Judah's Wife (The Silent Years): A Novel of the Maccabees

Leah, daughter of the cheesemaker has had a hard life living with a violent father.  Leah marries Judah and finds protection and care. But the land is controlled by Antiochus IV, who is descended from one of Alexander the Great's generals.  When he issues a decree that all Jews are to comply with Syrian laws, the devout Jews chance it all to follow the law of Moses.

Judah's father Mattathias decides to move his family from Jerusalem Modein to flee the punishment for defying the decree.   By defying the decree, it begins a war that will cost many their lives.  Before his death, Mattathias commands Judah to continue the war, otherwise, the Jewish lineage and their lands would be annihilated.   Leah wants peace and wrestles with her husband's decision to be the commander of the army.   Will there ever be peace?

This is the incredible chronicle of the Maccabees, told through the wife of Judah, who learns what courage and sacrifice are all about.

The author Angela Hunt has done an incredible amount of research and has produced a  powerful history lesson entwined with her own creative writing.  The author has a way of captivating the reader's attention while teaching us historical content.    I like the way the author writes her novels through the eyes of people that were actually there, teaching us history through their eyes.  

This is an excellent read, especially for those who love history.  

Below is a short history of Judah Maccabeus.

Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabeus, also spelled Machabeus, or Maccabaeus, Hebrew: יהודה המכבי, Yehudah ha-Makabi) was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE).

 * The book of Maccabee can be found in the Apocrypha

 I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

The Masterpiece

In her latest novel, Francine Rivers brings us Roman Velasco a well to do artist who could have anything money can buy, except peace and contentment. Using graffiti to deal with his hurt and emotions, running from foster home to foster home as a  child, Roman aka Bobby Ray Dean (the bird) is haunted by his past as a  graffiti tagger. 

Roman hires Grace as his personal assistant to help free up his time so he can concentrate on painting, but little does she know about Romans alter ego Bobby Ray Dean.   Grace s dealing with her own secrets.  Recovering from a bad marriage, Grace vows never to let a man hurt her again, but as they get to know one another the pieces begin to come together that alter the course of their lives.


Francine Rivers has done a superb job writing this novel.   She has created intriguing characters that every reader can relate to.  The author has run with an idea of how a childhood trauma can impact adult life; how two broken individuals can find completeness together.  The author also brings out the issues of how we as persons can fall into traps and be thrown into the worldly ways, only to suffer the consequences of our actions.

She also points out that we are saved by Grace and that God loves us, and sometimes some of us have to realize there is a hell in order to hear and understand the truth.

A wonderful novel that the reader will not be able to put down.  Well written and keeps the reader wanting more.


 I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

Where We Belong

In the year 1892, the principles; that is the manners and customs for Victorian women were strict and their roles were limited.   It was frowned upon for ladies to further their education but for the Hawes sisters, things were different.  Their love for adventure and their search for God's purpose in their lives leads them on an adventure of a lifetime to the Sinai Desert. 

On a quest to find an important biblical manuscript, joined by their butler and ladies maid Kate, the four find themselves on a journey that is dangerous and uncertain; the four travelers find themselves looking back at their past and the events that help shape them into who they are and what brought them to this point in their lives.

Author Lynn Austin has done a wonderful job of research.  She has written this novel from the inspiration taken from the true story of twin sisters Agnes and Margret Smith; who were born in Scotland in 1843.

This novel was a joy to read and hard to put down.  The characters were very easy to relate to and the storyline was fascinating. 

I truly enjoyed every aspect of this story, the determination of the ladies, to the principles they stood up for and their love for God.

This is an exceptional read and anyone who loves historical fiction will truly enjoy this. 

 I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

Lies Women Believe

Nacy DeMoss Wolgemuth has written a book that all women can identify with.   Ever since the book was first published, it has helped women defeat the lies that Satan has set before them.  It helps them deal with all aspects of our lives; from forgiveness of sins to marriage, loving ourselves (self-confidence), children dealing with emotions, and even circumstances.

Ever since Eve was deceived by the serpent in the garden of Eden, Satan knows that women are easily deceived.  Now is the time to break through all those lies that Satan wants us to believe.  WThe reader will learn how to love God, love themselves, their spouses; how to enjoy their marriage, even more, having the freedom to walk in the truth.

This is the updated version of the original "Lies Women Believe"   So you ask why would I want an updated version?  Well for starters, there has been some cultural changes that have occurred since the first edition in 2001.  Social media being one of those.   There are some sexual issues and themes that are addressed in this issue.  Nancy has added a whole new chapter about sexuality and has made some other updated that were needed.

Nancy has taken the feedback from thousands of women and addressed all that mail, e-mail, and online reviews.  She has used this feedback to clarify and to fine-tune her message and to help express it in a way that is truthful to scripture and relevant to readers in various life circumstances.

I personally like how she illustrates her points by writing sections though Eve's point of view.  It's kind of fun to sneak a peek at Eve's journal and see what Eve may have thought and felt.

There is also a study guide that you can purchase to go alongside this book that you can use in a group or even do by yourself.  Either way book alone or with the guide, this is a book that all women should read.

 I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

Phoebe's Light

Phoebe's Light is the first book in suzanne Fisher's Nantucket Legacy.   In this first book, we find our main character Phoebe Starbuck a Quaker on her 18th birthday; September 8th, 1767.  Her father  Barnabas decides it is time to pass along Great Mary's journal.  Great Mary was Pheobe's great-grandmother and was well known for her wisdom. 

Not only excited for her birthday, but the ship Fortuna has arrived in port.  Phoebe has always imagined that she loved older widowed captain and she hopes to finally capture his attention.   When Phoebe runs into the captain he is very interested in Phoebe's birthday gift and wants to read this journal for himself.

Soon Phoebe finds herself married to the captain Phineas Foulger and on a voyage with two things, her great grandmother's journal and a man sent by her father to mind her; Matthew Macy a cooper whom she once loved until he turned away from God.
Pheobe soon finds that life at sea is not the trip she envisioned.  Seasick and disillusioned, she turns to the pages of great-grandmother Mary's journal and she finds a secret that has consequences for everyone on the ship.

This is a book that the reader will find hard to put down.   Full of history and mystery;  the plot takes the readers on many twists and turns and keeps your interest going. 

I truly enjoyed this book and found it difficult to put down.  Anyone who loves historical fiction will love this book.  The author has done her research well and brought this research to life in her novels.  I look forward to the next book in the series  "Minding the Light".

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.


 I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”