January Reading Roundup

I'm off to a pretty good start for my 2026 reading year, having finished five books in January - four nonfiction and one historical fiction.  Here are the books I completed during January 2026, and a little of what I thought of each one.   

A Christ-Centered Home ****

by Hannah, Leah & Isaiah Stoddard

Genre:  Christian/Latter-day Saint Memoir

Format:  Paperback (own)

My first book of 2026 was A Christ-Centered Home by Hannah, Leah & Isaiah Stoddard, the children of James Stoddard, the subject of the book. This is a highly personal memoir of this Christian Latter-day Saint father who devoted his life to God and his family.  Through many trials, including his wife's mental illness, the eventual dissolution of his marriage, and suffering with and dying of cancer at age 51, when he still had responsibility for his young children, James Stoddard continued this work of bringing Christ and His gospel to others around the world.  The book is hard to read in parts, especially when it details some of the physical and emotional abuse that the mother of the family inflicted on the children.  Through all the difficulties, James Stoddard taught his children to forgive their mother and keep their faith in God, as they had been taught.  I gave the book 4/5 stars on Goodreads, but be warned that this is not a book for everyone. Some might not agree with the very traditional, conservative way Stoddard raised his children, including homeschooling them in an unconventional way.  The descriptions of abuse, and his suffering with cancer also make this book that might not appeal to some.

Detours ****

By Elizabeth Smart

Genre: Memoir/Self-Help

Format:  Kindle (library loan)

This is the third book by Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped from her Salt Lake City bedroom at the age of 14, and held against her will for nine months, until she was rescued and returned home to her family.  Her story is truly harrowing, and I have always admired her for overcoming the horrible abuse she experienced to lead a relatively "normal" life.  This new book is a self-help book of sorts about overcoming trauma.  The book is not terribly long and there are some good things in it, especially for those try to move past trauma and tragedy.  I gave it 4/5 stars on Goodreads, but I don't think I will read any more books which details of young Elizabeth's ordeal.  What happened to her is horrible and just too hard to read about.  (I also don't plan to watch the documentary about her on Netflix). 

  

Doing Life With Your Adult Children *****

By Jim Burns

Genre:  Christian/Family/Self-Help

Format:  Audiobook (library)/ Paperback (own)

This is an excellent book for all parents of adult children.  Jim Burns, a Christian counselor and family therapist, gives Biblically based advice about navigating some of the issues that arise between adult children and their parents.  Some of the topics covered include money, relationships, in-laws and grandchildren.  I found this book to be very helpful.  It was also well-written, interesting, easy to listen to (in the audio format), and remember.  I am glad I own a paperback version of the book so I can refer back to it from time to time.  I gave this book 5/5 stars on Goodreads and would highly recommend it.

The Boy Who Dared ****

By Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Format:  Paperback (school copy)

This book tells the true story of Helmuth Huebner, a teenage boy who lived in Nazi Germany.  As Hitler takes power and aggressively and violently reshapes Germany and Europe, Huebner begins listening to forbidden BBC radio broadcasts on a contraband shortwave radio that his brother brings home before going off to fight in the war.  Convinced that Hitler is evil and must be stopped, Huebner writes and, with the help of several friends, distributes leaflets which tell the truth about Hitler, the Nazis, and the war.   Of course Huebner is eventually caught, imprisoned, tortured and eventually executed at the age of 17.  His friends are also caught and they served time in concentration camps.  Huebner's courage in standing up to evil much stronger than he was, demonstrates the power of truth and standing up for one's convictions.  The story of Helmuth Huebner is also the subject of a recent movie, Truth and Treason, which I have not seen, but understand is excellent.  The story told in the book is important and well-written, but this is not an easy read. The content and descriptions of Nazi atrocities, cruelty and torture make this book one that stays with the reader in sometimes troubling ways.  Because of that, I would not say this is an enjoyable read, but because everyone needs to know the story of this brave young man, I gave the book 4/5 stars on Goodreads. 

