Monthly Archives: March 2026

The Uniqueness of Mixed Media Art

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It has always been in my experience that the art in mixed media explores new paths, and expanding on an image, an idea or thoughts of color, shape, depth, and texture. The image can be anything really and by creating an art piece by combining material from various sources is only the beginning.

There is no right or wrong way in creating but rather how is your art speaking to you. What story are you telling? Where is it taking you on your creative journey?

Today, I am sharing a piece I started back in 2023 and the terrain I’m building on canvas has been a journey with all sorts of twisty paths taken. I first began this piece by applying moss in the center and began stitching only French knots in the blank spaces. While I loved the start of filling the spaces with stitchery, I wasn’t feeling the moss and I put the canvas aside to rest and reflect on where I want to go with the terrain. Then the rest became a long slumber and this year it came to me the path I wanted to take with this piece. It is not always this way when I create a new art piece. More times than not, my creative ideas really flow. I don’t stress about it because then the journey is for naught.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how this terrain turns out and next time, I may write about my story for this piece.

Be sure to check out my Instagram at @layeredfinds to see more stages of the terrain.

Be on the lookout for my next blog post on April 7th! I will be posting a book review of “The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall” by Jaime Jo Wright

Stephanie

Book Review: The Last Baby in Auschwitz by Anna Stuart

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Published today, March 23, 2026 by Bookouture

The Last Baby in Auschwitz is inspired by true stories of the Holocaust and I was completely taken out of my comfort zone reading this book and confronted with the darkest realities of the camps; I’ve never felt quit this way before with such an unrelenting force of emotions while reading stories of the Holocaust, and I’ve read a lot of them. I experienced all the emotions of sorrow, loss, anger, horror, rage… Anna Stuart doesn’t hold back with the evils of the Nazis and their total lack of humanity and cruelty. The intensity of what was happening was so strong, I literally felt physically sick and there were a few times I had to take a step back from the book.

I deeply felt as if I wasn’t a mere reader, or just an observer reading about the history, but a family member listening to the experiences of love one’s tragedies and the terrifying horrors and loss they endured, it was truly heartbreaking.

I highly recommend this story to all and to those who haven’t taken the time to know more about the war.

I’ve rated this story five stars which doesn’t seem fitting. I would rate the story with millions of stars.

Stephanie

About the Book:

Auschwitz, 1945: My baby’s thin cry pierces the cold, frosty night. I rock him gently in my arms, willing him to be quiet. Because if anyone hears my newborn, he could be snatched from me – or worse. We’re so close to freedom now and I pray that soon I will walk out of the iron gates with my precious son…

Naomi Demetriou has survived three years behind the walls of Auschwitz. Torn apart from her family, every breath could be her last. She’s learnt to survive by secretly trading the clothes she’s forced to sort through in exchange for food. But when an SS officer singles her out, her life becomes even harder. And then she discovers she’s pregnant…

With the support of the kind and brave women in Barrack 24, Noami does the impossible and gives birth to a tiny baby boy. Hiding in the shadows, Naomi vows to do whatever it takes to keep baby Isaac safe. With rumours circulating of an Allied invasion, she prays the camp will soon be liberated so she can return to her home by the Greek sea with her son.

But the day comes when Naomi hears heavy footsteps and the harsh voice of an SS guard. ‘Out! Now! You can’t take anything with you!’ She’s shoved into a line of people being marched out of the iron gates. Thick snow falls around them. Tears sting in Naomi’s eyes.

It all happened so fast. And she was unable to grab the bundle of blankets containing her little boy…

Side Bar:

This story contains extreme violence, cruelty, and sexual assaults.

Thank you, Bookouture for an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

Reader’s Log 067: Reading in Those Dreary Moments

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This past Monday, the weather outside was dreary and cold in the south. One’s mood could turn down the melancholy road, and I was heading in that direction by the afternoon. Before that feeling rooted itself, I told myself it was a good day to settle down with a book and a cup of tea. I started reading, “Out of Time” by Irene Hannon this past Sunday night, and I was trying my hardest to keep my eyes open to continue reading. I couldn’t wait to pick it up back. One would think by reading the book description, this story would not be a cozy read. The weather is hot and concerning incidents that set the mood, occurred immediately and continued. Perhaps, those details distracted me from the weather outside. Whatever the case, I couldn’t put this book down. I was completely immersed.

I love a good suspense story that entails a small town, an old mystery, treasure, isolated estate, and journals with cultural, historical elements. Irene Hannon’s story is just the ticket.

Don’t you just love it when you find an author whose stories you haven’t read before and then you get excited about searching other books by them? I do!

Most likely by the time you see this post, I will have finished this story and I look forward to sharing my thoughts more on the book and what other stories I’ve chosen to read by this author.   

Stephanie

About the Book:

Book #3 in the Undaunted Courage Series

For historical anthropologist Cara Tucker, the chance to spend a sabbatical semester on a remote country estate–with full access to its vast library and centuries-old journals–is a dream come true . . . until a series of strange incidents begin to turn her dream into a nightmare. Someone, it seems, does not want anyone diving into the past and unearthing old ghosts.

Sheriff Brad Adams has seen his share of suspicious activities during his law enforcement career, but what’s happening at the isolated estate is out-of-pattern in his quiet, rural Missouri county. Beset by danger, Cara and Brad work together to try to untangle the clues. But when the peril turns lethal, the situation takes on a new urgency, and their mission is Find out who is behind the string of menacing incidents before the perpetrator strikes another deadly blow. 

About the Author:

Irene Hannon, who writes both contemporary romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than 65 novels. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA awards from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romance fiction) and she is a member of that organization’s elite Hall of Fame. She has also received a Career Achievement award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Other awards for individual books include National Readers’ Choice, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers Choice, Booksellers’ Best, and Reviewers’ Choice from RT Book Reviews. She is also a two-time Christy award finalist.

Millions of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages.

A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time. To learn more about Irene and her books, visit www.irenehannon.com.

Book Review: Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict

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Publish date: March 24, 2026 by St. Martin’s Press

1920’s London was enthralled by the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Filled with priceless statues, jewels, and the gold-encased mummy of the boy Pharaoh himself, the burial site unleashed a fascination with the ancient world and revolutionized the world of archeology.

The discovery was made by Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle and his associate, famed archeologist Howard Carter. What no one knows is that without the pioneering spirit of Lady Evelyn Herbert, Carnarvon’s daughter, the tomb might never have been found. As a young woman, Evelyn was fascinated by the story of Hatshepsut, a woman who had to assume the guise of a man in order to rule Egypt. Although she brought peace and prosperity to Egypt, her male successors ruthlessly and thoroughly erased her name from history.

Lady Evelyn’s ambition to find the tomb of Egypt’s first woman ruler exposes her to life-threatening danger and pits her against archeologists who refuse to believe the tomb can be found―and certainly not by a woman. Refusing to give up, Evelyn is on the verge of success when she is suddenly forced to make an agonizing choice between loyalty to her beloved father and Carter and realizing the dream of a lifetime.

My thoughts:

I believe it is safe to say that I’m among thousands-if not millions who has a deep fascination of ancient Egypt stories and its archaeological findings. My first experiences with ancient Egypt stories are through the Old Testament of the Bible when I was a child, and from there it grew to discovering more stories through movies, documentaries, fiction and nonfiction books. Whenever I spot new books on the subject or historical fictional stories that take place in Egypt, I’m there for it. I was absolutely thrilled to come across “Daughter of Egypt” by Marie Benedict on NetGalley.

Alternate history stories are among my favorite to read and the story of Hatshepsut’s life is probably one of my favorites to explore out of all the other pharaohs and I’m always intrigued to read more about her life and an alternate look on how she was as a co-ruler with her half-brother Thutmose II and to speculate other theories as to why her statues were defaced after her death and so forth. More importantly, are these alternate stories worth exploring? In my opinion, it most certainly is worth it. 

In this story, Benedict give us an alternate view of Hatshepsut’s ending and to be honest, it felt a bit disjointed and flat to me even though I thought it was a good one, I am sorry to say. Her whole story throughout the book at times felt rushed, and underdeveloped. We only get glances of her life and rule as co-pharaoh alongside Thutmose III. After all, Hatshepsut’s life reign was prolific and I didn’t get a solid picture of this in the story. That said “Daughter of Egypt” has a dual timeline and perhaps to fully develop her story, it would take a series. Whatever the case, I still respect the author’s endeavor and she is a great story-teller. Despite my misgivings, Hatshepsut’s story held my attention and her relationship with Thutmose, and alternate ending would make for intriguing conversations.

The 1920’s story was the strongest and I’m deeply interested in Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle and archaeologist Howard Carter explorations of the Valley of the Kings, their love for Egypt and preserving its history and artifacts is deeply felt in this story. I appreciated how Benedict portrayed the funding of these expeditions, their personal and professions struggles, and the political landscape of the time, and what it meant for Carnarvon and Carter work, and for the citizens of Egypt.

Lady Evelyn’s story arc was fantastically written and her station in life is how I imagine it would be for women of her class. Evelyn’s love for archaeology and search for finding the tomb of Hatshepsut was at odds with her mother’s focus on seeing her daughter married to the “right” man of good standing, was entertaining and well-drawn out.

I did learn a few historical facts that I didn’t know about beforehand. For example, Lady Evelyn was a real person and she was indeed an important figure in the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb! How in the world did I miss that!

I highly recommend you read this enjoyable and entertaining story and I know without a doubt many readers will love this book. Be sure to read the author’s notes! I plan on getting a physical copy when the book is published. Can’t wait! 

Stephanie

I rated this book four stars.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an ARC through NetGalley.

