Abigail: the peacemaker

I have always had a great admiration for Abigail. Her name means “my father’s joy” and she was a very special woman. Abigail was generous, quick-witted and wise. Her great sorrow was to be mismatched with her husband, Nabal, who was her complete opposite. As Abigail was humble, faithful, generous and intelligent, Nabal was arrogant, greedy, selfish and egoistic. She probably had a lot of heartache and sleepless nights dealing with her husband and his cruel ways. However, her great joy is that God used her to save lives and gain peace after her husband’s great insult. She eventually would become David’s wife. The Talmud identifies Abigail as one of the seven female prophets (Megillah 15a) (Adelman, 2021). Why is Abigail an important person in the Bible? How was she a peacemaker? What lessons can we learn from her story?

Abigail must have left suffocated to be married to such a fool of a husband. The wealthy Nabal would have been quite a catch, but he had a domineering attitude that one day would endanger the lives of many. The news of David and his victories had been spreading. Abigail had heard the story of his defeat of Goliath as well as his prowess in battle and his rift with King Saul. Recently, David had taken refuge in her area, the Desert of Maon, west of the Dead Sea. And since his arrival with 600 men, marauders kept clear of the local flocks, including Nabal’s and he greatly prospered. One day, David sent 10 men to ask Nabal for provisions and Nabal responded with a scoff and refused, foolishly insulting the region’s most powerful man. Aware of the danger they were in, the servants ran to Abigail and begged her to intervene. She quickly sprang into action. Gathering a caravan of donkeys, loaded with gifts for David and his men, taking them to David’s camp. Once there, she makes a speech that corrects the wrong and avoids the bloodshed that was coming. The next morning, she tells Nabal what she had done and he collapses. Ten days later he died. When David heard the news of Nabal’s death, he proposed marriage to Abigail, which she accepted and she became his third wife. 

If there is a theme to Abigail’s story, it would be peacemaker. Proverbs 12:20 says “There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace.” Abigail is known as one of the Bible’s great peacemakers. When she had heard what Nabal had done, she knew immediately what she needed to do. She gathered supplies and went out to meet David. When she sees him, she falls at his feet and gives one of the longest speeches recorded in the Bible by a woman (1 Samuel 25:24-31). First, she takes the responsibility for Nabal’s faux pas and begs to be allowed to speak (verse 24). Second, she begs David to forgive Nabal for he lives up to his name, The Fool (verse 25) and states she didn’t see his men arrive. Third, she seeks forgiveness and prays for the Lord’s blessings on David’s endeavors (verse 26-31). With her speech, David erases his anger and offers his forgiveness. Abigail saved the lives of every man in Nabal’s household (1 Samuel 25:32-34). She also saved David from sin, reminding him that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Deuteronomy 32:35). Even when she went home, she didn’t immediately tell Nabal what she did. She wanted until he was sober. Abigail simply tells him what had happened and his “heart failed him” (1 Samuel 25:37) and he collapses and dies 10 days later. Just as Abigail kept the peace between Nabal and David, she kept the peace between herself and her husband. 

There are lessons we can learn from Abigail’s story. First, life’s tough situations can bring the best out of people. People would understand if Abigail was broken and weak under her husband’s “surly and mean dealings” (1 Samuel 25:3). She was very much in a toxic relationship (McDaniel, 2021). But difficult situations help us develop a strength and perseverance that we didn’t know. She sprang into action to right the wrong instead of running and hiding.  Second, be humble, kind and seek peace with those around you. Even though the offense wasn’t committed by her, Abigail was determined to soothe David’s anger for the sake of the innocent lives that would have been taken. She took a risk, taking responsibility for something she didn’t do and not knowing how David would respond (McDaniel, 2021), it could have easily been her head instead of Nabal’s. But she spoke with humility, kindness and sought forgiveness on Nabal’s behalf. Third, our words and actions are powerful. We need to carefully and thoughtfully consider each one before we speak because once words are said, they cannot be taken back. Her action was the carefully gathered provisions, probably more than the original amount David’s men asked for. She then reminded David that God had done great things in his life and would continue to do great things (McDaniel, 2021) and not to allow one man’s folly to destroy that. 

In conclusion, Abigail was a woman who rose above her circumstances to change the course of events. Although her culture and husband put a low value on her, she used her skills and opportunity to defuse an explosive situation. I think it is telling that the servants came to her. They probably knew she would know how to rectify the situation. She was capable, sensible and able to see beyond herself. She saw the bigger picture and acted accordingly. Do you see the bigger picture? Abigail was a peacemaker in a grand way, but we can all promote peace in small ways every day. How can you promote peace? Using Abigail’s example, we can seek to make the most out of a difficult situation with humility, kindness and choosing our words and actions carefully.

References

Adelman, Rachel (June 23, 2021) . Abigail: Bible. Jewish Women’s Archive. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/abigail-bible. Retrieved August 29, 2021. 

McDaniel, Debbie (August 24, 2021). 5 Things All Women Can Learn from Abigail in the Bible. iBelieve. https://www.ibelieve.com/faith/things-women-learn-from-abigail-bible.html. Retrieved August 29, 2021. 

Silent Tears: one woman's journey volunteering in a Chinese orphanage

Silent Tears: A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage by Kay Bratt is a true story of her experience in China and her time as a volunteer at a local orphanage. It is a story of adversity, setbacks and triumphs as she fought against the Chinese bureaucracy to help the country’s orphaned and abandoned children. In 2003, Ms. Bratt and her family relocated to a rural Chinese village as her husband took on a new management position for his employer. She begins to volunteer at the local orphanage and soon it becomes more than just something to fill her days. She begins a crusade to improve the living children and minimize the unnecessary deaths of the children. Silent Tears is the collection of her journal entries from their four-year assignment in China and chronicles the emotions, hurdles and daily frustrations faced by Ms. Bratt and her fellow volunteers as they strive to become champions for these marginalized children. A story with a message that everyone can make a difference. Big or small, it is still a difference. 

Silent Tears is a vivid memoir of strength and determination as Ms. Bratt fights against despair at the conditions of these children and the powerlessness she often feels when her efforts are for naught. She is unapologetic as she describes the conditions these children live in, the circumstances beyond their control that brought them to the orphanage in the first place. Ms. Bratt finds the inner strength to pursue her mission day after day to bring a small bit of happiness to these children’s lives and smiles to their faces. My heart broke as Ms. Bratt talks about the different children who lived there, the treatment they received from the workers and her strives to carefully improve what she saw. I admire Ms. Bratt’s determination to help these children. I also appreciate that she doesn’t gloss over or hide her own preconceived notions and even prejudices as she enters a world so different. It is evident she has a big and open heart for the children she helps care for. I enjoyed the personal letters she included at the end as an update for some of the children she talks about in the book. I highly recommend Silent Tears. 

Silent Tears is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

The Real Valkyrie: unraveling the hidden secrets of a society long ago

The Real Valkyrie: the Hidden History of the Viking Warrior Women  by Nancy Marie Brown weaves together archaeology, history and literature to imagine the life and times of the Viking Warrior Women. In 2017, DNA tests revealed that the Viking warrior found in the famous grave, discovered in Birka, Sweden in 1889 and designated as BJ581, was actually a woman. Much to the collective shock of scholars and challenges all that has been understood about the men and women of the Viking Age. Ms Brown uses science to link this warrior, whom she names Hervor, to Viking trading towns and their trade routes east to Byzantium and beyond. She imagines what it would have been like for Hervor if she encountered the larger than life but very real women in history, including Queen Gunnhild, the Mother of Kings, The Red Girl, a Viking leader, and Queen Olga of Kjiv. Ms. Brown challenges the common “truth” that has been passed on about the Vikings, which is based on the nineteenth-century Victorian biases of men’s and women’s roles in society. In truth, Viking women carried weapons, not just the keys to the household. 

The Real Valkyrie is well researched, beautifully written as Ms. Brown opens the doors to the what-might-have-been life of the Birka warrior and challenges the preconceived notions of how the Viking society really functioned. In the Viking Age (approximately 750-1050 AD) was more than the marauding travelers who raided the far-reaching lands. They were traders, explorers, farmers, poets, engineers and artists as well. Through her use of history, law, saga and poetry, Ms. Brown opens up the Viking world like never before. There were a few statements made that showed Ms. Brown’s own biases when she is attacking the Victorian biases. However, I chalk it up to her own opinion and assumptions as no writing is bias-free. Despite these biases, The Real Valkyrie is an interesting look into a society that many do not hear about and yet a society that helped shape the world as we know it. Overall, it is a lesson that we cannot judge a society based on our own assumptions. If you are interested in the history of the Viking Age and the story of what could have been the Birka warrior, I highly recommend The Real Valkyrie.  

The Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History of the Viking Warrior Women

Is available August 31, 2021 in hardcover and eBook

Side Trip: when a road trip becomes life changing

Side Trip by Kerry Lonsdale is a story of . With her deceased sister’s Route 66 bucket list in hand, Joy Evers sets out from California on a cross-country road trip to meet up with her fiancé in New York. She’s determined to check off each item as she goes. During a stop in a Ludlow diner, she meets Dylan. Dylan Westfield is a singer-songwriter on a trip of his own. Unfortunately, his car has broken down. They strike a deal. She’ll drive him to New York and he’ll pay for gas. They have three rules: no exchanging of last names, what happens on the road, stays on the road, and if one of them wants a side trip, they both must agree. They find they are complete opposites. Joy is energetic. Dylan is moody. Joy believes in love at first sight and Dylan thinks love is a complicated mess. Soon, they realize that they are both hiding secrets and their motivations. Will they find the peace they hope to find on the road? Will they be able to leave the events of the road trip behind? 

I love Kerry Lonsdale’s books and I heard great things about Side Trip. From the very beginning, I was hooked on Joy’s mission to complete the trip her sister never could. Dylan’s mission was a bit more of a mystery. I enjoyed the back and forth between Joy and Dylan’s perspectives as well as the “Before” chapter which occurs on the road and the “After” chapters when the trip is over and their lives go on as planned. Or does it? Can Joy and Dylan really leave what happens on the road, on the road? I didn’t really have an emotional reaction until the second to last chapter when the reader finds out what happens for Joy and Dylan. I feel the last chapter and the epilogue were unnecessary and undid the emotional impact of that one chapter. The secret Joy was hiding was all too easy to figure out as it has been done before. Overall, I did enjoy the story, especially the spontaneous moments on the road. I do recommend Side Trip as a fun road trip story.

 

Side Trip is available in paperback, eBook, audiobook. 

The Soul of the Family Tree: how a search into one's ancestry can open up the world

The Soul of the Family Tree: Ancestry, Stories, and the Spirits We Inherit by Lori Erikson is her journey as she investigated her own family tree. Growing up in a passionately Norwegian-American Iowa town, she would roll her eyes at traditions like the Nordic Fest and steaming pots of rømmegrøt (a Norwegian porridge). Like many Americans, she eventually felt the draw of her genealogy as she calls the “quintessential hobby of middle age.” Her quest to know more about the Vikings and the immigrants who make up her family tree would lead her to visit Norse settlements and reenactments, medieval villages and modern museums, and her own hometown and ancestral farms on the fjords. While on this journey, she discovers how her soul has been shaped by her ancestors and finds unexpected spiritual guides among the seafaring Vikings and her immigrant ancestors. Can her journey show us how researching our own family history can be a powerful tool for inner growth? 

In The Soul of the Family Tree is a journey into more than just names and dates in the historical record. It is a journey to understand, know and connect with our ancestors. I have long been interested in my family history. I loved listening to stories about my ancestors. So a book about genealogy would be interesting. While most of the book is more a memoir about Ms. Erickson’s journey about her Norwegian heritage, the second half of the book does bring through the questions that are raised with a genealogy investigation particularly with the family stories that have been passed on, only to be discovered to be embellished or outright wrong. Part history lesson, part memoir, and part spiritual journey, The Soul of the Family Tree is a fascinating look into our connections with our ancestors and their place in historical events. Overall, I enjoyed reading Ms. Erickson’s journey. If you are interested in Viking history and a genealogy journey, you may enjoy The Soul of the Family Tree. 

The Soul of the Family Tree: Ancestry, Stories and the Spirits We Inherit

is available August 24, 2021 in paperback and eBook

The Unsaved Christian: a look into Cultural Christianity in America

The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel by Dean Inserra asks the question “what to do when they say they’re Christian but don’t know Jesus?” Cultural Christianity is described as a mindset that places one's security in heritage, values, rites of passage and a general duty rather than in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. We have all encountered cultural Christians in many ways. They may even be us. They check the Christian box, they are fine with church but they are far from God. How do we bring Jesus to this mission field in our own backyards, in our own churches? In The Unsaved Christian, Mr. Inserra identifies eight Cultural Christians, across denominations from the Christmas and Easter Christians to the Bible Belt Christian, and sets out to equip pastors, teachers and fellow Christians to confront cultural Christians with honesty, compassion and grace. In this book, Mr. Inserra shows how to recognize each type, ways to overcome barriers that get in the way and offers easy to understand advice to minister to those who identify as Christian but still need Jesus. 

The Unsaved Christian is an in depth and honest look into Christianity in America today. When I was first came across this book, I was unsure of what Mr. Inserra’s premise would be. How could a Christian be unsaved? But I decided to give it a chance and it was eye opening! He set out to offer a comprehensive overview of cultural Christianity. Each chapter starts by taking the reader on a journey to the past as he details his own experience in his spiritual walk and ministry as a pastor when he interacted with each of these types. As he describes each type of Cultural Christian, I was able to identify people in my own life, past and present, who believe in this way. While he offers advice to confront these individuals, he stresses, which I feel is important, to confront with love and compassion and not judgment. As the Holy Spirit is the only one who truly knows who is saved and who is not. After each chapter, Mr Inserra includes a Questions for Discussion and Reflection section for further thought and consideration. I highly recommend The Unsaved Christian. 

The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel 

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Liar Next Door: a psychological thriller you won't want to put down

The Liar Next Door by Nicola Marsh is a psychological thriller with a web of lies that threatens to tear apart a seemingly close-knit community. Thirty houses surround a square garden that is the perfect playground for the kids. They gather there for holidays and community parties. It is there that Frankie Forbes meets Celeste. Little did she know that Celeste would tear apart their family piece by piece. There were signs and gut feelings that told Frankie that something was wrong from the beginning. She was too nice, too eager to join in and she seemed to know the things Frankie’s daughter liked and disliked. But why couldn’t she trust another mother? Meanwhile, Saylor, newlywed and pregnant, has a secret of her own and she must act quickly as someone is threatening to expose her and ruin her and her family. Secrets have a way of being discovered no matter how hard they are buried and hidden. How does this woman seem to know Frankie’s? Will Saylor be able to protect her secret? 

Who is the liar next door? Nicola Marsh can always be counted on for a great psychological thriller! I read and reviewed My Sister’s Husband last year and loved it. So when the opportunity to read The Liar Next Door came up, I had to read it! Told from the point of views of the three women, the reader is taken on a journey of twists and turns, ups and downs, as the web of lies is slowly untangled. As the story unfolds, there were a few clues that I was able to figure out but when the final stretch of the story begins and the secrets are revealed, there were shockers! From the beginning, Frankie, Celeste and Saylor are women you don’t know if you can trust as they present their point of view. Like a slow burning fuse, the story starts off slowly and gains speed as the women begin to interact until the powder keg explodes, the secrets are revealed and the masks are pulled off. I highly recommend The Liar Next Door. 

The Liar Next Door is available August 23 in eBook and audiobook. 

Hamilton's Choice: the emotion and sense of duty behind that fateful day

Hamilton’s Choice by Jack Casey is a story about the final years of Alexander Hamilton’s life. The book opens with Philip as he hears and reacts to George Eacker’s Fourth of July speech, in which Eacker trashes his father’s legacy and character. This leads to the duel which will end his life. His beloved son dead, his daughter, Angelica, has a breakdown due to the grief, and Eliza avoids him when he needs her the most. Tormented by a secret that he can’t bear to reveal, Hamilton is alone to shoulder his grief. Meanwhile, Aaron Burr, Hamilton's long time political opponent, begins a campaign that threatens to rip apart the nation that Hamilton and the other finding father so carefully crafted. Hamilton does what he can to ensure that the power obsessed Burr does not win. When a mysterious note arrives, suggesting that Hamilton is behind his humiliating loss, Burr becomes determined to bring Hamilton to the same ruin. Torn between his duty and promise to his wife and children and his committed allegiance to the country he fought to build, Hamilton must make a life and death choice. In a time of honor, duel, and political games, we know how the story ends but how did it come to the duel that ends Hamilton’s life?  

