Book Review: Newton and Polly

Newton and Polly. Jody Hedlund. 2016. Waterbrook. 400 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "I fear that our wassailing has become a nuisance."

Premise/plot: Do you enjoy historical fiction or historical romance? Jody Hedlund's newest novel is a fictionalization of the romance between John Newton and Polly Catlett. It covers the years 1742-1750. Narration alternates between John and Polly. These two met when they were young--in their teens--he claims it was LOVE at first sight, for him. But at that stage of his life, was he worthy of her and capable of putting her first? Not really. The book chronicles his ups and downs--physically and spiritually--as well as her steady faithfulness.

My thoughts: John Newton wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace." Recently I've started reading his sermons and letters. I consider him a must read! So I certainly was interested in reading this novel! The story could have been so different, one of despair, if God had not been the author. God's grace was displayed in Newton's life, and grace is indeed amazing.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book review: Embrace Grace

Embrace Grace: Welcome to the Forgiven Life. Liz Curtis Higgs. 2006. Waterbrook Press. 160 pages.

I've been waiting for you. Holding this good news close to my heart, longing to share it. And now here you are, standing on the threshold. 

Embrace Grace is a nice devotional book for women. The book creatively yet effectively combines quotes from people like you and me--people who've written to Liz Curtis Higgs through the years to share their stories, their struggles, their frustrations, their hopes--with passages from Scripture. I don't know if this will make sense to you or not, but the book has a very communal feel to it which was nice. I think no matter who you are, no matter where you are in your life, in your spiritual life, you can feel isolated and out of sorts or out of touch. Am I the only one who feels like this? Am I the only one who struggles with this? The book can feel very intimate, very personal in places. It's nice to know that you're not alone, that other people have been where you are, that there is hope and grace and forgiveness. And the Scripture!!! Well, let's just say that I loved how she incorporated Scripture in her narrative. It was encouraging and uplifting, very supportive, very motivational.

If you want to know more about the Father, more about his Son, more about the Holy Spirit--and lots more about human nature--look no further: the Bible is the book for you. And if your spiritual life is starting to wilt, nothing refreshes like Scripture. We can fall in love with him all over again, just by opening his Word. God knew hope alone would not sustain us. We need something to hold in our hands and read with our eyes and study with our minds and speak with our mouths and store in our hearts. Something tangible. Something trustworthy. Something timeless. Whenever I long to get my heart in tune with God, I read the gospel of John. As a writer, I am overwhelmed by the beauty of the language. As a woman, I am undone by the beauty of the Savior. (51-2)

The more I read, the more I am convinced the Bible isn't simply a book. It's a love letter. (56)

The place God's Word holds in our lives is crucial. Because interspersed among the verses that uplift and inspire us are equally important verses that admonish and convict us. You know... the verses we don't underline or memorize. The ones we gloss over, hoping they mean something other than what they clearly state. (70)

Guilt is an unwanted gift from below. Grace is a much-needed gift from above. (109)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Mine is the Night

Mine is the Night. Liz Curtis Higgs. 2011. Waterbrook. 464 pages.

The distant hoofbeats were growing louder. 

Set in 1746 in Scotland, Mine is the Night, the sequel to Here Burns My Candle, continues the story of Lady Marjory Kerr and her daughter-in-law Elisabeth Kerr. Both are widows who supported the Jacobite cause--Bonnie Prince Charlie. Both have lost all for that cause--and are paying the price for it. Lady Kerr has lost her fortune and estate on top of losing her two sons.

The novel opens with both women traveling to Selkirk where they hope to begin again. Lady Kerr has a cousin, Anne, in Selkirk. Anne has never had much, and she's hesitant to open her home to her distant relatives--relatives who have had little use for her when they were wealthy and had it all. But when she sees Elisabeth's determination to work--and work hard--for her keep, Anne's welcome becomes genuine. And Elisabeth is as good as her word. She seeks employment almost immediately, and she finds it with a local tailor, Michael Dalgliesh. But she has a feeling that this job won't be a permanent one, and what will she do when he no longer needs her help?

The arrival of Lord (Jack) Buchanan may just be the answer to everyone's prayers. For in establishing his house (or estate) he hires many, many, many workers from Selkirk. Men and women to be his servants. Elisabeth seeks a job too. She is hoping to be hired to sew dresses for all the women he's hired. An audience with Lord Buchanan isn't immediate, but she finds favor with his housekeeper, Mrs. Pringle. And she's given a chance to prove herself. Elisabeth confides in Mrs. Pringle about her Jacobite past, and, in doing so earns her respect. She's happy to recommend her to Lord Buchanan when he arrives.

She's hired...and so it begins. This journey of transition. As two women mourn the loss of their old lives, and face the future wholly trusting in the Lord to provide. It's a novel of friendship, love, faith, and hope. It's historical fiction at its best. And the romance? Well, it's swoon-worthy! Lord Buchanan is a giddy-making hero that I just loved and adored. He's a real keeper!!! And Elisabeth isn't the only woman being given a second chance at love...

I loved Mine is the Night. I just LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. I loved the setting. I loved the history. I loved the storytelling. I loved the characters and their romances. It was SUCH a satisfying read.

Here Burns My Candle and Mine is the Night are novels retelling the story of Ruth. The first novel acts as prologue and sets the stage for Mine is the Night. The second novel follows more closely the story of Ruth and Boaz and Naomi. Mine is the Night is just wonderful. Ever since hearing Alistair Begg's wonderful-wonderful series on Ruth (God of the Ordinary), I'll admit that I tend to imagine Boaz with a Scottish accent. (I believe I first heard the series eight or nine years ago? I was in college, I know. You CAN download the series for free, just follow the link.) So this Scottish setting for Ruth was a DREAM for me. It really couldn't have been any better for me. It was just a perfect, perfect match for me.  I can't recommend this one enough!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Last Christian

The Last Christian. David Gregory. 2010. Waterbrook Press. 416 pages

I see your neurons firing, Ray.

The Last Christian has an interesting premise. A very thought-provoking premise. It's set in 2088, in the United States, for the most part. In this day and age, Christianity is essentially dead.

Abby Caldwell, our heroine, is the daughter of a missionary couple; she has only known one way of life, the Christian way of life. She's from Papua New Guinea--from the jungle where she was born and raised. But when a mysterious illness kills everyone in her village, well, she sets off on an adventure of her own. She's on her way to America to try to fulfill her grandfather's vision.

Abby received a message--though the message came sixteen years late--from her grandparents. They told her of a dream, a vision. Of how she may be America's greatest hope. Of how she may be the one to bring Christianity back to a country, a nation.

But fulfilling that dream may cost her her life. Because the country is not only unreceptive to the gospel, but openly hostile. She may face jail time for her "hate speech" if she tries to share the gospel with others.

Of course, that is only the beginning of the story David Gregory has written. The Last Christian reads more like an eery Twilight-Zone episode. Artificial intelligence. Silicon Brains. The obsession to combine technology and biology--to take humanity to a whole other level, to be transhuman. The quest of driven men to live forever and ever.

Science. Politics. Religion. Ambition. Greed. Murder. The Last Christian is a compelling read. It is a bit more premise-driven, action-driven, than character-driven, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

What I liked best about The Last Christian was it made me think. I'm not sure I liked every little thing about the book. The book makes some strong statements here and there about our church culture, our faith. But. If nothing else it makes you think about faith. What would happen--what could happen--if faith fails. (I think truth is infinitely more important than entertainment value. That the church shouldn't be so open to compromising the truth--changing the gospel--in order to bring more people in the doors.) I liked that Abby didn't have all the answers. That she wasn't perfect. That she was human. That she had her own faith challenges to work out.

Reading Group Guide.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Here Burns My Candle

Here Burns My Candle. Liz Curtis Higgs. 2010. March 2010. WaterBrook Multnomah. 480 pages.

Lady Marjory Kerr heard a frantic tapping at the bedchamber door, then her name, spoken with marked urgency.

Maybe this book isn't for everyone. Maybe you have to have a weakness for all things Scottish. Maybe you have to have a genuine love for historical fiction. But oh, if you're the right kind of reader, this book is oh-so-satisfying!

Set in Scotland in 1745, it follows the Kerr family as it struggles with matters of the heart and mind. Should the Kerr family side with Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart), or remain loyal to King George II (a Hanover).

This one is told mainly through two characters: Elisabeth and Marjory. (Though we get other perspectives occasionally).

Lady Marjory Kerr has two sons and two daughters-in-law that live with her in Edinburgh. Donald, her oldest, and his wife, Elisabeth. And Andrew, her youngest, and his wife, Janet. Both of her sons have joined the army of the side they believe is on the right. Both are willing to die for the cause. But is any cause worth dying for? Lady Marjory would do anything--give anything--to keep her two sons safe, out of harm's way. But what can a mother do when her sons have felt called to go to war, to take up arms? Is there anything anyone could have said to keep them at home?

Elisabeth loves her husband dearly. Her Donald is her everything. But she can't help being disquieted by the rumors she hears about her husband. He claims to love her, but how can she be sure of that love? Especially as his secrets start coming to light?!

