Texas Book-aholic

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

It's rough and it's smooth. It's dark and it's light. It's a masterpiece. It's us. Here in Sudan. We are scared of it and drawn to it. There is an open door, and there is much opposition.

In the dusty, Islamic country of Sudan, Mia, who is raising her family in a Muslim country, has learned to boldly share her faith. Rania, the daughter of a wealthy Sudanese Arab, seeks to find the reason for her sister's sudden disappearance. Mia holds some of the answers, but both women quickly discover they must each walk through their own doors to freedom, the freedom that only comes when you trust God's sovereignty more than manmade security.

Part of New Hope Publishers' line of contemporary missional fiction, Door to Freedom, the sequel to Side by Side, opens the reader's eyes to modern-day persecution and the life of Muslims in Sudan. Based on real-life events, Door to Freedom also reveals some of the struggles that Christians face when living under Islamic law. The reader will be inspired to pray for those who are persecuted for their faith as well as for the salvation of the persecutors.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Author of the captivating novel Side by Side, Jana Kelley is a Texan who hardly ever lives in Texas. Raised in Southeast Asia, Jana developed a love for cross-cultural living early in life. Her love for writing came soon after. Jana returned to Texas to attend East Texas Baptist University. She and her husband married a month after she graduated, and by their second anniversary, they were living in a remote African town. After 13 years living in Africa and the Middle East, Jana, her husband, and their three boys moved to Southeast Asia where they currently live.

What would it be like to give up everything you had and move to a foreign land ? You don't speak the language and the culture shock is enormous when you get there. . As you settle in to this new place you are to call home now , you must rely on your faith to keep you safe. For Mia and her family it is a journey that will find them surrounded by a culture that died not believe in Jesus. The author has written a story that had me glued to the book as a world I have never seen was opened up to me with poetic words.

Mia and her husband Michael have come to live in Sudan where it is hot and dusty. Modern conveniences are few and far between. I loved how boldly they were as they shared Christianity with others. I can't imagine the danger they would be in if they were caught speaking the name of Jesus. Mia wants to fit in with the women in her village and made a great effort to be their friend. The story is riveting and at times heartbreaking and brings forth the struggles they endure. I thought Mia and her husband were very devoted to their work to spread the gospel and loved how the author showed them at times in danger of being found out.

My favorite character was Rania . She was very open to learning about Jesus but had to keep it hidden from her family. Her curiosity was pure and I loved how the author used scriptures to guide Rania through the teachings of Jesus. The story made me understand better the Muslim traditions and I found them fascinating. The journey that Rania takes is very compelling and it opened my eyes to the people who are persecuted daily for their religion. I can't imagine how hard it would be to stand up in a foreign land and declare that you are a Christian.

It is easy for us to forget about the many missionaries throughout the world, but this book reminded me that everyday somewhere someone is taking a stand for their beliefs. The story really delivers a powerful look into a world that few have witnessed and the many traditions that they hold with honor . We may not have the same beliefs but we all want freedom.

I received a copy of this book from LitFuse. The review is my honest opinion.

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/JKelley

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Monday, February 27, 2017

AMISH COOKING CLASS THE SEEKERS

This is the first book in a new series and it starts off with a wonderful cast of characters. The author once again has written a story that captures the essence of human spirit. I especially liked this book because it gives readers a glimpse into Amish cooking. Each character comes alive with the stroke of words that eloquently glide across the pages. I was so enthralled with the book that I read it in one day.

Heidi fills her days with keeping a well kept home, gardening and making delicious meals for her husband. She is happy except for the emptiness of not having a child. To keep herself busy and help bring in extra income, she offers cooking classes in her home. I know if I saw a flyer offering Amish cooking classes, I would be rushing to sign up. The author described the food that is made with such vividness that I could smell the dishes as they were cooking.

The people that sign up for the class have come to learn how to cook, but each one will walk away with so much more. I instantly loved each character and how they all were looking for companionship, acceptance, love and encouragement. As the group started getting to know each other, there were friendships started and a bond that grows between each one.

I found it very fascinating that Heidi and her husband , Lyle willingly let a complete stranger park his RV on their land . Ron was my favorite character because he could be any of us who look for forgiveness and a need to be liked. He is a man who is struggling to survive and looks for help wherever he can find it. I loved how the author shows how vulnerable he really is and the secret that He has lived with for a long time. His character is very relatable because we have felt lost at sometime . Will he fit into the cooking class ? Can he open up and find the unconditional love that God has for him?

There are other characters in the book that remind us how much rejection and loneliness can affect us. Each character was written with great passion and I came to like everyone of them and cheered them on as Heidi showed them grace and compassion. This is one book you don't want to miss. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to read about healing, forgiveness, friendship and His love for everyone. Don't miss the delicious recipes at the end. There are also discussion questions included that help you dig deeper as you reflect on your life.

"God commands us to forgive others, just as He forgives us."

I received a copy of this book from the author and Barbour Publishing . The review is my honest opinion.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS by ANE MULLIGAN

Wow! I just finished reading this book and I am so impressed by the intrigue, adventure, and outstanding characters. The author did such an amazing job on giving us a peek at what it's like to work around senators and other high powered officials . Her intricate details were so spot on that I felt like I was there watching government in action. What is really impressive is how the story weaves through different characters and gives us glimpses of how God works. I loved how a few of the characters struggled at times with their faith and how they relied on Him in their weakest moments.

Sienna is a very straight forward young woman hoping to make a difference in the political arena. She has moved from her hometown and is ready to jump in with enthusiasm. Do you remember what it was like when you landed the job you had always dreamed about? For Sienna it seems she has been waiting for just the right opportunity. Will the job compromise her beliefs? Can she do her job and not be tempted by worldly values? There are moments in the story where Sienna really starts to question where God is. Have you ever felt like He isn't listening to you? I loved how vulnerable she felt at times and her willingness to say she is angry with Him. As she gets more involved in her job, the story takes on an intriguing twist that literary had me on the edge of my seat.

The story has everything you look for in a romantic suspense/political thriller including unsavory characters, behind closed doors deals, a scheme for power and an unforgettable high octane race to outsmart the bad guys. I loved everything about this book and didn't want it to end. Throughout the book I loved the relationship Sienna has with her parents. Her father is so down to earth and gives Sienna great guidance as she struggles with her relationship with God. It's funny how we let our pride get in the way sometimes and make bad decisions. Sienna must face some hard choices and trust God to help her through her journey to the truth. I highly recommend this book to those looking for a book that grabs your attention and takes you on an intriguing and emotional ride.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Bookfun.org. The review is my own opinion.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

A MOTHER'S LOVE BY CHARLOTTE HUBBARD

This is one book that I couldn't put down. The author has written a very emotional story that grabs your attention as you feel the story come to life. It is hard to lose a family member. For Rose she has seen more than her share of tragedy. She has just buried her mom and now must face raising her child Gracie all alone. She has no one else in the world and knows she must support herself and her daughter.

Rose finds a job working at a retirement center cooking. She is able to take her daughter with her. Rose is a sweet woman who is grieving over the loss of her mother, father and husband. That is a heavy murder to carry. Has Rose lost her faith in God? Will this job help her and Gracie start to get their lives back together?

I fell instantly in love with Gracie. She is a very well mannered young girl. Her smile and outgoing personality lights up a room. People at the center take to her right away. I could see her sitting at the table playing games with the residents and giving them joy in their life. She is a ray of sunshine and plays a vital role in the story, " And a child shall lead them."

Matthias is a hard working man who has come to know Rose by helping her with the burial of her mom. He has taken a shine to Gracie and thinks she is a delightful child. When Rose finds out a secret that has been kept from her for many years, can Matthias help her work through it? Does she feel betrayed by the secret? Will she be able to forgive? The author has done an excellent job of showing us the consequences of hiding something. I love how Matthias stands by Rose and Gracie as more people are involved in the secret.

There are a few more characters in the book that the author introduces that shows the anger and resentment secrets can do to someone. The emotions were so real I could feel the pain and mistrust that came out. You don't want to miss this story that shows us forgiveness, faith and the unconditional love of a mother.

"Sometimes its the unexpected details that bring us to our knees."

"Forgiveness is a two-sided gift. The one who requests forgiveness is admitting a need for it, while the person who grants forgiveness has freed his own soul of any lingering doubt or trust.

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