Vic's Media Room

Book Review: “A Sweethaven Summer” by Courtney Walsh

Courtney Walsh in her new book “A Sweethaven Summer” Book One in The Sweethaven Series published by Guideposts brings us into the lives of four women in the town of Sweethaven, Michigan.

From the back cover:  Campbell Carter has come to Sweethaven in search of answers about her mother’s history.

Just before losing a battle with cancer, Suzanne Carter sent letters to childhood friends from her hometown of Sweethaven, Michigan. Suzanne’s three friends — Lila, Jane, and Meghan — haven’t spoken in years, yet each has pieces of a scrapbook they made together as girls. Suzanne’s letters have lured them all back to the idyllic lakeside town, where they meet Campbell and begin to remember what was so special about their long Sweethaven summers.

As the scrapbook reveals secrets from the past, old wounds are mended, lives are changed, and friendships are restored — just as Suzanne intended.

The beach town of Sweethaven along the shore of Lake Michigan is the kind of place where everyone would want to live.  Campbell has come there at her mother’s request to talk but Suzanne died before Campbell could make it.  In looking through her things she finds Suzanne’s scrapbook and the Sweethaven Circle.  Campbell communicates with the remaining three ladies who also return to Sweethaven.  Then the mystery and God’s healing begins.  I like the name of the town it tells us that this place is not only a haven, a resting place, but a place that is also sweet.  I was hooked right off the bat.  Ms. Walsh has done an extraordinary job with the characters, I liked each and every one of them.  This is a book about family and hope and healing and I liked this book a lot.   I recommend this book highly and am looking forward to the next two books due out this year.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 hours non-stop Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book for free from Wynn-Wynn Media for this review.  I was not required to write a positive review.The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html
> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: “Harvest of Rubies” By Tessa Afshar

Tessa Afshar in her new book, “Harvest of Rubies” Book One in The Sarah/Darius Series published by River North Fiction Division of Moody Publishers takes us back to Biblical Persia 457 B. C.

From the Back Cover:  Remarkable talent Threatens to cloud a life

The prophet Nehemiah has a cousin who can speak several languages, keep complex accounts, write on rolls of parchment and tablets of clay, and solve mysteries.

This cousin is catapulted into the center of the Persian court – working long hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and completing high-level tasks as a scribe for the queen.

Not bad, for a woman living in a man’s world.

The talented Sarah has a glowing future, and those closest to her believe her good fortune is the product of none other than God’s glorious design. Yet a devastating past has left Sarah with two strong conclusions: that God does not love her, and that her accomplishments are the measure of her worth.

The only thing that will help her escape her idol of success, Sarah must learn to love and be loved – a task that could prove dangerous.

I like history and Tessa Afshar, if she wasn’t a writer of fiction, would make a great historian.  Now add in that “Harvest of Rubies” is Biblical historical fiction and we have a full-blown winner.  “Harvest of Rubies” takes place at the time of Nehemiah, the cup-bearer to King Artaxerxes, who will return, later, to Jerusalem and rebuild her walls.  He has his own book in the Bible.  Sarah is his cousin and she does the unthinkable at that time, which is to learn to read, write and do numbers. Eventually, this gets her promoted to being the Queen’s scribe but none of these accomplishments give her a feeling of self-worth.  When Sarah solves a mystery for the Queen, the Queen rewards her with a husband which doesn’t work out so well at first.  Now Sarah, with a little help, must deal with her self-worth issues and then, with her husband’s help, once again come to the aid of the Queen.  As I said if you enjoy history like I do then this book is for you.  Ms. Afshar really makes you feel the heat and the dust.  Every one of her characters seem to come alive and it is like actually being there in Persia with them.  “Harvest of Rubies” is all about loving who God made you to be, families and relationships and that is what makes this book a winner.  I enjoyed this book a lot and am looking forward to the next one.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 hours non-stop Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Wynn-Wynn Media for this review.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html
> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”