A Movie You Want To See ~ Unsung Hero

Movies are not typically my thing to share because I am so picky about them. So you know that when I do share about one, I think it is a good one. Celebrate the priceless role of Mom in your family by going to see the powerful film, Unsung Hero, in theaters starting April 26th!

I had the privilege to preview Unsung Hero and I enjoyed it a lot. The summary is as follows:

When David Smallbone’s successful music company collapses, he moves his family from Australia to the United States in search of a brighter future. With nothing more than their six children, their suitcases, and their love of music, David (for KING + COUNTRY’s Joel Smallbone) and his pregnant wife Helen (Daisy Betts) set out to rebuild their lives from the ground up. Based on a remarkable true story, a mum’s faith stands against all odds; and inspires her husband and children to hold onto theirs.

Watching this movie made me so appreciative of all I have. The Smallbone family struggled. Not just had some hard times; they had some times that define the word struggle. They left Australia to make a go of it in America, where a job was supposed to be waiting for them. When it wasn’t, they had no income and no prospects. Their passports didn’t allow for much at the beginning. But they had their faith, especially Helen.

Mom Helen had faith and a fierce fighting spirit and that brought the family through it all. My favorite scene was when they set the small jar of their final few dollars on the floor in front of the whole family and said this is all we have. We rely on God for everything that comes our way. Let’s get to praying. They made a prayer wall and wrote their prayer requests on a piece of paper, taping it up for them all to see. These included everything from food to a washing machine. It even included the word “cheaper” at one point because one of the youngest of the family wanted things to be cheaper for them to buy. There was also a place to move their answered prayers. As the days went by, they moved requests to answered one by one as God answered their prayers in His own way. The word cheaper even got moved!

I cannot stress enough how much I loved this story and enjoyed the movie. Running about an hour and a half, it was definitely a family movie worth seeing. Look for it. Buy tickets and take your family. You won’t regret the evening spent together seeing the story of God’s providence, guidance, and ability to work in all situations.

Giveaway: $10 Amazon giftcard, available to US winners only. Comment below on the movie, For King + Country, or Rebecca St. James. (Did you know she was the older sister of the Smallbone family?) I will randomly choose one winner on April 30. Winner must reply to the email within 24 hours to ensure I have the correct email address to have the giftcard sent to.

Disclosure:
Many thanks to Kingdom Faith Marketing Services, LLC for providing a sample of the
product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

At Home,
Lori

hope and heartache, love and longing

This is a book review that I am sharing because I adored the story and the characters. The story is full of hope and heartache, love and longing each living alongside the other in the daily lives of these vibrant characters. I received a Netgalley review for this but was not required to share the review on this site. I just wanted to. For disclaimer’s sake: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham is the book I am sharing with you today. I believe it is being released in August and I suggest you put it on your to-be-read list. Now to my review:

When hope lives alongside heartache, life is tangled, just like the ivy that grows on the walls around the property. Rachel Fordham has written an enchanting book that delves deep into the lives of Sadie and Otis, two characters that have each known heartache of a deep and abiding kind. This heartache can become all encompassing unless someone steps into that grief and exposes it to hope. This is what makes this story such and enchanting and exciting read.

Sadie is striving to hold onto her positive outlook while living in complete squalor and dejection but working hard at providing for her mother, her sisters, and her severely injured father. Hope is hard to find sometimes but Sadie looks to her family for purpose. Pushing ever onward, she is discovered by Otis living in the abandoned factory on his property. His aching for something worthwhile causes him to push past what his father or brother might have done and to offer his own version of hope to Sadie. Little does he realize that by doing so, he also reached for the hope she offers him.

As Sadie and Otis’ friendship grows, we see the depth of the characters Fordham writes. They are courageous in the face of fear, stepping just to the edge of it each time, pushing slightly further toward it each time. This touching the edge of fear and pushing just into it each time was something I loved the imagery of. This image really brings to life the highlight of the story. Each push forward brought more hope and less heartache.

