Awake, O Sleeper: How I Rediscovered God Through Breast Cancer by Katherine Murphy
SunCreek Books, 1932057056, $12.95

On a personal note, I do find it difficult to read books on breast cancer and memoirs of those touched by the disease, be it directly or via a stricken loved one. Having lost my maternal grandmother and nearly my mother to this illness, there seems to be an invisible cloud hovering over my head, a constant reminder that the odds of my being diagnosed are significantly higher than other women. There is the onus on me to be ever vigilant - performing weekly (if not daily) checks - that becomes so consuming that I suddenly realize I might be in danger of not only driving myself to worry but jeopardizing my spiritual health. Such books by and for survivors, I realize, are not meant to discourage people like me who worry about inheriting something unwanted, though when handed a book on the subject, the cloud appears to darken. Reading Awake, O Sleeper: How I Rediscovered God Through Breast Cancer by 5-plus year survivor Katherine Murphy, is refreshing to read in that, though I am fortunate never to have been afflicted, I find I can identify with the author through personal experiences shared with loved one who have beaten the disease, and I can be assured that through the darkest moments in life one can find solace in the knowledge of God's love.

Katherine Murphy had a full life in 1988 with a loving husband and two children. Being in her late thirties, cancer was not a forethought but something that happened to old people, and other people. This is not to say that Murphy never believed the young were immune to death (she recalls, in Awake, O Sleeper the death of a college roommate which appeared to have just as significant an impact upon her during her illness than when the event happened), but it was not something upon which to dwell, considering her family and her teaching job required the lion's share of her attention. One day in August changed that for Murphy upon learning that what she thought was a benign tumor was actually cancer - a cancer that is the second leading cause of death for women in the US, a cancer that accounts for one-third of all the cancers diagnosed in this country. (Source: American Cancer Society)

Awake, O Sleeper is taken from the Book of Ephesians, and becomes a mantra of sorts for the author as she deals with cancer surgery, recovery, and all the struggles involved - coping with vanity during hair loss and feeling unattractive, worrying over how her young sons will react to her illness, etc. Though Murphy had never considered herself a lapsed Catholic (the family did attend church on a regular basis), it was not until her diagnosis that she realized she had been "asleep," going through the motions of being Christian without truly appreciating God's gifts and the power of prayer.

As a memoir, Sleeper is a poignant story of survival, physical and spiritual, with moments of levity and heartache with which even those who have not been stricken ill can identify. As an inspirational, Sleeper is uplifting, a reminder to call upon God in the darkest moments of life.


posted by Leigh Ellwood at 6:48 PM

 
Healing the Breach by Rosalind Stormer
Heavenly Bound Publishing Co., 0972084606, $16.95

At forty-two, Jana Harris has had it. A bad day at work is only the latest in a series of disappointments that have haunted her throughout her life. Bad relationships, bad decisions, and bad habits have forced Jana at this juncture in her life to take stock of the past, wallow in the misery of her present, and ponder the future. As she anguishes over whom to turn to in this time, she finds one name rises to the surface of her conciousness: Grace.

A former best friend, Grace was the zig to Jana's zag. She was the shoulder for crying and the ear for listening, yet for Grace, Jana became too much of a self-absorbed burden for her to bear. On this night, as Jana reflects upon their friendship and Grace's strong Christian beliefs, Jana wonders if the old adage holds true, if to forgive is indeed divine.

Healing the Breach is a "she said/she said" tale of a weathered friendship seen through the eyes of Jana and Grace. In these natually-written narratives and author Stormer emphasizes the responsibilities and merits of living as a Christian, yet reading of Grace it is obvious there are Jana-like traits present. Stormer's perception of relationships emphasizes that it takes more than two to heal a breach -- God must also be present.



posted by Leigh Ellwood at 10:39 AM

 
Self-Inflicted Hunting Arguments: Biblical Responses to a Loaded Issue by Dr. Tom C. Rakow
Rock Dove Publications, 189114748X, $12.95

Would Jesus shoot Bambi? Would Jesus not only shoot Bambi, but field dress him and have him for supper?

Our Lord's earthly dietary habits have long been a sticking point between hunting advocates and animal rights activists. Indeed, if you check the Internet you will find claims that Jesus was a vegetarian, alongside opposing opinion that supports the theory that Jesus partook of meat and fish. As is expected, both sides back up their beliefs cherry-picking verses from the Bible. Jesus said, "Thou shalt not kill," that should apply to animals as well as people, correct?

