The Friends of Jesus

In our everyday lives, friends are the people whom we spend the most time with, go through struggles with at times, and who know us best. Each of Jesus' friends; Peter, John, Matthew, Judas, Mary Magdalene, and Lazarus; traveled with Jesus and were part of His daily ministry, and each has a compelling story to tell. There were some who would question or doubt Him; and one would even betray Him. Kingsbury brings these fascinating personalities to life in ways that will not only help bring you closer to the truths found in Scripture, but also to Christ.

By combining valuable, instructive Bible study with compelling, insightful character sketches of Jesus; companions, Kingsbury provides you with a deeper understanding of the scriptural teachings featuring these fascinating people. Emotionally powerful, thought-provoking, and soulful, The Friends of Jesus will help you to appreciate the Bible and understand how it applies to your relationships with the most important people in your life.

This book was powerful is such a way that you truly felt like you could have been there.  It took Bible stories that I have heard many times and just made them fresh and new.  It was written beautifully and with such care to detail.  I haven't read the first in the series, but will be picking it up very soon.  I hope the author continues this series and that more people will experience the stories for the first time again like I did.  The series is called Life Changing, which is exactly what I hope this book will do for its readers! 

* I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Etta and Otto and Russell and James

I've gone. I've never seen the water, so I've gone there. I will try to remember to come back.

Etta's greatest unfulfilled wish, living in the rolling farmland of Saskatchewan, is to see the sea. And so, at the age of eighty-two she gets up very early one morning, takes a rifle, some chocolate, and her best boots, and begins walking the 2,000 miles to water.

Meanwhile her husband Otto waits patiently at home, left only with his memories. Their neighbour Russell remembers too, but differently - and he still loves Etta as much as he did more than fifty years ago, before she married Otto.

I wish I knew where to begin with this book.  I was so intrigued by the blurb above, but the book ended up going in a direction I didn't expect and kind of lost me.  There were just so many things I was hoping to find out and understand and it just never got there.  I waivered back and forth between a 2 and a 3 star rating.  If magical realism is your genre and you don't main vague endings, pick it up.  If this is frustrating to you, I would probably skip it.  I loved the idea of the book, but the storyline just didn't deliver in my opinion.    

* I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Somebody I Used to Know

 

When Nick Hansen sees the young woman at the grocery store, his heart stops. She is the spitting image of his college girlfriend, Marissa Minor, who died in a campus house fire twenty years earlier. But when Nick tries to speak to her, she acts skittish and rushes off.
The next morning the police arrive at Nick’s house and show him a photo of the woman from the store. She’s been found dead, murdered in a local motel, with Nick’s name and address on a piece of paper in her pocket.
Convinced there's a connection between the two women, Nick enlists the help of his college friend Laurel Davidson to investigate the events leading up to the night of Marissa’s death. But the young woman’s murder is only the beginning...and the truths Nick uncovers may make him wish he never doubted the lies.

I was so excited to read this book from David Bell, and it delivered way more than I even anticipated! I just felt so immersed in the story.  I was connected to the characters in a way that made me not want to stop reading, but then I also just didn't want it to end.  I was a little nervous about the book being over 400 pages but it read like a book under 300.  So entertaining, engaging on many levels.  I only had one disappointment regarding a character that played a crucial part in the book with the main character, but it was like Mr. Bell just kind of forgot to include the character toward the end.  If you love books that create a mystery and you want to try and piece it together, this is for you.  If you figure it out, more power to you!   

 * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *