Tag Archives: Christian

Book Review: Last Light Over Galveston by Jennifer L. Wright

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Historical \ Fiction Christian \ Fiction

Expected publication August 12, 2025 by Tyndale

About the book:

Galveston, Texas. September 1900. Only months ago, Kathleen McDaniel returned from finishing school in Switzerland to her family home in New York’s Hudson Valley with a future of promise and privilege set before her. But one horrific event shattered her picturesque life. Now she has fled as far as the train line and a pocketful of money would take her, finding refuge at the St. Mary’s Orphan Asylum on Galveston Island, where she helps the nuns care for their young charges and prays her past will not find her. Despite her tenuous standing at the orphanage—and the grief and betrayal that drove her from home—Kathleen slowly begins to make friends. There is Emily, the novice nun she rooms with; Maggie, the tempestuous young girl who only bonds with Kathleen; and Matthew, a kind, handsome man recently employed by Isaac Cline at Galveston’s office of the US Weather Bureau.

Then in one fateful day, Kathleen’s fragile new life begins to crack as it becomes clear that she can’t run far enough to escape the reach of her former life. Meanwhile, as troubling news about a storm crossing the Gulf from Cuba swirls in the Weather Bureau offices, Matthew holds fast to Cline’s belief that no hurricane can touch Galveston. But as darkness falls on the island, Kathleen must gather her courage and reach for a strength beyond her own if she—and those she loves—are to survive.

My thoughts:

Last Light over Galveston is a story of perseverance during the historic, deadly and catastrophic hurricane in Galveston, Texas in September of 1900. This story also touches on human greed, selfishness, and cruelty at the expense of others that people tend to look down on in life. What is even more maddening is how the people involved justified their corrupt actions. Jennifer Wright does a marvelous job at showing the realities of life that is too often overlooked in my opinion.

The main character Kathleen McDaniel is a person who -at all odds- breaks away from the cruelty of her situation in life and on doing so finds herself in greater danger as the storm hits land. I was completely immersed in her plight and I felt as I if was right beside her going through what she was going through.

I did know about this hurricane prior to reading this book but I didn’t know all the details and how bad it actually was. Once I finished this story, I did a bit of research and I was really struck more so on Wrights depiction of the storm and the period in which the events took place.

The author does a brilliant job at pulling in her readers and I highly recommend this story to all and I want to encourage everyone who read the book to embrace the message of this story with an open heart.

I rate this book five stars and my gratitude and thanks to the publisher for an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

Stephanie

Reader’s Log 038: A Weekend of Reading and Reflection

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A Reader’s Voice

Yesterday, I blogged about my upcoming books I’ve selected and that post is a start in blogging about what I’m reading and why. In the past couple of years or so, certain themes in stories have weighed heavily on my mind. Not only that but if the themes and content is something I should be reading as a follower of Christ. I’ve always read widely but was cautious about content and my Christian conventions. However, I’ve agreed to review books that I wasn’t fully aware of its content and have done my best to honor those commitments keeping in mind that I’m not reading a biblical world view on morality and so forth. I have noticed in the past few years that a particular genre from certain authors I once enjoyed reading has become darker and too graphic in human nature to say the least which-I admit-reflects much of the world we live in today. This is not pointing fingers or making accusations towards others but a reflection on my own choices I make about reading material that I want to chose to read or omit from my life.

I’ve also reflected on the issue of how readers and reviewers on NetGalley are given information about the books we choose to read. I believe there is not enough information about its content and NetGalley should provide more information about any disclaimers of content we should be aware of since we are making a commitment to read said books. Yes, I am aware of the argument if that were the case, there would be so many books not selected to read because of the disclaimers and that wouldn’t be fair to the author and so on…I was onboard with that argument for a long time but I am no longer. After all, movies come with ratings and provide disclaimers.

I realize I haven’t always been consistent in my reviews to point out any content that people need to be aware of if they need or want to avoid for various reasons.

More times than not, I felt trapped into reading said books and recently I’ve rejected two books and stated my reasons to the publishers with respect of course. This may be difficult for many readers and authors to hear but as a long-standing book blogger, my experience as a book reviewer and reader needs to be voiced even at the risk of losing subscribers.

Christians are encouraged to engage with secular books-including fiction for an understanding of the world but we should also be discerning and cautious. That is true for secularist as well. For anyone in society really.

I have read many books that dealt with sensitive and difficult topics in such a way to make the story readable to a wide audience without compromising the readers convictions of what they can read without feeling uneasy or question if this is something they should be reading in the first place. My thanks to writers who weaves the story thus. I have more thoughts on this topic and may share more at a later time.

Stephanie

In Times of Trouble

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There are seasons in our lives when our hardships often feel overwhelming and sometimes, we lose sight at what God’s plans has for us. We get caught up in our struggles, doubts, feelings of hopelessness, and then despair can seep in our hearts. We become consumed with tiredness and weakness in our burdens, our hearts can harden and we can lose sight and we become focused on the wrong things that are temporary. We become focused on self and our troubles and that leads us away from Him. Instead be encouraged to turn to God in faith, continual prayer for healing and trust in His time and plan for our lives. God wants and longs for us to turn to Him for everything. In Matthew chapter 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. And in 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 says, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Prayer: O mighty God, you are our refuge and fortress in whom we trust. We praise you even in the time of trouble. You are loving and faithful. Hear our voice and be merciful to us O Lord, for our hope is in you. For your word says in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” We humbly ask you fill us with your Holy Spirit to protect us, guide us casting out all our doubts and sorrow for we give it all to you. We put our trust in you, O Lord. May we seek you in all of our ways. May your Spirit renew our minds, fill us your healing power and thanksgiving. May your Spirit surround us with deliverance for we stand on your promises. We ask all of these things in Jesus Holy name. Amen!

What has really helped me in my prayers and daily walk with Christ is to spend time with God in prayer and in His word. If there is something in your life that you are struggling with but you’re not sure how pray, the Bible can guide you with your prayers and help you build your relationship with God. Ask God to give you direction in your prayers. Ask Him to show you the way. We must become like children and seek Him with open hearts. He loves us so much.

Oftentimes, I like to write down my prayers and verses that help me in all areas of my life. There are so many passages and stories of overcoming hardships and thanksgiving in the Bible to help us.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalms 119:105

“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Stephanie

Happy Easter: He is Risen

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A He is Risen 4-11-2020Millions of Christians worldwide celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and that is what Easter Sunday means to us. It represents Jesus Christ’s triumph over death and eternal life that is granted to all who believe in Him.

Today I’m sharing a page from my personal journal marking this special day. I thought about creating a page with an image of the stone rolled from Jesus’s tomb but decided to use the image of the cross as a reminder of His love for us and the price He paid for us sinners.  -Stephanie Hopkins

Matthew 28: 1-6

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

John 3:16 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

 

Honoring Christ My Savior

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Christmas is a special time of year in honoring our Savior’s birth. My faith in Christ means hope, forgiveness, acceptance and salvation. I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and many blessings to come. -Stephanie

John 1:9-14  “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.  He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him,  who believed in his name,  he gave the right  to become  children of God, who were born,  not of blood  nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of  grace and  truth.”

2019 Christmas TreeSilent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
’round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heav’nly hosts sing: “Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born..!”