The Woman of Samaria: an encounter with Jesus and the Living Water

In John 4:1-42, the Woman of Samaria is a nameless woman whose encounter with Jesus as well as changed her life and the lives of her village. She would not have been the most people’s first choice to advance the gospel in a region it had yet reached. As a Samaritan, she is looked down upon by the Jews. She is an outcast in her village because of her lifestyle. She lived a life that relegated her to the fringes of her society. Yet her encounter with Jesus broke through the barriers of culture, race and religion in order to bring her to his offer of salvation. What is her story? Why is water an important factor in their exchange? And why discuss this nameless woman? 

A woman comes to Jacob’s well, the well of the village of Sychar, to draw water in the heat of the afternoon. She does so to avoid the wagging tongues and scathing comments of the other women who look down upon her. Little did she know that her life would never be the same. When she arrives at the well, she notices a Jewish man seated at the well. She thinks he will ignore her as most Jews avoid any contact with Samaritans. However, to her surprise, he asked for a drink of water. In her shock, she asks why? Her simple questions sparks a conversation that will change her life. This man talks about living water and she scoffs. When he asks her to bring her husband, she looks to the ground and admits she has no husband. He responds with more information about her life that he couldn’t possibly know. Their conversation is the first time Jesus admits to being the Messiah as the woman wonders if he truly could be the one they are waiting for. She goes back to the village and tells her story which leads many in the village to believe too. 

It may seem ridiculous to discuss the importance of water. We know that water is important to our bodies and our health. Water is an important building block for many bodily functions that we don’t even realize need water. Water is as important as food. Many of us are so used to the modern convenience of running water that we never wonder where the water is coming from. However, even today, water takes an amazing journey to come to our homes and businesses. In the village of Sychar and other areas of Palestine, water would be a rarity that measures were taken to make sure water was as plentiful as possible. The people become adept at gathering water during the rainy seasons in cisterns and covered pools. Gathering water from the local well would be a daily chore. Water is symbolically used throughout Scriptures. In Psalms 69:1-2, 14 and 124:5, David describes his troubles as deep waters. Proverbs 18:4 uses water as an illustration for people’s words and wisdom. Good news is described as fresh water (Proverbs 25:25) and washes away sins (Psalm 51:7, Ephesians 5:26, and Hebrews 10:22). And at the well, Jesus speaks of a living water that will quench the spiritual thirst (John 4:13). 

So, water is important both physically and used symbolically to describe the gift of salvation that Jesus offers. So a conversation at a well makes sense. But why this nameless woman? It is really simple. She represents the lowest of the low. A female in a society in which they were traditionally demeaned and disregarded. She was a member of a race that was traditionally despised by the Jews and she was living in shame as a social outcast. Despite all this, her holy encounter with Jesus not only brings her to salvation but many in her village as well. Her story is significant for three reasons. First, it shows Jesus' love for the world. His heart for all people is revealed as he speaks so directly, as equals, with her, the lowest of the low. Second, it reminds us that only Jesus can provide salvation. He is the Living Water that comes from God and lasts forever. Third, it is an example of the importance of our own testimony. Our stories may seem insignificant and unremarkable. And yet someone, somewhere may believe and receive salvation because of our story. 

In conclusion, the story of the Samaritan woman is the offer of the Living Water of Jesus and salvation. Are you thirsty? Is there a longing that you can’t seem to understand or meet? Is there a void that you hunger to fill. An emptiness you can’t explain? Have you tried to fill it with relationships? Material things? Alcohol? Drugs? There’s nothing in this world that can fill a spiritual thirst and hunger. Only Jesus can provide the living water that your soul thirsts for. To satisfy every longing. To soothe your soul. God knows everything about us, even the things we wish he didn’t. Despite this all, He loves us. All we need to do is confess our sins and He will provide the strength to overcome the ugliness of ourselves. 

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 

so great his love for those who fear him; 

as far as the east is from the west, 

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

-Psalm 103:11-12

A Waterfront Wedding: a sweet small town romance

A Waterfront Wedding is the third book in the Heart’s Landing series by Leigh Duncan. Filling in for her cousin, Evelyn wants to make sure that the Captain’s Cottage stays the favorite place for weddings. Meanwhile, her childhood friend, Ryan Court has invested his life savings into remodeling the old boatworks into a brand-new wedding venue. As the Wedding in a Week contest is an all-expenses-paid event with just seven days to do it comes to Heart’s Landing. As the winners come to Heart’s Landing, it pits the Captain’s Cottage and the boatworks against each other. The two friends become rival business owners as they help the young bride and groom, Evelyn and Ryan learn how little they truly know each other. Will  their newfound relationship survive when only one can win? 

