Against the Tide - Fiction, Historical

Against the Tide

By Elizabeth Camden

Orphaned at a young age, Lydia Pallas has learned to always depend on herself for whatever she needs.  She has finally landed a job at the Navy ship yard as a translator who helps interpret shipbuilding intelligence.  Lydia is proud to be good at what she does, and is desperate to keep her job with its decent and steady income – her first real chance at constancy.  Alexander Banebridge has devoted his life to ending the opium trade and free use of the drug in early American medicines.  His need for a translator brings Lydia to his attention, and her need for extra income makes his offer irresistible.  But working for Banebridge will cost Lydia much more than she ever anticipated.  And is there love on the horizon for either of these determined characters?

I really enjoyed reading this book about fighting the opium trade in the late 1800s.  I had no idea the use of opium was so widespread and generally accepted as medicine even for babies!  The characters are well developed and the story was so compelling I had a hard time putting the book down.  The further I read, the more I wanted to read.  I appreciated Lydia’s struggle to realize there was a God who cared about her.  I liked the way the author portrayed a complete life-change for Alexander Banebridge when he gave his life to Christ.  I’m glad Ms. Camden portrayed two types of salvation experiences in her great story.  I’ll be looking for more books by this author!  Overall, I give this book an A – a great read!

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. 

Fatal Distractions: Conquering Destructive Temptations - Nonfiction, Bible Study

Fatal Distractions: Conquering Destructive Temptations

By Kay Arthur, David & BJ Lawson

This Bible study looks at 6 of the 7 deadly sins: pride, anger, jealousy, gluttony, slothfulness, and greed.  These sins threaten to undermine the Christian’s spiritual growth, often without the Believer realizing the sins are there.   The study is intended to help Christians identify these sins in their lives and how to conquer them to become more like Christ.  The study is designed to be completed in a small group setting in 40 minutes each week, and no-homework for group members is required. 

I really enjoyed the simple layout and plan for this small group study.  Several suggestions are made at the beginning of the book on how to “run” the Bible study as part of a Sunday school class, an in home Bible study, or other type of small group study.  The layout of each lesson is straightforward and simple, and most importantly, grounded in Scripture.  Each lesson starts by identifying what the sin is, then directs the Believer see the sin from God’s perspective.  The authors then give Scriptures and Biblical steps to take toward eradicating the sin from one’s life, and keeping it out in the future.  The basic format is read a Scripture and mark key words, then discuss pre-written questions about that passage of Scripture.  I haven’t gotten the chance to do this study with a small group, but I think it would be easy to facilitate and prompt a lot of great discussion and spiritual growth.  

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. 

The Fourth Fisherman - Non-fiction

The Fourth Fisherman: How Three Mexican Fishermen Who Came Back from the Dead Changed My Life and Saved My Marriage

By Joe Kissack

Stranded in a small boat thousands of miles from home in the Pacific Ocean, how could 3 fishermen survive for months at sea with no supplies?  Trapped in a high powered position with nowhere to go but down, how could a man survive the demands of having it all?  Two radically different stories beautifully woven into one is the perfect description of The Fourth Fisherman.  Three Mexican fishermen left the western shores of Mexico intent on spending three days filling their boat with fish and their pockets with enough money to survive.  They could not have anticipated the tremendous storm that sent them off course, washed away their supplies, and left them adrift for nearly a year at sea.  Joe Kissack was a TV syndication executive with everything he wanted, and nothing of substance.  He tried to fill the void by spending money, drinking, and drugs.  Joe never expected that there was a much simpler answer to fulfillment.  Both the fishermen and Joe were surprised to find Jesus drawing them to Himself in the midst of hopelessness.  And in turn, finding hope for real life.

This is a fantastic story of how Jesus can bring hope to the hopeless.  I was intrigued by the description of the back of the book, and am glad to say the story is everything it promises.  The fishermen’s story is detailed, graphic, and amazing.  Over and over, I just had to read parts of their story to my husband, and tell him how much he needed to read this book when I finished!  The story of Joe’s life, and the truth about “having it all,” has never been shared in a more poignant manner.  The real cost of the high life was not money, but personal debilitating crisis and a ruined marriage.  I am so glad a friend was there with a Bible and lots of prayer to lead Joe to Jesus.  It is an encouragement to me to do the same for someone else.  Overall I give this book and A+.  I am not a non-fiction kind of person, and I couldn’t put it down!  The book is a must read (and not on an empty stomach! Take some Pepto Bismol before you start!).

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.  

 The Fourth Fisherman