Alabaster By Chris Aslan

I received this book from Kregel Publications for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own. 

Book Description: 

Maryam is stuck in an abusive marriage, living with her in-laws, in a conservative, toxically religious Middle Eastern setting. A few years back, her father was given a jar of priceless perfume by a dying leper and it seemed as if their fortunes would improve, but then Maryam’s father contracted leprosy and was exiled by the village. Maryam and her brother, Eleazar, and sister, Marta, experience the shame and ostracism this brings. The precious jar that was meant to bring them freedom, but it only seems to have brought destruction. But rumours abound concerning a new doctor; perhaps hope is on the horizon.

My Thoughts: 

Alabaster is the latest book by Chris Aslan and WOW it is fantastic. This is the first book from Chris Aslan I have read and I am so glad I did. As a huge fan of Biblical Fiction I couldn't pass it up. The cover of this book is just beautiful and really grabbed me. The book description really piqued my interest. Chris Aslan writes with authority on the Bible, Middle Eastern history including the beliefs and the traditions,  and the hierarchy in this area and in the homes of the people. I could not put this book down. I enjoyed learning things about the Middle East and their history and traditions. Even though this is a fiction book, I learned a lot from the historical fact, which I love when I read a book that teaches me. I enjoy Chris Aslan's style of writing, definitely felt like I was there seeing it all.  The issues brought up in this book definitely are things we in the modern world still deal with. I found the characters complex. I found myself relating to Maryam and Marta both. Their faith helps them through all their trials and tribulations. I found their loyalty to each other and their strength admirable. From cover to cover this book is wonderful and I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Biblical Fiction, you will love it and find yourself a new author to read. I cannot wait to read more from Chris Aslan.  I give this book 5 STARS. 

The NKJV Woman's Study Bible From Thomas Nelson Publishing and A Wonderful Giveaway

I received this book from Litfuse Publicity and Thomas Nelson for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Bible Description: 

The Woman’s Study Bible poignantly reveals the Word of God to women, inviting them to receive God’s truth for balance, hope, and transformation. Special features designed to speak to a woman’s heart appear throughout the Bible text, revealing Scripture-based insights about how godly womanhood grows from a woman’s identity as a Christ-follower and a child of the Kingdom.
Now with a beautiful full-color redesign, The Woman’s Study Bible reflects the contributions of over 80 women from a wide variety of ethnic, denominational, educational, and occupational backgrounds. Since the publication of the first edition of The Woman’s Study Bible under the editorial guidance of Dorothy Kelley Patterson and Rhonda Harrington Kelley, this landmark study Bible has sold over 1.5 million copies.
Features Include:

• Beautiful full-color design throughout
• Detailed biographical portraits of over 100 biblical women
• Thousands of extensive verse-by-verse study notes
• Over 300 in-text topical articles on relevant issues
• Insightful essays by women who are recognized experts in the fields of theology, biblical studies, archeology, and philosophy
• Book introductions and outlines
• Hundreds of full-color in-text maps, charts, time lines, and family trees
• Quotes from godly women throughout history
• Set of full-page maps of the biblical world
• Topical index
• Concordance

My Thoughts:

 The NKJV Woman's Study Bible is a fantastic study bible for women. Starting with the Bible itself, the cloth hard cover is beautiful and we see this design throughout the bible. There are articles by many women that are recognized by most of us women, these articles speak to how women in the Bible shaped history for all people. I loved reading the biographies of the women we have met throughout the Bible. The insight and the details that I never read before just amazed me, it was like getting to know old friends. I found myself drawn to many of the topics in this Bible but the one I really found myself drawn to the topic of Euthanasia in regards to Cain killing Abel. In this topic the title is God's Timing In Death. This topic gives explanations /clarity of Cain killing Abel. The definition of Euthanasia and how we as humans need to entrust mortality to God. After losing my Father last year this really gave me many things to think about. The unique part is it gave more notes on this subject and where to find them with what verses. This alone gave me the opportunity to dig deeper into the topic of death. The colorful nature of this Bible really caught my eye but the maps of the biblical world gave me a reason to pause.  As a grade schooler in a private school, we learned the different maps and had to draw and label them so these colored maps gave a new perspective of them for me. On a whole this Bible is just fantastic. I typically read NAB Bibles but this Woman's Study Bible NKJV version will definitely be the one I read in conjunction. I really loved this Study Bible from the pages to fill out for family history, the preface articles, to the how the chapters each start, and the index at the end. I highly recommend The NKJV Woman's Study Bible From Thomas Nelson Publishing to any woman you will not be disappointed. Also a great gift for any young woman, teen age girl, and preteen girl, it will really give them insights to the women of the Bible. I cannot wait to Grow in the word.   I give this Study Bible 5 + STARS. 

You're invited to receive God's truth for balance, hope, and transformation in the fully revised and redesigned The NKJV Woman's Study Bible. The new edition features a beautiful, full-color redesign and poignantly reveals the Word of God with Scripture insights and the contributions of more than eighty women from a wide variety of ethnic, denominational, educational, and occupational backgrounds. Special features designed to speak to a woman's heart appear throughout the Bible text, revealing Scripture-based insights about how godly womanhood grows from a woman's identity as a Christ-follower and a child of the Kingdom.

This spring, cultivate your heart's spiritual roots and enter to win the Grow in the Word Giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The NKJV Woman's Study Bible (winner's choice of design)
• A decorative plaque
• A rose gold Tree of Life necklace

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on April 27. The winner will be announced April 28 on the Litfuse blog.

Celebrate True To You By Becky Wade. Author Chat and Fun Giveaways

Raise your hand if you're ready for Becky Wade's new series! Celebrate the release of book one, True to You, with Becky and other readers on Facebook on May 4th during a fun author chat party at 8:00 PM EDT (that's 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain, & 5:00 Pacific)! Becky will be chatting about the book and answering your questions about the new series, and of course, there will be plenty of fun giveaways too!

Pre-order your copy of True to You so you're ready for a fun book discussion. Find out more about the book here.

Hope to see you on May 4 for Becky's True to You Facebook Party!