Hiding My Bruises While Singing In the Choir

Hiding My Bruises While Singing in the Choir
By Jan Juliano Balzer

Have you ever had a book that you just couldn't put down? One that called your name when you weren't there, beckoning you back again?

Well, this book did just that for me.

As you may know, I'm really a Christian fiction kind of girl. Give me a good mystery, thriller, or Christian romance, and let it take me away from it all. It's my escape.

So for a non-fiction book to grab me, it has to be good. And I can name only a handful that have kept my attention all the way through.

Hiding My Bruises While Singing in the Choir is the true story of a lady who I am proud to call my friend. We met because of another friend's book.

It's the story of a little girl with big dreams that grows up to have those dreams shattered, and then put back together again through the grace of Almighty God.

Jan's book had me gasping, holding my breath, and then breathing a sigh of relief. The tragedies played out in this book are turned into life lessons that we can all learn from.

The book had me thinking, and praying, and considering what God is doing in my life that will someday help someone else.

A highly recommended book for anyone who needs to be encouraged in rough times.

Thanks, Jan, for sharing your story, and for allowing me the privilege of reviewing it!

The Mercy

The Mercy - By Beverly Lewis
Published by Bethany House Publishers

The Mercy was provided to me free of charge by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my posted review.

The Mercy is the third book in The Rose Trilogy, written by Beverly Lewis.

The Rose Trilogy follows the life of Rose Ann, an Amish young lady, youngest in a family of 9 I believe.

The Mercy finds both Rose and her sister, Hen, (a nickname for the name Hannah), both longing for change. As Hen takes care of her injured husband, Rose gets another chance at love.

Rose has recently released her beau (and fiance) from their engagement, after finding out he was pining for a friend of hers. As she deals with this loss, her brother and sister -in-law decide to play matchmaker. Will the young man they set her up with be the man of her dreams after the heartache she's endured?

And if so, why does her mind keep reminding her of her former best friend, Nick? He's been shunned after all, and has brought shame on his family in the process.

Read the series to find out what happens to sweet Rose, and her beloved sister, Hen.

Falls Like Lightning

Falls Like Lightning  - By Shawn Grady
Published by Bethany House Publishers

Falls Like Lightning  was provided to me free of charge from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my review.

Silas Kent is a smoke jumper - a man who jumps out of a plane, and then fights fires from the ground  - WITHOUT water. 

He never expected to meet Elle again, but when she is assigned to pilot the plane Silas and his team are jumping from, Silas begins to regret the mistake he made with her years ago.  Elle, on the other hand, has her hands full being a single mother with a high risk job. She's been hurt enough, and wants no part of Silas anymore. 

Before they can start to at least rebuild their friendship, Silas is assigned to fight a huge forest fire in the same forest that Elle has flown over inch by inch following a horrible tragedy with her father.  So naturally, Elle is assigned to pilot the plane yet again. 

When a freak accident leaves Silas on the ground, barely escaping with his life,  and Elle possibly dead from the plane crash, Silas sets out to find the downed plane even while fighting the fire with a new crew. 

As he searches, he realizes he has much more to fear than the raging fire itself. 

Falls Like Lightning was a good read.  Not a favorite book of mine, but good for contemporary Christian Fiction/Suspense. I learned a bit about Fire Jumping and the sacrifices men and women make for our communities every day.  And for that I am extremely thankful.