Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Here Burns My Candle

If you like historical fiction, you will love the book, Here Burns My Candle, by Liz Curtis Higgs. It is set in the 18th century in Edinburgh, Scotland and is full of historical detail. This is a story filled with secrets, love, despair, hope, betrayal, faithfulness, loss, and peace. As you read about a young lady and her mother-in-law, you will begin to realize there is something familiar about what you are reading. The story of Ruth will begin to emerge from its pages. As I got deeper into this book, I could not put it down. I was totally drawn into the story! The characters were well-developed and the plot engaging. It is a well-written story that includes a lot of historical facts and details. The dialogue at times is a bit tedious although understandable in context, but the author included a Scottish glossary in the back to help. I especially liked the way the story of Ruth was written into the pages. I did not expect it, but it made the book that much more intriguing. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. You will not be disappointed! In the meantime, I am looking forward to reading the next book. I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. All opinions are my own.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Transforming Prayer

"Take your prayer life from ordinary to extraordinary." That is what the book Transforming Prayer is all about. Daniel Henderson focuses on a very vital part of the Christian life: prayer. In this book he helps the reader understand the difference between praying a list and praying a worship-based prayer. Henderson shows you how to: "Overcome common barriers to praying effectively, awaken your prayer life with simple, biblical patterns of prayer, [and] enjoy Spirit-led prayer sparked by Scripture passages." In other words, the reader is shown how to seek God's face rather than His hand. This is a very practical book for any Christian to read, especially new believers. Henderson writes in a way that is easy to read and understand. He helps the reader realize how rewarding a Christian's prayer life can be by giving Biblical guidance and a practical plan for taking their prayer life from "ordinary to extraordinary." While praying worship-based prayers is not new to me, there are many people who do not understand. This is a great tool to offer to Christians who are struggling in their prayer life. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.