Cover Crush: The Palace Spy: Ancient Historical Fiction in Biblical Times Set in the Royal Courts of Queen Esther by Tessa Afshar

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Not yet published/Expected Publish date Nov 17, 2026 by Bethany House Publishers

This post is both a cover reveal and cover crush.

My Thoughts: Two days ago, Tessa Afshar posted a cover reveal at Instagram about her upcoming book “The Palace Spy: Ancient Historical Fiction in Biblical Times Set in the Royal Courts of Queen Esther,” and the stunning colors of the lady’s dress and the background. The background has so much detail that draws you into the scene and gives you a sense of time and place.

Are you looking for clean romance with an ancient historical setting? This one may be for you! I am definitely pre-ordering a copy of this book and I do have many of Afshar’s books on my wish-list!

Stephanie

About the Book:

Homeless after the sudden death of her master, Danna is traveling in search of work when a runaway horse takes off with its royal rider. Bringing the wild mare under and I was control, she discovers that its occupant is none other than Queen Esther of Persia. When they realize the horse bolting was no accident, Esther secretly employs Danna to find out who is behind the attempt on her life.

Allon tends his expansive apple orchards, determined to spend the rest of his days as a simple farmer. But when Esther summons him for one final task, he cannot refuse the queen he once served, even if this new assignment threatens to resurrect the ghosts of his past. As Danna and Allon are tasked with establishing Esther’s safety, they learn that working together is enough to tie even the steadiest of hearts into knots. With more at stake than either suspected, they find themselves in a race against time to save the life of their queen.

This gripping finale to the Queen Esther’s Court series unveils a fascinating glimpse into Esther’s life beyond the well-known biblical story.

You can pre-order this book on Amazon

About the Author:

Tessa Afshar’s books have been translated into 11 languages, and been on Publishers Weekly and CBA bestseller lists. Her novel, Pearl in the Sand is the recipient of ECPA’s Bronze Milestone Sales Award. Tessa’s novels have won a number of awards including the Christy and INSPY, and been finalists for the Carol and the ECPA Christian Book Awards. Land of Silence was chosen as one of top five Christian fiction titles of the year by Library Journal. The Way Home, God’s Invitation to New Beginnings, is the winner of the Christian Book Award in the Bible Study category.

Tessa was born in the Middle East and lived there the first fourteen years of her life before attending boarding school for girls in England. She fell in love with Jesus after moving to the United States. Tessa and her husband live in New England where they tend their mediocre garden.

Reader’s Log 066: A Woman’s Place Is in the Story by Sandra L Glahn (Seeing Women in the Biblical Narrative)

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IVP Academic sent me an invite via email a few days ago, asking me if I would like to read and review “A Woman’s Place Is in the Story,” and I was thrilled to accept the invite. What perfect timing, I thought. I first heard of Dr. Glahn’s work through Dr. Carmen Joy Imes and I have a few of Glahn’s books already on my wish-list, including, “Nobody’s Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament.”

Recently, I have been thrilled to have discovered many female and male scholars addressing this topic, and I’m looking forward to the continuous journey in reading and studying these much needed works.

When I read the book description and the first few pages of “A Woman’s Place Is in the Story,” it was like the author was reading my thoughts I’ve had over the years about women of the Bible, in the Old Testament and New Testament. I am certain it will be thus for many women and men who come across this book. A big thank you to IVP Academic for the advanced copy! – Stephanie

About the book:

Expected Publish Date: Aug 25, 2026 by IVP Academic

We Misread the Bible When Women Are Left Out

Ignore them, marginalize them, or dismiss them as brief cameos—these have long been common approaches to Christian teaching on the women of the Bible. The result? We miss their significance in the biblical story and, in turn, misunderstand Scripture itself. Scholar Sandra Glahn challenges this pattern, calling readers to recognize how biblical narrative actually works. When we do, we see that women are not incidental to the story but essential to it.

In A Woman’s Place Is in the Story, Glahn models how we can better read stories in their literary context and understand why the original authors included what they did. She reexamines both well-known and neglected passages, such as Tamar and Judah, the Hebrew midwives, Abigail, and the Samaritan woman at the well. Even when they appear briefly, women in Scripture move the plot forward and reveal profound truths about who God is.

In this book, you’ll explore how leaving women out of the biblical story changes the plot and meaning that was intended, how distorting women as they appear in the biblical story affects the way we view women in general, and how misunderstanding how women appear in the story affects the way we view God.

Women have always been part of the whole story of God. With A Woman’s Place Is in the Story, discover how rightly seeing women in the biblical narrative leads to more faithful interpretation and application for the benefit of all God’s people.

It’s time to tell the whole story.

Author the Author:

Dr. Sandra Glahn is a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. She is the author or co-author of more than twenty-five books, including Nobody’s Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament and her forthcoming work (August 2026), A Woman’s Place Is in the Story: Seeing Women in the Biblical Narrative.