Stepping into the fray is Dr. Tom C. Rakow, author of Self-Inflicted Hunting Arguments: Biblical Responses to a Loaded Issue, a title nearly as long as the entire book, which is small enough to fit neatly in any hunter's pack. Glancing at the publisher's website, the animal right activist might roll his/her eyes at the prospect of being beaten with Bible quotes supporting the right to hunt defenseless animals. Yet, Dr. Rakow in Self-Inflicted thoughtfully looks at both sides of the argument, showing how both sides use the Scriptures to their advantage, yet not necessarily use them in the proper context. Though his conclusions will likely not be welcomed by all readers, Rakow disparages neither side of the debate as he makes his support known.

Whether a die-hard hunter, a citizen concerned for animal welfare, or someone undecided on the issue, Self-Inflicted is worth the read if you are concerned about whether or not your stance on such issues will compromise your Christianity.



posted by Leigh Ellwood at 11:51 AM

 
A Child of the King by Joanne Blundell Marsh

Publish America, 1591298938, $16.95

Reading A Child of the King, one might easily conclude Joanne Marsh has had her share of hardships. Whether or not her personal triumphs and tragedies outweight those of anybody else is arguable, but what possibly sets first-time author Marsh apart from others is an unwavering faith in Christ that saw her through the darkest moments. King, in this respect, is part memoir, part testimony.

Marsh lets the reader know from the outset that she is not a professional writer -- King delves into passages concerning her realm of business -- but a sincere child of God passionate enough to share her story. Indeed, King reads as like a one-sided conversation, peppered with moments of anxiety and humor as Marsh bares her soul -- talking of illness, marital problems, and other crises.

Chapters bounce back and forward in time, which might cause a reader some confusion or frustration, but Marsh's optimism and obvious love for the Lord provides the thread which stitches everything together. A Child of the King is Marsh's gift to God and to readers in need of an inspirational boost, readers coping with their own problems who need to know that what seems like a challenge can be overcome with faith.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 9:58 AM

 
Total Depravity and Free Will by Ira Benjamin Hezekiah

King and Associates, 0974173002, $12.99

There is an old joke my father used to tell, that if you asked people of six different Christian denominations what one particular Bible passage meant, you would get seven different answers. Name a topic related to Christianity, and more than likely it has been supported and refuted in the same books, if not the same passages, of the Old or New Testaments.

No joke, Ira Benjamin Hezekiah of the non-denominational BibleCommentator.com website tackles one such topic of debate - the question of depravity - in Total Depravity and Free Will; more specifically, is man doomed to be deprived of salvation because of the inability to come to God on his own? Did God create us specifically to have us come to Him at His leisure, as Hezekiah says is a belief held by many Christians?

Hezekiah, a supporter of the concept of free will, says no, turning directly to the Bible to support his thesis. In Total Depravity, the question of the existence of total depravity is dissected into four parts: man's nature after the Fall; man's role in his own salvation; God role in man's salvation; and man's will as it interacts with God's. Using examples from Genesis (in particular the stories of Abraham, Enoch, and the Great Flood), Hezekiah succintly illustrates the ability of man to control his own destiny with regards not only to sin, but to seeking God's mercy and love. New Testament passages cited serve to bolster Hezekiah's arguement for free will. In preparation for detractors, Hezekiah devotes a section of Total Depravity to refuting proponents of this theory, explaining in particular Paul's letter to the Ephesians (when he speaks of people "dead in their sins") in a chapter that may please those who do not hold belief in sola scriptura.

Regardless of your beliefs in total depravity, Hezekiah's work offers a thought-provoking, straightforward study of the subject, suitable for scholarly discussion or friendly Biblical debate.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 11:34 AM

 
From Dust and Ashes by Tricia Goyer

Moody Publishers, 0802415547, $12.99

For Europe, the war is over. Prison camps are being liberated, and SS guards are rounded up for punishment as their families are forced to leave their homes - a much lesser fate than was received by the people imprisoned. One such wife is Helene, heavily pregnant with her second child and coping with her husband Friedrich's abandonment, who faces her eviction alone.

An emotional reunion with her estranged father presents Helene with a new home, yet it is not enough to ease the guilt brought on from her years in a tense, perhaps abusive marriage. With no thought to her own welfare and the concern of her peers, Helene volunteers to take in two prisoners - Michaela, a Christian arrested for harboring Jews, and Lelia, a Jewish teenager barely clinging to life. The gesture indeed attracts attention, not the least from an American GI named Peter Scott.

Hoping to take advantage of his presence in the war to further the Word of God, Peter's own faith is shattered by the devestation encountered in its aftermath, particularly after the liberation of the concentration camps. He finds strength and solace in his visits to the three ladies harbored at Helene's father's house, feelings felt also by Helene as her charges gradually help to alleviate her guilt by association through their example of faith.

From Dust and Ashes is billed as "story of liberation," yet the meaning is twofold. There is the setting of the fallen camps, the fallen Third Reich, and the liberation of the Jewish people. Author Goyer, in a rich, engrossing narrative, offers the reader a view of characters set free of their emotional traumas by forgiveness, faith, and love. Dust is also a love story, not in the traditional romance novel sense (though elements are visible), as evidenced in the gentle tensions between Peter and Michaela, as well as Peter and Helene. Written with remarkable, thoughtful accuracy, From Dust and Ashes is a story of hope set in a time where such a thing appeared to be lacking, a story for the mainstream.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 11:51 AM

 
Update

Due to medical concerns, there will be a delay in new reviews. Your patience is appreciated.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 2:49 PM

 
ANNOUNCEMENT: New Release

Adam's Stone, a work of Christian sci-fi from Kevin Paglia is now available for purchase in eBook and paperback formats from Creek Press. Because I served as editor for this title, a review cannot appear here, but I am happy to announce that if you are interested in Christian science fiction you will enjoy the story of Riley, Anthony, and Mark as they uncover the secrets of the mysterious obelisk believed to have been left by Adam as a warning to the world.

Adam's Stone is available via the publisher's website, and will be available on Amazon.com in the next few weeks.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 3:43 PM

 
The Choice by Marilyn Meredith

Page Free Publishing, 1930232250, $12.95

As the widowed mother of an oft-absent teenaged son, Jessica McGuire appears to have the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her job as deputy of the small town of Lawrenceville wins her little respect among the local barflies and her superior officers, and when Jessica discovers the desecration of an old grave she is further reprimanded. Just make sure the drunks get home safely and that the kids are not out late spraypainting buildings, is all she is told.

Jessica finds it difficult to ignore other strange thefts. Barnyard animals are missing, as is the large redwood cross at the local church. Pastor David Tanner, to Jessica's shock, suspects a force of evil is trying to take over the community, leading the deputy to fight an uphill battle with small-town bureaucracy which unfortunately does not prevent the loss of life. That Jessica's own faith in God is middling, it is the only weapon she has against the group of black-robed citizens who have made the fight too personal for her to ignore.

The Choice is a short novel of suspense, a tense and contemporary adaption of good versus evil. Though some of her actions may not appear professional, Jessica acts out of passion, and to watch her grow in faith is inspiring. Author Meredith's style is direct in her presentation where matters of faith are concerned, providing for a riveting climax.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 11:54 AM

 
Joseph and Mary: a Love Story by N. Ashton Walker

Fingerprint Press, 0971119929, $12.99

To review a fictional work based upon the life of Christ is always a tricky prospect, particularly when one must consider the audience to whom one is recommending the book. The premise of Joseph and Mary, a fictional account of the marriage of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, is intriguing, then again what Christian would not find the story of Holy Family so? It is a timeless tale, peppered with adventure and mystery, and ultimately leads to a happy ending for all.

Author Walker's account is somewhat modernized. Here Mary lives in an apartment and converses over the phone with her cousin Elizabeth, who calls her "girl." Mary's speech, too, is colloquial. She wears jeans and T-shirts and watches television, and she is in love with Joseph but afraid at first to tell him that she has conceived of the Holy Spirit. In keeping with the Gospel story, Joseph is taken aback, yet a Heavenly visit assures Joseph of his role in the Holy Family. He takes Mary as his wife and raises Jesus as his own, taking in stride "miracles" performed in the schoolyard and Jesus's blunt revelation of the end of Joseph's mortal life.

As a story taken out of its intended context, Joseph and Mary reads as a touching story of devotion between two people who love God and each other. As accurate biblical fiction...this is the tricky part. Some readers will find Joseph and Mary problematic, as Mary is portrayed as having more children (all of whom are practically surrendered to the background of the story). Catholics and Evangelicals have argued for centuries over whether or not Joseph and Mary ever consummated their earthly relationship and expanded the family. Being Catholic, I accept the doctrine of Mary's perputal virginity (see the article "Mary: Ever Virgin" by Catholic Answers), though I recognize that these reviews are often visited by those whose beliefs are not the same as mine. I don't fault others what they believe of Mary having other children, and it is my hope nobody faults mine, yet for me to recommend this book would be impossible.

Therefore, I leave the verdict of Joseph and Mary to the reading public. If you feel so inclined to explore the themes of this book, do so with a prayerful heart. The idea of fictionalizing the story of the Holy Family should not be discouraged, but like actual interpretation of the Bible itself not everybody is destined to agree.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 11:55 AM

 
Living Sacrifices by James Haywood Rolling, Jr.

Pleasant Word, 157921522X, $15.99

Is it possible to lead a successful, important life without feeling the need to shut out others, especially God? It is, so author James Rollings stresses in Living Sacrifices. Growing up in a self-imposed isolated state, Rolling recalls the folly of his youth and the ensuing emptiness he experienced and realized as a result. His story is not unique.

A life centered in self is doomed to wither and perish, while a life centered in others can only grow in strength and foundation, Rollings writes in this short (just over 200 pages) book, which reads more like a series of mini-books. Some sections dissect what Rollings calls the lies of self-importance, self-indulgence, and self-reliance, proposing that success in any aspect of life is not possible while these are observed. Later parts of the book are steeped heavily in biblical passages and Christian testimony. All chapters are tied together with eloquent poetry and spiritual reflection.

Rollings writes with an enthusiasm for the Lord borne of many years suffering from the same self-imposed afflictions he discourages in Living Sacrifices. A worthwhile read, Living Sacrifices is good therapy for the isolated soul.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 10:56 AM

 
Jonah Christopher and the Last Chance Mass by William Ferguson

Writers Club Press, 0595258794, $11.95

Like his Bibilical namesake, Jonah Christopher has seen his share of adventure. Now settled contentedly into the life of a middle-school teacher, Jonah's only concern is a relaxing Spring Break away from his troubles. He wants to take his girlfriend Catherine fishing, and forget for a moment her free-thinking father and his fundamentalist neighbor, both of whom have proven to be constant thorns in his sides.

The Blessed Virgin, to whom Jonah is very much devoted, has other plans. One night after falling asleep in the garage, resting in the wooden boat he made especially for his vacation, Jonah awakes to find himself in "aeviternity," in a timeless state where snow is warm and a mysterious priest/guide is popping through a new hatch at the bottom of Jonah's boat. Jonah learns Mary has chosen him for a special mission - to battle the ultimate evil. Jonah isn't entirely certain what to look for, but knows at least that the red-haired girl with the eerie blue eyes following him throughout this strange journey in one harbringer of doom. Luckily, for this adventure Jonah has the ultimate weapon - prayer.

Catholic journalist Ferguson's first novel-length foray into fiction is an adventure for the soul. Moments of good humor, coupled with orthodox Catholic sentiment that is neither preachy nor stiff, make Jonah Christopher a good summer read.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 4:26 PM

 
The Valley of Childhood by Linda Whalen

Bright Books, 0961731729, $14.95

Often the journey towards contentment with Christ is presented in allegory - a winding road leading to the gates of Heaven, the calm eye of a hurricane wherein one can find brief solace with the Lord in the midst of a tempestuous life. For Linda Whalen, the journey is likened to a hike through a valley through which childhood memories are stirred, lessons are learned, and healing begins. The Valley of Childhood, part memoir and part devotional, offers such a raw, emotional testimony, as seen through the eyes of a child struggling to come to Christ.

Each chapter of Childhood presents a different level of the valley, from rocky terrains to sharp dips and hazy floors. Whalen reveals hardships endured throughout her childhood, the film of dust on her skin and mud caked to her shoes representative of past sins and transgressions, the opportunity for refreshment at the valley spring thwarted when the water is discovered to be too salty to drink - alluding to deceptions one often faces in life. A brief respite in a valley garden provides an oasis from hardship as Whalen recalls more pleasant memories of childhood and comes to appreciate the beauty in nature and life God offers us. "The first thing I understand is the need all people have to be in a still, quiet place with the Lord," writes Whalen as the garden dissolves into a desert of uncertainty. Wherever we are in our own personal valleys, be it lost in a maze of trees or threatened by tumbling rocks overhead, Whalen stresses, one need not be afraid if one lets Jesus lead the way home.

Whalen nicely ties each chapter, each leg of the journey with a Scriptural quote, prayer, and reflection. At times very personal, and often a simple book to which anyone can relate, The Valley of Childhood is a unique, vivid devotional.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 9:58 AM

 
The Spider in the Well by Lee Ann Ward

Publish America, 1592865992, $14.95

On the outset, it appears Paul Ford has everything. He is the star player on his college football team with a chance at the pros, is dating the prettiest girl on campus, and has a loving, faith-filled family. It stands to reason Paul should feel quite happy about his good fortune, yet he continues to be haunted by an accident involving his kid brother for which, despite everybody's objections, he feels responsible.

Worry about football, worry about the future, don't dwell on the past, he is told time and again. Paul certainly does his share of that, and when the final home game ends with a tragedy that seals Paul's fate, he is left to do more serious thinking, and praying. All at once everything falls away: career, love, security, and even his family is threatened by the course of events. Being reminded of the one certainty in his life - God's love - helps him to better examine God's will for his life, and like the spider in the wall he once tried to protect as a child Paul comes to trust in the Lord's protection and guidance in the challenges that face him during his recovery.

A short yet uplifting novel, The Spider in the Well is a novel suitable for young and older readers alike, a fable emphasizing how one can turn tragedy into glory, and how material success does not necessarily yield the treasure God wants for us.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 9:54 AM

 
The Cult Around the Corner by Nancy O'Meara and Stan Koehler

Foundation for Religious Freedom International, 1928575102, $7.95

"Calm down...do not panic." These are the first words of advice authors O'Meara and Koehler offer to anyone concerned about a relative or loved one who has strayed from the relative security of an acceptable faith into something perceived as dubious. Granted, it would not be surprising for one to fly off the handle upon learning his/her child has decided to leave the Baptist/Methodist/Catholic Church for (insert a splinter cult or community here). Uncharted territory is often met with suspicions, and as both authors emphasize in The Cult Around the Corner, the obvious reaction is to become defensive. It is not always the right reaction, as it can lead to alienation.

Research and rationalism are the keys to maintaining good relationships with those fallen away. Counsel with a trusted minister or mediator provides a firm foundation for communication with loved ones. To the authors' credit, no one faith or organization is endorsed or maligned, and belief in God is neither encouraged nor discouraged. Readers are not chastised for being judgmental or critical of other faiths; while the right to hold one's beliefs is recognized, O'Meara and Koehler also stress the need to recognize the rights and beliefs of your loved ones, even if they do not align with yours.

The Cult Around the Corner is a short book, but straight to the point with excerpts of actual case studies handled by the Foundation for Religious Freedom. Its purpose is not to list cults or cultish faiths as a guide for the vigilant, but to help repair the relationships broken by divisive opinions. In this time of uncertainly about particular faiths as they relate to the war, it is an important book to read.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 11:58 AM

 
Hollywood Must Be Destroyed! by Daniel Wade Schroder

1stBooks, 1588204510, $12.95

Once upon a time, Tom Brantley and Michael Lewis were two investment bankers happily muddling through life in a tony New York firm. While they enjoyed their work and a never-ending game of guessing the artists of bad 80s pop tunes, their boss assigns them to investigate the books of an important client, a movie production company based in Hollywood. What sounds like a routine job to both men is quickly likened to a trip through Wonderland, where everybody is a Mad Hatter.

Classic Pictures, producer of soon-to-be epics like Natural Born Idiot and Teen Sexpots in Seattle, has been consistently losing money on its recent releases, and is spending too much for films that otherwise could be made on small budgets. Tom and Mike set out to learn where the firm's money is going, uncovering a scheme more outlandish than any movie plot - Hollywood funding of political agendas and twisting of morals. Hooking up with Classic executive Linda Wilson, Tom discovers Hollywood itself is more outrageous than any movie Classic could fund. Spiritual guides, actors parading around nude in public, and a general anti-Christian sentiment create an atmosphere more tempestuous than anything the Georgia-bred Tom has experienced, so much that he risks his job to see to it that Hollywood is destroyed before it destroys everybody else.

Though a short tale overrun with typographical errors (a problem 1stBooks truly needs to solve), Hollywood Must Be Destroyed! has its moments of wit and absurdity that will leave any reader who has never been to LA nodding in agreement ("I went to Harvard," responds Linda after being asked if she believes in God.). Though this story would not be normally classified as "Christian" literature in the sense that other titles reviewed here are, Hollywood deserves a mention for its finale, a bold statement alluding to the Culture of Death, as coined by Pope John Paul II, one that deserves some attention. Author Schroder shows a talent for satirical prose, which he will hopefully continue to hone.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 10:02 AM

 
Gabriel's Magic Ornament by Randall Bush

Pristine Publishers, Inc., 0971663300, $11.95

In this delightful chapter book for middle readers, siblings Chris and Laura are feeling pre-Christmas cabin fever. A yard of snow beckons to them for a day of fun, yet they are told to stay inside lest they catch a cold. The children grumble complacently, desiring adventure, unaware that their father is about to bring it to them in the form of a new Christmas ornament for their tree.

A fanciful tale of Gabriel's Christmas ornament, where the person who hangs it experiences an incredible holiday dream, intrigues Chris and Laura enough to share the honor. Suddenly both children are transported to the land of Arboria, where the Orna folk dwell in anticipation of Christmas. As Chris and Laura soon discover, however, the Orna vision of the holiday is not as it should be - an atmosphere of greed and ill-will has cast a pallor over the land. "Maids a Milking" are actually "milking" people of their money, a sweets shop owner has a devious method of obtaining raw materials for her goods, and a convention of Santas is anything but jolly. Guided through each "branch" of Arboria by a mysterious, blue-robed woman, Chris and Laura come to understand the true spirit of Christmas.

Gabriel's Magic Ornament is an enjoyable tale appropriate for the Christmas season, a story alive with Biblical allegory that does not talk down to its young readers (a helpful glossary of terms is included to boost a child's understanding of the Biblical references within the story). Blending Biblical and secular history with a style reminiscent of CS Lewis's Narnia tales, author Bush offers an imaginitive alternative to secularized holiday stories and television specials.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 11:54 AM

 
Buttercups for Jesus: Reflecting His Light in Your Life by Nancy Marie

Booklocker, 1591132991, $11.95

Perhaps you did it once as a child. You and a friend romped in the backyard or through a grassy spot at a neighboring park and came across a patch of bright yellow flowers. Your friend plucks a buttercup from the ground and holds it under your tilted chin, looking for the yellow reflection that indicates your fondness of butter. An innocent scene, yet one powerful enough to inspire Christian author Nancy Marie to create an allegory between these fields of flowers and her desire to better serve the Lord. In her devotional Buttercups for Jesus, Marie touches upon various points in her Christian life and how she struggles to reflect Christ's love, thereby making the proverbial buttercup something more than the weed most perceive it to be.

Buttercups is not a long book, clocking in around 100 pages, yet in this case brevity is most certainly an asset. Marie comes directly to the point in the dozen vignettes used to illustrate her ongoing walk with Christ, from the personal (including one personal story concerning Marie's prideful, unChristian confrontation with another writer) to the parable. As with other devotionals, each chapter concludes with a relevant prayer called for the Lord's guidance in daily life.

In one favorite passage of Buttercups, the author compares herself to a cracked pot, imperfect yet able to serve God's purpose. This image best serves to describe what Marie hopes to relay, that despite our flaws our actions can produce the perfect reflection of Christ in our lives. Anybody doubting this will want to pick up Marie's inspirational Buttercups for Jesus.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 12:50 PM

 
Niamh and the Hermit by Emily Snyder

Arx Publishing, 1889758361, $14.95

Princess Niamh (pronounced Nee-EHV) is perhaps the greatest beauty of the Twelve Kingdoms, one whose loveliness radiates within and without so strongly that nobody in Castell Gwyr is able to appreciate it. Potential suitors have either died or gone mad at the slightest exposure to Niamh, leaving everyone in the kingdom of Maelgwynn, including King Gavron, to wonder how Niamh will be able to take a husband and keep alive the line of Siawn Shieldbearer.

The most logical solution to this problem comes to prove that opposites do indeed attract when it is suggested that Niamh be betrothed to a mysterious healer. Known only as Duncan, the bridegroom is a hermit with the head and tail of a lion, and the wings of an eagle. How or when Duncan came to be so enchanted (hexed?) is a mystery, though Gavron and the kingdom are relieved when Duncan accepts the offer of marriage. That there is true love evident between Niamh and her Hermit during a clandestine meeting should have bolstered the pending celebration, were it not for the presence of evil lurking about the kingdom.

