Salome: a mother who sought greatness for her sons and got a lesson in service

Salome was the mother of the Zebedees. John and James were called the Sons of Thunder by Jesus and were two of the three chosen to accompany him on the mountain during the Transfiguration. Her husband and sons operated a prosperous fishing business when Jesus called John and James to join his ministry. She became a devoted follower of Christ. She held the common misconception that the Messiah would drive out the Romans and establish a literal kingdom. Salome would stand with other women at the foot of the cross and witness the horrific death of Jesus. She would also be among the women to hear the good news of the resurrection from the angel at the tomb. However, people know her story as the mother who requested special favors for her sons and received a lesson in what it truly means to be great. 

Knowing that Jesus had nicknamed her sons, the Sons of Thunder, that he had seen greatness in John and James. Why else would they be included in his inner circle with Simon Peter? Jesus had even taken them up the mountain and she had seen their faces when they returned. She had heard their stories about the event on the mountain. Salome then took the opportunity to ask for a special request. She begged Jesus to allow her sons to sit at his side in his kingdom. While Salome was probably thinking she was asking for what she thought would make her sons happy, she did not truly understand the gravity of her request. Jesus’s reply is a lesson on what it means to be great in his kingdom. Later, she would be at the foot of the cross and watch in horror as Jesus breathed his last. Did she remember her request? Did she finally understand what Jesus meant? Did she think about her sons’ futures in horror? Whatever sadness and grief she felt that day would be replaced with joy as she would be among the group of women to hear the angel’s proclamation of the Resurrection. 

Mothers are held in high regard in the Scriptures. While a woman, as a wife, answers to her husband, the rest of the household answers to her. Her primary duty was to produce and care for the children. A mother generally nursed her children for three years and totally cared for at least six years. It would be then that the children would join in helping with either the family business, as sons would join their father in the fields or a trade, and daughters would join their mother with the household tasks. Given the importance of mothers to a child’s early years, it makes sense that Salome still saw it as her role to help promote her sons. A bit misguided? Probably. She could be described as a bulldozer mom. Everyone knows a helicopter mom but do you know a bulldozer mom? According to Sharon Wilharm, a bulldozer mom is a mom who wants the best for their child and will do whatever it takes to make it happen (2021). Instead of encouraging John and James to seek a place of importance in the kingdom, she went straight to Jesus herself. What was wrong with her request? 

Jesus would point out that she did not know what she was asking (Matthew 20:22). He tells her and his disciples that they will suffer as he will (Matthew 20:23) and he gives the lesson to those who want to be great. Simply to be first you must serve. To lower yourself to serve and not to be served (Matthew 20:25-28). He teaches the true meaning of greatness: to serve. Servanthood has been vilified in our culture as very unhealthy, especially women as wives and mothers. However, both men and women are called to model Christ and serve others. The rewards we received in heaven will not be favors. They are given to those who maintained their commitment to Jesus in spite of severe trials. Severe trials could be the loss of friends, family, jobs even the loss of our very lives as we sustain and nurture our commitment to Jesus. Humbling oneself to serve others is not a form of low self-esteem or unworthiness. It is a sign of great love. The greatness of a person among us is the servant to all. When you serve others in big and small ways, you serve Jesus. 

In conclusion, Salome’s story is about a mother and a request and a lesson about what it means to be great. Salome was a mother who saw her sons in a place of importance and she decided to insure their important place. As a mother who saw what she thought would be good for her sons and tried to put a plan into motion, she became a lesson to parents everywhere that eventually our children must put their dreams, ambitions and plans into motion without our unsolicited help. But there is a more important lesson in Salome’s story. Heavenly rewards are not granted, they are earned. When you are persecuted for Jesus, you will reap rewards in heaven (Matthew 5:12). It is a reminder that even when service to others may be overlooked and unappreciated by them, it is not overlooked and unappreciated by Him. 

References

Wilharm, Sharon (2021). Salome Mother of James and John. Sharon Wilharm.com. https://sharonwilharm.com/salome-mother-of-james-and-john/ Retrieved November 19, 2023. 

Bending the Rules: a sports forbidden romance

 Bending the Rules by Mariah Dietz is the first book in the Dating Playbook series. It started with a crush. Raegan Lawson crushed on her older brother’s football teammate, Lincoln Beckett for two years. Realizing that a relationship wasn’t going to happen, she starts her freshman year of college with a list of rules including a rule against dating Lincoln. Lincoln Beckett aka President is the star wide receiver at Brighton University. Smart, funny and devilishly handsome that leaves behind a string of broken hearts. An added strike against Lincoln is he is her brother’s best friend. However, despite her rules and the obvious stay away warning from her brother, Raegan and Lincoln are drawn to each other. Will it be worth it to bend the rules? Or will she be left with a broken heart? 

Bending the Rules popped up on my newsfeed and I was intrigued. I love a good football, forbidden romance story. Added bonus, it was free with Prime Reading! I eagerly dove into this story and sadly, I was disappointed. It took so long to get to the romance that it was underwhelming. Raegan and Lincoln were flat as characters and I didn’t care enough to see them finally get together. Also, there were a lot of scenes with Raegan at her job at the aquarium or in her classes which outweigh her interactions with Lincoln. Lincoln supposedly has a painful past that influences his love ‘em and leave ’em reputation but it wasn’t explored to help him be sympathetic. Overall, I’ve read better sports romances and I will not be continuing this series. I do not recommend Bending the Rules. 

Bending the Rules is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Lives Apart: an immigrant story from Ireland to America

Lives Apart by Anne McLoughlin is the first book in the Lives series. It’s a story of emigration from Ireland to America after the potato famine. At 17 years old, Johanna McNamara left her quiet life on her family’s farm and emigrated to America to join her brother, Hugh. Full of hope and dreams of success, Johanna has great expectations. When tragedy strikes, she finds herself caring for others and putting her hopes and dreams aside. Back in Ireland, her brother Art is struggling with the family farm and his troubled son, Declan. He makes the decision to send Declan to America; however, his arrival brings an act of betrayal that threatens to tear the family apart. Will America be the promised land for Johanna? Will Declan find himself in this new world? 

Set in Ireland, Boston, San Francisco and Nova Scotia, Lives Apart explores the experience of the immigrant as they arrive in a new country and the family they leave behind. I was really interested in this story as a descendant of Irish immigrants, the experiences and stories of immigrants have always fascinated me. However, Lives Apart is very mundane with little action and a bit confusing as the story switches time, place and between siblings. Rather than focusing on Johanna’s story, Declan’s story seems forced and probably could have been its own book as the story tries to do too much in one book and the ending was less than satisfying. Overall, the story was okay but not enjoyable enough to continue this series.. I do not recommend Lives Apart. 

Lives Apart is available in paperback and eBook

Dare to Love My Grumpy Boss: fun, sweet, clean romance

Dare to Love My Grumpy Boss by Ellie Hall is the first book in the Forever Marriage Match series. Cora Albright has found her perfect guy, Mr Right, if you will. However, she doesn’t know his real name. They met online and exchanged rather nerdy, flirty messages and it was leading to possibly meeting in real life? Before she can think about it, Cora learns her company is merging with another and the two companies are hosting a wilderness survival retreat. A series of events, she is left behind with Shaw Dawson, Mr Wrong. Shaw had worked his way to the top and after a series of betrayal, he found it hard to trust. As the merger goes through, Cora learns that Shaw is now her boss. Mr Grumpy and Ms Sunshine learn that they met before, not just in real life. Can Mr Wrong become Mr Right? 

Dare to Love My Grumpy Boss is a sweet, fun, clean romance. It was a quick read. Cora and Shaw were fun as people and together as a couple. They were sweet, flirty with a bit of sarcasm and nerdiness that I appreciate and relate to. The story also gave me You’ve Got Mail vibes with the fun and flirty messages between Cora and Shaw. I loved Cora’s friends who will probably have their own romances in this series, which I look forward to reading. There were a lot of laugh out loud moments. Warning though! Do not read while hungry. Cora is a foodie and she discusses food a lot and it was making me hungry. This story is a great quick romance to read during a lazy afternoon. If you want fun, sweet, clean romance, I highly recommend Dare to Love My Grumpy Boss. 

