Hidden Among the Stars - Melanie Dobson

Hidden Among the Stars by Melanie Dobson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I'm normally not a fan of dual story lines, Melanie Dobson has woven the two together beautifully and seamlessly. Her portrayal of Austria and her struggles to survive under a Nazi regime is both beautiful and terrifying. I am normally not a fan of any sort of war retelling, this book was riveting. We must all strive to keep the horrors of war ever at the forefront of our minds, lest we repeat the same mistakes. While interweaving Callie's modern day story, it was done with simplicity and beauty so as to not take away the focus on the Austrian past. And who doesn't enjoy a tiny smattering of romance. Again, this is not my normal cup of tea as far as reading goes, but it was enjoyable and told with skill and compassion. Thank you Tyndale House for allowing me to review this book, and for supplying my copy free of charge. While having been asked to review this book, I can assure you that my review is with complete honesty.

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Everything She Didn't Say by Jane Kirkpatrick

Everything She Didn't Say by Jane Kirkpatrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"A life without purpose is a story without ending." - Jane Kirkpatrick

I have to admit that when I first began this book, I wasn't sure I could/would finish it. I'm typically not a fan of historical fiction, even though this book is based on fact. But after the first page, I was hooked. Jane Kirkpatrick has gone above and beyond to do her homework on what the old west was really like. Today we tend to romanticize the settling of the west, but this book brings home the stark realities of what life was truly like back then. It is honest and "in your face", yet the stories are interwoven so beautifully as to soften the edges of the harshness. I admittedly had done little reading or research concerning the building of the railways out west, but Jane Kirkpatrick has portrayed both the hardships and successes in such a way as to make you want to know more. If you've ever had even the slightest interest in how the west "was won", and/or how our railway system spread west of the Mississippi, you'll love this book. It is riveting to the degree that I could hardly put the book down long enough to tend to my daily activities. Very well written and highly recommended.

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Eternity Is Now in Session: A Radical Rediscovery of What Jesus Really Taught about Salvation, Eternity, and Getting to the Good Place - John Ortberg

Eternity Is Now in Session: A Radical Rediscovery of What Jesus Really Taught about Salvation, Eternity, and Getting to the Good Place by John Ortberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What an inspiring and encouraging book! John Ortberg has done a phenomenal job of explaining just what eternity is, and when it begins. So when do you think eternity begins? When you die? Surprisingly that is the view many have of eternity. It seems to be something so very far away, something to be hoped for and attained, yet if we read the scriptures, we find that eternity begins the very moment we believe in Christ for salvation. Once we grasp that realization, we become more motivated to "lay up treasures" in heaven. We may also find ourselves looking for a deeper relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He IS, afterall, the very reason we're offered eternity with Him. This book brings to light the realization that we should be striving toward eternity, as something we already have, yet want to add to. While Tyndale House Publishers has provided a copy of this book to me at no charge, they have in no way tried to influence my review. Everything I have said is of my own opinion and mindset. Having said that, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a deeper insight into what eternity really is.

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