Christian Shelves

It can be easy to think that we just need the right ingredients, meals, and diet plans that will suddenly transform our bodies. However, Jesus Ate Carbs by Abbie Frye probes deeper beyond a physical transformation to a spiritual one that invites God into every aspect of our lives. Obviously not limited to carbs (and acknowledging that allergies exist), this book is one that makes us probe a little deeper about why we eat, what needing to eat says about our relationship with our Creator, and how we can eat in alignment with His original design for it. Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : heavy reliance on Ruth Haley Barton; theology around sentence of “God reveres us and is in awe of us ” (pg. 130); contemplative spirituality practices; direct messages from God to the author, such as “God told me that He has me in the ministry of reconciliation” (pg. 180)...

Church abuse is tackled head-on in this Christian fiction book, so if that is an experience you want to read more about, Meredith Resce does her best to accurately portrays its prevalence and its impact on congregants in My Achy Broken Heart . This is a standalone story, but if you've read Meredith's previous books in the Trinity Lakes Romance series , you'll enjoy seeing her other characters again. Book Synopsis How quickly things can change. Last week Lucy was full of joy and hope, having finally met a Christian man who seemed to be crazy about her. One minute, she is full of heady passion and hope that a proposal is imminent—the next she is coming to terms with being alone, pregnant, and not understanding where he’s gone. Her ‘dream’ man has turned into a nightmare, hiding behind his status as a worship pastor in a large church and his influential parents, denying he’s ever had anything to do with Lucy. And she’s fully aware that she’s stepped way outside her own moral ...

Reading books like this make me realize just how much I have to learn about accessibility and what can look like to encounter challenges in navigating an able-bodied world. I appreciate that Meredith Resce brings Arianne's disability to life in a gracious and encouraging manner as we meet her in Over the Rainbow , the eighth book in the Trinity Lakes Romance series . Book Synopsis What a difference a year makes. Last year, Arianne Rayne was playing college basketball and looking forward to a permanent future with her boyfriend. This year, she is learning to live with disability. After walking away from an accident he’d caused by reckless driving, her boyfriend walked away from her. The uncertainty of how life would look now that she had lost mobility was enough for him to break the relationship, and her heart. Coming to Trinity Lakes to live with her stable, unflappable grandparents is hope for a new beginning and a chance to heal her heart. Away from her parents’ cloistered, cott...

In terms of being one of the best theological books that I've had the honour of reading this year, Persecuted for My Name by S.E. Wang and Timothy Keller is one that I will recommend for any Christian who wants to better understand how to live under persecution. It is timely and timeless, bringing together ascension theology and a theology of persecution into a way of life that makes sense of suffering for believers. Many thanks to Intervarsity Press and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis What can the persecuted church teach us about walking faithfully with Jesus in our broken world? Persecuted for My Name offers insight and guidance from those who have walked the difficult path of faithfulness under severe persecution. Sixth-generation Chinese Christian S. E. Wang and the late Timothy Keller (1950–2023) reflect on the inevitability, challenges, and opportunities of persecution for all Chri...

After reading Daring Mr. Darcy by Carolyn Miller and Meredith Resce, I thought I'd read the books by Meredith Resce in the Trinity Lakes Romance series . The Ocean Between Us is her first one in the series and book two overall, offering a taste of Australia (and Canada!) within the state of Washington. Book Synopsis Alanah, has set off on a trip of a lifetime. Her best friend from high school, Sasha Kennedy, has invited her to Trinity Lakes, Washington State, to be part of her wedding party. South Australia to Trinity Lakes is literally the other side of the world, so Alanah has a full schedule of adventure planned while she’s away. A summer camp counselor; a trip to Canada; sightseeing in New York and Boston; and avoiding Sasha’s twin-brother, Caleb. But a silly accident puts Sasha out of commission for all the planned adventures, and Caleb is sent to retrieve his former high school sweetheart from the airport. Eleven years should be enough time to have cooled the love Alanah a...

It's fun when you can sense a story building in the background of another one, and that's exactly what happens in From Ice to Grace by Ann J. David , the second book in the The Heart of a Ranger series . It's quite evident that sparks are flying between Declan and Avah in their previous interactions, making this next book a must-read to discover what happens next! Please note on the author's website where these books can be found. Book Synopsis He’s one bad hit away from blowing his career. She’s one heartbreak past trusting again. Declan Murphy : The ice used to be the only place I felt steady—where I could hit hard, keep my head down, and pretend the past wasn’t catching up. But now I’m one bad decision away from losing it all. My spot on the team. My place in the league. My grip on who I’m becoming. And the one person I can’t seem to avoid? Avah Johansson—my best friend’s sister and the woman who sees straight through me. Sparring with her used to be harmless. Safe....

This is a book that I started back in May for Asian Heritage Month; however, I took my time savouring its content over the spring and summer. Light of the Word by Susan C. Lim is a book that invites scholarship and devotion in the same tome. It demonstrates that history is worth researching and discovering further answers from while compelling us to look beyond the facts and stories to the Author behind all of history. Book Synopsis While Christians generally acknowledge that the Bible is God's Word, many of us lack robust confidence in the reality of its trustworthiness. We may not be sure if we really believe what we read. But the more we understand how Scripture came to be, the more we discover its power and truth. Historian Susan Lim unpacks how the history of the Bible bolsters our faith and anchors us through the changing tides of time. The story of Scripture, while messy and complicated at times, is also the story of how God shepherded his people throughout the centuries i...

I had the opportunity to enjoy this series a while back and thought I'd feature it in time for the new hockey season. Amid hockey scandals and misdeeds, how comforting is it to know that we can always turn to God. It is also so refreshing to read books that place sports and romance under God, not above it. From Ice to Home by Ann J. David , the first in the The Heart of a Ranger series , introduces us to characters who are a little messier but just as devoted in their faith. Please note on the author's website where these books can be found. Book Synopsis Some love stories don’t start over—they pick up where they never truly ended. Hannah Sanders : I thought I had my life all figured out—graduate school, a dream job, and finally stepping out from the shadow of my small-town upbringing. But running into Lucas Walker, my high school sweetheart and now the star player for the NY Rangers, in the middle of Las Vegas turned my carefully laid plans upside down. One impulsive moment, ...

In reading the For Love and Money series some time ago, I was curious about the updated version of The Mafia Boss and the Christian Girl  being re-released by Nicole Lam this fall. With revisions to the spiritual content and relationship status between Christina and Antonio, this arranged marriage book offers a glimpse into a world that desperately needs God. It's not for the faint of heart, so don't let the cover have you thinking otherwise! Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : Catholic faith practices; violence, murder, and death; smoking, drinking, and drugs; very mild profanity and lying; references to infidelity, sleeping together, hookups, and explicit materials (other characters, not main characters) Book Synopsis A sheltered woman of faith is pulled into the criminal underworld and offered protection through marriage in this clean Christian mafia romance. S...

I've greatly enjoyed getting to read books that deepen my understanding of the Bible and of the life-changing Gospel, so when I saw  Gospel Stories by Andrew Wilson floating around, I was keen to work my way through it. It's a punchy volume that packs a lot within its pages with easily digestible chapters, making it a wonderful complement to any Bible and devotional reading. Many thanks to  10 of Those  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis In fifty-six short narratives, Gospel Stories explores the beautiful, triumphant, often heartbreaking and always glorious stories that make up the gospel of God—Gospel Stories. Just as we have one God in three persons, and one church made up of many people, so in Scripture we have one gospel made up of many stories. Inside readers will rediscover the glorious mission of God, freedom from sin, and how the promises of God never fail. Andrew Wilson brings these G...

With a new cover and bonus epilogue included in the refreshed version of The Accident by A.M. Heath , I was delighted to reread this epistolary story. Focusing on Danielle Conner, a single mom, we are able to step into her shoes as she battles health and parenting challenges. While she is navigating both, matchmaking mayhem ensues, resulting in an unexpected encounter. Book Synopsis Can a wrong number bring true love or only heartache? Ashlyn Conner’s life is spiraling out of control. She's already lost her father, and now that her mom is battling thyroid cancer, she fears being orphaned at fifteen. When a friendly stranger texts the wrong number, Ashlyn finds a confidant she didn’t realize she needed. The more Ashlyn gets to know Chris Knowles, the more she’s convinced he could be the caring husband and loving father the Conner women so desperately need. If only she’d been honest and hadn’t made him believe he was texting her mother, Danielle. When the truth comes out, will she l...

Isn't it delightful when a short story ends up becoming more, based on readers' requests? Capsules and Crushes is a fun novella that  Amanda Tero Matthews  has developed for the  Sweethearts on Everwild series , and is a great way to prolong your summer with these Christian beach reads. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis When a time capsule reveals a secret crush, it might be the start to something new... if they can overcome the challenges of today. Devon Graves has one goal this weekend: forget that his fiancée is marrying someone else. He escapes with his metal detector to Everwild Island only to uncover a time capsule that should have stayed hidden. Makayla Bowman has secretly loved Devon since high school. When he invites her to spend the day with him treasure hunting, it’s a dream come true. Until she sees the teenage note she wrote about him in his possession. F...

This is a book that every church can benefit from, regardless of the makeup of their congregation. Models for a Multicultural Church by Kenneth Robert Nehrbass and Eunice Hong is rich with real-life examples from churches all across the United States. Offering a multitude of ideas on how churches can embrace their changing communities, along with an evaluation tool to assess church life, pastors and lay leaders will enjoy hearing of God's incredible work among the nations right at our doorsteps. Many thanks to Baker Academic , Brazos Press , and  NetGalley  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Practical Guidance for Understanding and Assessing Your Congregation's Multicultural Posture In a world where conversations about diversity are often met with both hope and skepticism, it can be difficult to know how to lead a church in cross-cultural practices that faithfully reflect the kingdom of God in...

After reading  Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham , I've been absolutely hooked on how she writes a Regency story! Pride and Practicality follows Simon Reeves' sister, Arianna, as she returns home to her family after escaping a scandal. I love her redemption story and am so thrilled that I've also been able to meet my favourite clergyman, Thomas Bridges. Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis In a world ruled by reputation, compassion may be the most scandalous act of all. Arianna Reeves knows how quickly admiration can turn into exile. One poorly placed trust, one disastrously charming rake, and she is no longer society's darling—but its favorite cautionary tale. Now returned home—uninvited and unmistakably whispered about—Arianna is determined to make amends with her estranged family and do something useful with her thoroughly ruined life. Even ...