Rob Seabrook

Rob Seabrook

Author of Beneath the Tamarisk Tree

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Category: Recent Reads

Into The Wilderness – Nicky Heymans

Writing Biblical fiction has the challenge that the reader will likely already know the story, so there is not much scope for keeping the…

Four Windows, One Jesus – Chad Colter

Chad has created an interesting approach in this devotional, by creating 40 commentaries on New Testament passages (and so an ideal Lent companion), with…

Meaningless Without Love – JQ Botes

JQ is clearly a man who has fallen in love. He writes from a point of view of knowing, deep down, how, why and…

Awakening The Light – Natasha Woodcraft

This is a change of direction for Natasha, showing her versatility and depth of authoring skills, writing here for a new audience, the young…

The White Line – JS Helms

Most of the time, none of us like being told what to do, especially when we really don’t have a heart for it. This…

Shooting Up – Jonathan Tepper

This is an important book. A memoir of Jonathan’s unusual childhood, his parents having been called to serve the drug addicts in Madrid in…

Buddy the Goat Makes a Friend and Teaches How to Share – Logan and Hayley Hall

Introducing children to books and reading, from a very early age, is profoundly beneficial for developing their language skills, for raising their curiosity and…

Sensible Shoes – Sharon Garlough Brown

Some books are easy to dip in and out of, to pick up and read to fill a few moments here and there. Sensible…

Review of Mrs Legume's Story by Heather Ross

Mrs Legume’s Story – Heather Ross

This is a charming story, written with a clear message to honour God in all that we do, especially in our work. Mrs Legume…

Dear Judas – James Finke

I found myself researching Near Death Experiences (NDE) quite deeply when writing my novel, Beneath the Tamarisk Tree. It seemed to me that an…

Tell Them I’m Real – Arnold V Page

This is a delightful account of how God walks side by side with us through the ups and downs, through the every-day and the…

Pilgrim’s Progress Re-Walked – Shawn P. Robinson

This is a slightly unusual one to review – the book, Pilgrim’s Progress is of course a classic, timelessly presenting a journey of faith,…

Untaken For Now – C O Wyler

This fourth and final instalment in the “Untaken” series covers the 12 months after the Rapture. The now well-known characters endure the first year…

The Gospel Gallery – Benjamin Stephan

The Gospel Gallery explores the divine narrative of redemption that is woven throughout the Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi. Through this collection of…

Releasing Janet – Alex Banwell

On the surface this may look like an ordinary, unremarkable family. But this story highlights that nobody is ordinary. Everyone has a rich and…

The Little Liar – Mitch Albom

This is an exceptional book. It deals with the difficult topic of the holocaust, not holding back on the horrors. Not in any graphic…

I Choose Joy – Chip Ingram

This book is centred around a lovely quote from C.S. Lewis, that I had not come across before, but one that certainly deserves some…

Pets for Legion – Shawn D Brink

We have possibly all read the Gospel passages and asked questions like : what happened to the legion of demons when the pigs leaped…

Untaken Three – C O Wyler

This concept continues to fascinate me, offering a view of what the world would look like after the Rapture. With all believers gone, all…

Silent No More – Christine Kohler

Christine is clearly a skilled technical poet, which she couples with the ability to select beautifully crafted words and a deep understanding of the…

Sins of Fathers – Michael Emmett

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting Michael while we were both guests on the same podcast, Things Unseen, talking about…

The Language of Rivers and Stars – Seth Lewis

Seth rightly points out that for many people, being in the natural world, surrounded by beauty, is often a way for us to feel…

The Veil – Blake Healy

This is a book that is so far from anything I have read before, so profoundly revelatory, that it brings about a complete change…

Where the Light Fell – Philip Yancey

Philip’s book, What’s So Amazing About Grace, is one of the first Christian books I read. A classic that opens up truths about the…

Understanding Trauma – Dr Steve Midgley

With the particular focus on helping us as churches to understand how trauma can affect individuals, this is a practical resource that will help…

Just Benny – Alex Banwell

Just Benny is a story of reconciliation, and how the power of love can break in to repair brokenness, especially in relationships. Initially the…

Bound by Blood – Shawn D Brink

Firstly, let me address the issue of the genre that this book finds itself in, that of ‘Christian horror’, as I am not sure…

The Folded Lie – Mary Graf

Fraud and scams can happen to anyone, whoever we are, whatever our beliefs and however clever or educated we think we are, and it…

Finding Jesus in the Wilderness – Rachel Yarworth

For those who find themselves in the midst of a wilderness season, who need a dose of friendly encouragement, some truths spoken over them…

Keep On Keeping On – Mark Rutland

“This book is not for the young,” Mark Rutland declares, jokingly. He is right, kind of. It is for the older generation to read…

Nun’s Drift – Sheila Jacobs

A delightful novel, set in the typically English village of Nun’s Drift. It follows the stories of four individuals, across a year in village…

The Grace Note – Jaqi Anderson

This is a delightfully written book, following the story of five main characters whose lives are unknowingly intertwined, but brought together by circumstances and…

And the Truth Shall Set You Free – Nikki Nhyira

The point of this book is to help others. To share on a subject that is so important for us to be educated about….