As a fan of Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical, Hamilton, and Ron Chernow’s biography which inspired it, I was intrigued and hesitant when I came across Hamilton’s Choice. Ultimately, I decided to give it a chance and I am so glad that I did. Jack Casey brings the interior struggle and emotion of Hamilton to life more than the musical and biography does. Hamilton was torn between two loves, two desires and ultimately couldn’t find a way to satisfy both. I enjoyed seeing the egomaniacal Burr desperately try to take his place in the political power machine of his day and ultimately his place in history. He finds himself without friends and more enemies. Although, he never counted on being remembered as the “villain of our history.” The story also brings to life the pieces that moved in this careful game that Burr and Hamilton played as they moved closer and closer to that fateful day in July 1804. I also enjoyed seeing Eliza’s observations and her own internal struggle with her grief and Hamilton’s unwillingness to settle into a comfortable and quiet life. It is an excellent and moving story that brings Hamilton’s final years to life. Even though I have the eBook of this book, I want a paperback for my permanent library. I highly recommend Hamilton’s Choice. 

Hamilton’s Choice is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Tombstone The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday, and the Vendetta Ride from Hell: an excellent, in depth history of the infamous boomtown

Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday and the Vendetta Ride from Hell by Tom Clavin an in depth account of Tombstone and the famous gunfight at the OK Corral it would host. On the afternoon of October 26, 1881, eight men clashed in the explosion of gunfire. Thirty bullets were fired in a span of thirty seconds. In the end, three men were killed and three others were wounded. The fight had come after a long, tense and hot summer in which cattle rustlers, a gang of outlaws known as The Cowboys, had been terrorizing the back country of Mexico, stealing livestock and selling them to corrupt ranchers. The Mexican government built forts along the border to keep the American outlaws at bay and the Arizona citizens were increasingly agitated as stagecoaches were being robbed and innocent people were being harmed. That October day, tension had boiled over with Ike and Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury, and Billy Claiborne confronted the Tombstone marshal, Virgil Earp, bringing along Wyatt and Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday to back him up. But the story doesn’t end there. After the smoke clears, there were inquests and trials that had the Earps and Holliday up on murder charges. Tempers flared further as vendettas were made and carried out. Everyone knows the myths and the legends, what do you know about the real story of Tombstone? 

A few months ago, I read and reviewed Tom Clavin’s book, Blood and Treasure, which he co-wrote with Bob Drury, about Daniel Boone and the exploration of America’s first frontier. I knew I was in for an in-depth history lesson with Tombstone. I have been interested and fascinated by the Gunfight at the OK Corral since I did a report on it for an eighth grade history class and knowing that the Earps have a connection to my current hometown with many of the Earps buried in nearby cemeteries, has made the topic even more alluring. Mr. Clavin peels back decades of myth and legend surrounding the story of Tombstone to reveal the true story about the drama and violence that made it infamous. He takes the readers back to the founding of Tombstone and each of the players’ lives before they came to Tombstone as well as the political and social tensions which played a role in the famous gunfight. Mr. Clavin also details the “vendetta ride” in which Wyatt Earp formed a posse that included his younger brother, Warren and Holliday, to track down those who cowardly killed Morgan, and attempted to kill Virgil. Tombstone is a very in depth history into the city and the people that would participate and witness the most famous gunfight of American Western history. If you love history, I highly recommend you check out Tombstone. 

Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday and the Vendetta Ride from Hell 

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler: a disappointing book

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms is the story of Amy Byler, an overworked and underappreciated single mom who desperately needs a break. After three years, her guilt-ridden husband reappears and offers to take care of their kids for the summer. She reluctantly accepts his offer and escapes to New York City for a “momspringa.” The usually grounded, mild mannered and property Amy lets her hair down. With a little push from her friends, Amy discovers life filled with culture, sophistication and a few blind dates. One man in particular finds his way into her way and she risks losing herself in an unexpected escape. As the summer comes to a close, she realizes that she must make the impossible choice. Does she stay in the new exciting New York City? Or does she return to her life in rural Pennsylvania? 

