Isn't that cover stunning? 😍
In This Moment was an epic adventure from page one! I went into this book blindly (this makes it SO much more enjoyable), and I was blown away by the plot twists and the secrets revealed. There were several moments where I gasped out loud, I was so surprised! Sometime last year, I remember browsing through one of the online book retailers and reading about this book. It sounded intriguing, involving time-traveling (or time crossing in this case), and a woman living in three different time periods. What’s the catch? Maggie only has until her 21st birthday to choose one world she’ll remain in for the rest of her life, while forfeiting her other two lives and all she holds dear in them. When I did more research into this book, it was a delight to find out that there was a book before In This Moment. And that is: When the Day Comes. (I never got around to posting about this AMAZING first book in the Timeless series.) If you love historical fiction, with elements of faith, romance, war, and intrigue, go pick up When the Day Comes first. . . and then snag this one as well. Note: These books should be read in order! Also, grab a box of tissues. These novels should come with tissue warnings. 😉 Thank you for writing this meaningful story, Gabrielle! The faith threads were especially encouraging, and relatable, and they tied in really well with all the other elements of the story. God has given you an amazing gift, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity He gave me to read your wonderful books. Can't wait for book three! 😀
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A friend posted this graphic on Instagram, encouraging us to share 10 of the books that have framed our lives up to this point. I filled in all the blanks, sent it out into the social media world, and then I realized, Wait. Each book had a small paragraph of explanation, like a fragment of my heart, and I wanted to share with you today. (Note: There was no room to fit the paragraphs on Instagram. Can I say, #writerstruggles? Haha!) Alrightyy. . . let's begin! ;) 1. Kathleen's Enduring Faith by Tracy Leininger Craven. How old was I when I read this book? I don't remember, but what I do remember is that it terrified me for various reasons. It was set around the time of the Civil War, when the different races were being divided. I'm so glad I didn't know the Ku Klux Klan (mentioned in this book) was a real group till I was older. My younger self might have been scared to know they were real. . . This was the first time there was a death of a beloved character involved and it was SO SAD. 😭 2. The Secret in the Old Attic by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew Mysteries #21) When asked about reading, I can't leave out Nancy Drew books! These stories were a big part of my childhood, as I devoured book after book, sometimes one in a day. This one in particular, had a scene SOOO scary that I didn't want to read it at night. I remember talking to my cousin about it, too, and how it was "creepy." 😂 I was old enough, at this point, to enjoy reading about the things girls like to talk about (aka: ROMANCE, BOYS, ETC) and this was the turning point in my reading. . . when I realized that there was a whole genre that existed for just that purpose. Besides, the "romance" in these books was. . . I wouldn't even call it juvenile. 😂🤣 3. The Preacher's Daughter by Beverly Lewis. (Amish) Isn't that cover STUNNING? I thought so, at 10 maybe 11 years old, the day I saw them sitting on my Mom's bedside table. As soon as I got permission to read them, I dove in and thus began my love for Amish fiction. It was fascinating, learning about the group of people who drive buggies, don't use electricity, and have 3-hour sermons preached to them every other Sunday. In part, reading Beverly Lewis' books, was what spurred me on to write stories of my own at 12 years old. And can you guess what genre I started writing in? 😉 4. A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller (Nonfiction) This was a powerful book, that gave life to the analogy of the shepherd/sheep relationship and how it relates to our walk with Jesus. SO, so good! I've read it twice, and this is one of the non-fiction books that stands out in my mind. 5. Marcia Schuyler by Grace Livingston Hill (Christian Romance) Sorry, I don't have a picture of this book. I read this one twice, and it is a memorable read. Several scenes stick out vividly. . . ones that are giving me inspiration for my own stories. ;) 6. The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White (Historical) Up till this point (2019), I had never cracked open a historical fiction book because of that scary word, "historical." Was this just going to be another boring history lesson, like the ones I had to sit through during my school years? NO way! This was my first taste of historical fiction, intertwined with romance (OF COURSE 😂) and I fell in love. Reading about history this way is much more fun, and even entertaining! I am happy to say that at least seventy-five percent of the books I read now, are historical fiction. 7. A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano (Historical) Time to confess: I was a little skeptical about this one. I won this book, and another of Joanna's, through a contest on social media and she was a new-to-me author. When I saw a review from the author of the previous book, I gained some confidence and started this one. And I'm so thankful I did. A crack inside this book will give you a mystery, and a theme that is well grounded in truth and full of faith threads. It was the first time the spiritual themes had been more noticeable, and I devoured this one! Joanna's books aren't "preachy" either, at least to me. I enjoy it when authors tie in scripture that goes along with the plot. :) For instance, the main character's father owned a vineyard, and the spiritual theme was along the lines of the Vine and the branches. Very memorable! 8. Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes (Historical) Does this book look familiar? I posted about it two years ago, and I still can't say enough great things about this story. It was breathtaking, and brilliantly executed. A story of darkness, a fight for the light, of hope, and so much more. I remember closing it, and just sitting there thinking: Wow! It was a powerful depiction of war, but also of the hope and the life that can spring from it, as hard as that is to imagine sometimes. 9. Shadow by Kara Swanson (YA Fantasy) Cue the pixie dust and be prepared to fly to a side of Neverland you've never known before. This Peter Pan retelling was incredible. I'd heard so many great things about the duology, and a couple years after book one released, I snagged this one as well. This was darker than I ever could have expected, and yet, it's in the darkness that we can see the light the best. It was a book I needed to read, and a lesson I needed to be reminded of. To chase those shadows away, and to fight them with the Light. My first taste of a YA fantasy book, and a re-telling no less! So great! 10. The Cross in the Experience of our Lord by R.A. Finlayson (Nonfiction)
Another powerful book right here, friends! Before reading this, I didn't realize the different stages and variations in the words of Isaiah 53:5 had a deeper meaning. "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." The most powerful demonstration of Jesus' love for us is when He died on the cross, when we were still His enemies and pitted against Him. And we have hope now, a great hope, because He rose again! Hallelujah! Thanks for sticking around! I hope you enjoyed this timeline of books that have shaped and impacted my life. Now it's your turn! Tell me any number of books that have impacted your life in a powerful way. I look forward to hearing about some of them. |
AuthorHi! I'm Carolyn, a writer seeking to glorify God with my words. Archives
February 2024
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