When authors write a fictional account of stories from the Bible I am mildly intrigued. With this author, I knew I would be getting a story very close to the original found in the Bible. I did not recognize some of the names which had me scrambling for my own Bible. Nestled in the pages were the names I seem to have never studied. That is what makes this story so dear to me. I not only had my Bible open but I was learning new things I had never seen before. The author does an excellent job of bringing the story to life with scriptures from the Bible.
I have always loved reading about Moses and really liked that the author included his powerful speech. Now we see his time drawing near and younger people stepping in to continue his journey. There are some subject matter in the book that was hard to read, but during this time there was evil everywhere. Men wanted to be kings and rule over lands . They took young girls as slaves and forced them into a life of deceit and lies.
I was most interested in Acsah and Jonathan. Jonathan is familiar to me but Acsah is not. Her story was one I wanted to follow closely as she travels with others to cross a river that is dangerous. There is much wisdom to gain as you read this epic journey.
The story is a page turner and once again I found myself back in Biblical times where faith was tested . To witness the people as they heard who would take them across the river was powerful. Did anyone have doubts in their mind or did they trust in their faith to follow the one chosen to lead them? I haven’t touched on everyone in the story so you can discover the gifted writing of the author as she brings their voices to life and share their trials. I loved the story and hope we have more books from this author.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

This is fascinating biblical fiction that covers the time when the Israelites were about to cross the Jordan River into Canaan. Their many years of wandering in the desert were about over and several different characters give voice to their thoughts and feelings during this eventful time. People who are familiar with the Holy Bible will know these stories and author C.L. Smith combines scripture with her fictional account to enlighten us even more. I was especially intrigued with the march around Jericho and Rahab's introduction to the spies sent by Joshua but the reminder that Moses would never enter the Promised Land was especially poignant to me, as were his efforts to remind the people of their need to always obey God!

A River to Cross is the second book of The Stones of Gilgal series and it is apparent that Smith devoted a lot of time and effort into the research of this book. I highly recommend it to all who enjoy Biblical fiction.

I received a copy of this book from the author via Celebrate Lit. There was no obligation to write a favorable review. These are my own opinions. ( )

“The point I want to make now, however, is that we must wait for God to call us to leadership. Perhaps, my impetuous act delayed the rescue of God’s people by forty years. When we do what makes sense to us without consulting him, we usually deceive ourselves and go contrary to his will. God will use you someday for something great, something worthy of your talents. Wait for him to make the path clear to you.”

Through The Stones of Gilgal series, C.L. Smith has become another one of my favorite Biblical fiction authors. What I love most about the genre is that, when done well, it provides insight into some of the background of the Bible, illuminating the customs and cultural practices of the era and hopefully leading to further understanding of God’s Word. Sometimes reading the Bible stories that have become so familiar to us in a fictional context can cause us to consider details that we may not have before, and to truly connect with the Biblical figures, considering their emotions and reactions anew. This, in turn, helps us to make connections with others in the world around us, which is increasingly important in these days of division and unrest. Most importantly of all, these fictional works should point us back to and renew our desire for the Bible itself.

Book two of The Stones of Gilgal, “A River to Cross”, focuses on the Israelites as they prepare to enter Canaan, the land of milk and honey that the Lord has promised them as their inheritance. However, the times are anything but easy. Following “Balaam’s Curse”, the Midian war has left a scar on the Israelite tribes, and there is foreshadowing of more trouble to come. Author Smith engages readers with Joshua’s promotion to leader and the wicked Canaanite city of Jericho, offering with meticulous detail her interpretation of how these stories may have transpired. She does so while retaining the historical authenticity of each story, often incorporating Scripture quotations directly into the text, and making each encounter exciting and interesting.

As with book one, “A River to Cross” consists of multiple viewpoints, which are designated by the character’s name at the beginning of each section. The first three chapters, especially, introduce (or re-introduce) a multitude of figures, and I will admit that I did have difficulty with this initially. I had some difficulty keeping track of the more minor characters and would have benefited from a character list at the beginning of the book or even a genealogy. I am not skilled with remembering names, however, so this may just be my own personal issue, and I do appreciate that Smith employs third-person narration throughout, which helps to prevent confusion. She also skillfully interweaves direct Scripture into the narrative, as with Moses’ farewell speeches. Reading about the emotional reaction that the people had when Moses announced that Joshua would be the one leading them across the Jordan was eye-opening. I do not think that I have ever really considered the emotional impact that this and other situations had. Likewise, my heart went out to Acsah and Jonathan as I read. My favorite part of this book is the story of Joshua’s spies, Salmon and Jathniel, and Rahab, and how God worked in their circumstances to save them from destruction. Of the three, Rahab’s story is especially powerful.

While this book can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading the series in order, as they are intended to be read in tandem, and the characters and storyline overlap and continue forward. This is a clean book, but I would recommend it for mature readers because it contains adult themes, including allusions to rape, fight scenes, and brutality. Nevertheless, it depicts how God is always working behind the scenes of our lives, just as He was for the children of Israel thousands of years ago, to bring us hope and a future as He promised.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own. ( )

Be strong and courageous

Two choices before you today - two paths - one leading to blessings the other to curses.

This second book in the Stones of Gilgal brings the time of the Israelite wanderings to a close. There are many changes and very much to learn for those that have grown up in the wilderness. New leaders emerge bringing a new generation to the forefront. The story of Rahab is told from her perspective, something which gives the reader a look into the world of those about to be conquered. The author has obviously done a great deal of research into what life was like at that time.

Disobedience blocks the blessings of God, but in His mercy, He always responds with new plans. Since Moses was disobedient and cannot enter the promised land, he uses those last days to teach the people about Jahweh and the importance of following His commands. It is always fascinating to imagine how it must have been to live during those Bible stories you know so well. I am looking forward to the next book in the series as we know the story does not end here.

This digital copy was received through Mountain View Press and CelebrateLit. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited. ( )