Tears of Amber: a haunting story of two families during World War II

Tears of Amber by Sofia Segovia and translated by Simon Bruni is the story of two families uprooted by war and united by the bonds of love and courage. The Hahlbrock and the Schippers families are living quiet lives on their respective farms. As war breaks out, they shout in support of the Fuhrer and the Fatherland. But as war looms close to home, they must learn the hard lessons of survival. In the harshness of winter, the Hahlbrock join the massive exodus as the Russian army is closing in, leaving their future full of more uncertainty. Ilse Hahlbrock listens to the enchanting stories of the family’s young Polish laborer, Janusz. His stories of the besieged kingdom in the Baltic Sea keeps her mind off the cold, the hunger and the horrors surrounding them. Not far away, the Schippers  family is also trying to flee from the Russian army while hiding out in the ruins of a mansion, holding onto the hope that their fractured family would be together again. Arno and his mother find themselves dodging bombs and scavenging in the rubble. Caught in the crosshairs of two warring enemies, hope is the only thing that carries Ilse and Arno as they learn resilience against extraordinary odds. 

Tears of Amber is the type of book that you need to take your time on, stopping at moments when you need a break and picking it back up. Told in an epic style, Tears of Amber is the story of two families and their wartime experiences. The connection between the two families isn’t made clear until the end. It is heartbreaking at times but a story that needs to be told and read. I had read a lot of reviews that knocked down their rating based on the depressive moments. To me, that is not a good enough reason to knock down a rating. War is depressing and destructive with women, children and families torn apart by the actions of those in power. Tears of Amber serves as a reminder that while governments can claim victory, it is the people who suffer and survive to tell their stories are the true victors. It is a bit slow at times but it is a satisfying story of the resiliency of the human spirit and their ability to survive when times seem their bleakest. The details that Ms. Segovia describes is breathtaking and heartbreaking at times but she captures the horrors these people witnessed and survived. I highly recommend Tears of Amber. 

Tears of Amber is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

Tamar, daughter of King David: a story of injustice and the consequences of sin

Tamar was the daughter of King David. Her story is told in 2 Samuel 13:1-22. It is a hard story to study as it could still easily occur to someone we know and care for. Tamar was a beautiful woman with a bright future ahead of her. Until she was savagely raped by her half brother, Amnon, and let down by her father when he does nothing to punish him. She is left broken and an outcast as her hopes for a marriage and a future is taken away from her due to one man’s lust. It is only when her brother, Absalom, takes matters into his own hands to see that Amnon is punished. What were the events that led to the rape? What is rape and what does God’s word say about it? How can we help a victim? 

Tamar was a beautiful young woman, destined for a marriage designed for political alliances. Amnon was her half brother and David’s eldest son and heir. To say he was used to getting his way would be understatement. One day, he was despondent, restless because he was desperately in love with Tamar, his half sister. Pretending to be ill, he asked that Tamar come to his bedside and care for him. When she arrives, he tries to lure her into his bed. She refuses which infuriates Amnon that he rapes her. Afterward his infatuations turned to hatred, Amnon tossed Tamar out of his rooms, blaming her for what he had done. Traumatized and grieved, Tamar wanders the streets until her brother, Absalom, finds her and learns about the terrible events. When King David finds out about the rape of his daughter at the hands of his son, he is furious. However, he does nothing. Furious at the lack of action by his father, Absalom vows revenge for his sister and bides his time, waiting for his chance. Two years later, the opportunity came and Absalom killed Amnon. 

