Book Review: The Parisian Chapter by Janet Skeslien Charles

Expected Publish Date May 5, 2026 by Atria Books

Paris, 1995: It’s been five years since Lily Jacobsen and her best friend Mary Louise arrived in Paris from their small town of Froid, Montana. Determined to establish themselves as artists—Lily, a novelist, and Mary Louise, a painter—they share a tiny walkup and survive on brie and baguettes.

When Mary Louise abruptly moves out, Lily feels alone in the city of light for the first time and must find a new way to support herself. She lands a job as a programs manager at the American Library in Paris, following in the footsteps of Odile, her beloved French neighbor in Montana who told her stories of heroic World War II librarians when Lily was growing up.

Here in the storied halls of the ALP, she meets an incredible cast of characters—her favorite author, quirky coworkers, broke students, trailing spouses, haughty trustees, and devoted volunteers—each with their own stories… and agendas. Lily often seeks solace in the Afterlife, the library’s attic that’s home to hundreds of unpublished manuscripts, and there, she discovers a box of archives that may be a link to the past: to Odile’s own Parisian chapter.

This moving, propulsive story offers a panoramic view of a real historic institution, and revisits characters from both of Janet Skeslien Charles’s beloved novels. Lily’s story is a love letter to the artist’s life, friendship, and leaving home only to find it again.

My thoughts:

Having read and reviewed “The Paris Library,” I was thrilled to receive a kindle copy of “The Parisian Chapter” from the Publishers. This book is a continuation story about the library and its employees, volunteers, trustees and members. The library has a history and despite the employees and others grumbles, they must work together to save the library.

In the beginning of the chapters, presents a brief story of the characters connected to the library, with Lily Jacobsen being the protagonist. While there are a lot of characters introduced, I was able to keep up with each one of them and their point of views helped developed their views and personalities. My favorite characters were Tolstoy, Meg, David, Marius, and Lorenzo.  Not Lily, you ask? While protagonists are often a favorite, and despite seeing her growth and wiliness to self-reflect and change the errors of her ways, there is something about her that bothered me that I can’t explain. That said, I was cheering for her and I admired her hard work and determination to help with the survival of the library.

There are so many beautiful elements to this story, including healings of relationships and forgiveness. I do hope we will be seeing more stories that centers around the library, and the people from different walks of life it has brought together. A must read!  

Stephanie

Side Bar: This story contains open door romance, which I skipped over. I prefer closed door romance.

Thank you, Atria Books for an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

Check out my review for The Paris Library HERE.

Book Review: The Tuscan Villa by Ella Carey

(Daughters of Italy #3)

Published Today: Apr 28 2026 by Bookouture

Another memorable story with multiple timelines.

As the war raged through Europe in 1945, Villa Aria in Tuscany, Italy became a sanctuary for the people of Cortona, but soon after Vivi-the owner- disappeared by mysterious circumstances, it left the villa crumbling, and the grounds overgrown. While the people of the village were left with another tragedy, they soon endeavored to pick up the pieces that was left ravaged by the war.

In Manhattan, New York a few years after the war, Fran felt suffocated with her fiancé and her soon to be controlling mother-in-law. She quickly realized she couldn’t go through with the marriage and with the recent news about the villa in Italy- where she grew up- has been sold, and its gardens- her father designed for Vivi-is about to be leveled by the new owner, she made the decision to travel to Italy.

With so many unanswered questions about her past and the unsolved disappearance of Vivi, Fran was determined to save the villa’s garden, solve the mystery of what happen to Vivi, she soon realized there are many secrets to uncover, and it wouldn’t be an easy task because of the towns people reluctance to talk about the past.

*********

What a powerful, heartbreaking and atmospheric story Ella Carey has written.

During the war, Vivi’s dedication to help protect the valuable, despite the danger, showed one of many of her attributes that drew people to her. Her kindness, giving and gentle spirit were a blessing to the town and her disappearance was a great loss. I felt that loss deeply and like Fran, I didn’t want her disappearance to be left behind in the past, I was on the same determined path as Fran to find out what had happened to Vivi.

This story has three timelines, I found each one to be equally as strong and absorbing.

Carey has marvelously created complex characters and not everything was as it seemed with them and I found myself pleasantly surprised by a few of them.

Many of the characters found their way into my heart and I longed to be swept away to Villa Aria with its lush gardens, and its peaceful, timeless surroundings.

Ella Carey is a talented story-teller.  A must read!

Stephanie

I received an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.

@Bookouture

An Early Glance: When Mikan Road Was Ours by D.K. Furutani

Expected Publication July 28, 2026 by Atria Books

This past Monday, I received an invite via email to read and review, “When Mikan Road Was Ours” from Atria Books,and I am truly thankful, and honored for the invitation to be an early reader for this story. I enjoy reading multi-generational family stories and I’ve been wanting to look more into how Japanese American Citizens were treated during World War II. I am already certain this story is going to be powerful and thought-provoking.

This book is available for pre-order!

Stephanie

Winner of Simon & Schuster’s Books Like Us contest!

Amidst a sweltering Los Angeles heat wave, Murano, a reclusive high school English teacher, is muddling through life. Reeling from his father’s death as well as his own recent cancer diagnosis, he spends his days grading papers and appeasing disgruntled parents while painstakingly counting down the days until summer vacation.

However, the monotony breaks when he inherits his great-uncle Benjiro’s unpublished memoir. He expects the pages to be a grim reminder of his position as the half-white son of the black sheep of the family. Instead, as he reads, Murano is whisked away to 1930s California, to a time when the Murano family was inseparable, relishing life on their bucolic farmland. As Murano is introduced to family members he never knew existed and confronted with the hidden complexities of the past, he is pulled close to the Japanese identity he’s dismissed all of his life.

Ultimately faced with more questions about his fractured family than answers, Murano becomes determined to discover the reasons behind his family’s dissolution following their incarceration in American concentration camps during World War II, no matter what hidden truths he might uncover about his ancestors or himself.

About the Author:

Born and raised in Southern California, D.K. Furutani is the author of When Mikan Road Was Ours, winner of Simon & Schuster’s third-annual Books Like Us contest. His work has received support from the Periplus Collective and the Tin House workshops. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife and three cats.

Book Review: A Body at the Irish Book Club by Lucy Connelly

Mercy McCarthy Mystery #5

Happy Publishing Day to Lucy Connelly!

Publish Date: April 21, 2026 by Bookouture

Mercy and Lizzie are America twin sisters who inherited their grandfather’s house and book shop in Shamrock Cove in Ireland. Lizzie runs the shop and Mercy is the writer in the family. The day Mercy returns from a book signing tour of her latest book, her sister held a signing at the shop. As the customers were paying for their books at the register, Mercy’s and Mr. Poe-their dog-discovers one of the ladies at the shop has died. Then the mystery begins on what happen to the victim.

A Body at the Irish Book Club is the first book I’ve read by Lucy Connelly. As usual-but not by design-I started this series with the fifth book. The beginning of the story had me asking a lot of questions about the backstory but a few of them were resolved and I was happy about that. By the time I finished the story, I decided to add this series to my to-read list. I am curious about the books before this one!   

I found the side characters to be great supporting characters that helped the story take shape. Mercy tended to get on my nerves at times. When she is on to something, she was like a dog with a bone, but isn’t that the point? She reminds me a little of Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote and Danny Reagan in Blue Bloods. Mercy’s unwavering persistence makes for great crime solving and a writer!

My heart went out to Mercy’s sister, Lizzie. What a loving and supportive sister she is to Mercy. I am looking forward to reading more of their stories in these crime solving cases.

An intriguing story that had me racing to the end to discover the killer. I could not put this story down.

I love a good Irish cozy mystery!

Stephanie

I’ve rated this book four stars.

Thank you to the publishers for ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

Book Review: Murder at the Highland Games (Ally McKinley Mystery #4) by Dee MacDonald

Expected Publish Date: April 16, 2026 by Bookouture

The story begins with the annual Locharran Highland Games in Scotland where Ally McKinley, the villagers and many others are enjoying the competitions, and all the sudden, they hear a shot fired and an unpopular competitor, Archie Armstrong, is killed while in the middle of tossing the caber, and from there on, tensions are running high, many of the villagers are not empathetic to the mans death-which makes many of them a suspect to the murder-including a few members of Archie’s family members- and Ally must discover the killer to not only one murder but two before the killer strikes again!

