Christian Girl Book Tag!

This is such a fun post.  I was tagged by Angela at Coffee&Chapters through her YouTube video.  Thanks so much Angela! 

Here's the link to the video I was tagged in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30UDBIxrRaY

Original Tag - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Giwas...

I Tag -
Rebecca Lynn Van Daniker
Rissi JC

Questions (these all have to be fiction books)-

1. Pick a book that inspired you in your walk with God or your faith in Jesus. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

"Loving Luther" by Allison Pittman.  I love to read about the Reformation period and I was really inspired to read about Katherina's journey to faith. 
Read more in my review.








2. Pick a book that shows an ultimate sacrifice for someone else. (Hebrews 10:10 & Ephesians 5:2)



I know this is a classic, but "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis.  The sacrifice gets me every time. 









3. Pick a book with your favorite love story in it. (1 John 4:8)


"Mine is the Night" by Liz Curtis Higgs.  I love this story.  This series is a retelling of the book of Ruth in the Bible.  And it's set in Scotland!! 











4. Pick a book with an epic good vs. evil battle. (Ephesians 6:12)



"Giver of Roses" by Kathleen Morgan.  It's been a long time since I read this book, but I really like this author and am still waiting for the next book in this series!





5. Pick a book that has prayer and/or bible reading in it as an essential or major element for the story. (1 Thess 5:16-18)




A lot of Melanie Dickerson's books have prayer and Bible reading as a big part of the story.  One I recently read, where the main character prayed a lot was "The Noble Servant."  Click here to read my review.










6. Pick a book that personally challenged you or that has persecution for one's faith in it. ( Matt 5:10, Luke 6:22, 1 John 3:13, John 15:18, 2 Timothy 3:12)

 "The Stonewycke Series" by Michael Phillips.  I love this author. All of his books have a very deep faith element and really make me think about my own faith.  A recent book of his I reviewed is "The Legacy" which also challenged me.  Click here for my review of that book. 






7. Pick a book where the main character is different from everyone else or stands out, or separates themselves apart for the plot. (Romans 12:14, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Peter 1:15 - 16. Colossians 3:12)




"Lady Jayne Disappears" by Joanna Davidson Politano.  In the book, the main character finds herself in a situation where she doesn't feel like she belongs or fits in.  Click here for my review. 











8. Sharing the gospel. Tell me in the comments below about your faith in Christ. About the books that encouraged you in your walk with the Lord. Let's build a community together focused on Jesus and reading with God in mind!




"Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan!  I've read this book many times and a lot of the sections in my copy are highlighted.  I love seeing Christian's journey and how he deals with things like "Giant Despair" and the demons of the "Valley of the Shadow of Death".  It has helped me in hard times to apply what I'm reading to my life.

"The Legacy" by Michael Phillips Review-- A Heartfelt Story of Faith and Family in the Shetlands

"The Legacy" is a heartfelt story of faith and family.  I love anything to do with Scotland, so I was eager to pick this book up.  I've also read some of Michael Phillips's other books and have enjoyed them immensely, especially the classic "Stonewycke" series.  I'm very glad I did read "The Legacy", even though I haven't yet read the first two books in this series! 

"The Legacy" by Michael Phillips is the third book in the "Secrets of the Shetlands" series.  The beginning of the book summarizes the plot from the first two books well.  The narrative does of course refer to events in the other books of the series as it is the continuation of Loni and David's story (the characters living in present day), but instead of focusing on Loni and David, "The Legacy" also tells the story of their ancestors.  We also get to see the conclusion of Loni and David's story, and while it's this portion of the book that had me wishing I had read the prior books, it isn't too confusing to read on its own.    

The physical book itself is beautiful and has a map of the island in the Shetlands where much of the story takes place, as well as a family tree.  Even though it is a longer book, it's written in short chapters, which makes for a fast-paced read.  The story shifts between 2006 and 1924 and is told from multiple characters’ points of view.  Some of the characters in the book are of the Quaker faith, which I found interesting to read and learn more about. 


Picture of the Shetlands

There is a theme of family heritage woven throughout the whole story.  The setting in the Shetland Islands is breathtaking and evocative.  The descriptions are so well written that I felt like I was transported to these islands.  The reader is introduced to a slower paced life and the story is also told in a slower way, making the reader slow down and think.  You really settle in and immerse yourself in the island and that culture.  There is also a deep spiritual and theological element.  I know Michael Phillips loves George MacDonald and draws a lot of inspiration from this writer (MacDonald is even mentioned in the book). 

My only critiques are that this book isn't really a stand-alone, although I was still able to understand and enjoy the story.  It is also told at a slower pace (I did enjoy that, but some may find it slower than they would like).  There are also many characters and several concurrent plots, which can get confusing. 

Overall I really enjoyed this story and would especially recommend it to fans of Michael Phillips or George MacDonald and those who love Scotland. 

Content, Rating and Genre: This is a clean read.  I give this book 4.5 stars.  This is Christian Fiction (with a dual timeline—historical and contemporary).

I want to thank Michael Phillips and Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

Click here to purchase the book
Click here to visit the author's website

Other books in the series: