Scent of Water - Words of Comfort in Times of Grief

Good morning, Bookaholics. As you know I review a variety of books on this blog but today I bring you one which will bring comfort to those who are grieving. As I write this, it is a year to the day that my cousin died suddenly, his wife having died a few days earlier. So, I write this from a place of grief myself, knowing the truth of what is contained within its pages. When I say this book is suitable to buy as a gift for anyone who is grieving, I can relate to what they re going through. Grief is not something which disappears overnight and Scent of Water acknowledges that. It does not dismiss grief but provides words to support those who are in the midst of their grief. 

Penelope, herself, went through a great loss, seeing her mother being swept away by an out of control car. This plunged her into a two year period of overwhelming grief. She is honest about her feelings and shares her story at the beginning of the book. The fact that she has walked where the reader walks gives this book greater clarity, sincerity, and meaning. The book is unapologetically Christian and is, in fact aimed at the Christian market. This means that God is very squarely at the centre of every short section.

The book is broken into sections, the first being for the special days where the loved one who has died will be missing. These include Birthday's, Christmas, and New Year. The next section contains 25 weeks of short devotionals which can be read in any order. Each has a bible verse and a short prayer, acknowledging every emotion and every stage of grief. These do not shy away from  the difficult times or difficult emotions but help the reader to acknowledge them and to bring them to God in heartfelt prayer. 

This could not have been easy for the author to write; I applaud her generosity in pouring her raw feelings onto paper in order to help others. And help it will. It will allow those grieving to acknowledge their own feelings and, at the same time, will soothe like a literary balm.

I can highly recommend this book if you know anyone who is grieving. You can order copies from the authors website 

I am honoured to be kicking off the blog tour for this book. I was given a copy from the publisher in return for an honest review. At no time was I asked to provide a positive review and my review is based on my reading of the book. 

That's it for another week my Bookaholic friends. See you soon and until then keep reading and keep writing.

Count Our Blessings Book Review

Good morning Bookaholics. This may be April Fools' Day but I can assure you this book review is one hundred percent genuine. I bring you this book because I loved it on so many levels. 

I've been trying to step out of my comfort zone in terms of reading and as it is also Easter, I took the opportunity to read the latest book by Fiona Linday. The subtitle of the book is, Short stories of identity and hope and, given the current pandemic, I feel that we can all do with a healthy dollop of hope. I wasn't sure what I was expecting from the book to be honest but what I found was a book which intrigued and enticed, which made me think and ponder, which made me reach down inside myself and find a strength I didn't know I had. 

As is indicated from the subtitle, the book is a mixture of short stories and poems around different themes. Each is written from the heart and touches your mind, your heart and your soul. They are both simple and profound, both accessible and complex and each reading brings something new to the literary table. Linday, a gifted writer uses every word to good effect weaving a tapestry of hope for these troubled times. It is a Christian book which has God at the very heart of it. It draws you closer to him and allows the reader to see the hope which can only come from God. 

It reaches through the generations and I feel readers of all ages would be attracted to its message. Linday uses tales from her own life and I particularly liked the poem which she wrote as I child at school and which was subsequently published. It's simplicity drew me in and allowed me to see things with fresh eyes - something repeated throughout the book.

This is not a book to rush through but a book to read, ingest and think about. It is a book which can be read again and again, allowing the reader to relax in its words and to feel the warmth of its literary embrace and as the title says Count Our Blessings. It is perfect, not only for Easter but, for any time of the year and would make a thoughtful present. 

      

You can buy the book from your local Christian bookshop when open, or via the links above. 

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for review purposes. At no point was I asked to provide a positive review, it is based on my reading and enjoyment of the book. The links above are affiliate links and I will receive a few pence if you buy the book. 

Book Review - Sent: Living a Life That invites others to Jesus

Hello, Bookaholics, I’m back with another great book for you, this time for my Christian readers. Sometime a book comes along and you just have to share how good it is. This is one such book. 

Humanity is currently living in difficult times, However, we are also living in unique times, especially for Christians. We are in a unique position to lead our Christin lives, showing God’s love to those around us. In this book, the authors, Heather and Ashley Holleman issue a rallying call to lead our lives as sent - sent by God to those in whom we come into daily contact with. Those in our neighbourhoods, streets, offices, schools, and workplaces. They state the three pillars of leading a Sent Life as being

God is always working to bring people to himself

God uses people (us) to lead others to him

God invites us into the work of evangelism

Invites us right where we are, right now, right in this place. The book acts as both a rallying cry and a road map, to seek a deeper relationship with God and to seek relationships with others. From these relationships will grow a longing and a willingness to share God with others. 

The authors are skilled writers, who have a genuine love for God and for seeing others come to a personal relationship with him. This book reflects that in every page. There are exercises at the end of the chapters which you are encouraged to carry out. Both the book and the exercises are bible driven and rooted in scripture, as well as prayer,  at every stage. The book is designed that you can work through it as an individual or small group. 

This is a book which every Christian should read, it will transform your approach to Christianity and to evangelism. Whilst it is not yet out, it can be pre-ordered. 

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC of this book for review purposes. At no point was I asked to provide a positive review and my review is my own opinion based on my reading of the book.

   

That’s it for another day, My Bookaholics friends. This is well worth ore-ordering. You won’t regret it. 

Undivided Heart

Having read Mill's Forgetful Heart I was very much looking forward to the release of this one. My excitement and anticipation were both well rewarded with this thoughtful and inspiring book.

The author's passion for the topic shines through and this results in a deeply satisfying read. When I say read, I don't mean it in the sense of reading from one end to the other without stopping. I found myself having to stop on numerous occasions and think about a verse or the implications of what has been said. 

I found myself examining my own heart and my relationship with God, which I am sure was the author's intent. In this she succeeded. At the end of each chapter is guided reflection, and these supported the discussion well. Mills is open and honest about her own journey and I found this too, to be helpful. 

The poems, written by the author herself, which are included in the book are prayers in their won right. I found myself using them as such. 

The blurb says that the book is written to help us examine our motivation and purpose, and it certainly does this. Each chapter takes a different topic. It certainly made me reach deep down inside myself and re-examine the reasons why I act the way I do. 

At the core of the book is God himself, just the way it should be. Our relationship tip God, and finding a deeper relationship is what this book is all about.

I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that all Christians should read this book. It will make you take stock and examine your purposes in your daily life. 

     

 Buy from UK       Buy from USA

Thank you for joining me Bookaholics. It's  cold frosty morning here in Dundee so I'm off to find another book to read. Wherever you are, and whatever the weather, remember it's always a perfect time to read. 

Forgetful heart by Lucy Mills

Good morning my fellow Bookaholics. It's a dreary day here in Bonnie Dundee. It's lashing down with rain and cold. In fact it's the perfect day to put the heating on, grab a coffee and a chocolate biscuit and curl up with a good book. Today I bring you an excellent Christian book which I think every Christian should read. 

Forgetful Heart is one of the most insightful and interesting books I have read in a long time. We are all living in a world where we are bombarded with information and it is often difficult to remember who we are, never mind what we are meant to be doing. In this book Lucy Mills draws us into the very heart of God, who never forgets us. She outlines what is important and what we need to remember about ourselves and our relationship with God. 

However, this book is so much more than that. It is well researched and full of interesting facts and wisdom. Each chapter takes a different aspect of memory and skilfully draws us back to the bible for answers. I love the way in which the bible quotes and insights are interweaved and relevant. This is a book which you will read through once as you re enjoying it so much. You will then want to delve into it more deeply and slowly. You will also want to return to it time and time again. 

Forgetful heart really spoke to me on many levels. It made me take stock of my life and what is important. It made me think of what my business is doing to both me, and my relationship with God. Mills is a skilful and passionate writer and I am sure we will be hearing more from her in the future.

This is an inspirational book which I would not hesitate to recommend.

       

So there we have it for another day my Bookaholic friends. See you all back here very soon. Until then, keep reading. 

Review of Dawkins' God by Alister McGrath

I've had a rest from fiction for a little while and have been reading an in depth and interesting book.

Dawkins' God is a well reasoned, clear, and critical analysis of some of Richard Dawkin's works, particularly The Selfish Gene and The God Delusion. This is an in depth book, and is jam packed full of detail. It has the potential to be dry, but, McGrath has an excellent style which makes the book imminently readable, for all. Even those with little understanding of the science and the arguments surrounding the issue will feel that they have learned a lot.

The book is well researched and it is clear that McGrath knows his subject well. It is also interesting in the extreme. It is rare, that a book packed full of factual details, has me wanting to read on. This one achieved that and more. The way in which he deconstructs Dawkin's arguments is clear and easily understood. Yet, despite disagreeing with Dawkin's, McGrath is respectful and gives him credit for his theories and the way in which he puts them forward. It is refreshing to see such respect in a religious academic argument. 

Although I have not read either of the books which are being discussed, I did not feel this was an issue. McGrath has written the book in a way which makes sense. However, it has left me wanting to read the other two books, in order to gain an all round perspective. 

I would highly recommend this book to everyone as it is well worth reading.

     

That's it for today my Bookaholic friends. See you all back here very soon. My next post will be a review of an excellent thriller. I'm off to finish reading it. Have a great day and enjoy whatever book you are currently reading. 

Was Judas Iscariot as Black as he Was Painted?

Good morning Bookaholics. A beautiful morning it is too, The sun is shining, the birds are singing and spring has sprung. The perfect day for sitting outside with a nice glass of something cool and a good book. What's that you say? It's snowing where you are. Another perfect day for curling up with a good book. Today I bring you a very different kind of book but I am sure you will enjoy it.

This has to be one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. We don't hear much about Judas Iscariot, and indeed, even the bible does not go into great depth about him. My first thought on seeing this book was, how could anyone make a factual book about Judas Iscariot, when all we really know about him is the fateful kiss? well, I can assure you that Peter Stanford has managed this. The book is not only well researched but interesting to the nth degree. It doesn't just go into the Biblical accounts, but also the Apocryphal Gospels and historical accounts. Stanford's research is so detailed it even goes into architecture which depicts Judas such as an arched doorway in Jerusalem, and Whistler's Judas Window in a Church in Dorset. It also covers such things as the Trees in the Garden of Gethsemane, and icons and paintings depicting Judas.

Given that this is a historical examination of the life of Judas, one would think it would be dry and boring. Far from it. Stanford's writing style is such that the book is highly readable. The chapters are fairly short and look at Judas in both historical and contemporary accounts. Judas continues to fascinate today even down to analysing the lyrics in Bob Dylan's songs. This demonstrates the level and detail of the research which Stanford has carried out. I love the A-Z of Judas which runs through the book. A couple of examples are

B: Judas Beer
Y: Judas yellow, a colour of paint.

These snippets are one of the things which help to lift this book out of the humdrum and in to the exceptional. You will need to buy the book to find out what Z covers, but I can assure you it's not what you think.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I really could not put it down it was so interesting. It is not often a non fiction book does this to me.

I was given this book by the Publisher in return for an honest review. I was not at any time asked to provide a positive review. I have done so based on my reading, and enjoyment, of the book.

      

That brings us to the end of another Bookaholic review. See you all back here soon. Until then, grab a good book, even this one, and keep reading.

A New Writing Blog is Born

Today on Bookaholic I am proud and priviliged to announce the launch of a new blog for Christian Writers - More Than Writers Like the penguin in the picture I am standing on the brink and ready to soar.

I am the Webmaster for the Association of Christian Writers. For various reasons the existing blog was a tad stagnant so the decision was made to give it a fresh new look by starting from scratch. This has been in development for a couple of months and I am excited and honoured to be the first person to post.

The tile of the blog, More than Writers reflects a couple of different Aspects. Firstly, the blog will share an eclectic mix of topics around writing, books and the arts. All the contributors will bring their own twist to this so expect variety. The second aspect is that we all love God.

I will be posting on the first of every month and look forward to seeing many of my Bookaholic friends joining me at the new blog. See you all soon and keep reading. 

Book Review: Miracles by Eric Metaxas

Good morning Bookaholics, and a fine morning it is too. The October sun is shining brightly here in Scotland.I am sorry there hasn't been a blog for a couple of weeks but I have been really busy getting my first book ready for launch and publication. In my spare time I have been reading this fascinating book on Miracles. 

Miracles are something that have always fascinated me, and this book did not disappoint. This is not an on the surface, this is what happened to me book. It is a well thought out and in depth look at miracles. It approaches it from many different angles. Firstly it looks the miracles in the bible and why these should be held to be true. There is overwhelming evidence that these did happen. The next section of the book looks at conversion miracles and the damascus road experiences of several, often well known, people. The discussion about C.S. Lewis's conversion was, to me, particularly interesting. 

The final part of the book looks at miracles which happen today. This outlines many different miracles including, but not limit do, healing miracles. It does not gloss over the facts that some people may not be healed and God has his own purposes in this. Joni Erickson Tada is given as an example.

I was given this book as a pre order copy from the publishers. I was not at any time asked to provide a positive review. The review is based on my fully reading, and engaging with, the book.

This is a book which is well worth preordering. Links are given below

That's it for another week bookaholics. I look forward to seeing you back here soon. Until then keep reading. 

Book Review: Rowan's Rule by Rupert Shott

I know it is not often I bring you a biography on Bookaholic but today I am reviewing a cracker. This is one of the most interesting books I have read in a long time. The Biography of Rowan William's, the former Archbishop of Canterbury.

I believed Rowan Williams to be a very complex man and was interested to read this book. However, I did think it had the potential to be a somewhat difficult read. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out that this was not the case. The writing style is clear but the book is still an in depth look at the life of the former Archbishop of Canterbury. It draws a portrait of a man who was intensely spiritual from an early age. Academically bright, he shone in the world of academia, and yet remained humble. The book shows that there was so much more to Rowan Williams over and above what was portrayed in the media and his public life. During his time as Archbishop of Canterbury he wrestled with many issues which still plague the Church of England today. He had to make difficult decisions which affected him deeply, many of which went against his own personal feelings. Yet he put the church and it's best interests ahead of his own interests. He was also deeply evangelical, and ecumenical, and worked tirelessly with churches of other denominations. He was respected by all those leaders with whom he came into contact.

This is a fascinating portrayal of a man whose life was given over to serving the God whom he loved. However, it is so much more than that. It is also a social exploration of the the Church of England and the way in which it has developed over several decades. I would highly recommend this book. It is not in any way stuffy and in fact is an enjoyable read which is full of interest. This version has been updated and contains new material.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. This review is based on my reading of, and enjoyment of, the book. I was never at any time asked to provide a positive review.

The link above is to buy from the UK site. Apologies to my readers in US but there is no link for the US book. You will be able to do a search and find it easily.
 

So there we have it for another day. What will I pull out of the bookcase for my next offering. Join me back here soon to find out. Until then keep reading.

R.T. Kendall: In Pursuit of His Wisdom

Good afternoon Bookaholics. I trust you have all had a relaxing weekend and have been able to read some great books. Over the last couple of days I have been reading a superb book by  R.T. Kendall. He is a great theologian and a man of wisdom, and was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London for 25 years. 

In this book he sets out how we receive wisdom from God. The book is clearly set out and easy to read. Each chapter takes a different approach to looking at wisdom as found throughout the bible. The first area that he covers is that wisdom comes from fear of the Lord. This is our starting place for getting wisdom which is God based. This is a recurring theme throughout the book. He outlines many men, and women, of God who have demonstrated great wisdom, many of whom are from the Bible. The surprising part is that he also shows areas in their lives where wisdom was lacking. This usually happened after they turned from God. One chapter is given over to people in this world who have demonstrated great wisdom but were not Christians. Kendall believes that God has given them wisdom for a specific reason, even if they themselves are not aware of this.

I particularly liked the chapter where he looks at the wisdom of Jesus. He raises some excellent ways in which we would be best served to follow Jesus in the area of wisdom. He also brings out some somewhat surprising facts. I wont say too much here as it is worth reading the book and hearing what Kendall has to say. 

This is an in depth book which covers wisdom in all its facets. However, it is easy to read, and the principles within its pages, easy to apply. I am glad that I have read the book and I would certainly highly recommend it to all Christians.

I was given a copy of this book for review purposes. I was not at any time asked to provide a positive review. My review is based on my reading, and enjoyment, of the book. 

Although this is the UK link, the book is also available in Kindle in the US. However, Amazon US would not allow me to get the link. If you do a search you will be able to get it from Amazon. It will apse be available in Paperback in most major bookstores and all Christian bookstores. 

So we come to the end of another Bookaholic post. I am off to read Rowan's Rule, the biography of the previous Archbishop of Canterbury. I am really looking forward to this and to telling you all about it soon. Take car my Bookaholic friends, grab a book and keep reading. 

Book Review: Kidnapped by Dee Henderson

Today on the blog I bring you an excellent Christian Romantic Suspense book by highly talented author Dee Henderson.

I like Dee Henderson and have been meaning to read this one for some time. I eventually pulled it off the bookshelf and I am glad I did. There are many strengths in this book and one of these is the characters. I really liked the characters and they somehow seemed real to me. I cared about what happened to them and this is the sign of a good author. The plot moved along well and there were some excellent twists and turns which I never saw coming. The ending was good and the book built up to a real climax. As I say it is an easy read and one to curl up with and read when you have a day to spare.

One caveat. This book is a reprint of the fourth in the uncommon hero series. It has a new title and this is not made clear on the cover. People could buy this inadvertently and I feel that this is somewhat underhand of the publishers. This is not necessary, as people will buy the book if they have not read it previously. Other than this I would highly recommend.

           

So there we have it for another day on Bookaholic. See you all back here soosn with another review of a great book fro you to read.

Hidden in Christ by James Bryan Smith

Today on Bookaholics I bring you a devotional which is perfect for any time of year, but especially whilst we are still thinking about Easter.

I won a copy of this book in a competition and it is probably one of the best prizes I have ever won. The purpose of the book is to take an in depth look at Colossians 3 and to meditate on, and memorise, the words of this passage. A simple premise you may think, but the passage, and this book, is packed with power.

The book starts by asking you to read Colossians Chapter 3. It then moves on to cover a verse, or part of a verse, each day as a devotional. You are also asked to memorise the words of the passage for that day. This slows the passage down and really makes you think about the words. As you spend the day memorising the passage you will find yourself meditating on, and really absorbing the meaning of the words. Take just the first days devotional

"Since then you have been raised with Christ" Col 3:1

Thinking about the way in which you have been raised with Christ. No matter what happens in your life, Christ is with you. You, and I, have died to your old life and are a new creation in Christ. The old one has gone and a new one has taken it's place. This has particular meaning given that it is Easter. Jesus died and rose again in our place.

This book is both insightful and inspiring. Your bible reading will be changed and become more meaningful.

I could highly recommend this book to all Christians. It will transform the way in which you look at Colossians 3 and perhaps other bible passages. Take the time to slow down and absorb the meaning of God's words to you today.

         

That brings us to the end of another review for bookaholic's everywhere. See you all back here again soon. Until then, keep reading.