Cold Light of Day (Missing in Alaska, 1) by Elizabeth Goddard

 Book Description:  Police Chief Autumn Long is fighting to keep her job when an unexpected wave of violent crime sweeps through her small Alaskan town. Does Grier Brenner, a relative newcomer to town, actually have her back? Or is she all alone as the body count rises?

My Thoughts:  Another fantastic suspense read by Elizabeth Goddard.  

This time a small town in Alaska has an unexpected crime wave.  It seems  that police chief Autumn Long is fighting a losing battle.

And then Grier Brenner comes to their small town.  He's a help or a hindrance?

Grier cam to this small Alaskan town to get lost. But as luck would have it there seems to be someone who is out to get him and maybe out for revenge.

Is it real about him or is it all about that cute little police chief, Autumn.

This quite the mysterious read.

Poor Autumn she seems tough nut sometimes life gets the best of her.  When the dangerous crime wave hits she feels all alone until Grier hits town.  But he must belong to the clam family because nothing seems to pry words from his lips.  And is he for her or against her?

So many things happen in this story.  So much action and adventure.  Keeps the reader on her toes.

If you enjoy suspense and mystery you'll love this story as much as I did.

*This book was provided for review by Revell*

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

Go HERE for recipe

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

The Prince and the Prodigal by Jill Eileen Smith

 

Book Description:  Joseph is the pampered favorite son of the patriarch Jacob. His older brothers, deeply resentful of his status in the family, take advantage of the chance to get rid of him, selling him to slave traders and deceiving their father about his fate. It seems like their troubles are over. But for Joseph and older brother Judah, they are just beginning.

While Joseph is accused of rape and imprisoned, Judah attempts to flee the memory of his complicity in the betrayal of his younger brother. After decades apart, the brothers will come face-to-face in a stunning role reversal that sees Joseph in a position of great power while Judah begs for mercy. Will forgiveness or vengeance win the day?

My Thoughts:  This is an interesting take on the story of Joseph and his older brother, Judah.

I've never read a story a biblical story with a take on the oldest and one of the younger siblings.  

Joseph seems to be the pampered and more loved son of Jacob but as we all know he also save a nation and saves his family from starvation. 

Judah was one of the brothers who sold Joseph into into slavery but as we read in this story Joseph and Judah must come to some sort of agreement for the good of the family.  Joseph has become wiser and older by the time Judah comes to seek food in Egypt so Judah does not recognize his little brother, Joseph.

The prince Joseph must for give the prodigal Judah. This story is more about family dynamics and forgiveness.  

The author did a marvelous job of providing biblical background with just enough imaginative fiction to make this wonderful story of Joseph and Judah pop!

*This book Was provided for review by Revell*

 

The Devoted Life by Marjorie Jackson

Book Description: This topically guided creative journal for teen girls offers inspiration and encouragement for those who desire to live their lives fully devoted to Christ. Amidst the loud, confusing voices of the world, trying to tell them which way is the right way to go, girls need to stop, rest, refuel, and reflect in the presence of their truest Friend and most loyal heavenly Father. Whether it’s through creativity, meditating on scripture, prayer, or writing, readers will join young author and artist, Marjorie Jackson, for a time of life-giving fun, faith-strengthening encouragement, and God-glorifying growth. As girls connect with their first love, Jesus, they will begin to understand that life is truly good with a God who is absolutely great! 

 My Thoughts: Every December I begin to think of what journal/devotional I'll use for the new year. This year I chose The Devoted Life by Marjorie Jackson. I was so excited when I received it. It's a pearl pink color...not a tan color like the picture indicates. It's beautiful! I know this devotional is geared for girls but this year I wanted something a little different. It's divided into 31 sections and each section has a devotional, Scriptures for going deeper and then journal prompts. Journal prompts allow one to write down what is going on in life. This is imitation leather but it's so nice. I love the thin line feel, not bulky at all. At the back of the book are pages with places to color and draw or write whatever on wishes. This is absolutely beautiful! And would make a lovely gift, too. 

Imitation Leather: 208 pages Publisher: 

Shiloh Run Press 

 Language: English

 ISBN-10: 1683226879 ISBN-13: 978-1683226871

What I could Tell You by Liz Tolsma

 

Book Description:  1941—The pounding of Nazi boots on the streets of Salonika, Greece, reverberates in Mathilda Nissim’s ears, shaking her large community of Sephardic Jews to its core and altering her life forever. If only her people would rise up and resist their captors. At great risk to herself and those around her, she uses the small newspaper she publishes to call them to action, all to no avail. Her husband encourages her to trust God to watch over them, but God has once again deserted His people. Amid the chaos, Mathilda discovers she’s expecting a longed-for child. Still, nothing stops the occupiers’ noose from tightening around their necks, and she may have to resort to desperate measures to ensure her daughter’s survival.

 
2019—College student Tessa Payton and her cousin take a popular DNA heritage test only to discover they don’t share any common ancestors. In fact, the test reveals Tessa is a Greek Sephardic Jew. This revelation threatens her tenuous faith. Always the overlooked child in her family, she empties her savings account and jets off on a journey to Greece to discover where she belongs and which God demands her allegiance. The enchanting curator at the Jewish museum guides her as she navigates life in Thessaloniki, helps with her genealogical research, and loans her a fascinating journal written by a Jewish woman during WWII. Tessa’s search, however, may open old wounds and uncover long-hidden secrets that could fracture her family forever and leave her with more questions than when she started.
 

My Thoughts: I love stories about WWII.  However, I'm not  fan of duel timelines.  

But I can see that this story requires a dual timeline for it to make sense.

It's interesting that all her life Tessa thinks she is part of a family until one fateful day she discovers through a DNA test that she isn't really cousins or blood related at all to her cousin.

This brings up all kinds of unanswered questions which then lead to Tessa's discovery about her roots with the Sephardic Jews.  Jews that lived in Greece but were also affected by Hitler's regime.

The more Tessa digs into her family's past the more she discovers.  Some of the discoveries answer her questions like why she does certain things and other discoveries open up a whole new world.

The dual timeline threw me at times so I had to read carefully as not to mix up the characters. Otherwise, it was a wonderful telling of a story.

Such an interesting story!

Loved it and couldn't put it down!

*This book was provided for review by Barbour*

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}.

 

A very non nutritional Valentine's Treat!

Oreo Bomb Cake:

1. Dip oreos milk

2. Line pan with them
3. Cover in Cool Whip.
4. Layer and repeat.
5. Consume