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Raising Kids to Follow Christ

February 10, 2025 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

10 Feb

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Raising Kids to Follow Christ by Lee Ann Mancini

Title: Raising Kids to Follow Christ
Author: Lee Ann Mancini
Major Themes: Children, Parenting, Christian Life
Synopsis: Practical advice for parents to instill a lifelong trust in God into their children.

Back when I was a new mother, I started reading books about raising children. Over the years, I’ve read quite a number of them. All of them have good pointers—and most of them have had things I don’t quite agree with. I don’t read very many books like that now, but I probably still should, since, even after being a mother for 25 years, I still have a 4-year-old. When I was offered a review copy of Raising Kids to Follow Christ, I decided it would probably be a good book to spend some time with.

Publisher’s description:

How can we raise the next generation to have an unshakable faith in God as they navigate the challenging terrain of modern culture?

Offering years of experience and countless success stories, author and parenting expert Lee Ann Mancini says what our children need is a heart change, not just a behavioral change, so that they become effective disciples. In Raising Kids to Follow Christ: Instilling a Lifelong Trust in God, she inspires parents, grandparents, teachers, and others to teach their children essential Christian principles to enable them to navigate the world with grace, integrity, and an unbreakable bond with their heavenly Father.

This book goes beyond surface-level advice, delving into the intricate matters of children’s hearts and minds and offering a blueprint for nurturing a deep and unwavering faith in Christ.

Raising Kids to Follow Christ offers:

  • Decades of personal experience and training based on key essential principles in Scripture
  • Practical strategies for addressing doubts, fears, and questions that arise in today’s culture
  • Ways to help children control their emotions and actions in various situations
  • Suggestions from some of today’s brightest Christian minds in children’s spirituality
  • Empowerment for parents to become their child’s spiritual champion
  • Easy-to-understand apologetics for children and adults
  • Fun ways to connect your child’s heart to Christ

Raising Kids to Follow Christ is a collaborative journey inviting parents to learn, grow, and flourish alongside their children as they become bold in their witness and committed to their faith rather than secular culture.

My thoughts:

Lee Ann Mancini has a lot of good advice in Raising Kids to Follow Christ. This would be a very good book for new parents to read. Much of the advice for instilling a love for Jesus in your children works best with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers—if I tried implementing her suggestions with my children, most of them would think it was pretty silly, but if you started very young, it would be natural. I liked the encouragement in building a God-centered worldview for your children and helping them to learn to know Jesus personally.

On the other hand, she clearly states that “discipline never means physical punishment.” I wondered if she meant that physical punishment is never to be used? I may have missed something, but what I understood her to say was that seeing the parent’s disappointment should be enough punishment for most things. Maybe I’ve totally failed with my children, but that has never been enough for them. I did appreciate the author’s advice for ways of teaching children right behavior. She has some very creative ideas for teaching children about God.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

No warnings!

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Keywords: Children · Christian Life · Christian Living · Christian Non-Fiction · Family Life · Lee Ann Mancini · Parenting

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Midnight on the Scottish Shore

February 7, 2025 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

7 Feb

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Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin

Title: Midnight on the Scottish Shore
Author: Sarah Sundin
Major Themes: Scotland, World War II, Spies, Espionage
Synopsis: When she has to choose whether to potentially blow her cover and risk death, or escape to England posing as a spy for Germany and risk capture by the English, Cilla van der Zee chooses the better of two evils—but when plans go awry, can her courage and fortitude sustain her?

I’ve enjoyed Sarah Sundin’s books for quite a while. My first introduction to her works was The Sound of Light, and more recently I enjoyed Embers in the London Sky. When I saw that Midnight on the Scottish Shore was available, I was really excited. I’ve been intrigued by the Scottish culture for quite a while, and seeing it in a World War II setting was fascinating. It took me a little while to pick up the book, but once I did, I got sucked into the story.

