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.

Bride of a Distant Isle (Daughters of Hampshire, Book 2) by Sandra Byrd

"Malta is a small island, wholly surrounded by blue," he said, his gaze searching my face, "perhaps the very color of your eyes. Our homes and buildings are sculpted from butter-yellow stone and are hung with black lanterns so each can find his way in the dark."

-excerpt from Bride of a Distant Isle





Book Summary:

An unforgettable romance set in Victorian England, Bride of A Distant Isle is the engrossing story of Annabel Ashton, who fights to save her family home and her mother's honor while trying to figure out if the man she loves wants her—or just wants to use her to achieve his own ambitions.

Miss Annabel Ashton is a teacher at the Rogers School for Young Ladies in Winchester when she takes a brief visit to her family home, Highcliffe Hall at Milford-on-Sea. She believes her stay will be short but soon learns that she will not be returning to the safety of the school. Instead, she remains at Highcliffe, at the mercy of her cousin, Edward Everedge.

Annabel protests, but as the illegitimate daughter of a woman who died in an insane asylum, she has little say. Edward is running out of money and puts the house up for sale to avoid financial ruin. He insists that Annabel marry, promising her to a sinister, frightening man. But as the house gets packed for sale, it begins to reveal disquieting secrets. Jewelry, artifacts, and portraits mysteriously appear, suggesting that Annabel may be the true heir of Highcliffe.

She has only a few months to prove her legitimacy, perhaps with assistance from the handsome but troubled Maltese Captain Dell’Acqua. But does he have Annabel’s best interests at heart?

And then, a final, most ominous barrier to both her inheritance and her existence appears: a situation neither she nor anyone else could have expected. Will Annabel regain her life and property—and trust her heart—before it’s too late?

(Book Summary Courtesy of Simon and Schuster)


My Review:

The story was intense from the moment I began reading! There were good guys and gals, bad guys and gals, and those that were an enigma, that you just couldn’t quite figure out. It had all the elements of a gothic romance, a mysterious hero, the supernatural, and those eerie spaces. Bride of a Distant Isle was riveting from beginning to end.

I loved the romance part of the story. The hero hails from the same place as the heroine's father, the island of Malta. Byrd weaves the story in such a way that the romance moves in slow fashion, unfolding slowing over the 350+ pages of the book, and you don’t know the outcome until the very end.

I also enjoyed learning about some of the history of Catholicism in the story. The main character, Annabel, is Catholic as is her mother. It was interesting to see the practices of the time period, the attitudes toward Catholicism of some, and how some things unfolded for Catholics after the Protestant Reformation.

My least favorite part of the book, but pivotal to the storyline, was the disturbing look inside the asylum, which was commonly used during that period in history. If you visit Sandra Byrd’s website, she shares a list of common, albeit outrageous, reasons for people being committed during that time period.

Sandra Byrd is always excellent in her research, and her novels are like taking a step back in time. We get to “see” British history, food, dress, architecture, design, culture, and common social practices. Additionally in this book, we get to learn about some of those same elements of the island of Malta.

I had heard of the island of Malta before reading the book, so it was interesting to see it as part of the story. Malta is the island the apostle Paul arrived on after the shipwreck in the book of Acts. You can find the story in Acts 27-28.

The story is very clean, which is something I appreciate. I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction or gothic romance. It was definitely a bit more intense than the first novel in the series, but with a definitive theme of redemption. You can see the review of the first in the Daughters of Hampshire series here.

Many blessings to you as you live out your own redemption story!

In Him,

Beth



For more background information about Bride of a Distant Isle, or Sandra Byrd, please visit her website at www.sandrabyrd.com.


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

Around the World with Matt & Lizzy- England by Julie Beemer

"Have you ever wanted to go on an adventure around the world?  The Bible tells us to go into the world and preach the gospel to all people.  Here is your opportunity: let's go explore the world with Matt, Lizzy, and their trusty dog, Bentley."

-excerpt from Around the World with Matt & Lizzy-England

Around the World with Matt & Lizzy- England is the first in a series of books by for children about missions by Club 1040.  In it you will find the story of brother and sister, Matt & Lizzy, as they travel on Lizzy’s first mission trip to London, England. The purpose of their journey is to help their friend Rosie with a citywide festival organized by local churches.  When they arrive, they have many adventures, as well as a mishap, along the way.

The book is great for so many reasons.  It is a tool for parents to use to teach their children about Jesus.  It also helps parents teach their children how to tell others about Jesus too.  Sometimes parents struggle with how to teach their children, and how to help them know how to talk to others, so this is a wonderful asset for parents, grandparents, and caregivers.

Another wonderful thing about this book is that it is a travel guide for young children. There are many mentions and illustrations of famous landmarks in England.  Young readers will learn about food that is common to England.  They will also learn about modes of travel and words that, although they are English, they have different meanings than English spoken in America.

The illustrations are beautiful. The drawings of Matt & Lizzy, and their dog Bentley, are very colorful and engaging for little eyes. The famous landmarks are very recognizable and will leave a memorable impression on your children.

This book would make a great tool for homeschool families.The story would be great for a reading lesson. Other subject areas to incorporate would be geography, and Bible.

Besides the story, you will also find:

• scriptures and a prayer to tell your friends about Jesus.

• a recipe for mushy peas, a food common to England.

• Bentley’s top travel tips.

• ways to say "thank you" in different languages.

• ideas for ways your children can get involved in missions.

• the flag of England for your young reader to color.

• questions about the story to reinforce what you learned.

I recommend this book to parents, grandparents, and caregivers who would like to share truths of God’s Word with the children in their lives. It's a great book to sew seeds of discovery into little hearts. God has plans and purposes for each one of us, including your little ones.

Many blessings to you as you and your children explore new places and discover God’s great plan!

~Beth

*Congrats to Candacerjn! You are the winner of Around the World with Matt & Lizzy! Please send your mailing address to me at bethlisteningtohim@gmail.com.

With my purchase the publisher sent me a copy to give away to one of my readers.  To enter to win, simply leave a comment about one thing that seems interesting to you about this book! A winner will be selected using a random number generator from random.org. Winner will be announced on Friday, March 4th.

To order a copy of Around the World with Matt & Lizzy-England, or to learn more about the mission of Club 1040, please visit http://club1040.com/mattandlizzy/.

Little One, God Loves You by Amy Warren Hilliker

Little One, little one, do you know?

Do you know God loves you so?

Little One, God Loves You by Amy Warren Hilliker is a board book, written in poetic rhyme for your wee little ones.  The text is set in poetic fashion, with beautiful illustrations of a little bunny and all the elements of his life.  The main theme is God's relationship to the little bunny.  

Ideas covered are how God feels about the bunny, how God made him/her to be part of his family, how God helps him grow, and the love God feels for the bunny. Being a helper and prayer are also mentioned.

The illustrations are sweet.  They include pictures of bunnies, squirrels, family members, the bunny's house, butterflies, fields, and kisses from mom and dad.

This is a great book for bedtime, or for your snuggling with your little ones.  It would make a nice addition to an Easter basket as well.

I recommend this book for little ones, ages 2-5 and also for emergent readers because of the repetition and the rhyming.

Many blessings to your family as your little ones come to understand how God loves them so.

Beth

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for a review.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.