Sunday, December 6, 2015

Miracles from Heaven (A Little girl, her journey to Heaven, and her amazing story of healing)


Miracles from Heaven by Christy Wilson Beam

Summary: Annabel Beam spent most of her childhood in and out of hospitals with a rare and incurable digestive disorder that prevented her from ever living a normal, healthy life. One sunny day when she was able to go outside and play with her sisters, she fell three stories headfirst inside an old, hollowed-out tree, a fall that may well have caused death or paralysis. Implausibly, she survived without a scratch. While unconscious inside the tree, with rescue workers struggling to get to her, she visited heaven. After being released from the hospital, she defied science and was inexplicably cured of her chronic ailment. 

MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN will change how we look at the world around us and reinforce our belief in God and the afterlife.

<3 <3 <3 <3

Review: Miracles from Heaven tells the story of Annabel Beam told by her mother Christy.  The story follows Annabel's journey through her sickness and her family's experiences along with hers. The story culminates around Annabel's miraculous healing after she is rescued from falling headfirst into an old hallow tree on the family's property.  Annabel falls about two to three stories and lands headfirst. Miraculously she is pulled out with just minor cuts and bruises and a concussion.  After this event as about a year passed Annabel's mother chronicles the family's journey as they realize that Annabel really is healed and no longer has the serious medical problems that she had before the fall.  But most amazing and heartfelt is Annabel's story that she went to Heaven while she was 'in the tree' and that she met her Heavenly Father and Jesus.  

Annabel's mother (Ms. Beam) does a wonderful job describing her daughter's journey through heart breaking sickness, a miraculous healing and the experience of seeing Heaven and meeting God.  The book is written beautifully; it pulled me in from the first page and I finished it in one sitting. I would recommend it to anyone who is a Christian or to those who may be doubting your faith; this book reaffirmed my faith for me in a beautiful non-intrusive way. It's a beautiful story of a little girl and her family's faith and reaffirms the fact for me that God truly does know the end from the beginning and is always doing what is best for us even when we don't realize it.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott


The Daring Ladies of Lowell 

By: Kate Alcott


Summary: From the New York Times bestselling author of THE DRESSMAKER comes a moving historical novel about a bold young woman drawn to the looms of Lowell, Massachusetts--and to the one man with whom she has no business falling in love.

Eager to escape life on her family’s farm, Alice Barrow moves to Lowell in 1832 and throws herself into the hard work demanded of “the mill girls.”  In spite of the long hours, she discovers a vibrant new life and a true friend—a saucy, strong-willed girl name Lovey Cornell.

But conditions at the factory become increasingly dangerous, and Alice finds the courage to represent the workers and their grievances.  Although mill owner, Hiram Fiske, pays no heed, Alice attracts the attention of his eldest son, the handsome and reserved Samuel Fiske. Their mutual attraction is intense, tempting Alice to dream of a different future for herself.

This dream is shattered when Lovey is found strangled to death. A sensational trial follows, bringing all the unrest that’s brewing to the surface. Alice finds herself torn between her commitment to the girls in the mill and her blossoming relationship with Samuel.  Based on the actual murder of a mill girl and the subsequent trial in 1833, THE DARING LADIES OF LOWELL brilliantly captures a transitional moment in America’s history while also exploring the complex nature of love, loyalty, and the enduring power of friendship.

Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
My Review: The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott is a novel told in the two voices of Samuel Fiske and Alice Barrow.  With the main focus being on Alice Barrow. Samuel Fiske is the heir apparent to the dynasty his Father Hiram Fiske has built in the town of Lowell with their mill industry, His family is known for their respectable reputation which includes keeping the girls who work in their mills safe. Samuel thus far as led a comfortable life but his world is turned upside down when he meets Alice Barrow who will change the prospects of his future and his very life.

Alice Barrow is a mill girl who has escaped her Father's tyranny and a brave heroine who has come to Lowell looking for her own life and independence.  She finds a friend in Lovey; one of the girls who lives in her boarding house with her.  They develop an immediate bond but Alice's world is torn asunder when Lovey is found dead; at the hands some say of the Methodist Reverend Avery whom it is also said got Lovey with child.

The novel tells the story of working conditions in the factories which left much to be desired and the unrest it caused which would eventually lead to the workers demand for change.  It follow's Alice and Samuel's love story as well as the trial of reverend Avery for Lovey's murder.  It was a very easy read and was a book that I did not want to put down. It felt as if the reader was transported right into the story and the characters felt as though they were friends you were rooting for.

For anyone who loves or is interested in the 1830's and 1840's this story is a shining example of how women in those times fought for what today are considered human rights for workers and for equal treatment of women; also if you want a story that has excitement; friendship; and heroines who you feel as if you could talk to even in this modern day and age I'd recommend this book highly.