Publisher’s description:

In a time of war, danger lurks beneath the water—and in the depths of the human heart

As the German war machine devours the Netherlands, the only way Cilla van der Zee can survive the occupation is to do the unthinkable—train to become a spy for the Nazis. Once dispatched to Britain, she plans to abandon her mission and instead aid the Allies. But her scheme is thwarted when naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie finds her along the Scottish shore and turns her in to be executed.

Yet perhaps she is more useful alive than dead. British intelligence employs her to radio misleading messages to Germany from the lighthouse at Dunnet Head in Scotland—messages filled with naval intelligence Lachlan must provide. If the war is to be won, Lachlan and Cilla must work together. But how can he trust a woman who arrived on his shores as a tool of the enemy—a woman certain to betray both him and the Allied cause?

My thoughts:

I’ve enjoyed spy stories for quite a few years, but reading this double spy story was especially fun. It reminded me somewhat of Mara, Daughter of the Nile, which is also a double spy story, but set in Ancient Egypt.

I love the way Sarah Sundin writes her characters. I instantly connected with Cilla, and watching her go through grief, hope, and determination to change things was a lot of fun. I also enjoyed Lachlan’s perspective, and the journey he had to go on (especially when it came to loving his brother!).

As far as the setting goes, this was excellently written. You get to feel what it’s like to be in Scotland, and there’s something about the family aspect and the close-knit community that just draws you in. I loved how Sarah Sundin did that. Getting a glimpse at the Orkney Islands was also quite interesting. 

The plot itself was well done. I didn’t feel like it was quite as strong as perhaps some of Sundin’s other books, but it was still intriguing and kept me moving. Like I said earlier, the spy part of the story was especially interesting. I loved getting to see a little bit of how the M15 Double Cross program worked and also getting to see how communications back during World War II worked as well. Oh, and I loved getting a peek into the kind of work the Wrens—a women’s branch of the British army—did. That was fascinating!

If you enjoy stories that are intriguing and adventurous, contain some sweet romance, and also some fascinating historical facts, Midnight on the Scottish Shore would probably be a great choice for you. With a rich setting, intriguing characters, and a strong theme of learning to rely on God, this book was well done. I enjoyed this story, and I’m looking forward to seeing what else Sarah Sundin comes up with. 

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

WARNING: Heavens is used in ch. 4 and 21; thank goodness is used in ch. 4, 5, 11 (twice), 12, 13, 17, 22, 25 (twice), 26 (twice), 27, 29 (three times), 36, 37 (three times), 39, and 46; my goodness is used in ch. 6 (twice), 12, 21, and 46; and for heaven’s sake is used in ch. 15, 21, 31, and 45. Chapter 27: Cussed, infernal war (three times). There is lying throughout the book, generally as people try to help or protect others. Chapter 1: A fight, someone killed, someone drunk. Chapter 3: Man touches a woman’s arm. Chapter 5: Drinking. Chapter 8: Smoking. Chapter 21: Story of someone who got drunk and stole a car, telling of someone who drowned. Chapter 24: Dancing. Chapter 25: Seeing a boat blow up. Chapter 32: Unmarried couple holding each other’s arms. Chapter 37: Couple holding each other. Chapter 38: Hint at someone being indecently assaulted in the past. Chapter 40: A hug. Chapter 41: Lying, thank goodness. Chapter 43: An explosion. Chapter 44: People hurt, shooting, people killed (somewhat graphic). Chapter 45: People shot, someone killed, a kiss. Chapter 48: Several kisses. Author’s Note: Mention of someone who committed suicide.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Keywords: 20th Century · Books for Women · Britain · Christian Fiction · Espionage · Europe · Historical Fiction · Mysteries · Orkney Islands · Romance · Sarah Sundin · Scotland · Spies · World War II

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The Crooked Daughter

February 5, 2025 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

5 Feb

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The Crooked Daughter by D. M. Griffin

Title: The Crooked Daughter
Author: D. M. Griffin
Series: The Encounter, book 2
Major Themes: Jesus, Ancient Israel, Rome
Synopsis: When she was cast out because of physical problems, Priscilla had to choose how to react—and when Aquila was mistreated he, too, had to decide what circumstances would do to his character.

I enjoyed The Winds of Ruach so much when I read it a few months ago that when I was offered a review copy of The Crooked Daughter, I took it. I was glad that the author admitted that almost all of it was conjecture—because this book tells the story of three people who are mentioned in, at most, a couple of verses in the New Testament!

Publisher’s description:

Choices her father made before she was even born reached a bony finger into her life, clouding her future with hopelessness. Her father’s cold heart had no room for her. He easily cast her aside when the Law permitted it. Defined as an outcast because of a physical infirmity, Priscilla was told death was her destiny. Despite the limited perspective brought about by years of adversity, Priscilla fought to keep hope alive and wait for the Lord’s timing.

Aquila lost his father at the most critical time in his life. Battling against grief and bitterness, Aquila uncovers a secret about his father’s death that undermines his faith in a religious system that identified him. Driven from his homeland, Aquila becomes someone he no longer recognizes.

Two people whose perspectives are skewed by adversity become divinely intertwined in mysterious ways. As they wait upon the Lord for His timing, would Priscilla and Aquila ever find the truth that would lift their eyes to the hills so they could see the purpose of life, not only between a man and a woman but between God and His creation? A poignant story about how God uses adversity for good in the lives of those who truly love and trust Him.

My thoughts:

I found myself really enjoying The Crooked Daughter. Though Priscilla experienced so much rejection and hardship that she could easily have become bitter and angry, I liked the way her mother’s prayers and overheard wishes for her kept her from hardening. I appreciated the example of keeping her mind on the Lord and wanting to help others, even when she had very little for herself. In contrast, Aquila, when faced with adversity, mistreatment, and disillusionment, became hard, bitter, and angry. The consequences were dire—yet there was redemption and healing when he met Jesus. 

I appreciated the vivid illustration of some of the things Jesus had to say against the Pharisees. It’s easy to read what He said about taking widows’ houses and just pass over it—but this book makes the reader feel the injustice of it. Also, the shock that people who met Jesus during his years of ministry would have experienced when they heard that He had been crucified—I felt that while reading The Crooked Daughter. So, while most of the story is conjecture, I really appreciated it and recommend it. If you like Biblical fiction, you will like this book. On the other hand, despite the good content and storyline, the book could use some editing. There are a lot of typos and grammatical/punctuation errors in the version I was given. I hope they have been cleaned up in the print version, but the digital one needs help. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: Chapter 16: Fight between two men. Chapter 22: Man dreams of revenge. Chapter 24: Kiss. 

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Keywords: Ancient Times · Asia · Biblical Fiction · Books for Women · Christian Fiction · D. M. Griffin · Europe · Historical Fiction · Israel · Jesus · Middle East · Rome · The Encounter series

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Prince Caspian

February 3, 2025 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

3 Feb

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Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

Title: Prince Caspian
Author: C.S. Lewis
Series: The Chronicles of Narnia, book 4
Major Themes: Allegories, Fantasy
Synopsis: When the Pevensie siblings are unexpectedly transported back to Narnia, they are confused about why they came—until they find out about a battle that is about to begin which, if lost, could bring ruin to Narnia.

One of my goals over this next year is to get through the rest of the Chronicles of Narnia series. I thoroughly enjoy these stories, and so do my siblings, so reading them aloud together is a great way for me to get through them and have a shared family experience of the books. We started Prince Caspian at Christmas time last year, and because we live in the Southern Hemisphere, that was the beginning of summer. It’s taken until the end of summer (nearly four months later!) to finish it, but we all enjoyed the story anyway. I don’t think this was quite as much of a favorite of mine as some of the other stories in this series, but I did get more out of the allegory in this book, so that was fun!

