Home » Christian
Category Archives: Christian
With All Her Heart–disabilities in the Amish world
With All Her Heart
by Kelly Irvin
Amish romances tend to follow the usual path of all gentle, clean romances. Romance is in the air for a couple or perhaps several. There is some type of conflict that will keep the couple apart. The problems are solved and the couples are united. That is, of course, a simplified summary and most have some serious issues that have to be resolved. In Kelly Irvin’s An Amish Calling trilogy, the author explores “the impact of the founder effect on Amish communities.” To try to obey Scripture, the Amish only marry within their faith. This small population of choices for marriage can result in rare, sometimes debilitating, diseases. Examples are Down Syndrome, spina bifida, and dwarfism. The Amish, or Plain folks as they call themselves, love “their children with physical and mental developmental disabilities with a fierceness that couldn’t be denied.” They are called “special,” integrated into family life, and ensured of care throughout their lives.
The main character in this story is Bonnie who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) which despite treatment causes her muscles to progressively weaken. For an Amish woman, her life goal is to marry and have children. Bonnie can physically give birth, but caring for a home and children is not something she can do on her own. Bonnie joins with two other women with disabilities to found Homespun Handicrafts to support themselves and others with disabilities who make items for sale in the store. Their Amish crafts are especially popular with English tourists.
Several other characters in the book have disabilities from a variety of causes, not just the founder effect. Elijah is very shy which is a problem for his auctioneer family. He is deathly afraid of having to “call an auction.” He would rather spend his time and talents creating toys and furniture for sale. His love for Bonnie, however, loosens his tongue and emboldens him.
The plot and characters in this story will grab your heart as the characters deal with real, unremitting problems. This book is a page turner, partly to see what will happen next, but just as much because of empathy for the characters. They struggle with the age old questions of “why me?” and faith and trust in God in a fallen world where bad things do happen to good people. There is even an important thread dealing with a widow and widower and their obligations to their children. All of these are good characters and the reader will want God’s best for them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Romance, Religion
Notes: 1. This series has three novels that all deal with disabilities. The author, herself, has a disability and she says that “each book took me deeper into self-examination of my own life as a person living with disability and disease, while delving into how others perceive these issues—both Amish and non-Amish folks.” She tries to do this with sensitivity to the many issues encompassed in the book. This is the third book, but they can all be standalones. I read the first one and now this one. Do not be intimidated by the list of characters at the beginning. I used the glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch terms more than I did the list of characters.
2. There are discussion questions at the end of the book.
Publication: January 28, 2025—Zondervan
Memorable Lines:
The shop gave Plain folks like herself, with disabilities, a way to earn their keep when traditional Plain tasks couldn’t be accomplished. More importantly it gave them a sense of self-worth, a sense that they contributed just as their abled family members did.
“Everybody has disabilities. Some show. Some don’t. I think Gott allows them so we don’t get too uppity for our own gut. Like the verse says, so no one can boast. In our weakness Gott is strong.”
“Sometimes there are disabilities more limiting than the physical. They’re disabilities we create ourselves by doubting that we can have the full lives others around us have.”
The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie’s Biscuits–Amish cozy mystery
The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie’s Biscuits
by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Martha Bolton
Fannie Miller is a single Amish woman of forty-three who owns a quilting shop. She is also a big fan of mysteries. She has collaborated on several investigations with Foster Bates, a retired cop who has become a private investigator in Sugarcreek, Ohio. They develop a friendship and learn to respect each other’s intuition about the cases that come their way.
Miss Fannie enters a baking contest, as she has for the last ten years. This year the prize is twenty-five thousand dollars which she could use to repair her roof or expand her quilting shop. Her main goal, however, is to use her aunt’s buttermilk biscuit recipe to win a blue ribbon.
Some strange things seem to be going on in the town. There is a strained feeling and a number of contestants have disappeared. Is something dangerous and illegal going on? Fannie convinces Foster that there could be and they need to look into it.
Fannie progresses to the finals along with the Beiler sisters: Faith, Hope, and Charity. These ladies, known as the town gossips, own a wonderful bakery where they sell their delicious cinnamon rolls. Michael and Melissa Taylor are also in the finals. They are a troubled couple who have separated several times. Melissa has had numerous miscarriages. They want to adopt a child, but have discovered that it would be very expensive.
Another thread concerns John Troyer, the church district’s bishop, and his son Jeb who suffers from social anxiety. It points up the difficulty of juggling business, spiritual, and family priorities.
As you might guess from the cover, this cozy mystery is fun, clean, and non-violent. It is a satisfying mystery, and I enjoyed watching the friendship develop between Fannie and Foster. There are limits to their relationship because Fannie is Amish and Foster is not. It is also interesting to see how each of them views the other’s lifestyle. If you like gentle Amish stories with some mystery thrown in, I think you will like The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie’s Biscuits.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery, Religion, Christian, Romance
Notes: 1. I don’t know if this will become the first in a series of Miss Fannie books, but it certainly could be.
2. The recipe for Miss Fannie’s Buttermilk Biscuits is included.
3. This story is also being produced as a musical.
Publication: January 1,2025—Barbour
Memorable Lines:
“So, what makes you think you’re in danger?” He asked, holding tight to the edge of his wooden desk to keep from getting swept into the vortex of another complicated Fannie Miller case against his will and better judgment.
The bigger the scandal, the less evidence was needed to back it up.
“Gossip isn’t harmless. It taints reputations, including the reputation of the person telling it. No wonder the wise avoid it.”
A Change of Heart–fun anecdotes, but serious themes too
A Change of Heart
by Philip Gulley
read by Norman Dietz
I enjoyed reading this book because it continues the story of Amanda Hodge who is being raised by her aunt and uncle. Their peaceful lives are interrupted by the reappearance of her biological parents. Have they really turned over a new leaf, had a change of heart?
The other change of heart in this book deals with physical heart problems for one of the more troublesome members of the congregation.
The Harmony series has some fun anecdotes and a very serious look at forgiveness and the importance of family.
I have enjoyed several books in this series. My less than positive view of A Change of Heart is based on discussions among the characters. One character goes overboard in pushing his opinions about how things should be done in this Quaker church, especially in terms of outreach. Dale’s outspoken, but less than popular, ideas color everyone’s opinion of him. In one conversation, he quotes the Bible with some pretty strong statements about salvation. The author has the other characters present in the discussion (who are much more likable) countering that they don’t believe Jesus ever said or did what Dale is attributing to Him. Unfortunately, the author does not provide the correction that Jesus did in fact make some very strong statements about a relationship with Him. For example, in John 14:6, Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me.” The author is a Quaker pastor. He did a disservice to his readers by leaving them with the impression that Dale is wrong.
Rating: 3/5
Notes: #5 in the Harmony series. It can be read as a standalone, but then you miss out on a lot of character background. The reader of this audiobook had a variety characters and did well with all of them.
Category: Christian, Fiction, Religion and Spirituality
Publication: 2006—Recorded Books
Beneath a Turquoise Sky–educating the Navajos
Beneath a Turquoise Sky
By Kiersti Giron
As Beneath a Turquoise Sky begins, the author introduces Caroline Haynes, a young lady in 1910 in Pennsylvania. After five years of playing the role of mother to her two younger brothers, she feels replaced by her father’s new wife Lillian. Her best friend’s brother, whom she had long adored, moved to China to be a missionary, without Caroline, and later married. Recognizing that she really doesn’t have a home or is needed in Pennsylvania, Caroline follows up on an article in the Home Mission Monthly seeking a teacher for the younger students at the Hebron Navajo Mission. She was drawn to “children in need of schooling, of the light of Jesus.”
When she arrives at the Territory of New Mexico after a long, arduous journey, she is shown to her tiny room attached to the girls’ dormitory and meets the handsome, but rigid, Rev. Willis Abernathy and his aunt Miss Spencer. Both have their own strict ways of running a school which are typical of schools set up for Native Americans at that time. The goal is conversion, but not just spiritual conversion. The white men wanted to get rid of Navajo culture and replace it with European customs all while making it clear that the Navajos are second class people. The motto of some was: “Kill the Indian, save the man.” To this end, the Navajo students were often punished if they spoke their own language. Haircuts were forced on them. Their traditional clothes were taken away, and they were supplied with uniforms.They were assigned Anglo names and removed from their families. The parents were told this was “all for their own good.”
Caroline’s interactions with the students and the other staff is a major part of the story, but just as important is Willis’ relationship with Tse, a Navajo two years younger. They grew up together and were friends for many years, but that all changed and we see it play out as Tse needs a job to help support his parents. Willis gives it to him but treats him in a very condescending way. As was typical of that time period, he seems to have no concept of the value of cultural differences. Tse is a Christian, but because he has reverted to Navajo dress and culture, Willis feels that he has turned his back on God.
Caroline “disobeys” Willis in her efforts to teach the children and give them the emotional support they need. Tse is her “accomplice” and both of them are chastised by Willis.
There are a number of well-executed plot twists that culminate in decisions these characters have to make that will affect their future and the future of the mission. Although I had a hard time liking Willis, I could understand him as a product of his time. That does not excuse most of his behavior, however. The story concludes with many loose ends tied up, but there are still systemic problems that are not worked out regarding how the Navajos and the white men interact with each other. Caroline and Tse are both very likable characters portrayed with some depth. They live out the kindness of Jesus in their everyday lives. Willis thinks he is doing the right things, but is missing the mark in his goals and how he treats others. All of the characters experience growth and positive change, and Tse especially comes to understand how he can honor his Navajo heritage and also be a follower of Jesus.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Historical Fiction, Christian, Romance
Notes: 1. The book includes a Glossary of Navajo Words, Historical Notes, and Acknowledgements of people and organizations that have contributed to the author’s understanding of the complicated historical and cultural background of this story.
2. Giron states that she has “shown only the milder side” of the trauma children experienced under this “education” system, but it is certainly sufficient to expose the reader to the damage even well meaning individuals caused in imposing Euro-American culture and customs in the name of religion.
Publication: April 14, 2025—Story Architect
Memorable Lines:
Perhaps being set apart did mean rejecting all that was Navajo and taking on the white man’s ways. But where was that ordained in Scripture? Not like the people of ancient Israel were European, after all.
But no, the bilagáanas were always right—government officials, Indian agents, or missionaries. No matter how many broken treaties, broken promises, broken families. Broken children’s hearts.
He sang as he bridled his horse, praising Jesus in his language, letting the tune follow the natural pattern of the tones, as in the chants. It sounded genuinely Navajo, yet the truth of the words lent a wholeness to his tongue he’d never heard before.
The Harmony Series (audio version)
I don’t listen to audio books very often, but I think I have found a comfortable niche that works for me—Philip Gulley’s Harmony Series. It’s an easy series to come back to when walking my dogs. If my thumb hits the wrong place on my phone and I’m suddenly back a few chapters, it is not a problem. I can just enjoy that portion again. So, when I listen to a book from the series, I will share it here, but only with a brief reflection because the books are like reading short stories or collected anecdotes. The members of the Harmony Friends Meeting show up in all the books, and the setting is always the fictional small town of Harmony, Indiana. The tone of the book is generally light-hearted, containing some sarcasm and some thoughts about the ways people get along with each other. Think of Harmony as a Mayberry come to life with characters that will make you chuckle, and sometimes reach out with empathy.
Just Shy of Harmony
By Philip Gulley
The second book in the Harmony Series is Just Shy of Harmony. It has a lot of humor in its tales. Dale Hinshaw’s new outreach is his “scripture eggs” project inspired by an article about a chicken that supposedly laid an egg that had a message inside because the chicken ate a piece of paper. He’s off to evangelize the world, but he has trouble getting others excited about his idea!
The whole town “knows” about Jessie and Asa’s marital problems because the editor of the local paper writes weekly about what he sees out his window and he saw Jessie going into the building that houses the counselor’s office. You can see where that one is going, but poor Jessie and Asa don’t know why everyone is asking how they are doing.
Framing the humor, however, are two deeper subjects. Sam, the Quaker pastor, is depressed and feels like he has lost his faith. The whole town knows about it; word of mouth is as good as the local newspaper in Harmony. He is experiencing burn-out, for sure, but doesn’t know what to do about it. Avoiding spoiler details, a member of the congregation has leukemia and we see a different side of the Quaker Friends as the church rallies around in prayer and fund raising.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Christian, Fiction, Religion, Inspiration
Notes: Read by Norman Dietz who had a lot of different voices to employ and did it well.
Publication: 2002—Harper One
Memorable Lines:
After all, life is so fleeting, so tenuous, that if you can do someone even the smallest good, you ought to do it.
So Into You–too many secrets
So Into You
by Kathleen Fuller
Britt is a talented artist and art teacher in her late twenties who makes a living creating YouTube tutorials for art. She has extreme social anxiety which she has addressed in various ways, but none of the treatments or recommendations have had long-term benefits. Although she supports herself financially, she still lives with her mom Amy, a high school math teacher. Britt’s parents divorced when she was young because her father Daniel had problems with alcohol and anger.