The Stranger – Joy Margetts

Once again, Joy delights the reader with some great storytelling, immersing us in the medieval world of monasteries and monks. Although this novel is…

The Songs of a Sinner – Norm Cairns

This is a short collection of poems, mostly written in the form of sonnets, inspired by the author’s faith. Some is based on Biblical…

The Perfect Companion – Jo Sheringham

No one has an ordinary life. What from the outside may look like a mundane existence or an uneventful life, discounts the individual. It…

Untaken Too – C O Wyler

Untaken Too is the sequel to Untaken, which I reviewed here at the start of last yar. This instalment now follows the next 12…

Deep Roots, Good Fruit – Kristin Elizabeth Couch

In the Bible, the book of Galatians has that well known passage “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,…

The Supernaturals and the Miracle Dream – Andy Robb

This is a book that will encourage children, probably in Christian families, that life as a Christian, following Jesus, is a life full of…

He Is Faithful in Every Season – Julia Rose

A lovely selection of uplifting poems, with each one encouraging the reader to reach into a deeper relationship with God. Some are like Psalms,…

Light Through the Cracks – Joanna Watson

Light Through the Cracks is a compilation of ten true stories, from ordinary people who have seen the miraculous touch of God working through…

The Pale-Faced Girl – Cath Hensby Worboys

With the guidance of the pale-faced girl, Jack finds himself on a quest to uncover the dark forces that threaten to bring danger to…

Polished Arrows – Jenny Sanders

Polished Arrows poses the question “what does it take to become a ready arrow in God’s hands?” An arrow that is intentionally formed and…

Vice Cop To Vicar – Derrick and Ann Wilks

This is the extraordinary story of Derrick’s career and family life, detailing his time in the UK police force, exposure to some of the…

Highway 35 – Chris and Denise Arthey

With a move to Texas, Chris and Denise had the chance to fulfil a lifelong dream – a motorcycle road trip across the USA….

The Fall of Lucifer – Wendy Alec

This is not my usual sort of read, but I had been told a while ago that some of my own writing reminded the…

Thank God it’s Monday – Mark Greene

The topic of work – how we see it, how we can use it, how we can be a part of God’s Kingdom and…

Braver – Deborah Jenkins

This is lovely, gritty novel, focusing on characters who experience tough circumstances and difficult lives. It is well written, switching between the stories of…

Practicing the Way – John Mark Comer

Discipleship means different things to different people, often with unhelpful connotations. But stay with me. This book is about being a disciple, which John…

The Divine Proverb of Streusel – Sara Brunsvold

Another delightful novel from Sara Brunsvold. This is a story of Nikki, who suffers what can be best described as a relationship crisis –…

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Recent Reads

  • Into The Wilderness – Nicky Heymans
  • Four Windows, One Jesus – Chad Colter
  • Meaningless Without Love – JQ Botes
  • Awakening The Light – Natasha Woodcraft
  • The White Line – JS Helms
  • Shooting Up – Jonathan Tepper
  • Buddy the Goat Makes a Friend and Teaches How to Share – Logan and Hayley Hall
  • Sensible Shoes – Sharon Garlough Brown
  • Mrs Legume’s Story – Heather Ross
  • Dear Judas – James Finke

rob_seabrook

Author of Beneath the Tamarisk Tree, a fictional take on the miraculous story of the Penitent Thief. Christian book reviews.

BOOK REVIEW - Into The Wilderness by @nicky_heyman BOOK REVIEW - Into The Wilderness by @nicky_heymans_author 

Writing Biblical fiction has the challenge that the reader will likely already know the story, so there is not much scope for keeping the reader guessing about the ending. So one of the tricks is to find a new perspective of a very old story.

This story is the Exodus, with Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and into the desert on their difficult journey towards the Promised Land. Nicky takes the reader through the well-known events through the eyes of Joshua, who at this stage is still Moses' servant, friend and protector.

As such, we can accompany Joshua on his journey of maturity and learning, as he comes to grow in faith and confidence. He is discovering what it means to follow, to lead and, ultimately, to have faith when there are very few obvious answers.

And that is where I think this book works particularly well. Through Joshua’s eyes we can experience the astonishing events of the Exodus, the miracles and the disasters. His place in a wider extended family offers us the chance to consider what the events may have felt like and how they impacted the day to day lives in the camp. We see how they handled the danger, doubt and conflict, alongside moments of humour, friendship and genuine tenderness. We see how extraordinary and difficult the Exodus must have been for those who actually experienced it....

Read the full review at www.robseabrook.com (link in Bio).

#bookstagram #bookreview #bookblogger #newbooks #christianbookstagram #instareads #christianbooks #newchristianbooks #christian #biblical #christianbooksstore #christianfiction #recentreads #christianbookclubs @mdpublishing 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, but was under no pressure to provide a favourable review.
BOOK REVIEW : Meaningless Without Love by jqbotes BOOK REVIEW : Meaningless Without Love by jqbotes 

JQ is clearly a man who has fallen in love. He writes from a point of view of knowing, deep down, how, why and how much he is loved by God. And so in reading this book you will discover, or rediscover, exactly what it means to be loved by God.

It is solid Biblical teaching, drawing on wider Bible references, hinged on the phrase in 1 John 4:8 “…God is love.” If that is what God is, then it is key for us to understand it.

Initially the book walks the reader gently through that lovely passage in 1 Corinthians 13:4- 8 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (NIV).

A chapter on each is much more than a Bible study, it is a deep dive into what each phrase really means ...

Read the full review at www.robseabrook.com (link in Bio).

#bookstagram #bookreview #bookblogger #newbooks #christianbookstagram #instareads #christianbooks #newchristianbooks #christian #biblical #christianbooksstore #recentreads #christianbookclubs

I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author, but was under no pressure to provide a favourable review.
BOOK REVIEW - Awakening The Light by @natasha.wood BOOK REVIEW - Awakening The Light by @natasha.woodcraft 

This is a change of direction for Natasha, showing her versatility and depth of authoring skills, writing here for a new audience, the young adult reader.

A fantasy novel set in a world that is centred around an Eternal Light, there is a new darkness emerging, bringing with it an atmosphere and actions that are not of the light. We see one family who recognise it for what it is, evil, and the story unfolds as they begin to work against the evil forces at play. Each of the young people has their own skills and begin to learn giftings that enable them to battle in new ways, finding new depths of strength and resilience.

An important factor for this audience is to have believable and engaging characters, which this manages well. The young people come with their own strengths, doubts and worries, and discover new depths to their abilities as they are deeply tested.

To me, another key to the fantasy genre is effective “world building” …

Read the full review www.robseabrook.com (link in Bio)

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, but was under no pressure to provide a favourable review.

#bookstagram #bookreview #bookblogger #newbooks #christianbookstagram #instareads #christianbooks #newchristianbooks #christian #recentreads #fantasybooks #youngadultbooks @broadplacepublishing
What if the thief on the cross beside Jesus could What if the thief on the cross beside Jesus could tell his story?

In Beneath the Tamarisk Tree, Dismas, the penitent thief, awakens in heaven, overwhelmed by grace and struggling to understand how a life marked by pain and failure could have lead him here.

As he walks with Jesus and reflects on his past, long-buried wounds begin to surface. Through these moments, he discovers the depth of forgiveness, the power of redemption, and the truth that no life is beyond God’s reach.

This moving Christian novel offers a deeply personal and imaginative glimpse into one of the Bible’s most powerful encounters, revealing a message of hope, healing and unconditional love.

A faith-filled story of grace, redemption, and second chances, exploring forgiveness, mercy, and God’s love. Perfect for readers of Francine Rivers and Karen Kingsbury.

A reflective, uplifting read for those who enjoy meaningful Christian fiction.

Get it free now on Kindle Unlimited, available for 5 days only.

Find out more here https://www.robseabrook.com/ or download from Amazon Kindle Unlimited now.

#freebooks #bookgiveaway #bookstagram #christianbookstagram #instareads #christianbooks #christian #biblical #christianfiction #christianbookclubs @mdpublishing @md.fiction
BOOK REVIEW - The White Line by JS Helms Most of BOOK REVIEW - The White Line by JS Helms

Most of the time, none of us like being told what to do, especially when we really don’t have a heart for it. This is clear in the Bible story of Jonah, who is told by God to preach a message of repentance to the people of Nineveh, who then have the audacity to listen to him and respond to it, making Jonah even more cross.

The White Line is a modern day retelling of the story of Jonah, covering the same principles, the same challenges and the same responses, in a context that makes them more accessible.

It is the story of a minister, Jonas, who is asked to reach out in a prison to death row inmates, people who have committed crimes similar to the one he and his family were victims of. Like Jonah, he refuses, but despite a “whale-like” near-death experience, he cannot run from God.

This is a new genre for me, which I very much enjoyed. It does not replace or re-write the Bible story. It stays true to it, helping to explain the depth of mercy and grace of God in a context that is going to be easier to understand for many readers. It still packs the same punch at the end, showing that despite what we feel, God has a depth of compassion that we simply cannot fathom and we have no right to judge Him or others.

It is a well written fast-paced story, no need for it to be longer than it has to be to get the message across. I could see it being a helpful tool to read alongside the story of Jonah, to support the key Bible learnings.

I received an advance complimentary copy of this book from the author via BookSirens, but was under no pressure to provide a favourable review.

#bookstagram #bookreview #bookblogger #newbooks #christianbookstagram #instareads #christianbooks #newchristianbooks #christian #biblical #christianbooksstore #christianfiction #recentreads #christianbookclubs
BOOK REVIEW - Shooting Up by Jonathan Tepper This BOOK REVIEW - Shooting Up by Jonathan Tepper

This is an important book. A memoir of Jonathan’s unusual childhood, his parents having been called to serve the drug addicts in Madrid in the 1980’s as Christian missionaries. His home life was soon shared with addicts, exposed to their chaotic lifestyles, criminality and pain, more so when the community was then consumed by the AIDS epidemic. The hope that he and his family brought into a dark world has been immeasurable. But at a cost.

The service that Jonathan’s parents have given to the vision and development of what is now Betel International is truly commendable, and in fact I would love to read their stories too...

… As a young child, Jonathan had to grow up very fast. Exposed to the lifestyle that surrounds the desperation of drug addiction, he quickly saw past the facade that often challenges our 'nice' Christian lifestyles, seeing souls as Jesus saw them, desperate people fighting the demons of addiction. Together they walked through the painful process of coming off drugs, into a place of freedom and restoration, physically and spiritually, that brought them together in deep friendships.

But in the height of the AIDS epidemic, as they begin to pass away ...

Read the full review at www.robseabrook.com (link in Bio).

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, but was under no pressure to provide a favourable review.

#bookstagram #bookreview #bookblogger #newbooks #christianbookstagram #instareads #christianbooks #newchristianbooks #christian #christianbooksstore #recentreads #christianbookclubs
@littlebrownbookgroup_uk
BOOK REVIEW - Buddy the Goat Makes a Friend and Te BOOK REVIEW - Buddy the Goat Makes a Friend and Teaches How to Share by Logan and Hayley Hall

Introducing children to books and reading, from a very early age, is profoundly beneficial for developing their language skills, for raising their curiosity and an opportunity to introduce them to foundational themes.

Well written books also offer the opportunity for listening children and reading adults to enjoy words, and this book excels at this – the rhythm and rhymes are delightful and will add to the shared reading experience.

Yes, this is a Christian book, but the underlying themes of making friends well and sharing nicely, are those that the whole world values, not just Christian parents and carers. This story will help to introduce the themes and will facilitate helpful conversations round the topics.

A key part to encourage engagement in children’s books is the illustrations – in this case they are quite charming and will allow the reader to talk around the story and initiate conversations about what is going on.

It is a good length too, certainly right for a bedtime read.

My guess is that there are more Buddy books on the way – ones to look forward to.

#bookstagram #bookreview #bookblogger #newbooks #christianbookstagram #instareads #christianbooks #newchristianbooks #christian #biblical #christianbooksstore #recentreads @buddythegoatbooks @veronicalanebooks 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, but was under no pressure to provide a favourable review.
BOOK REVIEW - Sensible Shoes by Sharon Garlough Br BOOK REVIEW - Sensible Shoes by Sharon Garlough Brown

Some books are easy to dip in and out of, to pick up and read to fill a few moments here and there. Sensible Shoes is not one of them – it deserves to be read in longer sittings, away from any other distractions, allowing the reader to immerse and let the story, the characters and the fruit of their spiritual journeys to fully permeate. To minister to your soul. And so it is written at a pace to allow this to occur.

It is a novel about spiritual formation that reads like real life. There are no grand conversions. No thunderclaps from heaven. Just four women, each with their own story that has brought them together at a retreat centre, and the slow, awkward, beautiful work of dealing with those stories and seeing God’s hand on their lives...

Read the full review at www.robseabrook.com (link in Bio).

#bookstagram #bookreview #bookblogger #newbooks #christianbookstagram #instareads #christianbooks #christian #christianbooksstore #christianfiction #recentreads #christianbookclubs @ivpbooks @ivpress
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