How Sweet the Sound by Amy K. Sorrells

Abuse is not an easy thing to deal with at all.  There's never any sense in it and it's something hard to explain, difficult to hear, and probably harder to read.  My heart couldn't help but break for Annie.  I so desperately wanted her to be free from the bondage.  I wanted someone to value her and to treat her in the way she should have always been treated.... the way God intended us all to be treated. 

This book tell the story of Tamar, while using different characters.  I have always enjoyed the sort of Tamar.  I couldn't relate to her, but I loved her heart. She was not loved and that always broke my heart.  The part that I loved the most is how she wanted to be a part of God's family and God sees to it to mention her forever by her name and chooses to identify Himself with her.  So beautiful. The redemption and restoration in this story is beautiful.

Annie has seen things in her 13 years that she never should have seen or endured.  Even though the character is so young, it's not written with such a young audience in mind.  I didn't find it to read like a young adult book at all.  It wasn't hard to step back into 13, although I thought it might be.  Amy Sorrells does a great job at making sure the book grips the heart of the adults. In my opinion, she picked a wonderful story in the Bible to parallel a fiction book with.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

An Indianapolis native and graduate of DePauw University, Amy lives with her husband, three boys and a gaggle of golden retrievers in central Indiana. After writing and editing for her college newspaper, she combined a nursing degree with journalism and creative writing, which led to publishing and editing a wide array of medical and nursing writing and multimedia projects over the past 21 years, a position as director of communications of her church’s children’s ministry, as well as a weekly column for a local newspaper which ran from 2009-2012. She has been a two-time semi-finalist for the ACFW Genesis awards, and was the winner of the 2011 Women of Faith writing contest.

When she’s not reading or writing, Amy loves spending time with her three sons; spicy lunches and art gallery walks with her husband; digging in her garden sans gloves; walking her dogs; up-cycling old furniture and junk; photography; and friends.



ABOUT THE BOOK

From a distance, the Harlans appear to be the perfect Southern family. Wealth and local fame mask the drama and dysfunction swirling through their family line. But as the summer heats up, a flood tide of long hidden secrets surface.

Devastation from a rape followed by the murder of two family members brings three generations of the Harlans together on their pecan plantation in Bay Spring, Alabama. Chief among them is Anniston, who by the time she turned thirteen thought she’d seen it all. But as her heart awakens to the possibility of love, she begins to deal with her loneliness and grief.

This tender coming-of-age tale, inspired by the story of Tamar in 2 Samuel 13, shows how true healing and hope comes only from God. Though our earthly family can wound and disappoint, our heavenly Father brings freedom to those long held captive through His mercy and grace.

If you would like to read the first chapter of How Sweet the Sound, go HERE.
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I received this book free from CFBA and David C. Cook Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Healer of Carthage by Lynne Gentry

From present to past, this story reveals history and hard times.  Lisbeth decides to join her father on one of his digs to look for her mother who had died on an archaeological digs years ago. Lisbeth is actually a doctor, who is going through a tough time at the moment. Her decision has cost someone their life.  While on this search, she's hoping she can get her mind back on the things she needs to know and do.

However, when she is searching in a cave, she finds herself being transported back in time.  She is back in Rome and about to be sold as a slave.  The early church is just forming, so Christians are being persecuted for their beliefs.  Despite that, Christianity is growing.

Carthage itself is suffering from a plague that Dr. Lisbeth might could just save them from.  She is more focused on getting out of this time, finding her mother, and once again returning to her father. Her father is, no doubt, worried now that he's lost her to this cave again. 

I like the history that filled this book.  The storyline was very creative.  I had hesitations about this book, but I am really glad I read it.  It was an interesting look into Rome, the early Church, and the people of that time.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Thief by Stephanie Landsem

This is a very interesting book from a different angle than most.  I like this biblical fiction story because it puts you into the mindset of those who crucified Jesus. When you read the Bible, it's hard to look at the people in the stories and say, "How can they not believe." However, this book sheds light on the life of the Gentiles and the Jews. It reminds the readers about what they have been taught and what their picture of the Messiah would be.

Nissa is a Jewish woman that strongly believes that God has abandoned her, after a rough life.  She has the responsibility of taking care of her brother Cedron, who is blind. She has to rely on others to help provide their needs.  But then Cedron is healed.  Thinking life would suddenly be a lot better, it gets worse.

It was fascinating to read about how the people were so divided against each other.  One group wasn't Roman enough, another Jewish enough, etc.  Then to see how Jesus brought those sides together only with the reason that they hated Him.

Knowing how the story ends, I was prepared to be sad.  The crucifixion of Jesus is never and should never be an easy thing to read.  I found this to be such a good book to read right before the start of Lent. 

This is the second book in the Living Water series.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Well by Stephanie Landsem

I like the cover of this book.  I think it fits perfectly with the story itself and the darker colors seem to  fit the emotions of the woman at the well.  It's in humble colors that are not very bright and the woman is not in clear focus.

The woman at the well is a fascinating story in Scripture and I liked how well this book depicted that scene.  I had forgotten how often the children are held responsible for the sin of the parents, whether they were guilty of the sin or not.  For some reason I remembered it in the Old Testament, but forgot of that in the New.  Seeing Nava stoned and not forgiven by those who should have been the first to forgive was sad.  It always makes me mad when I read of those who were "religious and followed laws" instead of Christ and His teachings.  Then I remind myself that I have the whole Scripture and they didn't, so who knows what I would have thought had I been there.

I wanted to reach through the pages of the book to help Mara.  It was hard to watch her struggles, knowing that someone should help her!  I was glad when she found Jesus because then I knew she'd have all she ever wanted and/or needed.  

Stephanie Landsem turned this beautiful story into a journey where the readers get to imagine what the woman at the well was feeling and perhaps some of her thoughts/feelings/struggles.  She takes you through the scriptures and writes a book based on a true biblical account.  It was fun to think about a woman that I so often read about and never stop to think about or ponder on.  Her life dramatically changed when she met Jesus and how fun it was to think about that transformation and excitement!

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Love in a Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews

This book is a beautiful picture of redemption and of how God brings something absolutely beautiful from something that seems like such a mess.  A biblical fiction novel, this book focuses on Hosea, a minor prophet in Scripture, and his harlot wife, Gomer.

God called Hosea to do some hard things, and this was one of them.  To imagine what he was thinking when God told him to marry Gomer!  I'm sure my first thought would have been, "Seriously?!" 

It took me some time to relate to Gomer but I was able to feel compassion for her as I thought about what she must have experienced in her life and what had led her to prostitution.  And how beautiful that God chose Hosea, a man of God, to pour out love on her, to look past her faults, and to help her see the God he loved and worshipped.

As you read through Hosea, you see this beautiful picture of us, His children, and how we are the harlots.  God still loves us and pursues us thought and longs for us to come to him, but we tend to give our attentions and love to anyone and anything but Him.

Mesu Andrews has painted a beautiful picture in my mind that I will always remember and think about as I read through Hosea.  She has such a gift to bring to life a book in the Bible that we think is sometimes hard to relate to.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Rebekah by Jill Eileen Smith

This series has been so much fun for me to read.  I have been going through Genesis for the past 6 months and really studying it and learning it and committing it to heart.  So when I saw this book about Rebekah, I knew it would be a fun book to read since I had just spent so much time learning about her and being so impressed with her character qualities.  Really....who would water 10 camels at approximately 83 trips WITHOUT complaining or huffing or puffing?!

I think Isaac and Rebekah are so easy to relate to because of how they love each other, but still mess up and argue, and forgive.  Rebekah knew the prophecy about Jacob, as did Isaac, but Isaac still chose to favor Esau.  I think its a beautiful picture of God carrying out His will even when we try to get in the way and manipulate a little to give us our desired outcome. 

They are even more easily to speak to parents because I think we can have a tendency to favor one child over another depending on days, attitudes, circumstances.  This story always reminds me to look at my children and see them each for who they are...children of God....both with positives and negatives, but still the qualities I love.

Jill has such a wonderful way at making Rebekah come to life.  Although it is a biblical story, it is a fictional book and she stays close to the biblical account.  However, she does have her own opinions about conversations and thoughts, as any fictional book does.  I feel she has spent much time pouring over Rebekah and really thinking about her and that's why her writing comes to life so easily for the readers. 

This is the second book her in Wives of the Patriarchs series.  I am looking forward to the third book in this series!

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Mary Magdalene by Diana Wallis Taylor

I had read and reviewed Mrs. Taylor's book on Martha and really enjoyed that book.  That was really one of the first biblical fiction books that I had ever read.  It was different for me to stop and put myself in a well-known lady's shoes and add thoughts to her story.

Mary Magdalene is probably one of the most well-known ladies in the Bible and she has quite a range of views when people try to portray her.  That's not what's important, though.  The fact is that Mary Magdalene was a woman who followed after Jesus and followed Him to the foot of the cross.  She wasn't perfect by any means.  Throughout this book, Mrs. Taylor shares a nickname of hers, an ailment that she lived with and needed healing from, and shares her devotion to Jesus.

As with all biblical fiction, I feel like I need to say that this is not the exact Bible story, but it definitely follows the biblical text.  However, as I'm sure you would figure out, since it is a fiction book, liberties are taken when it comes to the thoughts of the characters.  I would suggest you read the biblical account first as a background and then grab this book along with it. 

Mrs. Taylor did a wonderful job, in my opinion, of making her reader want to go back and read the biblical account of Mary Magdalene and her role in history.  Another great book of biblical fiction, in my view.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Love's Sacred Song by Mesu Andrews

Having just read and reviewed another book in the biblical history fiction books, I was excited to continue reading in the same genre.  This book walked the reader through Song of Solomon and told the beautiful story between Solomon and Arielah.  Arielah has known from the beginning that she would one day marry Solomon.  However, can Solomon live with just one woman?  Can Arielah adjust to being the wife of a king?

As I was reading this, I found myself wanting to go back and read about Solomon.  I felt that Mesu Andrews did a wonderful job following the biblical account and making sure that she only took liberties to add to the story when it was left unclear as to what thoughts had happened that weren't documented.  Like all biblical fiction books, it doesn't replace the Bible, but I think it reminds you that these characters written about in the Bible were humans and human thoughts, just like us.  I loved taking a realistic look at what King Solomon might have been like and in how many ways he was actually pulled in his life, as far as his duty and his daily routine....those things that all of us can relate to.  This is a wonderful love story that brings tears to your eyes as you explore the story.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Sarai by Jill Eileen Smith

What a beautiful story of Abraham and Sarai.  Jill did a great job of sticking to the biblical text, but still adding her own thoughts and ideas into how Sarai and Abram might be as a couple.  She added the humanness to them that we so often forget about when we read the biblical account of them.  Do know that this isn't the EXACT story in the Bible, but Jill does try to stay true to the culture and the biblical account.  However, the Bible doesn't tell us EXACTLY what Sarai was thinking in certain instances, such as when Abram wants her to say she is his sister.  This is where Jill takes her own liberties in the story, but she states in the back that she researches the history, tries to stick to the biblical account, portions of the story with not in Scripture allowed her to use her imagination, and that any errors made are hers.  This mae me want to read this book even more.
One thing that I loved was when she wrote about the sacrifices that had to be made.  A choice had to be made to sacrifice Abram's lamb that followed him everywhere or Sarai's rebellious ram.  It had never occurred to me before that of course, as a shepherd, it would be so incredibly hard to give up your best as a sacrifice.  Who would want to give up the obedient ones?  You'd be more than happy to give up those rebellious ones that cause so much work, but the ones that followed your command and stayed with you?  I had never stopped to think about that before.  I just always figured that they didn't have as much love for animals as we typically do today.  But I really don't think that's the case.  I really think that shepherds love their flock and they tend to their flocks and they know them.  Of course they would have a deep love for them.  But God called them to give Him their best sacrifices, one without spots or blemish.

This is the first book in the Wives of the Patriarchs series.  I have never read any of her books before but I've already downloaded another of hers to read in the David series. 

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.