Still nursing the loss of his son to Niamh's beauty, an avenging Count steals into the bride's chamber and convinces Niamh of a method to lessen her beauty in order to allow others to tolerate her presence. What happens instead is a physical transformation so radical that Niamh's parents mistakenly cast the horrid creature they discover out of the castle, unaware that they have expelled Niamh. No thanks to the Count's interference, Niamh's inner beauty is also deeply scarred, leaving fear and shame to take her on a journey through the far realms of the Twelve Kingdoms. Search parties are dispatched, and along with them goes Duncan to reclaim the bride who, having lost all happier memories, is reduced to being an "ashputtle girl," surviving by what wits are left.

Niamh and the Hermit is a rich narrative of various subplots which intertwine together to offer the reader a vivid look at author Snyder's gift for world-building: there are the courageous guards of Castell Gwyr, whose adventures beyond Maelgwynn are reminiscent of Tolkien's stories; loyal handmaid Elowen, who prizes Niamh's life above her own, and the troubled Hermit, whose inner demons prove to be more of a challenge than those preventing his destiny. The interworkings of fantasy and faith seamed nicely into the story.

The influences of Eddings, Lewis, and other writers of the genre are evident in Snyder's style, though Niamh is uniquely her own, an ambitious debut and highly recommended to fans of fanciful tales.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 12:10 PM

 
Praying in the Presence of Our Lord with Fulton J. Sheen by Michael Dubruiel

OSV Press, 0879737158, $8.95

One might hear the name Fulton Sheen and think, assuming the person knows of Sheen, that his words and works are no longer relevant. True, the archbishop has been dead for over twenty years, and original episodes of his inspirational television show, Life is Worth Living, aired in the 1950s on a network that no longer exists, but one must consider also that the Bible is and always will be relevant. So it is with Sheen's wisdom, as a young Army solider on a tour of duty in Turkey learned once when presented with a taped series of Sheen's inspirational talks. Indeed, as this solder-turned-author Michael Dubruiel stresses, Sheen's writings on faith are timeless, as was his devotion to Christ and to spreading his Good News.

Dubruiel offers in Praying in the Presence of the Lord with Fulton J. Sheen the opportunity to reacquaint the Sheen reader with some of the bishop's more memorable reflections. For the Sheen beginner, Presence is a welcome primer of over thirty sermonettes on redemption and reperation, having a relationship with Christ, and imitating His holiness. Each is concluded with Dubruiel's own reflections on Sheen's writing, along with suggested meditations and prayers.

That Presence concludes with Sheen's reflections on war and peace make this book especially valuable for the Christian reader. "In exiling God from our national life, our politics, oue economics, and our education, it was not His Heart we pierced - it was America we slew!" he writes of another war, yet these words are still applicable, and no doubt if Sheen live today he would encourage us to heed them.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 12:08 PM

 
The Powder Monkey by George Galloway

1stBooks Library, 0759604770, $28.04

Every time young Michael Dooley gazes out from the family cooperage in Baltimore he witnesses history in the making; in 1812, Michael's home country has no time to relish the fruits of its independence as it teeters on the brink of another war with Britain. Between shifts at work and the hours put in at St. Patrick's Free School under the stern Father John Moranville, Michael absorbs the tension of the time generated by heated conversations of the cooperage's patrons - Federalists debate with Republicans and vice-versa, while Michael's Uncle Bob expends his energy ducking the watchful eye of the parish
priest.

For all the excitement, Michael maintains a strong focus on his father's pending homecoming from a cruise, longing for the day his father will reveal to him the treasured family code followed by generations of Dooleys, words of wisdom design to shape his moral character and future. When Michael's father is instead pressed into service by the British navy to fight against America, Michael's focus shifts to the sea as he signs up to work as a "powder monkey" on the next cruise out of Baltimore. Here the treasured family code is applied to his daily life, as Michael's adventures take him halfway across the world to aid others in the fight for personal and religious freedom.

Galloway's enthusiasm for early American history is infectious, and with The Powder Monkey he offers a meticulously-researched story that captures beautifully the growing pains of a young country as seen through the eyes of powder monkey Michael Dooley. Don't let the title and subject of the book fool you into thinking this book is solely targeted toward male readers, either, for Michael's interaction with his classmate Jessica (a girl after every modern woman's heart) make for some of the best scenes in The Powder Monkey. Any parent seeking an alternative to Harry Potter mania should consider this title for their young adult readers, as well as for themselves.

posted by Leigh Ellwood at 4:50 PM