About Me I am a retired librarian and I now support books and authors through my reviews.

I have always loved to read and I was able to share that love through my work as a public librarian for 22 1/2 years. I now promote literacy by reading, and then writing reviews. I love to support authors by sharing my reviews with others!

Monday, February 17, 2025

Dawn of Grace by Jill Eileen Smith

Dawn of Grace
ABOUT THE BOOK

From her earliest days, Mary Magdalene has known fear and loss at a level so deep she has no hope of surfacing. Bound to the demons within her and incapable of freeing herself, Mary walks in shadow--until one day she encounters a healer, a rabbi who is radically different from the religious leaders and family members who could do nothing to help her. One touch from Jesus and Mary is never the same.

Now Mary's one mission in life is to serve the one who freed her. She is determined never to leave his side, fearing that if she loses him, she'll return to her former bondage. Even when the unthinkable happens and her savior is arrested and sentenced to execution, she cannot abandon him as so many others did. Let her be buried in his tomb, for she cannot live without him.

On the brink of despair, Mary is about to discover that while the life of faith is never perfect, perfect love casts out fear--and Jesus makes all things new.




MY THOUGHTS.....

"Dawn of Grace" shares the story of Mary Magdalene, a woman possessed by demons until she met a man named Jesus. The first part of this book offers a look at a woman who lost her mother at an early age, never felt loved by her father, and endured the torture of being possessed by demons. I found these accounts especially difficult to read! And then, she was rescued by a Rabbi who knew her inner thoughts and successfully drove the demons away. Was it any wonder that Mary Magdalene would become such a devoted follower? Why wouldn't she idolize the person who rescued her from a life of pain and misery?

Author Jill Eileen Smith normally writes biblical fiction set in Old Testament times but this book has a New Testament setting. Smith admits that she relied heavily on the four Gospels to help her weave facts into fiction into a story that covered Jesus's ministry and the events that led to His death and Resurrection. I enjoyed reading about the other women who became followers and I was especially moved by Mary Magdalene's grief and devotion after His death. She was determined to care for Jesus's body, bewildered when she found his empty tomb and overjoyed by the assurance that He would return! I love biblical fiction that sends me back to the source and this was the case as I read this engaging story. I recommend "Dawn of Grace: Mary Magdalene's Story" to all who enjoy historical Christian fiction.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Wives of King David series, the Wives of the Patriarchs, Daughters of the Promised Land, Heart of a King, Star of Persia, Miriam's Song, and The Prince and the Prodigal. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.

When she isn’t writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, read stories that take her away, ride her bike, snag date nights with her hubby, try out new restaurants, or hug her lovable cats Kody and Kaelee. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan. 

Learn more at Jill's  Website     Facebook     Twitter     Instagram

Sunday, February 16, 2025

NIV Adventure Bible and Adventure Bible Guide



The NIV Adventure Bible

The bestselling NIV Adventure Bible® will get kids excited about reading the Scriptures! Your kids will be captivated with the full-color features that make it fun and engaging to read the Bible and memorize their favorite verses. Along the way they will meet all types of people, see all sorts of places, and learn all kinds of things about the Bible. Most importantly, they will grow closer in their relationship with God.

The Adventure Bible is recommended by more Christian schools and churches than any other Bible for kids, and the Adventure Bible brand has impacted more than 10 million individuals and families to date!

Explore the Bible like never before! This companion to the bestselling Adventure Bible gives young readers the key details of every book of the Bible at their fingertips. With kid-friendly overviews of Genesis through Revelation and full-color infographics, maps, and images, children will strengthen their faith and gain a deeper understanding of the most important story ever told.

The Adventure Bible Guide takes readers 8–12 on a fun-filled, informative journey toward truly understanding God’s Word. This immersive reference guide gives clear, crisp insights into the Bible book by book, including:

  • key details and events that are clearly laid out, in words kids can easily understand
  • colorful infographics that include historical information, significant events and details, and important biblical characters
  • callouts with fun facts and key takeaways
  • maps that help readers understand where each part of the Bible occurred
  • images of artifacts and important places that help bring the Bible to life

This book is made to be used alongside the Bible to help readers better comprehend the context and background of God’s Word, condensing the most important information in a highly visual, easy-to-understand format, which in turn helps kids connect with the Bible text in new and deeper ways.

The Adventure Bible Guide is:

  • perfect for kids 8–12 learning to explore the Bible on their own
  • a great resource for teachers, parents, and homeschoolers to use to engage students in the Bible and biblical history
  • part of the wider Adventure Bible line, which includes NIV Adventure Bible, Adventure Bible Book of Devotions,?and The Adventure Bible Book of Daring Deeds and Epic Creations




MY THOUGHTS.....
 
The NIV Adventure Bible is a wonderful way to introduce children to God's Word! The fun safari theme captures their attention, and colorful illustrations make it come alive. There are different sections to make learning fun, including Life in Bible Times, People in Bible Times, Did You Know?, and Live It! Bonuses include a dictionary/concordance, color maps, and special full-page inserts for special topics.




Love Passage for Kids

1 Corinthians 13 is a famous passage and I love that it's explored in this special full-page insert!








How to Pray

Prayer is such an important part of our walk with God and children need to be encouraged to talk with their Heavenly Father!







The Adventure Bible Guide is a great companion to the NIV Adventure Bible. It may be compact in size but the content of the Adventure Bible Guide exceeds all expectations. The two pages devoted to each book of the Bible are filled with key details to help young people develop a deeper understanding of God's Word.






I've always loved the story of a brave young woman named Esther.  She and her cousin Mordecai were able to save her people from annihilation! 








 
I may be a seasoned Christian but The Adventure Guide shares information that's new to even me!

How have I missed knowing that the Jewish holiday Purim is a tribute to Esther and Mordcai's actions?







The NIV Adventure Bible and Adventure Bible Guide are wonderful resources for young people, and they would be a perfect addition to a home or church library!

I received complimentary copies from the publisher via FrontGate Women's Blogger Network. There was no obligation for a positive review.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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