Inside Story

I found the first book in this series, Frasier Island, at the library and decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did because I found another talented author. Since then, I have read Finding Marie and now, Inside Story. The characters in these stories are engaging and interesting to follow. I have also read and enjoyed a few other mysteries by Susan Page Davis, but this series is my favorite so far. The third novel, Inside Story, is about Claudia, Marie’s sister. She is a journalist and works for a magazine, Global Impact.

I love this story! The story is fun, suspenseful, and leaves me cheering for the main characters. Lieutenant Bill White is believable and easy to admire for his charitable work and dedication to the navy. Claudia is a risk taker and does whatever it takes to find and tell moving human interest stories. I don’t want to say too much and give away the story, but I think you’ll enjoy this one.

The story does make me wonder whether the U.S. Navy would authorize embedding a magazine correspondent with a secret mission unit after deployment, but this is minor and doesn’t detract from the story. The majority of the story takes place in the Philippine jungle. Marie, Pierre, Rachel, and George (characters from the earlier books) appear in this story to help Claudia, Bill, and Bill’s unit.

Ten of the Best Family-Friendly Stories

Are you searching for stories the whole family can read and enjoy?  I’ve listed some great imaginative stories that you can enjoy together.  I’ve also included a few bonus books that contain plays your family can use to have your own theater night. Summer is a great time to read together.

10. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

9.  A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

8. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

7. I Want to Go Home by Gordon Korman

6. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

5. Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

4. By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson

3. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

2. Little Women or Little Men by Louisa May Alcott

1. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Plays:

Cinderella Outgrows the Glass Slipper

Theater for Young Audiences

The BFG: A Set of Plays

Audiobooks:
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

A Wrinkle in Time

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Little House in the Big Woods

Charlotte’s Web

By Darkness Hid

Ballet Shoes

Little Women

Anne of Green Gables

The Hobbit

read by Rob Inglis

read by Andy Serkis

Please share this post with a friend that is looking for book ideas for their kids for summer reading fun.

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes

I love the Sisterchick series, so I read this one as soon as I could after it was published.  Robin Jones Gunn does a great job with this series, and she takes me along with her again as she visits a foreign land.  This books is about two friends who have been life-long penpals.  Noelle now lives in Holland.  Summer finds out she has an abnormal medical test and decides to visit Noelle before having to face more testing.

I want to visit the Corrie Ten Boom house and museum, so it was nice to get to visit with Summer and Noelle.  They visited so many great places and had such an adventure one afternoon on an unusual boat.  Noelle and her husband treated Summer like an honored guest.  Summer was refreshed from the visit and from her quiet time with God every morning.  I’m looking forward to traveling again with the next set of sisterchicks!

Read more books for less!

I found paperbackswap in 2007.  I read a lot, so it gets expensive fast.  I’ve been trimming my budget, as I’m sure have you.  Now I can read a new book for the cost of postage.  I posted books I’ve read (and don’t plan to read again).  When someone requests one, I take it to the post office and ship it media mail (this saves money on postage).  I receive a credit when the person I sent the book to receives it.  Then I search for books I want to read.  When I find one, I request it and another member pays postage to mail that book to me.

If the book I want to read isn’t posted yet, I can list it on my wish list.  When it becomes available, it will ship if I have credits.  There’s also a reminder list, if I’m not sure I want to order the book but I don’t want to forget about the book.

It’s free to join.  You pay .49 when you submit a book request.  Your initial action is posting ten books, and you’ll receive two gift book credits.  There are two other levels of paid membership that benefit frequent book swappers.  My nickname is ltbookman.  Make sure you request to be my buddy!  Also, you can browse my bookshelf and see if there’s a book you’d like me to send you.

If you want to make sure you earn credits fast, you can browse the club wish list.  If you post a book someone is wishing for, it usually doesn’t take long for you to see the request on your home page.  I hope you’ll join me there!

5 Favorite Christian Fiction books

I plan to continue to review many books, but today I thought I would give you my top 5 favorites.  It is hard to narrow it down, but I chose the books that really made an impression.

Sophie’s Heart by Lori Wick – I have read this one several times.  The main character, Sophie, is so appealing and it was easy to connect with her and cheer for everything to work out for her.

Sisterchicks in Gondolas by Robin Jones Gunn – I love all the sisterchick books, but this was is the one I remember best.  Jenna is invited to cook for a group of missionaries in a restored palace in Venice.  She invites her sister-in-law, Sue, to come along as a helper.  Jenna and Sue have a great time and grow closer as they discuss God and the struggles in their lives.