Hunter comes from a wealthy, successful family but got mixed up with alcohol and drugs as a pre-teen. Some tough love from his parents resulted in a stint in jail where he turned his life around with the help of a chaplain who introduced him to Jesus. After his release, Hunter got a job at a warehouse and worked on getting his life in order. He happens onto Britt’s YouTube channel and becomes interested in her tutorials. He also thinks she is very cute. Now he just has to meet her without coming across as a creepy stalker.
All of the major characters have secrets that they resist sharing; and, as might be expected, those secrets cause major problems. Hunter, who used to be a “player,” becomes a sensitive, respectful friend to Britt and wants to help her with her social anxiety issues. Other family members and friends are involved in the story as well. The author connects the characters in a way that the reader can see coming. I held my breath as I watched the relationships develop and anticipated how the secrets would be revealed and what blow-out would result.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Romance, Women’s Fiction, Christian
Notes: Discussion Questions included.
Publication: December 3, 2024—Thomas Nelson
Memorable Lines:
A year ago when they signed the lease together, he’d made a pact with Sawyer that he would stay clean and sober, and he’d kept it. That was in the past, and it was a road he never wanted to travel again.
Immediately she was hit with a blast of heat, and it was a only May. The next few months would be brutal. Otherwise known as summer in Texas.
“We love each other more deeply now than we ever have. But love isn’t all you need to make a relationship work. You must have communication, patience, and empathy, along with understanding and honesty. Above all, you have to be willing to make it work. If you give up, the relationship is over.
The Joshua Code: 52 Scripture Verses Every Believer Should Know
The Joshua Code: 52 Scripture Verses Every Believer Should Know
by O. S. Hawkins
Have you ever felt like you should have more Bible verses committed to memory than you already have? That thought was the impetus for me to purchase and read this book. The goal is to memorize one verse each week. At first that seemed doable, but as life brought some ups and downs, I found myself unable to remember, over the long haul, all the Scripture references that went with each verse. So, about half way through the book, I switched to using it solely as a devotional and that worked well for me in that season.
My first reaction to The Joshua Code was to question the author’s choice of Scriptures. Many of my “favorites” were not included, and I wasn’t sure I saw the importance of those that were selected. As I stayed with it for a few weeks, I began to understand the process. With each verse there is a devotional, a short homily. As I read each chapter I could see why the verse was important. Since then, I have been surprised at how these verses come up in various contexts and provide an “Ah, ha” moment or a “God wink,” a term used by some for seeming “coincidences.”
According to the author, the title Joshua Code refers to Joshua 1:8 and is a “challenge to keep God’s Word in our mouths through memorization and keep it in our hearts through meditation ‘day and night.’ ” In the Introduction, Hawkins gives his practical method for committing verses to memory. He also explains what meditation is for Christians and how valuable meditation can be when applied to these verses.
I recommend this book for Christians and also for those seeking a relationship with Jesus. This book will show readers how to find Jesus in the Scriptures despite the chaos of daily life and digital content that constantly bombards us.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Nonfiction
Notes: 1. 52 Scriptures and devotionals to encourage memorization
2. A note at the end of the book states that all of the author’s royalties and any other proceeds from the book go to Mission Dignity which “enables thousands of retired ministers (and, in most cases, their widows) who are living below the poverty level, to live out their days with dignity and security.” Small churches are often unable to contribute to a pastor’s retirement, and Hawkins is using his book to financially fill that need.
Publication: 2012—Thomas Nelson
A Choice Considered–building a railroad
A Choice Considered
by Tracie Peterson
Narrated by Jeanine Bartel
This work of historical fiction, set in the Wyoming Territory in 1868, as the railroad prepares to move further west, has strong Christian themes. The main characters try to make their choices and actions according to Christian principles. The female protagonist is Melody Doyle, a very sweet young lady devoted to her “Da.” Sadly, her father has never been the same since a railroad accident, but he insists he will move on with the railroad when the time comes. Melody doesn’t want to be separated from her dad but is tired of living in a tent and moving constantly. If she stays in Cheyenne, she could get a job and still see her father frequently through short trips.
Charlie is from a banking family, and his father sends him to Cheyenne to supervise the bank that his brother Jacob opened there. Jacob returned east due to illness leaving the bank in the hands of Jefferson who seems to resent Charlie’s arrival, especially when Charlie begins to examine the bank’s books. Charlie has a heart for education and wants to start a school. However, he does not want to disappoint his very strict father who has high banking expectations for him.
Da agrees to Melody’s staying in Cheyenne if she gets married before he leaves. Known for his gift of discernment, her father will interview and let appropriate young men take Melody on a date.
Charlie doesn’t sign up for this process because he wants the woman he marries to be his friend first.
