​Have you ever seen an object that spoke to your soul? One that drew you closer, calling you to listen?

Let’s back up just a bit. For years, I’d harbored a deep desire to watch the art of glass blowing. I’d read about it and seen it in movies, but seeing it in person hovered near the top of my bucket list. The beauty of blown glass amazes me and makes me wonder: How is molten glass shaped into gorgeous and often useful pieces? How are colors added? What tools are used to perform what seems to me to be magic?

Last week, while enjoying a long-awaited holiday on Vancouver Island, I may have mentioned (more than once) that I’d love to visit the glass art shop just a couple of blocks from our rented cabin. My husband, my sister, and her husband graciously agreed to stop and check it out.

But it wasn’t just an art shop. As soon as we entered, I looked past the beautiful creations to the work area. Joy flooded me like the best kind of hot flash—they actually made the pieces right there! When the lady at the desk said the artist would begin his next project in a few minutes, I foresaw another dream coming true. We wandered through the small shop, exclaiming over the intricate details, graceful shapes and exquisite colors.

As promised, within minutes we were treated to a display of skill and artistry as the glass blower transformed a misshapen glob of molten glass into a lovely, multicolored vase. I was enthralled. I think we all were.

It was as wonderful as I’d hoped. Even better, though, was the glass art that spoke to me as I wandered through the enchanted shop. So much beauty! One could not rush, as each trinket and piece outshone the others. I thought I’d seen it all, when I glanced down. A basket on the floor held several glass hearts, swirls of color making them seem somehow alive.

As I gazed at them, my hand reached down and picked up one. It seems fanciful, I know, but it seemed as though it chose me. I knew immediately what it represented.

Within the thick, clear glass, this heart’s top portion is green, the color of life. The bottom part is a rich yet delicate pink, symbolizing love. Binding the two is a sparkling swirl of gold dust. Gold for grace, faith, and hope. And because it's glass, it's fragile and needs a gentle touch. "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23). How amazing is that?

How the artist achieved this stunning work of art is a mystery, and now I hold this mystery in my hands. It is my birthday gift from my wonderful husband, one I will always cherish.

I’m convinced the entire experience was orchestrated by my Lord Jesus Christ, not only to show His love, but to remind me of the glorious riches of the mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

​P.S. The photo doesn't do this precious heart justice, as reflections mar the image. May we always reflect the beauty of Christ, letting Him shine through us.

TITLE:  Dark Ambitions (Code of Honor #3)
AUTHOR:  Irene Hannon
DATE:  2019
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

Former Army Night Stalker Rick Jordan usually has his camp for foster children to himself during the winter months. But someone has visited recently--leaving a trail of blood. One of the two clues left behind tips Rick off to the identity of his visitor, who soon turns up dead. The police deem it an accident, but Rick isn't convinced. With the help of private investigator Heather Shields, he sets out to decipher the remaining clue. Except someone doesn't want them to succeed--and will stop at nothing to keep them from finding the truth.

After reading some Christian suspense novels whose violence disturbed me, I was ready to give up on that category of books. But Irene Hannon has never failed me with either sweet romances or page-flipping suspense, so I gave Dark Ambitions a chance. I’m glad I did. Suspense? Definitely. Romance? Oh, yeah. Toe-tingling, in fact.

Ms. Hannon’s first two Code of Honor books had primed me to enjoy Dark Ambitions, and reconnecting with the crew at Phoenix Inc. was a joy. Heather, the “new girl” in a tight-knit group, quickly gained my admiration with her determination to succeed tempered by fear of another failure.

Rick makes a perfect hero—impressive good looks, deeply caring, unyielding in his quest for justice, and yet troubled by his past, too.
​
The supporting cast of characters added much to the story, sometimes eliciting a smile. Even the villain evoked some sympathy, evidence of Ms. Hannon’s amazing talent. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and award it five stars. Recommended!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of Dark Ambitions courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing Group.
 

TITLE:  The Spice King (Hope and Glory, Book One)
AUTHOR:  Elizabeth Camden
DATE:  2019
PUBLISHER: Bethany House Publishers
STARS: *****

Gray Delacroix has dedicated his life to building a successful global spice empire, but it has come at a cost. Tasked with gaining access to the private Delacroix plant collection, Smithsonian botanist Annabelle Larkin unwittingly steps into a web of dangerous political intrigue and will be forced to choose between her heart and her loyalty to her country.

While I normally read contemporary and suspense novels almost exclusively, authors like Elizabeth Camden are tempting me to change my preference to Christian historical novels. The Spice King lured me with an irresistible heroine, handsome but hurting hero, and an array of tantalizing tidbits of new-to-me information. I do love learning as I read and truly appreciate thorough research like the fascinating info on the origin and growth of the spice industry. Added elements of subterfuge, rivalry, and even espionage added to the story and my enjoyment.
​
The Spice King is the first of a new series, and I eagerly await the next installment. Until then, I recommend The Spice King and award it five stars. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
 

TITLE:  Pine Mountain Secrets
AUTHOR:  Emily Josephone
DATE:  2019
STARS: *****

What if the one secret you were holding was the one thing holding you back from a life of complete freedom?

Arianna, a sixteen-year-old from Uganda, is on the run. Who and what she is running from, she doesn't want to tell. She's learned, over the past eight years, not to trust Americans. But when an injury forces her onto the mercy of Allison Whitlock, who finds Arianna in her shed one cold, southeast Oklahoma winter morning, she begins to see that some people are worth her trust.

Until Allie's best friend comes along, pushing Arianna to make a decision that could not only destroy her only hope at freedom, but that could take her life.

Allie has her own secret, a secret that is slowly eating away at her conscience. What the authorities believe about the car accident that killed her husband and one of her sons five years ago may not be the complete truth. But the one person who knows the truth, her older son Jared, ran away four and a half years ago and has not been heard from since.

The secret begins to burn even hotter when Jeb Mitchell, the man accused of causing the accident, returns from his time in prison and shows up at Allie's door. Allie wants to make things right with her neighbor and former friend, whose wife was also killed in the accident. But she doesn't believe it's her place, since she wasn't at the scene. And so, the secret continues taking its toll.

A girl and a woman, each holding tightly to a secret that binds them. Forgiveness and trust are the first steps toward freedom, but they need a miracle to push them all the way.

I read a lot and often accept free books when offered. Some are worth the price, others I close with a satisfied sigh. Pine Mountain Secrets is one that soared—straight to my soul. The plot is explained well in the blurb (above), so I won’t repeat it. But Arianna and Allie won my heart from the beginning, each holding onto secrets that kept them bound, solitary in their shadowy fears.

The author skillfully inserted hints of the truth through the story, like doors opened one per day on an Advent calendar. Some I guessed as the story progressed, but deeper ones shocked me. As the truth became clear, my heart broke. Because while Pine Mountain Secrets is fiction, its basis is real. Horribly real. Isaiah 58:6-7 has been tugging on my soul lately; perhaps that’s why this story affected me so deeply.

I challenge every Christian to read this story and consider what the truth requires. Pine Mountain Secrets will remain in my mind and heart for a long time; it easily earns five stars. Highly recommended!

TITLE:  Living Lies
AUTHOR:  Natalie Walters
DATE:  2019
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret. At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.

Opening this suspense novel was like walking into someone else’s nightmare. The author reveals the inner darkness of Lane so well, I felt the shadows that chased her.

Her son, Noah, brightened her life and my reading with his innocence and energy. I fell in love with him immediately. The sheriff and his delightful wife were integral parts of the story, as their love and faith surrounded those they cared for—especially Lane.

Family secrets and dysfunction created even more issues; when murder becomes a political tool, no one wins.

The supporting cast of characters—plus the humid, oppressive heat of Georgia—enhanced this well-written story. The faith aspect shone brightly, changing lives as it should.
​
Living Lies reveals the pain of mental illness, including PTSD, and helped me understand the guilt, fear and isolation it can cause. This book earns five stars and is highly recommended. I received a copy of Living Lies from Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing Group.
 

TITLE:  Whose Waves These Are
AUTHOR:  Amanda Dykes
DATE:  2019
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: *****
​
In the wake of WWII, a grieving fisherman submits a poem to a local newspaper: a rallying cry for hope, purpose . . . and rocks. Send me a rock for the person you lost, and I will build something life-giving. When the poem spreads farther than he ever intended, Robert Bliss's humble words change the tide of a nation. Boxes of rocks inundate the tiny, coastal Maine town, and he sets his calloused hands to work, but the building halts when tragedy strikes.

Decades later, Annie Bliss is summoned back to Ansel-by-the-Sea when she learns her Great-Uncle Robert, the man who became her refuge during the hardest summer of her youth, is now the one in need of help. What she didn't anticipate was finding a wall of heavy boxes hiding in his home. Long-ago memories of stone ruins on a nearby island trigger her curiosity, igniting a fire in her anthropologist soul to uncover answers.

She joins forces with the handsome and mysterious harbor postman, and all her hopes of mending the decades-old chasm in her family seem to point back to the ruins. But with Robert failing fast, her search for answers battles against time, a foe as relentless as the ever-crashing waves upon the sea. 

Whose Waves These Are wraps itself around you with lyrical prose and deep emotions. Family ties and secrets keep the plot steadily moving back and forth through time at a steady pace, as these mysteries require a slower pace for their resolution.

