Highland Crown, by May McGoldrick

Dr. Isabella Drummond is on the run. She is wanted both by the British Military for being a subversive and also by the Scottish Highlanders for being a traitor. The question is will she be able to stay off the radar of both groups and make her way to Halifax where she can start over along with her sister and her step-daughter.

Then there is Cinaed Mackintosh, a sea captain, privateer, smuggler. He is bring military arms to the people of Scotland who are in direct defiance of the British Crown. Thus he also is wanted by the British. But is life is turned upside down when his path crosses with Dr. Drummond.

In this historical novel from the early 1800's we will have a great time getting to know one of the first female surgeons in the world and one sea captain that is tougher than tough. When the two come together there will be sparks that fly for more than one reason.

What makes a surgeon good is that they are determined, confident, arrogant, and take no grief from anyone, especially if they are a woman in a man's occupation in the 1800's. What makes a good sea Captain / privateer is that he is determined, confident, arrogant, physically strong and intimidating and strong willed.

So, are two main characters have sparks fly as their personalities clash. But they also have sparks fly as their hearts start to meld together in love, or is it love?

I don't want to give away any spoilers, so lets just say that the story line is awesome and you will fall in love with our characters and the surrounding cast of supporting characters.

The author's do a great job of weaving this story together with the historical times. They capture the essence of the struggle of the Scottish people with the British Crown. They capture the struggle of the Scottish Clans one against the other at times.

They also weave in some mystery to the story (which is also historical) and that makes it even more enjoyable.

Now I did say author's, even though it says it is written by May McGoldrick. Well, there are two authors who collaborate on the story, Nikoo and Jim. In their author's note they give their first names and state that they write under the pseudonym of May McGoldrick.

This also is the first book in a trilogy. The next two are Highland Jewel and Highland Sword. I can't wait. I wish they were already out there as I don't want the story to stop. I want to have more. So, I trust that you will be like me when you finish this story and be anxious to have more.

Enjoy!

Joseph, by John Lennox

This book is a "Deep Dive" into the life of Joseph. I was expecting a book just about Joseph and the Biblical story of his life in Genesis. But what I got was a whole lot more. I was surprised, but not disappointed.

John Lennox gives a great overview of the whole book of Genesis by wrapping it around the theme of the life of Joseph. The reason for the overview is that he wants you to understand the family dynamics of Joseph's family (going all the way back to Abraham). Why? Because his family was a tad bit dysfunctional, but God still used him and his family for His purposes.

Think back to Genesis 12 when God tells Abraham that his family (nation) would bless the entire world. That seemed a bit out of the question at the time. But God had a plan.

Joseph's life plays a large role in showing how God was going to use the Jews to bless the whole world. Even though Joseph's brothers sold him into Slavery and even though Joseph ended up in jail for a time, still God was faithful and so was Joseph. 

Because of Joseph's faithfulness to God he was able to get out of prison, rise to fame in Egypt and basically save the known world from a seven year famine. That saving blessed not just the Jews, but the Egyptians and other nations as well.

But what are the lessons for us today? Well, John Lennox pulls together Joseph's life, his dysfunctional family and all of scripture, both Old and New Testament to drive home our needs to see God as caring and Sovereign. How will you respond to life's circumstances when they don't go your way? Learn how Joseph responded and then ask the Lord to help you learn how to respond appropriately to your own life circumstances so that you can be a Godly example to those around you.

Enjoy learning!

Shadow Among Sheaves, by Naomi Stephens

This novel takes the basic story of Ruth from the Old Testament of the Bible and weaves it together with elements of Pride and Prejudice. Now, I know that wasn't the intent of the author to weave P & P into the themes, but I couldn't help but make the comparison as Lord Barric appears to deal a lot from the element of Pride in relationship to his estate. And since it is set in the time that Jane Austen was writing, it just makes sense.

But the real story is based on the Biblical Account of Ruth the Moabite who returns to Bethlehem with her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi. The two widows must work through the bleak aspect of being widows, homeless, penniless, etc.

