ACRBA Blog Tour - Andrew Murray: Destined to Serve by Olea Nel

6 - 10 April 2015

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is introducing

Andrew Murray Destined to Serve: A Biographical Novel 

(Clairvaux House (own imprint), 1 October 2014)

By

Dr Olea Nel 

About the Book:

For those who love Historical Fiction about Christian heroes of the faith"Historically accurate, and based upon Andrew Murray's letters and early biographies"

A boyish and fun-loving Andrew Murray arrives back in South Africa after being ordained at the Hague on his twentieth birthday. He soon discovers that his preaching lacks the power displayed by his heroes of the faith. He therefore decides to embark on a quest to become a powerful preacher filled with the Holy Spirit.

About the Author

Dr Olea Nel was born in Cape Town, South Africa. After completing her training as a teacher in Andrew Murray’s heartland of Wellington, she relocated to Australia to further her studies. Besides attaining a PhD in Linguistics, she also has qualifications in Information Studies and Theology. Having now retired from her position as a senior librarian at the National Library of Australia, she is able to pursue her passion for research, especially within the fields of church history and biography. Her aim is to share her findings with fellow Christians.

http://www.onandrewmurray.com/author

My Thoughts:
I don't often read biographies, so for this to be a biographical novel it made it much easier to read. It made it more personal, more like you were there with Andrew Murray, hearing his thoughts, sharing his life, rather than just hearing "so and so did this, went there, talked to x ...".

Olea has done a really good job of painting a picture of what life was like for Andrew Murray during this time of his life - and the story is not done yet. This is just the first in a series of books, and I'm really looking forward to the next one.

Before I read this, I had heard of Andrew Murray, but didn't really know anything about him. This book is about his first few years in ministry.

Reading Challenges Update 2

I've been having fun with my 2015 Bingo Reading Challenge!

The hunt has been on for books to fit the categories and for some of them I still haven't figured out with book to read, but that's okay because it's still early in the year.

So the books for the next squares are:

• Makes you cry: Not My Will by Francena H Arnold
• Has a child main character: Swallow Me, Now! by Melissa Gijsbers
• Is a classic you've never read: Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

I'm currently reading one more (you'll have to wait for my next update), but then I'm all out of ideas, at least for now.

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I've also made a little progress on my 2015 TBR Pile Challenge.

3 more books have been read for this with another in progress and one about to be started.

• Spoken For by Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke
• It's Just You and Me, Lord by Marion Stroud
• The Spotlight of Faith by Bill Crowder

This takes me to 6 of 18 read - I'm 1/3 through the pile related to the challenge. My TBR pile did grow recently with a purchase of books during a recent sale at my favourite book store.

ACRBA Tour - Swallow Me, Now! by Melissa Gijsbers

2 - 6 March 2015

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is introducing

Swallow Me, Now!
(Lilly Pilly Press, October 2014)

By

Melissa Gijsbers

About the Book:

All Sam wants to do is to fit in at her new school. Feeling alone, and desperately trying to find her place in the world, she concocts an AMAZING story - BUT it backfires on her, and she becomes known as the 'Evil Genius's Daughter!' Can her life get any worse?

About the Author

Melissa Gijsbers started writing when she was in High School during the 1990s, even winning some awards for a short story and a script. For many years, life got in the way of creative writing, however she did start blogging around 2006.

She currently lives in Melbourne, Australia with her two sons and a pet blue tongue lizard.

My Thoughts:

This is a book I would definitely recommend for you to share with your children if you are trying to address the issue of bullying. It is also a good one for thinking about children who are coming to a new school and the things they are affected by, particularly those who have come from other countries.

I look forward to reading the next book in Melissa's Green Oaks Primary School series.

Reading Challenges Update 1

Yes! I've been reading books. Not all for challenges, but a few. Some I'm still getting through, but they will be read before the year is out.

I thought I'd do an update for both challenges - 2015 TBR Pile Challenge and 2015 Bingo Reading Challenge.

First up is the 2015 TBR Pile Challenge.



I'll get on with what I've read shortly, but there has been one change. Two books on the pile have been removed from the challenge. My sister read the books before I did, and recommended that I don't read them. Her opinion is one that I highly value and listen to, so I won't be reading Strong and Stubborn by Kelly Eileen Hake and An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus. This means there are now a total of 18 books for the challenge.

