Christian Shelves

After reading some of the Gilded Age books by Grace Hitchcock , I'm delighted that I've been able to finish the Best Laid Plans series , set in the Regency era. To Win a Wager is a thrilling conclusion to the adventures that a tightknit group of ladies share, with equally devout men alongside them. Taking us to the Scottish Highlands, we get to learn about clan life and clandestine activities through Tess and Jamie's tale. Many thanks to Kregel Publications for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis A Regency-era enemies-to-lovers romance set in the magnificent Scottish Isles Tess Hale has always been taught to fend for herself, but she never needed to until the night bounty hunters come knocking. It's 1813 in Great Britain, and Tess's best laid plans crumble when her father sends her alone in the dead of night to an island cottage to escape them. She finds herself in a world of warring clans sh...

Back when I started posting book reviews, I shared the following about what I wouldn't really include: Too many tropes. I'm undecided on how I feel about tropes, which is fine with me. I don't need to have an opinion on everything, so if I'm on the fence about tropes in the first place, I'll only add them sparingly. I recognize that they help readers quickly identify if the book contains a theme they enjoy, but too many tropes and after a while, I feel like it's a movie trailer that tells you every single element that you'll possibly encounter in the film (music? lights? car chases? guitars? ponies? We have it all!). - Review Style I haven't deviated much from this practice as I'm much more plot-driven when it comes to picking books; however, in reading several hundreds of books since putting this out there, I've had the opportunity to refine my thinking a little bit on specific tropes. These are only my opinions as even the interpretation of tro...

Whenever I fill out online questionnaires, I always gravitate toward the mountains over the beach. However, based on the stories that  Amanda Tero Matthews has developed for the Sweethearts on Everwild series , I could be persuaded to spend more time on the island. Flip-Flops and Family Friends is the second Sweethearts book, and its alliteration is as catchy as the characters we get to meet in Sara and Spencer. There is lots of time to read the earlier books as this doesn't release until February 26, 2027, meaning you can escape to the island during winter! Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Spending a family vacation together might give Spencer a chance to earn Sara's trust, but six years of resentment won't disappear overnight. Sara Trapani almost lost her brother in a car accident because of Spencer Quinn. So, when Spencer shows up for their family vacation, she...

It's apt that I get to read a book about the Reformation during the month of October! In fact, Reading the Reformation by Zachary Purvis offers an even broader appreciation for this anniversary month beyond Reformation Day by highlighting the countless individuals involved in this significant Christian movement. 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 During the Reformation, theologians wrote, colleagues annotated, scribes recorded, and printers toiled, bringing Protestant doctrine and practice to life and transforming European society. Demonstrating the benefit of integrating histories of culture and scholarship with historical theology, this book invites readers to view the Reformation and its writings with fresh eyes. Instead of focusing solely on the printing press as an agent of change, Reading the Reformation recalls the forgotten methods o...

As one of my favourite series that I've read over the past year,  The Reluctant Romantics series  keeps knocking it out of the park with each new release. The Marriage Goal by Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht is a book you'll want to enjoy with Christmas around the corner, filled with plenty of literature-infused banter and heartwarming moments along the way. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis To love and to cherish, until death or visa fraud do us part. Juliet: Taking a job as the Caldwell Chargers' new legal counsel was a calculated risk of pros and cons. Pro: it’s a prestigious position at my age. Con: I’m stuck working with my older brother’s best friend—the man who broke my teenage heart eight years ago. I’ve spent years avoiding Myles Delavan, and now he’s everywhere. The flirty goalie with gorgeous hair is a tempting distraction I can’t afford. Right up there with my med...

This is it! Anytime by Kristina Welch  is the third book in the Mayberry University series where we get to encounter students with a heart for Jesus and a passion to serve Him wherever He calls them. In this opposites attract new adult romance, we meet Janie and Mav who are like day and night in their personalities and temperaments in every way, except in their love for God. 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:  While Anytime could be read as a standalone, this is a heads up that there is a lot of terminology that is dependent on the previous books, especially around the university itself with all of the lingo and the nicknames for the characters. A man's shirt is also removed and there is talk of skimpy clothing. Book Synopsis Rigid productivity queen,  meet prank-loving chaos monger. Can he wait for God to lead the way? Can she stop trying to map it all out...

Readers looking for a book that asks questions about the origin of the world and its intended culmination will find much to ruminate on in The Echoes of Eden by R.J. Stevens . It is a philosophical and theological treat to think through the Christian worldview in this ordered and sequential analysis that moves from Genesis to Revelation.  Ideal for personal study or group study, there is a devotional component to this book that allows readers to dive into the material more deeply. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Please note that the author of this work has the same name as another author of romance novels, but are two different people. Book Synopsis "Before you were born, the Echoes of Eden were calling your name." In an age where truth feels negotiable, goodness subjective, and purpose self-constructed, we still sense a quiet longing for a world that was once whole and coherent. The...