Rape is a type of sexual assault that usually involves sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration without consent, with physical force, coercion or abuse of authority (Humboldt). It is a serious crime with an estimated victim every 68 seconds in America (RAINN.org). And the majority of assaults will happen at or near the victim’s home. Rape is the most underreported crime around the world. There are many reasons why a victim would not report a rape: 1) fear of retaliations, 2) not wanting the offender to get into trouble, especially when the offender is a family member or friend, 3) fear of getting in trouble themselves, and 4) not trusting law enforcement (RAINN). God’s law took the matter of rape very seriously, calling it detestable. In Deuteronomy 22:25-27 there are safeguards to victims from punishment even calling for the offender to be put to death. In this text, the Hebrew verb, chazaq is used, which implies violence. “Chazaq can refer to the violent overpowering of another person” and in this verse, the “describes coercive force, i.e. rape” (McCoy, 2017). 

Unfortunately, rape is an experience that will stay with a victim. However, it does not need to forever define their future. As a valued and wonderful creation of God (Psalm 139), a victim can find hope. What can we do to help? First, assure them that it takes great courage to open up about rape and that they are not alone. Psalm 9:9 says “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Second, assure them that they are not at fault. A victim does not “ask for it.” While rape is a sin, it is not their sin. It was a sin against them. Even though Amnon blamed Tamar for the rape, she was not at fault. All she did was serve food to her “sick” brother. Third, be a safe place for them to talk when they need it. Sometimes just talking about it is the biggest healing experience. Fourth, check in periodically. Remind them you are still there for support, comfort and a sounding board. Lastly, if you feel they need professional help, contact a rape hotline and organizations for recommendations. 

Tamar was an innocent young woman who had no idea how much danger she was in when she came to take care of her “ill” brother.  And for her father to do nothing only added to her trauma. Did David favor his son over his daughter? Maybe. Or was his moral compass so damaged from his own sexual affair that he felt he couldn’t confront and punish Amnon? Possibly. Whatever his reasons, David’s inaction would lead to the destruction of two more lives as Absalom took matters into his own hands. Rape is a violent act against another. It is a crime that goes unreported for many reasons. It can leave a victim without a sense of safety and needless blame. But there is hope for victims. There are resources for victims and it can start with us. Be a support and comfort for victims. 

National Sexual Assault Hotline

800-656-HOPE (4673)

References

Humboldt (no date). Stop Rape: Response and Prevention. Humboldt State University. https://stoprape.humboldt.edu/statistics. Retrieved November 21, 2021. 

McCoy, Katie (December 11, 2017). God is not silent: What the Bible teaches about sexual assault. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/god-is-not-silent-what-the-bible-teaches-about-sexual-assault/. Retrieved November 28, 2021. 

RAINN (no date). Statistics. RAINN. https://www.rainn.org/statistics. Retrieved November 21, 2021. 

The Color of Destiny: do we chose our path or is it chosen for us?

The Color of Destiny is the second book in Julianne MacLean’s The Color of Heaven series. Eighteen years ago, a teenage pregnancy changed everything for 16-year-old Kate Worthington. Faced with difficult decisions and an unforgiving father, she chose to follow her heart and face an uncertain future with the father of her baby and her first love. A tragic accident leads her to pursue a career as a paramedic. At the same time, in another part of the world, 16-year-old Ryan Hamilton makes his own share of mistakes. When a tragic accident opens his eyes to the path he was taking, he devotes himself to pursue a career in the medical field. When Kate’s and Ryan’s lives cross paths, a strange series of events begin to link together. They begin to ask themselves about the possibility of destiny and miracles. Do our decisions forge the path in front of us? Or do  we end up exactly where we are meant to be? 

The Color of Destiny is a beautiful story about the twists and turns of life and the miracles that can happen when least expected. While the story wasn’t as emotional as the first book, The Color of Heaven, it was an engaging story. There is a slow build as to how Kate and Ryan’s stories are connected. The last third puts the story on the fast track as their connection is revealed. I enjoyed the characters as they were relatable and their reactions to events seemed realistic. One downside is the constant changing point of view. The narration shifts between Kate, Ryan and Ryan’s stepdaughter, Marissa. However, I understand why the author changed POVs as she did. It allowed the impact of the story to be seen from three different perspectives. Overall, I enjoyed The Color of Destiny and look forward to reading the rest of the series. I recommend reading the books in order, starting with The Color of Heaven. 

The Color of Destiny is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.

Book 1 The Color of Heaven is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

My thoughts on the "We don't know what's in it but we still take it" argument

I started writing this as a Facebook post but the more I wrote the more I realized it was too long and decided to post it as a blog. I’m sure many won’t read it but I feel the need to get it out. You may assume my status on the COVID vaccine or vaccines in general. It has no place in the counterargument I am trying to make and I will not make a statement on thoughts either way. I have heard various arguments for the COVID. Below are screenshots of an argument for the COVID vaccine I’ve seen several times over the past weeks. Usually I would ignore it because I usually operate under the “Live and Let Live” motto and it's too much of a hot-button topic that I don’t want or need the debate. However, I saw it the other day and I couldn’t ignore it any longer. 

I am sick and tired of the “we don’t know what’s in (blank) but we still take it” argument. It is a weak and largely unfair statement. Yes, there are people who eat and drink, take medicines without really knowing what is in them. However, I know a lot of people that do know what’s in their food, their medicines and their soaps, etc. If something goes in, on or around the body, there are groups of people who do their research because they 1) do care and read the ingredient lists and 2) have to care because of various food allergies and sensitivities to chemicals. There is a reason why food and other products list their ingredients. There’s a reason why possible ingredients related to food allergies and sensitivities are listed boldly on food labels. There’s a reason we have sensitive bath soaps, free and clear laundry soaps and bleach free household cleaners. There’s a reason why organic and non-GMO foods have grown in popularity. 

To bring up tattoo ink, vaping, and Botox doesn’t add to their argument either. While these things have grown in popularity, it doesn’t mean that everyone who has tattoos doesn't know what’s in the ink. It doesn’t mean that everyone who vapes doesn’t know what’s in it. The same goes with Botox. There are people who may have done their research and, for good or bad, have decided to get a tattoo, start vaping or get Botox. There are people who refuse to eat food that someone else has prepared. Yes, there is research out there about the long term effects of mobile phone use. The fact that someone hasn’t looked into it and uses a cell phone doesn’t mean that everyone else hasn’t either.

There may be several reasons why someone is hesitant or outright refusing the COVID vaccine. Yes, it could be political. And yes, they can be strictly anti-vaccine. It could be the mandate. Or they could simply be following medical advice. However, a number of people just want more information. I don’t understand how someone who does their due diligence before buying a car or house would be considered a smart consumer. But for someone who wants more information about a medical vaccine, they are anti-vaxx and anti-science. The “because I said so” argument doesn’t work. The “just trust me” response doesn’t sit well with some people especially when the government hasn’t given them much reason to trust them. 

If you decide to eat, drink or use anything without knowing what's in it, then any effects, good or bad, is on you. If you decided to get the vaccine with the information at hand, then good for you. However, it does not give you the right to judge, to shame, to antagonize or vilify those who have not got the vaccine because they wish to know what's in it.

Wish You Were Here: a story of personal evolutions

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult is a story about the unexpectedness of life and finding what you didn’t know you wanted. Diana O’Toole was the track to her perfect life. She would be married by 30 and have her children by 35, then they would move to the New York suburbs. Of course, she will climb the professional ladder in the cutthroat world of art auctions. She is an associate specialist at Sotheby’s and certainly on her way to a promotion, if she could just close a deal with a high-profile client. She’s not engaged yet but she’s certain that her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is close to proposing. Probably on their vacation getaway to the Galapagos. But when the COVID-19 hits New York City and on the eve of their departure, Finn announces that it's all hands on deck at the hospital. He can’t leave but there’s no reason Diana can’t go. Why waste their non refundable trip? So, she goes. Immediately, the trip goes south and she finds herself on lockdown on the island. Slowly, she connects with a local family. As Darwin formed his theory of evolution by natural selection in the Galapagos Islands, Diana finds herself examining herself and wonders if she will be the same person when she gets home? 

