God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew with John and Elizabeth Sherrill

Book Description

As a boy Brother Andrew dreamed of being an undercover spy working behind enemy lines. As a man he found himself working undercover for God. His was a mission filled with danger, financed by faith and supported by miracles. 

In this expanded edition, Brother Andrew's electrifying real-life story of smuggling Bibles into the most dangerous places on earth will grip readers all over again and inspire a new generation to step out on their own journeys of faith. Plus, a brand-new interview with Brother Andrew reveals behind-the-scenes information and fascinating insights into current events that are riveting the world.

Now includes photos and a new epilogue from Brother Andrew on 60 years of ministry


My Review

Miraculous only begins to describe the wonder of God shown through the life of Brother Andrew in this stunning and thrilling recount of his life and ministry. From a boy dreaming of adventure to adulthood living the adventure of a lifetime working for God behind the iron curtain.

                

I have never read a book like this, and by that I mean I was so enthralled I stayed up most nights reading it into the wee morning hours and picking up every chance a had in between. I wanted to know more, see what happened next, experience the joy, wonder, and thrill of seeing God in action.

That wasn’t all I learned from this book. The more countries he visited the more I saw the lives affected after he brought and gave away bibles. People thirsty for God’s word and to know they were not alone. There were more brothers and sisters in Christ in the world facing the same things. 

“Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.”  {1 Peter 5:9} 

That strategies used for persecution aren’t always so straightforward and blunt.

“Under persecution a man looks at his faith to see if it is worth fighting for, and this is the scrutiny Christianity can always withstand. The real dangers comes with an indirect attack, where a person is lured away from the Church before he has a chance to become strong.” ~Wilkhelmi

And just because we can’t always go to other countries doesn’t mean we can’t minister to our own brothers and sisters right here, right now.

“Don’t complain to yourself that you can’t go to the mission field! Thank God for bringing the mission field to you!” ~Andrew 

Brother Andrew shares his moments of testing and each one made me cry. From the beginning before he became a believer to the day he wrote this book. Showing courage and faith, showing God's light through his life touched my own soul. I even cried quite a few times seeing those God "ah-ha" moments.

There is so much I loved about this book I could talk about it all day. I STRONGLY encourage anyone who see's this book to pick it up. Once you start reading it, you won't want to put it down. Share it with a friend if you've already read it. I know I what I'm getting my friends for gifts this year. In this new expanded edition, you get the pleasure of reading a new interview with Brother Andrew that I personally am glad I got to read. Questions and updates on events both from the book and other books he's written since. 

Not setting out to become an international missionary, Andrew merely saw a need and felt called to fill that need. None of it would have been possible without the God guiding him every step of the way. And that is magnificently shown in this inspiring novel. 

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!

I received this book for free from the publisher’s in exchange for this honest and unbiased review as part of Chosen Book Bloggers program.

A Sparrow in Terezin by Kristy Cambron

Book Description

Two women, one in the present day and one in 1942, each hope for a brighter future. But they'll both have to battle through their darkest days to reach it.

Today. With the grand opening of her new gallery and a fairytale wedding months away, Sera James appears to have a charmed life. But in an instant, the prospect of a devastating legal battle surrounding her fiancé threatens to tear her dreams apart. Sera and William rush to marry and are thrust into a world of doubt and fear as they defend charges that could separate them for life.

June 1942. After surviving the Blitz bombings that left many Londoners with shattered lives, Kája Makovsky prayed for the war to end so she could return home to Prague. But despite the horrors of war, the gifted journalist never expected to see a headline screaming the extermination of Jews in work camps. Half-Jewish with her family in danger, Kája has no choice but to risk everything to get her family out of Prague. But with the clutches of evil all around, her escape plan crumbles into deportation, and Kája finds herself in a new reality as the art teacher to the children of Terezin.

Bound by a story of hope and the survival of one little girl, both Sera and Kája will fight to protect all they hold dear.

My Review

From the author that brought us the first captivating Hidden Masterpiece novel "the Butterfly and the Violin", Kristy Cambron has done it again with her sequel "A Sparrow in Terezin". From the moment I finished her first book and saw there was to be a second novel, I couldn't wait to read it! I waited 9 months and I was not the least bit disappointed.

Kristy Cambron brings to the life two women with incredible tales.

Sera James Hanover who is scared to death that her newly wed husband will have to spend a decade in prison for something she believes he did not do. But the Hanover's are keeping a secret from her. No one, including William, will tell her why his father left them all those years ago. Their afraid to talk about it. But it might be the only thing that could save William from serving from a crime he didn't commit.

Kája Makovsky after leaving Prague and her family, finds herself as an assistant at the The Daily Telegraph in England where she meets the strange but handsome reporter Liam Marshal. Just as their love began to blossom, before it had really even had the chance, London was bombed and the world of London changed. But that didn't seem to stop them from falling in love, in fact, I think it made them realize how much they loved each other from the very moment they met!

Both woman travel to the ends of the earth to help the ones they love. Connected beyond years, these two stories are woven with amazing hope and love.

"I command you--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you where you go." ~Joshua 1:9 NLT

When I first started reading this book, I was so engrossed with Kája and Liam all I wanted to do was skip right past Sera's chapters to see what happened next. But my sister advised against that and I'm glad she did because as the chapters went on I began to see the connection between the two. Like the Butterfly and the Violin, a special piece of memory passed down from 1942 would be a key puzzle piece. So you don't want to miss a single page of this book! It's filled with depth of story and character all the way through. And I love how Sophie is connected in both books. It's woven in so perfectly.

I absolutely love this book! I have no idea if there is to be any more sequels at this moment, but I truly hope there is. If not, I'd read just about anything Kristy Cambron writes. She is an amazing author. Especially when it comes to historical fiction, I could read that from her all day. History has always intrigued me as some of you might already know, but it does take a well writing author to make Historical Fiction worth reading. Kirsty Cambron not only brings the characters to life, but you can't help but fall in love with them and want to be apart of their lives long after you've closed the book.

I also have to add that I really love Penny! I was so glad more story was added for her!

When I finished this book I cried. I couldn't even pick up another fiction book for days because I wasn't ready to leave that world with the sparrows.

I highly recommend buying it and if you haven't read the first Hidden Masterpiece the Butterfly and the Violin then I highly recommend you get on that ASAP!

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!

I received this book for free from the publisher’s in exchange for this honest and unbiased review as part of BookLook Bloggers program.