As Sisters in Zion****

By Debbie J. Christensen

Genre:  Latter-day Saints History

Format:  Hardbound (own/thrift)

This interesting little book details the experiences of two sisters (Julia and Emily Hill) who emigrated from England and worked together to make the trek the Salt Lake Valley, as part of the infamous Willie Handcart Company of Mormon Pioneers.  The Willie Company left too late in the season (August) to make the trip across the midwestern plains and Rocky Mountains to the Salt Lake Valley.  Early snows caused arduous hardship and many deaths among those in the party.  Faced with exhaustion, starvation and exposure, the Hill sisters helped and strengthened each other,  and together, they resolved to complete the journey.  Eventually, the sisters did reach Utah, and lived to marry, raise large families, and become successful in their own rights.  The book is a quick read and very interesting.  It also includes many of the beautiful poems and hymns written by Emily Hill, the younger of the two sisters.  I gave the book 4/5 stars on Goodreads. 

That's all for this Reading Roundup. I'm posting this before the end of January because I'm pretty sure I won't be finishing any more books before the end of the month.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Please let me know if you have been reading anything interesting!   

Until next time. 

📚Deb📚

"If you only read the books that everyone 

else is reading,

you can only think what everyone 

else is thinking."

~anon.

September Reading Roundup

It's the end of another month.  I managed to finish five books in September - two fiction and three nonfiction.  By far the best book I read in September was the first one, The Indigo Girl, by Natasha Boyd, which I wholeheartedly recommend.  Here is a brief review of that book and the others I read in September 2025. 

The Indigo Girl *****

by Natasha Boyd

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Format:  Kindle (library loan)

In 1739, sixteen-year-old Eliza Lucas' father leaves her in charge of the family's three plantations in South Carolina, while he goes off to pursue his military ambitions.  Eliza's mother is unwell, and Eliza's brother is away being educated, so she must figure out a way to make the plantations profitable so that the family doesn't lose everything.  When Eliza hears about how much the French pay for Indigo dye, she comes up with a plan to grow Indigo plants and manufacture and sell the valuable blue dye.  However, Eliza knows nothing about growing the plant and making the dye.  As she tries to learn the process, her efforts seem to be thwarted at every turn. This wonderful book is based on actual events and the real letters of Eliza Lucas, who overcame all odds and learned to produce Indigo dye, which became one of the largest exports of the American South. Eliza not only gave the colonies a valuable export that helped finance the Revolutionary War, but she was also the mother of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. George Washington was a pallbearer at her funeral, which shows the respect and esteem our nation's founders had for this woman.  Eliza's story is fascinating, and the book is one of the best ones I have read this year, which is why I gave it 5/5 stars on Goodreads.

Letter to the American Church ****

by Eric Metaxis

Genre:  Christian nonfiction

Format:  Audiobook (library loan)

In this book, author Eric Metaxis draws a parallel between American Christianity and the German Lutheran Church in the 1930s when Hilter was rising to power. Deitrich Bonhoffer, a German pastor gave his freedom and ultimately his life to speak up and defend the scriptural truth about the Jews and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of Nazi persecution. Metaxis says that American Christians also have a responsibility to speak up about the evil we see in our modern society, including abortion, transgender ideology, the destruction of the family, and other ills. The church has an irreplaceable responsibility to call out and confront evil, and according to Metaxis, American Christians have become complacent and accepting of  sin and evil.  According to Dietrich Bonhoffer and Metaxis, "silence in the face of evil is evil itself. God will not hold us guiltless."  This book is a real wake-up call to Christians.  We must stand for what is true and Godly in the face of the evils becoming more and more entrenched in our society.  This book was interesting to listen to, and more, it was a true inspiration to me.  For this reason, I gave the book 4/5 stars on Goodreads.

52 Churches in 52 Weeks ****

by Dave Boice

Genre:  Christian

Format:  Kindle Unlimited

I have always enjoyed learning about churches and religions different than the one I was brought up in, so when I saw this book available for Kindle Unlimited, I had to download it and read it.  After his fiancée unceremoniously dumps him, author Dave Boice, takes a hard look at everything in his life, including the church he was brought up in and had attended his entire life.  He had always been told that his church was the "one true church" (he was protestant - I believe Methodist if memory serves), but when Boice felt that his life had been turned upside down, he went on a quest to find God in other places.  He began attending other churches, (mostly Christian, but some non-Christian), and he wrote about his experiences with different denominations.  Boice traveled across America from New York to L.A. exploring numerous faith traditions and attending many different churches. He also started a Youtube channel about his experiences with other churches, also called 52 Churches in 52 Weeks.   I enjoyed reading this book. Boice has a dry wit and a bit of sarcastic humor that makes the book interesting, but sometimes feels irreverent as he describes different faith traditions.   By the end of the book, the author had still not found a new church home, but he had been dumped by another fiancée.  He vowed, however, to continue looking for God and truth wherever He could find them.  After the book was published in 2019, Boice continued his search for God, which he documented on his Youtube channel.  Earlier this year, he found an joined his new Christian home and you can find out more about that here.  I gave the book 4/5 stars on Goodreads.  

