Sweet Sanctuary centers around fictional character Wren; a single mom who suddenly finds her life turned upside down with the arrival of her elderly grandmother. Wren is forced to face a very painful past, dysfunctional family relationships, and uncertainty in her future. Through these trials, Wren explores what God's role is in her life and finds answers to some difficult questions.
The thing that I loved most about this book was its character development. The authors really dig deep into the inner workings of the mind and human heart. Throughout the book, as the main character Wren transforms we see the value of our thoughts, and how they affect our feelings and circumstances. Sweet Sanctuary does not shy away from really portraying a believer's struggles, and the messiness of life.
This book has many universal truths and many of the circumstances are relevant to the body of Christ today. Although I feel the book could of connected a little deeper with some of those truths, the authors did an amazing job melding together the message, the characters and the storyline. The book flowed well, and it was difficult to put down!
I also really loved the ending, and although I won't give anything away, you can walk away from this book feeling uplifted and not taken from. In general, I liked this book and am giving it a 4 stars out of 5.
This book was provided to me free from Book Sneeze, pending an unbiased review.
The Seraph Seal is an apocalyptic tale based in 2048. In 2012, The 8 were born, the 7 seals of the scroll written about in the bible were opened and the world began its decent into final destruction. Enter Paul Binder, a student of semiotics and history; mans last hope rests on his shoulders.
Sound confusing? It is quite an adventure into the complexities of the many possibilities that the world faces today. I first read the Alphabet of the Apocalypse, found in the back of the book. I found this study fascinating, though riddled with the authors own viewpoints.
The fiction component had an interesting premise, a variety of characters, locations, and of course, ways to destroy the world. I personally had a difficult time connecting with the characters. The theological components seemed grand but lacked a depth and reality that I would of liked to have seen. For instance, the role of the Holy Spirit seemed hidden, although the concept of God orchestrating was made clear.
And honestly, although this may say more about me than the book itself, I would have liked to of seen some more obvious romance! Paul and Angela, Angela and Paul...need I say more?
The Seraph Seal was written intelligently and very obviously well researched. I found the topics fascinating, and although they overwhelmed the storyline at times, I appreciated the learning component. The brilliance that it takes to combine scripture, a compelling work of fiction, and non-fiction components into a storyline that the average person can read is no small undertaking. If you want a book that is challenging in these aspects, I recommend this book.
This book was provided to me free by BookSneeze, for an honest, unbiased review.
In The Final Summit character David Ponder is taken to another realm to answer a question that will impact the course of humanity. There he meets other "Travelers" like himself that have affected human history. With time running out, philosophical, moral, and spiritual attributes are discussed in order to surmise an answer that will give humanity another chance.
Although the themes of this novel were largely humanistic in their approach, their origins are definitely from a Christian worldview. I found the implications of these discussions (largely done through historical characters life experiences) fascinating. While at times the interchange of ideas seemed tedious to me, the historical content added some interest.
The story of Eric Erikson was intriguing to me, largely because I had never heard of him before. Andrews includes his story of how Nazi Germany was defeated with his help. Other historical characters include Winston Churchill, Lincoln, and Joan of Arc. This book allows you to think "outside of the box" although the characters are overshadowed by Andrews own subscribed values.
I personally struggled with the idea that "the creator" was far removed from the summit process and only spoke through his messenger. By the same token, I understand that the point of The Final Summit is to show us the liberty and free will that God has given us.
While not a difficult read, it was apparent that the reader could take these discussions to the level and depth that they desired. This was also demonstrated by a readers guide at the back of the book. I found the overall message inspiring.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for something that will challenge your beliefs and inspire you to do something with your life.
I got this book free from Book Sneeze and this is my unbiased review.
