Just A Second: August 2017

Thursday, August 31

Bookshelf Review - August 2017

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August's Books Completed and Reviewed

The Healers Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson - based on Sleeping Beauty, this YA is about the romance between Rose and Lord Hamlin, and all the obstacles they face, including a sorcerer who has been trying to find and kill Rose. (Read my full review HERE.)

How would it feel to be loved by the son of Duke Nicolaus of Hagenheim? To be loved for herself, her thoughts, her values? It would feel good . . . very, very good.

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson - the second in the fairy tale collection is based on Beauty and the Beast, with a young girl indentured to a lord that is feared by the townspeople. (Read my full review HERE.)

The heavy weight in his chest grew more painful. But he wouldn't lash out at her. It wasn't her fault she didn't want to marry him. How could she fall in love with a beastly looking man like him?

The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson - yes, another in the fairy tale series. This one is based on Snow White, complete with a wicked stepmother and a seven unusual men in a cottage where young Sophie takes refuge. (Read my full review HERE.)

What if it were true? A beautiful girl, born to be a duchess but being used as a scullery maid, tormented by her own stepmother. How would he feel if such a thing happened to one of his sisters?

Barbara and Susan's Guide to the Empty Nest by Barbara Rainey and Susan Yates - a positive and encouraging guidebook for moms approaching and living through their empty nest years. (Read my full review HERE.)

The end of mothering and the beginning of the empty nest is like the meeting of the ocean with the dry land. In some places the shoreline is cragged, wild, and perilous, while in other locations the ocean rolls gently onto a smooth, restful beach. The shorelines of our emotions are equally varied and as vulnerable to changing circumstances as the coast to the tides and weather.

The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson - the fourth in the fairy tale series is based on Cinderella. Gisela is the victim of a cruel stepmother but earns the love of Valten, the duke's heir. And Valten's rival also gets involved by kidnapping her. (Read my full review HERE.)

Valten's eyes never left her. And in her heart, she believed her stepmother had been wrong. From the way he was looking at her now, his marrying her didn't seem so farfetched.

Egypt's Sister: A Novel of Cleopatra by Angela Hunt - compelling historical novel about Chava, a Hebrew girl brought up as the devoted companion of the Egyptian princess would ascend the throne as Cleopatra. Chava believed that God had called her to be at Cleopatra's side always, but the queen's power and ambition change everything. (Read my full review HERE.)

I closed my eyes, painfully aware that even in my chains and misery, Cleopatra's shadow followed me.

Rush Revere and the First Patriots by Rush Limbaugh - I read and reviewed this series on Homeschool Coffee Break, but am posting reviews of each of the books separately here over the next little while. This is the second in the series. (Read my full review HERE.)

(Reviews still to be posted for: Rush Revere and the American Revolution, Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner, and Rush Revere and the Presidency; all by Rush Limbaugh and Kathryn Adams Limbaugh)

During August I started reading:

The Lightkeeper's Ball (A Mercy Falls Novel) by Colleen Coble - Olivia travels to California to find out more about her sister's death, suspecting her sister's fiance of murder. But as she gets to know him, she realizes she is falling in love with him, and that there are many more questions about her sister and her father that need to be answered.

Though she wanted to shake her head at what she knew was coming, she couldn't move. He was right. Marriage was the only thing that could save her reputation now.

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson - only a few chapters into this one, and haven't yet figured out which fairy tale it's based on.

Margaretha couldn't stop thinking about the poor young Englishman who had been brought to Frau Lena's chamber. He seemed desperate to talk to Father about whoever had tried to kill him. But why couldn't he simply tell her? Why did he think it would endanger her to know who his attacker was?

Lady Susan by Jane Austen - I've only read the first two letters of this short work so far.

I have been called an unkind mother, but it was the sacred impulse of maternal affection, it was the advantage of my daughter that led me on; and if that daughter were not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might have been rewarded for my exertions as I ought.

During August I shelved:

The Red Siren (Charles Towne Belles) by MaryLu Tyndall - only because I had a lot of other books I was working on, and only so much time. I've read this one before so decided to set it aside temporarily.

Coming Up in September!

Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden
Zip It: The Keep It Shut 40-Day Challenge
Sanditon by Jane Austen

This post will be linked at:

5 Minutes For Books - What's On Your Nightstand? August 29
The Book Date - Reading Month In Review - August

Wednesday, August 30

Patterns of Evidence: The Exodus (Review and Giveaway)

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Patterns of Evidence: the Exodus is a fascinating DVD that invites viewers along on Director Tim Mahoney's quest to find out if there is archaeological evidence to back up the Bible's account of the Hebrew exodus from Egypt.

We seem to hear a lot of reports saying the Old Testament stories are not real historical events, that they couldn't be because there's no evidence. Yet if the events recorded in the Bible are only myth and legend, then the foundational principles of both Judaism and Christianity are open to skepticism as well. Personally, I believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, and that the events recorded in Biblical history actually took place, and that the Bible's account is accurate and true. So there must be evidence somewhere - especially for something as monumental as the exodus from Egypt.

Tim Mahoney's documentary explores the questions, with a scientific investigation of archaeology that looks for patterns of evidence that may match the Biblical account. It presents differing viewpoints, but overall the conclusions and evidence presented may challenge conventional thinking on the Egyptian timeline. If one is looking for evidence of a specific event in the wrong time or the wrong place, it won't be found - but if the patterns and evidence do show up, but at a different point on the timeline than historians have been claiming, should we be willing to adjust the dates that have been assigned to these events?

Along with Mahoney, visit with rabbis, scholars, historians, and other experts about their views on the historical timeline and the meanings of various archaeological finds. See the evidence found in places like Avaris and Jericho, and consider the opinions and interpretations of the scholars as they all explore the evidence. I was fascinated by the presentation of archaeological finds and the logical conclusions that could be drawn.

I heartily recommend this DVD for all viewers interested in exploring the Biblical stories that form the groundwork for our traditions and theology. I'm so glad that FlyBy Promotions has made it possible for me to offer a giveaway for this DVD - please keep scrolling to the end of this post to enter!

Visit the website Patterns of Exodus for more info. When purchasing the DVD through the website's store, you can use the coupon code MK1 for $3 off the price of $19.95.

About the author/filmmaker/producer:

Tim Mahoney founded Mahoney Media Group, Inc. (MMG) in 1989. MMG focused its business on television and video production for regional and national companies. In 2014 Tim founded Thinking Man Films & Media as an international documentary and publishing company with a focus on education and the Bible. Tim produced numerous productions for Christian organizations including the Billy Graham Association, World Wide Pictures, and Compassion International. Tim also served as the President of the board for the International Christian Visual Media Association. Tim's first full feature documentary film, "Patterns of Evidence: The Exodus", released in January 2015. The film took 12 years to develop and takes a scientific approach to investigate the events of the biblical Exodus. The overall vision for his film company is to explore "patterns of evidence" that support the biblical narrative and engages the world in a conversation. The film takes a balanced approach and leaves the audience to decide for themselves if the Bible is real history or myth.

 Won 13 awards on the film festival circuit in 2014, including a Gold Remi Award winner

for Best Director at the Worldfest Houston Intl. Film Festival, the Gold Crown Award for

Best Picture and Best Documentary at ICVM 2014, and Official Selection at the Soho

International Film Festival in New York.

 Supplemental resources associated with the film include a nearly 400-page hardcover

book, small group Bible study, Movie Event kit, youth version (called Young Explorers),

homeschool curriculum and others.

 It includes powerful interviews with some of the top experts in the fields of archaeology

and Egyptology as well as people of influence in the Middle East.

 The film has an objective, fair-minded and balanced approach. It allows viewpoints from

all sides to be heard in a respectful way while asking honest questions of the Bible and

scholars’ views. It does not preach and lets the evidence speak for itself. This allows the

film to be very shareable with those of different viewpoints.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Wordless Wednesday - Alum Creek Park North

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Last weekend while in Columbus, we also spent an afternoon at Alum Creek Park. We caught a bit of the symphony's rehearsal for a concert later that evening, and then walked on the trail for awhile.