoy what's around me. I'm grateful for the words of Jesus during such a hectic and intense day like I faced today. I love that His promises hold true no matter what day of the week it is. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke...

I'm really doing this; I'm going through the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series, and it's been a great Christmas journey! Living near the mountains, I'm starting to feel at home with this amazing ensemble of characters and families. A place like Freedom Ridge Resort may be out of reach, but it's fun to imagine being there. The fifth book in the series, Reunited with the Hero by M. E. Weyerbacher, is a food-oriented read as one of the central activities in the book is a cookie bake-off, along with a sweet romance, of course. Now, who could pass up Christmas cookies (and the relentless search for good coffee, although I can't relate as a tea drinker)? 😄 Book Synopsis A shocking reunion between high school sweethearts and a daughter with an avalanche of prayers leads to an unexpected Christmas. Fueled by faith and coffee, Widower Thea Riley sets out for a fresh start in her hometown of Freedom, Colorado. Housesitting her sister's cottage for the winter makes it ...

I found encountered Christine Liu 's content on her YouTube channel several years back. In fact, I would say that she has been an instrumental person in helping me to live as sustainable a life I can as a Christian. A believer herself, her content reflects her desire to love God and to love other people by not getting encumbered by the things of this world. When her book, Sustainable Home , first came out, I was delighted to read it right away and I am thankful that her book is still on the shelves at bookstores today. Book Synopsis Sustainable Home is a stylish, inspirational and practical guidebook to maintaining a more environmentally friendly household. Sustainable lifestyle blogger and professional Christine Liu takes you on a tour through the rooms of your home – the living area, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom – offering tips, tricks and 18 step-by-step projects designed to help you lead a more low-impact lifestyle. From guidance on decluttering and living minimally to advice...

One of the things I wish I could do is to take advantage of past Kindle releases that are no longer available. Unfortunately, this was the case with Finding Ever After , which was released four years ago. While it's no longer possible to find this book again, some authors have made their novellas available separately, which is what I found with Pepper Basham 's story called Between Stairs and Stardust . From all of my searching, I believe that hers is the only one that can be purchased as a physical copy, although the second story, Entanglements by Rachel McMillan, is available on Kindle. I'm not sure how to track down the other two stories, but imagine how lovely this collection would be as a paperback! Book Synopsis An illustrator in hiding A millionaire with a gardening fascination And the possibility of a perfect fit for a happily-ever-after Once upon a time… A young illustrator, forced from her home in Boston, must return to her Blue Ridge Mountains to escape a scanda...

On this somber day of 9/11, I wanted to ask whether anyone has prayer requests that I can lift up to God today. I believe that as Christians, we have the honour of caring for our brothers and sisters in Christ in this tangible way, and I would love to do that. As a community of readers, writers, and reviewers, we can offer much encouragement and support to one another in the things we face in our lives. I'll keep this post short and sweet; if prayer requests are private, I welcome emails (christianshelves [at] gmail [dot] com) instead of comments.

I'm delighted to have received a new ARC for this week from Bethany House Publishers , and look forward to diving in—thank you! What a fun Friday I will have 😊 📘 Christian fiction: Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet 📗 Christian non-fiction: Another Gospel? A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity by Alisa Childers Confession time: I love reading Christian apologetics, and have been listening to Alisa Childers' podcast for a number of years now. I've been meaning to get into her book, especially since she has a newer one out now called Live Your Truth and Other Lies . When I was in Bible college and seminary, I always gravitated toward systematic theology, so getting to read these types of books fills that interest for me. My desire is to live up to the words in 2 Timothy 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ( KJV ) Do your best to present you...

In approaching the first anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's passing a year ago, I wanted to reflect on how her Christian faith has made an impact on me. As a Canadian, I've always appreciated getting to sing God Save the Queen growing up, knowing that this was an earnest prayer for the Defender of the Faith. As a believer, I have been inspired by the Queen's humility, gracious heart, and bold convictions arising from her personal walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. As an Anglophile, I have enjoyed learning British history and have a high regard for their culture and traditions (where it glorifies God), particularly pertaining to the monarchy. Each year, I have treasured the Queen's Christmas message, knowing that there would be a reference to our Saviour during such a special time of celebration. I had the blessing of being able to watch her funeral live on TV last year (which meant pulling an all-nighter and taking a day off work), but it was completely worth...

