Higher Hope by Robert Whitlow

Higher Hope is the second novel in the Tides of Truth Series by Robert Whitlow. This book picks up precisely where Deeper Water leaves off. The transition between books is more like beginning a new chapter than a new book. Tammy is in the middle of her summer clerking position at a law firm in Savannah. She has completed a case that presented many trials with her personal ethics and now has a slander case consuming her professional life. Tammy has negative feelings about this case from the beginning; something does not seem right but, the senior partner overseeing the case will not excuse her. Aside from work, the elderly lady Tammy lives with and cares for has health issues that leave Tammy wondering if she will soon be homeless.

Zach Mays continues to pursue a relationship beyond coworker and Tammy agrees to let him meet her parents. They travel to her home for the weekend in hopes of her parents’ approval to court. Throughout the weekend, Zach struggles to say and do the right thing and Tammy is caught in the middle trying to make everyone happy.

The innocent romance mainly takes place in the first portion of the book. Once the weekend visit is over, there is little development in their relationship. My one nitpick of Higher Hope is that the relationship did not develop enough after the climax of concluding the visit to Tammy’s home. That said, I enjoyed reading about a budding relationship written by a man. Men’s viewpoint on relationships differs from women’s and readers do not often have the chance to read a man’s take in a piece of fiction.

Whitlow, again, makes the reader comfortable and at ease reading a legal drama. The terminology does not overwhelm or leave the reader confused. The plot is much broader than the pleadings of the case. Tammy has drama all around her; it is not restricted to her professional life.

Higher Hope is a well-written sequel that keeps the reader reading. As with Deeper Water, Higher Hope concludes all too soon. Read Higher Hope for the inspiring ethics of Tammy Taylor and for the pure and honest relationship of Tammy and Zach. Enjoy the talent of Robert Whitlow as he makes the contradictory worlds of law and religion seem more parallel than originally thought.

Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers

A visit with a dear friend, that’s what reading a Francine Rivers book feels like. For a few hundred pages Rivers shares from her heart and it touches yours. Her Mother’s Hope is her most recent emotion-packed novel set in the early 1900s. The sequel, Her Daughter's Dream, is set for release September 14 (which will provide excellent reading during my stay in the hospital, I just realized).

 

As much as I love reading Francine Rivers' book, I equally do not like writing reviews on them. Not because I don't recommend them or because I think they are mediocre, in fact, quite the opposite is true. I tell everyone I know to read her books and I think she is a superior writer. That's just it; Rivers books are so good that I feel like my meager attempt at reviewing them cheapens them. I have nothing to say that is going to make the book more attractive to a potential reader. Her books speak for themselves. Just read Her Mother's Hope and you'll see what I mean. You'll be hooked on Rivers and you'll be searching the library shelves for anything she's written.

Her Mother's Hope, it's just good. Enough said.

Back to my book---

J Renee

The Vertical Self by Mark Sayers

In his non-fiction title, The Vertical Self, Sayers explains how culture has moved us away from who God wants us to be and turned us towards a self-absorbed lifestyle. He calls this way of life “horizontal” and claims we need to be “vertical.” A horizontal self looks to those on the same level as him/her for self-image. A vertical self looks to a higher being, God, for identity. Sayers states his case for how far society has moved away from looking to God for our purpose and identity.

This book is not light reading and some sections are difficult to wade through. I felt like Sayers had numerous examples, stories and situations to defend his theory of society being horizontal to the point that it was doom and gloom. There was not enough teaching, encouraging and support for the vertical self theory to balance the book. Chapter after chapter explained what we are doing wrong and why it’s wrong but, there were few pages leading me to the better alternative or convincing me I need the better way. The majority of the book told me I need fixing rather than telling me how to fix myself.

 

The Vertical Self has a somewhat narrow target audience. First, the audience must be Christian otherwise it could be quite offensive. Second, the reader must open him/herself to the negative description of Christians today who live a horizontally. That said, The Vertical Self would be a good resource for youth and young adult leaders. It would, also, make a useful tool for new and young Christians as they discern how being a Christian looks and feels in everyday life.

Sayers is convicted and passionate about people needing to alter their thinking in order to live vertically. I commend Sayers for his enthusiasm and zeal regarding the subject and I believe his theories are worth consideration.

I received a complimentary copy of The Vertical Self from Thomas Nelson Publishers as a participant in their BookSneeze.com book review blogger program.

Reading Through the Bible

In my last post I shared that I'm reading a chronological Bible. I have given myself a timeline in order to help me reach my broad goal of reading through the Bible.

My particular Bible is narrated so that makes for additional reading. The Old Testemant section of my Bible is a whopping 1336 pages! My goal is to read the entire Old Testement by the time our baby comes, sometime around mid-September. I'm currently on page 432. That leaves 904 pages to read in approximately 100 days. I'm not sure it's realistic to expect myself to read nine pages every day until my baby arrives. And if my baby arrives early? I'm doomed. I realize that nine pages doesn't seem like much but, the pages are large, the print is small and, quite honestly, some of the reading is a little dry. On top of that, I'm the mother of a toddler, 26 weeks pregnant and I'm exhausted when I prop myself up with pillows to do my daily reading. Suddenly, nine pages might as well be 90.

I must say I'm thoroughly enjoying reading the Bible this way. I retain much more because it makes sense and all fits together. Obviously, when you tell a story in the order it took place it makes much more sense then when you mix up all the details and side plots. I'm beginning to wonder why all Bibles aren't written chronologically. Reading the Bible in order has been one aha moment after another. Picture me sitting in bed with a permanent lightbulb above my head that is constantly be clicked on.

If you've struggled with understanding the Old Testement I recommend you try reading it from a chronological Bible. It's like reading a book. I realize that sounds dumb; the Bible is a book. I guess what I mean is it reads more like a novel except it's history, exciting and worthwile history.

So, I'm reading towards page 1336. I'll let you know when I get there whether it's pre-baby or post-baby.

Back to my Bible--

J Renee

The Word or Someone Else's

You may have noticed that my reading, and as a result, my reviews seems to be slower going. The past 4-6 weeks I have struggled to get any reading done, which is very unusual. I typically can read two books in a six-week stretch but, I can't seem to get through one! There are a couple reasons for this:

The book I'm "reading" is not keeping my interest. In most cases once I start a book I squeeze a few pages of reading into every nook and cranny of my day. In other words, my housework doesn't get done because I can't hold a book and mop the floor at the same time. (Note: my lack of reading does not mean my house is clean.)

So ditch the boring book, you say. Well, if I could I would. I agreed to read and write a review of this book and I intend to keep my word. Eventually you will see a review of this book and chances are you will never know by the review that it took me three months to read the book. Yes, my review will be honest, don't worry.

I guess this situation could be classified as classic procrastination. Hah!

Another reason I can't seem to get to the last page is because I'm reading my Bible instead. Which, is a very good excuse, if you ask me. We all could spend a little more time in The Word and less time in someone else's word. The funny thing about this is, I've been reading the section of the Old Testement that is nothing but laws for the Isrealites.

For Christmas/birthday (they run together, they're only 10 days apart) my husband bought me The Narrative Bible in Chronological Order. I am thoroughly enjoying reading the Bible this way. I highly recommend chronological order Bibles. So, in this Bible they have compiled all the laws from the various OT books and made one section--100 pages total. It's a tough 100 pages to tackle but, I am now on the other side.

Isn't that hilarious, I found more time and it was easier for me to read through 100 pages of OT laws than read a new release! I laugh everytime I think of it.

Next post: My Bible reading goals.

Back to my book/Bible---

J Renee