An Open Book – August #anopenbook
Today I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading and working on for the past month.
The Voice of Angels by Nydia Hadi
Synopsis: Olivier’s life is turned upside down after a car accident. Aside from the injuries to his body, his relationship with his girlfriend has also turned sour. When everything seems to be against him, he discovers a Catholic choir group that inspires him to see life in a new light. Although he is not religious, he helps the choir and ends up learning what selfless love means.
Regina is a professional violinist and a soprano in her church choir. She is also very devoted to her faith. When she meets Olivier, a nonbeliever, her faith is challenged in a new way. Most importantly, she has to define what it really means to have faith. When her feelings for Olivier grow deeper, she’ll have to decide what to compromise—and what not to.
Will Olivier and Regina end up together? Will love conquer all?
New book coming from FQP this Fall!
Miracle of the Christmas Star by Susan Dean Elzey
Amazon Synopsis: Hannah died the night she was born. The new star’s light brought her back to life, but left her stricken with palsy. Sariah, Hannah’s mother, believes Hannah can be healed, if only she can find the Savior. Miracle of the Christmas Star is a tender story of love, faith and endurance that will touch your heart and remind you why miracles happen.
My review: I borrowed this from a friend and, although it’s not the Christmas season, I enjoy reading about miracles, either from a fictional standpoint or factual one. This was a lovely story. Recommend. 3.5/5
How to Share Your Faith With Anyone (A Practical Manual for Catholic Evangelization) by Terry Barber
Amazon Synopsis: Recent popes have challenged all Catholics to participate in the New Evangelization. But most Catholics feel ill-equipped to take up the challenge. Terry Barber, founder of St. Joseph Communications, has written a practical guide that takes much of the pain and uncertainty out of sharing one’s faith. Based on Barber’s decades of personal experience as an effective evangelist and masterful communicator, and drawing on the perceptions, examples, and lessons of other great evangelists and apologists, How to Share Your Faith with Anyone informs, entertains, and inspires would-be, as well as, seasoned evangelists and teachers.
My review: This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it, especially for those who need the a step-by-step approach to evangelization. 5/5.
Catholic Joe Superhero by Steven S. Thomas
Amazon Synopsis: This is the first in the Catholic Joe series. Lieutenant General Joseph Salvatore, Husband and Father of a large family, is a man’s man. At age 48, he is still one of the deadliest men on the planet, able to kill an enemy with his bare hands, and with the same hands tenderly caress his wife and children. Joe brings that same lethal intensity as he fights to save his youngest brother Vinny’s marriage.
In fighting for his brother, Joe, later deemed Catholic Joe by a reporter, uncovers corruption in the government and his church. You will feast on courage while you accompany Joe as he is targeted in a raid on his home by the FBI, secretly placed in Cook County Jail to be Epsteined, and targeted by Freemasonic assassins before he can share with the world what he has uncovered.
My review: I really wanted to like this book as I try to support authors of Catholic fiction. And the story and characters are good. However, the delivery is mediocre, unfortunately.
Oasis: Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends by Mary Claire Kendall
Amazon Synopsis: Oasis: Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends (Oasis I) highlights stories of recovery and conversion in the lives of Hollywood legends we know so well, whose work has provided such joy to countless souls, but whose real stories of struggle and, often tragedy, reveal their deepest humanity and the well from which they drew in making great art. Featured herein are the stories of Alfred Hitchcock, Gary Cooper, Bob Hope, Mary Astor, John Wayne, Ann Sothern, Jane Wyman, Susan Hayward, Lana Turner, Betty Hutton, Ann Miller and Patricia Neal. Legends all. This is a new and improved edition of the author’s original work by the same title.
My review: This is an outstanding book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories of the above celebrities’ conversions. Highly recommend!