$2.00 a Day ****

by Kathryn Edin

Genre: Socio/Political

Format:  Audiobook (library loan)

This book details the lives of several families and individuals from different parts of our nation who subsist on next to nothing. It's hard to imagine how someone could survive on $2.00 a day, but according to the book, such poverty is not uncommon in our nation.  Nothing about life is easy for those living with this kind of destitution, and this book allows some of these very poor people to describe their lives in their own words. I found this book interesting and heartrending.  I can't imagine living and trying to raise a family in this extreme kind of want.  There are government programs and policies designed to help the poor, but, as the author explains, they are mostly ineffective and don't solve the root causes of poverty.  The book gives a voice to some people who have very little voice or say in their lives.  The portions of the book about laws and policy were not as interesting or impactful as the stories of the people, so I gave the book 4/5 stars on Goodreads.  

The Vanishing Girls ***

by Lisa Regan

Genre:  Suspense/Mystery

Format: Kindle Unlimited

When a number of girls go missing and the police force of a small town appears to be involved, it takes Detective Josie Quinn to unravel the mystery. This is a pretty typical suspense book, with a predictable plot, but way too much violence for my tastes.  I gave the book 3/5 stars on Goodreads because it was somewhat of a page turner, but I doubt I will seek out any more books from the prolific Kindle Unlimited author Lisa Regan. 

That's it for my September Reading Roundup. Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for sharing a book you would recommend in the comments.  Also, what are your October reading plans? Anything good on your Kindle or nightstand for fall?

Until next time,

📚Deb📚

August Reading Roundup

My reading dropped off in August and I only finished four books.  Two of the books I completed were novels,  one was a memoir, and one was an inspirational book. Here's what I thought of each one. 

The Second Mrs. Astor  *****

By Shana Abe

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Format:  Kindle Unlimited

This book tells the fictionalized but true story of Madeline Talmage Force, who became the second wife of the famed American capitalist John Jacob Astor, when she was only 18.  Astor was over 20 years her senior when they married and set off on an extended honeymoon trip to Europe and Egypt.  When they return to the United States, Astor, and his now pregnant teenage wife secure their passage on the brand-new, "unsinkable," White-Star Line ocean liner Titanic.  The author expertly weaves the story of the romance of Madeline and John Jacob against the historical events of their time, culminating with the sinking of the Titanic on April 14, 1912, that left Madeline a widow carrying the couple's baby son.  Parts of the book are written as a journal that Madeline is writing to her son, but most of the story is written in third person.  This is an excellent book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction and is familiar with the harrowing and tragic tale of the Titanic.  I enjoyed reading this book and gave it 5/5 stars on Goodreads.  

Speaking for Myself ****

by Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Genre:  Memoir

Format:  Audiobook

This was an interesting memoir that focused mainly on Sarah Huckabee Sanders' two and a half years as President Trump's press secretary during his first administration.  Sanders' point of view is obviously very pro-Donald Trump, but her description of events that happened during the 2016-2020 Trump administration seem truthful, authentic, and in many ways different than what was presented in the "mainstream media."  I enjoy history, so I liked this book and learned a lot from it.  I gave it 4/5 stars on Goodreads.   

Life Lessons ***

by Dr. Trina Boice

Genre:  Inspirational

Format:  Kindle (own)

In this book, author Trina Boice, writes about people and experiences from her own life, telling what they taught her.  Many of the experiences are about her own father, and in some ways, the book comes across as a tribute to her dad.  The author also integrates scriptures that go along with each lesson.  The book is interesting, but at almost 400 pages, it is way too long for a book of this genre.  I gave the book 3/5 stars on Goodreads.  

