For the month of February we have been covering the different phases of relationships and chatting about nurturing, respecting and embracing your relationship, whether you’re navigating singledom, dating or marriage. Before we wrap up the end of relationship month, I thought I’d share some of the relationship-focused books that we recommend from our partner, Struik Christian Media.

Swipe Right by Levi Lusko

In Swipe Right, Pastor Levi Lusko offers compelling reasons to make wise choices in matters of the heart—relationships, sex, dating, and marriage. He encourages readers to live each day knowing their present choices will immediately become part of their pasts, and that their pasts will inevitably come back to visit them in the future.

With equal parts prevention and cure, the book is not just a list of rules to live by but something to live for: God’s powerful plan for our lives. To get there we must learn how to swipe right—to live up in a left, right world—because what we do with sex and romance is truly an issue of life and death importance.

Why we love it:

Levi’s writing is raw, relatable and very honest. I love how he balances serious topics with light humour. (Read my full review here – by far my favourite book, this month!)

Get your copy here!

Lovestruck by Sharon Jaynes

Have you ever felt that the man you thought was your soulmate has turned into more of a roommate? If so, then Lovestruck will help you see your marriage from a fresh perspective and reignite the passion that was there in the beginning. While the extent of the church’s message has traditionally been, “If you’re not married, don’t do it,” and “If you are married, don’t talk about it, ” it’s time to see what God has to say sexual intimacy.

Why we love it:

Sharon reminds and challenges us to be more intentional, with our relationships from beginning attractions and dating through marriages. She breaks down the Book of Solomon, in the most interesting way, by highlighting imagery and significant points and messaging to explain the scripture and what Solomon and His Bride’s courting and marriage looked like.

Get your copy here!

Hope For Your Marriage by Clayton & Ashlee Hurst

Are you willing to do whatever it takes to have the marriage you dreamed of? Interestingly, this is the question Clayton and Ashlee ask young couples before they get married and married couples in crisis. If they answer yes, then there is hope for the couple. If they are willing to commit to the hard work ahead, they have a very good shot.

Hope for Your Marriage is a book designed for couples who desire to have the best marriage possible. Every marriage has the potential to be incredible when God is at the center.

In Hope for Your Marriage, Clayton and Ashlee share personal stories on overcoming fairy-tale pitfalls; keeping Jesus at the center of your marriage; practicing healthy communication on sex, conflict, and forgiveness; declaring life over your marriage; and leaving a God-honoring legacy.

Why we love it:

This is the perfect read for newlyweds and in fact, any married couple. The book is refreshingly candid and shares stories that you can relate to, with practical advice that speaks straight to the heart.

Get your copy here!

Story Of Marriage by John & Lisa Bevere

Once upon a time… Marriage was forever. It was a covenant that knit one man and one woman together. This weaving made both stronger, nobler, and more vibrant expressions of who they were created to be. They were better together than either had been on their own. The wedding ceremony was but a beginning. It was the gateway to build their happily ever after. Each choice and action was designed to construct the life their union-represented. Husband and wife walked into the great unknown with hearts, hands, and voices intertwined to express the love of their Creator. How did we lose touch with this profound love story? In The Story of Marriage, John and Lisa Bevere invite you to rediscover God’s original plan. Whether you’re married, single, or engaged, your story is a part of His.

Why we love it:

This book reminds us that marriages aren’t perfect and it takes a lot of work. The study-style makes it great for couples to work through together, or on their own to discuss later. I love that both John and Lisa were very frank about the struggles they have endured, and found that openness encouraging.

Get your copy here!

Our Best Life Together by Joel & Victoria Osteen

In Our Best Life Together, Joel and Victoria Osteen want to encourage you in your marriage and remind you that God brought you together to help each other succeed and to become all He created you to be. There’s no better way to experience the fulfilling marriage God intends for you than to set aside a devotional time together each day and set your minds in the right direction for a positive, happy, faith-filled marriage. When you live together in unity, you honor God and open the door for His blessings to flow into every area of your life. If you will do your part, God will do His part, and you can live in love!

Why we love it:

What’s not to love about Joel and Victoria? This devotional is a superb addition to any bedside table and reminds us to put God at the centre of our relationship. You can read our full review here, but trust me, this makes a fantastic gift for upcoming weddings and anniversaries as it’s such a great book for all couples of faith.

Get your copy here!