In our current novel, Rena, a native of India has married a British officer who then passes away. Followed in death by his diplomatic father. This leaves Rena and her Mother-in-law, Nell, somewhat destitute. Lady Nell's husbands English estate is entailed to another. Thus she returns to England from India with no money, no home to return to and a daughter-in-law who is not well received.

You see, they return to England after the uprising in India where many insurgents rose up to try and oust the British and in doing so they killed women and children as well as British military. The feelings at home in England couldn't be worse for Rena to walk into. She is shunned by all and is left to beg for food.

She ends up in the fields of Lord Barric, gleaning grain. The Lord meets her and the story develops from there into a love story, or not. Lord Barric is conflicted as he wants to help, but he doesn't want to destroy is family name and standing in culture by associating with Rena.

I love the way that Naomi Stephens writes the modern version of the Ruth story. She takes great care to get the historical setting of England in the 1800's correct. She also takes great pains to get the human characteristics of pride, nationalism, racial prejudice and social standing correct.

I know you will love the way she weaves the story and the ending is excellent.

Enjoy!

Secrets at Cedar Cabin, by Colleen Coble

In this newest addition to the Lavender Tides series we find another mystery that needs to be solved. Well, maybe not so much a mystery as a crime that needs to be solved. Bailey Fleming needs to flee her current situation and find a safe haven to hide. She lands in Lavender Tides. Here she will discover that hiding is not the easiest thing to do, especially when three different sets of people are searching for her or keeping an eye on her.

Enter the FBI when the place where Bailey is hiding turns out to be a place where sex trafficking may be happening. But the FBI agent involved in the case gets more than he bargained for. He gets to meet Bailey Fleming.

It is hard to write this review because I don't want to give things away. So, let me just say that Colleen Coble writes wonderful book series. Each book builds on the previous. Characters developed in the first two books are highly involved in the third. Situations from the first two books come back to life in the third and move further towards resolutions.

I love the Lavender Tides series and this third installment is fantastic.

Enjoy!

Sea of Greed, by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown

Kurt Ausin and Joe Zavala are again on the prowl in this new adventure. Somehow the world's oil fields are drying up. Instead of pumping out oil they are pumping out dangerous gas that ignites into flames when it comes in contact with water and or oxygen.

What is going on? How can this be stopped? What will the economic damage be to the world's oil market and thus financial markets as the fuel oil we need to rely on stops flowing?

As Kurt and Joe continue to save people from harrowing situations they come to realize that there is a new kind of evil being sown among the world's elite power brokers. Tessa has come on the seen and has developed a power cell that can replace our need for oil. But people aren't excited about it until the oil starts to dry up. Why is all this happening at once?

In true Clive Cussler fashion Graham Brown writes another technology thriller that is cutting edge stuff and will give you an exciting read as well as another education on our earth and its ecological systems.

Enjoy!

A Fire By Day, A Cloud By Night, by A.W. Tozer

This is a compilation of short sermon topics that A.W. Tozer preached over his lifetime of ministry. There are 23 short chapters dealing with why we as Christians struggle to Find the Will of God for our lives or why we struggle to Follow the Will of God for our lives.

Each chapter is short enough that it could be read as part of your daily devotions. Thus you can easily work through the book in a month.

A.W. Tozer is a great example of a man who found and followed the will of God in his life. He lead a successful pastoral ministry in Indianapolis and then followed the Lord's leading to Chicago where he had another successful pastorate. What is interesting is that he wasn't look for a change in Pastorates. He was happy where he was. But after accepting a guest speaking engagement in Chicago he felt the Lord's leading to move there and take over a different ministry.

The joy he found in that move has been expressed in many of the books and sermons which he penned.

This compilation from his sermons gives us a great insight into how A.W. Tozer thought and followed the Lord. There is nothing new or earth shattering in this book, but it is a great reminder of how God leads and why we at times don't hear correctly from the Lord.

One simple truth is, Do you Believe God? The answer seems simple to most of us, the answer is yes, I believe God. Well if we do then A.W. asks why don't we seem to be succeeding in the ministries we are doing? Is it because we have listened to ourselves and not to God?

You will be challenged to look in a fresh way on how God speaks to you.

I pray that this little book will give you some much needed clarity for you in how you respond to God's calling and direction in your life.