Just Beyond the Clouds by Karen Kingsbury – The first book A Thousand Tomorrows was excellent, but sad, read.  This book continues Cody’s story and he finds love.  It also tell more about Carl Joseph and his friend Daisy.  My favorite character was Elle, and I loved her patience as she works with Carl Joseph and Daisy.

Evidence of Mercy by Terri Blackstock – This is the first book in the Suncoast Chronicles series, and one I’ve read several times.  The story starts with a plane accident and the suspense continues throughout the rest of this fast paced story.  Lynda is a spunky attorney and a very likeable Christian woman.

A Penny for Your Thoughts by Mindy Starns Clark – I’ve reviewed this one on the blog, and it’s the first book in a great series.  Callie’s job is to investigate nonprofit organizations that have applied for grant money & she stumbles accross a murder mystery.  This series is very fast paced and easy to read.

Please post your favorite Christian fiction books, and we’ll all have a great list to refer to when looking for a book to read!

Denise DuBois Pass: Models Living a Shame-Free Life

I’m glad you’re here!  I’m thrilled to introduce you to  a wonderful writer and gifted singer.  I met Denise through the Grit ‘N Grace girls podcast.  We were both interns at the same time before she started her own podcast.  I love her message and how freely she shares her love.

Denise DuBois Pass of Seeing Deep Ministries

Josie: Hiding or denying shame doesn’t heal it. I love this sentiment and your direct approach to handling shame. I heard you invite people to tell you areas where they feel shame, and you offered to research those areas. Is shame unlimited in the ways it affects you? Continue reading “Denise DuBois Pass: Models Living a Shame-Free Life”

The Best of Christian Science Fiction From A Small Publisher that Selects 4-8 Stories a Year

update: Bought in 2014, and still publishing speculative fiction with a Christian Worldview, Enclave Publishing.

Have you heard about Marcher Lord Press (since October 2008)?  I’m glad I heard about it and have been following their progress.  They had a sale on one of their ebooks, By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson, so I bought it.  I couldn’t believe how quickly I reached the 500th page and wanted to read more.  The 2 sequels are To Darkness Fled and From Darkness Won. The trilogy is available for a low pice!

By Darkness Hid is told from two points of view, Achan Cham and Vrell Sparrow.  Achan Cham, a lowly servant and a stray, aspires to become a Kingsguard Knight.  Sir Gavan, a Kingsguard Knight, decides to train Achan, as Sir Gavan used to be a stray himself.  Achan is even more unusual because a stray usually has knowledge of one of his parents, but Achan doesn’t know who either of his parents are.

Vrell Sparrow flees and dresses as a stray boy to avoid an arranged marriage.  Vrell’s mother is in agreement and tells Vrell she can come home as soon as Prince Gidon chooses another woman.  Vrell knows how to bloodvoice, so she plans to keep in touch with her mother that way.

Bloodvoicing is a communicating with thoughts.  One of the Kingsguard Knights that is escorting Vrell uses bloodvoicing as well.  Jax, the Kingsguard that uses bloodvoicing, tells Vrell that bloodvoicing is a great power when used for good.  He also tells her to thank Arman for the gift of bloodvoicing.  Vrell knows that Arman is the only true God.  Vrell and Achan communicate by bloodvoicing before they meet. I’m going to stop the review now, so I won’t reveal too much of the plot.

I enjoyed the well-written story.  Jill Williamson created an interesting world in this book, and I’m looking forward to continuing the series.  If you read the book, please leave a comment to share your favorite part of the story.

Amy Carroll Shares Good Rules For Hope-Filled Living

Welcome!  I’m glad you stopped by.  Today, I’m talking to Amy Carroll, Rebel Rule Follower.  I found out about Amy through the Grit ‘N Grace Girls Podcast.  I’d been listening to every episode and heard Cheri Gregory say they were looking for interns.  She encouraged applying to those who thought they wouldn’t be selected.  I applied and have been proofreading for the podcast for over a year.  I love being on the Grit ‘N Grace Team and being part of the Grit ‘N Grace community.  Amy encouraged me to re-start my blog, and I’m thrilled she did.  Her message is one of hope, and I love the way she encourages others to follow good rules while breaking bad ones.

Amy Carroll
Amy Carroll, Rebel Rule Follower

Josie: On the Grit and Grace podcast, you share a lie and a truth. How did that originate? Continue reading “Amy Carroll Shares Good Rules For Hope-Filled Living”

Someday

I read Someday (Sunrise Series-Baxter 3, Book 3). This is a series that is best read in order and focuses on the Baxter family. There are 3 sets of books about the Baxters. The first set is called the Redemption Series. Karen Kingsbury co-wrote it with Gary Smalley. The next set is the Firstborn Series, and Karen wrote these on her own. Then, she wrote the Sunrise Series. The book I’m reading now is the 3rd book in the Sunrise Series. It’s unusual to have so many books about the same family (14 books).

I find this family is easy to love, and I feel compelled to read to the last book to find out what happens to them. Some of the story lines throughout the series took a little while to grow on me especially in the Firstborn Series. The story line with Dayne and Katy is the only one that seems to drag at times. I think Karen is an extremely talented writer. When I worked at the library, we couldn’t keep her books on the shelf. This is one of the few authors that writes books that make me cry. Her stories are so realistic that it’s easy to transport yourself to her world. All the books in this series are hard to put down after you start reading.

Karen Kingsbury does something unique. She raises funds for charity by including characters in her book based on real people. The winner of the bid at the charity gives Karen the name and details about a person they want to honor. She creates a character in her book to honor the person. In Someday (Sunrise Series-Baxter 3, Book 3), Karen creates 3 characters based on the life of three people. To read more about it go to Karen’s website and click on the ‘Forever in Fiction and Karen’s Trademark’ link.

The current book, Someday (Sunrise Series-Baxter 3, Book 3), follows Ashley, John, Brooke, Luke, Katy, and Dayne. I am enjoying it so far. I can’t give too many details as I don’t want to spoil it for those of you who haven’t read it yet and possibly not read any of this series. Usually when a book has too many story lines in one book, I don’t like it. It doesn’t bother me in this book, probably partially because I know the characters from the other books and partially because of Karen’s gifted writing. I like the fact that Ashley takes the lead in keeping the family connected. She has a big heart and a strong faith in God. She has her flaws, but she cares deeply about her family. Ashley is my favorite character in the whole series.

If you have read some of this series, please comment on if you are hooked or not in reading this series.

Baxter Series:

Redemption (Redemption Series-Baxter 1, Book 1)
Remember (Redemption Series-Baxter 1, Book 2)
Return (Redemption Series-Baxter 1, Book 3)
Rejoice (Redemption Series-Baxter 1, Book 4)
Reunion (Redemption Series-Baxter 1, Book 5)
Fame (Firstborn Series-Baxter 2, Book 1)
Forgiven (Firstborn Series-Baxter 2, Book 2)
Found (Firstborn Series-Baxter 2, Book 3)
Family (Firstborn Series-Baxter 2, Book 4)
Forever (Firstborn Series-Baxter 2, Book 5)
Sunrise (Sunrise Series-Baxter 3, Book 1)
Summer (Sunrise Series-Baxter 3, Book 2)
Someday (Sunrise Series-Baxter 3, Book 3)
Sunset (Sunrise Series-Baxter 3, Book 4)

Christian Fiction books made into movies

This week I have been reading, but not reading Christian fiction. I thought I would share some thoughts on the movies that are based on Christian fiction books. I watched the newest movie of the Love Comes Softly series by Michael Landon Jr., Love’s Unfolding Dream. I appreciate the fact that the first movie, Love Comes Softly, did stick with Janette Oke’s story line. The other 4 movies have not been as faithful, but are still enjoyable movies. Love’s Unfolding Dream focuses on Missy’s adopted daughter, Belinda, as she follows her dream to be a doctor. The acting isn’t the best, but if you are a fan of the movies, you will enjoy the story.

The other movies have been fair, but I wish someone would try to keep the story closer to the book, like Peter Jackson did with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I did enjoy The Nativity Story, but the book by Angela Hunt was written based on the movie screenplay. If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth watching. I didn’t expect to like it, but the acting was excellent and so was the story.

I am waiting for the 3 movies based on Karen Kingsbury’s books to come out – Like Dandelion Dust, A Thousand Tomorrows, and Gideon’s Gift. Here’s a list of movies based on Christian fiction books that I have seen with a rating (A – D).

Love Comes Softly (A-)
Love’s Enduring Promise (A-)
Love’s Long Journey(A)
Love’s Abiding Joy(B)
Love’s Unending Legacy(B-)
Love’s Unfolding Dream(A-)

I enjoyed these movies:

Amish Grace

The Convenient Groom

Denise Hunter’s book turned into a movie.

Audiobooks

Love Comes Softly

Love’s Enduring Promise

Love’s Long Journey