Passionate for Justice by Catherine Meeks and Nibs Stroupe


Passionate for Justice: Ida B. Wells as Prophet for Our Time by Catherine Meeks and Nibs Stroupe
Publisher: Church Publishing
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction, Contemporary, Inspirational
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Ida B. Wells was a powerful churchwoman and witness for justice and equity from 1878–1931. Born enslaved, her witness flowed through the struggles for justice in her lifetime, especially in the intersections of African Americans, women, and those who were poor. Her life is a profound witness for faith-based work of visionary power, resistance, and resilience for today’s world, when the forces of injustice stand in opposition to progress.

These are exciting and dangerous times. Boundaries that previously seemed impenetrable are now being crossed. This book is a guide for the current state of affairs in American culture, enlivened by the historical perspective of Wells’ search for justice.

The authors are an African-American woman and a child of white supremacy. Both have dedicated themselves to working, writing, and developing ministries oriented toward justice, equity, and mercy. This book can be used in all settings, but most especially in churches (pastors and other church leaders, study groups), seminaries, and universities.

Ida B Wells, an unsung hero for our times.

I hadn’t read anything about Ida B Wells and when I saw this book, I picked it up. I’m glad I did. I knew nothing about this trailblazing woman and I should’ve. She was a strong woman, a forthright person and a force to be reckoned with. She’s a hero of women’s rights, of human rights and shows how to keep going no matter what. She witnessed some of the most awful things in history, but kept her head up.

There is a thread of discussion on race relations in this book as well as the upbringings of the authors, who weren’t alive during Wells’s time. This book requires the reader to think and consider their own upbringing in light of the world issues. This isn’t an easy book to read, but it’s worth the time.

If you’re looking for a book that’s thought-provoking, then this is the one for you.

The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember by Fred Rogers


The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember by Fred Rogers
Publisher: Hachette
Genre: Non-Fiction, Inspirational
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

A timeless collection of wisdom on love, friendship, respect, individuality, and honesty from the beloved PBS series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

There are few personalities who evoke such universal feelings of warmth as Fred Rogers. An enduring presence in American homes for over 30 years, his plainspoken wisdom continues to guide and comfort many. The World According to Mister Rogers distills the legacy and singular worldview of this beloved American figure. An inspiring collection of stories, anecdotes, and insights–with sections devoted to love, friendship, respect, individuality, and honesty, The World According to Mister Rogers reminds us that there is much more in life that unites us than divides us.
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Culled from Fred Rogers’ speeches, program transcripts, books, letters, and interviews, along with some of his never-before-published writings, The World According to Mister Rogers is a testament to the legacy of a man who served and continues to serve as a role model to millions.

Sometimes a book that’s uplifting is just what the neighbor ordered.

This book is by Fred Rogers, AKA Mister Rogers, and his wife, Joanne. I have to admit that because this book was published after Mr. Rogers passed. His wife helped compile his words into a cute book meant to uplift whoever reads it. It really does.

There are tidbits from how he grew up, how he learned to be kind and how he kept a positive attitude throughout his life. I liked how he reminds everyone that emotions and feelings are valid. Don’t try to stuff your feelings in, but let them out and talk about them. It might seem like platitudes, but in this period of time, it’s nice to read something that makes the heart happy. Plus, reading his words reminded me of being a kid and looking forward to watching the show.

If you’re looking for something that will make you happy and might even get you thinking, then this is the book for you.

Siddhartha by Hermann Hess


Siddhartha by Hermann Hess
Publisher: New Directions
Genre: Non-fiction, inspirational
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

This classic novel of self-discovery has inspired generations of seekers. With parallels to the enlightenment of the Buddha, Hesse’s Siddhartha is the story of a young Brahmn’s quest for the ultimate reality. His quest takes him from the extremes of indulgent sensuality to the rigors of ascetism and self-denial. At last he learns that wisdom cannot be taught–it must come from one’s own experience and inner struggle. Steeped in the tenets of both psychoanalysis and Eastern mysticism, Siddhartha presents a strikingly original view of man and culture, and the arduous process of self-discovery that leads to reconciliation, harmony and peace. Considered to be a classic of 20th-century fiction, Hesse’s most celebrated work reflects his lifelong studies of Oriental myth and religion.