Don’t forget, we’ll be reviewing and featuring a handful of these books right here on our platform so be sure to keep an eye out for those posts too!

Megan Kelly Botha

I’m a coffee-wielding mood reader and romance book collector who may or may not have a slight addiction to buying books. I read a variety of sub-genres within romance, including rom-coms, dark romance, and fantasy. I love sharing my thoughts on books, whether it’s through book reviews, quotes, or recommendations inspired by my current reads. Through my romance book blog, Literary Inspired, I aim to provide in-depth book reviews, curated reading recommendations, and exclusive author promotions. I’m passionate about supporting indie authors and sharing my latest book discoveries with others. When I’m not reading, you can find me cheering on my favorite football team and F1 drivers, crafting, baking with my kids or playing with my pets.

literaryinspired.com/

The post Relationship Books we LOVE! appeared first on Cup of Faith.

I think that it’s pretty common for people to idolise a Hollywood couple’s relationship, but unsurprisingly, we only ever get to see one side of that relationship – the side they want us to see. Yet, we always seem so shocked when The Hollywood Reporter breaks the news that yet another glorified marriage has come to a devastating end. Growing up, I saw a lot of failed marriages, including the failed marriage of my parents, which always made me wonder whether I was in for some sort of generational curse. Having married my husband when I was fresh out of high-school and only 19-years old, I knew I wanted our marriage to be the one that lasts so I looked to the strongest marriage I knew, to see what they did differently.

My grandparents have been married for almost 60-years. My gran still gets that school-girl giddiness while waiting for my oups to come home each day, she still giggles at him like when they were young and dating, and he still makes her heart pump custard. The first time my then-boyfriend, now husband, came over for dinner, he was so confused by my grandparents. He looked at me and whispered, “Are they always like this?” I was puzzled as nothing seemed out of the ordinary, then he said, “so lovey-dovey?” I burst out laughing and said, “Yes, of course!” Later that night on our drive back to my house, he explained that he had never seen a married couple so affectionate and in-love and that one day, he hoped to be just like them. Truthfully, I had become so used to seeing my grandparents love for one another that I didn’t appreciate the significance of their unity until it was pointed out to me.

My grandparents haven’t had a perfect marriage – but they fought for each other. They have learnt to make compromises along the way, they prioritise their time with each other even if it means just sitting in each other’s presence, and they worship God together.

My favourite memory of their love and acceptance of one another is that we all know and accept that my gran cannot cook. In fact, she’s the only person I have seen successfully burn a pot of water to the point that the pot melted. But every night, my oups would hold our hands in prayer, Thank God for the food and ask that the hands that prepared the meal be blessed, and then he’d proceed to eat whatever burnt meal was put in front of us, before saying, “Thanks, Pris.”. Without fail though, every night, at 8pm when the news would come on, I’d find him in the kitchen making a coney roll with peanut butter and syrup. He never complained, always said thanks, ate his food, but also made sure to bring home fresh rolls.

I hope and pray that my marriage continues to grow, and that in 50-odd years, I can look back on our relationship and see the same sort of love shared. To do that, I trust and lean into God for his wisdom and guidance – I know that I am not without my flaws, and sometimes my own stubbornness gets in my way, so it helps having Our Father shake some sense into me. Lately, I have been reading through a new devotional aimed at couples, that I thought would be a lovely addition to your bookshelf (and marriage), especially in time for Relationship month.

Whether you’ve been married a few months or a few decades, this encouraging daily devotional will help you find quiet moments together to strengthen your faith in God and renew your love for and commitment to your spouse.

In Our Best Life Together, Joel and Victoria Osteen want to encourage you in your marriage and remind you that God brought you together to help each other succeed and to become all He created you to be. There’s no better way to experience the fulfilling marriage God intends for you than to set aside a devotional time together each day and set your minds in the right direction for a positive, happy, faith-filled marriage. When you live together in unity, you honor God and open the door for His blessings to flow into every area of your life. If you will do your part, God will do His part, and you can live in love!

I love that this devotional has been written by a husband and wife team and that it’s honest and true. Besides being married, and parenting together, my husband and I also work together for the same company, from home – this can put all sorts of pressure on a relationship because work often can’t just be left at work. Having this devotional has reminded me that no marriage is without its challenges, but it reinforces that a marriage that is centred on God is able to weather the storms.

Besides this being a fantastic daily devotional for you and your husband, I also think this may be the best gift for newly weds or perhaps for an upcoming anniversary of a friend or loved one. Too often, we just think of ourselves – how we feel, how we are impacted, and how relationship obstacles are an inconvenience for us, but having that daily habit of coming together to discuss matters of the heart, pray together and be guided by the lessons that Joel and Victoria have drawn from the bible a fantastic way to start or end the day with your significant other and only helps to strengthen the relationship.

You can purchase your copy of Our Best Life from leading book stores including CUM Books. 

Megan Kelly Botha

I’m a coffee-wielding mood reader and romance book collector who may or may not have a slight addiction to buying books. I read a variety of sub-genres within romance, including rom-coms, dark romance, and fantasy. I love sharing my thoughts on books, whether it’s through book reviews, quotes, or recommendations inspired by my current reads. Through my romance book blog, Literary Inspired, I aim to provide in-depth book reviews, curated reading recommendations, and exclusive author promotions. I’m passionate about supporting indie authors and sharing my latest book discoveries with others. When I’m not reading, you can find me cheering on my favorite football team and F1 drivers, crafting, baking with my kids or playing with my pets.

literaryinspired.com/

The post Our Best Life Together appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Love Talk is like no other communication book you’ve ever read. The fruit of years of research by two foremost relationship experts (who also happen to be husband and wife), this book forges a new path to the heart of loving conversation. You’ll begin by identifying your security need and determining your personal communication style. Then you’ll put together everything you discover to learn how the two of you can speak each other’s language like never before.

This very day, you can begin an adventure in communication that will draw the two of you closer, and closer, and closer . . . consistently, in a way that creates the depth and connection you long for in your relationship.

Love Talk includes:

• The all-new Better Love Assessment
• The secret to emotional connection
• When not to talk
• A Communications 101 primer
• Practical help for the “silent partner”

Need help kick-starting your conversations? Check out the companion men’s and women’s Love Talk workbooks, as well as Love Talk Starters.

In this book, you will be taught to speak each other’s love language like you never have before. Drs Les and Leslie Parrott, are number one New York Times bestselling authors and founders of the revolutionary Better Love Assessment (BetterLove.com). The book has been designed for use with the companion his/her Love Talk workbooks. They have segmented the book into three parts which I found so informative.

Let’s talk about talking

Communication, if used to its full advantage, holds the promise of bringing two people together to a level so profound that anyone on the outside can never truly comprehend. This book is the result of many years of research, and it will show you exactly what the authors discovered. It’s a deep and simple plan for everything a loving conversation has to offer. Drs Les and Leslie want this book to be an effective tool for any and every couple who wants to find a better way of speaking each other’s language.

More than any other measure

Couples gauge the depth of their connection by the satisfaction of their conversations but some couples routinely underestimate the importance of talking. Study after study indicates that improving your communication increases the quality of your relationship more than anything else you do. The authors also go on to explain how vital quality communication is to your relationships and show you how bad communication can spoil a good relationship. Whether a relationship sinks or swims depends on how well partners send and receive messages and how well they use their conversations to understand and be understood.

Good communication keeps the relationship alive

Time and talk are always a winning combination. Good communication requires time to talk – it simply cannot happen while you are travelling at breakneck speed. So cure your hurry sickness, take a deep breath and obey the speed limit of human connection. If you want to improve your communication you must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your conversations. Misunderstanding usually does not result from not hearing the words but from not clarifying the meaning of the words.

How you say the things you do

How you and your partner react to change makes a huge impact on your conversation. Whether you know it or not, much of your daily conversation centres on change. Negotiating change is one of the four big conversational topics every couple encounters. No matter how resistant to change a person might be, one specific type of change is always welcome. It’s a type of change that ties itself to loyalty and rather than threatening a person’s emotional security need, this kind of change actually bolsters it. Changing one’s ways to become a better person overrides even the strongest resistance to change because it brings about devotion and cultivates commitment.

Enjoy Love Talk

“A good heart and a good heart are always a formidable combination”. Words by Nelson Mandela, he could have been talking about intimate relationships. A couple who tunes into this powerful combination discovers a new depth in their conversations, a new way of connecting together. Take a moment right now to fully immerse yourself in your partner’s world. This will take just 10 minutes or so and could very well change the way you view one another.

Purchase your copy of Love Talk at leading book stores and online at CUM Books.

Ellen Manzvanzvike

My name is Ellen, I am married and a mother of 2. I hold diplomas in Marketing and Business and Industrial Administration. I’m a motivational speaker with a passion for empowering, encouraging and inspiring women.All my work is empowered by the holy spirit, who guides me and tells me what to write with the aim of soul winning.

The post Love Talk appeared first on Cup of Faith.

When I was a teenager and living with my grandparents, who are Christian missionaries and pastors, I remember being bored and having my gran point out her book shelf that was filled with theology, bible studies, and self-help books. My response was somewhat dramatic when I thought gaah, all those books are so boring and outdated. Thinking back to that time, I get it – I didn’t feel seen or heard in those books. I didn’t see our own lives represented; instead, those books detailed all these rules and guidelines to become a “good Christian,” and besides it being unattainable, those books rarely outlined the messiness of Christianity or the challenges that we face as modern Christians.

That’s where Levi Lusko gets it right.

A unique and compelling understanding of the power and the pleasure attached to God’s plans for relationships.

For better or for worse, interactions with screens are now irreversibly entangled into the fabric of our lives. We swipe right to answer calls, unlock our iPhones, respond to snaps, browse through photos, and respond to emails. With our fingertips dancing across devices, we navigate our way through life. It is now estimated that the average American pull their phone out to check it 150 times each day. That’s once every six minutes. 

For the now more than 100 Million Americans on dating apps like Tinder, swiping right is increasingly the first step towards initiating no-strings-attached sexual encounters. Sex is being stripped of any emotional or spiritual significance by successive generations and it simply viewed as a physical source of pleasure and enjoyment. All of this is a reality, the real question is at what cost?

In Swipe Right, Pastor Levi Lusko offers compelling reasons to make wise choices in matters of the heart—relationships, sex, dating, and marriage. He encourages readers to live each day knowing their present choices will immediately become part of their pasts, and that their pasts will inevitably come back to visit them in the future.

With equal parts prevention and cure, the book is not just a list of rules to live by but something to live for: God’s powerful plan for our lives. To get there we must learn how to swipe right—to live up in a left, right world—because what we do with sex and romance is truly an issue of life and death importance. 

For twelve years Levi, his wife Jennie, and their team, have put on an evangelistic purity conference called the O2 Experience. Traveling across the United States, he has appeared in three to five cities each year, bringing a fresh perspective on sex and romance, challenging thousands of teens and unmarried young adults to rise up in strength and honor. Swipe Right will broaden the discussions to include married people, those dating, and those who have racked up consequences but need to know it’s never too late to do the right thing and experience God’s best.

Levis is a Christian millennial and just like me, he is trying to figure out how to navigate this new world, because without realizing it, we are pioneers of our time. I see myself in his writing – I can relate to his thoughts, and the stories that he shares. In fact, I had a giggle that in one of his stories, he describes having a pretty bad accident which results in breaking his leg, and while he doesn’t recall much from his time in hospital, he remembered being mad because they had to cut him out of his favourite pair of jeans. It was amusing because my own husband was knocked over by a car, as a teenager, and had the exact same experience where he was absolutely livid that they cut through his favourite pair of jeans. For many years after that, he clung to those blood-stained jeans until one day, they just disappeared 😉.

I first discovered Lusko’s writing when I saw Struik Christian Media advertising his latest book called Take Back Your Life, which I immediately ordered because the description felt like it had been written for me. There was no messing around – his 40-day interactive book helped me dig deep and find what was holding me back, and encouraged me to stand in my light and follow my God-given purpose. As soon as I claimed that, life started changing and I no longer felt weighed down by my anxiety and worries.

Swipe Right was equally groundbreaking and speaks to our generation; the generation of smartphones, constant swiping, liking, and engaging. Earlier this week, I watched a documentary about OnlyFans which explores the stories of several creatives on the platform and what they’re willing to do for money, and while I don’t feel like I necessarily live with my head in the sand, my mind was utterly blown. I kept wondering whether there is any dignity left? If we’re so willing to engage in casual sex just for views, have we grown completely numb to understanding and recognizing the power in having sex?

SEX. There, I said it.

I could bet my bottom dollar that I would never have found a book on my gran’s bookshelf that even hinted at the act of sex. I mean, still to this day – 2 children later – I can’t imagine saying those 3 little letters in front of them and why? I was raised by a mom who was all too comfortable to have those awkward conversations but my grandparents are “old-school” where it’s wrong and un-Christian-like to speak of such private matters, but then it got me thinking – if we’re not talking about it, are we to blame for our youth not seeing or recognizing the importance of protecting that part of ourselves?

I tend to be the person who says no to everything; I was the good girl at school, the head girl, an A+ student, and despite having a rough upbringing, I lived my life without drugs, smoking, alcohol, and sex. I would see those things around me, but I stayed clear because I was scared of the consequences. I was SO aware of them – I knew I had a long-term plan, I knew I wanted to get married, have children, and have a badass career, and after seeing the impact that revenge porn had on one of my peers in high school, I was all too aware that you never know what the future holds and how something so private, shared between two people can turn and be used against you if you aren’t careful about who you share that with. I also remember that when I realized that my teenage boyfriend had lost his virginity at 13-years old, I was shocked, heartbroken and pretty much ready to cut all ties. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Here we were, 15 or 16-years old, and he had already shared the most intimate parts of himself with someone else when I was very much not ready for that AT ALL.

But the problem was – NO ONE WAS TALKING ABOUT! No one was there guiding teenagers and young adults on this part of life because it made everyone else uncomfortable. And that’s why Swipe Right is crucial for our current culture and generation. It’s not that God doesn’t want you to enjoy yourself – this might come as a shock, but He wants you to have AMAZING sex! That’s right – you don’t have to feel bad about yourself because you enjoy sex! But sex is intimate, and shouldn’t be stripped of any emotional or spiritual significance.

Besides the most incredible book cover (seriously, I am in love with the artwork), what this book holds is thought-provoking conversations that need to be heard and shared. It’s an amazing read and definitely, one that I feel will continue to open this discussion further.

You can purchase your copy of Swipe Right from leading book stores including CUM Books. 

Megan Kelly Botha

I’m a coffee-wielding mood reader and romance book collector who may or may not have a slight addiction to buying books. I read a variety of sub-genres within romance, including rom-coms, dark romance, and fantasy. I love sharing my thoughts on books, whether it’s through book reviews, quotes, or recommendations inspired by my current reads. Through my romance book blog, Literary Inspired, I aim to provide in-depth book reviews, curated reading recommendations, and exclusive author promotions. I’m passionate about supporting indie authors and sharing my latest book discoveries with others. When I’m not reading, you can find me cheering on my favorite football team and F1 drivers, crafting, baking with my kids or playing with my pets.

literaryinspired.com/

The post Swipe Right: Life, Death, Sex, and Romance appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Out of the many gifts in our lives that God has given us to steward, sexuality has always been one of the most difficult. The danger, of course, lies in believing that each of us is alone in figuring out answers to complex questions to relationships, singleness, sexual desire, digital relationships and more. Bronwyn Lea, author of ‘Beyond Awkward Side Hugs: Living as Christian Brothers and sisters in a sex-crazed world’ dives into the nuances of how inevitable male-female church membership and ministry contexts can be guided with biblical wisdom.

From popular teacher and writer Bronwyn Lea, a biblical invitation to healthy male-female relationships by creating a vision beyond stilted and unhelpful don’t-touch/don’t-talk rules.

When it comes to relationships between men and women in the church, we’ve got more questions than answers. How can men and women be in community when not married? Or if married, with people not our spouses? Can men and women be “just friends”? How can we date wisely and well? What does it mean to be a woman if you’re not a wife? Or a man if you’re not a husband? How can we be in healthy, close relationships if we’re single?

In Beyond Awkward Side Hugs, Bronwyn Lea lays out a biblical vision for relationships between men and women in the church. Jesus’ pattern for church living was one of family, of brothers and sisters living in intimate, healthy community with each other. Doing so calls for character and wisdom, for charting a path toward relationships that acknowledge gender but aren’t sexualized, that go beyond the awkwardness of simplistic don’t-touch/don’t-talk rules.

Rooted in Scripture and attested by personal and pastoral stories, Beyond Awkward Side Hugs is an invitation to relationship theology that moves beyond unhealthy, eroticized, fear-based patterns and toward gendered, generous relationships between men and women of character, loving one another as Jesus did.

Lea has worked a significant portion of her adult life – 20 years – for church and has a number of experiences and conversations she uses to reflect upon in the book. In fact, she states that the issue of sexuality in relationships is ‘an unavoidably central part of how we live out the Gospel.’ She later links this to the important, broader concept of stewardship: sexuality, she explains, should be handled as a gift. Christians should be careful – as with all gifts – to avoid misuse and abuse.

Does careful stewardship then, call for a myriad of complex rules dictating who, what, when, where and how? For example, there has probably never been a Christian dating discussion in history that has not included the ‘how far can we go physically?’ question. Human nature tends to look for rules to guide choices but Lea points out that rules alone will never be enough to keep us from temptation. The answer to some questions about boundaries is much better answered with ‘it depends.’ With nuanced maturity, Lea explains that discernment, prudence and wisdom are far more important than simple rules. She quotes more than once in the book from Colossians 2:20-23: “Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”

‘Beyond Awkward Side Hugs’ is not a book for someone looking for hard and fast extra-biblical rules about dating. Rather, read this book if you are looking to deepen a grace-orientated discussion on gender relationships in a church where we are the family of Christ.

Get your copy of Beyond Awkward Side Hugs from CUM Books, here. 

About the Author: Bronwyn Lea has been active for twenty years in vocational ministry to serve, encourage, teach, and mobilize Christians of all ages. A graduate of law school and seminary, she ministers in her local church and also heads up Propel Sophia, the Christian living wisdom resource for Propel Women. Bronwyn is mom to three school-aged kids, who keep her somewhere between hilarious laughter and desperate prayer on any given day. She and her fellow South African husband live in Northern California, where they count the men and women in their church as both friends and family. Learn more at www.bronlea.com

Kate Walsh

Kate is the current owner and editor of Cup of Faith. She is a blogger who loves Jesus, loves to read, and currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband.

The post Beyond Awkward Side Hugs Review appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Francine Rivers has returned to her romantic roots in her latest book, The Masterpiece, which follows two main characters named Roman and Grace. Roman is an artist with a troubled past who uses anger as a weapon and builds walls to make sure he doesn’t get hurt again, while Grace is a struggling single mom who tries hard to please others even if that results in harming herself.

In the beginning, you might think that this is a simple girl meets boy story, but just like Redeeming Love surprised me, you soon find that there is so much more to this story! Francine Rivers does an incredible job of giving all her characters great depth by focusing on their individual struggles and the role God plays in their lives. Francine Rivers is great at adding mystery to each of her stories, in a way that encourages you to keep turning the pages, often leading me to put everything off until after I finish the book (I have had to put a strict rule on myself to get work done before I can read anymore, as I just wasn’t getting anything done!).

It is worth mentioning that a lot of people have mentioned that this particular book felt well-researched, as it covers sensitive topics like childhood trauma, drug use, single motherhood, as well as exploring what the life of a graffiti artist is like.

[rcno-reviews id=9755 ]

Megan Kelly Botha

I’m a coffee-wielding mood reader and romance book collector who may or may not have a slight addiction to buying books. I read a variety of sub-genres within romance, including rom-coms, dark romance, and fantasy. I love sharing my thoughts on books, whether it’s through book reviews, quotes, or recommendations inspired by my current reads. Through my romance book blog, Literary Inspired, I aim to provide in-depth book reviews, curated reading recommendations, and exclusive author promotions. I’m passionate about supporting indie authors and sharing my latest book discoveries with others. When I’m not reading, you can find me cheering on my favorite football team and F1 drivers, crafting, baking with my kids or playing with my pets.

literaryinspired.com/

The post The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers appeared first on Cup of Faith.

After falling in-love with Redeeming Love, I was eager to tuck into another book by the outstanding Francine Rivers, and thanks to my collaboration with Luchae from My Spreadsheet Brain and CUM Books, we settled on Bridge to Haven as our next read. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to finish the book yet (we were travelling when mine arrived, and since getting back have been drowning in work!) So, instead of writing a full review, I figured I would share a little preview of what the book is about, what I am looking forward to and what other’s had to say about it. Don’t worry though, I will be sure to update my review once I have had the chance to finish reading the book.

Bridge to Haven seems to have the same theme as Redeeming Love, where the main character Abra, has faced continuous struggles right from the day she was born. Abandoned by her birth mother under a bridge, Abra’s life was saved by Pastor Zeke who adopts her but following the death of his wife, Pastor Zeke sends Abra to live with family which leads to Abra feeling dejected, confused and alone. She is then enticed by a man to run off to Hollywood where she pursues life as an actress – but at what cost?

The story is based on ‘The Return of the Prodigal Son,’ which fills me with all sorts of excitement. I really like how Francine Rivers takes Bible Stories that we THINK we know and then retells them in a way that is easily applicable to life today, and adds little details that we might never have considered.

Personally, reading her books has been a great way of opening my mind when reading The Bible, as previously, I feel like I almost put a bit of distance between me and the stories we read in the Bible, as I sometimes struggle to process the significance of each retelling and see how the same stories might play out in life today. Francine Rivers paints with words in a way that makes me really look at the lessons in each story, which I have come to appreciate and love about her books.

[rcno-reviews id=9774 ]

Megan Kelly Botha

I’m a coffee-wielding mood reader and romance book collector who may or may not have a slight addiction to buying books. I read a variety of sub-genres within romance, including rom-coms, dark romance, and fantasy. I love sharing my thoughts on books, whether it’s through book reviews, quotes, or recommendations inspired by my current reads. Through my romance book blog, Literary Inspired, I aim to provide in-depth book reviews, curated reading recommendations, and exclusive author promotions. I’m passionate about supporting indie authors and sharing my latest book discoveries with others. When I’m not reading, you can find me cheering on my favorite football team and F1 drivers, crafting, baking with my kids or playing with my pets.

literaryinspired.com/

The post Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers came highly recommended by Luchae from My Spreadsheet Brain, and was the first book to start me off on a new obsession with reading every Francine Rivers book that I can get my hands on. Luchae’s enthusiasm for sharing Francine Rivers books is what inspired us to collaborate with CUM Books to review 3 different Francine Rivers’ books over the next month, and the best part? We’re giving away 2 hampers for you to enjoy too!

Redeeming Love is a historical romance novel set in the 1850s Gold Rush, in California and is inspired by the Book of Hosea from the Bible. Sold into prostitution as a child, Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal, even when she’s confronted by a nice man named Michael Hosea, who only wishes to obey God’s call to marry her, and to love her unconditionally. What I personally loved about this book, is the realness of Angel who is stubborn, hurt and lost. Slowly, Michael manages to break through her walls, despite her resistance. Only, she’s left confronted by her overwhelming feelings of unworthiness, shame and fear. So, she runs back to what she knows and away from her husband’s pursuing love, until she learns her healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does…the One who will never let her go.

This book is very raw and real, there are parts that had me giggling at her sheer stubbornness to fight Michael’s determined love (often, it made me think of my own stubbornness to accept God’s love) and I was left entertained by the dialogue and banter between the friends that Angel makes. But then there are parts that had me swallowing back the tears, especially when Angel is confronted by her past and the feeling of being unworthy.

Francine Rivers does an incredible job of painting with words, from the way she describes the Gold Rush and the simplicity of life back then, to the interactions between the characters. She is also exceptional at detailing the emotional baggage that Angel carries with her and the snowball effect that it has on her life.

It’s a beautiful and captivating read, and one I struggled to put down. Seriously, I found myself looking forward to load-shedding because it meant I could lie down with my book for a few hours without any interruptions. There are not enough nice words in the world to describe how much I love this book – it’s one that I will definitely reread in a few years, knowing that I am bound to continue to fall in love with the many different messages and lessons about God’s unfailing love that this book captures so well.

If you’re looking for a romantic novel that’ll hit you in the feels (like Me Before You) while also being left gobsmacked by God’s compassion and grace, then this is a read you’ll love!

It is also worth mentioning that there are two versions of the book, the earlier version (1991) is said to be very graphic, so it was later republished in 1997 to remove certain scenes and foul language (regardless, this book might be triggering if you’re sensitive to rape, depression or thoughts of suicide.) 

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Megan Kelly Botha

I’m a coffee-wielding mood reader and romance book collector who may or may not have a slight addiction to buying books. I read a variety of sub-genres within romance, including rom-coms, dark romance, and fantasy. I love sharing my thoughts on books, whether it’s through book reviews, quotes, or recommendations inspired by my current reads. Through my romance book blog, Literary Inspired, I aim to provide in-depth book reviews, curated reading recommendations, and exclusive author promotions. I’m passionate about supporting indie authors and sharing my latest book discoveries with others. When I’m not reading, you can find me cheering on my favorite football team and F1 drivers, crafting, baking with my kids or playing with my pets.

literaryinspired.com/

The post Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers appeared first on Cup of Faith.