I’m writing this review differently than I usually write. It will be much shorter, but I hope that will entice you to read the book.
In one week our protagonist goes from being settled in her own rooms to homeless, from being a respected teacher to having no job, from single to married and living in a place she didn’t know existed.
The setting is a small cabin in a holler nestled in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky in the early 1900’s. Life is joyous and difficult at the same time. School is something people have dreamed of having, but a teacher can be hard to find. A one-room schoolhouse is built and the missionary-pastor sets about finding a teacher/wife. In one week that is accomplished and the story begins…
The characters include a mountain waif whose mother died, the missionary pastor showing and sharing God with the people of a backwoods holler, and the teacher/wife (a woman of excellence in many ways) who ties it all together. The author does an excellent job of expertly weaving the lives of her characters together.
This book will be excellent reading on a hot, lazy summer day. I loved it and I know you will, too.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free directly from Revel/Baker Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR requirements, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I have been given the honor and privilege of reviewing another really good, historically accurate book. You will find two completely different reviews on this page because Paraclete Publishing sent two books and I asked a friend to read and review with me.
Ahoti is a Hebrew word that means “my sister” and is a retelling of the well-known Bible Story about Tamar, King David’s daughter. However, the authors go much deeper into the story using information from the Book of Gad, the Bible, historical resources, and literary license to enhance and expand our understanding of what happened after she was raped by her brother.
As in real life, healing from a traumatic incident takes time, silence evidenced by the friends who will sit with you in the stillness, productive physical activity – music that helps express grief and a way to move on. In Tamar’s case, this came in the form of a garden.
Tamar disappeared into history after her brother Absalom was killed but, there is so much more to her story. King David’s Court was typical of political communities throughout history. There was the expected intrigue, murder, rumor mill, court affiliations and collaborations, alienations and separations that determined the fate of this woman.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the vocabulary. The authors are very skilled at using words that are rarely used in fiction books. Words that are not so old or uncommon, giving the reader a better understanding of what was really happening in the time and place, were placed in just the right places.
I highly recommend this book. This story is the timeless history of good and bad. It is intense in spots, contemplative, and represents what life 3,000 years ago could have been like in king’s court.
The next review is by Tonya Heston. She is an avid reader of many genres and I’m proud to call her my God-daughter. Thanks, Tonya!
Ahoti is the beautiful story of a young girl whose innocence is stolen and what happens after her family sweeps it under the rug for the sake of family pride. As a 21st-century woman, this book saddened me, and then healed me in a way that only a book can.
Our God is a mending and healing God, and that is true no matter the harshness of what we have to go through to finally see it. I admire Tamar for her resiliency and her absolute faith that God still loved her, even if it felt like everyone had let her down. Everyone except for Mara, of course. Everyone needs a friend like Mara in their lives. I believe that Mara and Tamar were placed together for this divine purpose.
While this book isn’t my normal type of book, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It did get a bit wordy at times, but I don’t think it took anything away from the story. I did have to go back and refresh myself on what was said if Tamar had a lot of thoughts before responding to someone. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who’s interested in Biblical fiction and would like to imagine what happens after the writers of the Bible stopped recording.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free directly from Paraclete Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR requirements, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
GOD is striding ahead of you. Proudly, with importance in His step. He’s covering every second, every nuance of this day.
He’s right there with you. Not just ahead but in front, back, sides, up and down. In my mind, my heart, my soul. He has all of me.
He won’t let you down. He keeps all of His promises, faithfully. He never fails me.
Don’t be intimidated. There are bullies and controllers everywhere, including our inner minds! Stop listening to them. Only God is worth consistently listening to!
Don’t worry! Just stop letting whatever is bothering you have such control. God is in control. He has it all covered.
Originally posted on October 5, 2020 under the title He Has All Of Me
Here are some thoughts I had as I read this excellent book, Defiant Joy by Jennifer Michelle Greenberg.
We enjoy so many blessings in this life. So many… Ephesians 1:3-23 gives us a nearly exhaustive list and these are only an example of the joy that will come when we get to heaven. God said so. It will be so!
We cannot make our own joy. It’s just not possible. We must understand that God gifts us with joy, His joy. I was able to find more than 150 Bible verses about joy. Every one of them connects to God! One in particular stands out to me – The joy of the Lord is my strength. Nehemiah 8:10
It has become very obvious to me that tears and joy often go together. Have you ever cried in response to joy, to worship, to intense happiness? I would venture to say that all of us have. Legitimate tears are a real sign that God lives in us.
Are you convinced that God really loves us? The conviction of God’s love for His children is absolutely necessary to understanding His joy and how it is given to us. Absolute certainty in His love and joy is where we find total rest.
The evil one, satan, loves to undermine our joy. He is a real expert at this. He does not want us to understand that our faith is the foundation of understanding joy. He will do everything in his power to undermine our faith. That includes waging war against our joy.
When all is said and done, when Jesus returns or we draw our final breath we can know, without question, that God is the foundation and giver of joy.
This book is more than worth your time. It was helpful to me in so many ways. I have a better understanding of so many of the stories in the Word and how they apply to this walk I’ve chosen with Jesus. Do you like books that are full of connections? This one is for you! I highly recommend reading this. I know I’ll be reading it again and again.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free directly from Net Galley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR requirements, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
A Satisfied Spirit 
You must be logged in to post a comment.