After I read Ms. Picoult’s latest release, The Book of Two Ways, I was hesitant to read Wish You Were Here. But I decided to give her another chance as she is usually good for an emotional, thought provoking story. Unfortunately, Wish You Were Here fell flat for me. There was no emotional impact. I understand where the author was going with the thought provoking idea of personal evolutions. I didn’t feel any connection to Diana and her story development was predictable. I didn’t care for her high profile client, Kitomi Ito and her husband Sam, which was a very barely-disguised copy of Yoko Ono and John Lennon. I didn’t enjoy the political digs and while the author makes no effort to hide her political stance in any of her books, I felt the political digs were overly done. Overall, Wish You Were Here isn’t the Jodi Picoult story I am used to or expected. Although I should have listened to my hesitation after my experience with The Book of Two Ways. As with most of her books, there is a twist that “you shouldn’t see coming” but this one really angered me and soured the book even more for me. I feel writing about COVID while we are still living in the pandemic was a bad move. 

Wish You Were Here will be available November 30, 2021 in hardcover, eBook and audiobook. 

Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy: what if fairy tales were real?

Never After: the Thirteenth Fairy by Melissa De La Cruz is the first book in the The Chronicles of Never After series. In her little suburban town of North Pasadena, Filomena Jefferson-Cho’s life is fairly uneventful. The only excitement she gets is reading her favorite series about a brave girl and her ragtag group of friends and their adventures saving their world, Never After. On the day that the thirteenth book was supposed to be released, something strange happened. Filomena finds herself being followed by Jack Stalker, one of the heroes in the series. He insists he is real, Never After is real and he needs her help! She finds herself in the world of fairies and other magical creatures as she helps fight the evil ogre queen and save Never After. 

Never After is a middle grade young reader book for games 10-14, however, it is an adventure story that I think all ages will enjoy. Ms. De La Cruz’s take on the fairy tales reminds me of Disney’s A Twisted Tale series as she takes the fairy tales we know and love and flips them upside down. What if the stories didn’t happen the way we have heard? The book focuses on being brave and facing fears. At one point, Filomena is told that “the quickest way to fail is to succumb to your doubt and fears.” I love that message. I thoroughly enjoyed Never After and look forward to introducing it to my daughters as well as reading more adventures of Filomena, Jack and Never After. I recommend Never After: the Thirteenth Fairy. 

Never After: the Thirteenth Fairy is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Bookshop of Yesterdays: a story about family, forgiveness and the love of reading

The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson is a story about discovery. Discovery about the past and ourselves. Miranda Brooks had been estranged from her beloved Uncle Billy for 16 years after a huge blowout between him and her mother after her 12th birthday party. When she learns that he has died and left her his beloved bookstore, Prospero Books. She grew up among the stacks, reading the adventures within the pages of the books. Uncle Billy also designed inventive scavenger hunts that would take them all over. She leaves behind her boyfriend in Philadelphia and flies home to Los Angeles. When she arrives home for his funeral, she discovers he has one last scavenger hunt for her. One that would take her on a journey of self-discovery and the truth behind the family’s falling out. She also learns that the bookstore is on the verge of bankruptcy. Can she solve his clues to discover the story he wants her to know? Can she save his beloved bookstore in the process? 

The Bookshop of Yesterdays is a story of family, forgiveness and the love of reading. I enjoyed how Ms. Meyerson weaved the books into the story. Some I have read, some I haven’t and others I had never heard of. Not sure if readers are supposed to “discover” the truth with Miranda or see the mystery before she does, but I figured out one piece of the mystery fairly early on. Miranda was a hard woman to like, very immature for a 27 year old. When she learns the full story, Miranda is angry that it was kept from her. It was frustrating to see that she was not trying to understand why events played out like they did. In a way, she still hasn’t learned to see her mother or her uncle as more than their relationship to her. She has failed to see them as flawed people trying to navigate life as best they can. Do any of us? Overall, I enjoyed the story. I recommend The Bookshop of Yesterdays. 

