A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

Fans of Downton Abbey will enjoy  this series set in Edwardian England. "A Refuge at Highland Hall" is book three in the Edwardian Brides series. You can read this book as a stand alone novel without having read the first two books. However,  there are a lot of characters that were developed in the previous books so the list of characters in the front of the book is helpful.

As Britain is involved in World War I , Penny Ramsey leaves London with her married sister and brother-in-law who have taken in eight orphan children. They go to Highland Hall after the bombing begins in London. Penny develops a friendship with Alex Goodwin, a Royal Naval Air Service pilot in training.

As their relationship develops while Alex is at war, you get a sense of what a service pilot's life was like during the war as well as the hardships faced at home. Their relationship has some challenges as the realities of war and hardship hit home. For all of the characters, their faith in God is their anchor and hope during the challenging times.

 There are also some interesting side plots involving the interment camps for German men who happened to be living in Britain at the beginning of the war and the interaction of those Germans with the British people.

This is an enjoyable read for those who like historical romances set during World War I.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

No Fear by Tony Perkins

This book by Tony Perkins is a collection of stories. These stories are of young people who have stood by their Christian convictions in very difficult situations. In spite of being harassed, even receiving death threats at times, each individual managed to persevere with grace and dignity. Each story also had a related story of a Biblical hero to illustrate the principles from each person's experience. In spite of the opposition these individuals experienced, they stood up for biblical truth and are an encouragement to all who seek to live out their faith.

 

There are questions for discussion at the end of each chapter to aid in its use in a small group setting.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. 

Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorius

I thought this was an excellent memoir of a young man unable to communicate while being physically disabled. He was aware of all that was going on around him, and suffered some abuse at the hands of his caregivers at times. Fortunately those incidents of abuse were not frequent as he had a very caring family supporting him. His story is a good reminder to show compassion to those who are physically and mentally disabled and who have no voice.

Messy Grace by Caleb Kaltenbach

This is an intriguing book. The author is a pastor who was raised by LGBT parents and experienced the hatred of Christians first hand.  As he grew older he was introduced to the Christian faith and became a follower of Jesus Christ. Not long after he became a Christian he went to Bible College and there felt called into fulltime ministry.

The book's title says it all. It is messy balancing grace and truth when we as Christians encounter those who live a different lifestyle than ours. There are many good points the author makes throughout the book about how to live our lives in this balance. One of these is to continue to love people even when they live a way which is contrary to what God says. The over riding theme of the book is to build relationships in love  and pursue people in the LGBT community in the same way God pursues us.

This is not easy or comfortable, but God may be calling us to get out of our comfort zone to share the gospel. We do not need to change our beliefs and values to be in a relationship with another person. This tension that we feel between grace and truth is love.  The author shares a lot of his own story and his relationship with his parents. This adds to the book and illustrates a lot of the principles he shares.

This is a thought provoking book and I highly recommend this to Christians who are serious about living out their faith in what the author would call a "messy" way and be a loving presence in the lives of those who are different than us.

I received this book from "Blogging for Books" for this review.  

It's Good to Be Queen by Liz Curtis Higgs

I have to be honest, I have never given much thought to the Queen of Sheba. I was familiar with the mention of her visit to King Solomon, but did not think beyond that one event. Liz Curtis Higgs brings the Queen of Sheba alive through this fascinating and thought provoking research of Scripture.

The Queen of Sheba had to have certain qualities to enable her to embark on a long journey in search of the source of Solomon's wisdom and riches. She had to be independent, bold, confident in herself, but also willing to be teachable and to humble herself. In searching for the source of Solomon's wealth and wisdom, she discovered the God he served for herself.

Liz Curtis Higgs never disappoints the reader as she delves into the background of the story of the Queen of Sheba. The insights and truths she shares makes for fascinating reading and study. A study guide is included in the back of the book to aid in a group discussion. As you study the life of the Queen of Sheba you will discover some truths you can apply to your own life. I would highly recommend this study for any women seeking to learn and grow in God's Word  individually or as a group.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund

Political and religious intrigue in the 16th century is the setting for this historical work of fiction. Katharina von Bora is a nun at an Abbey and has no hope for life in the outside world until she began to read the writings of Martin Luther that were smuggled in to the  Abbey. She along with some of her fellow nuns escape during the night and are cared for by Martin Luther and his followers.

Luther's sweeping condemnation of the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church at that time period and his reformation of the Church puts his life and the lives of those closest to him in danger. Although attracted to each other, Katharina and Martin deny their feelings for one another. Martin, because he does not want to risk someone's else's life when his is in danger and Katharina mainly out of pride. The difference in their social status also plays a part in their hesitation to marry each other.

The historical context of the conflict between the peasants and nobility and the ongoing impact of Martin Luther's reformation of the Catholic Church makes for a fascinating background of their stories. The times were tumultuous and so is their relationship.  

I enjoyed this story and also discovering what life was like during that time period. I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Second Street Station by Lawrence H. Levy

In the late 1800's, women are protesting to get the right to vote and also to be employed as police officers. Mary Handley from early on has desired to be a detective. She gets her chance by being hired by the New York Police Department to solve the murder of Charles Goodrich. This historical work of fiction is based on historical events and famous people of the time such as J.P. Morgan, Thomas Edison, and Nikola Tesla. The story gives you a glimpse of that time in New York City as well as the darker side of life there.

Mary herself is based on real person which makes the story all the more interesting. The plot keeps you engaged throughout the book and the activities of a hired killer makes for added suspense as well as the search to find the killer of Charles Goodrich.

This is an enjoyable historical mystery and the ending leads you to believe it will be the first in a series of adventures of Mary Handley.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.