American Housewife ***

by Anita Abriel

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Format:  Kindle Unlimited

This story is set in the early 1950s in New York City where a young female radio personality, Maggie Lane, is offered the chance of a lifetime to host her own baking show on TV.   On her show, Maggie is supposed to be the quintessential American housewife, offering baking, housekeeping, and even marriage tips to her viewers even though she is a newlywed who has never been a homemaker. As the show takes off, Maggie realizes that she has a lot to learn about baking, making a home, and being a wife.  It isn't easy, especially when her not-so-squeeky-clean past catches up with her.   I liked how the author weaved some true historical events into the story, but some of the connections seemed far-fetched. There were also a couple of sex scenes, but it wasn't overdone. The plot was interesting and moved along, but it wasn't the best book I've ever read, so I gave it 3/5 stars on Goodreads.  

As the month of September begins, I'm reading these books: Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd (my daughter Tiffany recommended this book to me, and it's good!), This Nation Shall Endure by Ezra Taft Benson and 52 Churches in 52 Weeks by Dave Boice.  So far, I am enjoying all three books.  

That's all for this month's Reading Roundup.  Thanks for stopping by.  Happy September and happy reading!

Until next time,

💖📚Deb📚😊

"Reading quickens 

the growth of the heart

like nothing else."

~Catheryanne M. Valente

Tuesday 4 - It's All About Books!

 

I decided to join in and answer the Tuesday 4 Questions today.  How could I not when they are all about book?!  You can join in Tuesday 4 here. 

1. What are some essential classic books that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime?

I think that everyone needs The Bible at least once in his or her life, but better still, one should read at least a few verses of scripture every day.  I have read The Bible a number of times, and the past few years, I am reading a different translation each time.  This is the translation I am currently reading, The Book, which is a 1986 edition of The Living Bible published by Tyndale House Publishers. 

2.  Monday, September 22, is the first day of Autumn.

Would you make up a list for us of books that you think would make great Autumn reading?

Some of the books I plan to read in the coming weeks (end of summer and early fall) include The Crash by Freida McFadden, Falling Darkness by Zara Evans, 52 Churches in 52 Weeks by David Boice, and The Slow Stain by Connor Boyack. 

3. What genre will we find most in your library? Sci Fi, Romance, adventure, biography, nonfiction, mystery?  What do you like most about the genre?

I have a lot of nonfiction and a good number of mysteries.  Pictured is my "to read" mostly mystery shelf in my basement.  Because I can get many of these titles for my Kindle, I will probably be getting rid of a lot of these books soon.  I like nonfiction books because I like to learn, and the mysteries keep my interest and keep my guessing.  I also enjoy a good historical fiction, like the one I am currently reading.  

4  What book would you like to see made into a movie? Any idea on who should be cast in the roles?

I think that the book I'm currently reading, The Second Mrs. Astor,  would make a terrific movie.  I have no idea who would be good in the leading roles because I don't watch many movies and really don't have much of an idea about who is "in" in Hollywood right now.

That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you are finding plenty of good books to read this August. 

Until next time, 

📚Deb📚

July Reading Roundup

My reading fell off a little in July, and I only finished five books.  Four of the five were nonfiction.  One was an audiobook. All but one of the other books I completed were on my Kindle.  Here's what I thought of each one.

Somehow ****

by Anne Lamott

Genre: Nonfiction/Essay

Format: Audiobook/Library

I have read several (five or six) Anne Lamott books over the past decade or so.  I enjoyed them all.  While the author's political views (which she includes in her books) are way left of my own, the down-to-earth, God-oriented, autobiographical essays that comprise the chapters in all of her books, are sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, and always thought-provoking.  Anne Lamott is still one my favorite authors and I gave this book 4/5 stars on Goodreads. 

Reclaim Your Life *****

by Natalie Brooks

Genre:  Self-Help

Format: Kindle/Own

This book was written by a young woman who has struggled with severe depression.  She explains her experiences and how, with the help of God and competent and knowledgeable therapists, she was able to manage her depression symptoms and lead a normal, productive life.   I was asked to review an advance copy of this book for a Christian publishing house, which is how I got my Kindle copy.  The book had some excellent information and was easy to read.  Sources were cited and references for information was given. Because it was written by a person who peronally suffered from depression, the writing was real and authentic.  I gave the book 5/5 stars on Goodreads because it would be helpful to a young person who desires help, however, the book and information in it does not replace professional mental health help. 

The Painted Pink Dress****

by Minu Cash

Genre:  Memoir

Format:  Kindle Unlimited

This book is an autobiography of Minu Cash who grew up in Cashion, Arizona, a part of the Phoenix metro area.  Minu's parents were Mexican farm workers who raised nine children in a small, dilapidated house.  The children's education often fell prey to the survival needs of the family, as everyone in the family was required to work, usually picking cotton.  The author's father was schizophrenic and extremely abusive; her mother seemed indifferent and often turned a blind eye to the father's abuse. Minu's story starts with her childhood and continues through adulthood with her two marriages and divorces, the birth of her two children, and the death of one of them.  Minu's white skin, much lighter than the other children in the family, hints that the abusive father who raised her may not have been her biological father. Her true paternity is revealed near the end of the book. I found this book to be interesting, compelling, and sometimes hard to read because of the abuse described.  Still, it is an excellent memoir, and I gave it 4/5 stars on Goodreads. 

Pathological Positivity ***

by Paul H. Jenkins

Genre:  Self-Help

Format:  Paperback/Own

The title of this book pretty much says it all.  The author, Paul H. Jenkins is a licensed psychologist and "life coach."  His approach to mental health is to frame or reframe everything that happens to us with a positive lens.  There is some very good stuff in this book, and I completely agree with Dr. Jenkins on almost everything he wrote. The book really presented nothing new and the author used way to many trite examples to try to make his points, which is why I gave it 3/5 stars on Goodreads. 

Murder Mystery Book Club ***

by Danielle Collins

Genre:  Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle Unlimited

Eva Stewart is a 40-something single woman with a chatty parrot who runs a bed and breakfast in the Florida Keys.  She also loves reading murder mysteries, discussing them with members of her murder mystery book club, and helping to solve real-life mysteries.  When a man is murdered in the alley behind her bed and breakfast, Eva and the members of her book club start doing some sleuthing to uncover who did what to whom.   In the process of everything, Eva meets an attractive new detective on the city police force, and makes friends with the female medical examiner.  This book reminded me of why I don't read many cozy mysteries.  The writing was OK, and the plot moved forward, but I found it basically bland, boring, and uninteresting.   I gave it 3/5 stars on Goodreads, and I probably will not read any more books from this series. 

In August, I'll be reading the historical fiction, The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe, which I have heard is really good.  I'm about a third of the way through the Life Lessons by Dr. Trina Boice, a nonfiction inspirational book. As always, I try to begin every day in scripture, and I recently started the book of Joshua in the Old Testament.

Thanks for stopping by to share my thoughts on the books I read in July.   Please let me know in the comments if you have any good book recommendations.

Until next time,

📚😊Deb💖📚

April Reading Reviews

 Here are the books I read in April, and a little about what I thought of each one. 

Glass House ****

By Brian Alexander

Genre: Nonfiction/Society

Format:  Kindle

This book tells the true story of Lancaster, Ohio, a small city that was built around the iconic American company Anchor Hocking Glass.  The author shows how the economic fortunes of Lancaster and its population were closely tied to what happened to Anchor Hocking.   Beginning in the 1980s, a series of Reagan economic policies and sales of the company to “corporate raiders” such as Carl Icahn catapulted the company down a financial spiral that led to the eventual bankruptcy of the company and accompanying  pay and benefit cuts and layoffs of the employees who made up the Lancaster community.  Over the years, economic hopelessness and lack of opportunity led many in Lancaster and other places like it, to turn to drugs and crime, in an effort to relieve the pain of day-to-day living, and simply to survive.  This is an interesting, important and  sad book with many personal stories of those who witnessed and lived through the decline of Anchor Hocking Glass and the “all-American City” that was Lancaster, Ohio.   Like J.D. Vance’s books, Hillbilly Elegy, Glass House helps the reader understand the desperation of Americans when opportunity for a decent life disappears and is replaced with chemical counterfeits.  I read his is an excellent, detailed book on my Kindle and I gave it 4 /5  stars on Goodreads.. 

Shepherds for Sale ****

By Megan Basham

Genre:  Nonfiction/Christian/Political/Cultural

Format:  Audio - library app.

In this interesting and well-documented book, Megan Basham reports on how many Evangelical Christian pastors have adopted and are teaching leftist philosophies to their flocks. In many cases,  the retreat from true Biblical teachings to the “philosophies of men” is being pushed and financed by left leaning power brokers, who have a vested interest in destroying traditional Christian values.  I listened to the audio of this book, which I borrowed from the library, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone concerned about the leftist direction many Christian churches are moving. I gave the book 4/5 stars on Goodreads. 