Dare to Love My Grumpy Boss is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

If He Had Been With Me: a young adult romance of what ifs

If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin is a story of what if. Autumn and Finn used to be inseparable but along the way, something changed or they changed. Whatever it is, they do their best to ignore each other when they can. Each has their own significant others and friend groups, however, whenever they are together, Autumn feels their relationship could be different and even something more than just friends. One August night, everything changes. It was raining and Finn and his girlfriend were arguing as they drove on the slick road. No one knows what the argument was, or they don’t care; however, the cause of the argument is crucial. The situation causes Autumn to wonder how things could have been different if she and Finn hadn’t drifted apart. She asks herself, if he had been with me, would everything have been different? 

This book has been all over social media and each time it popped up, I was intrigued at the book which came highly recommended. It has been described as “an achingly authentic and raw portrait of love, regret and the life-altering impact of the relationships we hold closest to us.” However, this young adult romance did not live up to the hype. It was pretty predictable as to the cause of the argument; however, the ending left me confused and unsure what happened. There wasn’t much action, even the scenes with action were kinda ho-hum. I think the book and its premise had so much potential and could have been the emotional story it was supposed to be; however, I think it needed better development. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. It was confusing and boring. I do not recommend If He Had Been With Me. 

If He Had Been With Me is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Twisted Love: a steamy, spicy grumpy-sunshine, forbidden romance

Twisted Love by Ana Huang is the first book in the Twisted series. Alex Volkov has a stern exterior. With an icy heart, he forms no attachments, no commitments, his only relationship is with his best friend, Josh and his little sister. Ruthless and calculating. driven by tragedy and a past he can’t forget, Alex is fueled by his need for success and vengeance. Having her own childhood tragedy, Ava Chen tries to see the brighter side of life and is determined to see the beauty in the world including Alex. She knows Alex is human despite his cool demeanor and a heart of gold beneath his icy exterior. When they are thrown together, their attraction is immediate. Their love was never supposed to happen and when it does, it ignites a fire that neither of them were prepared for. Soon secrets from both their pasts are revealed, threatening everything. 

Twisted Love has been all over BookTok, Bookgram and Facebook reels that I finally gave in, borrowed it from Prime Reading and  eagerly dug in. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this morally gray character with a hidden agenda, but as Alex and Ava's relationship grew, I was hooked. The heat between them was electrifying! This story is more than a brother’s best friend/opposites attract romance. It is the ultimate grumpy-sunshine romance with spiciness that is off the charts. And if you don’t like spicy romances, this book isn’t for you. The warning given in the book synopsis is not joking (see below). However, if you enjoy a grumpy-sunshine, forbidden romance with a whole lot of spice and a hint of suspense, I highly, highly recommend Twisted Love. I could not put it down and I am definitely reading the rest of the series. 

Twisted Love is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The warning from the synopsis: This book contains a possessive, morally gray alphahole; explicit sexual content, and profanity. No cheating or menage, but if you're looking for a traditionally sweet, loveable hero, this is not the book for you. Recommended for 18+.

Hello Goodbye: a shocking murder and closure to a deeply personal case

Hello Goodbye by Kay Bratt is the seventh book of the Hart’s Ridge series. The once tranquil small town of Hart’s Ridge is once again rocked to the core with a shocking crime which leaves two parents brutally murdered and three adopted children orphaned. With twists and turns, the couple’s seemingly perfect image is opened to secrets and possible motives. Deputy Taylor Gray throws herself into solving the case while dealing with turmoil in her personal life. First, Sam, her fiancé, is blindsided by the sudden appearance of a 12 year old girl, Alice, claiming to be his daughter. Second, there is a sudden development from a case from her personal past that could threaten her entire family. Even in a small town, there are secrets hidden in every nook and cranny, is the killer hiding among them? 

From the opening chapter, Hello Goodbye hits readers with a brutal crime and the mystery swirls to secrets, lies and the usual suspects. The case itself was intriguing and engaging. Will the killer be a surprise? Unfortunately, I found Taylor hard to like in this story. While she usually has a hardened exterior, with hidden emotions, I found her a little too harsh and a few times, I even commented out loud with “Yikes, Taylor.” I like Sam more and more with each book and I loved how he opened himself to the possibility of being Alice’s father and engaged in a relationship with her. Overall, Hello Goodbye was an engaging, roller coaster of a story which kept me guessing until the end. I highly recommend Hello Goodbye as well as the rest of the Hart’s Ridge series. 

Hello Goodbye is available in paperback and eBook

The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove: second chances, forgiveness and finding a greater purpose

The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove is the third book in the Dove Pond series by Karen Hawkins. Ella Dove grew up in Dove Pond as a daughter in the magically talented Dove family. She is an instinctively talented baker who has gained a massive following on social media. However, a false accusation has forced her from her hometown. A restless soul, Ella has become haunted by a dream which leads her to believe it is time to head home and set the record straight. Angela Stewart Harrington is also returning to Dove Pond with her own amends to make with her estranged daughter, Jules. Her grandson, Gray, is shocked to see Ella back in Dove Pond. His first and only love, he was heartbroken when she left town, but never stopped loving her. However, he is determined to convince her to give him and Dove Pond a second chance; but is he on the road to another broken heart? Can Ella, Angela and Gray realize that love can and will find a way to forgive? 

I love the Dove Pond series! With magical realism and real life issues of betrayal, love and finding forgiveness and purpose, it is a series that has it all. The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove is a great addition. Ella has convinced herself that she doesn’t need commitment or a place to call home to be happy. But when her dreams begin to haunt her waking hours, she realizes she has to face the past and Dove Pond again. While I figured out the reason behind her dreams, and frustrated that she couldn’t see it; however, the moment she does realize, was beautiful and highly satisfying. The drama and situations between Angela and Jules were wonderful as well. I also love how each book gives hints to future books and stories. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I highly recommend The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove. While you do not necessarily need to read these books in order, I highly recommend it. Start with The Book Charmer (2019) and then A Cup of Silver Linings (2021). 

The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Not the Marrying Kind: a high stakes game and a marriage of convenience

Not The Marrying Kind by Nicola Marsh is the first book in the Bashful Brides series. LA party planner Poppy Collins has a secret side business. She plans divorce parties as the Divorce Diva. When a new party prospect offers Poppy the chance to save her sister’s company, she can hardly refuse. Beck Blackwood is the Vegas golden boy who has a problem. His investors are worried about his reputation and image. In order to appear more respectable, he needs a wife and fast. With the knowledge of Poppy’s secret, Beck blackmails her into a marriage of convenience. Poppy realizes that she is about to get more than she bargained for; however, she has a few tricks up her sleeves. After all, they are in the city of high stakes. They are playing to win but will they end up playing for keeps? 

A marriage of convenience, a billionaire and a sassy woman with a secret, what could possibly go wrong? Or right? Although I am not a fan of the billionaire romance subgenre, I liked Beck and Poppy from the beginning. They both knew what they wanted and were willing to play the game to get it. However, they didn’t count on falling in love. I loved Poppy’s justification for divorce parties. It made sense to me and the Divorce Diva’s recommendations at the beginning of the chapters were fun. I enjoyed seeing Beck and Poppy soften toward each other. However, the story was over far too quick. Overall, I enjoyed Beck and Poppy’s story. It was not my favorite of the author’s romance books; however, it is still enjoyable. If you enjoy romance, I recommend Not the Marrying Kind. 

Not The Marrying Kind is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Barefoot in the Sand: a heartfelt story weaving past and present as secrets are revealed

Barefoot in the Sand by Holly Chamberlain is the first book in the Eliot’s Corner, Maine series. There are moments that define your life and can drastically change its course. Arden Bell has had those moments. Now she lives a quiet life as the owner of a bookstore in the small seaside town of Eliot’s Corner. She never thought the day would come when her life would take another turn until she opens her door to the daughter she gave up for adoption so many years ago. Laura Huntington is on the hunt to find her birth parents after the deaths of her adoptive parents and the end of her bitter marriage. Her appearance in Maine opens doors to the past and questions that everyone has been afraid to ask. Will the truth be revealed and the ghosts of the past finally put to rest? 