The New York Journal of Books called The Overdue Life of Amy Byler, a “laugh-out-loud funny, pitch-perfect novel that will have readers rooting for this unlikely, relatable, and totally lovable heroine... the ultimate escape—and will leave moms everywhere questioning whether it isn’t time for a #momspringa of their own.” However, I did not laugh once. In fact, I rolled my eyes at the moments that I was supposed to laugh and cheer Amy on. The story was boring, humorless and very cringey. A lot of pop culture references that seem to be there to help the readers understand and relate to Amy. At one point, Amy illustrates how tired she was, saying she often fell in bed too tired to fantasize about Outlander’s Jamie Fraser and reach for her vibrator. Seriously? Give me a break! I did not like or relate to Amy at all. I’m sure I am not the audience for this book. If you think this could be the book for you, try it out. But for me, I do not recommend The Overdue Life of Amy Byler. 

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

The Memory of Us: a story of love, war and difficult choices

The Memory of Us by Camille Di Maio is a story of choices and their consequences. In 1937, Julianne Westcott was an 18-year old Protestant girl living the dream life in Liverpool. The illusion of her perfect life and family is shattered when she discovers she has a twin brother, a brother who is blind and deaf, and that her parents sent to an institution While secretly visiting her brother, Julianne meets and befriends Kyle McCarthy, an Irish Catholic groundskeeper studying to become a priest. They soon find themselves caught between her family’s expectations, Kyle’s devotion to the Church and the intense feelings they seem to have for each other. Julianne and Kyle must make a choice: do they follow the life and expectations they have before them or do they choose the difficult path of love? As war rages through Europe and the Blitz devastates England, a tragic accident leaves Julianne to forge a new life built on lies. Lies she tells herself protect those she loves. Will the truth find her? Will she be brave enough to face the choices she made? 

The Memory of Us came highly recommended and I looked forward to reading it. However, it was not the story I expected. It was an easy, fast paced story. I finished it in a few hours. The first two-thirds of the book were good. I loved the romance between Julianne and Kyle. The last third of the book is where the story fell for me. It was difficult to understand the motivation behind Julianne’s decision to forge her new life. It seemed to come out of the blue and without any indication that it was a decision she needed to make. Julianne was a hard character to understand. At times she is strong and willing to stand up to anyone, then she bows down to the demands of others and back again. The ending was supposed to be heartwarming and sweet but it felt forced and too tidy. Other reviewers mentioned the references to The Beatles’ 1966 song “Eleanor Rigby.” I am not overly familiar with the song to pick up any references. Those who are familiar with the song may enjoy the references. Overall, I enjoyed the story and I do recommend it. 

The Memory of Us is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

Safe in His Arms: an enjoyable romance with a bit of suspense

Safe in His Arms by Melanie D. Snitker is the first book in the Life Unexpected series. Anna Henderson is running, running for her life. Her ex-boyfriend will stop at nothing to find her. She’s determined to leave her past behind her and put as much distance as she can between them. She comes to the little town of Quinton, Texas and she believes it is the perfect place to lay low as she figures out her next move. She walks into the local diner looking for a job. Joel Ash, the diner’s owner, is intrigued by Anna and hires her on the spot. He believes in second chances, having pulled himself out of a rough past and looks to help others do the same. Anna is determined to hide her past, Joel knows there’s more to her story and gently helps her see that she can trust him. As they get to know each other, the deeper their connection becomes, but the threat of her ex-boyfriend is always in the back of her mind. Will she open her heart to Joel and trust him? Or will she keep running? 

Safe in His Arms is an inspirational Christian novel about faith, new beginnings, and overcoming fear. It is a sweet story with suspense. The message of faith and trust in God and each other is not overly preachy and adds to the romance and healing that Anna goes through. I enjoyed all the characters. Anna is a woman who has lost the only family she knew, trusted the wrong man and was stung. As she runs, she’s determined not to trust another soul again. Her only companion is her dog, Epic. But when she meets Joel and his makeshift family of Brooke and Chess, she can’t help but want to be a part of it. The ex-boyfriend is a creepy character that the reader knows will pop up eventually and the suspense builds as the reader knows what the characters do not. I enjoyed the budding relationship between Joel and Anna. It is a sweet romance with real heart and soul. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and visiting the small town of Quinton, Texas and these characters again. I highly recommend Safe in His Arms. 

Safe in His Arms is available in paperback and eBook. 

Purple Heart Day: "Available to All, Desired by None"

August 7 is Purple Heart Day. A day dedicated to honoring service members who have received the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart is awarded to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice giving their lives on the front lines as well as military service personnel who suffered an injury in combat. The Purple Heart has its origins in the Revolutionary War. As of June 5, 2010, approximately 1,910,162 medals have been awarded. Today, we will look briefly into the history of the Purple Heart, the Hall of Honor dedicated to those who have received the award and notable recipients. 

Considered to be the military’s oldest medal, it was first known as the Fidelity Medallion. Created by the Continental Congress in 1780 and was awarded to three soldiers for their service during the Revolutionary War (DeSimone, 2020). In 1782, President George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit. It was to be given to soldiers who displayed “not only instances of unusual gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way” (DeSimone, 2020). It was made of purple silk in the shape of a heart, the word “Merit” embroidered on it. This medal would later evolve into the Purple Heart as we know it today. In 1932, Army General Douglas MacArthur wanted a new look and name for the medal in honor of Washington’s bicentennial birthday. The design still uses the purple ribbon with the added medal medallion with Washington’s likeness. The Purple Heart was originally a combat decoration for the Army and the Army Air Corps for those wounded or killed in action. In 1942, President Roosevelt and the War Department expanded the qualifications to include all military branches. 

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is a museum of military history with a focus on the human sacrifice and the cost of freedom. Located in New Windsor, New York, the museum offers several galleries and interactive stations in which visitors can learn about the history of the Purple Heart and the recipients through their training, deployment, and battlefield experiences. The Purple Heart Roll of Honor is a computer database which features each Purple Heart recipient. The data collection is an ongoing process as more and more names are continuously being collected. The museum offers an enrollment form on their website for any name which needs to be added to the database as well as further information about names already in the database. The database is also searchable online as well as at the museum. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor exemplifies the saying “Available To All, Desired By None.” 

There have been a number of notable recipients of the Purple Heart. The first recipient of the medal in its modern form was General MacArthur for wounds sustained during World War I. Other famous recipients include actors Charles Bronson, Rod Sterling, James Garner and football star, Pat Tillman. John F. Kennedy is the only president to have been awarded with a Purple Heart. The first woman to be awarded the Purple Heart was Lt. Annie G, Fox. She was the chief nurse at Hickam Field. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, she remained calm and directed the hospital staff to tend to the wounded as they came in from the harbor. However, when the qualifications were changed, she was awarded the Bronze Star in lieu of the Purple Heart. Service members can receive multiple medals throughout their military career. One such recipient is Curry T. Haynes. He served as an infantryman in the 173rd Airborne Brigade Company C of the 503rd Infantry during the Vietnam War. He has received a record 10 Purple Hearts for wounds sustained, one for each wound, in two different battles (Ford, 2015). 

The Purple Heart is an award that no one strives to receive but when it is given, it is well deserved. With its origins in the Revolutionary War, there are many stories of valor worthy to be told and learned. I highly recommend checking out the website for the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor (I’ve listed the website below) and learn more about the medal and the recipients who have received it. And the database is constantly being updated with new stories of valor, bravery and sacrifice. On this national day for the Purple Heart Day, take a moment to think about the countless men and women who have received this award. 

Resources

National Purple Heart Hall of Honor https://www.thepurpleheart.com/  

References

DeSimone, Danielle (August 3, 2020). 8 Things You Need to Know About the Purple Heart Medal. USO.org. https://www.uso.org/stories/2276-8-purple-heart-facts. Retrieved August 5, 2021. 

Ford, Waynes (October 17, 2015). Vietnam veteran with 10 Purple Heart Awards recalls a violent battle. Athens-Banner Herald. https://www.onlineathens.com/article/20151017/NEWS/310179950. Retrieved August 5, 2021. 

The School Mistress: a fun romantic story

The School Mistress by Tess Thompson is the first book in the Emerson Pass historical series. In Colorado, 1910, Quinn Cooper is a new teacher, securing a job in a tiny frontier town was her only option to have her family from starvation back in Boston. Lord Alexander Barnes left his land and title back home in England for the American frontier. A widower with five children, Barnes finds himself charmed by the young teacher. Her easy rapport with the children make her an easy choice as temporary replacement when the disgruntled nanny suddenly quits. But what young woman is willing to become a mother to five children? Determined to teach anyone willing to learn, Quinn must face the prejudices of many in town as well as fight her attraction to the older Alexander. The two are drawn together but fear many factors will keep them apart. Will their love go unspoken or will they take a chance on love? 