Miracles in the Meadow *****

By Dee Flurer

Genre:  Nonfiction/Biography/Spiritual

Format:  Kindle Unlimited

A beautiful day at Grand Teton National Park almost turns deadly when author Dee Flurer’s husband suffers a “widow-maker” heart attack while photographing bears frolicking in a meadow at the park. This book is the story of that day, how Dee’s husband was ultimately saved, after a series of “miraculous” events.  I loved this book, and closely related to much of what the author went through because my own husband almost died from a brain aneurysm in 2017, and save for some miraculous “coincidences” he would have succumbed. This is a quick read of less than 200 pages.  It is well-written, and the reader comes away truly caring about the Flurer family, and being grateful for the miracles that saved Dee’s husband's life.   I purchased this book for my Kindle and gave it 5/5 stars on Goodreads. 

Cruel Intent *****

By J.A. Jance

Genre:  Fiction/Mystery/Suspense

Format:  Paperback - own

I generally enjoy mystery/suspense books, but I had never read one by the author J.A. Jance.  I found this book at a favorite used bookstore and decided to try it. Although I found out this was #4 in the series, I still liked it.  It was a well-crafted mystery with interestingly developed characters and plot.  While there were adult themes in the book, there was no explicit sex or bad language. However, there were descriptions of violence, but such descriptions did not overwhelm the story.  I liked the book and plan to read more by this author.  I gave the book 5/5 stars on Goodreads. 

When Culture Hates You ****

By Natasha Crain

Genre:  Nonfiction/Christian/Society

Format:  Audiobook - library Hoopla app.

As cultural hostility for Christian values and beliefs intensifies, some Christians are reluctant or don’t know how to respond to defend their Biblical beliefs.  This book looks in depth at issues such as abortion, transgenderism, social justice, sexuality and other issues for which cultural beliefs are contrary to what we as Christians believe as scriptural truth.  In addition, the book tells believers how they can defend and advocate for Christian values in the public square.  I listened to the audiobook, which I found to be very interesting.  I gave the book 4 / 5 stars on Goodreads. 

Cease to Contend *****

By Rodney B. Deiser Ph.D, LMHC

Genre:  Nonfiction/Religious/Political/Social

Format:  Kindle - Cedar Fort -  ARC

This excellent book discusses and gives examples of how cognitive distortions cause conflict and contention with regard to many things in life.  While the focus is on political division and contention, the skills the author discusses to resolve political conflict, can be used in all areas of life.  The author also writes about the roles of both traditional and social media in conflict and division and encourages getting information from multiple sources representing differing viewpoints, and being aware of the biases and political leanings of our usual news sources.  He also discusses the importance of reading good books on all sides of our national political discourse.  This was a very good, well-written and readable book with important practical ideas to decrease division and contention.  I gave the book 5/5 stars on Goodreads.

Bad Religion ***

By Ross Douthat

Genre:  Nonfiction/Religious/Cultural

Format:  Paperback - own

In this book, New York Times Columnist, Ross Douthat, traces the evolution of the Christian Faith in the world and specifically in the United States.  Douthat is an orthodox Catholic, and in the book, he expresses that pretty much any faith tradition that is not orthodox Catholic gets everything wrong. He argues that American Christianity has “lost its way and threatens to take our society with it.” The book has some interesting parts and many things I agree with, but also comes across as being a very long and dense rant about religions Douthat does not like, or agree with. Douthat gets some things right, but he does not see and acknowledge any positives in religions and denominations other than his own orthodox tradition.  My son had to read this book for a college class (one of several on a list he could choose from) and he passed it along to me.  I read a paperback version, which I own, and gave the book 3 out of 5  stars on Goodreads.   

Via Dolorosa - Christ’s Path to the Cross *****

By Dr. Trina Boice

Genre:  Nonfiction/Christian/History/Travel

Format:  Kindle - Cedar Fort ARC

This impactful book traces the traditional path of Jesus Christ’s final hours, from his trial to the cross.  The author has been to the Holy Land multiple times and she describes what this path, known as Via Dolorosa (which means “way of sorrows" in Latin) is like today, and then also explains that tradition of what happened at each station of the cross.  This excellent book gives much insight into the last hours of Christ’s mortal life, taken from tradition and scriptures in the New Testament.  This is a good book to read during the Easter season.  I gave this book 5/5 stars on Goodreads. 

Until next time,

📚😊Deb💖📚

"The greatest gift

is a passion for reading."

~Elizabeth Hardwick