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 Christian Fiction: General

A Place Called Blessing - Where Hurting Ends and Love Begins by John Trent with Annette Smith An orphaned boy’s story of loss, love, and eventual acceptance by the most unlikely people, is the core of a piece of fiction. The story chronicles the life of Josh, an emotionally abandoned little boy who loses his mother and father and is separated from two brothers. He is shuffled through the foster care system, unpacking his scant belongings at many houses, but never staying long due to his deep-seated fears and issues. At six years old, when it finally seems as though Josh might be forever reunited with his brothers, an unfortunate accident changes the course of his life. Through adolescence Josh often acts out in anger and trusts no one, but through the first person narrative the reader gets to see a glimpse of the broken little boy who so desperately wants to be loved. As Josh turns eighteen he rents a room from a mother and son who turn out to be the family he is so desperately searching for. The journey they take together is painful and difficult, but Josh eventually finds the peace he seeks. I very much appreciated the message of this book, especially the inside look at orphaned children and the foster care system. There is ache and honesty in this journey of themes surrounding foster care or adoption. It gives the reader a thoughtful portrayal, from a child’s perspective. Review by Johnny Douglas  (16/02/12)

Up Close & Personal - What Helen Did Next by Jeff Lucas Jeff Lucas has done it again! – With a little help from Tamsin Kendrick and no doubt other females around him. As you read, you are completely absorbed by the story; you can really believe that you are reading another volume of Helen Sloane’s Diary. Helen’s Dad has been killed, knifed in a street robbery he was trying to prevent. Her beloved leaders at NWCF, New Wave Christian Fellowship, are moving to a new area, and her love life is non existent. She has some good friends, male and female, but life at the moment is pretty rocky. She has issues with her senior social worker and with more than one client; in fact she is a pretty average young woman with particular difficulties at the moment. Helen writes so honestly – yes Helen, you forget this is fiction – she writes of her feelings, the happenings day to day, the saga of finding a new leader for the church (and that is not straight forward believe me!) her ongoing grief at her father’s death and so much more. I read till the small hours and settled to sleep with a smile on my face. Review by Mary Bartholomew  (08/10/11)

PlanetQuake - The Year the Rainbow Broke by Umoya Lister Christian Fiction- General ? Or should I put this book into Climate Change? The book describes itself as ‘Geofiction’ and it really is quite a book! A rich mixture of disaster in the not too far future, scientific research exposing climate change, weather patterns completely disrupted, panic among governments and people, food riots, fear of food hoarding, starvation in parts of Africa, criminal intrigue, and a young family caught up in it all. A young family with strong Christian beliefs, tried almost beyond their endurance by the evil surrounding a charismatic personality who is intent on ruling a united Africa free from Arabs and Whites, regardless of the suffering inflicted by his schemes. The author’s name is disguised by a pseudonym, but they must surely be a very knowledgeable individual as the book is full of scientific talk, theological discussion and quotations from the Bible and much more of interest. Don’t be put off by this! It all enhances the story which is truly exciting in a scary way, as it could all so easily happen. I did not start reading with any enthusiasm, but almost immediately was hooked, and wished I had the opportunity to read on and on. Nevertheless it didn’t take many days to finish it despite being quite a tome of 511 pages. Highly recommended. Review by Mary Bartholomew  (12/09/11)

The Story Jar by Robin Lee Hatcher & Deborah Bedford A jar can be used for jam, or for collecting coins for charity, or, as in this inspirational book, as a container and preserver of precious memories. This skilfully crafted novel blends the stories of three women and the mementoes which symbolised turning points in their lives. It would appeal particularly to mothers, and would also have resonance with anyone coping with cancer or finding difficulties with adolescent children. Penned with vitality and credibility I found this book extremely readable, unusual and memorable. I could not help but be moved, occasionally to tears, by the warmth of God’s love embracing and suffusing the lives of the three very different women portrayed. Two talented women writers have succeeded in producing a faith-enhancing book which you will want others to read. Review by Margaret Walker  (30/08/11)

Snitch by Booker T Mattison Written, surely, to appeal to young, black urban-dwellers, this fast-paced novel is set in the culture of gang warfare and the illicit drugs trade, in Jersey City, near New York. The characters are mainly men who are either deeply set in the gang life-style, have renounced it, or (like the protagonist) have fallen into the situation of being a reluctant, failed father and feckless would-be husband; added to this are the aggrieved grandparents, and a psychotherapist, who seemingly come from an African-American elite, who have raised themselves by hard work or education. Thus, the book presents a series of differing possibilities as to the alternatives and choices set before originally-underprivileged American black people, and the reality of Christian faith as the authentic route to those choices. At times I failed to understand the language entirely (“hood” is simply short for neighbourhood, I finally realised, not something to do with gangsters), but that, presumably, shows the book’s authenticity. Perhaps this is a suitable book for the church youth library - young people would surely get the language better than us oldies. Review by John Thomas  (24/08/11)

Nana’s Gift - and The Red Geranium by Jeanette Oke Two short stories first published in 1996 and 1995 respectively, by Bethany House Publishers. Nana’s Gift is a heart warming tale of a lifetime of loving between a couple, and the husbands gift of a real pearl necklace, the result of scrimping and saving against all odds, to show his love and appreciation of his wife. When she is widowed the pearls remain as a treasured memory of that love which Lizzie shares with her daughters and one particular granddaughter in a special way. The Red Geranium is quite a short story, but equally poignant, about a small boy and his grandmother now living in a Home instead of the house he knew so well. This little book would make an ideal present for anyone who loves short stories. Review by Mary Bartholomew  (30/06/11)

Solomon’s Song by Sarah De Carvalho
ISBN: 978-1-444-70188-3 Price: £8.99	Published: May 2011
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The Triumph of Grace - Grace in Africa Book 3 by Kay Marshall Strom
ISBN: 978-1-426-70213-6 Price: £8.99	Published: March 2011
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Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise - A Novel of Bright’s Pond by Joyce Magnin
ISBN: 978-1-426-70766-7 Price: £9.99	Published: December 2010
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Stretch Marks by Kimberly Stuart
ISBN: 978-0-781-44892-5 Price: £11.99	Published: 29 May 2009
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The Reluctant Prophet by Nancy Rue
ISBN: 978-1-434-76496-6 Price: £9.99	Published: 15 November 2010
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Long Time Coming by Vanessa Miller
ISBN: 978-1-426-70768-1 Price: £9.99	Published: December 2010
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The Voyage of Promise - Grace in Africa Book Two by Kay Marshall Strom
ISBN: 978-1-426-70212-9 Price: £9.99	Published: November 2010
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One Lane Bridge by Don Reid
ISBN: 978-1-434-76508-6 Price: £9.99	Published: 15 November 2010
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Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury
ISBN: 978-0-310-26695-2 Price: £9.99	Published: 06 October 2010
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Walking on Broken Glass by Christa Allan
ISBN: 978-1-426-70227-3 Price: £8.99	Published: March 2010
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The Winds of Autumn - Seasons of the Heart - Book Two by Janette Oke
ISBN: 978-0-764-20801-0 Price: £8.99	Published: 18 June 2010
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