The Bookshop of Yesterdays is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

Digging In: the unexpected chances of starting over

Digging In by Loretta Nyhan is a story of the unexpected chances to start over after a devastating loss. Paige Moresco had the perfect life with her husband, Jesse, and their teenage loss, Trey. It all came tumbling down two years ago when Jesse died in a tragic car accident. Since then, she has been sleepwalking through life, only holding it together for the sake of her son. At least she thought she was holding it together. Her house is a disaster, the yard is overgrown and she soon learns she is in risk of losing her job. As she stares at her neglected lawn, she realizes that she has hit rock bottom. Suddenly, she finds herself digging. As the hole gets bigger, Paige decides to turn her yard into a vegetable and herb garden. She knows nothing about gardening, it is only with the help of her new friends, a charming local cop and the healing power of the soil, Paige begins to see the potential in the chaos, a new life growing from the upturned soil of her former life. 

Digging In takes a realistic yet warm and witty look at death and grief. “When death is sudden, the parting is actually a ragged tear, not a clean separation. It leaves all the ends unfinished, and they just unravel and unravel and . . .” describes Paige’s life as she deals with the loss of her husband. Jesse and Paige had been best friends since the eighth grade that bloomed into love and a happy marriage that his loss was more than just her husband. He was her rock, her stability. I enjoyed Paige as she still struggles with her husband’s loss, especially when many people think she should have “moved on” by now. At one point, Paige says, “Death was final, but grief wasn’t; it was a dirty street fighter who rose again and again even when I thought I had successfully knocked it to the ground. King of the sucker punches.” With a cast of colorful and interesting characters, Paige learns that moving on doesn’t mean that her life with her husband had no meaning or didn’t exist. It means that she needs to find herself without him, something she has never had to do before. I highly recommend Digging In. 

Digging In is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Nineteen Minutes: a lot can happen in nineteen minutes

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult is a grim and startling story about the devastating aftermath of a small-town tragedy. Think of what can happen in nineteen simple minutes. Could you mow the lawn? Bake cookies? Fold laundry? Maybe seek revenge? Sterling, New Hampshire is an ordinary town where nothing ever happens. In nineteen minutes, Peter Houghton will shatter the town’s quiet haven. As the residents seek the answers to their question, they must come to terms about their possible role in the tragedy and seek justice from those who would turn their world upside down. Jose Cormier is the daughter of a local judge and one of the students injured in the tragedy. She would be the best witness to figure out what exactly happened; unfortunately, she doesn’t remember any details...or does she? As the trial progresses, the bonds between friends and family begin to crack. Who is at fault? Will the town recover? 

Nineteen Minutes takes a hard look at bullying and how we, as a society, respond to it. Ms. Picoult is an amazing storyteller as she writes a raw and honest look at every parents’ and community’s nightmare. Told in the straightforward manner that I have some to expect from her, she asks the simplest questions with the most complex answers. How well do you truly know your children? What does it mean to be an outsider in the social world of high school and society at large? Is there anything that could have been done to prevent such tragedies?  Nineteen Minutes was a very difficult book to get through. Ms. Picoult does not shy away from the difficult subject and offers an in-depth look into the hows and whys that are often asked. Even though it was not an easy read, it is a topic that we need to think about and be prepared to respond.  I highly recommend Nineteen Minutes. 

Nineteen Minutes is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Tidewater: a realistic retelling of Pocahontas and the Jamestown colony

Tidewater by Libbie Hawker is a fictionalized story of historical events. In 1607, three ships arrived on the coast of Virginia to establish the Jamestown Colony. To the Real People, the Tidewater is their rightful home. To England, it is a fertile land filled with promise. Rumored to be rich with silver and gold, they stake their claim. However, the men of Jamestown struggle in this new and John Smith knows the answer to their survival is with the Real People. While both sides strive to achieve their own ends, a friendship is forged between Pocahontas, the daughter of the great chief, Powhatan, and John Smith. Their friendship brings a fragile peace that can be broken with the tiniest tremor. Pocahontas grows from a small child to a young woman in a time of upheaval and uncertainty. 

In her author’s notes, Ms. Hawker wanted to write a story as close to the historical facts and as away from the myth as possible. Most of what we “know” about the events of Jamestown and the friendship between Smith and Pocahontas is largely from Smith himself. Most historians have discounted his accounts as exaggerations. What was Pocahontas’ real story? Tidewater does a great job giving the reader insight into the life and society of the Real People and the events from their perspective. Ms. Hawker does not shy away from the cruel attitudes of the English toward the natives, who foolishly believed that the Real People had nothing to teach them. Tidewater is an in-depth story with many layers to the life of these historical people and their conflicts. I highly recommend Tidewater. 

Tidewater is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Passing Storm: a story of family, reconciliation, and closure

The Passing Storm by Christine Nolfi is a story about family, reconciliation and bringing closure to the past. Rae Langdon has struggled with grief most of her adult life. First with the sudden loss of her mother during the storm of the century to the tragic accident that took her daughter. Along with her father, Connor, she tends their Ohio farm that has seen better days but she is determined to keep the land. As days are a struggle with memories and anger, she gives shelter to one person she was determined to hate. Quinn Galecki is a teenager who has had a very troubling relationship with his parents. At the beginning of what promised to be a brutal winter, he is thrown out. With nowhere to go, he finds himself a temporary home with the Langdons. As he works to earn his keep, Quinn develops an unexpecting kinship with Rae and Connor. But soon secrets will be revealed that threaten that new found relationship. Will they find a way to move forward with their grief and find the bright future that awaits them on the other side of the passing storm? 

The Passing Storm is filled with drama, intrigue and mystery. Like a building storm, the story starts off slow and you will wonder where the story is going. Then as the storm gets stronger, the revelations build and build until the fierceness of the storm takes your breath away and you hold on for dear life as the storm blows through. The story is filled with twists and turns that will have you eager to turn the page! From the opening character, we see an angry Rae confronting a timid and frightened Quinn. What did the teen possibly do to invoke such anger from an adult? Rae was a woman who flew off the handle often, added with grief and she isn't thinking clearly. We soon learn that Rae is dealing with more than grief but deep, deep secrets of the past. At first, Rae is a hard woman to like but as the story unfolds and she brings Quinn into her home, I can see she was hiding a lot of grief, hurt and even guilt. I enjoyed Rae’s best friend, Yuna, as the voice of reason for Rae. I highly recommend The Passing Storm. 

The Passing Storm is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Adulting: a story of facing your demons for a second chance at life

Adulting by Liz Talley is a story about starting over and how it is never too late to get your life back on track. Self-destructive actress Chase London had one too many all-night benders, too many failed rehabs and a parole violation. Written off as a has-been, she is given one last chance...if Chase is willing. Olivia Han is a life coach who is devoted to Square One, her “adulting” boot camp therapy program. She decides to take Chase far away from the prying eyes of Hollywood and focus on her treatment. Together they travel to Olivia’s Northern California cabin where they discover it needs as much TLC as Chase does. As they work together to rehab the cabin, Chase discovers a safe place to come to her terms with her troubled past and face the demons she has been running from. At the same time, Olivia finds herself coming to terms with her own demons as she helps Chase learn the life skills she never had. 