The faith message in this story is quiet but true, as are the romances. The theme running through Whose Waves These Are is the necessity of hope, the hope of better things, the hope of love gained. Forgiveness and grace weave these disparate characters together, sometimes in spite of themselves.

Through secrets unveiled and sorrows endured, I appreciated this story, smiling at times,  wiping tears at others. Whose Waves These Are earns five stars.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing Group.

TITLE:  Homecoming (Sweet Hearts of Sweet Creek, Book 1)
AUTHOR:  Carolyne Aarsen
DATE:  2017
PUBLISHER: Misty Ridge Publishing
STARS: *****

A heart broken twice from love and family. Can a trip to the ranch give her a second chance with both?

Sheryl Kyle isn’t the trusting type. After all, her abusive late husband and her disapproving stepfather haven’t given her much reason to feel otherwise. But when a rugged rancher named Mark seeks her out, she learns her stepfather is on his deathbed. And his dying wish is for her to return to Sweet Creek for one last chance to reconcile.

Mark can’t help but be fascinated by Sheryl. Despite hearing the worst about her from her stepbrother, he’s drawn to the hauntingly beautiful woman. When his ranching partner suffers an injury at the worst possible time, he’s surprised and delighted that Sheryl agrees to work by his side.

As Sheryl and Mark’s friendship deepens, she suppresses her growing feelings toward him. Can she forgive her family and herself before Mark too becomes a man of her past?

I’ve read several books by Carolyne Aarsen, and while I’ve enjoyed each one, this is my favorite so far. Her often tender/sometimes gritty prose pulled me into the story and kept me captive until the end. Sheryl broke my heart with her painful past, guilt and longing for wholeness. And Mark’s faithful patience is the perfect foil for her. I loved Mark’s family and understood the conflicts in Sheryl’s. Watching love peel away Sheryl’s layers of anger and guilt was a privilege.

The faith aspect of this story touched my heart; it clearly showed the necessity of faith and forgiveness.
​
The familiar settings of British Columbia and Alberta added a sense of homecoming for my imagination, too. I loved Homecoming and award it five stars. Highly recommended.
 

TITLE:  On a Summer Tide
AUTHOR:  Suzanne Woods Fisher
DATE:  2019
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

Sometimes love hurts--and sometimes it can heal in the most unexpected way.

Camden Grayson loves her challenging career, but the rest of her life could use some improvement. "Moving on" is Cam's mantra. But there's a difference, her two sisters insist, between one who moves on . . . and one who keeps moving. 

Cam's full-throttle life skids to a stop when her father buys a remote island off the coast of Maine. Paul Grayson has a dream to breathe new life into the island--a dream that includes reuniting his estranged daughters. Certain Dad has lost his mind, the three sisters rush to the island. To Cam's surprise, the slow pace of island life appeals to her, along with the locals--and one in particular. Seth Walker, the scruffy island schoolteacher harbors more than a few surprises. 

Each of the main characters in On a Summer Tide are realistic, multi-dimensional people who drew me into the story. Cam may be the main character, but the rest of her family, with their insecurities, regrets, and fears, are just as appealing. Seth makes a great hero, in spite of or perhaps because of his own deep regrets. Peg is a special, eccentric addition, and the Maine island setting is swoon-worthy on its own.
​
Points of view from each family member plus some flashbacks keep interest high. It’s fun to read a slightly different style, and this one worked superbly. Surprises and secrets revealed forced each family member to grow—including the dad, Paul Grayson.
I loved On a Summer Tide and award it five stars. Recommended! I received this book from Baker Publishing Group. 

TITLE:  The Refuge
AUTHOR:  Ann H. Gabhart
DATE:  2019
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ****

When Darcie and Walter Goodwin hear of a new cholera epidemic sweeping the area, they join the Shakers whose villages seem immune to the disease. It's meant to be a temporary stay, but Walter is killed in a riverboat accident. With no family and no money, Darcie has little choice but to stay with the Shakers. To complicate matters, she is expecting a baby conceived before she and her husband came to the Shaker village. Marital relationships are considered sinful in this celibate community, putting Darcie in a unique--and lonely--position. Can the arrival of widower Flynn Keller and his headstrong daughter offer Darcie the hope of happiness . . . and family?

The Refuge is a gentle story of Darcie, a non-Shaker, who has no other choice but to stay with the kind but strict group at the village at Harmony Hill. Her angst is skillfully portrayed as she, a pregnant widow in a sect that considers marriage a sin, tries to live in harmony with the Sisters. But will they allow her to stay once her child is born? Or will they ostracize both mother and child? Or worse, take the child from her? Faith and fear collide, but Darcie holds fast to faith—with satisfying results.

The only negative aspect of this story is the villain, whom I felt was overdrawn and didn’t quite fit. I loved reading The Refuge and learning about the Shaker sect. This book earns four stars from me.
​
I received this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group.