The School Mistress is a cute, romantic story that plays loose with historical facts. Some of the attitudes and actions of the characters are a bit ahead of their time. And some of the language used seems to be more modern than the time period. Keeping that in mind, the book is an easy and enjoyable read. While I would normally dislike “less than accurate” historical stories; however, I enjoyed this story. I enjoyed the romance between Quinn and Alexander. It is very touching and sweet with flirty moments. I loved the children and their antics. The supporting characters were fun and played their part in the story well. The School Mistress was a fast, easy and enjoyable reed. A great read to sit back on a lazy afternoon and just enjoy. I look forward to reading the rest of the Emerson Pass historical series as well as the Emerson Pass contemporary series which features the descendants. I recommend The School Mistress. 

 

The School Mistress is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Songbirds: the story of the people who are unseen

Songbirds by Christy Lefteri is the story behind the headlines. Nisha Jayakody is living on the island of Cyprus, far from her native Sri Lanka. Though she longs to return home to her own daughter, she knows that working as a nanny and maid for Petra Loizides, a wealthy widow, is helping her earn enough to support her daughter back home. Yiannis is a poacher, trapping the tiny protected songbirds that stop in Cyprus as they migrate each year from Africa to Europe, to sell them on the black market. He dreams of finding a new way of life and marrying Nisha. One night, after tucking Petra’s daughter, Aliki into bed, Nisha goes out on a mysterious errand and disappears. Despite Petra’s concern, the police refuse to pursue the case, so she and Yiannis take matters into their own hands. Petra learns the darker side of a migrant’s life where impossible choices leave them vulnerable and trapped, and realized how little she knew Nisha, the woman who helped her through her darkest days. Will Nisha be found? Where did she go?

After reading and loving Christy Lefteri’s book, The Beekeeper of Aleppo, I eagerly took the chance to read Songbirds. Inspired by the real disappearance of domestic workers in Cyprus, Songbirds is a moving and deeply empathetic story of the human stories beyond the headlines. With tenderness and beauty I expect from Ms. Lefteri, Songbirds is a haunting story of those who live on the outside of our daily lives. I thoroughly enjoyed Petra as she discovered how little she showed her appreciation for Nisha and desperately searched for her. She would not stop until she found Nisha. Ms. Lefteri’s descriptions move between beautifully lyrical and disturbingly descriptive, especially as she describes how Yiannis captures the birds and prepares them for market. It is a mystery that will keep the reader guessing. At its worst, it is a story of prejudice, racism and misogyny. However, in the end, at its best,  it is a story of the fight for truth and justice for all who live in our midst, not just the ones society deems are worthy. I highly recommend Songbirds. 

Songbirds is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Words Between Us: a story of the power of words

The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels is the story of the power of words. Robin Windsor has spent most of her life under an assumed name, trying to escape the stigma of her infamous parents. She thought she had finally found peace in an unassuming used bookstore in River City, Michigan. But the store is struggling and her past will soon come back to haunt her. On the morning of her father’s scheduled execution, Robin receives an eerily familiar book in the mail. The first edition of Catcher in the Rye transports her back to the summer 20 years ago when she met Peter Flynt, the boy who was her best friend, the boy who would ruin everything. Other books will follow, each with meaning for both Robin and Peter. Why would Peter be making contact now? Will she finally stop running and confront her family’s past? 

The Words Between Us is told in two timelines: then and now. As Robin receives each book, the reader is transported back to when the book had significance for Robin and Peter. I loved the references and discussions the characters have about the classic stories we all know and love. Often giving me insights that I didn’t think about for those stories. The story itself was good, but slow moving. When I finished, I wasn’t sure how I felt. I enjoyed seeing Robin deal with the immediate aftermath of her parents’ crimes and trials. What happens to the children of infamous people? How do they move on and deal with the notoriety? Overall, I enjoyed the stories. The story about her parents’ crimes fell flat for me but I was more interested in Robin’s growth as she deals with moving forward. I recommend The Words Between Us. 

The Words Between Us is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.