Please post book reviews and/or comments on Christian books that you have read in January 2013 here

If you are participating in the 2013 Christian Reading Challenge:

Extra, Extra Bonus

Spread the Word:  Post a review of a book that you have read in the monthly review topic and you will be entered for a random drawing of a WL book to be chosen by me (valued under $15).  There will be a minimum of 4 drawings a year with maybe a couple of more thrown in.  You do not have to track them.  I will get the names from the thread.  A person may only win once.

FYI - I am exempt

I recently finished a couple books and will try to get the reviews all posted here soon. One that I finished is not fiction but was really good. It is Ragged Hope by Cynthia Ruchti. 

Basically she writes this for people who have been hurt by others actions. Someone who got divorced through no fault of their own, a person who had their identity stolen, etc. She also gives a lot of encouragement and help for their friends and what to say, how to respond around them, etc. I cried through parts and cheered them all on. It is heartbreaking reading some of these and yet very encouraging as well. Would give it 5 stars. 

Today I finished the 1979 release of Mystical Life of Jesus by H. Spencer Lewis, Ph. D., F.R.C.  It's an alternative view of Jesus's history and life.  While much of it is grounded in alternative texts that are readily available to the public, he often alludes to texts that are in the Rosicrucian archives and are unavailable for fact checking.  He attempts to prove the divinity of Jesus Christ by engaging comparative mythos from religions all around the world.  Most of these are accurate, aside from his reference to Krishna being crucified.  An interesting read, but I would very much advise the reader to double-check the author's references themselves.  Full review available here.

I've been lax in my christian reading.......but I finally finished one for this month.  I read June Bug by Chris Fabry; a great read.  A young girl is traveling (living) with her "Dad" in an RV.  The book starts out with them parked in a Walmart parking lot.  This is the only life she has known..........Back in Kentucky grandparents are still looking for their granddaughter.  The mother's car went into the river one night, she got out but her baby didnt.    How did June Bug get with this man and her mother and grandparents not know where she is??  A beautiful story, happy but wistful sad..........

I think with this book I have now read as many christian reading books this year as I did all year of 2012.......off to check my challenge list to see......

Hi...just joining in if that's okay? :)  I just finished a book recently. The title is In The Company of Secrets. This one is the first in the Postcards from Pullman series by Judith Miller.  It chronicles the journey to America of Olivia Mott, a former housemaid, and Lady Charlotte, the only daughter of the Earl and Countess of Lanshire Hall.  Olivia's dream is to study under a famous chef and become a chef, herself.  Lady Charlotte has a secret which she insists Olivia help her to hide.  Jewels are stolen and the two find their way to America and forced into a new type of relationship as they try to survive in a new world.  Other well-rounded characters fill in the story line as Olivia and Charlotte make their way to Pullman, Illinois where Olivia's cousin, Albert, works for the famous Pullman Company.  Mr. Pullman has built an ideal town, or utopia, for his workers but things are not as lovely as they seem.  The author does leave several loose ends in the end to be carried over to the next book in the series.  While I enjoyed the book one character, Mr. Howard, gets a bit wearisome after awhile.  Fred, the other love interest seems more believable and real.  Chef Rene is just plain loveable as Olivia finds out when she goes to work for him at the beautiful hotel in town.  I found myself looking up information on the town of Pullman and it's history to add to my sense of the community.  There are some interesting twists and happiness such as when Olivia finds God.  Otherwise, there is much underlying tension throughout the book which adds to its reading interest.  I am looking forward to my start in the next book of the series. I know this is an older series but maybe someone hasn't read it yet.  Oh, and a nice touch are the recipes the author added in the back of the book. 

Welcome jacci-jerri!

Feel free to post a review or remark any time.

Welcome Jarri! 

Lynn, I read that one! Chris has a different style of writing but I enjoyed it. 

I finished another book yesterday. Winter in Full Bloom by Anita Higman. This has got to be one of the most emotional books I have read. I would definitely give it 5 stars. Lily is a woman who has lost her husband to a heart attack, finds out that she has a twin sister who she never met, and then winds her way to the land down under. There she meets an Aussie who is quite brash but yet attractive. Needless to say there are back stories with both of them and this deals a lot with family. Soo much in here and way too involved to tell everything. I would definitely urge everyone to read it but be ready with the tissues. Some hard topics are dealt with. 

Thank you for the welcome! :)   I'm going to look up a few books that were mentioned.  I'm getting a little bogged down in the second of the Pullman series but probably will give it a bit more time.  I also have a Kathryn Cushman waiting in the wings and a new book I picked up the other day that is more spiritual self-help. 

I finishing up Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska by  Ocienna Fleiss, Tricia Goyer.  I've always loved the Love Finds You books...........this one was one of the beast if not the best one I've read!!!!    Great literary illustrations of the beauty of Alaska along with a wonderful romance!!  Alaska is on my bucket list and this book makes me want to move it further to the top!!

I just got finished with Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering. This is a mystery with an english gent who just happens to remind me of a character out of an Agatha Christie novel. The whole plot and dialogue read like an Agahta Christie or Sherlock Holmes. If you don't like that style of mystery, you probably won't enjoy this one. But I read through it and thought it was pretty good. The Christianity is minimal and I would have preferred more. Overall a decent book though. I would give it 4 stars. I also wrote a review on the actual page if anyone wants to read it. 

Today I finished Untamed How the Wild Side of Jesus Frees Us to Live and Love with Abandon by Lisa Harper.  I liked the concept, but I was disappointed in the execution.  Many of her personal stories don't adequately illustrate her points about Jesus and his disciples.  Another problem with her writing is her half-hearted attempts to modernize New Testament stories.  Instead of completely reframing the story in modern terms, she decides to just throw in cell phones or Joseph having a photo of Jesus.  Full review is posted here.

Finishing up Love Finds You in Nazareth, Pennsylvania by Melanie Dobson......This is a unique Love Finds You book.   It begins with a group of Germans in the 1700s preparing to come to America to minister to the Indians.......Part of their religion is to cast lots to see where God leads them, their method of making decisions to include who marries whom.........Also in their colony, they live in separate building:  single men, married men, the women, children, even a nursery......your child is taken from you to live in the nursery until they reach a certain age.  One couple married before boarding the ship to America;  they've arrived in America, and do not have any time alone until their appointed one hour.........a very interesting book.

Just finished up both the 2nd and 3rd of the Pullman series with Olivia Mott working in the historical city of Pullman, Illinois. When I started book 2 I thought I was getting bogged down in the first 10 or so pages, but it shortly picked up from there.  The characters were given many more fascinating facets to their personal stories and it kept my interest.  So much so that I flew through the 3rd book in the series!  Overall, I highly recommend the series especially if you enjoy reading about historical cities in America.  Good romance stories intertwined too for several characters along with some experiencing redemption and God's grace.  Good books!