M.L. Bull's Blog: Books, Tea, & Reviews
May 14, 2025
Plague of Lies by Marbeth Skwarczynski
PLAGUE OF LIES BY MARBETH SKWARCZYNSKI
"Plague of Lies" by Marbeth Skwarczynski is a Christian story about a deceptive youth pastor named Mr. Rayne, a man named Scott and his past mistakes with his girlfriend Cindy, and the present story of their teenage daughter Lauren who struggles with depression and secretly cuts herself but later reunites with her father Scott and his beloved family.
This was a different and interesting Christian fiction story that has a touch of humor, but also tackles serious topics of abortion, teen pregnancy, and taboo situations that sometimes have happened in some churches, such as deception and sexual child abuse. I admire the author for writing about such heavy issues and bringing them to light in her fiction novel. Despite disagreements over a few things, such as the completion of salvation, I thought the author did a good job tying the story together between its flashback and present-time storylines.
"Plague of Lies" by Marbeth Skwarczynski is a Christian story about a deceptive youth pastor named Mr. Rayne, a man named Scott and his past mistakes with his girlfriend Cindy, and the present story of their teenage daughter Lauren who struggles with depression and secretly cuts herself but later reunites with her father Scott and his beloved family.
This was a different and interesting Christian fiction story that has a touch of humor, but also tackles serious topics of abortion, teen pregnancy, and taboo situations that sometimes have happened in some churches, such as deception and sexual child abuse. I admire the author for writing about such heavy issues and bringing them to light in her fiction novel. Despite disagreements over a few things, such as the completion of salvation, I thought the author did a good job tying the story together between its flashback and present-time storylines.
February 17, 2025
Overcomer by Chris Fabry
OVERCOMER BY CHRIS FABRY
Overcomer is one of the Christian films of the duo Christian filmmaker brothers, the Kendrick Brothers. I love their Christian, inspirational movies and have seen just about every one of them since their first titled Flywheel. American Christian Author Chris Fabry made a novelization of the movie, as well as others including War Room and his latest novelizations of Kendrick Brothers films, Lifemark and The Forge.
I really enjoyed reading this book and visualizing the scenes from the original movie. I recommend if you've never seen the movie or read the book that you do so. It's a great reminder of how our true identity should reside in the Creator Himself and the importance of keeping God "first place" and prioritizing one's life for one's own complete security, confidence, and assurance in God.
Overcomer is one of the Christian films of the duo Christian filmmaker brothers, the Kendrick Brothers. I love their Christian, inspirational movies and have seen just about every one of them since their first titled Flywheel. American Christian Author Chris Fabry made a novelization of the movie, as well as others including War Room and his latest novelizations of Kendrick Brothers films, Lifemark and The Forge.
I really enjoyed reading this book and visualizing the scenes from the original movie. I recommend if you've never seen the movie or read the book that you do so. It's a great reminder of how our true identity should reside in the Creator Himself and the importance of keeping God "first place" and prioritizing one's life for one's own complete security, confidence, and assurance in God.
November 13, 2024
Tea #1: Lemon Ginger
TEA #1: LEMON GINGER
One of my all-time favorite teas to drink is lemon ginger tea. Whether I’m overcoming a cold or stomach bug, or simply writing one of my stories or novels, I enjoy having me a mug of this tea or drinking from one of my thermoses, especially in the fall or winter. Lemon ginger is healthy and beneficial to one’s body and immune system, known for alleviating nausea and vomiting, improving brain function and heart health, reducing pain and inflammation, and even lowering the risk of some cancers and managing diabetes. If you’ve never tried this tea, maybe get a box and make yourself a cup. You might like it. :)
One of my all-time favorite teas to drink is lemon ginger tea. Whether I’m overcoming a cold or stomach bug, or simply writing one of my stories or novels, I enjoy having me a mug of this tea or drinking from one of my thermoses, especially in the fall or winter. Lemon ginger is healthy and beneficial to one’s body and immune system, known for alleviating nausea and vomiting, improving brain function and heart health, reducing pain and inflammation, and even lowering the risk of some cancers and managing diabetes. If you’ve never tried this tea, maybe get a box and make yourself a cup. You might like it. :)
November 10, 2023
Forgiving Paris by Karen Kingsbury
FRIDAY, 11/10/2023
FORGIVING PARIS BY KAREN KINGSBURY
"Forgiving Paris" makes my third novel I read by Christian Romance and Inspirational fiction author Karen Kingsbury, and I must say, that I enjoyed the read. It was a great reminder of how sometimes the bad situations we face can result in hidden blessings and answered prayers. In this prequel story, Ashley Baxter Blake, an artist and one of the daughters from the Baxter family series books visits Paris, France with her husband Landon after devastating memories that took place twenty-three years ago during her college years as an art student.
As a side story, Alice Michel Arquette also has haunted memories from her past in Paris, having been a heroin drug addict and nearly losing her life. Together the two women reunite again with their sons, Gabriel and Cole, as well as another woman Mia with her daughter Estelle. I won't get into the details to avoid any spoilers. But overall, Ashley in the ending learned to forgive herself, and she, Alice, and Mia's storylines weave into a heartfelt bow of more than mere coincidence, a pure example of the scripture from Romans 8, "All things work together for the good of those who love GOD, to them called according to his purpose..."
Like some people say, there are three kinds of people that you meet in life: those you meet for a reason, those you meet for a season, and those you meet for a lifetime. Everything happens for a reason, and sometimes we don't know why until months or years later. This brought confirmation back to me and my own personal experiences and how we can create impacts on others without even realizing it. So, whenever you're going through a storm, consider the afterward benefits. As one quote states, "Everybody wants happiness, nobody wants pain, but you can't have a rainbow without a little rain."
FORGIVING PARIS BY KAREN KINGSBURY
"Forgiving Paris" makes my third novel I read by Christian Romance and Inspirational fiction author Karen Kingsbury, and I must say, that I enjoyed the read. It was a great reminder of how sometimes the bad situations we face can result in hidden blessings and answered prayers. In this prequel story, Ashley Baxter Blake, an artist and one of the daughters from the Baxter family series books visits Paris, France with her husband Landon after devastating memories that took place twenty-three years ago during her college years as an art student.
As a side story, Alice Michel Arquette also has haunted memories from her past in Paris, having been a heroin drug addict and nearly losing her life. Together the two women reunite again with their sons, Gabriel and Cole, as well as another woman Mia with her daughter Estelle. I won't get into the details to avoid any spoilers. But overall, Ashley in the ending learned to forgive herself, and she, Alice, and Mia's storylines weave into a heartfelt bow of more than mere coincidence, a pure example of the scripture from Romans 8, "All things work together for the good of those who love GOD, to them called according to his purpose..."
Like some people say, there are three kinds of people that you meet in life: those you meet for a reason, those you meet for a season, and those you meet for a lifetime. Everything happens for a reason, and sometimes we don't know why until months or years later. This brought confirmation back to me and my own personal experiences and how we can create impacts on others without even realizing it. So, whenever you're going through a storm, consider the afterward benefits. As one quote states, "Everybody wants happiness, nobody wants pain, but you can't have a rainbow without a little rain."
Books, Tea, & Reviews
My book reviews and recommendations of herbal teas, and books by different authors.
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