This philosophical book deals with a man’s journey of finding himself, written in novel form. It was written in the early 1920s, published in the U.S. in the 1950s and became a story with influence in the sixties.
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Siddhartha wants to know the meaning of life, of his (everyone’s) existence, and he goes out there experimenting with different ways of life. Early on, he joins a group of those who turn away from society and abstain from all the things that make life comfortable. He learns some things and makes a stop toward his spiritual progress, but something is still missing.

Interestingly, he goes out into the real world with nothing but the clothes on his back. He’s intelligent and works his way up in the world, finally becoming a man of means. He even has a beautiful lover. By the time his hair turns gray, he decides he has more to learn and gives it all up. He goes to lead a simple life with a man, the ferryman of the very important river.

The ferryman is spiritually advanced, and Siddhartha learns a thing or two from him. This story is rich in literary figures of speech such as metaphors, similes and the like. It is beautifully written, and its symbolism gives readers much to ponder. The river is itself a character, and as Siddhartha finds himself, the river comes into play.

It is a short book that allows readers to get inside the story. Entertaining, it is also filled with profound meaning. Even though Buddhism is the faith of choice here, the book has much to say to anyone.

The Menu by Steven Manchester


The Menu by Steven Manchester
Publisher: Luna Bella Press
Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Blessed with a high emotional IQ, Phinn Reed enters the world with the promise of finding his soul mate. With heaven’s memories erased, his romantic quest teaches him that the heart often sees clearer than the eyes—and that not everyone has ordered the same items from The Menu. Evidence that love stories come in many different forms, The Menu is a spiritual journey involving more than just a man and a woman; it is a modern-day tale that reaches far beyond the boundaries of reason.

Can you find exactly what you want without ordering the perfect thing from the menu?

Kamagra is one amongst helpful, cialis cost constructive and great medication have ever found. Do not increase or decrease viagra 50mg canada the dosage as per your own wish as it is not at all safe for the health. If you think beating stress is difficult, then take a step to meet your family doctor or a spe generic cialis 40mgt one as this is the most suitable way to buy them in the right manner. At any rate, if you’re suffering from ED or impotence, you should consult your doctor first before taking any sort of medication even if it is herbal as they will tell you there if you are linking to dodgy best deeprootsmag.org commander cialis places and do your best to keep your sexual life healthy and happy. I’ve not read anything before by Steven Manchester, so this was a new to me author. This story is original. Phinn is in the world and trying to find his way. The writing moves along just fine and the characters are interesting.

This book does deal with abortion, so it might be a trigger for some readers. It’s inspirational in that the character of Phinn talks to his version of god while going along his way, but it’s also a bit of a fantasy story in that he’s allowed to order what he thinks he wants for a love story.

I liked that the characters aren’t perfect and I appreciated that they can’t always get what they want. It made me wonder while I read what I might have chosen had I the opportunity to pick from a menu. So in that respect, it does make one think.

This book isn’t what I’d normally pick for my reading. I like a distinctive line with the romance. The injected spirituality and religion is good, but not my cuppa. I also had a bit of an issue with this being listed as inspirational when there is discussion of romantic relations. I won’t give away spoilers, but this isn’t a sweet book. It’s more of a sensual story and might not be for some readers wanting purely sweet romance.

If you’re looking for a book that makes you think and look at the life, mostly your choices, a little differently, then this might be the book for you. Check it out.

A Week at Surfside Beach by Pierce Koslosky Jr.


A Week at Surfside Beach by Pierce Koslosky Jr.
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Thousands of families and individuals are attracted to the South Carolina coast each year, renting houses up and down the beach throughout the seasons. They bring their lives with them when they come to this magical place. In A Week at Surfside Beach, author Pierce Koslosky Jr. has crafted sixteen poignant short stories that paint a vivid portrait of the beach’s diverse, temporary inhabitants: those people attracted to a landscape both beautiful and overwhelming in its ability to force introspection and change. Set over the course of a single rental season that ends at Christmas, the book’s unrelated characters all have their stays in the blue beach house, yet each story has a distinct message at its core. Readers will follow people in every stage of life—from a six-year-old entering the imaginary world of crabs to an escapee from a retirement home—and witness their varied individual experiences. These are stories of hope and redemption, connection and detachment, and lessons taught and learned. Both original and contemplative, heartbreaking and inspirational, A Week at Surfside Beach brings together a collection of tales with seemingly ordinary, simple, and familiar details—yet underneath their calm, relatable surfaces exist the uncomfortable, extraordinary complexities of life.

A week at the beach can be far more than a simple summer getaway.
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In “June 6–June 13: The Inflatable Dragon,” an elderly man named John booked a week at the beach house in order to get away from his adult children who were trying to force him to move into a nursing home. While he was there, he met someone who needed exactly what he had to offer. They were two people who on the surface seemed to have nothing in common but who turned out to understand each other much more deeply than they would have guessed. I was pretty pleased by the process of them developing their friendship and discussing their problems.

There were some cases in which I wish the characters had stronger resolutions to their conflicts. Obviously, not everything can be solved in the few short days to a week that the audience has with each protagonist, but I do wish more had been done with three-year-old Lucy’s disappearance in “June 27–July 4: Lucy.” She was able to wander off because her parents were having an argument about something they’d fought about many times before. There was so much more room here for character development, from the parents’ stubbornness to a much deeper exploration of what happened to this little girl and why the police reacted the way that they did to the conclusion to the case.

Dan and his family watched at home in horror as a hurricane threatened to destroy the beach house they’d been visiting every summer for many years in “September 26—October 3: As Seen from a Safe Place.” Seeing them revisit old, happy memories about their previous trips there only made me more curious to see if their vacation spot would survive the storm and if their family could gather together there again. I felt invested in them and couldn’t stop hoping they’d have a happy ending.

A Week at Surfside Beach was a lovely summer read for anyone looking for something lighthearted.

Hunger Winter by Rob Currie


Hunger Winter by Rob Currie
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Genre: Historical, Middle Grade, Inspirational
Length: Full (272 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

Thirteen-year-old Dirk has been the man of the house since his papa disappeared while fighting against the Nazis with the Dutch Resistance. When the Gestapo arrests Dirk’s older sister, who is also a Resistance fighter, Dirk fears that he and his little sister, Anna, might be next.

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This is an exciting look back at a time in history when life was hard for everyone–the period of the Hongerwinter, the Dutch famine of 1944-1945 during the time the Netherlands was occupied by Germany, at the end of World War II. I have to admit I did not know much about this part of the war before reading this book, and it has spurred my interest to learn more.

Told from the points of view of Dirk, a 13-year-old boy who is trying to find his way to safety with his young sister, Anna, and his older sister Els, who is part of the Resistance and has been captured by the Gestapo, Hunter Winter, shares a  snapshot of the dangers and difficulties that people were facing during this time. It’s written simply so a child could understand, but is full of suspense at the same time and kept this grandmother on the edge of her seat wondering how these children would be able to survive…. to the extent that I finished the book in one sitting.

There is a Christian message throughout the book; not heavy-handed but enough to show where this family gets its strength. One of the many pieces of advice Dirk’s father had shared with him was “Keep your hopes up and your prayers strong,” and it definitely helped him as he struggled to keep his sister safe.

I highly recommend this book to families with children 10 and up. It might be a little much for younger kids, but it’s important that our children learn about times like these so hopefully they’ll know enough to keep history from repeating itself. There are some violent moments, but this was a violent time, so to leave those elements out would have been doing the readers a disservice.

The author has obviously put a lot of research into this time period and, until I reached the end of the book and discovered the characters were fictional, I would have sworn the author was telling a story torn out of his own family’s history–the characters were that real to me. Good job, sir.