It was a joy to read Beyond Ivy Walls. It contains a depth of character not often seen in historical fiction and I found myself drawn into the story more and more with each passing paragraph. “I couldn’t put it down” is a somewhat cliche statement but it was true of this story for me. I read late into the night, drawn more and more into finding out how Sadie and Otis would handle the hope and heartache, love and longing that were living next to each other in their daily lives.

Blessings,
Lori, At Home.

Praying With Jesus ~ a book review

Looking to grow your spiritual understanding of prayer and strengthen your personal prayer life? Praying with Jesus: Getting to the Heart of the Lord’s Prayer by Adriel Sanchez has tools to help.

Praying with Jesus: Getting to the Heart of the Lord’s Prayer by Adriel Sanchez takes a look at one of the most commonly known prayers from the Bible. The Lord’s Prayer, as it is often called, is found in Matthew 6:9-13. It is also found in Luke 11:1-4, though with some variation. Matthew 6 is where the heart of this book by Sanchez is focused.

Sanchez writes 10 chapters focusing in on various parts and purposes of prayer. Part one includes chapters 1-3. These look at general teachings on prayer, including the heart, the postures (physical positions), and times of praying. Part two includes the remainder of the chapters 6-10 and breaks the Lord’s Prayer down into bite-sized pieces to examine.

Digging in deep with the Lord’s Prayer can be good. As Sanchez writes in chapter 1 (I’m reading on a Kindle so no page numbers are included), “Prayer is the song of your heart to God. Sometimes it’s an explosion of praise, and other times it’s a trickling lamentation. In either case, the source of true prayer is the heart.” As he takes the reader through each of the chapters in the book, the heart is the focus of his thoughts.

The guiding source in Praying With Jesus is the Bible and I am so thankful for that. The Bible should be our guidebook for everything in life and so by keeping that at the center of this book, Sanchez has honored God while helping his reader find more purpose in prayer.

I found that I enjoyed most the opening three chapters on prayer in general. There was much touched on here that gave me pause to think and consider. I highlighted a number of areas to go back to and read more on, to dig deeper into the Bible’s teaching in that area. One of these was early on and addressed “heart disease in prayer.” This was meant to direct our thought to what our heart is doing in prayer. Are we praying as hypocrites or with superstition? There are Bible verses included to make this idea clear and help the reader discern his own heart. Actionable change may be needed and these verses can guide that change.

The next section focused on the petitions of the Lord’s prayer, relying on the teaching of Jesus and God’s word. Jesus used these words when his disciples asked him to teach them to pray. This is an excellent guide for us today. Sanchez broke it down into 7 sections. These included some look at the original language and additional verses to emphasize the purpose of each phrase. It was a deep dive into the purpose and language of how Jesus teaches us to pray.

Every chapter in the book concluded with a prayer from the past, suggested prayer practices to work on in order to strengthen personal prayer life, questions for discussion if you are studying with a group, and endnotes. As with all study books, read with discernment, paying attention to teachings to ensure they align with God’s word. There are a couple of passages that I am studying more in depth because they did not align with how I understand God’s word.

Praying with Jesus: Getting to the Heart of the Lord’s Prayer by Adriel Sanchez is a good study on prayer, especially with the focus on Jesus’ own teachings.

About The Book:

Praying with Jesus: Getting to the Heart of the Lord’s Prayer
by Adriel Sanchez
April 8, 2024
ISBN: 978-1-64507-339-0
Retail Price: $16.99
Religion / Christian Living / Prayer

Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

Blessings,
At Home, Lori

An Unlikely Arrangement ~ a book review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for An Unlikely Arrangement by Cindy Patterson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: An Unlikely Arrangement
Series: Brides of Biltmore #1
Author: Cindy Patterson
Publisher: Springbrook Press, LLC
Release Date: March 11, 2024
Genre: Historical Romance, Christian, Clean & Wholesome

In 1902, Abigail Dupree is but a breath away from her grand societal failure. To save her family from humiliation and financial ruin, Abigail becomes a bargaining trade in her mother’s eyes. A bargain that will extinguish Abigail’s last hope of a happily-ever-after. If only she could return to the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, she might have a chance to reunite with the only man who has the power to save her reputation.