I have now read two books in this series -not in order- and I’m enjoying reading them thus far. Dee MacDonald cleverly weaves a good murder mystery and her characters are well developed. Her whodunits are so well plotted, I’ve had and entertaining time trying to solve the crimes along-side Ally. I can’t wait to solve another crime alongside Ally!

Stephanie

Full Description of the Book:

When a fun day out in the Scottish Highlands turns fatal, there’s only one solution: call for Ally McKinley!

It’s the annual Locharran Highland Games and Ally McKinley has never seen her little village so busy or excited. Everyone’s enjoying the Scottish dancing, the bagpipes, and cheering the competitors on. But there’s a hitch in the proceedings when champion challenger Archie Armstrong drops dead in the middle of tossing the caber. Rushing to the scene, Ally is the first to spot that Archie’s death was no accident – this was murder!

Ally finds herself into a new investigation and soon discovers that more than one person may have had a murderous motive, including some of the current residents of her cosy little guesthouse. Patti, Archie’s glamorous wife, seems intent on acting like the perfect widow, but rumors of infidelity have been flying. Is her performance too good? Could her uncle, cranky gamekeeper Angus, have finally snapped, furious at Archie’s treatment of his niece? Or was it one of the frustrated local competitors, desperate to end Archie’s winning streak?

Determined to crack the case and fueled by more than one piece of her famous shortbread, Ally begins to narrow down her list of possible culprits, but is thrown for a loop when her chief suspect is found dead by the loch, a mysterious and threatening note clutched in their fingers. With a killer at large, can Ally finally uncover the truth? Or, as the sun sets over the highlands, will this game be her last?

Side Bar: There is some profanity in this story but not so much, it is scattered through the book.

Book Review: The Last Baby in Auschwitz by Anna Stuart

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.

Book Review: Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict

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.

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

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.

Book Review: The Man in the Stone Cottage by Stephanie Cowell

A Novel of the Brontës

Publish Date Sep 16 2025 by Regal House Publishing

In 1846 Yorkshire, the Brontë sisters—Charlotte, Anne, and Emily—navigate precarious lives marked by heartbreak and struggle. Charlotte faces rejection from the man she loves, while their blind father and troubled brother add to their burdens. Despite their immense talent, no one will publish their poetry or novels. Amidst this turmoil, Emily encounters a charming shepherd during her solitary walks on the moors, yet he remains unseen by anyone else.

After Emily’s untimely death, Charlotte—now a successful author with Jane Eyre—stumbles upon hidden letters and a mysterious map. As she stands on the brink of her own marriage, Charlotte is determined to uncover the truth about her sister’s secret relationship.

My thoughts:

The Bronte sister’s life is known to us yet still mysterious and their stories are timeless and evoke human emotions so raw and brilliantly expressed that it leaves the reader powerful and lasting impressions.

Despite their early education and talent, they were dealt hardships in their short lives. As children they were left much on their own because of their mother’s death in 1821 and the death of their elder sister’s Mary and Elizabeth. These sad circumstances left them to take care of each other.

As they grew older, their father Patrick Brontë eyes were failing him and with the potential threat of his income as a minster and rectory being taken from him and their brother Branwells inability to establish employment for various reasons, they faced homelessness or the workhouse.

Charlotte, the driving force to publish their writings, begins to seek a publisher for her work and encourages her sisters to do so as well.

Stephanie Cowell has masterfully written a story about the cherished Brontë’s adult life in Yorkshire and brilliantly weaves in a story of Emily meeting a mysterious man on one of her walks on the moors.

Cowell’s ability to take readers to time and place is truly wonderful and adsorbing. I couldn’t put this story down. I will certainly purchase a physical copy of this book when it comes out.

Stephanie

I have rated this book five stars

I obtained an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley.

