Tag: Francine Rivers

Have you ever been disappointed by a book everyone else seemed to love?

Bookish Question #344 | Have you ever been disappointed by a book everyone else seemed to love?

There have been a few books from authors I’ve previously read and enjoyed that just haven’t captured my attention.

For example, I bought and Her Mother’s Hope and Her Daughter’s Dream by Francine Rivers. I read the first and while it was well-written, I found the story depressing (which shouldn’t be a surprise: it was set in the 1930s Depression, and ended just as the USA entered World War II). I never even read the second book.

I loaned both books to a friend who loved them, as did most online reviewers.

I’m glad she enjoyed them, even if I didn’t.

There are other authors (more than a few)I’ve tried to read based on reviews and the recommendations of multiple other Christian readers, but I haven’t been able to get into their stories.

One of the culprits might be the attitude of Christians toward book reviews. There’s a view that if reviewers can’t give a glowing five-star review, then they shouldn’t review the book at all (a variation of Thumper’s rule, perhaps?).

So perhaps I’m not the only person disappointed by certain books. Perhaps we’re all ignoring Matthew 7:5, John 8:32, and similar verses because we’re following the Bambi rule, not the Bible.

What about you? Have you ever been disappointed by a book everyone else seemed to love?

What's a book you've read more than three times?

Bookish Question #326 | What’s a book you’ve read more than three times?

Does reading my own book count?

I read that so many times while I was writing and editing. I honestly can’t say how many times. I can say that I didn’t read the whole book each time—I read as much as I had written, and moved forward from there. I’m currently following a similar process for my second book.

If we exclude books I’ve written (or edited), then there are a few I can think of:

An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers is the second in The Mark of the Lion series, and my favourite. I’ve definitely read it more than either of the other two books in the series.

Secrets by Robyn Jones Gunn is the first book in her Glenbrooke series. I read and enjoyed all the books, but I think Secrets and Whispers were my favourite.

Love Finds a Home by Janette Oke is the final book in the Love Comes Softly series, because this was the book where Belinds and Drew finally (finally!) get their happy-ever-after.

And the Bible. I’ve read through the complete Bible several times as part of a Bible in a Year challenge, but I consciously selected a different version of the Bible each time. So is that one book or several?

What about you? What’s a book you’ve read more than three times?

What's the best Christian novel you have ever read?

Bookish Question #320 | What is the best Christian novel you have ever read?

I have read more Christian novels than I can count.

According to Goodreads, I’ve read over 1,500 in the last ten years (and that’s just a drop in the bucket of all the novels published in the last ten years).

Most of the novels I read are good. Many are excellent. Few last in my memory beyond me writing my book review. The ones I remember longer tend to be the ones that make it to my end-of-year “Best of …” list.

Despite the fact I write contemporary Christian romance, the novels I remember tend to be historical Christian fiction from authors like Elizabeth Camden, Gabrielle Meyer, Roseanna M White, and Francine Rivers.

On that basis, it’s perhaps no surprise for me to decide my favourite Christian novel is Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers

Echo in the Darkness is the second book in her Mark of the Lion trilogy. In many trilogies, the middle book is the weakest (the “saggy middle” writers dread).

But it’s my favourite because it focusses on my two favourite characters in the series, Marcus and Hadassah, and their protracted romance. Marcus is a Roman and not a Christian, but journeys to Israel to discover more about Hadassah after he believes she has been killed in the arena. There he learns to forgive his sister (who he blames for Hadassah’s death) and find God’s forgiveness for himself. I love strong salvation stories, and Marcus’s journey to faith was compelling reading.

Equally compelling was Hadassah’s story back in Rome (and perhaps Ephesus. It’s been a while since I read it, so some of the details are hazy). She works with a healer and finds herself back in Marcus’s family home, caring for his mother.

Echo in the Darkness is, first and foremost, a Christian novel. It’s set in a fascinating period in history–the Roman empire shortly after the fall of Jerusalem–and it incorporates the history and customs of the day into a wonderful Christian romance with a good deal of light suspense.

The writing style might be a little dated, but there is a reason Echo in the Darkness (and many more of Francine Rivers’s books) have remained on bestseller lists for decades.

What about you? What is the best Christian novel you have ever read?

What's the first Christian book you remember reading as an adult?

Bookish Question #296 | What’s the first Christian book you remember reading as an adult?

I didn’t grow up in a Christian home, so didn’t read a lot of Christian books as a child except for the illustrated Children’s Bible my aunt bought me when I was around eight.

I didn’t read a lot for pleasure during university, even though I lived relatively close to an excellent Christian bookshop.

In hindsight, lack of funds might have had something to do with that …

However, once I started work, I also started visiting the Christian bookshop at lunchtime. And that introduced me to Christian fiction, which I have read voraciously ever since.

Here are three of the earliest Christian novels I remember reading:

This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti (recommended by the aunt who bought me the Children’s Bible), which opened my eyes to the realities of spiritual warfare.

