Rob Seabrook

Rob Seabrook

Author of Beneath the Tamarisk Tree

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Category: Bible Study

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…

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…

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…

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,…

Christmas Uncut – Carl Laferton

Christmas Uncut presents a less sugar-coated version of the Christmas story than we might normally see or hear, explaining what actually happened when Jesus…

Dawn – Mark Miller

This is a detailed, hour by hour account, of all that happened from Jesus’s death on the cross to his Resurrection, taking its cues…

Nehemiah For You – Eric Mason

This is an excellent study of the book of Nehemiah. It begins with some helpful background as to how the book of Nehemiah fits…

Revelation Explained – K.J. Soze

Despite the introduction recommending that the reader prepares by reading the first book, The Message For The Last Days, I decided to launch in…

Recent Reads

  • The Steady Work of Love – Rodica Musgrave
  • 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

rob_seabrook

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

BOOK REVIEW - The Steady Work of Love by Rodica Mu BOOK REVIEW - The Steady Work of Love by Rodica Musgrave

This is a special collection of poems. They are written with the intention of helping the reader to slow down, something we now seem to have to try to do intentionally. And if you allow time and space for these words to minister to your soul, then you will reap the rewards.

Each poem seems to work to push the reader towards deeper thought, deeper relationship and intimacy with God. There is no hurry in the reading, with the strong rhythm in most of the pieces bringing its own melody. Each also has its own emotions. Some are quite prayerful, offering a calming and gentle perspective.

Technically they seem well written, although I am no expert in this area. But nothing in them either grates or feels awkward. They have that crafted feel to them that good poetry needs to effortlessly flow.

A favourite is a short poem called My King, which simply tells of how and why God is our Lord and Saviour. It is beautiful in its simplicity. And a poem called The Gift, about God's love, which is a thoughtful and precious reminder of what we have been given. Both of these poems deserve to be returned to on a regular basis.

The book groups poems into themes that have clearly inspired the author, allowing the reader to spend a bit of time accompanying her on her explorations.

The author has a subtle use of language, each line carefully crafted, which on learning that English is her second language brings even more marvel, as does learning that this is her first published collection. I look forward to reading more of them.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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@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.
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