Garrett Barringer arrives in Charlotte, North Carolina to escape a past that no longer wants him. He takes an undisclosed position with Mr. Dupree. When it is revealed that part of Mr. Dupree’s purpose for bringing him on board is to chaperone his beloved daughter, Garrett abruptly discovers that he has taken on more than he bargained for. Abigail Dupree is more beguiling than any other woman he’s encountered, but he must resist his heart for the sake of propriety and to keep a promise made to her father.

When her father hires Garrett Barringer, a man that seems far too young to be a lawyer, and possesses far too many favorable characteristics, Abigail resists his charm but cannot deny her heart is compelling her toward him. But she will not allow the man to ruin an opportunity she has waited for nearly five years.

Garrett is suddenly aware what his life was and what it could become in the presence of Abigail Dupree. Will he be able to give up the woman who has stolen his heart, for her happiness?

Abigail stands to lose all if Garrett Barringer sees past her physical beauty and uncovers the ugliness of her imperfect past. Will Abigail continue on the condemned path she’s fashioned for herself, or trust that God wants a future for her she never believed possible?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop| BookBub

My Review

Headstrong, yet excited to see the world. Interested, yet wanting to please and obey her parents. Loving, yet striving to find the balance between love and obedience. Abigail is everything so many young women find themselves to be. How to navigate the life before her and still be who she feels she really is inside is the struggle that is taking over her life.

Her family has arranged her marriage, as is acceptable for young women like her. But, she cannot stand the man. He is unkind and arrogant. Why would her father choose this? She could clearly see her mother choosing this arrangement because it is just what anyone of high society would desire.

When Garrett Barringer comes to work for Abigail’s father, everything goes off-kilter. Her heart seems to not listen to her head, which reminds her constantly of what her family requires but also of what she wants for herself. Garrett is everything her beau is not – kind, respectful, considerate of her and her family, aware of what is around them, and so much more. When Mr. Barringer is to accompany Abigail to her aunt’s house, Abigail finds herself stuck between her heart and her responsibility.

I was intrigued by idea that this story would include the Biltmore. It is a place I desire to visit and so that was definitely a pull for me. I was a bit disappointed that the story only included the Biltmore once in a while but when it did, the descriptions were lovely. The inclusion of Alice Roosevelt was also a fun little point of the story. It made for some additional historical elements.

The story was a historical romance with a tad bit of Christianity woven in. I could have certainly done with more of the faith element. It would have definitely made this a more applicable story. The idea of waiting on God’s timing for those things that you desire is really nice and I found that was implied in the story. I often find myself struggling with waiting and following God’s plan so I could certainly relate to Abigail’s character in that regard.

This was an enjoyable story and it was quite an easy read. It flew along and the characters were fun. I found that Garrett Barringer was definitely my favorite because he seems to embody the godly characteristics that a man after God’s own heart should be striving for. He wasn’t perfect but he kept trying. That was a nice element to the story. Overall, it was a worthwhile read.

About the Author

Award-winning author Cindy Patterson believes in captivating romance and happy endings. In her stories, she loves to give glimpses of how God can use brokenness and make them whole. She reads a lot, drinks too much coffee, and wishes she had more time to write. Author of Chasing Paradise, Broken Butterfly, and Shattered Treasure, she loves to connect with her readers.

Connect with Cindy by visiting cindypattersonbks.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a signed print copy of An Unlikely Arrangement and other book related gifts!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 16, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 23, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

At Home,
Lori

Lovin’ On Red ~ a book review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Lovin’ On Red by Mary Pat Johns, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Lovin’ On Red
Series: Romance in Valiant #2
Author: Mary Pat Johns
Publisher: Scrivenings Press
Release Date: April 9, 2024
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

He has everything … except what he wants most.

Rory is a wildly successful contractor with all the right connections. He has everything, except the woman who sees past his missing foot. If only the tiny redhead he’s insanely attracted to would go on a date with him, it could work, but Vi refuses.

Licensed massage therapist Vi Summers needs her childhood home remodeled, and Rory Spence is the perfect man for the job. Only he’s the last person she wants to work with. Despite Rory’s reputation as a flirt, his tender attention to getting her house right helps Vi see into his heart. Too bad her past mistakes prevent a future relationship.

Drawn together like magnets, they navigate trouble with illegal squatters, family expectations, and fire. Will they finally be honest with each other, or will their secrets tear them apart?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

More Books In This Series

My Thoughts:

A safe place to just be who you are is something everyone craves. Lovin’ On Red by Mary Pat Johns is about this need and this desire and how, when it is fulfilled, it makes you a stronger, happier person. Many times we don’t even know we need that safe place because we are so consumed by the fear of something. Mary Pat Johns has done a great job of presenting this idea of a safe place to just be you in this book featuring two red-heads – Rory and Vi.

Rory and Vi are endearing characters that I could relate to. Not because I have experienced anything like what shaped their characters but because everyone has a fear of opening up to others at one time or another. Loneliness, injury, heartache, not really knowing yourself, meeting other’s expectations – these all roll into who Rory and Vi are. Their friends are great at helping them see their path when they stumble off it or are blinded by fear. These are the things that made this an enjoyable story to read.

While this is marketed as a Contemporary Christian Romance novel, I struggle to put that Christian label on it. It is clean but there is a warning for this book for anyone who may have experience physical or sexual abuse or dealt with teenage pregnancy. There are not any explicit details and very little actually talked about for these topics but they could be difficult for someone to deal with. There are almost no references to God or Christianity or the types of things I would expect to deeply form the characters in a Christian novel. It does include a couple of things that are somewhat “Christian” – accountability partners, a few references to praying, a mention of church or two. I do wish that Christianity had played a stronger role in creating these characters, as I really like them and I think it would have deepened the characters a lot.

Overall, this is a clean, enjoyable story about Rory and Vi and the ups and downs of their friendship. I can easily say this is acceptable for adults to read; I would not recommend it for anyone in high school or younger.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are my personal and honest opinions.

About the Author

Mary Pat Johns lives in South Texas with the love of her life and two spoiled dachshunds. You can find her at the gym, on her computer, or  reading a book.

Connect with Mary Pat by visiting marypatjohns.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win print copies of Countin’ On Jesse and Lovin’ On Red, plus sea turtle earrings and necklace!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 8, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 15, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Sandcastle Inn ~ a book review

Sandcastle Inn: A Hope Harbor Novel

by Irene Hannon

Description

Vienna Price never intended to return for more than a passing visit to Oregon and all the bad memories she’d left behind. But when your career tanks, home is where you go to nurse your wounds and chart a new course. Only temporarily, of course–because as much as she loves her quirky mom, anything more than a short stay would drive them both crazy.

A trip to Oregon isn’t in Matt Quinn’s plans, either, until a perfectly timed appeal for help arrives from his sister. What better place to decompress after a shattering loss than a quiet, seaside town named Hope Harbor? But R&R isn’t on the agenda when he arrives to find his sister’s new enterprise on life support.

Vienna, however, may have just the skills needed to resuscitate the foundering B&B–if Matt can convince her to hang around long enough to mend an inn . . . and his heart.

My Thoughts:

Life’s twists and turns sometimes throw us for a loop. Sometimes, it completely submerges us and we don’t know how to get out of the swirling water. Matt and Vienna both find themselves in this swirling water and need somewhere safe to land as they find their way out of life’s turbulence. Hope Harbor is just the place. And it provides both of those things – hope for those weary and searching; a harbor of safety to those who need it most. Matt is seeking a rest while Vienna is looking for a restart. Add in the fish taco selling “philosopher”, the bookstore owner “psychologist”, and those who need the listening ear these two provide. It all combines to create a small town that anyone would find what they need in.

This was such a fun story. The rehabbing of the inn to a B&B was a unique angle for the story and one that made it such a joy to read. It had the nicest setting – an inn with a lovely view and plenty of seclusion – and just enough intrigue about character backgrounds to keep the interest without it being annoying. I found the characters personalities were just right, engaging yet interesting. I liked the emotional interest that was placed there with all the characters – referring to lost loves, friendships, and future relationships. So much was poured into these characters that I truly found them intriguing.