This book is my first by Holly Chamberlain and it probably won’t be my last. Barefoot in the Sand is a heartfelt story of past and present intertwining in a summer of new beginnings for a mother and daughter. Switching perspectives between Arden and Laura, readers learn about the summer that shaped their lives and a mystery that haunts them. From the opening chapter to the closing pages, this fast paced story hooks you in as a young woman fights against the strangling ties of her parents and the young man who sets her free. It is a story of a reunion between mother and daughter with a bit of a mystery and intrigue. My only complaint is the confrontation between Arden and a couple characters that fell flat for me. I look forward to reading more in this series. I recommend Barefoot in the Sand. 

 

Barefoot in the Sand is available in paperback and eBook

More Than This: a sweet and steamy romance and getting out of your comfort zone

More Than This by Shannyn Schroeder is the first book of the O'Leary's series. When she learns that her ex-husband is going to be a father, Quinn Adams is on a mission. With the help of her sister and their friend, Quinn is given a list of challenges to complete that summer, challenges designed to be life changing and get Quinn out of her comfort zone. Ryan O’Leary is the sexy bartender at their favorite hang out and he decides he is the perfect person to help Quinn with her list. As he helps her set up and complete the challenges, their friendship grows. Soon Ryan realizes that he wants more from Quinn. Can he convince her that he is the man for all her adventures? 

Wow! More Than This is a sweet and steamy romance, packed with humor and tough life lessons. Quinn is a high school teacher who plays it safe. Ryan is the sexy bartender who is willing to show her the fun in taking risks. I immediately loved Ryan and saw how perfect he was for Quinn. It takes her a bit of convincing but once she lets her guard down, the fireworks erupt! The challenges were fun and I loved seeing Quinn break from her shell and become more confident. I loved all the characters, especially the large and rambunctious O’Leary family. I loved this story and look forward to reading the rest of the series. If you enjoy sweet and steamy romance, I highly recommend More Than This. 

More than This is available in paperback and eBook

The Porcelain Maker: one daughter's search into the secrets of the past

The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy is a story of love, betrayal and art inspired by the actual porcelain factory in Dachau. From the horrors of World War II to America, two lovers are caught at the crossroads of history and a daughter’s search for the truth. In 1929, Germany, Max, a skilled Jewish architect, and Bettina, an avant-garde German painter, met and the sparks were immediate. Their whirlwind romance takes them to the dazzling lights of Berlin but they are met with the darkness as Nazism becomes the rising threat to all they love and hold dear. When Max is arrested and sent to the Dachau concentration camp, Bettina is determined to rescue him and escape Germany. In 1993, Clara, Bettina’s daughter, is on a journey to discover the identity of her father, a second her mother took to her grave. As she traces her mother’s past, Clara is left with questions as to why her mother fought so hard to keep her past hidden. 

While I have a bit of World War II fatigue with the ever growing number of books which feature World War II, I was intrigued by a story I haven’t heard before. I was hooked in by the opening chapter as Clara is tracing down porcelain figures linked to her mother. I loved the electric and flirtatious meeting between Max and Bettina. However, the book fell fast. I was confused by the back and forth in time and places. Who’s who and how they all fit into the story of the concentration camp and the porcelain factory. Sadly, even the emotional moments that should have been more powerful and poignant fell flat. I didn’t care for Bettina or even Clara as she is on this journey. Max was a decent character. Overall, I appreciate the author’s desire to bring the story of Dachau to light, but The Porcelain Maker was uninteresting and too drawn out. However, if you enjoy World War II stories, you may enjoy The Porcelain Maker. 

The Porcelain Maker is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

The Singing Trees: lessons in forgiveness and second chances

The Singing Trees by Boo Walker is the story of one young artist who learns to forgive the past and embrace second chances. After losing her parents in a car accident, Annalisa Mancuso lives with her grandmother and their large Italian family in the small town of Payton Mills, Maine. Inspired by her mother, who left her artistic dreams behind for marriage, Annalisa focuses on painting. She is determined to never fall in love, to never marry and focus on her dreams. The first step is to leave her small town behind. She arrives in Portland, Maine and the thriving art scene where Annalisa hopes to discover her artistic voice. There she meets Thomas and ss their relationship deepens, Annalisa finds herself balancing her dreams with falling in love. Annalisa must decide if she is willing to take a risk, to truly open herself up to life and love. 

