Thursday, May 28, 2020

Remember Me by Sharon Garlough Brown



Here is the book summary:
"'It is finished,' Jesus says. It's a bold declaration for us to make too. What does it mean to say 'It is finished' when so much is unfinished? It means we are people who live hope in two directions, both backward and forward. We long for the kingdom to come in fullness, even as it has already come. And we trust that the One who has begun the good work in us and for us will indeed complete it." In this sequel to Shades of Light, Katherine Rhodes, the beloved director of the New Hope Retreat Center, finds her own grief tapped by Wren Crawford's struggles with depression and loss. Through a series of letters to Wren, Katherine reflects on the meaning of Christ's suffering and shares her own story of finding hope. How does one begin to live again under the crushing weight of grief? And how can healing come when there's so much left unresolved? With Katherine as a companion in sorrow, Wren moves forward in her commitment to paint the stations of the cross for a prayer journey at New Hope, discovering along the way a deeper communion with the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief. Readers are invited into a similar journey of reflection through Katherine's words and Wren's paintings. At the back of the book, a devotional guide with Scripture readings, prayer prompts, and full-color art provides the opportunity to ponder the depths of God's love by meditating on Jesus' journey to the cross.

And now, my review:
I have read most of this author’s work before and this book was like picking up right where I left off.  It ties in the characters from other books and brings a bit more life to them.  This book is a sequel to Shades of Light but can stand alone and does not have to be read with the others in order to follow it.  It sure is a nice addition.  My favorite parts are the Spiritual Direction/Retreat sections.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.





Tuesday, May 19, 2020

The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear



Here is the book summary:
Can Love Form Amidst Tensions of War?
During the clash between Union and Confederacy, quiet Tennessean Pearl MacFarlane is compelled to nurse both Rebel and Yankee wounded who seek refuge at her family’s farm. She is determined to remain unmoved by the Yankee cause—until she faces the silent struggle of Union soldier Joshua Wheeler, a recent amputee. The MacFarlane family fits no stereotype Joshua believed in; still he is desperate to regain his footing—as a soldier, as a man, as a Christian—in the aftermath of his debilitating injury. He will use his time behind enemy lines to gather useful intelligence for the Union—if the courageous Rebel woman will stay out of the line of danger.

Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear.

More in the Daughters of the Mayflower series:
The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1620 Atlantic Ocean (February 2018)
The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo – set 1725 New Orleans (April 2018)
The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep – set 1760 during the French and Indian War (June 2018)
The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1774 Philadelphia (August 2018)

The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear – set 1794 on the Wilderness Road (October 2018)
The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall – set 1814 Baltimore (December 2018)
The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo – set 1836 Texas (February 2019)
The Golden Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1849 San Francisco (April 2019)
The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1860 Utah (July 2019)

And now, my review:
I found The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear to be a wonderfully romantic war-based read.  The war between the North and South in the United States was wondrously depicted by this author.  The pull of what was going on with both sides.  The mandated help called upon and the internal tug-of-war to truly want to make well.  I enjoyed that she penned the coming together of a person of the North with a person of the South.   She also includes another marriage of sorts that was tough stuff back in the day.  I couldn’t put this one down until I reached the last page.  I highly recommend this romantic read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


https://www.amazon.com/Rebel-Bride-Daughters-Mayflower/dp/164352240X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1589919855&sr=8-1

https://www.christianbook.com/the-rebel-bride-10/shannon-mcnear/9781643522401/pd/522402?event=ESRCG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rebel-bride-shannon-mcnear/1131015160?ean=9781643522401