Reader’s Log 055: Current and Upcoming Reads

I finished and reviewed, “The Lost Baker of Vienna by Sharon Kurtzman and enjoyed the story and now I’ve started reading a couple days ago, “Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together” by Ilana Kurshan. I must confess I’m a little concern about the page length and how the theme will flow through the pages. That said, so far I’m enjoying reading about this family’s love for reading.  

I’m still reading, “The Curious Inheritance” of Blakely House and “Reflections on the Psalms by C. S. Lewis.” These two are wonderful and engaging reads and I’m taking my time with them though I’m getting close to finishing The Curious Inheritance. After I finish with Lewis’s book I’m going to start reading, “A Sacred Sorrow” by Michael Card. I have so much to say about lament and I look forward to sharing more on the subject at a later time. After I finish up with Curious Inheritance, I’m thinking about starting, “Daughter of Egypt” by Marie Benedict. I have an ARC of this book and I’m thrilled with the premise for this story. Also, I’ve been reading, “Babylon” by Paul Kriwaczek and while I don’t agree with everything he writes, I do find many aspects of the information he provides to be fascinating and I’ve learned few new details that I need for my research. Kriwaczek is a good writer and it makes his book easier to read which is refreshing and helpful!

Stephanie

Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together by Ilana Kurshan

Not yet published Expected Aug 26, 2025 by St. Martin’s Press

In Children of the Book, Ilana Kurshan explores the closeness forged when family life unfolds against a backdrop of reading together. Kurshan, a mother of five living in Jerusalem, at first struggles to balance her passion for literature with her responsibilities as a parent. Gradually she learns how to relate to reading not as a solitary pursuit and an escape from the messiness of life, but rather as a way of teaching independence and forging connection. Introducing her children to sacred and secular literature—including the beloved classics of her childhood—helps her become both a better mother and a better reader.

Chief among the books Kurshan reads with her children is the Five Books of Moses, known as the Torah, which Jews the world over read in synchrony as part of the liturgical cycle. In the five parts of this memoir, Kurshan explores the surprising resonances between the biblical text and her experiences as a mother and a reader – from the first picture books that create the world through language for little babies, to the moment our children begin reading on their own leaving us behind, atop the mountain, as they enter new lands without us. A testament to the enduring power of shared texts, Children of the Book celebrates the deep pleasures of books.

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict

Not yet published

Publish Date: Mar 24, 2026 by St. Martin’s Press

In the 1920s, archeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle made headlines around the world with the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. But behind it all stood Lady Evelyn Herbert—daughter of Lord Carnarvon—whose daring spirit and relentless curiosity made the momentous find possible.

Nearly 3,000 years earlier, another woman defied the expectations of her time: Hatshepsut, Egypt’s lost pharaoh. Her reign was bold, visionary—and nearly erased from history.

When Evelyn becomes obsessed with finding Hatshepsut’s secret tomb, she risks everything to uncover the truth about her reign and keep valued artifacts in Egypt, their rightful home. But as danger closes in and political tensions rise, she must make an impossible choice: protect her father’s legacy—or forge her own.

A Sacred Sorrow: Reaching Out to God in the Lost Language of Lament by Michael Card

Published February 1, 2005 by NavPress

It’s easy to praise God when things in your life are going well, but what about the other times? What happens when mountaintop experiences cascade into seasons of struggling, suffering, and loss in the valley? God desires for us to pour out our hearts to Him, whether in joy or pain. But many Christians don’t feel right expressing anger, frustration, grief, and sadness in prayer. Our personal worship experience is not complete unless we understand the lost language of lament.

In A Sacred Sorrow, author, musician, and Bible teacher Michael Card takes you through the Scriptures to show you what your worship and prayer life has been missing. Learn new ways to honor God and deepen your relationship with Him by:

Becoming more honest in worship

Trusting in His unchanging presence

Believing in His constant loving kindness

Sharing your sorrow as an act of worship

From Job to David to Jesus, men and women of Scripture understood the importance of pouring one’s heart out to the Father. Examine their stories and expand your definition of worship as you find healing. Let your pain, questions, and sorrow resound with praise to a God who is moved by your tears.