Book Reviews

Trust and Obey: A Book After My Own Heart (Book Review & Blog Tour)

June 30, 2018 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

Years ago, I started a short story that was supposed to be based in ancient Israel. Later that year, I did NaNoWriMo for the first time, and re-wrote the story plus at least 10,000 words of a very long sidetrack involving a cave and hiding from the enemy (oh, fun!). Hey, it helped me win that year, anyway! Over the following year, I didn’t even look back on that draft—I knew it was so bad it needed a complete re-write. Since then, it has gone through several revisions, although I haven’t touched the story for three or four years now.

Even so, the setting in 66-67 AD Jerusalem has gripped my heart and I still remember the hours of research and figuring out story tidbits fondly. It was a fascinating time in Jewish history; not very pretty, but also containing some truly amazing things.

Fast forward to a month or so ago when I saw the announcement of author Faith Blum’s new book, Trust and Obey. After reading the synopsis and seeing the cover, I knew I wanted to read it, too. Turns out it has a good amount of similarities with my story, so I felt like I had come home when I opened the book and sat down to read!

Kiera: Worst. Distraction. Ever. (Book Review & Blog Tour!)

June 20, 2018 by Esther Filbrun · 4 Comments

One of the most fun things I’ve done in the internet world for the last few years is following authors, really enjoy reading their blogs, and then getting to read their books. I don’t think there’s anything quite as special as finding your newest favorite authors that way! Most recently, I saw a signup form for a book tour for a book called Kiera coming from a blog I read on a pretty regular basis. I figured I’d probably like it, so I signed up—without reading the synopsis, or anything (rather dangerous, yes!).

I also had another couple review books going at the time, so wondered how it would all work out—having four reading deadlines within a month isn’t always a great idea for me. BUT! I wanted to read this, so I signed up.

Journibles: A Rich Devotional Resource (Book Review and Blog Tour)

May 19, 2018 by Esther Filbrun · 1 Comment

There are some people that are very good salesmen, even if they don’t intend to be. (Or maybe they do…I don’t know.) Anyway, when Chautona Havig shared a review of the Journibles collection on Youtube one day, I watched it and decided I wanted to try it out one day.

Imagine my delight when I saw that it was coming up for review soon, and I’d be able to get a hardcover version! I was thrilled to receive the welcome email, and eagerly anticipated the little package in the mail for the following few weeks—until, one day, there it was!

If there’s anything better than book mail, especially with a book you just can’t wait to dive into, please tell me. But that totally made my day one afternoon after work!

What Dreams May Come Review and Blog Tour

February 12, 2018 by Esther Filbrun · 5 Comments

My brother and I bounced along in the back of the truck. Praise music was turned on fairly loudly in the front, and every once in a while one of us would look back to check on our load and make sure everything was staying in place. Already, we had stopped five or six times to try to tighten up straps enough to keep the tires on top of the things packed underneath them on the loaded trailer. It was a chore to make sure that they didn’t jiggle too far out—at one point, we had ended up with a tire dragging on the road, which isn’t very optimal in a high-speed zone!

However, by now, two and a half hours into our journey, things seemed to be settling down a bit. We were all heaving a tentative sigh of relief, especially since the last stop for a check had revealed that the most recent tighten-down and re-threading seemed to have worked. Finally able to relax some, and ready to enjoy the scenery, I checked the two chickens in a cage right behind our heads one more time. They seemed to be doing fine, with their cage securely fastened by a few bits of twine string to the bars across the back window of the truck. Their feathers were being blown around some, but not as much as they had been before we wrapped a coat around the more exposed sides of the cage.

Tugging my Kindle out of my bag, I was excited to finally be able to start the book I’d been waiting for several months to read, What Dreams May Come. And as the native bush, creeks, the occasional waterfall, and rivers slid by outside (and the chickens and tires stayed in place behind us), I lost myself in the story.

‘Tis so Sweet Book Review (Blog Tour & Giveaway)

January 30, 2018 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

I knew it was possibly a little foolish to sign up for yet another blog tour so close to our moving date, but I really couldn’t resist last week. I loved Faith Blum’s last release, All the Way the Savior Leads, and ‘Tis so Sweet was a novella, I figured it would probably be safe.

So one hot afternoon after the author sent it to me, while Dad drove our family out to the ocean to cool off, I read. Then, my little sister and I played in the surf and got ourselves thoroughly soaked, having the time of our lives. When we were done cooling off (and trust me, even the cold south Pacific feels good on hot days!), and everyone else had had a good swim, we headed home again—and Dad took the longer, scenic route to get back. Which gave me just enough time to finish this book.

I loved it. A whole book (hey, a novella counts, right?) plus a nice hour at the beach? Just perfect.