Can these three women live peaceably together under one roof when the whole world seems to be turning topsy turvy?



I have read and loved three other Liz Curtis Higgs books: Thorn In My Heart, Fair is the Rose, and Whence Came A Prince. There is a fourth as well called Grace In Thine Eyes. But I haven't read that one yet. So I can't honestly say that I loved it. At least not yet! All are historical fiction set in Scotland. All are amazingly rich and satisfying. All are ones I'd recommend!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Treasured

Treasured: Knowing God By The Things He Keeps. Leigh McLeroy. 2009. Waterbrook Press.

I enjoyed reading Treasured: Knowing God by The Things He Keeps by Leigh McLeroy. I found it perfect for reading devotionally right after reading my Bible each night. A chapter or two at a time was just the right amount to lift my spirits. The premise of this one is simple, the author frames this one by using a 'treasure box' symbol. She received a "treasure box" after her grandfather died. Little items--everyday things mostly--that communicated the type of person her grandfather was. She uses this to share with readers what kind of God God is. How do we know who God is? How can we know? What kinds of things would be in his treasure box? Each of the items in God's treasure box come from Bible stories. Old Testament Bible stories.

A Fig Leaf
A Fresh Olive Sprig
A Dry Waterskin
Abraham's Knife
A Strip of Bloodied Cloth
A Bloodstained Piece of Wood
A Golden Bell
A Scarlet Cord
Balaam's Riding Crop
A Head of Barley
A Shepherd's Harp String
One Smooth Stone

What I enjoyed about this one is how accessible it is. I think any reader--whether a new believer or an older one--can appreciate this book. The book shows that these Bible stories are very relevant to our lives. They still show us who God is. Each chapter illustrates how God relates to us. McLeroy shares stories from her own life and weaves Bible stories and passages within each chapter. I liked how much Scripture she used. I often find devotional books too weak in this area. Too watered down. But this one has a good balance--I think--of using modern contemporary (I can relate to that) stories and Scripture.

So I'd definitely recommend this one.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: God Gave Us Love

God Gave Us Love. Lisa Tawn Bergren. Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant. Waterbrook Press.

Little Cub struggles with loving in this family-friendly picture book. It's not always easy to love. Your family. Your friends. Your neighbors. There are many different kinds of love, Little Cub discovers through her questions, but God gave us love. And he wants us to show HIS love to others. Grampa Bear is doing the honors in this one of teaching Little Cub all about God and God's love and how we're supposed to love others because God first showed His love to us.

"Anytime we show love, Little Cub, we're sharing a bit of his love."

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: God Gave Us Christmas

God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren. Illustrated by David Hohn. 2006. Waterbrook Press.

Mama and Little Cub are back for another adventure in God Gave Us Christmas. (They also star in God Gave Us You, God Gave Us Two, God Gave Us Heaven, and God Gave Us Love.) In this holiday picture book, Little Cub, inquisitive as ever, asks who invented Christmas. At first, Little Cub is convinced that Santa had to be the one who invented Christmas. After all, he is the one who brings all the toys. But Mama Bear lets Little Bear know that Christmas is all about God. The two, in fact, set off on a journey to see how God gave us Christmas. By looking at His creation, Little Bear soon accepts that God's gift is amazing. This is enthusiastic Christmas tale starring a lovable bear family.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Thirsty

Thirsty. Tracey Bateman. 2009. Waterbrook Press. 376 pages.

Thick bass blared through amped-up speakers and drew Markus from his slumber.

Meet Nina Parker. She'd be the first to admit her mistakes. Her life has been full of mistakes. And it's cost her. Her husband has divorced her. He has full custody of both of her children. Her daughter, Meg, doesn't want anything to do with her. She's been arrested several times. She doesn't have a job or a place to live. At the start, anyway. But Nina Parker is being given a second chance. She's moving in with her sister (who is a sheriff) and returning to her hometown of Abbey Hills, a small town in the Ozarks. She'll be waitressing at Barney's, the local diner. And for this first week back, she'll have her daughter, Meg, with her. Can this week start the two on a new path. Can this relationship begin to heal? Can they learn from each other and begin to understand one another?

Unfortunately, this week isn't going to be easy on either of them. In fact, they may not survive the week. You see, there's a murderer on the loose in Abbey Hills. And victims (both human and animal) are being discovered: their bodies drained of blood, their hearts cut out. Who is the murderer, the monster, in their midst?

Thirsty--in case you couldn't tell by the cover alone--is a vampire novel. A so-called Christian vampire novel. You can read an interview with Tracey Bateman here.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible