Summer 2021 Reading List

I signed the kids and myself up for the summer reading program at one of our local libraries this year! Since I will be reading quite extensively,  I thought I would create this list to show you what I have plans for this summer! I have already finished 6 of the books, which leaves me with 6 more to go!  What are you reading this summer? Have you read any of the books on the list?

Daughter of Jerusalem by Joanne Otto

I stumbled across this book while searching for others on Amazon. I wasn't familiar with this author, but I ordered it anyway because of the subject matter, and because I read a sample first. I have already finished this book. It was a short read, and meant for probably middle school readers or young adults. Because it was a story about a girl who lives in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus, I enjoyed reading it.

Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette

This is part of a two book series called The Covenant House series, and is the story of two siblings, a brother and sister.  The first book was To Dwell Among Cedars.  If you click on the book title for To Dwell Among Cedars, you can read a review I did previously. I have finished Between the Wild Branches, and am currently working on a review for that as well.

Encountering Jesus in the Real World of the Gospels by Cyndi Parker

This book is a nonfiction book that takes us from Eden to the Resurrection. It covers the history of Israel and other people groups leading up to the time of Jesus, in an effort to give the reader/learner a clearer picture of what the time/space/place was like during the time of His earthly ministry. I first listened to this book on audio, and loved it so much I had to buy a paper copy. There is a lot of information about place and history, which is usually hard for me to follow unless it is in story form, but the author made it so relatable that it was easy to connect. It helped that the subject was Jesus.

When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke

I have started reading this book, but haven't finished yet. I love the tv show that was based on the book series, so I wanted to give the book a try. So far, I am enjoying it. It is a nice, peaceful read, which is a pleasant change from some of the more intense books I have read! Not that I didn't like the other books, but that this is a little different in nature and has a more calm tone. It's sort of like comparing a thunderstorm to a general rainstorm. You can enjoy both, just one is more intense than the other.

Fearless Daughters of the Bible by Lee Grady

I haven't started this one yet, but purchased it because it is about women in the Bible, a subject with which I am moderately familiar, but always wanting to learn more about. So many times women in the Old Testament are a picture of Jesus or the Church, so I am eager to learn as much about them as I can.

Daughter of Light: Charilene's Story by Melanie Dobson

This book is one of the Ordinary Women of the Bible series published by Guideposts. I believe this one is about one of Philip's daughters from the Book of Acts. I have read other books in this series, but have not started this one yet. I will publish an update when I am finished.

A Man with a Past by Mary Connealy

I am not familiar with this author or book, but I am looking forward to reading A Man with a Past. What I know so far  about the book is that it is the second in a series, and is a Western Christian Fiction type book. I have not begun reading it yet, so I will post an update when I am finished.

Jerusalem's Queen by Angela Hunt

I am very interested in reading this book. It is based on history that took place between the Old Testament and the New Testament, also known as the Intertestamental Period. The main character is Salome, who was the Queen of Jerusalem during part of this time period. I know very little about her, other than she was responsible for setting up the educational system for children, and her brother was a Pharisee or a Saducee. I will post an update after I have finished this book.

Michal by Jill Eileen Smith

This book is Biblical fiction and is based on King David's first wife, Michal. She was King Saul's daughter. I have read other books by Jill Eileen Smith. She has written many about women in the Bible, so I am looking forward to this one.

Missionary of Hope: Priscilla's Story by Ginger Garrett

This book is part of the Ordinary Women of the Bible series published by Guideposts, and is the story of a women whom we first meet in the Book of Acts, chapter 18. She is also mentioned in Romans and a couple of the other epistles from Paul. I love her story in the Bible, and I have read several books about her. This one was super intense. I enjoyed it so much, and was unable to read anything else for a few days after because I was still processing. I had not read a book by this author before either, so that was nice to read something by someone new.

Her Source of Strength: Raya's Story by Jill Eileen Smith

This is another book in the Ordinary Women of the Bible series. Raya's story is about Samson's mother. She is mentioned a couple of times in Judges, but only as Manoah's wife I believe. This novel went through the story of Samson, beginning to end,  from what it might have been like to view from his mother's perspective. Samson kind of bothered me a lot because of the choices he made, but since reading the story, I have re-read parts of the Biblical account, and I am beginning to see Jesus more clearly in there.

Jewel of the Nile by Tessa Afshar

This novel is also fiction set during the Biblical era of the Book of Acts. The main character is Charilene, and she is from Cush, also known as Ethiopia. In this book, we get to see some other well known Biblical people from the Book of Acts, as well as a character that has been in two of her other books, Theo. I loved this story. It is in my top 5 books of the year so far. I have read all of Tessa's books, and this one is close to being my favorite. 

*To learn more about the books, click on the book title. To learn more about the author, click on their name.

Note: This post contains affiliate links from Christianbook.com. This means if you purchase one of these books after clicking on the link, I will generate a commission from that purchase. This does not influence my recommendation of the books.

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar

"Bah," Paul said, waving a hand. "Physicians. They are only men, after all. What is to them an unsolvable case is to God a simple matter.  We shall ask Jesus to touch your father."  He gave me a lopsided smile full of mischief. I wanted to grin back, like a carefree child, as if I were not carrying a millstone around my neck."

-Ariadne, Thief of Corinth

"First-century Corinth is a city teeming with commerce and charm. It’s also filled with danger and corruption—the perfect setting for Ariadne’s greatest adventure.

After years spent living with her mother and oppressive grandfather in Athens, Ariadne runs away to her father’s home in Corinth, only to discover the perilous secret that destroyed his marriage: though a Greek of high birth, Galenos is the infamous thief who has been robbing the city’s corrupt of their ill-gotten gains.

Desperate to keep him safe, Ariadne risks her good name, her freedom, and the love of the man she adores to become her father’s apprentice. As her unusual athletic ability leads her into dangerous exploits, Ariadne discovers that she secretly revels in playing with fire. But when the wrong person discovers their secret, Ariadne and her father find their future—and very lives—hanging in the balance.

When they befriend a Jewish rabbi named Paul, they realize that his radical message challenges everything they’ve fought to build, yet offers something neither dared hope for.

Be transported back in time by this gripping tale of adventure, bravery, and redemption, and discover why Debbie Macomber says, “No one brings the Bible to life like Tessa Afshar."

-Book Description, Tyndale House Publishers

I really enjoy Biblical fiction, and it is safe to say that it is my favorite genre.  In the story, Thief of Corinth, Tessa Afshar's latest Biblical fiction novel, she has created a plausible story using a fictional character, Ariadne, and places her in a Biblical setting surrounded by other people that are found in the Bible. She uses descriptive detail about the time period, and the setting of Corinth and Athens to draw you into the story.  Lovers of this genre and stories of the Bible will enjoy the way the author weaves well known, and not so well known persons of the Bible into the story, and gives them a voice. I won't share their names because it will be fun to be surprised!

I enjoyed Thief of Corinth.  The first half of the book was the back story of Ariadne and her family, created from the author's own imagination. We do see one person from her family, during the back story, that is mentioned in the Bible, Dionysius, found in Acts 17.

But some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others who were with them.-Acts 17:34

My favorite parts in Thief of Corinth were when we got to people actually found in the Bible, and she started connecting the dots in Corinth. Dionysius was the one Biblical figure that existed from beginning of the story,  but then she gets to Paul and we see many more people found in Acts 17 & 18.

One thing I need to mention is that because of the setting in Corinth and Athens, there are some references to different kinds of sexual immorality, because it was prevalent in that city, during that time. The majority of it is discreet with the exception of a rape at the beginning of the book.  It was not extremely explicit, and we do not go through the rape itself, but the aftermath contains some descriptive wording about the condition of the woman after.  I thought it was necessary to mention that, well, because it is there, and it might bother some people.  I myself did not enjoy reading that part. I would have liked to have seen her redeem the situation and the girl involved, to bring the healing God has for people who have had their innocence disturbed.

Overall this was an intriguing novel, that I feel like readers of Biblical fiction will appreciate. Thief of Corinth is a story of redemption, complete with the overwhelming love of God and is picturesque of what I believe will be many stories we hear when Jesus returns. Many blessings to you as you live out your own story of redemption,

Beth

Disclosure Statement:  I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for my review.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Read Chapter 1 of Thief of Corinth

To learn more about the author, visit her at tessaafshar.com.

To hear Tessa's testimony watch this 700 Club interview. 

Author interview about Thief of Corinth

Bread of Angels by Tessa Afshar

Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony.  And we were staying in that city for some days.  And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God.  The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.  And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us,  saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay."  So she persuaded us. Acts 16:11-15 (NKJV)

Purple.  The foundation of an influential trade in a Roman world dominated by men.  One woman rises up to take the reins of success in an incredible journey of courage, grit, and friendship. And along the way, she changes the world.

But before she was Lydia, the seller of purple, she was simply a merchant's daughter who loved three things: her father, her ancestral home, and making dye.  Then unbearable betrayal robs her of nearly everything.

With only her father's secret formulas left, Lydia flees to Philippi and struggles to establish her own business on her own.  Determination and serendipitous acquaintances--along with her father's precious dye--help her become one of the city's preeminent merchants.  But fear lingers in every shadow, until Lydia meets the apostle Paul and hears his message of hope, becoming his first European convert.  Still, Lydia can't outrun her secrets forever, and when past and present collide. Still, Lydia can't outrun her secrets forever, and when past and present collide, she must either stand firm and trust in her fledgling faith or succumb to the fear that has ruled her life.

-Book Description, Tyndale House Publishers

I love the account of Lydia found in Acts 16.  I have read it many times.  So when I found out that Tessa Afshar was writing a story about her, I was so excited! 

She did such an excellent job of weaving all the Biblical details together.  Her fictional portions were very plausible, including how Lydia came from Thyatira to Philippi.  Her characterization of Paul was very believable as well. 

I have read the novel two times now, and I believe I enjoyed it more my second time around.  The first time I was so eager to get through the story, that  I don't think I enjoyed all the details.  This time I picked up on so many things I missed the first time. 

Tessa presents the Gospel in a very simple, loving way, the way I think that God meant it to be presented to people.  It was so inviting.  You travel along with Lydia throughout her story, and when her heart opens to the good news Paul shares, I could feel my heart opening anew.  You will be blessed, encouraged, and refreshed as you read Bread of Angels, the story of Lydia, seller of purple.

To learn more about the author, you can visit her at tessaafshar.com.

To read a sample of the book, visit amazon.com or christianbook.com.

Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar

"Rubies!" I cried. "The look like rubies on the vine.  You've grown a harvest of rubies, Bardia." 

Book Summary:

"On my twelfth birthday, my father discovered that I could read."  This is the opening line in Harvest of Rubies, and probably one of my most favorite opening lines in a book ever. 

Harvest of Rubies, by author Tessa Afshar, is Biblical fiction set in Persia during the time of Nehemiah, during the reign of King Artaxerxes. Sarah, the main character, but a fictional one, is cousin to Nehemiah. As a child she teaches herself to read and write, a skill not common for women, and eventually finds herself as the queen's head scribe.

Early on in the story, Sarah solves a mystery for the queen, and obtains the queen's favor. Because of this favor, she becomes betrothed to the queen's cousin, thus removing her from her position as scribe and placing her in a position of royalty.

Because the marriage is one that is arranged, there are some things to overcome for the couple, and Sarah finds herself in danger arising from her presence at her new husband's estate.

My thoughts:

There were many things I liked about this book.  I really enjoy the genre of Biblical fiction, and the time period was one I am not really familiar with, so it was interesting to learn more about it.  

I liked the main character Sarah so much.  I was so excited that she was a young girl stepping outside of what was generally expected into God's plan for her life.  That fact that she was a scribe (writer) and could read, two of my favorite activities, had me hooked from the get-go. (I won't lie though-I was a little miffed when she had to get married, and lost her position as scribe.)

I identified a lot with Sarah.  She is a Jew by birth, but since the passing of her mother when she was child, that relationship with God was not tended to.  Her relationship with God develops throughout the course of the story and it is a beautiful thing to see.  What happens in that relationship and what she learns about herself, also taught me some things about myself.  I also learned more about the scriptures, especially John 15.  In that passage, Jesus talks about being "in the vine," which is the main premise for this book.

I recommend this book to anybody who wants to become more familiar with the time of Nehemiah, and the culture of Persia, especially the customs of royalty.  If you enjoy the genre of Biblical fiction, you will enjoy this book.  It is also a love story, so if you enjoy romance, you will like this one as well.

Many blessings as you grow in Christ,

Beth

To learn more about the author, the book, and to read a sample, go here to  http://www.tessaafshar.com/book/harvest-of-rubies.html

Disclosure:  I received this book free from Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program.  I was not required to give a favorable review. The thoughts and opinions found here are entirely my own.