The Outlaw’s Second Chance by Angie Dicken


The Outlaw’s Second Chance by Angie Dicken
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Historical, Inspirational
Length: Full length (288 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Renegade on the run

When Cort Stanton and Aubrey Huxley try to claim the same land in the Oklahoma Land Run, Cort offers a deal—one that could help him keep his freedom. After taking the blame for his brother’s crime, Cort needs to lie low, so he gives Aubrey the land for her horse ranch…if she’ll hire him. Now he just has to avoid growing too close to the gorgeous seamstress, who can never know his secret.

Some struggle to look good, some to earn decent amount of cash for laptop, desktops, cialis viagra generico and other gadgets and can easily help men to improve and maintain sexual healthy. cheap sildenafil http://deeprootsmag.org/tag/sarah-beatty/ Kamagra works by blocking the action of the PDE-5 enzyme, which in turn that allows cGMP to work properly. Impotence is the failure in the men in achieving the peak. generic in uk viagra Researches also found that nipples are also variations in best price sildenafil sizes and characteristics. Aubrey refuses to depend on any man, even one as handsome and kind as Cort. Yet, as they work together to make her dream a reality, it’s impossible to imagine life on the prairie without him. And though Aubrey knows Cort has secrets that stand between them, she can’t help but wish she could stake a claim on his heart.

I’m going to mail this book to my mother. She was the one that got me hooked on romance books and this is more her type of book than mine. She enjoys historical romances of adventure and faith. The kind of love story that warms your heart while inspiring your love for God. Tales that leave you with more than just a happily ever after. It’s one of hope, justice and redemption in Jesus Christ.

I know my mom would enjoy the characters that displayed endurance through hardships through prayer while showing discipleship to others. Her favorite television show was Little House on the Prairie.

The Outlaw’s Second Chance
would meet all her expectations and more. Not only was it well written, it was also entertaining. I just know she’d recommend this book to her Christian friends.

Speaking for myself, I prefer a book with a little bit more sensual chemistry between the hero and heroine. Perhaps that’s why my mom prays for my soul, LOL. The hero, Cort Stanton, has a past that he’s running from. Aubrey Huxley, the heroine, is also running from her past but they are both running for completely different reasons and looking for different outcomes. They are both stubborn and pigheaded so it was interesting to see how they could overcome their obstacles, to be able to give their hearts to each other. Praise God they saw the light.

I have to be transparent. I obtained this book out of desperation. I forgot to bring a book on our camping trip. I found a lending library box at the camp store. It was the only romance paperback there and the cover looked aesthetically pleasing. The synopsis on the back sounded interesting so I snagged it. I didn’t even realize it was a Christian romance. I’ve read a few in my lifetime so I gave it a try. What choice did I have? I needed something to pass the time. The best thing about taking that chance was the outcome; I was pleased because it ended up being a good read. Yes, there was scripture written in the story but it wasn’t holier than thou, in your face, making me feel like a sinner who needed to repent, kind of book.

In conclusion, if you love innocent, sweet, Christian books then this one is a winner. I’ve never read a book by Angie Dicken before but I’d consider reading another book by her. I can easily recommend The Outlaw’s Second Chance.

Consciousness Detoured by Miladine Etienne


Consciousness Detoured by Miladine Etienne
Publisher: Molding Messengers
Genre: Inspirational, Contemporary, Poetry
Length: Short Story (42 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In this collection of short poems, the author uses her words to take readers on a journey through their most personal thoughts. The emotions captured on these pages are things we all experience and feel, and that allows the context to be extremely relatable. Get lost in this book as love, family, pain, and self-care are discussed. Truly a comfort read.

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This is the sort of poetry that thrives when it’s read out loud. I liked it when I read it silently, but I enjoyed it even more when I heard myself speak the words in it and noticed alliterations and rhyming schemes in some of them that weren’t as obvious the first time around. They were marvellous.

There were several different types of poetry represented in this collection. Most of it was free verse, but there were also some poems that stuck to fairly regular rhyming schemes. I liked the fact that they all covered such a wide range of topics, but I couldn’t help but to wonder if it would have been better to either stick to one type of poetry or bundle all of the poems on the same topic together into the same book. It was a little jarring for me as a reader to not only jump around in subject matter constantly but to also leapfrog from poems that followed predictable rhyming patterns to ones that did not.

