Friday, December 30, 2011

Welcome to My Blog

Welcome to my book review blog. I read Christian fiction & Christian nonfiction. I post my honest reviews on Amazon, GoodReads and this newly added blogspot. Look for Irene’s Christian Reviews.

One of my favorite books from this past year was Beyond the Rapids written by Evelyn Puerto.  I have included that review today.

This book will change the way you think about your religious freedom. In Beyond the Rapids, author Evelyn Puerto, tells the story of the Brynza family. Their life in the Ukraine is an amazing story of courage and perseverance.

I am sure most of you have read stories about people lives that are just full of dates and facts. This book is nothing like that! The children of the Brynza family help retell the story of their family. First there is the daughter Lena. She retells incidents in her life that show the faithfulness of the Lord. She shows how her parents’ influence changed her outlook on life and her future relationship with the Lord.

The oldest child of the Brynza family, Yakov, also retells events that helped shape his future. He recounts the prayers of his mother that kept him safe and many different times he felt the Lords presence with him. Both other sons and the son in law also retell events that shaped their future.

Through this book you will see how the father, Alexei Brynza, was a real man of God that stood for what he believed in during some tumultuous times. Through is wife, Valentina, you will be encouraged that prayer does work. You will learn through the stories of the children what faithful, loving and Godly parents they were.

The Brynza family story is one that will encourage you daily. No matter your circumstances or family situations you can remain faithful to the Lord and his Word. They were not a perfect family or one that did everything right but they remained faithful to the best of their ability. The Lord rewards those that follow him and this book tells the story of a family that deserves to be admired. May we all remain faithful and pass on to our children the legacy of the Brynza family, living for the Lord no matter our circumstance.

I would highly recommend this book for families to read together. This would be a perfect family devotional book for parents with Jr. High and High School age children. There is much to be discussed and your family will grow together and in the Lord as you follow the Brynza’s family struggle to stay true to Him.


I am currently reading Sticks and Stones by Joyce Schneider, Be Happy for God's Sake by Mona Khan, and The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge by Tony Dungy.  Look for these reviews soon.  You can also follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/irenesreviews.