Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund

I think good historical fiction fulfills two goals. It should entertain, as should all fiction. But it should also inform. Hedlund has done a good job in meeting those goals.

We have probably heard of Martin Luther and his role in the Reformation. But few of us may know how it came about that he married Katharina. We learn how that marriage developed as well as much about the conditions of the day.

As the novel opens, Katharina had been in a convent and was escaping. Some of Luther's writings had been smuggled in and the woman there were becoming enlightened. I was surprised to find that some of the women had been in the convent from a young age, perhaps five years old. Many were held there against their will. Some were terribly mistreated by the abbot. It was a dark time for the church and some of the priests were violent and immoral men.

Women who managed to escape, like Katharina, would make it to a sympathetic abbey and then be assigned for marriage. Katharina and her group ended up at Luther's abbey. Kate, as she came to be called, was a feisty one and refused to marry whom she had been assigned. She ended up being the last unwed woman and Luther, who did not want to ever marry, finally did so. He had come to appreciate Kate and her medicinal training. She was able to help Luther in providing treatment for his stomach ailment.

Hedlund has provided lots of historical detail about the time. We learn about the peasant uprising against the monasteries. Palaces of bishops and castles of nobility were attacked and burned. Many innocent men and women were killed. Luther's life was frequently in danger. He made some decisions that may have alienated the peasants but allowed the Reformation movement to continue.

Hedlund has added historical details in an Author's Note, identifying which parts of the novel are based on historical fact. There is a discussion guide too so this would make a good choice for a reading group.

I recommend this novel to those interested in the personal aspect of Luther and his wife and their role in the Reformation.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Jody Hedlund is a bestselling and award winning author of nearly a dozen books. She and her family live in Midland, Michigan. You can find out more at www.jodyhedlund.com.

WaterBrook Press, 400 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

Hearing God through Biblical Meditation by Mark Virkler

Merely reading the Bible is very different from hearing God speak to us through His Word. Virkler had provided us with a good strategy for hearing God's voice from the experience of Habakkuk. We are to go to a quiet place and still our thoughts and emotions. We are to fix our eyes on Jesus, seeing in the Spirit the dreams and visions of God. He helps us learn to recognize God's voice and encourages us to journal our prayers and God's answers.

Virkler gives practical instruction, such as five ways to be sure we are hearing God's voice in our biblical meditation. He shares the seven steps in biblical meditation providing a chapter on each step. He gives us the opportunity to practice the process, giving a section of reading with Scripture to meditate upon, then space to write with prompts added. He shares his own experiences so we can understand how the process happens.

Virkler also gives us the seven pillars of meditation, including steps to receiving knowledge through meditation. He includes instruction based on truths revealed in the Bible. He adds basic principles of interpreting the Bible, keys for inductive Bible study, and mistakes to avoid.

Virkler is strong on Bible meditation. “Meditation is the central way that God wants us to approach the Bible.” (89) He is no advocate of merely studying the Bible. He writes, “Study... Is no where endorsed in Scripture.” (170)

Virkler's emphasis on biblical meditation may be hard for some western thinking Christians to accept. We have had such an emphasis on Bible study we may have ignored the primary way God has designed to speak to us. I do recommend this book as a very good way to begin the process us biblical meditation. We are given steps that are easy to follow. We are also given the knowledge we need to make sure we are hearing God's voice and not something we are projecting into our experience.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Mark Virkler, Ph.D., and his wife are the cofounders of Communion with God Ministries (www.CWGMinistries.org) and Christian Leadership University (www.CLUonline.com). He has been teaching internationally for over thirty years.

Destiny Image, 186 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through The Book Club Network for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

Like Jesus by Jamie Snyder

This book is a good reality check. Have we built a counterfeit Jesus in our own hearts and minds, in our own image? Snyder reminds us that we are to be like Him, not make Him like us.

Snyder is quick to point out that we will never actually be like Jesus, but are we becoming like Jesus? We are all changing and becoming. Have we made the commitment to become like Jesus?

Snyder wants to make sure that we have the right idea of who Jesus is and how He acted. He explores a number of images of Jesus that have been created as a reflection on us, our lifestyle, our politics, and more. He helps us deconstruct those false images and construct the right one.

He asks some penetrating questions about our relationship with Jesus. He points out character traits and action of Jesus that may be surprising to some. He looks at Jesus' righteous anger. He notes, "So being like Jesus means getting angry at situations involving unfairness or inequality and being moved to act." With equal directness, he looks at real compassion, simple obedience, radical grace, and radical humility. He helps us understand how to go beyond just knowing the facts about Jesus to true life transformation through a relationship with Him.

I felt that hardly a page went by without my being challenged. For example, in the chapter about humility, Snyder writes, “Jesus made Himself nothing and then turned to us as His followers and said, 'Follow me. Follow me into obscurity. Follow me into selflessness. Follow me into an others-focused life. Follow me into my kingdom, the way is paved with radical humility.'” Ouch. And that is just one part of one chapter.

I highly recommend this book. It is a reality check and a challenge. It's a book one can read over and over again, renewing our passion for being like Jesus and having a relationship with Him. There are discussion questions included so this would be a great book to use as a group study.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Jamie Snyder is lead pastor of Lakeside Christian Church, where he preaches and reaches to thousands every week. He and his wife have three children and life in Kentucky.

David C Cook, 194 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review

Always Watching by Lynette Eason

I really liked the first novel in this new series about the Elite Guardians Agency. For this female reader, that the agency is owned and operated by women is great.

This story centers on Olivia, co-owner of the agency and previously on the police force. The agency has been contracted to protect Wade Savage, a psychiatrist with a popular night time talk show. He's being stalked and Wade's father hires the women to protect his son and granddaughter. The situation quickly gets very serious as one of the agency is nearly killed and Wade begins receiving threatening gifts.

There is lots of action and suspense that keeps the novel moving. I am always a bit disappointed, however, when suspense comes as a result of not calling for backup. Olivia went into potentially dangerous situations solo just too many times. But that was a minor defect in a novel with almost continuous action.

I liked the characters. Olivia reveals some of her past that helps us understand why she acts as she does today. Wade is a very compassionate man and a loving single father. Before long a budding romance develops between them. I liked twelve year old Amy too but was disappointed that she made some really poor choices when she should have known of the potential danger involved.

I pretty much narrowed down the identity of the stalker early on but Eason does give us a few red herrings to distract us. And then there was a twist at the end I didn't see coming.

I really liked the spiritual character development of Olivia most of all. She's mad at God as the novel begins but circumstances force to to reconsider God's role in her life.

I recommend this novel to readers who like mystery, suspense, and a strong group of women working to keep people safe.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice, the Deadly Reunions, and the Hidden Identity series. She lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

Revell, 336 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publishers for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

Come Empty by Saundra Dalton-Smith

We all experience pain, especially the emotional and spiritual kind that can drain the life out of us. When we've tried everything and still feel empty, we are given the invitation to come empty and be filled. “It is an invitation to be renewed, strengthened, guided, restored, and satisfied.”

Dalton-Smith shares her own experience of feeling empty after treating patients all day. She went to a conference, seeking to be filled. She realized she was spiritually dehydrated, with dryness of soul and spirit. She was thirsty for more of God in her life and ultimately found Him to be more than enough.

She shares some 80 devotions and suggests we choose 50 for a 50 day challenge. There is a great topical index at the back of the book so we can choose the devotions that especially speak to us. Each devotion takes about five minutes.

These devotions are different from anything I've read before. The first part is an expression of pain. These are heartfelt cries of the soul in the midst of grief, depression, anger, and many other emotions. Some of them deal with issues like alcoholism, dementia, cancer, jealousy, and many more. Next is given a very positive and loving reply from God. Each reading includes Scripture, going deeper questions, and a simple prayer.

These devotions are aimed at people who are really hurting and need a comforting word from God. These are not the kinds of devotions that spur healthy Christians on to repentance, good works, or holiness. Nonetheless, there are several devotions toward the end of the book that are about positive emotions, such as praise and contentment. The idea of the full range of devotions is to spend 30 – 40 days working through pain and then ten to twenty days transitioning to the fullness God offers.

Working through the readings in this book is a good way for readers to pour out life's hurts and receive God's healing love. I recommend the book.

Food for thought: “My presence may not change your situation, but it will always change you.”

You can find out more about the book, read an excerpt, share your story, and join the 5 Day “Come Empty” Challenge here.

I am taking part in a blog tour of this book and you can read other reviews here.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Saundra Dalton-Smith is a Board Certified internal medicine physician actively practicing in Alabama. She speaks nationwide about eliminating limiting emotions, finding grace in difficult places, and experiencing personal renewal by drawing near to God. She is the founder of I Choose My Best Life. You can find out more at www.DrDaltonSmith.com and http://ichoosemybestlife.com/.

SonRise Devotionals, 200 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Litfuse for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey

This is the first in a new series by Pettrey, taking place on the east coast, Gettysburg. The main characters are Griffin McCray, a park ranger at Gettysburg, and Finley Scott, a forensic anthropologist. Finley had been doing some historical digging at Gettysburg when a contemporary body is uncovered. It turns out to be the body of a woman and she has been murdered. Finley and Griffin set out to discover who the person is, identify the killer and find him.

Finley calls in the help of Parker Mitchell, a crime scene specialist she knows. It turns out Parker and Griffin have a history. It is revealed as the novel progresses. FBI agent Declan Gray heads up the investigation and it turns out he is part of Griffin's past as well.

There are two plot lines that run through this novel. One is identifying the murdered woman and finding the killer. The other is Griffin's past. We learn about the four guys who were best friends, all deciding to go into crime prevention in some way. But disaster had happened in the past and there is a heavy tension between Griffin and Parker. Only God's grace and healing can mend the chasm between the two men. There is also a bit of romance that develops between Griffin and Finley and, though it seems quick, I felt it was rather secondary.

I enjoyed the murder mystery aspect of this novel. I liked reading about all the work it took to identify the murdered woman. It is amazing how much can be deduced from a body. Evidence pointed to a sharp shooter, an accomplished sniper. Griffin had been one with the SWAT-team so we learn quite a bit about that too. For example, a cold shot is the first shot the sniper takes – no practice shots.

The character development aspect of the novel was complicated. Understanding Griffin and Finley required much back story. It was gradually revealed in the book but there was so much of it I frequently felt like I was reading a sequel rather than the first in the series. I'd like to read a whole novel on Finley's previous experiences and another centering on Griffin's past.

I recommend this novel to those who like a forensic mystery with lots of character development. We are left hanging at the end of the novel concerning one of the original four best friends so I'll be looking for the next in the series.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Dani Pettrey is the award-winning and bestselling author of six books, including the Alaskan Courage romantic suspense series. She and her husband live in Maryland, have two daughters and one grandson. You can find out more at www.danipettrey.com.

Bethany House Publishers, 336 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this novel from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

The Beauty of Intolerance by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell

Many Christian parents are seeing a radical change in the core values of their children. The children no longer share the moral standards and beliefs of their parents. The McDowells have written this book to help parents deal with this cultural shift that is separating them from their children.

Most young people think their moral views are correct for them. They want to be loved and accepted even though their beliefs and lifestyles are different from previous generations.

The McDowells start with helping us understand the nature of moral truth. Rather than getting truth from the Bible, young people follow the cultural idea that moral truth is found within the individual. The McDowells also look at the meaning of tolerance and how it has changed. The traditional meaning was to love the individual without approving of the sinful condition. Now it includes accepting, affirming and respecting the individual and the sinful condition or Christians are labeled intolerant and hateful. They include quite a bit of information on homosexuality which I found very helpful.

A few fictional scenarios are included to show possible ways parents can interact with their children on a couple issues. They also provide a strategy to help parents clarify biblical values with their children. They suggest, for example, “Every truth, every rule, and every guideline coming from God's Word is issued from the loving heart and character of God for our own good.” They also suggest parents be aware of instruction at school, movies watched, etc. “The doctrine of cultural tolerance has permeated our society. It will take every intentional and concerted effort on your part to counter its influence.”

The McDowells believe it is possible to truly love and accept people with whom we significantly disagree. The information and strategies presented in this book are very helpful to that end. I recommend this book to parents and others who want to understand the cultural shift and know how to deal with it in a godly way.

You can find out more about the book here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Josh McDowell is the author or coauthor of 142 books. He is a popular international speaker and has been at the forefront of ministry regarding cultural trends for over five decades. He and his wife have been married for 43 years. They have four children and ten grandchildren. You can find out more at www.josh.org.

Sean McDowell, PhD, is an assistant professor at Biola University in the MA Christian apologetics program. He is also the bestselling author of over fifteen books and is an internationally recognized speaker. He and his wife have three children and live in Southern California.

Shiloh Run Press, 256 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

Blue Ribbon Trail Ride by Miralee Ferrell

This is the fourth in the Horses and Friends series and is another fun book to read.

Thirteen year old Kate is concerned that her parents don't have enough money to send her younger autistic brother to a camp that would be so good for him. Her friend Melissa comes up with a trail-ride fund raising idea and Colt adds a scavenger hunt to it. Kate and her friends get planning. They want send a bunch of autistic kids to the camp. They'll ask businesses to donate prizes. What could possibly go wrong? When the antique jewelry box Kate's mom was using to store the registration money goes missing, Kate and her friends have a mystery to solve.

I continue to really like this youth fiction series. The dialog between Kate and her friends is a great mix of affection and teasing. As with the others in the series, there are moral lessons to learn from the actions of the characters in the novel. Kate and her friends do some things without telling the parents and one really backfires (and lands on Kate's dad). Readers will learn that it's best to be open and honest with parents and others. They'll also read about a very good example of forgiveness and restoration.

Kids will get some insight into setting up a trail ride as well as a scavenger hunt. They'll also learn about hoarding when the kids visit an elderly man. “Maybe he was cranky because he needs a friend.” (184)

I love the new character, Jake. He's a kid with a huge St. Bernard named “Mouse” and a bunch of quirky knowledge he loves to share. He's my kind of nerdy kid and I hope he'll be in future novels. It is fun to see Kate's circle of friends expand.

Perhaps the best part of this book for me, an older reader, was the mention of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys mysteries. I grew up on those books and this novel would be a good way to introduce them to contemporary young readers.

I recommend this whole series to girls aged 8 - 12 who like horse stories. It is a fun one containing some great moral lessons.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

You can read my reviews of the earlier books in the series:

A Horse for Kate

SilverSpurs

MysteryRider

I am taking part in a blog tour of this book and you can read other reviews here.

Miralee Ferrell is an award-winning author of sixteen novels. She is a speaker and licensed minister counseling hurting women. She and her husband live along the Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington State. You can find out more at http://miraleeferrell.com/

David C Cook, 204 pages. You can buy a copy here.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Litfuse for the purpose of an independent and honest review.