Miriam's Song by Jill Eileen Smith REVIEWED

About the Book:

She has prayed for deliverance from Egypt.

But perhaps the greatest liberation happens within the heart.

From the very beginning, Miriam has lived in her younger brother's shadow. Thrust into the role of protective older sister before Moses was even born, she will grow up into a woman who not only keeps her family's secret but bears the burden of leading a new nation.

In her mind, she knows that she is serving both her God and her people. But in her heart, Miriam yearns for more. She longs to experience the privileges Moses has--to talk with God face-to-face. But when God finally does speak directly to her, the outcome is not at all what she expects.

With her impeccable research and keen eye for detail, bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith offers this epic novel to fill in the gaps in Miriam's story, following her from childhood to motherhood, obscurity to notoriety, and yearning to fulfillment as she learns that what God promises He provides--in His own perfect timing.

My Thoughts:

"Oh Adonai, help me to trust You more."  (p. 271)

This is the opening to a prayer Miriam prays later in the novel, but it represents the heart of the character throughout this novel.  Jill Eileen Smith has a fabulous way of bringing Biblical characters to life in a very realistic way!  She has many decades to cover, but from the time Moses is placed in a basket in the Nile, to end of life experiences on the other side of Exile, Miriam's story is filled with realistic challenges from beginning to end.

I was intrigued by the way she depicted life as an Egyptian slave - the daily challenges and how Moses' presence was always felt even from a distance.  When the plagues came, it was the first time I was aware of the correlation between the plagues and the Egyptian gods. Before it was clear that manna would be their daily sustenance, the fear of starving was palpable.  Throughout, Miriam remains a strong foundation of faith for her community, and often prays for understanding and wisdom when things appear impossible.

I also enjoyed the depiction of the close family ties and the challenges that such extended family groups presented during such a long arduous exile.  I'm glad to have an opportunity to consider that these people had no idea where they were going, much less that it would take decades to get there!  I forget that reality when I read scriptures.  Moses kept admonishing them that God was purifying their hearts through this process.  This makes me keenly aware that the redemptive process is a lifelong journey!  

Oh that I will trust God like Miriam!  Daily asking for wisdom and direction!  Can you tell I'm a HUGE fan of Jill Eileen Smith's work?  Her biblical fiction is superb!!  Enjoy!!

About the Author:

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King and Star of Persia: Esther's Story. She is also the author of the nonfiction books When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams and She Walked Before Us. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan. Learn more at www.jilleileensmith.com.

facing the dawn by Cynthia Ruchti REVIEWED

 About the Book:

While her humanitarian husband Liam has been digging wells in Africa, Mara Jacobs has been struggling. She knows she's supposed to feel a warm glow that her husband is eight time zones away, caring for widows and orphans. But she is exhausted, working a demanding yet unrewarding job, trying to manage their three detention-prone and needy kids, failing at her to-repair list, and fading like a garment left too long in the sun.

Then Liam's three-year absence turns into something more, changing everything and plunging her into a sunless grief. As Mara struggles to find her footing, she discovers that even when hope is tenuous, faith is fragile, and the future is unknown, we can be sure we are not forgotten . . . or unloved.

My Thoughts:

"Sun can fade the fabric of life, but it can also make art." (p. 310)

Mara Jacobs, and her children share a home devoid of their father/husband.  The reality that her husband, Liam is doing a type of mission work doesn't make up for the stress of her everyday life with three teens that seem to be totally off the chain.  The financial strain, the emotional anxiety, the exhausting work hours seem to build into an overwhelming tidal wave.

When the tidal wave breaks over this family, it will steal your breath and break your heart.  There is a darkness that threatens to engulf them all.  God's grace lights a candle of hope when Mara's lifelong friend, Ashlee resurfaces in her life, and begins to gently coax life back into the family.  The changes that happen during the course of this novel are so realistic that your heart and emotions become truly vested in the lives of each character.

This novel will transform your life if you will open your heart to receive the gift that it offers. I was not prepared for the many things that happened between the pages of this story, but I will be forever grateful to Cynthia Rushti for writing it down.  Take your time, and savor this novel.  It is a rare gift.

About the Author:

Cynthia Ruchti is the award-winning author of more than 30 books, including the novels Miles from Where We Started, A Fragile Hope, Song of Silence, When the Morning Glory Blooms, and They Almost Always Come Home. Her books have been honored with more than 40 awards, including Romantic Times' Inspirational Novel of the Year, two Selah Awards, and three Christian Retailing's BEST Awards, and she has been a finalist for many others, including the Carol and the Christy. Former president of and current professional relations liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Cynthia lives in Wisconsin and can be found online at www.cynthiaruchti.com.