Review: The Remnant by Monte Wolverton

About the book:

The Remnant (Plain Truth Ministries, August 2016)

In the year 2069 the Apocalypse came and went, but Jesus didn't show up, as some expected.

Instead, a cataclysmic war, natural disasters and pandemics eradicated 90 percent of earth's population. Now, in 2131, a totalitarian government rules the world from the majestic, opulent capitol of Carthage, Tunisia. Blamed for igniting the war, religion and religious books are banned. Citizens who will not renounce their religion are sent to work camps.

Grant Cochrin, imprisoned in a bleak petroleum camp in what was once North Dakota, leads his family and friends to escape and embark on a long, dangerous quest for a Christian community. Their resource in this journey? A cherished page torn from the now banished Bible---a remnant of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount handed down from Grant's grandparents. 

What if there were an Apocalypse and Jesus didn't return? What if the survivors found themselves living in a world ruled by a totalitarian government, where religion is forbidden and all religious texts have been destroyed?

In The Remnant, award-winning author Monte Wolverton tells the tale of a band of concentration camp escapees who trek through the lawless American wilderness on a quest for authentic Christianity, only to come face to face with an unthinkable dilemma. The Remnant is a fast-paced story punctuated with dry satire, memorable characters and hard questions about religious institutions.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2fVwBoJ

My Review:

The Remnant by Monte Wolverton was an interesting examination of Christianity, cults, and the human mind. Unlike most dystopian books, this one actually realistically deals with what would happen to religion should such a world arise, which was also a really good allegory of how it is now. I also really liked the explanation of how the ‘apocalypse’ happened- very well thought out, as well as the entire geographic setting. The story had a lot of variety, and I liked watching the little band of Christ-followers as they grew in faith and numbers, as well as wondering where the twists would take them. Unfortunately, sometimes it seemed like the story was being told rather than shown. Overall though, this was a very thought-provoking read and a fascinating idea.

I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher for free.  I was not required to give a positive review.  The views expressed are my own.

Reviewed by Jes

About the author:

Monte Wolverton is an award-winning author and syndicated editorial cartoonist. He is associate editor of CWR magazine. He is an ordained minister and holds a MA from Goddard College in Vermont. Along with his wife Kaye, he makes his home in southwest Washington State.

Website | Facebook | Twitter 

What others are saying:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/mwolverton

Double Review: Candle Day by Day Walk with Jesus and Candle Day by Day Bible calendar by Juliet David and Jane Heyes

Click to purchase.

About the book:

This beautiful gift book makes a wonderful addition to the award-winning Candle Day by Day collection. The story of Jesus's life is told over forty days, and presented in the elegant day-by-day styling with page borders and richly colored pictures. Includes an introductory note to suggest how the book could be used.

My Review:

Candle Day by Day Walk with Jesus is a beautiful little hardcover book to share with little ones about the story of Jesus.  It is a gift sized book but also just the right size for a child’s hands.  Starting from His birth and ending with His ascension, it is filled with lovely illustrations that help children to visualize the story being told.  Each story is only one page and would only take a few minutes to read to your child and also includes a question or statement that can open up more of a discussion.  Meant to be read in 40 days it could be used as a beginning devotional for young children.  I think it would make a great book to go with the Advent season as well.  This is a compact book that brings the story of Jesus’s birth, life, death, and resurrection into understandable snippets for even very young children.

Click to purchase.

About the book:

The award-winning Candle Day by Day Bible is now available in a spiral-bound desk calendar format. All of a child's favorite stories and illustrations are easily accessible and on view all day long. One story per day.

My Review:

Candle Day by Day Bible in a year is a flip calendar that takes you and your child through the whole Bible in short little snippet stories meant to read on each day of the year.  It is filled with eye catching illustrations and the stories would only take a couple minutes to read.  Again, this would make a great discussion starter with your child.  My 6 year old is really looking forward to using this next year as he likes the idea of flipping over to a new day.  He is just beginning to read but I look forward to the time in 2017 when he will be reading these to me.  I plan to pair this with his little calendar to help him understand his days, months, and years better.  A great teaching tool of not only the Bible but calendars as well.  This is a little larger than your usual flip calendar, but I think that is a bonus since this is meant for a child’s use and really the illustrations are just lovely.

I received both of these books free of charge from the publisher.  I was not required to leave positive reviews and the views expressed are my own.

Review: Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin

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About:

In 1897, Geesje de Jonge is asked to write a memoir about her experience emigrating from the Netherlands to the Michigan wilderness in honor of her town’s fiftieth anniversary. As Geesje recalls the events of the past, a young visitor, Anna Nicholson, mourns a broken engagement. Over the course of one summer, the lives of both women will change forever.

My Review:

If you like family drama then you will definitely enjoy author Lynn Austin’s newest novel Waves of Mercy.  This story follows two different timelines for two women who have much more in common than they can imagine.  Alternating between the two timelines we have Anna’s story which is in 1897; and Geesje’s which takes place 50 years previous.  I have to say this was at times a heart wrenching read; filled with sadness and circumstances that would make the bravest person tremble. This was a story of choices; between right and wrong, love and loyalty, and submission to God’s will.  A major theme running throughout is the question of ‘why does God let bad things happen?’  And when that question is not answered, do we still trust?  This was also a very thoughtful read on the choices and consequences of our own free will.

I would say that this is more Geesje’s story as in that one we do come to a resolution.  I do not know if this will be a series or not, but Anna’s story is left open, which does work with this story.  Reading just this one book I felt like I was invested in an amazing series already.   I highly recommend this historical fiction drama.

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher.  I was not required to leave a positive review and the views expressed are my own.

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Killer in the Band by Lauren Carr

Summer of Love & Murder

Joshua’s eldest son, Joshua “J.J.” Thornton Jr., has graduated at the top of his class from law school and returns home to spend the summer studying for the bar exam. However, to Joshua’s and Cameron’s shock and dismay, J.J. moves into the main house at Russell Ridge Farm, the largest dairy farm in the Ohio Valley, to rekindle a romance with Suellen Russell, a onetime leader of a rock group who’s twice his age. Quickly, they learn that she has been keeping a deep dark secret.

The move brings long-buried tensions between the father and son to the surface. But when a brutal killer strikes, the Lovers in Crime must set all differences aside to solve the crime before J.J. ends up in the cross hairs of a murderer.

Praise for Lauren Carr’s Mysteries:

“Lauren Carr could give Agatha Christie a run for her money!”

​- Charlene Mabie-Gamble, Literary R&R

“As always, Lauren Carr brings an action-packed story that is almost impossible to put down. Her mystery plots have so many twists and turns that I didn’t know if I was coming or going. And the action just didn’t stop from the very beginning till the very end.” - Melina Mason, Melina’s Book Reviews

Buy the Book:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble

My Review

Killer in the Band is author Lauren Carr’s latest mystery with the Thornton’s.  Joshua and Cameron are settling into their newly restructured life with adopted daughter Izzy and Joshua’s youngest son Donny.  J.J., oldest son and twin to Murphy, comes back home to study for his bar exam, unfortunately tensions are still high between him and Cameron his step-mother.  Add to that an old flame steps back into his life, and she stirs up more conflict between father and son as she is twice J.J’s age.  Suellen has a secret, though and wants only to share that with J.J.  Much to his father and step-mother’s dismay, J.J. and Suellen rekindle their relationship.

Lauren’s trademark animal characters and their antics are back and with new ones as Suellen owns a large farm and orchard.  The horses and the rooster became endearing sidekicks that gave lighthearted moments and humor to this rather intense murder mystery- not one but two murder mysteries.  I am glad for the critters as this story seemed darker than the others I have read and sometimes I just needed a breather. 

Having two mysteries to solve has detective Cameron on her toes and at odds with step-son J.J. as both surround Suellen and her life.  We also meet other characters, Poppy a somewhat horse whisperer and Noah a mysterious young man.  Ms. Carr’s mysteries are well developed and include intricate timelines and a whole host of people, but what I really like is that her stories are written so that I am never at a loss as to what is going on.  This book shines with that ability as two timelines and mysteries are progressing at the same rapid rate and I was caught up in both.  Her characters, both human and animal, also keep the story flowing with their distinct personalities and it was like watching a movie in my mind.  Again the ever helpful cast of characters at the beginning of the book was present and I so appreciate that extra effort and information on the author’s part.

There is some crude language sprinkled throughout, and like Joshua, I was uncomfortable with J.J.’ s relationship.  Other than that I enjoyed this next edition in the Lovers in Crime Mystery series.

I received this book free of charge from the author or publisher.  I was not required to give a positive review and the views expressed are my own.

About Author:

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with Lauren: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

Guest Post

Tales About Characters with Tails

By Lauren Carr

“Gnarly is my favorite character.” 

“I love the antics of Gnarly.”

“Irving is a hoot.”

“Twists, turns, and a tarantula named Monique.”

These are actual comments made by both readers and reviewers about characters in my murder mystery series. Surprisingly, these characters all have one things in common.

They all have tails. Well, maybe not the tarantula. Do tarantulas have tails? I need to check on that.

As the writer of three mystery series, I feel like a proud mother when readers and reviewers fall in love with my characters. Yes, they do love the human characters, too, but there is a special fondness for the fur covered ones, too. Yes, tarantulas do have fur. That I do know.

From the very beginning, all of my books have had animals. However, in my first two books, the pets were only in the background—little more than window dressing.

For several drafts of It’s Murder, My Son, the first Mac Faraday Mystery, Gnarly was much the same. He didn’t spring into the canine kleptomaniac that he is now until one of the final drafts of the book.

How did that happen? Gnarly is based on my Australian shepherd Ziggy, who came into our lives while was writing It’s Murder, My Son. Like the Gnarly in the book, Ziggy was precocious and totally loveable in his badness. So much so, that I had to include him in my book. In order to make him a dishonorably discharged army canine I made him a German shepherd and changed his name to Gnarly, which means “extreme.”

Don’t think I make their antics up! Readers are always telling me stories, because I am a writer. And, since I love animals and often have animals in my books, many readers and fans love to pass on their animal stories. In the Mac Faraday mysteries, Gnarly sleeps under Mac’s bed, which is where Ziggy slept. One reader told me that she thought only her dog did that until she read It’s Murder, My Son.

I guess it was only a matter of time before I set a mystery on a farm filled with wacky critters.

Much of the mystery in Killer in the Band is set at Russell Ridge Farm and Orchards, which is based on a number of farms located in and around the Ohio Valley. Like Joshua Thornton, I come from a long line of farmers and grew up on a farm. So much of that lifestyle is based on my own life.

Gulliver is based on a horse who I saw in a YouTube video who would let himself out of his stall and then let all the other horses loose, except for one—a mare who happened to be his mother! Seeing this video, I cracked up and called a friend of mine who has a horse farm to ask about it. She said Houdini horses are really not that uncommon, but suggested that this one must have some mommy issues since he doesn’t free his mother.

Charley the Rooster comes from one of my readers! Yep, his name is really Charley. He was given to the reader’s niece as a chick at Easter and grew so big that they couldn’t keep him at their suburban home, so they sent him to live with relatives who lived in a small town in southern West Virginia. I’m sure you heard of the neighborhood dog who chases everyone and who everyone is afraid of. Well, that became Charley the Rooster. One day a store keeper decided he’d had it with Charley and went after him with a broom. The fight between the store owner and Charley spilled out into the middle of the street in this small town where the editor of the local newspaper snapped a picture of it. The next day, Charley and the store owner ended up on the front page of the newspaper.

When I heard that, there was no way I couldn’t put Charley in my book.

Do you have a “critter story?” Feel free to visit my website (www.mysterylady.net) and fill out the contact form. Who knows? Your critter could make it into a Lauren Carr mystery.

Giveaway:​

Win a Fire Tablet, 7" Display, Wi-Fi, 16 GB (Open internationally) Winner will be person to use #LoversInCrime most often)

Click to enter.

Review: Storm by Bonnie S. Calhoun

About:

Selah's mind and life are beginning to fracture. Can she complete the Third Protocol before it's too late?

As Selah and her companions mourn the loss of those who died in the Mountain, they are faced with a new threat. Selah must complete the Third Protocol before she fractures and loses herself completely. All clues lead to the West, but what will they find when they get there? The other side of the mountains holds unknown perils--volcanic ash, dangerous storms, and strange new settlements that could hold the keys to Selah's quest . . . or lead to her destruction. 

The clock is ticking and Selah's abilities are growing--along with the list of those out for her blood. Selah must find the strength within herself to keep going and complete the mission for which so many have sacrificed so much.

But have she and her companions pinned their hopes on nothing more than a legend? 

My Review:

In anticipation for reading this book I reread the first book and then read the second, I also read the two eBooks Aftershock and Surge.  I would advise reading these books in order, and even if you have read the other books (unless you have an exceptional memory) to go back and read them because this is a highly complex story.  The world is diverse and very interesting and the characters are equally so.  In this book you are treated to a new cast of characters- many who are returning from previous books- but I did miss some of the old characters from the previous books (namely Cleon who was one of my favorite characters).