Publisher’s description:

Narnia…where animals talk…where trees walk…where a battle is about to begin.

A prince denied his rightful throne gathers an army in a desperate attempt to rid his land of a false king. But in the end, it is a battle of honor between two men alone that will decide the fate of an entire world.

My thoughts:

I loved so many aspects of Prince Caspian! For starters, it was a lot of fun to be back in the Narnian world, after a bit of a break from it with The Horse and His Boy. It was also fun to see how the Pevensie siblings got back into Narnia, and see Narnia many years on from its creation.

What stuck out the most to me, though, was the allegory this story contained. There is a part in the story where the characters had to decide whether they’d literally “walk by faith” or not, and watching them trying to work through it—and seeing what happened afterward—was quite an encouragement for me.

If you have children who enjoy fantasy stories, or you enjoy books with strong Christian content and an exciting adventure on the side, I’d highly recommend you check out this series. Prince Caspian was fun and engaging, and my siblings had difficulty letting me stop reading for the night once we got going. Enjoyed by the whole family, these are books to treasure and share with others.

WARNING: “By Jove” is used in ch. 1 (twice), 2, 3, and 10; “I’m jiggered” is used in ch. 2; “goodness knows” is used in ch. 2 (twice); “Great Scott” is used in ch. 2, 8, and 14; garn is used in ch. 3; “by the Lion” is used in ch. 7; golly is used in ch. 8; “for goodness’ sake” is used in ch. 11; “great heaven” is used in ch. 13; “thank heavens” is used in ch. 14; “you little ass” is used in ch. 14; and “live…with a lot of blooming animals” is used in ch. 15. A man is shot at in ch. 3. Ch. 5 mentions several people who were assassinated. A bear is killed in ch. 9. People are shot at in ch. 10. In ch. 12, there are mentions of a hag and a wer-wolf who were planning to use bad magic, a fight, and some people are killed. In ch. 14, there is a fight with multiple people killed.

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Keywords: Allegories · C. S. Lewis · Christian Fiction · Family Friendly · Fantasy · The Chronicles of Narnia series

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Her Mother’s Hope

January 31, 2025 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

31 Jan

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Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers

Title: Her Mother’s Hope
Author: Francine Rivers
Series: Marta’s Legacy, part 1
Major Themes: Family, Relationships, History
Synopsis: Escaping from a difficult home situation, Marta Schneider leaves Switzerland and creates a new life for herself in England and later in Canada, where she and her husband raise a family on the tough Canadian plains and later in California.

One of my unofficial reading goals is to get through most of Francine Rivers’ books as I get the chance to read them. She isn’t my favorite author, but I love the way she tells stories. Her Mother’s Hope is the most recent book I’ve come across that she wrote, and I was excited to get the chance to read it. As a semi-biographical story of her mother and grandmother, I found this story fascinating—and while it will never be one of my top favorite books, I did greatly enjoy this read—so much so, that I could hardly put this book down when I needed to get onto something else!

Publisher’s description:

The first in a two-book family saga by the beloved author of Redeeming Love and The Masterpiece, Her Mother’s Hope is a rich, moving epic about faith and dreams, heartache and disappointment, and the legacy of love passed down through four generations in one family.

Near the turn of the twentieth century, fiery Marta Schneider leaves Switzerland for a better life, determined to fulfill her mother’s hope. Her formative journey takes her through Europe and eventually to Canada, where she meets handsome Niclas Waltert. But nothing has prepared her for the sacrifices she must make for marriage and motherhood as she travels to the Canadian wilderness and then to the dusty Central Valley of California to raise her family.

Marta’s hope is to give her children a better life, but experience has taught her that only the strong survive. Her tough love is often misunderstood, especially by her oldest daughter, Hildemara Rose, who craves her mother’s acceptance.

Amid the drama of World War II, Hildie falls in love and begins a family of her own. But unexpected and tragic events force mother and daughter to face their own shortcomings and the ever-widening chasm that threatens to separate them forever.

