Chosen Daughters

I think historical fiction is a great way for children (and adults) to learn about life in certain cultures and time periods and am really pleased to have found another series that I can recommend.  The Chosen Daughters series is written by various authors and is intended to focus in on 'ordinary' women who through God's grace were able to stand firm in difficult times. Each woman shines as an example to us of real living faith. I recently read 'Weight of a Flame: The Passion of Olympia Morata' which is about a lesser known character in Italy who lived during the time of the Reformation. I really enjoyed it. The historical detail was there but not overpowering, the fictional content was gripping but not too fanciful and the spiritual application was sound. Particularly helpful was the list of characters & details about them, plus a map & also an author's note about roughly which parts were true & which were fictional.

For anyone looking for reading material for children, I would place this between Beth Coombe Harris (easier storylines) and Deborah Alcock (more complex historically).

It was fascinating to find out a bit more about the author Simonetta Carr in this interview on the 'RedeemedReader' blog.

Lorna

'Weight of a Flame' by S Carr, published by P & R, £8.99

Slashing Prices!

Slashing Prices, Big Deals, Great Offers, Price Cutting, Saving you Money - we may not be a supermarket, but whatever you want to call it, we've done it!  All our books published by Evangelical Press, Carey Publications and Grace Publications have been reduced by up to 20%.  Permanently.  Yes, that even includes their newest titles like John Blanchard's Major Points from the Minor Prophets.
Enjoy.
Lorna

Best Mother's Day Buy!

With no apologies for being repetitive I am going to mention again a book that I think would make a great Mother's Day present.  Wrestling with an Angel by Greg Lucas.  New in from Cruciform Press (see my previous post) I really enjoyed this book & have now lent it to 2 friends who are both as enthusiastic about it as me!  This is a book about a family which includes a child with a disability.  It is written with raw & honest emotion, but not overwhelmingly so.  The trials & struggles of this one family are used as the backdrop to a book on God's amazing grace to each of us.  Through a father's anecdotes we see clearly the biblical lessons learnt through tribulation when sanctified by the Spirit.  It is the kind of book that grips you from start to finish & then you sit back, take a deep breath and say 'wow'!  Actually friend number 1 rang me & said 'that book... it has so much to say to everyone, you can apply these lessons to any situation you are struggling with'. Friend number 2 particularly mentioned how the book brings out God's individual dealings with each of his people - whether young or old, healthy or disabled, we are each taught by the Spirit in a way that is suitable to our case.  I heartily recommend this book!

I can't blog on Mother's Day without also mentioning another book from Cruciform Press - The Organised Heart, a Woman's Guide to Conquering Chaos by Staci Eastin. An amused 'huh' has probably escaped your lips by now, but don't worry, this is a serious book & asks some serious questions.  The author's analysis of disorganisation is that it is a form of idolatry - are you disorganised because of perfectionism? Busyness? Possessions? Do we have our priorities right? Have we remembered that God is sovereign & in control of all things?  This is a book with many valid points & a useful reminder that we need to commit ALL our way to the Lord.

And if these two don't whet your appetite, I could mention some new historical fiction books we have just stocked up on... but I won't get started now!

Lorna

Cruciform Press

Who's heard of Cruciform Press?  It is the publishing brainchild of popular Canadian blogger Tim Challies (www.challies.com) & 2 of his friends.  Their vision is simple: they aim to publish books which are helpful, inspiring, biblical & gospel focused.  In that vision, you could say they are no different to many other evangelical publishers.  However, this publishing business began in the 21st Century (October 2010) with 21st Century technology & endeavours to make full use of it.  They publish one short book a month, on the first of each month, each with the same price, each available either in print format, a variety of ebook formats or as an audiobook.  The books cover a variety of topics (e.g. Marriage, backsliding, disability, grief) and use a variety of authors, some well known here in the UK (e.g. Joel Beeke, Al Martin) others not so well known (e.g. Greg Lucas, Casey Lute).

We decided it was about time we took a look at these new books & have just received stock of our first batch. Here they are...

Wrestling with an Angel - A story of love, disability and the lessons of grace, by Greg Lucas

"But God..." - The two words at the heart of the gospel, by Casey Lute

Friends and Lovers - Cultivating companionship and intimacy in marriage, by Joel R Beeke

Getting Back in the Race - The cure for backsliding, by Joel R Beeke

Grieving, Hope and Solace - When a loved one dies in Christ, by Albert N Martin

The Organised Heart - A woman's guide to conquering chaos, by Staci Eastin

So far I have read 'Wrestling with an Angel'.  Within the space of the hour that it took to read I found myself going through a whole range of emotions - Greg Lucas writes honestly about the difficulties he and his family have been through (continue to go through) with their child who has disabilities.  But we don't just read his life story, this is really a book that examines God's Word in the light of life's difficulties and comes through shining with God's grace.  I found it emotionally moving and spiritually searching.

Next, I have picked up 'The Organised Heart' (I had to really didn't I?!).  I'm only half way through the second chapter about being a perfectionist & already finding too much that rings true to be comfortable!

These titles are available to order from our site (although I don't have full pics & descriptions on there yet) at introductory prices of £5.99 each. They're worth trying out!

Lorna