As published by Hallmark, A Waterfront Wedding reads like a Hallmark movie, no surprise. However, it is an enjoyable sweet romance. It’s more than a second chance romance, it is more a story of two people who crushed on each other and didn’t know about the mutual interest. While the winning venue was not a surprise, however, the end of the story was surprising and very sweet and romantic. I enjoyed Evelyn and Ryan and the slow realization that they are attracted to each other. Their relationship hits all the romance formula parts: the glances, the misunderstandings, to the great reconciliations and the grand romance gestures. If you enjoy Hallmark-style romances, I highly recommend A Waterfront Wedding. 

A Waterfront Wedding is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

The Charade: a fake relationship romance

The Charade is the first book in the Eden Falls Academy series by Judy Corry. Ava Cohen arrives at the Eden Falls Academy for her senior year. As a condition of her attendance, she agrees to math tutoring. Her new tutor is the handsome, standoffish Carter Hastings. Carter insists on a contract with one rule being she can’t fall in love with him. Carter doesn’t date the girls at the school especially after his last relationship ended. Then Ava suggests a fake relationship. He can get revenge on his cheating ex-girlfriend and she can hide the reason why they have to spend so much time together. As they begin to pretend, they soon realize that their first impressions of each other are far from the truth and neither of them can hold their end of the contract. But when a family secret threatens to come to light, they are shocked to consider that their relationship could be forbidden. 

The Charade is a wonderful fake relationship/forbidden romance story. From the very beginning, I was drawn in by Ava and Carter’s alternating points of view as their relationship unfolds. Behind Carter’s standoffish demeanor hides a wounded soul from very humble beginnings and a haunted history. Ava’s warm acceptance brings out a different side of Carter. Their relationship turns passionate quickly and will warm any romantic heart. While I knew the family secret threatening their relationship would be revealed and their relationship would be safe, I enjoyed how it played out in the story and their individual reactions. It is a clean romance with kissing and a couple make out sessions but no sex. I also enjoyed the supporting characters. I look forward to reading their individual romances. Overall, I enjoyed The Charade. There were moments that made me smile. Moments that broke my heart and tender moments that made me sigh. I recommend The Charade. 

The Charade is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Fake: a person with a story too tragic to be real?

The Fake by Zoe Whittall is a story of a con artist who explodes into someone’s life with an amazing story and leaves once the jig is up. After the death of her wife, Shelby feels so alone. Then she meets Cammie, a charismatic woman who lives uncaringly about the opinions of others and has her own tragic story. As their friendship grows, something about Cammie’s story doesn’t add up. Gibson is fresh from a divorce and deeply depressed as he faces his 40th birthday. One night, he meets Cammie and instantly falls in love. She brings a brightness to his life that has been lacking. Unfortunately, his friends are very wary of Cammie and even Gibson starts to realize that Cammie’s story could be too tragic to be real. When Shelby and Gibson discover that Cammie is a pathological liar, they struggle to understand why they believed her story in the first place and struggle with how to proceed. Do they help her heal from whatever causes Cammie to be such a liar? Or do they truly want revenge? 

The Fake is set up in an interesting format where we get 3 points of view: Shelby, Gibson and Cammie. We see the story upfold from Shelby and Gibson’s eyes and Cammie interjects to “defend” herself. It is an interesting look on how quickly we often take someone’s word for the story they tell us. It is also an interesting look into how people react, even after learning they have been lied to, they still want to help and befriend. Generally, people believe in the goodness of others despite evidence to the contrary. It is a situation we all have been in. Maybe not to the extreme that Shelby and Gibson experience, but how many times have we heard news stories of people defrauding the public for money with a sob story of extreme illness? As someone who has been taken in by someone’s sob story, only to discover some details aren’t exactly true, it was frustrating to see Shelby and Gibson so easily taken in. Understandable but I wanted to scream “be careful!” Overall, I enjoyed and recommend The Fake. 

The Fake is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

Solomon's Crown: what if a historical rumor was true?

Solomon’s Crown by Natasha Siegel is set in twelfth-century Europe as newly crowned King Philip of France is determined to restore his nation to its former empire and bring glory to his name. His greatest enemy, King Henry of England, threatens to end his reign before it begins, Philip is forced to make a perilous alliance with Richard, Duke of Aquitaine, the man history would know as Richard the Lionheart. Philip risks his throne as well as his heart. Richard was never supposed to be king but when family tragedy makes him heir to the English throne, he finally has the opportunity to overthrow his father. His alliance with Philip is simply a tool for his vengeful quest, he begins to question if the crown is truly worth it. As Philip and Richard face an imminent war, they must choose between their desires or their place in history.

There has been speculation among historians about Richard’s sexuality and the possibility of a sexual relationship with Phillip. Taking a historical rumor and imagining a scenario that might give truth to the rumor, with royal intrigue and betrayal, Solomon’s Crown imagines a romance between the two real-life kings faced with an impossible choice. The author does take a lot of liberties with the history. Ms. Siegel acknowledges this fact in her preface as she states her intentions was not to create an historically accurate story. Overall, the story was interesting; however, it was not the book for me. It wasn’t a bad book, the premise was intriguing but the story was slow moving and not enough to keep my attention. It just wasn't what I thought it would be. If you are interested in an alternative historical story, I recommend checking out Solomon’s Crown. 

Solomon’s Crown is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Lone Women: an intriguing and engaging historical horror

Lone Women by Victor LaValle is a historical horror. Adelaide Henry carries an enormous steamer trunk with her. Kept under lock and key, she guards it with a nervous eye because when the trunk opens, people start to disappear. It’s 1914 and she is in trouble. Her secret killed her parents and she’s forced to flee her hometown. She makes her way to Montana where she plans to homestead. She hopes that the big blue skies and the empty land will be room enough to hide her horrifying secret. Adelaide is one of many “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land for those who can cultivate it. As she makes friends with other women homesteaders, she rebuilds her life. Will her homestead be the place to finally find peace? Or will her secret be revealed? 

Lone Women is my first book by Victor LaValle who is known for blending historical fiction with inventive horror and poetic prose. From the opening scene, I was intrigued by Adelaide’s actions. What could her secret possibly be that would lead her to flee from the only home she has ever known?  When she arrives in Montana, she meets an eclectic group of people with secrets of their own. Some for evil, some for riches and some for self-preservation. There were twists and turns with every turn of the page. As secrets are revealed and Adelaide fights for her new life, the story takes readers on a strange trip. As I closed the final pages, I found it hard to describe this book. Overall, I enjoyed it. If you enjoy historical horror, I recommend Lone Women. 

Lone Women will be available March 28, 2023 in hardcover, eBook and audiobook. 

Matilda Next Door: a friends to lovers romance

Matilda Next Door is the first book in the Outback Brides Return to Wirralong series by Kelly Hunter. Matilda “Tilly” Moore is an Aussie farm girl who kicks off her dream trip to London. She is flat-sitting for Henry Church, her childhood friend. She has long anticipated the trip but her enthusiasm is dashed as London is daunting, crowded, noisy and she finds a baby girl on the doorstep. A note attached: “Henry, if you’re reading this, please know the worst has happened.” Henry returns to Wirralong to visit his grandparents, a visit that has been strained, and when he gets a call from Tilly, his whole world becomes topsy turvy. Tilly brings the baby to Henry in Wirralong, she finds herself falling for her childhood friend and his infant daughter. But it’s out of the question. Isn’t it? 

Matilda Next Door is a friends to lovers romance as childhood friends find themselves seeing each other in a new light. However, it wasn’t quite the romance I was expecting. First, Tilly was a hard woman to like. I was not a fan at all. She’s a 26 year old woman and yet doesn’t quite act like one. Henry was an interesting character as his relationship with his grandparents was estranged. Tilly and Henry together seemed a no-brainer except to Tilly and Henry. It was a bit odd that Tilly thought that she wasn’t good enough for Henry and Henry never truly contradicted her. Their romance was expected but still odd. Overall, it was a sweet story but I wasn’t thrilled. If you enjoy sweet romances in the Australian Outback, I recommend Matilda Next Door. 

Matilda Next Door is available in paperback and eBook