Christian Shelves

In reading the premise of this book, I was definitely intrigued off the bat. A Canadian in the English countryside? A peaceful little cottage that is not as it seems? Suspicious activities that need an answer? Sign me up for this British mystery! Captured in Frame is the first in the Bite of Betrayal series by Laura Thomas, set in the typically quaint village of Bramble Downs. I am grateful to the publisher,  Mountain Brook Ink , for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : scenes of violence and death, infidelity and marital breakdown, depression and suicide, miscarriages and infertility Book Synopsis In an idyllic village nestled in the English countryside, photographer Georgia Brooks is desperate to begin a new chapter in her life. Bramble Cottage was supposed to give her space to heal and hope again after suffering betrayal and rejection by the only man she ever loved. This was Georgia’s chance to rekindle her faith...

I remember a phase I was going through when I was using a computer mouse so often for school that I started to treat my remote control in the same manner by moving it around on the bed or couch, expecting it to respond to me. Of course, this led to brief moments of confusion, though I admit that this was not an isolated experience and occurred more often than it should have. Staying up late to write papers probably had ill effects on me! Fast forward to today, I realize that being utterly immersed in one thing can have an effect on something else. This revealed itself in a discussion I had with my husband regarding my primary pet peeve with myself whenever I open my mouth. In explaining how it is I speak and why it bugs me so much, he was able to instantaneously identify why I do what I do (whilst inwardly, I'm thinking of Romans 7:15  -  I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ). His simple answer? My pet peeve is likely due to ...

It's always a treat to read Christmas stories in the summer, especially when there is a heat wave and you want to think cold thoughts. Mistletoe Season by Sheila Roberts, Kathleen Fuller, and Pepper Basham is an anthology that provides relief through some sweet mistletoe kisses and Christmas charm. Many thanks to  Thomas Nelson  and  NetGalley  for providing a copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis This Christmas, three couples find themselves under the mistletoe . . . whether they want to be there or not. Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts — Mistletoe is Hailey Fairchild's kryptonite. Every time she's kissed someone under the mistletoe it's led to love disaster. Not a good thing for a romance writer! When she was a gawky high school girl, her hunky neighbor, Carwyn Davies, star of the basketball team (and her dreams) kissed her under the mistletoe on a dare. But the kiss wasn't a dream come true. It was a mortify...

It's been wonderful to be on a roll for this series as the characters and stories have been fresh in my mind these past few weeks. I'm getting to the point where I'm starting to feel like I know the people mentioned by name the more I progress in the Northwest Ice series  by Carolyn Miller , with Pointe, Shoots, and Scores being the third book (with more to come!). I am grateful to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : There is one word that is quite strong and could be viewed as an expletive for North American Christians; however, the cultural context from where this originates does not hold the same level of vulgarity. This is something to keep in mind between English-speaking countries as a point of reference, but which should not detract from the overall reading of the book. Book Synopsis Opposites can attract, but can they dance? For as long as she can remember Bailey Donovan has loved dan...

I have a soft spot for young adult books, so it was a treat to be able to read Distant Stars by Kassandra Garrison . I don't often read about kidnapping plots, which intrigued me as to how it would be handled in this book. To say that the unexpected took place in this book is an understatement! I am grateful to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : kidnapping and violence Book Synopsis Will Rutledge needs a fresh start. After aging out of the foster care system, he and his brother, Kane, have nothing but each other. Maybe that is why he agreed to his brother’s insane plan. With his brains and his brother’s muscle, what could go wrong? Enter Hannah Cole. After a devastating loss, her faith in God is shaken. No amount of money could fill the hole in her life… not even if her dad has plenty of it. Suddenly, Hannah finds herself in the middle of the brothers’ reckless scheme. Plans start to unravel when Wi...

One of the things I've been more mindful about in reading Christian books is that I want these books to make a spiritual impact on my life, both in the short-term and the long-term. I'm aware that this isn't always possible, but there are three things I strive to remind myself of when selecting and reading a fiction or a non-fiction book which I share below. Ultimately, I want my reading experience to have joy and meaning, leading to spiritual fruit being exhibited in me. Keeping these principles at the forefront not only avoids a little bit of a reading slump for me, but it helps me to approach things with an eternal view when I'm deciding whether to commit several hours of my life to a book or not. Reading for Understanding For fiction books, I enjoy having my perspective broadened and being able to step into others' shoes by better understanding others. With Christian books, this doesn't always have to mean that the main character is Christian as some of the ...

This is a sequel that I have been looking forward to ever since reading the first book, My Refuge . My Way , the second book in the Follow in the Dark series by Ashley Al Saliby , picks up from the last book and grants us a further look at the lives of four young Christian women around the world and what they're facing. I am grateful to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis For four modern girls in vastly different settings, the Sermon on the Mount is about to get uncomfortably relevant. The sequel to "My Refuge" is the second in the Follow in the Dark series, a set of YA Christian contemporary novels that trace the stories of four 15 year old girls navigating circumstances they wish they could change in Texas, Ukraine, Toronto and the largest refugee camp in the world: Zaatari. "As their stories continue, the lives of Eden, Katya, Mei and Zahra will shift. Circumstances will change. New challenges...