I would feel confident encouraging others to read this story, including some of the teens that I know that are looking for clean romance stories. This one was a joy to read.

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this title on Kindle for the purpose of publisher feedback. All opinions are 100% my own and this public review was not required.

At Home,
Lori

When The Flames Ravages ~ a book review

When The Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir was an interesting read, though it wasn’t quite what I thought I was getting into. I was expecting an historical novel that was more in depth about the actual fire and the causes behind it. What I got was a bit of a suspense novel crossed with an historical novel crossed with a romance story. It was a clean and enjoyable read that takes places in the shadows of the Ringling Bros circus fire in Hartford, CT, in 1944.

We meet Evelyn, a war widow struggling to make ends meet and struggling to keep from the depression that wants to cover her heart. As a waitress, she is doing all she can to contribute to her sister’s family with whom she is living and helping. Her niece and nephew are the lights in her life and she looks forward to their joy each morning and evening. While on the job, she meets several of the men/clowns from the circus, feeling an unusual connection with one of them.

Hank is just a man struggling to get his life right and working hard in the circus, while trying to figure out how to set his life back on the straight and narrow. As a clown with the circus, he often hides behind the character he plays. Until the fateful day of the circus fire. Then, he knows what to do and acts quickly, assisting an unknown man who is helping women and children get to safety. He stays with it, even though the little girl next to him won’t leave. Then, he grabs her at the last minute while she screams for daddy and runs to safety with her.

In the aftermath of the fire, we find Evelyn and Hank working together to find Evelyn’s niece and nephew, whom it turns out Hank helped their daddy get to safety. But where are they? As the two search through the ashes and shadows of the fire, they also grow closer together. Hank forces himself to face his past and Evelyn forces herself to face her future. What will it all become?

This was a tremendous novel, though it was a little bit of a slow start as the author built the characters. I truly enjoyed the writing and building of the story, keeping the reader engaged, desiring to know what becomes of each of the characters in the story. The suspense and mystery surrounding the actual stories of some of the people from the real fire is built into this fictional account very well. I feel like I know quite a bit of this history of this event through the telling of Evelyn and Hank’s stories. This is one that I recommend to people who enjoy historical novels, a bit of mystery and suspense, and don’t mind just a tad bit of romance thrown in at the end. An enjoyable read.

Disclaimer – I received a complimentary copy of the Kindle edition to review and share feedback with the publisher. I freely chose to share it here. All opinions are 100% my own.

At Home,
Lori

Even If Nothing Else Is Certain ~ book review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Even If Nothing Else Is Certain by Amy Willoughby-Burle, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Even If Nothing Else Is Certain
Series: Love for Certain #2
Author: Amy Willoughby-Burle
Publisher: Fireship Press
Release Date: March 27, 2024
Genre: Historical Romance (clean)

Even if nothing else is certain … love still is.

Ruby Foster loves her job as a Pack Horse librarian, but secretly she dreams of being a nurse. Since there are no schools for nursing in the hills of rural Kentucky in 1937, Ruby contents herself with harvesting medicinal plants, delivering her beloved library books, and dreaming. Dreaming mostly of a life that doesn’t leave her living in the past. Until one day she discovers that “past” camped out by the Hell for Certain creek. Could it really be Cole, the one who left her heartbroken so many years ago? Just when she starts to believe in her dreams and hope for love again, Cole reveals his true colors. Or is the truth she sees only another illusion? When nothing else in the world seems certain, can the bonds of friendship bring one searching heart and one lost soul together again?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More Books In This Series

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My Thoughts

I have found the history of pack horse librarians fascinating. They endured difficult trails, tremendous weather challenges, and wild animals, putting their lives at risk, to take books to the people who desired them. These librarians were the life-line for many in the mountains, bringing hope and knowledge to them. So, the summary of this book jumped out at me right away.

I truly enjoyed reading about Ruby and the life that she had lived. Her friendships brought out the best in her and her upbringing, though it wasn’t a traditional one, showed her the true way and how to enjoy true life. These important lessons helped her reach out to one who had caused her much difficulty in her life, leaving her lost and alone when she trusted him. When that friend resurfaces 15 years later, Ruby has to decide how to approach him. She does it with grace, friendship, kindness, and courage, helping him rebuilt and find the community he needs to change.

I loved this story. It took twists and turns I could not see coming without being a suspenseful story. It shows us how difficult life can be but also how much hope and help friendships and communities bring to our lives. I found this Amy Willoughby-Burle to be an enjoyable author and I will be looking to read more of her stories soon.

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About the Author

Amy Willoughby-Burle is an award winning fiction author living in Asheville, NC with her husband and five children. Her fiction focuses on the importance of family and friends and centers on the themes of forgiveness, second chances, and finding the beauty in the world around us. She is the author of the novels The Lemonade Year, The Year of Thorns and Honey, The Other Side of Certain and Even if Nothing Else Is Certain. Her short fiction has been published in numerous journals and in her collection, Out Across the Nowhere. 

Connect with Amy by visiting amywilloughbyburle.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

One (1) winner will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card, signed copies of The Other Side of Certain and Even if Nothing Else is Certain, and librarian & plant themed bookmarks, stickers and postcards!

One (1) additional winner will win a signed copy of Even if Nothing Else is Certain!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 1, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 8, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

At Home,
Lori

The Museum of Lost Quilts – a book review

 I adore Jennifer Chiaverini’s Elm Creek Quilts books so when I saw this title, I jumped at the change to review it from NetGalley because I knew I needed to read this book. I was not disappointed and was, in fact, thrilled with this story line featuring the youngest of the Elm Creek Quilters.

Having been a while since the last time I read a title from this series, I wasn’t expecting this wonderful story about Summer. Summer comes creeping back to Elm Creek Manor, trying to figure out her life and the mess she felt it was in – her thesis wasn’t done on time and she needed to straighten out some misunderstandings with her mom and the other quilters. She is quickly called to tell the truth to them all, her dearest friends and confidants. They hug her tightly and the push her forward with all the enthusiasm and encouragement they can dredge up.

The Museum of Lost Quilts comes about accidentally, almost, but Summer is the perfect curator for the exhibit. Summer seems to excel at finding and following clues to quilts that seem all but lost in the past. She dives right into the position, putting her thesis off as often as she can. She opens a beautiful exhibit piece by piece, honoring the quilts that showcase the Elm Creek Valley, it’s people and it’s history.

All is not simple pieces meeting easily, though. Controversy, in the form of an old nemesis, rears it’s ugly head. Summer, with the help of all of the friends she has made through the years, faces it head on and life, like the opening of the exhibit, is opening ahead of her with bright possibilities.

History and the past are such a topic of discussion in the world today that this story fits in perfectly to help others see new ideas about how to view it. One of the main themes in the second half of the story is about how to tell about the past without bias and interpretation, resulting in a clear understanding for all and without denigrating one viewpoint or another.. I love the emphasis on telling the past as it is, with the facts, allowing the reader to understand and choose how it will inform the future. This topic runs through this story in so many ways and I love how the quilts actually help tell the story. I found myself really enjoying reading the ends of each chapter as the object card is written for each quilt that becomes represented in The Museum of Lost Quilts.

If you are fan of the Elm Creek Quilts books, this one is just as enjoyable as the others. And like the others, it makes me want to go to quilt camp! Some day perhaps. But until then, I have Jennifer Chiaverini’s books and the stories of the Elm Creek Quilters.

I did receive a free copy of the ebook from the author but was not required to write a blog post or share it in any other way. I enjoyed this book so much, and I enjoy the author’s writing so much, that I wanted to share it with you. I hope you check out Jennifer Chiaverini’s titles and enjoy her stories and writing.

At Home,
Lori

The Chosen (episodes 4-6) in theaters today

About The Chosen: The Chosen is a groundbreaking historical drama based on the
life of Jesus (Jonathan Roumie), seen through the eyes of those who knew him. Set
against the backdrop of Roman oppression in first-century Israel, the seven-season show shares an authentic and intimate look at Jesus’ revolutionary life and teachings. Season four premiered in theaters February 1, 2024. Episodes 4- 6 hit theaters on February 15 (today) and will run through February 28. Showtimes and tickets can be found at https://www.thechosenriseup.com/

With over 200 million viewers, The Chosen is one of the most-watched shows in the
world. The series is consistently a top performer across streaming platforms Amazon
Prime, Peacock, and Netflix plus a top-rated broadcast weekly on The CW. What
started as a crowd-funded project has now garnered over 770 million episode views and more than 12 million social media followers.

The Chosen is an independent production written, directed, and produced by Dallas
Jenkins and distributed globally by Lionsgate.

Synopsis of Season 4: Clashing kingdoms. Rival rulers. The enemies of Jesus close in while His followers struggle to keep up, leaving Him to carry the burden alone. Threatened by
the reality of Jesus’ growing influence, religious leaders do the unthinkable—ally
with their Roman oppressors. As the seeds of betrayal are planted and opposition to
Jesus’ message turns violent, He’s left with no alternative but demand his followers
RISE UP.

Learn More: https://www.thechosenriseup.com/

The Chosen Season 4 Trailer

The Chosen Season 4 Episodes 4-6 Trailer

My Thoughts:
As full disclosure, I had not seen any of The Chosen prior to watching episodes 4-6 for this review. I have heard plenty about it but it just hasn’t resonated with me in a way that made me desire to spend the time to view it. I enjoyed watching these three episodes but it has not drawn me in enough to dedicate more time to it. I do not think that having watched the previous epidoes will have made a whole lot of difference in this opinion, though it would have made it much easier to know which person was which. My lack of enjoyment had more to do with the portrayals of the people and the way each episode was put together cinematically than the actual events portrayed.

I will admit that we all have biases to how we view the people of the Bible and I just cannot see the character of the apostles, Jesus, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and more the way they are portrayed. My own biases means that the choices made about how to show these characters just doesn’t strike me as authentic. I know many people love the way these people are shown and that’s great. It just isn’t for me.

I struggled with the lack of continuity within the events. I know the Gospels well and I cannot tell where in the time line some of these events are taking place. There are a couple of place markers, such as Jesus telling Martha that Mary had chosen the better thing by sitting and listening to him teach or noting that it was almost time to head to Jerusalem for the final time. Overall, though, I struggled to keep a timeline in my head for the events being shown.

The other bias I really struggled with is the actual cinematography. I do not like dark colors and dismal music, which I felt these episodes contained quite a lot of. Starting with the end of an event and then jumping back to before the event happened and then continuing forward until it overlaps where it had started is not an enjoyable way to use time for me and I really had to work hard at following it. There were very long, drawn out sections of time where nothing was happening and the music was tense. It made it unpleasant to me.

Overall, I can see why so many people really enjoy The Chosen and why it being shown in theaters is an exciting event. Please, keep attending events at the theaters like The Chosen! It will be enjoyable for you if you like The Chosen. Also, it will help bring more wholesome movies to the theaters and more people will experience the Gospel of Christ through these events. Many, many people have told me how much they enjoy The Chosen and I would encourage everyone to give it a try. I know many will be touched by the experience and exposure to this take on the events of Jesus’ ministry. Give it a try. Get your tickets today and take the family to see Season 4 of The Chosen in theaters.

The Chosen Fun Facts:

• The first three seasons of The Chosen will soon be dubbed in 50 languages with
  plans to subtitle in more than 600.
• The Chosen is the first multi-season series of its kind: a ground-breaking his-
  torical drama about the life of Jesus.
• Jonathan Roumie was invited to the Vatican on two different occasions to
  speak to the Pope about his role as Jesus.

Giveaway: $10 Amazon giftcard. This is limited to US winners only. To enter, leave a comment on this post about who you would go to the theater with to see The Chosen. Winner will be chosen at random on 2/21. Enter by 2/20/2024. Winner will need to respond to the email within 24 hours to claim the prize.

Disclosure:
Many thanks to Come and See Foundation, Inc. for providing a sample of the product
for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

At Home,
Lori