A Choice Considered follows Melody, Charlie, and Da through the decisions they have to make in their lives, from their spiritual growth through their relationships, and in their professional lives. They all have supportive friends who pray with and for them in their journeys. The interactions of the characters are the basis for the plot and there are good events that will make the reader smile, but there is also a backdrop of impending tragedy.
The narrator of this audiobook, Jeanine Bartel, does a good job with all the voices but especially with the men. During the first part of the book, I found her voice for Melody to be a little too saccharine sweet. I think she was trying to show what a sweet person Melody is. As we moved into the story, I got used to the voice and found it more suiting to the character than I had thought.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Historical Fiction, Christian
Notes: #2 in the Heart of Cheyenne series. I had read the first and third books in the series. While I enjoyed all three books, I would have been happier reading them in sequence. Out of order, I found myself a little confused; and the third book, of necessity, had some spoilers for the second book.
Publication: July 2, 2024—Bethany House
A Truth Revealed–ambition and revenge
A Truth Revealed
By Tracie Peterson
At age twelve, Laura Evans lost her mother to consumption in 1858. Her father, Granite Evans, who became her long distance hero, immediately sent her to boarding school. After ten years apart, she finally rejoins him in Cheyenne in the Wyoming territory which was a rough area at that time. Does Laura really know the man she has put on a pedestal for so many years? Is he the gracious, generous man the townspeople admire so much? He doesn’t hide his political ambitions, but is there a limit to what he will do to become governor of the territory or even president of the U.S.?
Wilson Porter is a young minister hoping for a government appointment to work with the Indians in the area. Until treaties can be sorted out, Wilson is employed in a local furniture shop using his woodworking skills to provide a living. When his father dies unexpectedly, Wilson encourages his mother and sister to travel to Cheyenne to be closer to him. Sadly, tragedy strikes the family again in several ways. When Wilson is injured, Laura takes him into her father’s home and nurses him back to health. They come to know each other better, but they also learn about an evil side of Cheyenne.
One of the main plot threads is faith in God. Both Laura and Wilson attend church, but Granite refuses. He blames God for his wife’s death. Wilson also has some questions of faith that he has to work through. Meanwhile, Laura finds support from a group of ladies at church who meet weekly to pray and work on handicrafts.
The characters have depth, and the setting seems true to the Cheyenne area during Wyoming’s territorial days. The Christian faith is consistently woven into the story as many of the characters look to God for strength and wisdom. Life is not a smooth path as the characters endure some very difficult challenges. The author has Laura attend a women’s college in Tennessee which actually existed and added realism to the skills and knowledge Laura had that would have been unusual for a woman during that time period. The theme of evil versus good permeates the novel. I enjoyed this book and am planning to return to the series to pick up the second book in the series which focuses on Laura’s friend Melody.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance
Notes: #3 in The Heart of Cheyenne series. The background is fully explained and in good order; it can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone. There is an overlap of characters but there are central protagonists specific to each book.
Publication: November 5, 2024—Bethany House
Memorable Lines:
Rejections from the doctors, church, and family had left Granite hard and angry, and when his beloved wife died, he vowed to make a success of himself in such a way that he could get back at those who had denied her help.
“Evil men will always do evil things, and, yes, there will be times when we suffer the effects, even as God’s beloved children. However, I still believe in His love and goodness.”
“But you know, life is a risk. Every day presents new challenges and heartache. But it also allows for happiness and good gifts. And no matter which come our way, God is there to help us through.”
The Christmas Ring–sweet story of faith
The Christmas Ring
by Karen Kingsbury
narrated by Paige McKinney
I actually chose to listen to this book because I have an antique ring that looks just like the one featured on the cover of The Christmas Ring. Kingsbury’s tale centers around efforts to recover a family heirloom (from D-Day) lost four years prior. Vanessa is the widow of Alan, an Army Ranger medic. To honor Alan and his principles, Vanessa and her daughter Sadie actively support a lot of causes to help military families. On her way back from taking Sadie to college to begin her freshman year, Vanessa stops at an antique store to look for the ring. She doesn’t find it, but she does meet Ben who is a widower. They start a friendship which both of them think might move into something more serious.
In this book the characters rely on God through prayer and Scriptures to help them in their various struggles. Relationship dynamics are an important part of the story; faith and trust are two major themes.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Romance, Christian, Fiction
Notes: 1. Has been made into a movie
2. Paige McKinney is a good narrator for this audiobook.
Publication: October 21, 2025—Thomas Nelson
education pathways 