One of the best parts of this collection was a poem called “Haitian.” It was so short and pithy that I dare not quote a single word of it or say which part of Haiti’s history it was referring to, but I thought it represented the author’s talent with drilling down to the heart of the matter nicely. If other readers are planning to read this collection out of order, I’d definitely recommend starting here.

Consciousness Detoured should be read by anyone who loves poetry or the inspirational genre.

Song of Sugar Sands by Debra Coleman Jeter


Song of Sugar Sands by Debra Coleman Jeter
Publisher: Elk Lake Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational
Length: Full Length (302 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

A deeply committed young man falls in love with the beautiful but troubled Acadia, who knows herself too selfish, too sinful, and too skeptical in her faith to marry a preacher.
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Acadia Powers nearly lost her faith at an early age due to what she saw as the hypocrisy of her parents’ generation. In college—where the novel begins—she meets and falls in love with Peter O’Neil, who is fervent in his faith and wants to share the good news with the world. Despite serious doubts about her ability to survive as a preacher’s wife, Acadia finally agrees to marry Peter. The two embark with high hopes on a new life in Sugar Sands, Alabama, where Acadia takes a position as a high school teacher while Peter becomes pastor of a small church. SONG OF SUGAR SANDS recounts Acadia’s struggle to come to terms with issues of faith, while also telling the story of Peter and Acadia’s falling in love and the traumatic first year of their marriage. When one of her students attempts suicide after confiding her problems in Acadia, and a new friend and mentor, Beatrice Wood, reveals that she has terminal cancer, Acadia almost quits. Can she reach deep enough inside, or beyond herself, to find what she needs to keep on trying, or has she made too many mistakes already?

This is a very sweet look into the life of a young married couple… Peter and Acadia. In addition to all the other issues that all young marrieds face, Acadia has added issues from her past that she has not only not dealt with, but that she’s never shared with her husband. It was a quick read that I didn’t want to put down – I was that invested in their lives.

This is a Christian novel and so, of course deals with spiritual matters, but it does so in a way that didn’t, in this reviewer’s eye, come across as “preachy.” Both of the main characters are likable, although they also both have some growing up to do.  They have to learn to pay more attention to what their partner is going through, which I find to be so very realistic.

The secondary characters, as well, are fully developed…even the characters that I had issues with showed that they are not all bad.  Good job.

This is the first book that I’ve read by this author, and I’m looking forward to reading more.

The Reformer by Maysam Yabandeh


The Reformer by Maysam Yabandeh
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical, Inspirational
Length: Short story (32 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender
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What Nazi Germany did to the Jews did not happen overnight. Although the historians differ on the origin, some argue that the foundation for it was built by the writings and deeds of perhaps the most influential reformer of the millennium, Martin Luther. This screenplay is a journey through his life to give us historical facts as well as insights into his reformation. Whether or not the events of his lifetime could have influenced the Holocaust is left for the reader to decide. The monologues are verbatim copies from Luther’s books, articles, and sermons. Preserving historical accuracy has been the chief goal in formulating conversations missing from recorded history.

This is a short, snappy, historical piece, and a religious historical drama. As a screenplay, it is true to form, giving good visual flashes of the action and artistic snapshots that present the somber mood. Readers can easily picture the setting. This reviewer has written a screenplay and so understands the important differences between one and a fictional short story. This screenplay could well be adapted to that genre and would of course benefit from more internal introspection.

There are a few spelling/grammatical errors, but nothing too distracting. There are strong words here. This story is good but not for everyone. Some may be offended by the overt, emotional religious words for or against certain faiths. Christianity is set against Judaism, at first in a good light then in a poor light—depending on one’s point of view.

The writing is up-close and realistic, enough so that readers can feel the emotion of the actors. The author drew on primary source material, adding to a feeling of authenticity. Reading the actual words of Luther is a fair treatment of this history. One can read this and make a determination about how to feel. For those who only know the basic history of The Reformation, reading this will shed more light on the situation and may change feelings.