Adulting is a story about life. The ups and downs. The great times and the darkest secrets that shape us. The book does come with a disclaimer that the story deals with substance abuse, depression, suicide, sexual abuse and rape. However, I don’t want the disclaimer to dissuade any readers from this story because it is a great story. Ms. Talley wonderfully deals with these subjects with seriousness and tenderness. Adulting is a story of second chances in life, love, and friendship. There are great moments of emotional revelation. Romantic moments that will make you sigh and smile with the occasional “Oh my!” There are even a few laugh out loud moments such as the stupid mistakes we make as we learn to do our own laundry and wash the dishes. There are many wonderful characters that help Chase and Olivia find the healing they truly needed. I wanted to reach through the book and give these women a big hug. This book exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend Adulting! 

Adulting is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

Single Black Female: an edgy, hard hitting story about the lives of four women

Single Black Female by Tracy Brown is the story of four women who must face life’s struggles as women, mothers, wives and what it means to be Black in America. Ivy Donovan is a successful stylist and entrepreneur who has raised her two sons after their father, Michael, was sentenced to prison. After years of loneliness, her loyalty to Michael has wavered and she is desperate to have more to her life than what she has. Cara “Coco” Norris is successful and single but something is lacking. Deja Maddox is a successful real estate agent, married to Bobby, a sergeant with the NYPD. It seems that they have made it. But everything isn’t what it seems in their high polished life. Nikki Diamond is an intelligent, self-made businesswoman and social media influencer with millions of adoring fans. She lives loud and large with no regrets and feels the ladies around her need to let loose. She is certainly willing to help them. However, they soon must face the ultimate test as one of their own gets caught up in a situation that polarizes a neighborhood and a community. Where will they stand? Who will they fight for? 

From the opening chapter, Tracy Brown’s story promises to be an edgy, no holds bar, hard hitting, and a reality gut check.. And wow, does she deliver! Yes, it is about four friends who struggle with “the dramatic twists and turns of life, love and what it means to “make it” in America”. However, she offers an in depth, brutally honest look into a life and a reality that I have never experienced and will never truly understand. These women find themselves in the Catch-22 of trying to better yourself and staying true to your roots and your neighborhood. Single Black Female holds nothing back as it highlights the nuances in the Black community as they live, love and face the joy and pain of being a Black woman. Ms. Brown writes a story that smolders with a hidden fire you know is there but you pretend it’s not. You wait as the flames get higher and higher until you can’t ignore it any longer. It is not light reading but I thoroughly enjoyed it as I hung on every word, turning each page as I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. I highly recommend Single Black Female. 

Single Black Female is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Angels Walking: an special mission to bring hope and forgivness

Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury is the first book in the Angels Walking series. In heaven, a meeting between angels is making a decision to send a team to earth. A desperate mission to help those on earth who need it. A mission to restore hope, to bring healing and redemption. A one time national baseball hero, Tyler Ames, has lost everything and everyone he loves on his path to achieve the big leagues. One day he hits rock bottom with no one to turn to as he has cut contact with his parents and the only woman he has ever loved, Sami Dawson, has moved on. A series of small miracles leads Tyler to a job as a maintenance man at a retirement home and a friendship an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s. Virginia Hutcheson, who mistakes Tyler for her son, seems to have the answers that Tyler desperately needs. Will the angels be successful? 

Hebrews 13:2 says we may be entertaining angels without ever knowing and Psalm 91:11-12 says that God commands his angels concerning us, to help guard us. One of my favorite paintings is the angel standing guard over a sleeping child. The imagery is powerful. Angels Walking is an imaging of how angels may help guard us, guide us to the path back to God. I love the imagery that what we might call a string of strange coincidences is actually angels at work. The complete stranger who says the words we need to hear at the right moment could have been an angel to answer a prayer or to remind us that God cares and loves us. I have read Ms. Kingsbury before and she ever fails to bring an emotional story and there are a few moments in Angels Walking that I teared up. I highly recommend Angels Walking. It is a story that reminds us that forgiveness is always possible and that we haven’t wandered too far away for God to bring us back. 

Angels Walking is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.