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Son of Mary: A Tale of Jesus of Nazareth – Book Trailer
Nazareth has been cruel to my mother, more cruel than any village ever was.
All the village says that my blood father is not the man who married my mother.
They have shamed her on the matter all my life.
Every woman asks which man of the village is my blood father.
Every man scowls and says he was not the one my mother seduced.
My mother will not tell who is my blood father.
My mother will not speak on the matter.
My mother bears her shame in silence.
Some righteous man, a prophet, said a word over me when I was a babe in arms. He told how I will redeem Israel when I grow to be a man.
Now I have grown to be a man, but I do not know how to redeem Israel. The scriptures do not explain the matter.
My people say that the man who redeems Israel must take up the sword and throw off our enemy, Rome, which we call the Great Satan.
My family says I must take up the sword.
Only I am no man of the sword. I wish with all my heart to redeem Israel, but HaShem, the God of our fathers, must tell me how.
Lately, there came a new prophet to Israel, who immerses for repentance at the river Jordan.
I went to ask the prophet how I should redeem Israel.
He said I am to smite the four Powers.
I asked what are the four Powers.
He could not say, but he said HaShem will reveal the matter to me.
I wish HaShem will reveal the matter, only I am not a prophet. Not yet.
But I will be.
Here is what I know. Every hour of every day, I feel the Presence of HaShem.
I do not know why I should feel the Presence always. My mother does not. My village does not. Even the prophet of HaShem does not.
I think the Presence will teach me the way to redeem Israel.
But I am afraid to redeem Israel.
To redeem Israel is to leave my mother to the scorn of the village.
The rage of the village.
My mother begs and cries on me to make a justice for her.
To make a justice on the village.
I do not know how to make a justice on the village.
I do not know how to redeem Israel.
But HaShem will show me the way.
I will learn how to be a prophet of HaShem.
I will learn how to redeem Israel.
I will learn how to make a justice for my mother.
I will smite the first Power.
Or I will die in the trying.
The Agape Journey
If Anne Frank had the Agape Carpet would she be still alive today? How many lives did the Agape save from its conception in 200AD? Phoenix Baldwin has been hired by the Firm, a group of wealthy investors who are anxious to discover Agape’s powers. But, will Imani Lewis, the determined independent journalist, from New York be the one to discover Agape?
From Cairo, to Machu Picchu, to a small city in the Midwest the race to find the Agape continues.
The Red Grouse Tales: The Little Dog and other stories
![The Red Grouse Tales: The Little Dog and other stories. by [Leslie Garland]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41c-nXMg3fL.jpg)
The Red Grouse Tales consists of four thought-provoking short stories written by author Leslie Garland. The setting takes place in a local bar among several patrons who all take turns telling their intriguing metaphysical tales. Although this is somewhat of a philosophical collection of stories I felt that the opinions and ideas expressed came about organically and this makes the reader question how they would feel or act rather than forcing ideas on the reader. Spiritual concepts are also explored, which allows for a lot of reader interpretation.
Each story is told at the bar on a Thursday night and each story feels like they are part of a casual conversation, like a friend is telling you a story, regardless of ‘who’ is telling their story, it always feels authentic, even with the supernatural elements. Each patron tells a story that is relatable to the reader, in one way or another- such as conveying life lessons or depicting circumstances that are commonly faced.
I started reading the book without any prior knowledge of author Leslie Garland or their writing, but I was impressed with the authors literary skill and ability to convey some abstract ideas in a fascinating and easy to understand way.
The reoccurring theme in The Red Grouse Tales is evil, whether it is a person that is evil or perceived as evil or the world as a whole containing evil. These stories are written from the first person perspective which provides an interesting and unique lens through which evil is interpreted in the story. While I enjoyed the book overall, I felt that book started off slowly and I was worried I was not going to be pulled in, but thankfully this is more of a slow-burn style of storytelling that lures you in with the subtle but compelling storytelling and thick atmosphere, so that by the end I was completely engrossed.
I enjoyed how bits of true crime were incorporated into the stories, and made them sound eerily familiar to real life and some cases you may know or have followed. In the end the reader is left to wonder what they think is right and wrong in this compelling collection of short stories.
Pages: 370 | ASIN: B018VWOVIU
Its Beautiful Chaos
The Reindeer Ranch follows a woman who unexpectedly finds love during the holiday season but finds that love comes with new challenges. What inspired the setup to this story?
The story developed as I was creating a book of short stories for Christmastime last year, I wanted the feel of the season with all of its beautiful chaos.
Your characters go on a deeply emotional and transformative journey in your novel. Is this intentional or incidental to the story you want to tell?
I believe that all relationships are transformative. I wanted the characters to learn to trust again, which is often the hardest emotion to learn after a heartbreak. Some people will completely miss the opportunity to find love because the fear of losing it is far too great.
I find that, while writing, you sometimes ask questions and have the characters answer them. Do you find that to be true?
What questions did you ask yourself while writing this story? I find that humorous! For me, I think the characters ask me the questions and I’m left with having to answer them in story form.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m already receiving nudges to do a sequel of this book to find out what happens in Darci and Brian’s life next. I believe the book will center around the town of Hope Falls with other characters coming into vision and perhaps giving them their own stories. I’m not sure of the release date, depending on how it matures, certainly by Fall of 2022 but I’m hoping for a book much sooner.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
The Prisoner’s Cross
The Prisoner’s Cross is a riveting Christian fiction novel that explores spirituality in our every day lives. Author Peter B. Unger provides readers with a thought-provoking book that questions faith only to forge a path towards a renewed inspiration in that same faith.
Afflicted with rage due to the death of the only members of his family he ever loved and the deeply traumatic events that occurred in his childhood, the reasons of which may be incomprehensible to a mere mortal, our protagonist, Don Campbell, manifests his despair in destructive ways. The Prisoner’s Cross chronicles Don’s journey towards a renewed faith and trust in the invariable love and goodwill of Christ.
Author Peter B. Unger, a UCC pastor who holds a graduate degree in psychology of religion, has written a compelling tale that examines the universal question regarding the inexplicable sufferings of mankind and the corruption of one’s faith in God. I think Don represents the people of faith who seem stuck in a perpetual state of being confused and overexcited by differences in values and beliefs that exist within different sects of religion, to the point that they analyze faith to such an extent that they sacrifice its essence.
The book is able to break down and portray complex ideas into easy to understand situations that will appeal to younger audiences. The reader anticipates Jop’s experiences as a POW in World War 2 as much as Don does. In addition, Don’s reflections during his interview with Jop enrich the reader’s understanding of the subject. Don’s friendship with Tom and Cindy, Jop’s faith experience, and McCall’s assistance, all of which shapes Don’s spiritual life, provided me with a glimpse of different types of love God has for all of us.
The Prisoner’s Cross is a spiritually invigorating read that leaves the reader with a lot to ponder. Besides the traditional dogmatic faith, it exposes the faith dissipating under the weight of rational and scientific values. Professors’ unwillingness to entertain questions challenging their adamant views is also portrayed in Professor Wilson’s attitude. While the author unravels Don’s complex character, the book also shows how unhealthy relationship experiences manifest themselves later in life. I think this book is written for those who want to grow in their understanding of God’s grace and experience it in new and interesting ways.
Pages: 180 | ISBN: 1532696132
Magdelena’s Choice – Book Trailer
Fresh-baked muffins fragrant with ripe blueberries . . . cinnamon-scented turnovers that transform any meal into a feast. . . . In 1914 Ohio, the Amish Charm Bakery holds a special place within its close-knit, faith-filled community, where love finds a way through God’s grace . . .
As the daughter of a wealthy rancher, Magdelena Beachy may not truly need her job at the Amish Charm Bakery, but she enjoys tending to customers, be they neighbors or curious Englischers. Only one thing would make life sweeter, and that’s if Toby Schlabach would court her. It’s not just his dimples and smile that warm Magdelena’s heart—she admires his kindness and values. Yet she worries their chance may slip away . . .
With his daed ill and his mother and sister depending on him, Toby can’t yet offer Magdelena the future she deserves. But even as he nears his goal, he learns her father has arranged a match with another suitor. Magdelena risks shunning if she goes against her family. Choosing a path will take courage as well as faith—in God’s plan, and in this steadfast, tender love . . .
The Reindeer Ranch
![The Reindeer Ranch: A Sweet Romance Story by [C.H. Eryl]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51myS5lc50L.jpg)
With its setting in Hope Falls, New York, C.H. Eryl’s romantic fiction novel The Reindeer Ranch is a simple tale revolving around two people who possess no hope of meeting a significant other given the failure of recent relationships. Darci Grisbane, a recently divorced mother of two, gets a flat tire in the middle of an unfortunate day, adding to her bad luck. It’s only later that she realizes the glimmer in that gloomy day when she meets Brian, her neighbor’s brother. As their convergence draws nearer amid the Christmas events and festivities, the two find themselves hindered by the shackles of their past. This is an emotional story about their endeavor to overcome their past and form a relationship.
Christmas celebrations are full of festivities and we get to see all of that in this romance novel and it adds a fairy-tale element to the story. The major reason why I enjoyed this book so much was because of the straightforward love story. The story is told simply, and because of that I looked forward to picking up this book again and again.
I was enchanted by the descriptions of Christmas gatherings and the jubilant events surrounding them. For instance, the reindeer rides with snowflakes drifting overhead fancied me and delighted my senses.
While I enjoyed the story overall, I felt that the ending left a some things unresolved. Though we get a seemingly happy ending, I felt that struggles still seem to loom over the couple as the dark elements of their pasts still linger over them, if temporarily absent. But I suppose this is a better reflection of life and how things don’t really end, but instead move on to the next chapter.
The plot of the story slowly develops as the novel progress, but the romantic feelings between the characters develop quickly. They both have failed relationships, and the characters and their relationship is intriguing, if not relatable. I would have loved to have delved deeper into their thoughts and emotions because I found them and their past to be so fascinating.
The Reindeer Ranch illustrates the apprehension some people have after divorce, and also shows the glimmer of hope we find in new love. While this is an impassioned novel I also enjoyed the comical touches of parenting throughout the story, as seen in Darci’s parents.
The Reindeer Ranch is an enjoyable and sweet read. This is a fantastic romance novel if you are looking for a quick light-hearted read that is filled with festivity, hope, and kindness.
Pages: 198 | ASIN: B09DTBWCYY
The Road Remembered
The Road Remembered is a riveting historical fiction novel by author Kaye D. Schmitz which recounts the final months of World War II through the eyes of two main characters. On one side, there’s American soldier Sam Ryan, fresh out of training in the 89th Infantry Division, and on the other Gerda Ziegler, a German woman responsible for saving the lives of countless Jewish children.
The author has done impeccable research and interviewed several veterans to bring this story to life, including her own father, the real-life figure who served as inspiration for Sam Ryan. Gerda is also based on a real hero, Irene Sendler, the woman responsible for saving over 2,000 children during the war.
Together, these two viewpoints create a vivid picture of war that condemns the Nazi ideology, but also shows there were good people on both sides of the conflict. The writing is the strong point of the book. The accounts are so detailed that it is very easy to get absorbed by the narrative and feel like you are living that reality with the characters.
Both main characters are well developed and their thoughts and motivations are well explained. The narratives and settings from these two perspectives differ wildly from one another. However, the horrors created by war are ever-present in the protagonists’ minds.
As events unfold, we are curious to know the outcomes of the characters, since we know the one from the war. There is also some excitement about which circumstances the protagonists will meet and what will come out of that.
The book keeps a steady pace right up until the end of the war where we are then treated to something of an epilogue in the last few pages. However, in the end, there’s a beautiful payoff that wraps it all up beautifully.
The Road Remembered is a compelling account of events from World War II with enough liberties taken to make it a fantastic piece of historical fiction. With realistic characters and an enveloping narrative this is a book I highly recommend.
Pages: 334 | ASIN: B0975VVDH6
LITERARY TITAN 