A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers (recommended by my pastor), which my pastor loaned me, and which got me completely hooked on Christian fiction.

Search for Tomorrow by Mary Hawkins, the first Christian novel I read by an Australian author, and one of the first Christian romances I ever read. I guess that means I can credit/blame Mary Hawkins for my subsequent addiction?

What’s the first Christian book you can remember reading as an adult?

Do you have a favourite "I couldn't put this down" book?

Bookish Question #265 | Do you have a favourite “I couldn’t put this down” book?

Good question.

I don’t re-read books as often as I used to (back in the days before I had a Kindle, and relied on new stock arriving at my local bookstore or library). Now I always have an embarrassingly large number of unread books on my Kindle.

But if I think back to my pre-Kindle days and the book or books I used to read and re-read, then what book was so compelling that I couldn’t put it down?

The answer will be An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers.

It’s the middle book in her Mark of the Lion trilogy, which is probably the only trilogy I know where the middle book is my favorite. I think that’s because of the structure of the series : the first book (A Voice in the Wind) introduces several characters and ends on a less-than-happy note for one of those characters.

An Echo in the Darkness book picks up where A Voice in the Wind leaves off, and gives my favourite character the happy-ever-after she deserves.

The third book, As Sure as the Dawn, takes place in the same timeframe as An Echo in the Darkness, but follows a different set of characters. While I enjoyed their story, An Echo in the Darkness remains my favorite.

What about you? Do you have a favourite “I couldn’t put this down” book?

About The Mark of the Lion

Travel to first-century Rome in this classic series and discover what has inspired millions of readers worldwide. The three books in the Mark of the Lion series are packaged in a giftable boxed set.

A Voice in the Wind, the first book in the trilogy, introduces readers to Hadassah, a young Jewish girl captured and sold into slavery but still holding firm to her faith in God. Though torn by her love for a handsome aristocrat, Hadassah becomes a shining beacon of light in the darkness and depravity around her.

In An Echo in the Darkness, Marcus, a wealthy Roman aristocrat touched by Hadassah’s sincere belief, begins to wonder if there’s more to this life. As he continues to search for meaning and faith, he is led by a whispering voice from the past that could set him free from the darkness of his soul.

The trilogy concludes with As Sure as the Dawn, which follows Atretes, the high chief of a Germanic tribe who fought as a gladiator and won his freedom. As Atretes sets out to return home with his infant son, only one thing stands in his way: Rizpah, a Christian widow who has cared for the baby since his birth.

What novel has influenced you the most, and why?

Bookish Question #97 | What novel has influenced you the most, and why?

Novels are stories. But novelists can use fiction to illustrate eternal truths, just as Jesus did with the parables. The best novels are those where those eternal truths are woven in so well that we remember them, and they positively influence the way we live our future lives.

So what novel has influenced me the most, and why?

There are many. This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti opened my eyes to the reality of spiritual warfare.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers exposed the human cost of lust and greed, and showed the everlasting love of God.

And the Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers showed the danger of putting spiritual leaders on a pedestal. This was written during the excesses of the 1980s teleevangelists, but needs to be reread in the light of our social media and reality TV culture.

Marcus’s mother in An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers showed me how we all have a purpose in live, no matter our situation.

Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite by Lianne Simon reminded me life isn’t always black or white, right or wrong, male or female.

Grace in Strange Disguise by Christine Dillon reminded me that Christianity isn’t a free pass to an easy life.

Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter showed for the illustration of God’s sacrificial love.

The list could co on …

Novel? You mean I was only supposed to pick one? Not happening.

What about you? What novel has most influenced your life, and why?

Book Review | The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers

Francine Rivers is, in my opinion, the queen of Christian fiction. She’s written Biblical fiction (Sons of Encouragement), biblical retellings (Redeeming Love), historical fiction (The Mark of the Lion trilogy), contemporary fiction (Leota’s Garden, When the Shofar Blew). She’s even written a dual timeline story (The Scarlett Thread).

She’s written some of my favourite Christian fiction, and The Masterpiece is a worthy addition to that shelf.

Roman Velasco is a rich young artist who’s hiding secrets. His messed-up past. His dissatisfaction with his work. The fact he’s also a graffiti artist, decorating (or defacing) prominent Los Angeles buildings. It’s his way of dealing with his past. Roman is a character with issues stemming back decades.

Grace Moore is a divorced single mother who’s broke but needs a job so she can justify keeping the son she almost gave up for adoption. Working for Roman might be her way out. Or not …

The Masterpiece doesn’t shy away from the hard issues of modern life.

Drink. Drugs. Promiscuity. Temptation. Godlessness … but also godliness. I’m sure Grace’s name is no coincidence.

The writing is excellent, as I expected. The characters are layered and complex—just like with real people, it takes a long time to truly know them. I was especially impressed by the way the story switched between the present and past, taking us back to show us the events that turned Roman and Grace into the adults they’ve become. It could have been confusing, but it wasn’t.

Thanks to Tyndale House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Francine Rivers

Francine RiversNew York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers continues to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her numerous bestsellers include Redeeming Love, A Voice in the Wind, and Bridge to Haven, and her work has been translated into more than thirty different languages. She is a member of Romance Writers of America’s coveted Hall of Fame as well as a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

Find Francine Rivers online at:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

About The Masterpiece

New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers returns to her romance roots with this unexpected and redemptive love story, a probing tale that reminds us that mercy can shape even the most broken among us into an imperfect yet stunning masterpiece.

A successful LA artist, Roman Velasco appears to have everything he could possibly want—money, women, fame. Only Grace Moore, his reluctant, newly hired personal assistant, knows how little he truly has. The demons of Roman’s past seem to echo through the halls of his empty mansion and out across his breathtaking Topanga Canyon view. But Grace doesn’t know how her boss secretly wrestles with those demons: by tagging buildings as the Bird, a notorious but unidentified graffiti artist—an alter ego that could destroy his career and land him in prison.

Like Roman, Grace is wrestling with ghosts and secrets of her own. After a disastrous marriage threw her life completely off course, she vowed never to let love steal her dreams again. But as she gets to know the enigmatic man behind the reputation, it’s as if the jagged pieces of both of their pasts slowly begin to fit together . . . until something so unexpected happens that it changes the course of their relationship—and both their lives—forever.

Find The Masterpiece online at:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Read the introduction to The Masterpiece below:

And don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Which Christian books have you recommended to a friend?

Bookish Question #48 | Which Christian books have you recommended to a friend?

Lots! I am a book blogger, after all. A lot of my reviews are recommendations, although they’re often recommendations to the world at large rather than to specific friends.

So which Christian books have I recommended most recently?

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner

Recommended to friends looking for a fun contemporary romance read, but one that’s both 100% Christian and 100% set in the real world with fallen people where not everyone is a Christian. Click here to read my review.

Grace in Strange Disguise by Christine Dillon


Recommended to someone looking for a Christian book that’s not a romance, and that makes the reader think.

I edited Grace in Strange Disguise, so haven’t reviewed it. But you can check out this review from Natalie McNee at Australasian Writers.

 

Atonement Child by Francine Rivers

Atonement Child is a classic story from the author of Redeeming Love, and A Voice in the Wind. It’s about a college student who falls pregnant after being raped (skip Chapter One if that bothers you), and who has to fight to keep her baby. It’s a challenging read, but it’s an encouraging read for people who are hurting. It also has the dubious honour of the book I loan out and never get back. I’ve now bought it three times. Yes, it’s that good.

Which Christian books have you recommended to a friend?

Let me know in the comments, then pop over to Australasian Christian Writers and join in the conversation!

which novel have you read the most

Bookish Question #17 | Which novel have you read the most times?

Which novel have you read the most times?

Last week I talked about rereading—and how I used to read and reread my favourite novels. This was partly out of necessity. I’d read all the books in the house (or all the books I was interested in reading), so reading meant rereading.

I often noticed different things the second time I read a book.

The first time, I’m reading for the plot. What happens? Will they fall in love? Will they catch the evildoer? The second time I read a book, I know the main plot points. So I’m reading for the characters and the writing—and I often enjoy it even more.

Some books can be read over and over without losing their shine.

I’ve met people who say they re-read Pride and Prejudice or some other favourite novel at least once a year. I reread, but I’m not that disciplined. Or obsessive.

Rereading a book over and over is like visiting an old friend—they get better the more time you spend with them.

So which novels have I read over and over?


Many—but the one that stands out is An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers. It’s the middle book in her Mark of the Lion series, and remains my favourite because it’s the one where Hadassah gets her happy ending with Marcus (I hope that’s not a spoiler—the book has been out for more than twenty years, and the series has sold more than two million copies, so if you haven’t read it yet … read it).

What about you? What’s the novel you’ve read the most times?

What's your favourite fiction series?

Bookish Question #4 | What’s Your Favourite Series?

What’s your favourite fiction series, and what makes it so special?

I have two possible answers to this question. Or maybe three favourite series. Yes, definitely three. All Christian fiction, which shouldn’t come as any surprise.

 

The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers

I loved Hadassah, I loved Marcus, and I loved the way her quiet witness had such an impact on him. An Echo in the Darkness remains one of my favourite Christian novels.

 

The Love Comes Softly series by Janette Oke

I loved Clarke and Marty and the way two strangers came together and form a strong, godly family. I loved the way Clarke introduced Marty to God. And I loved the way the series covered generations, and didn’t shy away from the trials of life.

 

The O’Malley series by Dee Henderson

These were the first Christian romantic suspense novels I read, and I loved the mix of faith, romance and suspense. I especially liked the relationship between the seven O’Malley “siblings”, and the way each of them had a different journey to  Christ. I also read and loved the two prequels—Danger in the Shadows, and Jennifer.

 

What’s your favourite fiction series, and what make it so special?