Quest52

Quest52 is a brand new resource by pastor/teacher Dr. Mark E. Moore. Quest52: A 15-Minute-a-Day Yearlong Pursuit of Jesus is set up in a very similar format to his previous Core52. Each week begins with an essay where Moore approaches the scriptural theme for the week. His essays are person able and geared towards a non-academic audience. At the end of each essay, a page titled :This Week provides daily assignments. These assignments include a reflection question, reading additional related scriptures, mediating on specific scriptures, discussion questions, and an action step. The assignments are labeled day 1-5 to so that any day of the week could be used for the small group discussion. Additional resources are available at the companion website Quest52.com which includes a brief video lesson. As Dr. Moore was previously a professor at Ozark Christian College, he has also included audio Life of Christ lectures and downloadable background studies as well.

Quest52 is a great resource for anyone who is seeking a new study for the new year. It also has great potential for a small group study or a church wide study as well. The content is appropriate for ages high school and up althought Moore's target audience is adults. While useful as a follow-up to his previous Core52, this resource does stand on its own as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Quest52 via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Beyond These War-Torn Lands

Today, I finally was able to read Cynthia Roemer's newest release Beyond These War-Torn Lands. Having enjoyed her previous works, I was looking forward to this. Roemer's plot, descriptive writing, and eye for detail drew me into the story immediately. In particular, Roemer includes numerous historical details in such a way that lends authenticity to the story and furthers the plot line.

The title, Beyond These War-Torn Lands truly refers to more than simply the Civl War but also the divides that occur in numerous relationships. Caroline and Drew, the two main characters, are both imperfect but grow and mature in numerous ways throughout the book. They learn through the choices they make the importance of demonstrating love and forgiveness to others even when it is not reciprocated. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good historical novel. While there is a romantic element, the story centers on the male main character and the Civil War enough to be interesting to men as well as women.

In full disclosure, I do know the author personally. However, I did purchase this book on my own volition and am under no obligation to provide a positve review.

Bucky McGuire

The description of Bucky McGuire and its setting of post-civil war Illinois near Galena caught my attention right away. As an Illinois girl interested in history, I had high hopes for this book. While the story of Bucky was interesting and the interchange between the now adult Bucky and his great-grandchildren was interesting, I did not enjoy it as much as I hoped.

While geared for upper-elementary children, the author uses numerous words and phrases unfamiliar to many children. While well-written and filled with amazing vocabulary, Bucky McGuire would be best as a read-aloud where unfamiliar terms could be explained. I did find the story dragged a bit but reading it aloud so that children could "hear" it told in the same way Bucky's grandchildren did would be a wise choice. As parent or teacher may find it helpful to create research projects around some of the events included in the book which would provide learning opportunities in history and science topics.

Recommended for reading aloud or as a unit study. Children who are interested in history and are avid readers will enjoy.

I received a complementary copy via NetGalley. I was not required to provide a positive review.

The One You're With

I was unfamiliar with Lauren K. Denton, but the description of her newest book The One You're With caught my attention.

Childhood sweethearts have what appears to be a perfect life with well-established careers and two kids until a blast from their past rocks their world and threatens to end their marriage and perfect existence. Secrets emerge on both sides from the college summer they spent apart which cause them both to wonder if they made the right choice to marry each other. Alternating between the main characters and between the present and the past, The One You're With explores a variety of issues related to mid-life crises, friends, and marriage. An excellent heart-warming book!

I received a complementary copy from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley.

The Clockmaker's Wife

The Clockmaker's Wife by Daisy Wood is a split time novel involving three generations of women in one family. WW II London during the blitz figures heavily into the story causing the main character and her baby daughter to be evacuated to her parent's home. Her husband, the clockmaker, stays behind caring for the clock in the Palace of Westminster often referred to as Big Ben. In contemporary times, the main character's granddaughter is trying to discover the truth about the grandmother she never knew. This story lends itself well to the split time genre as clues found in the contemporary story set the stage for the WW II story.

Combining the horrors of the blitz and the famed English stiff upper lip,The Clockmaker's Wife provides an excellent look at the interplay of loyalty to family versus loyalty to country. The strife that can exist between children and step-mothers and siblings plays into the story as well. All in all, an excellent addition to the burgeoning genre of WW II historical novels.

I received a complementary copy of The Clockmaker's Wife from NetGalley.

The Personal Librarian

Some of my readers need to know that this book is NOT about the Personal Librarian concept employed at some colleges. However, it is a fictional account of Belle da Costa Green, The Personal Librarian of millionaire J.P. Morgan. This new book, co-written by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, provides a behind the scenes look at her experiences serving as the first director of the Pierpont Morgan Library in New York City.

Serving as the library's first director, Belle da Costa Greene was in charge of developing and cataloging Morgan's collection of art and rare manuscripts. Doing so, provided her the opportunity to rub shoulders with the creme de la creme of New York as well as top art and rare book and manuscript scholars and collectors from aroud the world. During the early part of the 20th century, this was a plum position for a woman in a very patriarchal society. However, da Costa Greene also had some family secrets she was hiding. Her family background makes her accomplishments all the more significant.

The Personal Librarian is an enjoyable look at New York society in the early 20th century. The rich and powerful of the U.S.A and the numerous societal shifts that are beginning to take place in terms of women's suffrage, civil rights, and the sexual revolution are included. Being about a librarian who made significant contributions to the field and to history makes the story that much more interesting.

I received a complementary copy of The Personal Librarian from Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. I am not required to provide a positive review.

Reading the Times

When I first picked up Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry into the News by Dr. Jeffrey Bilbro, I expected to learn how to better engage with the news which surrounds us via our social media feeds and constant access to the internet. What I found was that this recently published book from InterVarsity Press provided so much more.

After an introduction on "Reading the News in Order to Love Our Neighbors," which is worth the price of the price of the book, Dr. Bilbro, an English professor, focuses on the concepts of attention, time, and community and how they related to our new consumption. Each part contains three chapters which describe the concept, how it relates to our news consumption, and then addresses how to incorporate these new habits into our lives in chapters titled "Liturgies of" the concept. This pattern allows Bilbro, and his readers, the opportunity to dive deep into the concept and then determine how the concept can be implemented in their life. The thesis throughout the book is that Christians should interact with the news seeking to discover how should we love our neighbors and how should we live faithfully in light of eternity. Approaching news with this mindset, allows us to focus on what truly matters but also requires us to reconsider who is our neighbor and where or what is our community. While not anti-technology or social media, Bilbro reminds readers that too often community is formed based on what news media you consume and devolves into taking sides rather than being based on where you live, who are your neighbors, and how can you show Christ's love to them.

Bilbro draws from a variety of interdisciplinary subjects including philosophy and history as well as literature and theology to explore attention, time, and community. He pulls in examples from history and current events and his research is well-documented via extensive footnotes. As such, this book could be used as a textbook or supplementary reading in a variety of courses. Beyond the classroom, Reading the Times is highly recommended to any Christian who wishes to read the news, and the times, from a theological point of view.

I received a complementary copy of Reading the Times from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. I am not required to provide a positive review.