Waiting On:
Title: Wings on the Wind
Author: Connilyn Cossette
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: May 2nd, 2017

Synopsis: 
From Good Reads

Alanah, a Canaanite, is no stranger to fighting and survival. When her family is killed in battle with the Hebrews, she disguises herself and sneaks onto the battlefield to avenge her family. The one thing she never counted on was surviving.

Tobiah, a Hebrew warrior, is shocked to find an unconscious, wounded woman among the Canaanite casualties. Compelled to bring her to a Hebrew healer back at their camp, he is soon confronted with a truth he can’t ignore: the only way to protect this enemy is to marry her.

Unused to being weak and vulnerable, Alanah submits to the marriage—for now. As she comes to know and respect Tobiah and his people, however, she begins to second-guess her plans of escape. But when her past has painfully unanticipated consequences, the tentative peace she’s found with Tobiah, the Hebrews, and Yahweh is shaken to the core. Can Alanah’s fierce heart and strength withstand the ensuing threats to her life and all she’s come to love?

Why I'm Waiting: 
I have really enjoyed the first 2 books in this series. They have been so well written and offered some very interesting perspectives and angles from the story of Mose. I can't wait to read the final book and see how these characters close out.

What are you waiting on this week?

Topic:

Title: Shadow of the Storm
Author: Connilyn Cossette
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 352
ISBN: 978-0-7642-1821-7
Publication Date: October 18th, 2016

Synopsis: 

In the darkness of the storm's shadow, only truth can light her way.
Having escaped Egypt with the other Hebrews during the Exodus, Shira is now living in freedom at the foot of Mount Sinai. When the people rebel by worshiping a golden idol, the ensuing chaos gives Shira an unexpected opportunity to assist a midwife. When the experience awakens a new desire in her, she defies her mother's wish for her to continue in the family weaving trade and pursues her heart's calling as an apprentice midwife.

But when a delivery goes horribly wrong, Shira finds herself in an impossible situation and bound to a man who betrayed her. As contention between the Hebrew tribes and the foreigners fans the flames of another dangerous rebellion, Shira comes face to face with the long-hidden pain of her past. Can she let go of all that has defined her to embrace who she truly is and believe in a hopeful future?

Review:
I have been anxiously awaiting this book. I fell in love with the first book in this series, Counted with the Stars. It was a fresh perspective on the story of Moses. I enjoyed the idea and thought. Book two in the Out of Egypt series, Shadow of the Storm, picks up right where book one ended, which I was thankful for. 

Shadow of the Storm follows Shira, a young Jewish woman we met in book one. She was a wonderful character in Counted, and I was very happy to have this book expand into her story. Shira is a strong woman. She lived as a slave in Egypt, now she is free and traveling in the dessert with her family, and the rest of the Jewish people who escaped. 

We open this book at the base of Mt. Sinai. Shira and her family are hiding in their tent as the revelry at the base of the mount grows, as the people celebrate the golden calf. Shira and her family await Moses' return. When he does, the people who participated are dealt with and the community moves on. However, some people haven't moved on from the night that they loss parts of their family. 

We follow Shira as the time moves on. Shira was raised  knowing her moms talent, but since coming out of Egypt, Shira was introduced to her aunt's profession and she knew that was her calling. Following her through her training and watching her grow in many ways was a fantastic journey. 

I can not wait to see how this series wraps up with book three. 

Too Read
4 out of 5
 
About the Author:
When she is not homeschooling her two sweet kids (with a full pot of coffee at hand), Connilyn Cossette is scribbling notes on spare paper, mumbling about her imaginary friends, and reading obscure, out-of-print history books. There is nothing she likes better than digging into the rich, ancient world of the Bible and uncovering buried gems of grace that point toward Jesus. Her novel Counted With the Stars won the 2013 Frasier Contest and was a semifinalist in the 2013 ACFW Genesis Contest. Although a Pacific Northwest native, she now lives near Dallas, Texas.

Connect with her at www.connilyncossette.com.


Thank you to the Publisher, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. 

Title: Where Jesus Slept
Author: Norma Lewis
Illustrator: Katy Hudson
Publisher: Worthy Kids
Pages: 32
ISBN: 978-0-8249-5679-0
Publication Date: October 4th, 2016

Synopsis:

“This is the bed where Jesus slept. This is the straw that lined the bed where Jesus slept.” From here, the story builds with each spread, adding a new element and explaining the relationships among the participants and witnesses to the first Christmas. From Jesus sleeping sweetly to the wise men bringing gifts, this charming book reminds readers young and not-so-young of the joyous event we celebrate at Christmastime. Children will love the delightful illustrations and the engaging repetition in this cumulative tale.

Review:
It is hard to believe we are already half way through November. Christmas is fast approaching. It may not feel like it just yet here, but I'm excited none-the-less. Christmas is an amazing time of the year. There are so many things to look forward to. One of my favorite traditions is pulling out my old favorite Christmas stories and sharing them with my kiddo.

Where Jesus Slept is one of those stories, that you want to hang on to and add it to your Christmas book collection. This was a beautifully illustrated story! The rhyming was a good pace and kept it smooth for reading aloud.

For young children, explaining the story of Jesus' birth can bring about some questions, "What is a manger?" "What does a stable look like?" This book I thought broke it down in a sweet way to point out to young children the story of baby Jesus and made it understandable to them. The color and pictures of the book just popped off of the page and brought the story all together perfectly.

I also enjoyed how the book started and ended with Bible verses. They were the perfect bookends.

Too Read
5 out of 5

About the Author:
Norma Lewis is the author of ten books, including Connecting the Coasts: The Race to Build the Transcontinental Railroad and Kasey's River Song. She lives in Grand Haven, Michigan, with a marmalade cat named Scalawag. They both love spending time with her six grandchildren, ranging in age from three to twenty. 

About the Illustrator:

Thank you FlyBy Promotions, I recieved a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.