I heard an interview of Boo Walker on a podcast and found him to be interesting and immediately looked for his books. The Singing Trees was free with Amazon Prime Free, so I borrowed the book. It has a gorgeous cover and beautiful title that caught my eye and I looked forward to reading it. From the beginning, I found Annalisa to be harsh and unlikeable. I did not like her constant woe is me attitude. The story was drawn out and boring. Misunderstandings which would have been made clear by simply talking to each other! The dual timeline plot lines were confusing. There were revelations that didn’t make sense. Even the ending was a tangled mess. I closed the book confused. Overall, I did not like The Singing Trees which is disappointing as Mr Walker was likeable on the podcast and his books have been highly praised. 

The Singing Trees is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Saving Noah: a wounded warrior romance

Saving Noah by Kaci Rose is the first book in the Oakside Military Heroes series. When his unit was attacked, Noah Carr acted on instinct and saved as many men as he could. The attack left him scarred with burns over half of his body and unbearable pain. Noah couldn’t imagine anyone daring to look at him again. With painful treatments and physical therapies ahead of him, he never felt so alone. Lexi Bates arrives at the hospital to see her brother when she realizes Noah has no one. Not wanting him to be alone, as no soldier should have to suffer alone, Lexi never leaves his side. She finds herself opening up to him about her own painful past. As their feelings for each other grow, Noah and Lexi wonder what awaits them as he prepares for life outside the hospital. With their own emotional and physical scars, can a heart truly learn to love again? 

Saving Noah is a wonderful mixed story that hits all the emotional buttons. It is an emotionally hard hitting as Ms. Rose doesn’t shy away from the aftermath that leaves wounded warriors lost in limbo between the military and civilian life. The story also features what the families and loved ones are left with when their soldiers are wounded or even never make it home.  I loved how the author features some of the wonderful programs that exist for wounded warriors and the great need for more help across the country. It is a sweet romance with spicy scenes. Some of the love scenes were a bit too spicy for me and a tad bit disgusting. Looking past those moments, overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more in this series. There were moments of smiles and moments of tears. If you enjoy emotional love stories with military heroes, I recommend Saving Noah. 

Saving Noah is available in paperback and eBook

Call the Canaries: three estranged sisters confront their past and reconnect

Call the Canaries Home by Laura Barrow is the story of three estranged sisters who reconnect and face an unresolved past. Savannah was only four years old when her twin sister, Georgia, went missing from their small Louisiana town. Twenty-eight years later, she convinces her older sisters, Rayanne and Sue Ellen, to honor their pact and retrieve a time capsule from their old backyard. Going home would mean confronting their painful past and their stubborn grandmother. As they sift through the artifacts from the capsule, they come across a photograph and see a familiar face in the background. Savannah believes this woman could hold the answer to what happened the day Georgia disappeared. Old tensions, rivalries and memories resurface, each sister must confront what they remember about that day, what they know about each other and themselves. Will they finally learn the lesson that Meemaw has been trying to teach them? That family is everything. 

Touted as “a heartfelt novel about family, grief, secrets, and forgiveness” I expected Call the Canaries Home to be a profoundly emotional story of sisters, the past and family. Unfortunately, it was not as profound as I expected. The story is told from the perspectives of the three sisters in the present and Meemaw in the past. The plot itself was not interesting with twists and turns that were left wanting. The sisterly drama dragged on and seemed without real resolution. I couldn’t identify or feel for any of the sisters. I feel the author really didn’t give any reason to care for these sisters who had lived through horrible situations. The setup was about the mysterious disappearance of their sister and then it became an afterthought and a disappointment when the mystery is solved. Overall, this story was drawn out with way too many points of view to follow. I do not recommend Call the Canaries Home. 

Call the Canaries is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook