Book Review

Book Review–The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem

January 5, 2023 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

About the Book:

Book: The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem

Author: Kurt Brouwer

Genre:Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: November 18, 2022

He was the Beloved Disciple…

…and he would be the last.

The mantle to tell the whole story has fallen on him.

From the cross, Jesus entrusted John, the youngest disciple, with the welfare of Mary, Jesus’s mother. Over thirty years later, as Jerusalem becomes a cauldron of explosive tempers, he receives a calling he doesn’t want.

Will he listen and follow?

And if he does, will it be too late?

In 62 AD, the Jewish high priest executes James, the brother of Jesus, triggering a bitter fight for power in Jerusalem that shatters the quiet life of John. The Jewish people he loves are making dangerous choices that will change the land of Israel forever.

Should he stay in Jerusalem and help hold off the Roman onslaught? Or is it time to reach out to those beyond Israel’s borders?

If he chooses to leave, what will be his message to these foreign believers? What new words of comfort could he possibly share?

Set against a backdrop of actual events, The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem is the first novel in a new series based on the Bible and Christian history.

Follow along while John faces multiple crises and comes to understand what it is to stand alone and lean on only the Lord.

Your heart will embrace The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem because John’s story is the story of our hope and promise.

My Thoughts:

When I read the description of this book, it sounded like one I would be interested in. I’m always a little wary of Biblical fiction, because quite often I have found books in this genre not accurate. I have come across some really good ones, though, so I was hoping this one would be. Rereading the description now, I see that I missed one phrase that would have clued me in that I would not be interested in this one. One line in the description says that John had to decide about helping “hold off the Roman onslaught”. Several times in the story, both John and Bartholomew either defend themselves or talk about defending themselves from physical harm threatened against them. John carried a staff to protect himself, and used it. At the same time, he occasionally thought about Jesus’ words about loving his enemies. These two attitudes do not go together. If you read the Bible carefully, and if you read early Christian records, you’ll see that the early Christians did not believe in self defence. Because of this, I cannot recommend this book. That makes me sad, because it is a period of history I would love to read more about. As far as the basic storyline, it was quite interesting to try to imagine the early Christian world this way, through the eyes of one of the disciples, who was travelling around to encourage the church. On the other hand, the writing style didn’t work very well for me. There are frequent incomplete sentences, and the punctuation made it difficult to tell who is speaking. So, while I appreciated this author’s attempt to bring to life the history of a tumultuous time in Jewish history, I won’t be reading any more in the series.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

Kurt is a Christian writer, living in Hawaii. A few years ago he did a study at his church on the Apostle John. That little project got him hooked on the man who started out life as a fisherman and then became a disciple of Christ.

The more he learned, the more he wanted to know. What did John do after the Crucifixion? Why did he wait so long to write the Gospel of John? Where did he live for the last 60 years of his life? This historical novel came out of the research he did to answer those questions.

He started a blog (KurtBrouwer.com) a few years ago. On it he has written over 100 blog posts and a few Christian booklets.

Now he’s working on Book Two in this series. The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch takes up where Book One ends. The Last Disciple is a Christian historical novel that introduces you to John, the last disciple of Christ.

More from Kurt:

About 85 AD, more than fifty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of John struck the Christian world like a lightning bolt out of a clear blue sky. At that time, few Christians even knew that one of the disciples yet lived. After all the years, decades even, a new book of the Bible came out, written by the last disciple of Christ.

WHO WAS THE LAST DISCIPLE?

John the son of Zebedee walked with Jesus during his ministry on earth. He witnessed the Crucifixion and later entered the empty tomb after Jesus rose from the grave.

John, the youngest of the disciples, outlived all the others. In fact, John, the last disciple of Christ, lived for more than 60 years after Jesus died on the Cross. But who was he? And what did he do all those years? Where did he live? With whom? What do we know of him and his life?

THE YOUNGEST DISCIPLE…

John walked with Jesus when he was young, probably a teenager or very early 20s. He and Andrew were the first discples of Christ. John lived so long that he became the last disciple too.

A FEW DETAILS ABOUT JOHN

He was:

The son of Zebedee, his father, and Salome, his mother
Brother to the disciple James
Possibly a cousin to Jesus through his mother
A fisherman on the Sea of Galilee
He and his brother James were friends and even fishing buddies with Peter and his brother Andrew
Almost certainly the youngest of the 12 disciples

I GOT HOOKED (PUN INTENDED) ON JOHN EARLY ONE MORNING

One morning I read a short piece from BibleGateway.com by Jonathan Petersen, When Was Each Book of the Bible Written? In it, Petersen gave the approximate dates when all the New Testament books came out. The first, written by James the brother of Jesus, came out around 44 AD or as late as 49 AD. The most widely accepted year for the Crucifixion is 33 AD, so the first book did not come out for at least 11 years after Christ died.

The next New Testament book to come out was Paul’s letter to the Galatians, around 49 AD. After that came the gospels of Mark and Matthew. Other books such as Luke, Acts, and all of Paul’s letters came along in fairly short order. Peter’s two letters came out and then the book of Jude, about 68-70 AD. Then, for at least 10-20 years, no new Bible books came out.

The silence was broken

Finally, the silence was broken. After all the years, decades even, the words of one who walked with Jesus came forth. The Gospel of John came out written by a man who saw the empty tomb after Jesus rose. A man who would write five books of the Bible:

The Gospel of John 80-90 AD
The Letters or Epistles of John 90-95 AD
The Book of Revelation 95-98 AD

A UNIQUE VOICE CAME FORTH

As John’s gospel spread from church to church, a unique voice came forth. What a miracle that must have been to first century Christians when the Gospel of John appeared!

That’s it for now. We will continue with more in future posts on the saga of the last disciple of Christ.

Yours in Christ, Kurt

To purchase your copy, click here.

Book Review–There’s No Plan Like No Plan

December 14, 2022 by NZ Filbruns 1 Comment

About the Book:

Book: There’s No Plan Like No Plan

Author: Steve Searfoss

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

Release date: February 23, 2022

Chance & Addie are back for a new adventure. Riding high off of the success of their first business, they decide to launch a new venture, this time shoveling snowy driveways in the winter. They are full of confidence: they have a team of kids, a shed full of shovels, repeat customers, and, best of all, a great plan. But sometimes the perfect plan can get in the way of adapting to something as fickle as the weather. Will they learn to be flexible and figure how to make this new venture work? They’re losing money fast as new challenges pile up faster than the falling snow. Perhaps a curious new partner can show them the way.

KidVenture stories are business adventures where kids figure out how to market their company, understand risk, and negotiate. Each chapter ends with a challenge, including business decisions, ethical dilemmas and interpersonal conflict for young readers to wrestle with. As the story progresses, the characters track revenue, costs, profit margin, and other key metrics which are explained in simple, fun ways that tie into the story.

My Thoughts:

A couple of years ago I got the book Twelve Weeks to Midnight Blue for review. That book had to do with some children coming up with a plan to make money, and executing their plan, learning along the way all about how to run a business, both profitably and ethically. Now, in There’s No Plan Like No Plan, Chance and Addie are back. How will they do this time?

There are many things I love about There’s No Plan Like No Plan. Obviously, it’s a clever way of teaching children the basics of business management, with spreadsheets and charts sprinkled naturally throughout the book to show what was happening and what needs to happen. Also, it portrays a healthy, loving family. Mom and Dad are both in tune with their children, allowing them to experiment with things on their own but being there to offer advice and help when needed. Children learn how to run a business honestly and respectfully, and how to get along with difficult people. There was only one thing that made this book a little difficult to read, and that was the formatting. I didn’t notice it with the first book, because I read a digital copy, but I was able to read the physical copy this time. That paragraphs are not indented. This just makes it a little harder for me, personally, to read.

Note: My mom read both of these books, and commented that they are excellent books. She recommends them to anyone whose child wants to start a business – or even if they don’t but just want a good story.

About the Author:

I wrote my first KidVenture book after years of making up stories to teach my kids about business and economics. Whenever they’d ask how something works or why things were a certain way, I would say, “Let’s pretend you have a business that sells…” and off we’d go. What would start as a simple hypothetical to explain a concept would become an adventure spanning several days as my kids would come back with new questions which would spawn more plot twists. Rather than give them quick answers, I tried to create cliffhangers to get them to really think through an idea and make the experience as interactive as possible.

I try to bring that same spirit of fun, curiosity and challenge to each KidVenture book. That’s why every chapter ends with a dilemma and a set of questions. KidVenture books are fun for kids to read alone, and even more fun to read together and discuss. There are plenty of books where kids learn about being doctors and astronauts and firefighters. There are hardly any where they learn what it’s like to run small business. KidVenture is different. The companies the kids start are modest and simple, but the themes are serious and important.

I’m an entrepreneur who has started a half dozen or so businesses and have had my share of failures. My dad was an entrepreneur and as a kid I used to love asking him about his business and learning the ins and outs of what to do and not do. Mistakes make the best stories — and the best lessons. I wanted to write a business book that was realistic, where you get to see the characters stumble and wander and reset, the way entrepreneurs do in real life. Unlike most books and movies where business is portrayed as easy, where all you need is one good idea and the desire to be successful, the characters in KidVenture find that every day brings new problems to solve.

More from Steve:

My kids are very curious and are always asking how things work. Whenever they’d ask about something related to business or economics, I’d create imaginary scenarios where they were the business owner so they could understand better what was going on. For example: why one business would partner with another; why they would choose to sell a product at a loss; why the price of something changes; and so on.

And then one day it occurred to me to write one of these scenarios down as a story. And that’s how KidVenture started. When I was working on the first draft, whenever I told someone I was writing a book for kids to teach them about business, they would frequetnlty tell me it was something that is needed.

There aren’t a lot of books out there for kids about being an entrepreneur and running your own business; and yet, it’s something that kids like learning about because they have a sense it’s important. Not everyone is going to grow up to be a farmer or doctor or airline pilot, but knowing how to manage money and negotiate is something most kids understand they should know more about because they see it every day.

I hope kids who read KidVenture books feel inspired to be more entrepreneurial. It doesn’t necessarily mean they start their own little business. It could mean they feel empowered to negotiate, to not reflexively take the first offer they’re given. I noticed that after reading the book with them, my kids started negotiating a whole lot more. Sometimes that would drive me crazy, but even as it did, I was proud of them for advocating for themselves.

KidVenture hopefully teaches kids to be problem solvers and inspires them to learn from experience. The characters in the story have a lot of learning to do, but it’s not book learning. It’s more…adventurous than that. They learn from trial and error. By making offers and counter-offers. By making a decision and then observing what happens. And they learn by talking to customers and picking their brains. It’s the way you learn as an entrepreneur: by doing. And failing. And trying again.

One thing I really love about the story is the relationship the main character, Chance, has with his parents. Now that I’m a parent, I wanted to write a story that, first of all, my kids could relate to, and second, that was edifying. There are plenty of books and movies about dysfunctional families. KidVenture is different.

I love that at key junctures in the story, Chance turns to his parents for advice. And their style is very different. The dad in the story is playful and sarcastic and doesn’t just give Chance the answers right away. It’s more like he gives him clues to follow. There is a dynamic where the son at times wants to impress, and even best, his father; and at other times, he turns to his dad for advice when he hits a dead end.

But while there’s a competitiveness to his interactions with his dad, there is a sweetness to Chance’s relationship with his mom. He’s able to be vulnerable with her, so when he faces an ethical dilemma in the story, he turns to her. And she’s very savvy and gentle in how she asks questions that get Chance talking and reasoning through the solution himself.

To purchase your copy, click here.

Book Review–Under the Hibiscus

December 8, 2022 by NZ Filbruns 1 Comment

About the Book:

Book: Under the Hibiscus

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian Christmas Contemporary Romance

Release date: November 25, 2022

Do you have to give God two-weeks’ notice when you quit the ministry?

After a lifetime of being her father’s right-hand girl, Ezra gets a small taste of freedom during her friend’s honeymoon visit to the Suamalie islands and decides enough is enough. All she needs is to find a replacement secretary, teacher, project manager, accountant… et cetera.

In fact, what he needs is a wife.

Scott Keil intended to serve the Lord on St. Alyn Island for life. He just never intended to do it without his wife. So, when his daughter begins balking at being saddled with a ministry she never signed up for, he knows he needs to find a replacement for her. And well, she’s right. A wife who loves organization and serving the Lord would be the perfect solution.

But only one woman interests him and loves his ministry nearly as much as he does. Natalie Dershem—the event planner at St. Alyn’s newest resort. Why did she have to be nearly as young as his daughter… and so intriguing?

Under the Hibiscus is the introductory Christmas “noella” in the brand-new, Suamalie Islands Series from Celebrate Lit Publishing. Grab this May/December Christmas romance today.

My Thoughts:

I loved Chautona Havig’s books in the Independence Islands series, and was delighted to know that there would be more stories coming about Mallory and her friend Ezra. Last week, I got to read Under the Hibiscus, the first book in the new Suamalie Islands series. What a great book!

I really liked Under the Hibiscus. I loved that the romance did not start until over a third of the way through the book, which up to that point had been about finding balance in your life. Ezra was overwhelmed with everything she felt like she had to do, and though she wanted to do God’s work, she knew she was not suited for the place she found yourself. I really appreciated all the truths presented here. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series! I want to know how Ezra’s new mobile business goes. (Oh, and what the title refers to? Clever!)

About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling author of Aggie and Past Forward series, Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona:

“I always wanted a son. But I wanted one a little younger than myself!” When Tevya said that to Lazar Wolf back when I was a teenager, little did I know that twenty years later, I’d say the same thing to my newly-minted son-in-law at my daughter’s reception.

It was a joke on me. I’d always said that I didn’t understand why people got worked up about age differences under twenty years. God called my bluff on that by sending me a son-in-law a year and a couple of months older than me and… nearly nineteen years (just shy by weeks) older than my daughter. People ask if I still think that it’s not a big deal. And I do. As I said back then, it all depends on the couple.

But May/December romances aren’t always popular. Some people don’t enjoy them. Maybe I do because my husband is seven years older than I am, my father is eight years older than my mother, and I have friends and family with eleven and fifteen years difference respectively. It’s just… normal in my experience. And as my dear friend said when she heard about people making snide comments about my daughter’s engagement, “Why would she want a boy her age when she can have a man?” And yeah. That is one of the lovely things about May/December romances.

Well, Under the Hibiscus definitely went that route—not because I specifically wanted an age difference for the couple but because two things jumped out at me. First, I couldn’t see Scott Keil with a woman his age. He’s such a young-at-heart-guy, and every woman his age my mind conjured… wasn’t. And I couldn’t see it!

But even more than that, I thought of Ezra and how it would feel to be a daughter whose father started dating someone nearly your own age. Especially since this wouldn’t be some socialite looking for a rich husband. Any woman interested in Scott Keil would have to love him and the Lord a great deal to be willing to accept such a large age difference. How would that go over with Ezra, and… what would their relationship look like. I mean, her stepmother would be a not-very-older sister’s age!

How does it all work out? Well… unfortunately, you’ll have to read to find out because right now? I don’t even know!

To purchase your copy, click here.

Book Review–Tricked on the Tracks

November 11, 2022 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

Finally! I was delighted to receive a copy of the fourth book in the Brady Street Boys series. Tricked on the Tracks is every bit as absorbing as any of the previous books in this series. Once again, the three boys find themselves in a predicament – but this time they have an adult along, which makes a huge difference.

At the end of Noise in the Night, the boys had just figured out that the doctor they were trying to find had caught a train, and become a hobo. Now, the boys were more than ever determined to find Dr. Jefferson. They began by checking out the hobo jungle near the train station in Elkhart. There was no sign of the doctor, but eventually they got some information from two other hobos.

Dean, the boy who tormented them and then gave them a clue in Noise in the Night, promised to help locate Dr Jefferson. Now, Dean is missing too. Suddenly, Terry Gary and Larry, and their uncle, find themselves in quite a predicament. Well they end up accused of kidnapping – or will they die of thirst first? I’ll have to admit that this part of the story is a bit far-fetched. It sure is exciting, though!

I know my boys will enjoy reading Tricked on the Tracks as soon as we get a physical copy of it. They have enjoyed the other three books very much, and they are looking forward to reading this one, too. I like the way the boys’ parents teach them about God and how to live. The theme that runs through this book is long-suffering. While that topic is not mentioned as much as the fruits of the spirit they studied in the other three books, it is illustrated very well. The family had a good discussion about longsuffering near the end of the story, and the boys understood what it meant. If you want good, clean books for your, especially, 8 to 12-year-olds, be sure to try out the Brady Street Boys series. These are high interest stories with good morals but not in a preachy way. These books are also fun. All the way through this one, there is a refrain pointing back to a statement near the beginning that “Larry reads too much for his own good.” You will have to read the book to find out what exactly this is referring to.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

To buy your own copy, go here or here. Be sure to read the first three books first, though, or this one won’t make as much sense. Oh, and if you place an order from the author’s website soon, she’s having an early Black Friday sale, with all her books except the two newest ones on sale with a deep discount!

Book Review–Keeping Christmas Volume 1

October 26, 2022 by NZ Filbruns 7 Comments

About the Book:

Book: Keeping Christmas Volume 1

Authors: Cathe Swanson, Chautona Havig, Olivia Talbott, Kathleen J. Robison, Denise L. Barela, Marguerite Martin Gray, and Naomi Craig.

Genre: Christian Christmas Romance

Release date: October 4, 2022

In castles far and near, long ago and yesterday, find happily-ever-afters wrapped in love and tied with Christmas joy.

The Lights of Castlebourne (by Cathe Swanson and Chautona Havig): He bowled her over at first sight–his dog, that is. Sydney just wanted a chance to do the landscape design at Castlebourne. She never dreamed the owner’s electrician would light up her heart at Christmas.

The Girl From Dalarna (by Olivia Talbott): She’s the most beautiful woman in Sweden, but she doesn’t want to be. A simple life among milk cows is all she desires. Will a scandal upend her plans and ruin her chances for love?

The Cross at Morioka Castle (by Kathleen J. Robison): In the ancient land of shoji screens and tatami mats, Ariko finds the stone ruins of Morioka Castle, and the mysterious cross that holds the secret of a Christian faith extending far deeper than Ariko ever imagined.

The Ghost of Christmas… (by Denise L. Barela): Abbigayl needs to get away for Christmas this year. No family, no questions about why she’s still single, no suggestion about being set up with someone’s friend. What will happen when Neuschwanstein Castle’s past converges with Abbigayl’s future?

Crystal Clear (by Marguerite Martin Gray): Rosalind’s muddied past and foggy future crystalize in Château Chenonceau, a refuge from gossip and more. Watch as the château and Christmas work their magic and break the bonds of propriety, and rejoice as Rosalind experiences the crystal-clear hints of peace, joy, and hope all around her.

The Weary World Rejoices (by Naomi Craig): Behind the elaborate furnishings of Herod the Great’s palace, conspiracy and distrust run rampant. Mysterious visitors from the east challenge everything Amal thinks he knows as palace scribe. Will his quest to uncover the Truth free him from the ornate shackles of palace life, or will he be the next victim of King Herod’s maniacal jealousy?

Grab a mug of something hot and delicious and curl up somewhere comfy. Your literary chariots await to take you on a journey from an early twentieth-century castle overlooking the Mississippi all the way back to the Holy Land at the time of Jesus’ birth. These six novellas, all set in castles real and fictional, celebrate the heart and joy of Christmas.

My Thoughts:

The Lights of Castlebourne: I always enjoy books written by Chautona Havig or Cathe Swanson, and since they co-authored this one, I knew I would enjoy it. I did—except for the frequent, detailed kisses. In my opinion, and from what I have seen and experienced, kissing is not a good basis for a relationship. If a couple wants a strong marriage that lasts, they need to found it on Jesus and not on the feelings they get when they kiss. Ok, off my soapbox. The setting of this story was really fun, and I loved Sydney and her cousin Arielle. The dog was something else again, too! And that bit about un-firing? Genius!

The Girl From Dalarna portrays a beautiful young woman whose beauty becomes somewhat of a curse to her. She doesn’t like her beauty because of where it takes her, but Who made her? Can she learn to accept the way God has made her, and to do what is right even when it’s hard and she is misunderstood? This story is set in Sweden, on a farm.

The Cross at Morioka Castle took me to Japan. Who knew there was a castle there? I didn’t! Though this story isn’t based on historical fact, I still really enjoyed it. It’s a beautiful story of people standing up for God through opposition.

I did not enjoy The Ghost of Christmas…. I simply don’t like time travel or ghost stories. I’m sure there are a lot of people it will appeal to, but not me.

Crystal Clear is the first book I’ve read by Marguerite Martin Gray, although I have read a lot of reviews of her books. This one involves a young woman going from London to stay with a friend of Queen Victoria in a castle in France to get away from a scandal in her family. What would happen, though, when other English people, who had heard about the scandal, showed up? Could Rosalind find peace in her heart despite others’ censure, and could she find purpose in life? I did wonder about the historical accuracy of this book, with a returned soldier who had been fighting in Vietnam and Morrocco suffered from trauma. I don’t doubt the trauma, but the term Vietnam doesn’t ring true to me.

My favorite in this volume, which surprised me, is The Weary World Rejoices. I’ve been wanting to read something by Naomi Craig for awhile, and I think I like her! I liked that there was no romance at all in this story. I also liked the new perspective on the birth of Jesus. I loved the way she told the story from the point of view of one of Herod’s scribes. This is a good story! I will be looking for more books by this author.

About the Authors:

Cathe Swanson writes books with creative plots and engaging characters of all ages, to glorify God and entertain and bless readers. Her heartwarming stories will make you laugh and make you cry – and then make you laugh again.

Olivia Talbott grew up in Montana, but currently lives in Kentucky with her husband and two daughters, a few sheep and a border collie. She loves words, traveling, pickles and having deep conversations about how Jesus changes everything. Visit her at oliviatalbott.com.

Kathleen J. Robison is an Okinawan-American, born in Okinawa, and raised in California, Florida, Mississippi, and Singapore. Her travels and her family are the sources of her inspiration for her books. Kathleen and her Pastor husband have eight adult children. Seven are married, blessing them with eighteen grandchildren and counting. Her ethnically diverse background extends to her family of currently thirty-five personalities which provide many opportunities to share God’s amazing love amidst the challenges of real life.

Denise L. Barela is a twenty-something-year-old writer with a passion for fiction, her faith, and just being creative in general. When she’s not working away at her desk, you might find her reading a good book or following Alice down the rabbit hole…

Marguerite Gray enjoys the study of history, especially when combined with fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish and has degrees in French, Spanish, and Journalism from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas and a MA in English from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. She has two grown children and currently lives with her husband in north Louisiana. She writes historical fiction.

Author of Biblical fiction, avid reader, pastor’s wife, Naomi Craig loves reading the Bible and imagining how things were at the time. When she’s not serving in various areas at church, trying to stay on top of mountains of dishes or convincing her rescue dog, Freeway, to be cute on command for Instagram reels, you’ll most likely find her enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee. Naomi co-hosts #BehindTheStory with Naomi and Lisa, an author interview show on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice.

More from Denise:

Hello everyone!

I’m excited to share this set of stories with you! All the authors have worked hard to bring you some Christmas joy and magic. We’ve each picked a castle to center our stories around. I mean, Christmas and castles go well together, don’t you think? You’ll get to explore different castles in different time periods while also getting to know all the characters in each story. That’s a lot of new friends to make!

For my story, I jumped on the chance to write about a castle that inspired the castle that always brought me joy growing up (if I’m being honest, it still brings me joy). I’ve always been a huge Disney nerd, and Princess Aurora has always been my favorite Disney princess. Growing up, I was blessed to be able to visit Disneyland for most of my life, and Sleeping Beauty’s castle was my favorite thing (I was so sad when they closed the walk-through part for several years). Even without the attraction part of it, I loved walking into the park and seeing it stand at the end of Main Street. I actually teared up seeing it for the first time after Covid.

What does all this have to do with my castle story? Well, in 1869, King Ludwig II of Bavaria began construction on Neuschwanstein Castle. This castle served as the inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Let me tell you, if you thought Disneyland’s castle was beautiful, it’s got nothing on Neuschwanstein. If I were to pick a castle to live in, it’d be this one.

Setting aside the Disney connection, I was even more intrigued when I learned more about the king who commissioned it. The king was not very popular towards the end of his reign, and the day after he was sent to Berg Castle, he and a doctor were found dead in Lake Starnberg. The weird part? They ruled it a drowning, but there was no water in their lungs and clear signs of foul play.

Oh, but that’s not the only interesting fact this castle houses. This castle became a hiding place for some of the art the Nazi’s stole during World War II. Part of me wonders if any pieces are still hidden there. The Monuments Men group actually cataloged art found there, and it’s been preserved. Here’s a fun article from The Met all about it!

I hope you enjoyed learning about the castle that inspired my story!

Book Review–A Whisper of Peace

October 20, 2022 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

This is the second Mosaic Anthology I have read. I enjoy collections and anthologies because, although I love long books, there are times when I want short stories, and there is such a variation in writing styles. These anthologies are a good way to read something by an author I have been hearing about, to see if I like their works. Some of the stories in A Whisper of Peace are very good; I didn’t appreciate others. That is to be expected in any collection, however.

The first story in this anthology is Christmas at the Crossroads. This is a short story about two girls who were school friends. One was from a Conservative Christian family, the other was raised by a single mother who had no interest in Christianity or church and the girl knew nothing about the Bible. When both girls got into trouble, how did each one respond? I love the mother in the story and how she handled a child acting up during Bible-reading time.

The Magic of Christmas, as all the others in the collection, is another novella. In this story, an occupational therapist discovers that the young man she is working with is the nephew of a former boyfriend, Dante. When the two accidentally find themselves spending time together helping Luca, what happens? How can they get past past hurts? Will Dante ever be able to get past his need to control people and events?

I liked a lot of A Single Spark of Light. One night on a bridge, a stranger met Tyrone who was thinking about the hopelessness of his life. The stranger sent Ty on a quest in which he ended up having to been forced to think about whether God could possibly love and forgive him. I loved his quest and what he did on it; what I did not like about this story was the sudden jump into romance. It felt like that was there just because a story has to have romance, which I don’t think it does. Another thing I really liked in this book was the way Ty learned that he couldn’t do anything to gain favor with God.

Reclaiming Tomorrow was my least favourite story in this collection. Josie had gotten away from an abusive husband, and run away from a man who was determined to destroy her. She was making a new life for herself and her son when an old threat resurfaced and she had to make herself trust her new friend Daniel and learn to defend herself.

I really liked the last story, Whispered Miracle. In this story, a girl who was aging out of foster care and felt herself abandoned by her only relative, her older brother, was sent to a camp in the mountains. She was dealing with guilt over having accidentally killed her foster mother, and faced an uncertain future alone. Little by little, with the help of an understanding dog and camp staff who accepted her, she started to feel a little ray of hope. I loved the way the story worked out. It felt like something that could easily happen in real life.

I will be looking for more books by Eleanor Burtin, Sarah Davison, and Stacey Monson. I was sufficiently impressed with their stories in this collection, the first I have read by them, to want to read more of what they have written. I also really like the Mosaic Collection and I’m looking forward to reading more books published by them.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: Christmas Magic, chapter 8: kiss. A Single Spark of Light, chapter 2: suicidal thoughts. Chapter 10: kiss. Reclaiming Tomorrow, chapter 9: kiss.

To purchase your copy, go here. This is an affiliate link which, if used to buy the book, will benefit Esther’s website.

Book Review–The Matchmakers of Holly Circle

October 19, 2022 by NZ Filbruns 5 Comments

About the Book:

Book: The Matchmakers of Holly Circle

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian / Romance / Christmas

Release date: November 21, 2014

They’ve been in love for ten years, but it takes an interfering neighbor with a penchant for poker to unravel the mystery of their persistent platonic relationship.

Flirtation can be an art, or so they say. Well, if so, Ruth and Richard are “the old masters” of the flirting game. Despite their strictly platonic relationship, there’s “something there,” as so many of their friends and families say. Neighbors and friends for ten years, neither seems willing to change the course of their relationship.

Three doors down, at the end of the cul-de-sac, Mason Dickenson has watched his favorite neighbors with an interested eye, but he’s finally had it with the dance. So, with a pack of cards and a few tricks up his sleeve, he’s determined to get them out of the “friend rut” and into romance.

Thanks to Mason’s unique matchmaking scheme, Ruth and Richard concoct one of their own—a deeper, stronger, eternal love and relationship that nothing on earth can match.

My Thoughts:

I read and reviewed this book about five years ago, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it again for this tour. What a great story! I have to admit that I wanted to shake Ruth and Richard up pretty thoroughly and get them together—but we’ll leave that to Mason and to God. This is so fun, with an old man on one side of the street watching a younger man and woman on the other side, who can’t seem to get together. When he takes a hand with poker games, for which the penalty for losing is being forced to go on a date, things really get interesting! And why is the word matchmakers plural, rather than singular? It took me till the end of the book to figure that one out! Oh, and make sure to follow the link below and read Chautona’s prequel. Read it before reading the book.

About the Author:

More from Chautona:

Download a free short story that happens 10 years before the book begins?

When This Life Denies You Coffee, Wait 10 Years

To purchase your copy, click here.

Original review: The Matchmakers of Holly Circle is a Christmas book—yet it’s not. The title made me think that there were several old ladies living in Holly Circle who were trying to match other people with each other—but that wasn’t the case at all. I was quite surprised by the plot of this book, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Every evening, Mason sits down by his window to watch the evening drama. Every evening, Richard moves his computer to a different room so he can watch out the window for Ruth to come home from work. Every evening, Richard and Ruth eat supper together at one or the other of their houses—and this has been going on for 10 years, with no end in sight! What can Mason do to hurry them up?

Ruth has figured out why Richard won’t ask her for a date. Obviously, he must have been married before, and isn’t free to enter another relationship, so he’s keeping their friendship just that. Richard, on the other hand, badly wants to ask her for a date—but he knows he can’t because it will ruin what they have. Is there any way they will ever break out of this rut? At the same time, people around town are receiving mysterious, disturbing presents—and the common thread uniting them, according to Richard’s young friend, is the library, where Ruth works. Why is she trying to upset people?

Even though I knew how the story would turn out, I couldn’t stop reading till I was done, as the relationships between the characters twisted and turned. I wished I could shake Ruth’s sister and knock some sense into her. The house church that Richard and Ruth attended made a nice touch to the story, too. One little detail that I noticed was that Richard was using an AutoCAD program—something I had never heard of until my son started learning how to use it recently! Little details like that make a story come alive. I also loved Ruth’s thoughts about her hair!

As usual, Chautona has come up with an original plot and crafted a wonderful story. If you enjoy mild romance that is very clean, you will enjoy this story. The mystery woven through the story is fun, too.

Book Review–Light of Mine + Unit Study

October 6, 2022 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew.

For the past three years, I have been reading reviews of Allen Brokken’s Towers of Light series of books. All the reviews I have read have been glowing, with mothers reporting that their children were competing for the books. I never signed up for any review tours because I personally don’t like fantasy very well, but I’ve been realizing lately that several of my children really do like it. So, when I had the chance to sign up for the Light of Mine Unit Study–Premium, I jumped at the chance—especially since Towers of Light Christian Resources LLC was willing to ship us a physical copy! The package we were sent included two copies of Light of Mine, two unit studies, two mp3 players preloaded with the audio book, and a thumb drive with the audio book. I could hardly believe they sent so much. I had decided that Mr. Sweetie and Mr. Imagination would do the unit study, so they each got one each of the three items.

Light of Mine is almost a cross between The Chronicles of Narnia, Pilgrim’s Progress, and The Little House on the Prairie. As the story begins, Lauren, Aidan and Ethan are enjoying life on the farm with their family. Then, father shows them plans he has drawn up for a tower. Soon he tells them it is actually a lighthouse. Why would they need a lighthouse here, though, so far from any water? The next thing they know, after the lighthouse is built and a special lantern is installed, which shines the Light, Father has to go away to help conquer the Darkness that is spreading across the land. Then, when Mother disappears as well, the children must care for each other and take care of the farm.

When they have some strange dreams, the children know they need to go to church and ask advice of the pastor. When they arrive there, however, the pastor is missing and the Bishop has taken his place. He preaches the opposite of what their Pastor preached, and some other strange things happened. The children don’t know what to think, and when the Bishop sends someone to “help“ them, things get even stranger. Can the children keep their light shining and push back the Darkness, or will the Darkness overcome them? And, who can they trust? Many things are not as they seem!

Although I do not enjoy fantasy for the most part, I found myself quite engrossed in this story. After about the halfway point, I did not want to put it down but had to keep going and find out what happened, and whether the children were able to keep their light shining. Would they figure out the truth before it was too late and the darkness overcame everything? Would they see their parents again? Many fun animals with special powers come alongside the children to help them, such as Sparkle Frog and Daddy Duck.

Both Mr. Sweetie and Mr. Imagination absolutely loved this book. They listened to the audiobook as fast as they possibly could. After working through half of the study, both of them told me they wanted to do unit studies of the other four books in the series, too, just so they could get to read those books! With that kind of enthusiasm, I bought the other books, and they are looking forward to reading them when they arrive. Before I read the book, after they had listened to it, they told me they didn’t think it was suitable for their seven-year-old sister. After I read it I had to agree; there are some pretty graphic scenes when the forces of Light and the forces of Darkness battle each other. Some demonic creatures enter into the battle, and a person is killed. The boys seemed to be fine with this story; they are 10 and 13.

The Unit Study, which says on the cover that it is intended for “Grades 3-6+”, is divided into four weeks of five lessons each. Each week begins with a memory verse and then six vocabulary words. These are words used in the book that are not common; for example, Week 1 includes cadre, mercenary, and mute. There is a puzzle to complete on the page with the list of words, and a picture to color. Each lesson begins with instructions to copy the week’s memory verse and then do something with the vocabulary words—write a definition, write synonyms, write antonyms, or draw a picture definition of each word. Next on the page is a passage, several paragraphs long, with a question about that passage. After that are several questions from the chapter. Each lesson also includes a joke. Several times, when the boys were doing their lessons, I got after them for talking when they weren’t supposed to be, only to discover that they were reading the joke of the day aloud! Oops. Day 5 of each week gives instructions for a craft project. We skipped those, because the boys were not interested in most of them. Mr. Imagination was going to build the kaleidoscope, but we didn’t have smooth foil for it. Maybe after we go to town!

There are study questions in the back of the book as well. The questions in the Unit Study were taken from those, but changed some, and there are more in the book than in the study.

Also included in the Premium study package is an mp3 player with the audiobook preloaded (including a charger and a lanyard so the player is easy to carry around but not so easy to lose!). My boys loved getting these mp3 players. Mr. Imagination was disappointed that the battery in his was faulty, but one of the older boys helped him figure out that a regular AA battery would work in it. We found a replacement rechargeable battery online and ordered that. There is a 90-day warranty, but we decided that it would be easier for us, because of where we live, to simply replace the battery ourselves. The players have a built-in speaker, and also a place to plug in ear buds (also included). We were sent the audiobook files on a thumbdrive, as well, with permission to share with friends as long as they don’t keep a copy. It felt like Christmas to receive this package!

I highly recommend Light of Mine to any child who enjoys fantasy. It does not feel “moralistic,” but the point of the book, to let your light shine by doing what God wants us to, is quite clear. I asked the boys if it felt preachy, and both quickly said no, but both had easily picked up the main focus of the book. Fifteen families on the Review Crew have just used this Unit Study; click on the image below to read their opinions about Light of Mine and the other items included in the Premium package.

Book Review–Dial W for Wrangler

August 25, 2022 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

About the Book:

Book: Dial W for Wrangler

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Fiction / Christian / Romance / Contemporary / Comedy

Release date: May 24, 2022

♥ Can one radio show host wrangle two hearts and help them beat as one? ♥

When Wade Garrett took over the family ranch, he knew he’d need help. He can tell you anything you need to know about breeding, raising, and selling cattle. He can even wrangle a wild horse or ten every year. He just can’t wrangle numbers into proper columns and have them all add up.

Enter Ainsley Jones. New in Sweetwater, the office manager from Los Angeles is out of her element and loves every second of it—except the moments when her boss can’t speak a civil word to her.

When Wade hears about the local Dial-a-Deal host and her ad-hock romantic advice success, he starts selling off everything he can find—even sneaks a few things out of Granny’s basement—just to have an excuse to call in and get Vi’s help.

Will this impromptu decluttering jag get rid of some of his personal baggage along with twenty sleeping bags and an antique egg scale? Enough for him to admit that she’s the one thing he doesn’t want to declutter from his life or his heart?

My Thoughts:

As I have said before, if Chautona Havig writes a book, I will read it. And, I will enjoy it. That is just a given. So, I’ve been looking forward to reading Dial W for Wrangler for a long time. Now, I don’t enjoy straight-up romance. If you take the romance out of a book and have nothing left, forget it. That’s not my style of book. However, I’m a sucker for helping people out when they beg for reviewers, and I just finished reading several of the kind of romance books that I don’t enjoy very much, because reviewers were needed. These books were all right, and I even enjoyed some of them—but I was sure looking forward to Wrangler at the end of the string! And, it was worth the wait. I started reading it—and started laughing!

Dial W for Wrangler is a book you won’t want to miss. It’s a short, easy read. This is a great book when you want something more on the fluffy side, but as I’ve come to expect from this author, there are some gems of wisdom in it, too. I loved Granny’s advice in chapter five about how a young man should deal with lustful thoughts—in fact, I might just copy that part of the book out and share it with the young men I’m blessed to call my sons! This book is full of good, clean humor. One of the first places I laughed out loud was in the first chapter: Di—yes, we’re Vi and Di. Yes, it gets confusing. Yes, we use it to torment Stan. Wouldn’t you? It was also fun to read a reference to The Ghosts of New Cheltenham and its sequels. The ghost story Wade told is hilarious. If I need a story to make me laugh sometime, I hope I remember this one!

About the Author:

Stay Tuned for This Radio Announcement

“Hello there. I’m Vi Willis with Dial-a-Deal on K-SWT out of Sweetwater County, Wyoming, and have I got an update for you.

“We’ve won an award! My boss is livid that it’s not for selling the most junk in the least amount of time, but hey. Can I help it if folks are tuning in from all over the country to listen in on the heart troubles of folks around here? So far, we’re credited with three engagements, six marriages, and a whopping thirty-five saved relationships! I don’t know who nominated us for that award, but thank you!

“Now look… there’s one small problem. This really is supposed to be a show for selling your old comic book collection or that garden wagon your husband just had to have until he discovered he really hates gardening. So, when you call in, can you please be sure you have an item to sell? Di, the operator who screens the calls? She’s under orders not to let any calls through without an actual item for sale.

“So declutter the junk from your closets, your garages, your barns and what have you as you try to declutter the troubles from your life, okay? Now… I’ve got Jeff Corbin on the line, let’s see what he’s got for us today….”

And that’s how it all started.

Well, sort of. You see, I spent six weeks at my mom’s house back in late 2019. And one of the things Mom did every day was listen to the Dial-a-Trade show. She never bought a thing, but she listened. And, since I was in the room, I learned a lot about that show.

Some people seemed to call a few times a week. I finally decided they were lonely and it was how they kept a connection with other people. Others were obviously selling things out of spite—ex boyfriends, girlfriends, or spouses beware!

Basically, it was a great way to get rid of stuff and a great way to figure out what was going on in the lives of folks in the area.

So, when Lisa Prysock reminded me that she’d invited me to be a part of this series, I knew immediately that my first book would most definitely include a radio host for a sale show who just can’t help but solve people’s relational problems.

To purchase your copy, click here.

Review of The Ghosts of New Cheltenham:

I also loved The Ghosts of New Cheltenham, by Chautona Havig. Once again, she has taken a unique idea—in this case, a ghost storytelling competition—and made it into a great story! Mitchell had a phobia of ghosts, but his uncle left him a building as his inheritance, only on condition that he compete in the annual competition. The two neighbor girls encourage him—but why were strange things happening in his house? My favorite character is Lauren, the spunky little sister. I love that she’s homeschooled, too!

Book Review–Off the Itinerary Series

August 13, 2022 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Off the Itinerary series by M. Liz Boyle, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE SERIES

Title: Avalanche
Series: Off the Itinerary #1
Author: M. Liz Boyle
Publisher: Independently Published
ReleaseDate: September 26, 2019
Genre: Christian middle-grade/YA, Adventure
“Avalanche surprised me with its depth…a 5-star read…” -For the Love of Literature
Five friends. One moonlit summit. An unforgettable journey. Excitement hangs in the air as Marlee and her sisters join their friends on a daring hike up a Colorado mountain – in the middle of the night. When Sawyer first proposes the idea of a moonlit summit during the two families’ annual backpacking trip, Marlee is terrified but also hooked. Having grown up taking trips to the mountains, they’ve learned a thing or two about hiking, and Sawyer is confident they’ll be back by sunrise. But when disaster strikes, their knowledge, faith, and stamina will be put to the test. Digging out of the cemented snow is the first of many challenges in the coming days, and now Marlee has to trust Sawyer, who, by the way, was the brain behind the dilemma. Will their faith and friendship survive, or will they cave under pressure? This engaging journey, told by fifteen-year-old Marlee Stanley, captures a timeless sense of adventure. The five young adults strive to exhibit godly character throughout their escapade, but it will take immense strength to hike out of this mess. “I know that if their journey inspired me, it will certainly inspire others…Boyle has brought YA fans an uplifting, adventurous novel.” -A Baker’s Perspective

I wrote a review of this book a few years ago; see my review here.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository |

Title: Chased
Series: Off the Itinerary #2
Author: M. Liz Boyle
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: June 1, 2020
Genre: Christian middle-grade/YA, Adventure
“Chased would be a great addition to a k-12 Christian school library. Middle schoolers and up will enjoy it.” – Library Lady’s Kid Lit
It’s been a year since Marlee, her sisters, and the Miles boys survived an avalanche. Sure, it was a little embarrassing for them when all the neighbors saw them on the news, but they love being outdoors, and what are the odds that another tragedy would strike this adventurous group? Has anyone calculated the statistics of being hit with two natural disasters? It has to be low, so of course the two families planned to backpack again this summer. When the teens first meet Thad, a dehydrated hiker on the trail, they give him water and food and help him recover. He seems harmless until he tells them to hike a few extra miles at sunset. Then Lydie finds a hand-drawn map that Thad dropped, and they discover why he is so eager to get away from the Stanley girls and Miles boys. So eager that he starts chasing them. Now they have to climb up unforgiving ridges, sneak through the night, and – is that thunder and lightning? To make matters worse, Marlee has a nagging worry that her older sister Ellie is preparing to move away from home. What is God’s plan? How will they get away from Thad before it’s too late?
“…realistic, exciting, and suspenseful…Chased is the perfect sequel to Avalanche. It’s gripping, suspenseful, entertaining, and, best of all, Christian.” -David M., Beta Reader

My Review:

A couple of years ago, I reviewed the first book in the Off the Itinerary series, Avalanche. I tried reading it aloud to my children, but the boys got pretty disgusted with it and I quit reading it to them. When more reviewers were needed now for the rest of the series, I decided to read them—but not aloud!

There isn’t quite as much about boyfriends/girlfriends in this book, although Marlee talks a lot of times about how Ellie and Sawyer like each other a lot. They aren’t officially a couple yet, but she’s sure they are headed that way. I did appreciate some of the conversations about this topic; it seemed like these young people had fairly strong convictions about what was right and wrong. Once, Marlee thanked Sawyer for being a good example to the younger ones.

Another thing I appreciated was Marlee’s mental discussion (with herself) about having cared for a person and saved his life, and then he turned against them. She had to keep reminding herself that they had done the right thing, what Jesus would have done.

As far as Young Adult fiction goes, the Off the Itinerary series seems to be very good. I liked Chased better than Avalanche, although probability is stretched a bit. It’s well-written, though, and a very clean book. I’m very happy to find a YA book that isn’t fantasy! I am allowing my 12-year-old to read the series.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository

Title: Ablaze
Series: Off the Itinerary #3
Author: M. Liz Boyle
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: June 1, 2020
Genre: Christian middle-grade/YA, Adventure
“M. Liz Boyle tackles the topic of showering difficult people with grace and forgiveness, making this a must-read for Christian teens. Adventure seekers who loved Avalanche and Chased will fall head-over-heels for the adventure that heats up in Ablaze!” – Author Allyson Kennedy
This summer the Stanley sisters and the Miles boys are excited to hike together again, and now they have the unique opportunity to help two of their ranger friends with an outdoor program in the beautiful Montana mountains. Marlee has always considered herself a willing follower. Give her a direction and she’s happy to help. Her older sister Ellie is a natural leader, and Marlee is content in her role as assistant. Marlee and her sisters have been assigned to help with Ranger Rose’s team, and they are savoring the adventure. But in a heartbeat while the group is divided by a few hundred feet, fire breaks out between Ranger Rose and Marlee’s group. In this enthralling finale to the Off the Itinerary series, Marlee must face her fears with courage that only God can provide.

My Review:

Young Adult books are one category I often find to be annoying. Most seem to be fantasy or dystopian, and I don’t like either of those genres. Most others focus heavily on romance. Because I don’t appreciate that, either, I have not found many YA books that I really liked or could recommend. Enter… the Off the Itinerary series. While these books are not free of romance, either, the main focus is adventure. I heard a definition once of straight-up romance as being books in which, if you removed the romantic element there wouldn’t be a story left. While there is romance in Ablaze, it is definitely not the main focus.

All throughout this story, Marley learns a lot about love, forgiveness, and extending grace to those who don’t deserve it. She also has a lot of adventures, and a lot of serious conversations. I was inspired by the things Marlee learned about being a leader. In one paragraph, she realized, “Sometimes leading is simply serving…. Great leaders aren’t always famous or rich. Leaders just care about their group.” Such a good point! There’s also a lot of humour; I was laughing out loud at one scene. This story explores a lot of issues that teenagers are thinking and need to be thinking about. Friendship, love, forgiveness, unconditional love, and the choice of a life partner factor in. Though there is a fair amount of discussion about boyfriend/girlfriend issues, it is healthy discussion and very clean. There was one time there were a few hugs between Marley and Marshall. I appreciated that there is no kissing in the whole story. Teenagers who love adventure stories, especially girls, will enjoy Ablaze as well as the rest of the Off the Itinerary series.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

M. Liz Boyle is an author, the wife of a professional tree climber and the mom of three energetic and laundry-producing children. She received her Associate’s of Arts at the University of Sioux Falls, where she received the LAR Writing Award for her essay entitled, “My Real Life Mufasa.” Liz once spent a summer in Colorado teaching rock climbing, which she believes was a fantastic way to make money and memories. She resides with her family in Wisconsin, where they enjoy hiking and rock climbing. Liz and her husband have also backpacked in Colorado and the Grand Canyon, which have provided inspiration for her writing. She likes making adventurous stories to encourage others to find adventures and expand their comfort zones (though admittedly, she still needs lots of practice expanding her own comfort zone). She has thoroughly enjoyed working on the Off the Itinerary series.Connect with Liz by visiting mlizboyle.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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