My thoughts:

I came away from Her Mother’s Hope with some mixed feelings. While I loved the story in general, some things bothered me about the way the story was told. For example (as I mention in the warnings), there were more allusions to marital intimacy than I feel is necessary in a book like this. Thankfully, it was generally only passing mentions, but several times the curtain closes and you know what is going on there between the paragraphs. For that reason, I feel I can’t recommend this story as highly as I would like to.

Still, I found this book to be a gripping, well-written story. It’s a long book—a good 500 pages—but I still finished it in record time, which surprised me. I found I could easily relate to the characters, and as they moved through life and made decisions for how they wanted to live their lives, I could understand why they made the decisions they did. At times, I wanted to smack one particular character upside the head—she made me so angry, even though I understood why she was doing what she was doing!

Her Mother’s Hope is truly a saga. Most of it is not overtly Christian; there are mentions of going to church, praying, or reading the Bible throughout the book, but the characters don’t seem to be particularly religious in most of their daily happenings. Still, there is a lot of character growth throughout the story, which I appreciated, and the ending promises a gripping book two, as well. This is a story of a family, and especially a mother and her daughter’s dealings. Life can be beautiful; it can also be hard and complicated. And as a book that spans many decades, this story captures a lot of it. I enjoyed this read, and can’t wait to pick up Her Daughter’s Dream when I have a chance.

WARNING: “I swear” is used in ch. 5 (twice), 23 (twice), 27 (twice), 32, and 35; “thank goodness” is used in ch. 8; “for heaven’s sake” is used in ch. 18, 23, and 34 (twice); heavens is used in ch. 20 and 41; “holy cow” is used in ch. 20, 21, 23 (twice), 31, 32, and 38; “for mercy’s sake” is used in ch. 20; heck is used in ch. 23 and 42; “God knows” is used in ch. 26; drat is used in ch. 28; “holy Godfrey” is used in ch. 28; “Oh, God” is used in ch. 33; “what in the blazes” and crap are used in ch. 39; and “Mein Gott” is used in ch. 41. There is lying in ch. 1 and 38.

A character has an abusive father; this comes up multiple times, and several times, there are mentions of bruising. Chapter 5: A character slaps another character in revenge, and the characters find out a woman was raped. Chapter 6: A woman is in labor. Chapter 7: Mention of a woman pregnant out of wedlock, and a character commits suicide by letting themselves freeze to death (this is mentioned several times later on in the book). Chapter 8: A character prays for a dead person. Chapter 11: A man admires a woman’s shape. Chapter 12: Married couple lying in bed, talking. Chapter 13: Mention of the marriage bed (no description, but you know what happened; this is also mentioned in ch. 14, 37 (more detail than I’m comfortable with), 41, 42 (“when they made love”), and twice in ch. 44—most mentions were unnecessary, in my opinion). Chapter 14: Description of a woman in labor. Chapter 18: Another instance of a woman in labor. Chapter 21: A woman slaps a girl’s face. Chapter 22: A man tries to catch a girl with the intent of raping her (he doesn’t succeed). Chapter 23: A woman goes to try to kill a man with a knife, and a house is burned down in revenge. Chapter 26: Mention of a girl’s growing breasts. Chapter 32: A woman is drunk. Chapter 33: Unmarried characters hugging, a kiss. Chapter 34: A man dies. Chapter 35: Some kisses. Chapter 36: A character admits to going too far with someone she wasn’t married to. Chapter 37: A man signs up to fight, believing that’s what God wanted him to do. Chapter 38: A woman admits to getting pregnant after an affair. Chapter 39: Talking about an affair, mention of a man who died at war.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Keywords: 1900-1950 · 1950-2000 · 20th Century · Books for Women · Christian Fiction · Europe · Family · Forgiveness · Francine Rivers · Historical Fiction · Marta's Legacy series · North America · Relationships · Romance · World War I · World War II

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