My Review of The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan

I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program.  What a great way to get free books and what great books they are!

(Please click on the picture to enlarge if you'd like to better see the little drawing at the bottom.)  The journal page for this book is more immediate and less artful, because it was 11:10 p.m. when I finished the book and it made such an impact that I felt I needed to get it down immediately before the magic disappeared...

I've never read such a book as this. It was magical and moving, a magnificent story. 

- about choices,
- and life stories,
- about who we're created to be and who is chosen to accompany us in our life's journey,
- about consequences, and about characteristics and circumstances, sometimes beyond our control, that make us who we are.
- It's about brokenness and scars and how they become part of us...the past can't be erased, but instead the scars from our bad choices, or the choices of others that affect us, are woven into the very fiber of our being and into the very heart and soul of who we are. We make the choice to let our scars make us bitter or better people.


The Miracle of Mercy Land. I discovered that "Mercy Land" is a person, though from the title you're not sure? Her story, along with the stories of the lives that touch hers, will move you in ways you never imagined.

IMPORTANT:  I need your vote!
Please, would you be so kind as to rank my review below? The more rankings I get the better my standings!!!  I need your help!! Thank you so much! 

Book Review - Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner

The central theme of the book is our ability, our power, to choose.

Susan Meissner weaves together two women, who lived five centuries apart, with the common thread of their power to choose; not to have their choices forced upon them by others. Other common threads that wove these two women together are their shared name, Jane; and a betrothal ring with the name "Jane",  along with a Latin phrase from Song of Solomon  inscribed inside.

I found this book to be a history lesson that made me feel as if I was a part of the mid-sixteenth century, watching and cheering Lady Jane Grey on.  At the same time I could relate so well to present-day Jane as she searches for answers about herself, her marriage, and the origin of the ring she discovers hidden in the binding of a centuries old prayer book; a ring that seems to be hers by more than mere coincidence.

The historical Lady Jane's story is told by her seamstress/dress-maker, Lucy.  A commoner that is able to make her own choices in marriage and in life.  And in the end, both Lady Jane and modern-day Jane find that they too have the power to choose, and that they had it all along.

Please be so kind as to rank this review below!! Thank you so much!

Review of “The Pirate Queen” by Patricia Hickman

A journal spread in response to the book "The Pirate Queen" by Patricia Hickman
completed December 19-20, 2010 in my Hand-Book Journal
mixed media collage

Please click here and rank this book review. Many thanks to Water Brook Multnomah for providing me a free copy of this book to review!
This story is a tapestry woven of fine linen threads in brilliant colors, each thread coming together in intricate patterns to complete the picture. All the threads come together at the end like a quilt, a tapestry, or a piece of art – a thing of beauty. At the end the reader is left satisfied, satiated. So many unexpected things happen; I devoured the book and savored it at the same time.

Why is the protagonist, Saphora Warren, referred to as the “Pirate Queen”? Because, throughout the book the theme is that Saphora is finding buried treasures - loving the unlovable and unlovely, seeing good in places other people can’t find it, redeeming love like God’s love flows from Saphora. I find myself wanting to be more like Saphora, who without even trying, just naturally gives and loves without resentment, but freely. She learns to see people without judgment and condemnation. And her life is made richer because of it.

I could relate to the struggles in Saphora’s marriage; only she takes forgiveness to a level I only hope I can someday reach. Her character is real; I didn’t find myself resenting her for being “too perfect” and this novel didn’t feel like a “Christian” work of fiction. Nothing seemed contrived to me. It was a real story and I was absolutely engrossed in it. I want to read more of this author’s work!

Please rank this review below. Thank you!