Sweet Imaginings was my first book from Dulcie Dameron , and I'm looking forward to continuing the Secrets of River Hollow Romance series now that I've had a taste! Book Synopsis Kara Kepkey has big dreams of leaving River Hollow and becoming a chef. But when local police officer, Brady Parkins, shows up at her doughnut shop every day for a week straight, his warm presence threatens to derail every one of her carefully laid plans. Brady Parkins noticed Kara the very first time he returned home from the Police Academy. She's all grown up and everything he never knew he wanted. But when Brady puts his heart on the line, he risks getting it broken by the one girl he imagines he'll never forget. Can Kara and Brady find a way to be together while still giving her space to pursue her dreams? Source: StoryOrigin Book Thoughts This novella was a delight to read! I appreciated how realistic Brady came across and how sweet and nervous he was around Kara. Though Kara misattribute...

I first saw God is Rice listed on the public library catalogue, and it intrigued me as I have a small collection of Christian books regarding the Chinese or other Asian cultures. I really did not know what to expect until the book arrived, upon which I learnt that it was the compilation of four lectures given by Masao Takenaka back in early 1985. Reading the preamble, it looks like the author had been involved in missions work in Asia between 1959 and 1973, which would have been a fascinating time in history. Takenaka passed away 17 years ago, but leaves a legacy of rich thinking on Christian faith from an Asian perspective. Book Synopsis "When we say that God is rice . . . we take rice as the symbol of God's gift of life."  The provocative title is actually the title of the first essay in the book that explores how the gospel calls us to live in harmony with nature and neighbor, to secure just social organizations and be open to renewal. "The Community of the Magn...

Elizabeth Camden is one of the authors where I have made a point in reading all of her published books so far. This book carries on the tradition of strong, intelligent female protagonists living around the Gilded Age of America (or just slightly after), and continues the saga of Liam Blackstone, whom we meet in the first book of The Blackstone Legacy series. In Hearts of Steel , we get to read his story and learn more about his ongoing battle with the U.S. Steel board. I've been waiting to delve more into his character since he first appeared, so this book was well worth the wait. I will note that regarding Christian content, this book references Maggie's Catholic prayers and traditions from her Italian background and Liam's Bible reading, but faith is more implicit here. It's not as central to the plot as it may be in other Christian fiction books, but I would still categorize it as Christian fiction as believers can be edified by the stark realities this book addr...

This title of this post came to me one day while I was thinking about when I first started reading Christian books. To be honest, I hadn't realized that the first decade of the millennium was called the aughts until much more recently. In my mind, I kept calling it the 2000s, but I can see how that has more syllables and may be a mouthful. It's hard to believe that a few decades have passed since I first came to faith in Jesus Christ and subsequently, read almost everything I could get my hands on (I'm thankful that God provided some discernment in my early Christian years despite my voraciousness!). As a result, the content of books from the late 90s and early 00s is vastly different than content today. For nostalgia's sake, I sometimes read older novels or books to recapture memories before life became highly technological. I recently saw a meme that shared how the millennial generation should be renamed the Spice Girl generation . Apparently, "Members of the Sp...

A new month and a long weekend, to boot! Here's what I'll be diving into: 📘 Christian fiction: Facade by Pepper Basham 📗 Christian non-fiction: Leading in Tough Times by John C. Maxwell I didn't purposely match these titles together based on the themes; however, that might be an idea worth exploring. While my Christian fiction titles are the books most on display in my home library, I have many Christian non-fiction titles all throughout the house (much to the chagrin of my husband in that the books are everywhere, not that they're Christian books 😄). That might be a fun adventure.... I actually read Facade on Kindle Unlimited a while back, but I recall it being so good that I wanted to get a paper copy and read it again to refresh my memory. Pepper's writing is just that amazing!