Book Review: Composing Amelia by Alison Strobel

After reading Composing Amelia, I have a great respect for Alison Strobel as a writer. This book is crafted with quality and heart. The story is amazing, and the writing is amazing. If I could ever be half the writer Alison is, I’d be incredibly happy.

Composing Amelia really starts to get good in Chapter 3. I could relate with both main characters and could understand why they are at odds with the direction their life is taking. Amelia wants to go one direction, and her husband, Marcus, wants to go in the other. And I could see both of their viewpoints and empathize.

The struggles that Amelia and Marcus face in the book really speak to the insecurities everyone experiences about themselves as well as the desire to control life instead of letting God have his way. It beautifully illustrates how God can change the desires of someone’s heart and give them joy in something they had never even given a thought to. This storyline is like none I’ve read before. It is so refreshing.

Composing Amelia is well written and goes deeply into the character’s hearts and minds. It is a picture of God bringing his dearly loved children back to himself as only he can do.

Great book! Read it! Seriously!

 

Book Review: The Beach House by Sally John

This book is something you delve into. The characters are expertly created with the depth of real life. Between the four women in this book, I think every reader will be able to relate to one of them. I really related to Molly, and the book even made me want to be more like her in my prayer life and encouraging people around me.

The Beach House is another great example of what Christian fiction is all about. I my opinion, it should glorify God and should show how He works in people’s hearts. Throughout the book, you can see God at work in all four women through His Spirit, people around them, and circumstances. Each character was working through something in their lives that was causing heartache and frustration. And God worked differently in each of their hearts.

I just can’t say enough good things about this book. Sally John, you are a great writer. I see your heart in every page. I hope I can write half as good as you someday. The Beach House gets five stars from me!

 

Book Review: Desert Gift by Sally John

This book starts out with a pretty jaw-dropping scene. The main character is about to leave on her book tour with her husband. This is her first book and it is all about how to keep a marriage strong. As they are about to leave the house for their trip, her husband tells her he wants a divorce, then sends her on her way for a five-week trip to promote her book.

If that isn’t gripping, I don’t know what is. The book takes you through the highs a lows of their journey, revealing bits and pieces along the way of what caused her husband to get to the point of wanting a divorce. It takes you through the aftershocks of his request and displays how the Holy Spirit can use anything, good or bad, to change someone.

This book will challenge you to look into yourself and look at your marriage. Unspoken words and underlying attitudes can wreak havoc in a relationship. This book inspires communication in marriage. I can see how this work of fiction could make a difference and really strengthen a relationship. I know I sure don’t want to go through what the couple went through in this book. That is an inspiration in itself!

Thank you Tyndale for providing a copy of this book for my review. I highly recommend it!