So far I have finished 3 books and am currently in the process of reading 3 others (those 3 are all non-fiction and at least 2 are devotional books that I read a small section of each day).

The 3 books I have finished are:

• Light Force by Brother Andrew and Al Janssen (this one was one that I didn't read in last year's challenge)
• Finding Spiritual Whitespace by Bonnie Gray
• The Land Uncharted by Keely Brooke Keith

I found Light Force to be really interesting. It is a sequel to Brother Andrew's first book - God's Smuggler - and talks about what he has been doing since the publishing of that book made it impossible for him to continue his ministry in Europe. I found it most interesting the way his ministry focus has changed to focus on Palestinians - both Christians and Muslims - and the way his life has impacted world leaders and the influence he has had on the way Palestinian Christians have outreached to their own community, particularly in the face of war and terrorism.

Reading Finding Spiritual Whitespace has become part of a study for me, this year, on what true spiritual rest is. Over a few week I was often left with the thought that rest was important in my life and wanted to discover how I could rest in the middle of a busy life. Many people have a word for the year, and this year my word is REST. I'm not talking about getting enough sleep (although that is important), but true rest that is offered by God. The journey is not over, even though I have finished this book - there is still much more to learn on this topic.

So with these 3 books read and 2 books off the list for good, I'm at 3 out of 18 read.

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And now for the 2105 Bingo Reading Challenge.

My Bingo card has just one book read, but I'm working on how to read a few more. I will have one other square filled soon (thanks to a book I got to review).

The book I read for a genre that I don't normally read was The Land Uncharted by Keely Brooke Keith. It was a science-fiction book, and that is something I really don't usually read, but you might have read the blog tour and review post I did about it. Yes, it made it on both of my challenges for the year! But that's not against the rules.

So that's where I'm at with my reading challenges this year. Stay tuned for further updates, reviews and whatever else I think about and post!

Go To Movies

Do you have any movies that are your "go to" movies?
By this I mean when you don't know what to watch or your have particular emotions going on or there is a particular event happening - are there movies that you just watch at those times?

I have a few - depending on what's happening.

Sabrina is one of the movies I watch when I'm feeling lonely or just don't know what else to watch. I've probably watched it at least 10 times.

Triple Cross is another of my "I don't know what else to watch" movies - I watch this one when I want a little more action (plus I like Christopher Plummer).

Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium is the movie I watch when I'm unsure of what is going on in my life or I'm really feeling down.

Muppet Christmas Carol I watch when I need a little bit of Christmas! Any time of year is good, and I love the songs (I also have the soundtrack!!).

And this is what I watch around Valentines day - mainly because I really don't like Valentines Day (not having a significant other is the reason for this).

How about you?

Are there movies you watch time and time again for a variety of reasons?

ACRBA Tour - The Land Uncharted by Keely Brooke Keith

2 - 6 February 2015

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Land Uncharted 
Edenbrooke Press

October 2014

By

Keely Brooke Keith

About the Book:

Lydia Colburn is a young physician dedicated to serving her village in the Land, a landmass in the South Atlantic Ocean undetectable to the outside world. When injured fighter pilot Connor Bradshaw’s parachute carries him from the war engulfing the 2025 world to her hidden land, his presence threatens her plans, her family, and the survival of her preindustrial society. 

As Connor searches for a way to return to his squadron, his fascination with life in the Land makes him protective of Lydia and her peaceful homeland, and Lydia’s attraction to Connor stirs desires she never anticipated. Written like a historical, set like a scifi, and filled with romance, The Land Uncharted weaves adventure and love in this suspenseful story of a hidden land.

About the Author

Keely Brooke Keith, author of the Uncharted series, is a bass guitarist and frequently performs and tours with her husband, singer/songwriter John Martin Keith. When she isn’t writing stories or playing bass, Keely enjoys dancing, having coffee with friends, and sifting through vintage books at antique stores. Keely resides on a hilltop south of Nashville with her husband and their daughter, Rachel.

My Thoughts
I wasn't sure of this book initially and how to describe it. Keely describes it best (of course it is her book):
"The Land Uncharted is written with the feel of historical fiction, set like science fiction, and of course there is romance."
I generally don't read science fiction, but this definitely felt more like historical fiction, so I did, in fact, enjoy reading it.
The story ticked so many boxes - good characters and character development, a bit of mystery, romance (but not over the top), and an ending that gets you hanging out for the next book in the series.

Keep up the good work Keely!

2015 Bingo Reading Challenge

I found this challenge at the Bethany House Fiction blog and thought it would be a bit of fun.

"For those of you up for a novel dare, here is the Unofficial 2015 Bethany House Reading Challenge! Print it out, keep it on your fridge, tuck it in your ereader, share it with your friends! I’m going to give it a try myself.

A few rules (since this is such a serious and official endeavor): You may re-read books for this (but try to make at least half new books). You don’t have to read just BHP books. And a book may only fulfill one category. So, for example, if you read Les Miserables, which made you cry and has been made into a movie and is way more than 500 pages, and you’re from France and don’t normally read in that genre…it still only counts once. Nice try."

I think I'm going to have a lot of trouble finding a character with the same eye colour as me - mine are on the green side of hazel!

So jump on board and have some fun!

2015 TBR Pile Challenge

Welcome to 2015 and to another book challenge.

For anyone following my blog, you will know that in 2014 I challenged myself to read all the books that had been on my TBR Pile for over 12 months (for those who would like to go back in time click here). I didn't quite get through whole the list, but did get through most of them. There were 5 left.

So for this year's challenge, any books that are on my TBR Pile on 1 January 2015 will be on the list. Books added during the year will not be counted for the challenge; only those already in my possession and on the list will be counted.

Please join in with me this year and get going with your pile. Use your own guidelines for your challenge. Please let me know how you are going and what books you have been reading.

Now I'm sure you all want to know which books will be on my list for 2015 and here they are (books marked with a * were part of the 2014 challenge but not read):

• Light Force by Brother Andrew and Al Janssen*
• The Pledge by Jane Peart*
• 12 Questions to Ask Before You Marry by Clayton and Charie King*
• The Circus Collection by Enid Blyton*
• So You Want to be Like Christ by Charles Swindoll*
• Spotlight of Faith by Bill Crowder
• Hear Me When I Call by Charles Swindoll
• Hunter's Prize by Marcia Gruver
• It's Just You and Me, Lord by Marion Stroud
• Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolma
• An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus
• God's Mountains, Meadows and More by Robin Jones Gunn
• Let's Talk by Bill Crowder
• Strong and Stubborn by Kelly Eileen Hake
• Spoken For by Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke
• From God's Word to a Woman's Heart by Janice Hanna
• Finding Spiritual White Space by Bonnie Gray
• Before Amen by Max Lucado
• Moving Beyond Failure by Bill Crowder
• The Land Uncharted by Keely Brooke Keith

That makes 20 books in all for my challenge this year.

A few I have already started reading, but you'll just have to wait for my updates to find out which ones.

I'm not promising how often updates will be. Last year, other than January, it was pretty much quarterly updates.

So join the fun and get reading!

2014 TBR Pile Challenge - Final Count

I guess you're wondering how I did this year.
I didn't finish the pile, but I did get through most of it.

Since my last update I have read:

• Cast of Characters by Max Lucado
• Every Day Deserves a Chance by Max Lucado
• God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew
• Where Jesus Walked by Ken Duncan
• Glory of Creation by Thomas Kinkade
• Reflections of a Thankful Heart by Lori Wick

With these ones being finished, it means I read all but 5 of the list, which means 24 out of 29.

Of course, this was just some of my reading for the year. I actually read a total of 140 books for the year.

How did your year finish up? Did you achieve your reading goals? Did you get through your TBR pile?

Stay tuned for next year's challenge!

Christmas Reading Wrap-Up

So, Christmas is over and so is my Christmas reading - the last book was finished this morning.

Following on from my last update (you can see it here):

A couple of compilations came next, the first was That Christmas Feeling by Catherine Palmer and Gail Gaymer Martin. Followed by A Victorian Christmas Tea by Catherine Palmer, Dianna Crawford, Peggy Stoks and Katherine Chute.

Then came my favourite Christmas book - I've read it every year since it came out in 2010.

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K Paul.

My last Christmas book for this year is not strictly a Christmas story although most of the book does take place at Christmas time. The Substitute Guest by Grace Livingston Hill.

So what books did you read over this Christmas season?

Are there any that you read every year?