Naomi Dawn Musch's Blog: NEW Discussion Guide

Book Review: Through the Valley of Grief by Mattie Jackson

Two years ago this month, I lost my eldest son at only 36. It was sudden. It was tragic. Not a day has gone by that I have not mourned, deeply. In the past two years, I have gobbled up everything I can find to help me find my way in this horrible situation (as long as I feel it's a trustworthy, Biblical source). I've read books that have brought hope, and I've read some that I had to put aside because they didn't resonate or held Biblical error. I've listened to preaching galore. 
So about this source:

Because this is a year-long devotional, I'm not finished with it. I'm about 50 days in, but I feel that's a good beginning--enough to tell you that I will absolutely keep reading this book. It is one of the few devotionals that both spoke to my heart and gave voice to my grief.

The selections are brief, just enough to grab onto. This is important, because attention span is short in grief, and I don't know when one gets over that, or if they ever do. The way the book is broken down by practices throughout--Wail, Connect, Worship, Hope--at first didn't mean much to me, but as I've progressed through the entries and learned to understand more on this journey, they've made more sense. I sometimes go back to the introduction to understand them again. 
I don't know that the grief "healing process" ever brings about full healing. From what I'm told, probably not until I see Jesus. But in a devotional like this, you feel like there's someone there to tell you that the journey you are on is uniquely your own, and that it's okay for it to be that way. You sense the Lord's hand holding yours. In short, this little book offers a venue to freely grieve and to be comforted.

I highly recommend it to anyone experiencing the death of a loved one, and I'm very, very sorry for your heartache and loss.

I trust this author to deliver! ~ Book Review of The Journey, by Melanie Dobson

I've read, I think, 8 or 9 of Melanie Dobson's books now, and she's become an easy one for me to turn to if I'm having trouble finding just the right read. Now, The Journey has achieved the top slot in my favorites by her. 
I'm attracted to gritty, epic feels in the historicals I read, and I was not disappointed in this story of adventure, hardship, and ultimately triumph. While some parts were especially sad, the author portrayed tragedy in a way that allowed me to hope along with the characters, just as we have to do when tragedy strikes any of us.

The heroine is flawed. She's too impulsive. But she's also brave, and I think represented the type of person able to survive those experiences in settling the land over the mountains well. The hero was so very British, and that allowed him his own set of flaws to deal with in the North American wilderness. Both these people, as well as others in this big cast, were molded by a new depth of humility toward the end of the story, and I liked that (although the heroine and her little brother were both still quite impulsive). It felt pretty honest.

I highly recommend The Journey for anyone who likes an early American historical with a strong dose of grit and realism. 

Thoughts on Prayer and Keeping Hope Alive in the New Year

We're off and running into 2024, and we can hardly keep up with the snowballing changes and craziness going on in the world. Never have I seen so many things happening that point to these church-age days winding down to God's glorious return.
BUT, God might wait. In the meantime, what are we to do? We are to pray
always and not lose hope6Luke 18. $Oh, hey, my hero in Polly talks a bit
how those words had an impact on him.)

The Holy Spirit reminded me recently of how important continual prayer is
in everything. We cannot always expect a one-and-done answer when
we pray, especially when it comes to the Big, Deep, Important Things.
The HUGE battles.

In Exodus 17I 8613, God sent the armies of Israel out to fight against the
armies of Amalek near Rephidim (in the Sinai Peninsula near Mt. Sinai).
God offered Moses victory, but it only lasted while Moses held his arms
and staff aloft. As the battle raged for hours and hours, Moses grew
weary and his arms drooped. Each time that happened, the tide of battle
would turn against the Israelites. Thankfully, two men, Aaron and Hur,
came alongside Moses and helped him hold his arms up for the duration
of the battle, and as he held them, beseeching God, God answered
in victory. In fact, we are told that Joshua (the first in command)
overwhelmed the Amalekites with the sword.
Victory O Lord!  1871 painting by John Everett Millais
I have often found that the same holds true for our prayers. As long as Ikeep my praises and request ever before Him, he responds. But
sometimes when I lag, He calls me back to stark attention--not always
comfortably.

As we go march forward into 2024 let us remember not to let our prayers
grow wearisome. There are loved ones for whom we've prayed a very
long time. There are continual needs surrounding us. Let's keep in
constant, ever-vigilant prayer over those people who hold places deep in
our hearts and on behalf of others, and let us not weary on our spiritual
laurels in the face of whatever lengthy battles lie before us.

We must keep watch. We must pray. We must not lose hope.
Hopefully,Naomi
If you enjoy encouraging articles like this and don't want to miss one, please sign up for my monthly newsletter, Northwoods Faith & Fiction
And don't miss my brand-new release!POLLY, BOOK ONE IN THE NEW APRON STRINGS SERIESThe Kindle version releases officially on Monday, January 15th,but the paperback is available right now!

History with a Dash of Romance and Intrigue -- A Review of Pegg Thomas's Freedom's Price - Path to Freedom, Book One

I have always been drawn to history surrounding indentureship in America. Now Freedom’s Price by Pegg Thomas is an ideal launch into her new Path to Freedom frontier series that grabs hold of this bit of history with well-rounded characters and a page-turning plot.

I was tugged along into the perilous adventure of Gwen Morgan, an Irish lass who is separated from her only family member, a sister, when they are orphaned and sent into separate indentures. Living amid danger in the household that purchased her indenture, Gwen makes a life-changing bargain that will offer her freedom, but with it she’ll have to carry a lie for the rest of her life.

Of course, Gwen can’t really comprehend the extent of what that lie means. Can she ever marry and settle down because of her choice? If the lie is jeopardized, will she be forced back into indenture? Soon, she’ll have to decide, but perils hang in the balance no matter what she chooses to do. And how can she acquire the help of the other servants, including the young man who is interested in her on the farm? (Not the wicked one whom she dreads, but another indentured servant who is also a trusted friend. He kept me guessing too.)

Meanwhile, the author weaves in the history of a group of Quakers traveling into the Northwest Territory, and Thomas does a fabulous job of sharing their way of life with the reader. Even with the archaic language they speak, the story is easy to read and remains compelling. Plus, there remained the question of Gwen’s future. Could she live the lie with these honest people, and what about another man she’s growing to care for? How can she ever reveal her secret, or will it be thrown into the open as the past dogs her heels?

I highly recommend Freedom’s Price to lovers of American historical fiction with a dash of romance and intrigue.

A Mystery on Church Street, by Gail Kittleson ~ A Book Review and Recommendation

 

A Mystery on Church Street
A Mystery on Church Street is a delightfully written WWII, small-town murder mystery also featuring two gently woven-in romances. One is that of a middle-age married couple who have weathered life’s storms and are still in love after years together (and the lady is quite a sleuth). The other involves a fresh and honest-feeling romance between the couple’s daughter and the town's new young pastor who is just learning what it’s like to pastor a church in a tightly-knit community—for good or bad. 
Author Gail Kittleson managed to work in all the historical details of small-town life on the WWII home front, when the war sometimes scarred people’s lives in invisible ways, and folks still searched for life’s balance in a world turned on end. Meanwhile espionage at home was a real concern, and suspicion of one’s neighbors was not taken lightly. I found this to be a very engaging story with lifelike characters I connected to. It hit on all the small town feels as well as historical buttons of interest. It's a very different sort of WWII novel. I would call it kind of a cozy historical, and I highly recommend adding it to your TBR list.

Song for the Hunter is FREE this week!

 

Song for the Hunter  tells the story of several characters first introduced in  Mist O'er the Voyageur  and picks up one year after the conclusion of that novel. I do recommend that you read book one first to garner the fullness of the backstory, but even if you haven't read Mist, don't let that stop you from grabbing this rich and adventurous novel now while it's FREE. 
Song for the Hunter (The Voyageurs Duology, Book 2)

Get it here!

Métis hunter Bemidii Marchal’s thoughts ofcourting a maiden at the Great Rendezvous are cut short when he kills animportant merchant’s son in self-defense and flees to an island fort on LakeSuperior. There he encounters Camilla Bonnet, a French-Canadian beauty reelingfrom recent tragedy. Left alone and carrying unspoken burdens, she fearsBemidii but is forced to trust him. Their uneasy friendship soon leads tostronger feelings. But as the hunter becomes the hunted, Bemidii’s secret isexposed. Now the truth he hides might turn Camilla’s heart away—and demand hislife.

Review of Tangled Lives, New Women's Fiction by Carol McClain

If you’re looking for a work of women’s fiction that will stay with you long after turning the final page, I highly recommend Carol McClain’s Treasured Lives series, of which Tangled Lives brings the satisfying conclusion. There’s a poetic cadence to this author’s writing, and a depth to her characters and plot that always grabs hold of my heartstrings. If you haven’t read this author before, you’ll want to get book one and follow this beautiful saga of heartache, triumph, and grace. It’s a must-read!
Find it here.

Review of Rebecca, New and Compelling Historical Fiction by Shannon McNear

For those who know the story of Pocahontas—and for those whodon’t—this is both an eye-opening read in the historical sense and animaginative tale in the fictional sense, of what may have transpired in herlife. I was carried along into the fascinating portrayal of this remarkablewoman, and while we can never know certain personal details, McNear sets thePowhatan princess’s world of 1607 before our eyes in rich and vivid rendering. 

In the fictional sense, McNear does a fabulous job of tying the possibility oflineage of Mato’aka/Rebecca/Pocahontas to the lost colony of Roanoke. It isprovocative to imagine, whether such a thing may have happened or not. Thestory is compelling, at times heartbreaking, and at other times inspiring. Onething is sure. God used this native woman, in her time, to do courageous thingsand accomplish His plan. 

Lovers of history and a good story will want to readRebecca, and readers of the earlier books in the series will enjoy seeing thepieces come together in this moving conclusion.

Check it out here.

Review of A Hill Country Christmas - Current Finalist in Two Prominent Awards

Grit and grace are featured in this collection of Texas stories, making it a feast for readers who love old- world kinds of stories set in the west—in this case, the Texas hill county. Several eras are represented, all in an historical sense. Lynn Dean has long been one of my favorite western historical writers, and this grouping of short stories gave me an opportunity to read several others who I enjoyed as well. It came as no surprise to me that the collection has since become both a Selah and Will Rogers medallion finalist! If you’re looking for fresh voices in western fiction and appreciate a well-told short story, you’ll love a Hardscrabble Christmas.
Buy it Here. Also available on Kindle Unlimited. 

Historical fiction book party on Monday, May 15th!

 

This coming Monday, May 15th is the HHH Mid-Month Madness Party, and it's chock full of fun and books to win.

The Party is in Two PartsPart One is held on the Heroes, Heroine, & History blog. If your day is busy, you can head over there ANYtime on Monday, leave a comment, and you'll be entered in for the GRAND PRIZE book package -- a title from every participating author.Part Two takes place on the Mid-Month Madness Facebook page. (You'll need to join the page.) It runs from 5-7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Each author will spend fifteen minutes visiting with attendees and talking about their books. They'll have some books and swag to give away during that part of the event.

My time slot for the party is at 6:45-7:00 Eastern (5:45 Central, etc.), but I'll be hanging around for the whole thing. 

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!

Participating Authors: Terrie Todd, Amber Schamel, Cindy Ervin Huff, Catherine Ulrich Brakefield, Naomi Musch, Donna Schlachter, Naomi Craig, Kimberly Grist, Linda Shenton Matchett, Mary Dodge Allen

SPREAD THE PARTY NEWS!