I've truly enjoyed each of the books I've read by  Meghann Whistler  and request them each time they appear on LibraryThing! Their Unlikely Protector is my third title by her, and I look forward to many more 😊 Many thanks to Harlequin's Love Inspired line and LibraryThing for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Thoughts content is also posted on LibraryThing. Book Synopsis To give two little boys a home… She must take a chance on forgiveness. The last person Valerie Williams expects to rescue her and her toddler twin brothers from a fiery blaze is Brett Richardson, her high school nemesis. But with her house burned down, Valerie is forced to stay at the same inn as Brett and work together on the town festival. Now Brett has the chance to make things right, but can Valerie let go of the past to make way for a future together? Source:  Amazon Book Thoughts One of the things that I've come to assoc...

Looking for another book for the  Clearly Christian Readathon  this summer? Look no further! The End Begins is the first book in The Day Draws Near series (previously The Seven Trilogy) and is a futuristic novel that looks at life for Christians in 2053 in Canada. It was just re-released and is a thrilling ride from start to finish. I am grateful to the publisher, Mountain Brook Ink , for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Which of them is the prisoner and which one is free? Bookstore owner Meryn O'Reilly and Army Captain Jesse Christensen are on opposite sides of a battle. After a series of terrorist attacks in 2053, martial law has been declared in Canada and the military has taken over. When a radical Christian group claims responsibility, Jesse and his platoon are sent to Meryn's city to keep an eye on the Christians and ensure they are not stepping outside the confines of the law. Fiery and quick-tempered, Meryn ch...

Partially inspired by summer and partially because I like eating, I was thinking about the role of palate cleansers between courses of food, notably sorbet. I really enjoy the reset that the palate cleansers provide, allowing for a richer sense of taste to come with the next dish. In terms of reading, I admit that I have had a lot of ARCs to read this year. I've read close to 30 ARCs so far and have another 20 or so to go. I'm by no means complaining as I really enjoy reading; however, I can attest to a bit of fatigue from trying to get in as much reading as possible to meet release deadlines. It doesn't quite feel like work yet, but I will admit that when the ARCs are back-to-back, it can be a little hard to continually be motivated. As a result, I've been looking forward to setting aside a month to take a break from ARC commitments and to just enjoy whatever titles come my way and to make more of a dent in my TBR pile. While I will continue to try to meet a few upcomi...

Ella Marie is a new-to-me author, so I appreciated the opportunity to read The Game She Hates , which adds to my little Christian hockey romance collection. I would say this book is a great choice for the  Clearly Christian Readathon ! I am grateful to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Zane has had his fair share of a tumultuous childhood, and on the ice as the center of the Glaciers, he releases pent-up anger and frustrations from the relentless blows life has dealt him. Off the ice, he avoids his teammates and dismisses anyone who tries to show him affection, especially women who are only drawn to his fame. But everything changes when he meets Pearl. Instantly captivated, he sets aside all his reservations and pursues her relentlessly, despite her clear rejections and disdain for hockey. Pearl desperately wants marriage, commitment, and a man who shares her faith—definitely not a handsome, charming athlete l...

Over the years, I've noticed that it's become more prevalent to see headlines of churches either not disclosing information about abuse to law enforcement, covering up instances of abuse in the name of church unity, both, or worse. One of the books that tackles this topic head on is Becoming a Church That Cares Well for the Abused . Written as a handbook, this is a topic that churches should not neglect when training their staff and lay leaders. Abuse can not only make or break a church, it can make or break people's lives if not handled appropriately. Please note that there are some grammatical errors in this handbook, which detracted from the reading a little bit, but not so that it would affect the rating. Book Synopsis Is your church prepared to care for individuals who have experienced various forms of abuse? As we continue to learn of more individuals experiencing sexual abuse, domestic violence, and other forms of abuse, it’s clear that resources are needed to help m...

Happy release day! It's such a treat to be able to enjoy Canadian-authored books, especially when there are Easter eggs hidden in the book!  Running Into You was such a fun book to read on a road trip, where I was able to complete it while travelling between provinces 🚗 I am grateful to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : self-forgiveness, references to yoga and luck Book Synopsis Can a car accident possibly change your life for the better? On the last day of school, Julie is looking forward to a break from her work as a second-grade teacher. But when she and her brother get into a car accident, her world turns upside down in an instant. Julie is caught up in trying to forgive the other driver for what happened. And when sparks fly between Julie and Noah, who was also involved in the crash, she also has to figure out how to forgive herself for her role in the accident. Source:  Amazon Book...

I remember coming across some content a while back that poked fun at the types of books that people get for their bookshelves, including books meant to make the owner look more intelligent. Most of these books included the classics, or more high-brow reading materials such as philosophy or art history books. It gave me a few chuckles at the time, because there were a few products linked to the content where you could purchase the façade of book spines glued onto boxes, lest anyone desire to purchase spines over actual books. This made me wonder if I've approached my reading in the same aspirational manner, especially around Christian books. I admit that there have been times where I've read some general Christian fiction books just so that when someone asks for a recommendation, I'm not always recommending a romance title (although, general is such a vague genre that there often is a romance involved, even if it's not the whole premise). Some of these books have thankfu...