As with the other books in this story, no one is safe and I highly advise that you do not grow too attached to any of the characters.  This book does have some violence, but it is not quite as graphic as the first two books.

My favorite character was Bodhi who I felt wasn’t in this book all that much- at least not for the first three quarters of the book.  Basically he was reduced to the pilot who drove and made repairs and that was it (even some characters in the book itself said he was useless which made me upset with those characters because Bodhi is not useless he is more than capable of defending himself and Selah even with the loss of his “super powers” so I just wish they would have given him a break and allowed him to do more stuff in the story).  Selah was just as stubborn and determined to put her life in danger as ever and I found it annoying that no one put up a fight (except for Bodhi who everyone ignored) when she decided to go on dangerous missions even though she was the most important member of the crew- the one everyone else was sworn to protect- and so should not have been allowed to go on dangerous missions no matter how much she protested.

Another problem I had with this story was that I felt that, the things that were supposed to be easy were too hard, and the things that were supposed to be difficult were too easy.  I was not satisfied with the conclusion to the mystery of Bodhi’s past and would have definitely liked to have seen it go in other directions.

The ending was satisfactory- though the explanation did leave me just the slightest bit confused- but still leaves an opening for other books in this series which I hope the author will explore because I still have some unanswered questions.

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher.  I was not required to give a positive review and all views expressed are my own.

Reviewed by Nicki

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Finding Margo by Jen Turano

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Book

Click to purchase.

Off the charts and on the run.

International pop star Margo Hartman could use a night off. A grueling tour and overbearing entourage have sent her over the edge. It’s time for this diva to disappear. And who would think to look for the superstar in a small town in Ohio?

Sheriff’s deputy Brock Moore is undercover as well. He knows Margo isn’t who she appears to be, but her uncanny resemblance to a local Amish woman is raising all sorts of questions . . . the kinds that make her a target for a killer.

Both are determined to find answers, but their mutual attraction stands in the way of either of them doing it alone. Is finding Margo the solution to Brock’s problems or the just the beginning . . . ?

My Review:

I was super excited when I learned that Jen Turano was writing a contemporary story seeing as she is one of my all-time favorite authors.  I wasn’t even at all leery over the fact that she was writing about the Amish (I’m not that big of a fan of Amish books because I find them somewhat boring) because I have read other works by Jen Turano and know her to be a far from boring writer, and also the story basis looked just too interesting to pass up. A pop star on the run who finds herself in an Amish town where she is then targeted by a killer (in an Amish town????!!!!)?  A FBI agent undercover in said Amish town?  A story that takes place in my home state of Ohio?  And all written by one of my favorite authors?!  This was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down, and Finding Margo did not disappoint.  Add into the mix the quirky characters that Turano is so great in creating and the lovable duck Gabby, and this is a truly enjoyable story.  I found myself chuckling along in more than one scene and biting my nails in others.  This story is also a bit of a mystery in which you have some idea what happened, but as for why and how you are left clueless until the very end.  This book had me reading quickly trying to gather all the pieces of the mystery so it finally made sense, rooting for the main characters to end up, and hoping that none of the quirky characters (or the duck!) would meet an untimely demise.

This is a fun story that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend, and I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

I received a copy of this book for free.  I was not required to give a positive review and the views expressed are my own.

Reviewed by Nicki

About the Author

USA Today best-selling author Jen Turano writes contemporary and historical romances with quirky characters and unusual storylines. Just outside Denver, Colorado, Jen and her husband live as empty-nesters, and they do so fabulously. Contact Jen at jenturano.com.

Guest Post from Jen Turano

The Making of “Finding Margo”

By Jen Turano

To say that my entrance into the publishing world was a tad difficult is certainly an understatement.  My very first attempt at writing was centered around a middle grade book, specifically written for my son who was in the third grade at the time.  After finishing that, and sending it out to all of five companies, none of whom represented middle grade, I then moved on to young adult with a little more interest sent my way, but no success story to report in the end.  Not one to embrace the idea of complete and utter failure, I then tried my hand at a contemporary romance, moved on to what I assumed was a delightful regency romance, but one that turned out to be not that delightful, at least according to numerous agents, and finally landed on gilded age stories, filled with quirky heroines.  That is when I finally received my very first publishing contract, which then saw me catapulted into the very weird world of publishing.  After completing the second gilded age story of my two-book contract, I found myself with some time on my hands as I waited to see if anyone would read my stories, which might then result in an offer of additional book contracts.  As I waited, I decided I might as well keep writing, so decided to try another contemporary story, although my agent at that time suggested I try to write an Amish book since she had numerous requests from publishers for those specific books.

