By The Light Of The Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer

Amelia Gladstone's hopes are tied up in the Titanic--hopes for a reunion with her sister and an introduction to an admirer. But when she offers a spare ticket to a down-and-out young man, her fate is about to change. Quentin Walpole us stunned when a sweet lady secures his passage to America--and even more surprised to find his wealthy father and older brother on board the ship. Suddenly Amelia finds herself caught between the attentions of two men, but who should she entrust her heart to? As the fateful night arrives, will Amelia lose everything to the icy waters?

I absolutely loved this historical fiction set in the Titanic.

Apart from beautiful historical detail, this book had a really good plot, which kept it going and kept my interest alive all the way. 

I liked the heroine a lot, with her inner struggles and her efforts to find God's plan for her life. That's what all the good books are about, in my opinion. Anyway, the reader follows her journey, both physical and spiritual, until the great tragedy of the Titanic.

I won't spoil the surprises that take place as soon as the ship goes down, but the atmosphere on board the ship was just delicious.

The romance was subtle and realistic without being too obvious. 

But most of all, what I loved about this book was how it came through that God is in control of what happens to us, and He can take our lives and take them in the direction He wants them to go in the most miraculous ways, if we trust Him.

Even on board a ship marked for disaster.

Rating: 5/5

I read this book via the NetGalley.

Interrupted by Rachel Coker

Can love really heal all things? If Sam Carroll hadn't shown up, she might have been able to get to her mother in time. Instead, Allie Everly finds herself at a funeral, mourning the loss of her beloved mother. She is dealt another blow when, a few hours later, she is sent from Tennessee to Maine to become the daughter of Miss Beatrice Lovell, a prim woman with a faith Allie cannot accept. Poetry and letters written to her mother become the only things keeping Allie's heart from hardening completely. But then Sam arrives for the summer, and with him comes many confusing emotions, both toward him and the people around her. As World War II looms, Allie will be forced to decide whether hanging on to the past is worth losing her chance to be loved.

Author Bio

Rachel Coker is a homeschool student who lives in Virginia with her parents and two sisters. She has a passion for great books and has been surrounded by them all her life. In fact, as a young child, Rachel helped her parents in a family-run Christian book business. Her gift for writing became apparent at the age of eleven, at which time her parents signed her up for a year of lessons with a professional writing coach. When she is not writing or playing the piano, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

I really liked this light, romantic young adult novel. It is also supposed to be a Christian novel, although I can't in all honesty say I saw much of God in there. 

It begins a few years before WWII, and ends during the war.

The elements of romance, friendship and dealing with grief were very well and realistically done.

Allie has had a great deal of trouble dealing first with her mother's illness and then her untimely death. She can't get rid of the bitterness and pain, and finds that the only way she can survive would be to close her heart to everyone and everything. I really liked this aspect of the novel. It felt very realistic to me, and I think it would to everyone who has had to deal with a painful 'interruption' of their life.

Allie is adopted by a woman who lives in an Avonlea-type little town, where there are a lot of colourful characters, including her step-mother, and step-sister. These people seek to help her ease her pain, but she won't let anyone in. 

Then her childhood friend arrives, but he is not alone. 

Right on his heels is a great war. 

There are not many details given to war-time, just the general idea that the men are away fighting. There wasn't much historical information in this book, nor historical detail.

I would rate this book higher if God was really present in it, in a more personal way, and not just in the from of Sunday-morning church.

Still, for a secular book, it was clean, and in every other aspect an excellent read.

I still can't imagine how a home-schooled 16-year-old could portray human nature so well. 

I will be watching this author from now on. 

Rating: 4/5

I received this beautiful hard-cover book from Zondervan for review. 

I am Second

I needed this book. I didn't know how much. But I did. 

We've all hit bottom at one time or another. The important thing is what you do afterward. For the people who share their stories in I Am Second, coming to the end of themselves brought them to the feet of Jesus. Whether famous or unfamiliar they've dealt with the dark and painful consequences of issues such as addiction, infidelity, violence, racism, and abortion, to name a few. You'll read the testimonies of Josh Hamilton, Michelle Aguilar, Bethany Hamilton, Brian Welch, Anne Rice, Tony Dungy, and many others. From pastors to beauty queens, pro baseball players to single moms, they all needed the gospel of Jesus Christ. In turn, they've discovered the life-changing power of putting God first, boldly proclaiming "I Am Second."

These are not just stories about troubled people meeting Jesus. 

They are stories about people building their ruined lives back again, about finding freedom from pain, freedom from addictions and freedom from sin. 

The truth is, I was a bit sceptical about some of these stories, I thought they would be boring or superficial. Boy, was I wrong. 

There is nothing more powerful than the story about a man or a woman who has been completely broken by sin, sunk to the lowest level and then takes the offered hand of God to rise up and live life to the fullest. 

These are people who have taken responsibility for their mistakes and their sins. 

These are people who want to stick with Jesus no matter the cost. 

These are people who have rebuilt their lives from the ashes to the glory of God.

These are people who are second. 

He is first.

Rating: 5/5

Although I'd rather not rate this one as a book. It was more of an experience. 

I received this book for review from Booksneeze.

Their stories can also be found in videos, sometimes in even more detail than in the book, especially in this case: this one is my favourite. Enjoy.