Books 'n' Blurbs

This week's picks are both excellent reads! I recommend them for your summer reading. 

For Such a Time

by Kate Breslin

April, 2014

Powerful Retelling of the Story of Esther

In 1944, Hadassah Benjamin feels abandoned by God when she is saved from a firing squad only to be handed over to a new enemy. Pressed into service by SS-Kommandant Colonel Aric von Schmidt at the transit camp of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia, her Aryan-like looks allow her to hide behind the false identity of Stella Muller. However, to maintain her cover as von Schmidt’s secretary, she is forced to stand by as her own people are sent to Auschwitz.

Suspecting her employer is a man of hidden depths, Stella appeals to him on behalf of those in the camp. Aric's indulgence gives her hope even as she risks discovery with every attempt to help the prisoners. When her bravery brings her to the point of ultimate sacrifice, she faces an excruciating choice. God may have brought her to the camp for such a time as this, but how can she save her people when she cannot save herself?

WHERE TO BUY: Barnes & Noble; ChristianBook.com; Amazon.com

The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots

by Karla Akins

August, 2013

Humorous and touching!

Pastor's wife, Kirstie Donovan, lives life in a fishbowl, so when she hops on the back of a bright pink motorcycle, tongues start to wag at the conservative, century-old First Independent Christian Community Church of Eels Falls.

Kirstie loves roaring down a road less traveled by most women over forty, but she's not just riding her bike for the fun of it. Kirstie has a ministry. However, certain church members have secrets to hide, and when God uses Kirstie's ministry to fill the pews with leather-clad, tattooed bikers, those secrets could be exposed...and some will stop at nothing to hide the truth.

Join Kirstie and her motorcycle "gang" - two church matrons and a mouthy, gum-smacking non-church member - as they discover that road-toughened bikers are quite capable of ministering to others, and faith is fortified in the most unexpected ways.

Wednesday Whimsy - The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots - Book Review

Lilybits--not large, but in charge. I'm baaack!


The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots by Karla Akins

The Pastor’s Wife Wears Biker Boots made Mom and me laugh a lot. It also had some sad and tense moments, which made me lick my paws and do cat yoga to relax. I think Mom just ate chocolate, but you didn't hear that from me.

The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots is about Pastor Aaron Donovan’s wife, Kirstie, and her desire to find a way to get away and relax sometimes. She has a busy and challenging family life. Her oldest son, Timmy, is autistic and Kirstie shows him much love and patience. And so does her tough redneck friend, Reba, who helps her out with him. The middle teen son, Patrick, is struggling to figure life out and test boundaries. (I know all about testing boundaries!)   

With judgmental church members calling board meetings and looking for issues to stir up, Kirstie has her plate full. The one thing she wants to do is ride a motorcycle—her own—and feel the wind in her face on the open road. I’d like to feel the wind in my fur, but Mom won’t even let me out the patio door, let alone the open road!

When Kirstie is able to buy her own motorcycle with a small inheritance, her friends Reba, Opal and Lily join her with their own rides, and the adventure starts. People may talk, but that’s just the beginning . . .

Mom says and I concur that The Pastor’s Wife Wears Biker Boots is a great read, filled with honest emotions and humor, making you examine your own preconceived notions about people (and other cats, in my case). It touches your heart as Karla Akins deftly weaves a page turning, contemporary story with lifelike characters that deal with real life situations. It’s a fun, but not sugar-coated read. Mom and I highly recommend it. (Despite the fact that the family in
the book have a dog named Goliath and not a cat.
I'll let this one detail go.) Four paws up!  

Leave a comment and follow, if you haven't yet, to be entered
in this week's drawing on Friday morning for a copy of 
The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots.

Next week, I'm moving out of my comfort zone and interviewing
a dog! Karla Akins dog, Jakearoo, will be my guest next Wednesday.