Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

The Weekly Read

Charmed by the past: Review of Gone South by Meg Moseley

gone southI don’t usually judge a book–for good or bad–by its cover. I’m more interested in the story summary. But let me tell you, the cover of Meg Moseley’s Gone South grabbed me before I had a chance to read an excerpt. The girl on the cover looks like she’s playing dress up, and in a way, her story is one of self-discovery.

On a whim, Tish McComb visits her family’s ancestral home in Noble, Alabama, after moving her mother to Florida. The house is for sale and Tish makes an impulsive decision to buy the place and move from Michigan with no job prospects or friends. Named after the woman whose husband built the house in the Civil War era, Tish expects to reconnect with her past in the town tied to her heritage. But she soon discovers that the name “McComb” won’t win her any friends. She adds to her ostracization by befriending Melanie Hamilton, a young girl with a troubled past whose family won’t let her back into their lives or their home. Together Tish and Mel, along with the help of local antiques dealer George Zorbas, work to prove themselves to the community and do right in the present, even if they can’t change the past.

I was almost 100 pages into this book before I realized I’d read that much. It’s charming like the South itself, and the kind of story that keeps you turning the pages to find out how it’s all going to work out. Tish, Mel and George are all likeable characters with realistic problems and reactions to life’s problems.

This was the first book of Moseley’s I’ve read and it won’t be the last.

Click here to read chapter one.

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In exchange for my review, I received a free copy of Gone South from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group through the Blogging for Books program.

A stroll through the Gospel of Luke: Review of Jesus the One and Only by Beth Moore

I enjoy Beth Moore’s group Bible studies and video series because I get an “aha!” moment out of just about every week. Her teaching reveals new insight into familiar passages, and this trade paperback version of her study of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus the One and Only, was what I expected from Moore.

jesus one and onlyThe stories of Jesus’ life can easily become commonplace in the life of a Christian. What Moore does with this study is slow us down and focus in on a scene or a chapter of Luke’s Gospel. She sets the background and through word studies of the original language gives us context into what is happening.

I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve read through Luke but while reading Jesus the One and Only, I felt like I was seeing it all for the first time.

It’s not designed like the group studies, but it’s perfect for individual study or daily devotional readings. The chapters aren’t long and you could read the portion of Luke she references as part of your daily Bible reading. I didn’t plan it that way, but another Bible reading plan I’m using is directing me toward Luke right now. So, I felt like my readings were enriched by each other.

The study is well-researched and full of insights for practical living. I would read it through again for deeper contemplation and application.

Read a sample chapter here to get an idea of the book’s style.

About the Author:
Beth Moore is a best-selling writer, teacher and founder of Living Proof Ministries. Her numerous books and Bible studies, including “A Heart Like His” (B&H Books), “Breaking Free” (B&H Books), “Believing God” (LifeWay Christian Resources), “The Patriarchs” (LifeWay Christian Resources) and “James: Mercy Triumphs” (LifeWay Christian Resources), have been read by women in Beth Moore Bible study groups all over the world. Her Living Proof Live conferences have reached women in all 50 states in the United States.

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In exchange for my review, I received a free copy of the book.