Because my writing voice is not what anyone might consider normal, I really didn’t believe I’d be able to do justice to an authentic Amish story.  Because of that, I settled on the idea of writing a contemporary romantic suspense, being a huge fan of that genre.  I had a vague notion of exploring a theme centered around a dog walker who might stumble on a body while walking her pack of dogs, or perhaps have a storyline that centered around a makeup artist who witnessed a crime while setting out her makeup for a client, but those ideas went straight away when I pulled out the vacuum one fine day.

Vacuuming, as well as staining the deck, cleaning the shower, and power-washing the garage, are my go-to activities when I need to get the muse working right before I start a first draft. On that particular day, as I pushed the vacuum around the house, I suddenly had the most intriguing idea – an idea that started off with two delightful little words…What…and…If.

That was all it took for a premise to begin festering through my mind, a fester that grew into this – What if three Amish children were stolen straight out of their beds, never to be seen or heard from again until… Now here’s where it gets interesting.  I decided to have a woman by the name of Margo Hartman, an international superstar no less, stumble into this small Ohio town quite by accident, and…she happens to bear an uncommon resemblance to an Amish woman who lives in this town.  To add an addition sense of intrigue, someone immediately begins trying their very best to kill poor Margo.

By the time I was done vacuuming, the storyline for “Finding Margo” was firmly cemented in my mind, which translates into Jen had no choice other than to write the story.  However, before my agent at that time found a home for the manuscript, I signed another contract for more gilded age books, which meant I did not have the time to commit to what was certainly going to have to be a three-book series since, well, there were three Amish children who’d gone missing.

Fast forward around five years and I found myself a little ahead of schedule at exactly the right time.  There was a new publishing house in town, my current agent remembered me talking about this quirky book I’d written long ago, and as luck would have it, I found the flash drive that’s been home to “Finding Margo” for all these years.

Since my writing style has certainly changed since I first wrote Margo’s story, I ended up rewriting the entire book, and I must say that I’m still just as intrigued with the storyline as I was when it popped to mind while vacuuming what seems like ages ago.  I’m just tickled to death that Margo Hartman has finally found her way out of a flash drive and onto the pages of a book.  I’m hoping readers will enjoy her as much as I enjoyed writing her.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit with me today, and for supporting my books over the years.  I cannot properly express how important all my readers have become to me, and I’m incredibly thankful for every one of you.  You’ve brightened up my life and without you, well, I wouldn’t have anyone to share the stories that always seem to rumble around my mind.

God bless!

~ Jen ~

Blog Stops

November 17: Book by Book

November 17: Book Reviews From an Avid Reader

November 17: cherylbbookblog

November 17: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

November 18: A Reader’s Brain

November 18: I Hope You Dance

November 18: Blogging with Carol

November 19: ASC Book Reviews

November 19: Bibliophile Reviews

November 20: Lighthouse Academy

November 20: Karen Sue Hadley

November 20: Back Porch Reads

November 21: Reading Is My SuperPower

November 21: Genesis 5020

November 21: 100 Pages per Hour

November 22: Pause for Tales

November 22: Quiet Quilter

November 22: Bigreadersite

November 23: Just Commonly

November 23: A Greater Yes

November 23: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

November 24: Smiling Book Reviews

November 24: Ashley’s Bookshelf

November 24: Singing Librarian Books

November 25: It’s Storytime With Van Daniker

November 25: History, Mystery & Faith

November 25: inklings and notions

November 26: Daysong Reflections

November 26: The Scribbler

November 26: Blossoms and Blessings

November 27: Christian Chick’s Thoughts

November 27: A Baker’s Perspective

November 27: Through the Open Window

November 28: The Power of Words

November 28: His Grace is Sufficient

November 28: Reader’s Cozy Corner

November 29: Fiction, Faith, and Fun

November 29: Faithfully Bookish

November 29: Christian Bookaholic

November 30: Raining Butterfly Kisses

November 30: Book Bites, Bee Stings & Butterfly Kisses

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jen is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card and signed copies of her book! Click the link below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post to claim your nine entries on the giveaway!

https://promosimple.com/ps/a8ad

Review: The Radical Book for Kids by Champ Thornton

 About the book:

The Radical Book for Kids (New Growth Press, October 2016)

A kid-sized explorer's guide to faith and life

The Radical Book for Kids is a fun-filled explorer's guide to the Bible, church history, and life for boys and girls age 8 and up. Along with examining some of the most exciting realities in the universe, the handbook is vibrantly illustrated and chock-full of fun facts and ideas. Deep truths are communicated to elementary and middle-school aged kids while stimulating their curiosity and sense of adventure within a gospel-centered framework.

This power-packed book is "radical" in more ways than you might think! It is "radical" in the sense of the original meaning of the word, "going to the root or origin." The Radical Book for Kids will take children on a fascinating journey into the ancient roots of the Christian faith. But it's also "radical" in the more modern sense of being revolutionary. Kids read about men and women who learned to trust Jesus and stand for him---displaying radical faith---even when everything seemed against them.

But The Radical Book for Kids is also "radical"---meaning fun or cool---in the eyes of a child. Kids read about ancient weapons (and how to make one), learn about jewels, create pottery, discover ancient languages, use secret codes, locate stars, tell time using the sun, play a board game that's 3,000 years old---and more.

Check out the table of contents, skip around, or read straight through. However a child chooses to explore it, The Radical Book for Kids will open new vistas for their imagination and help to make straight paths for their feet.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2eDeVM4

My Review:

What can I say about this book that will do it justice?  First off the book itself is gorgeous and the pictures do not really show that.  It is a good sized book that would look nice on a coffee or end table and the colors pop and are pleasing to the eyes.  My kids were drawn to this book from the moment I received it.  I actually left it out as one by one each flipped through it and excitedly came and told me about what they had just read.  Just for reference, my kids are ages 18 through 6. 

This book is set up with lots of illustrations and pictures that make the words really stand out.  There is a lot of information and tidbits of truth about history, science, missionaries, great authors, etc.  From a section of how to clean your room to how and why the books of the Bible are arranged and then a couple of pages on the stars that God calls by name in the Bible, is just some of the information this book offers.  And it never offers anything in a boring or usual textbook manner. 

Thoughtful, insightful, and engaging, this book is great for the whole family and would make a starting point for meaningful family discussions.  This will stay on my coffee table for years to come.

I received a copy of this book for free from Litfuse.  I was not required to leave a favorable review and all views expressed are my own.

About the author:

Champ Thornton grew up in the Carolinas. He is presently an associate pastor at Ogletown Baptist Church in Newark, Delaware. Beginning in 2003, he pastored in South Carolina and later served as director of SOMA, a ministry training school in Columbus, Ohio. Champ is also the author of God's Love: A Bible Storybook, and of Bible curriculum for early and upper elementary-aged children.

Website | Twitter 

What others are saying:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/cthornton

Review: Shadow of the Storm by Connilyn Cossette

Click to purchase.

Shadow of the Storm is a remarkable Bible period story.  I really liked how the author showed a realistic viewpoint on what moving a nation of people might look like and people being human, how they might not have gotten along.  I know from the scriptures that Moses has a hard time of it and spent plenty of time on his face before God for this nation.  The author also showed what it must have been like, prejudices and all, for those who were not Hebrew to move out with them and follow the one true God.  Not all left for that reason, some left as an opportunity, but the picture I was really seeing was a very diverse nation who was happy not to be enslaved but did miss some of the aspects of Egypt: the culture, the food, the land itself.  That was very thought provoking.

We see this story mainly through the eyes of Shira who in her younger years had experienced a very traumatic event which has left her scarred on the inside.  She is still learning to cope with that heavy burden and wanting to also step out of the family business (being a weaver) to seek out her heart’s calling, to become a midwife.  I also enjoyed the midwife information the author weaved into her story.

The romance is complicated.  It was real and at times shocking and uncomfortable.  It was a beautiful love story as well and I enjoyed seeing some of the Jewish wedding customs played out in the book.  With the knowledge I have garnered from reading this novel, I actually understand some scripture passages in both the Old and New Testament more.   If you are looking for Biblical fiction that will not only entertain but educate, I highly recommend this one.

I received a copy of the book for free.  I was not required to leave a favorable review and all views expressed are my own.