.Rise On Eagles’ Wings by Lois Kennis is this week’s Reader Friday. It’s a story that will stay with you long after you close the book. Here’s the first line: “August 1993. The sun paints a blaze of gold behind my house, promising a glorious day.”
But first the photo and verse. On Monday I received a beautiful photo with the verse on it from my friend Cheryl Meints. She took the photo in Cody Park in Platte, Nebraska. I would loved to have seen the sun come up that morning!
Now onto Rise on Eagles’ Wings
A Teen Mom, An Erratic Husband, An Unlikely Refuge
A Winner of the 2023 NYC Big Book Award
Teen mom, Talitha Joy Dahlen fights to provide a life rich in love and integrity for her two sons, but can she let go of past hurts to trust a guide she cannot see?
A bookish girl with a wry sense of humor, Talitha survives enormous loss and hardship at a tender age.
She is drawn into teen marriage to a man who isn’t an outright villain, but he’s not the hero Talitha perceives him to be either. Buddy seems more concerned with getting rich than wholeheartedly loving his children. And he’s not afraid to break the law to get what he wants.
Miss Ella, a blind woman from war-torn Liberia—extends Talitha and her sons an invitation that could lead to safe haven—if Buddy doesn’t find them first. Rise on Eagle’s Wings is the hopeful story of a young mother’s tenacity, the ever-changing definition of family, and the redemptive power of community. Set in America’s Heartland during the final decade of the twentieth century, contemporary voices intertwine with those of a pre-internet generation.
My take:
Lois Kennis’s debut novel, Rise on Eagles Wings is amazing, and a story I’ll long remember. I’m thankful the ACFW book club chose it to read this month.
Talitha’s life is turned upside down at fourteen when her father dies, but that’s not the worst thing that happens to her. Her uncle sells her to a pimp, and only by the grace of God, does she escape from that situation. But did she jump from the frying pan to the fire?
Buddy, the man who rescues her from the pimp, is not what he seems, and Talitha tries to convince herself that he is her hero. But when the safety of her children comes into question, she makes the right choice and leaves even though she has nowhere to go.
She doesn’t believe in God–after all, He took her parents and let terrible things happen to her. A chance meeting (that she later comes to see wasn’t chance at all) with Miss Ella turns her life around.
Kennis has crafted a beautiful story of Talitha’s journey from a naive teenager to a confident woman. It’s a story of hard-won battles and hope and redemption, and one that readers of Christian fiction will not want to miss.
You can buy it on Amazon or read it in Kindle Unlimited
Readers, do you belong to any book clubs? Leave your answer in the comments and/or leave the first line of the book you’re reading and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library!
March’s winner is Barbara Diggs!
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Comments 39
It was a great book. Thanks for reviewing 🙂 I’m active in several book clubs and appreciate them very much–great interaction and often Zoom interviews with the authors, etc.
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I like the bookclubs I’m in, Delores. And I read more widely than if I weren’t in them.
This sounds like an intense book. I am glad that you enjoyed it. I am not in a book club.
I just finished The Finders Keepers Library by Annie Rains.
Not all those who wander are lost.
The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
Am I at the correct address?
The photo is delightful. I’d love to be there, but maybe not at sunrise. lol More like sunset for me. It’s beautiful and peaceful.
I love your review of Rise on Eagle’s Wings. What a heartfelt story. I especially like the last paragraph you wrote. God made something beautiful out of her life.
I’ve been in one book club, but it was’t well organized, so it petered out after a few months.
“As soon as she escaped to England, Aleida van dear Zee Martens would cut her hair and have her son photographed for the first time.” This is the first line of Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin. Love Sarah’s books!!
I am not in a book club , but I love to read.
Cheryl is a great photographer. Good choice of God’s Word to go with it.
Book club? No, but I do belong to the Pat Bradley Blog Club! Best of the best!
I’m currently reading “Cold Case Target” by Jessica Patch which begins with “Beau Brighton had finally solved his first case. And not one to sneeze at either.”
I forgot to add that my cataract surgery came off with amazing results. Putting up with the unclear plastic mask was the biggest problem, but that was only for a little more than a day. Now, I only need it at night until next Wednesday. But, then I get to do it all over again with my right eye. Thank you all for your prayers.
I am glad that your surgery went well, Tim. My husband and I have that in our future.
Tim! So glad the surgery went well. I prayed for you several times! Thanks for giving us an update. I wondered if you’d be on here today.
I agree with you. I’m also in the Pat Bradley Blog Club. Absolutely the best of the best!!! 🙂
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Thanks, Barbara!
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That’s awesome about the the cataract surgery, Tim! I had my done about 10 years ago and it’s great to be able to see without glasses!
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Thank you, Tim! And yes, Cheryl is a great photographer!
Beautiful photo! Gorgeous sunrise! Perfect scripture!
I just finished Sally Jo Pitts, Sweet Deceit. Great read Sally Jo!
Tim I’m glad your cataract surgery went well, and praying the right eye surgery does also! Thanks for the update.
I am not a member of a book club but like Barbara and Tim, I’m in the Pat Bradley Blog Club. Blessed!
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Thank you, Miss Mary! And I’m glad you enjoyed Sally Jo Pitts’ book!
I love the picture and verse. Fog is no fun on the highway, but I love to see it early in the morning hovering over the nearby valleys and rivers, skimming the treetops, with the sun barely peeking through.
I am a member of that same club Tim mentioned. I’ve never participated in a book club. I started reading Facing the Enemy by DiAnn Mills last night. I think the first line has been shared here previously. We are getting ready to go out for the afternoon and evening. I had already put the book in the van before I decided to check email. If the first line hasn’t been shared, I will try to remember to share it when we get home.
First line: Twelve years ago, my younger brother fell into an abyss of drugs and alcohol.
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That also sounds intense, Edward…and I like your new photo!
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Thanks, Edward for taking the time to comment! I, too, love to see fog lifting off a lake or stream.
Congratulations to Barbara Diggs!
I enjoyed Rise on Eagles’ Wings, too! “Hard-won battles” and “hope” describes the story well.
I am reading a nonfiction book called Surviving the Storm by Roma Holley. It’s about a mother who lost her son and how God healed her. The first line: “The day began just like any other normal day around 6:45 AM.” And then her day goes downhill fast! It’s a heartrending but compelling read.
Thanks Priscilla. I somehow missed the part with my name as winner!!! Lol
It’s in small print at the bottom of the article, but it’s there! Congratulations Barbara!!
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It was fun interacting with you on the bookclub, Priscilla! Surviving the Storm sounds intense. I’m reading a nonfiction, too–Killers of the Flower Moon. I’ll be using it when I talk about using fiction tips for nonfiction writers next weekend.
Congratulations Barbara! I, too, missed that until I read Priscilla’s comments.
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It could be because I forgot to include it in the original post, Miss Mary and Barbara. lol As soon as I realized I hadn’t announced the March winner, I put the numbers in Random Dot Org and then counted the comments until I came to 117 and landed on Barbara’s comment. 🙂
not in a book club but love to read! Congrats Barbara!
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Shelia, I’ve found bookclubs a lot of fun–it’s one reason I read last week’s book by Angela Bell!
Not in a book club per say but a ladies group at church and we study books by Joyce Meyer, Charles Stanley, etc
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That’s awesome, Lucy!
I belong to a book club that meets monthly. We read mainly Christian fiction in a variety of genres.
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Sounds like my kind of bookclub, Pam!
This comes from K-9 Shield by Nichole Severn: People were–or they became–what they pretended to be. And Maggie Caddel had been pretending for a very long time. Plastic cut into the sensitive skin of her wrists. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been here.
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Oh, my, Diana! K-9 Shield sounds really good!
Fabulous photo for the scripture!
No, I don’t belong to a book club.
Sometimes death came quietly. The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater – Jaime Jo Wright
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Jaime Jo Wright can really draw the reader in, Caryl!
The picture and verse are so peaceful and looks like a great morning to be fishing!
This week’s book , Rise on Eagles’ Wings, sounds like a heartwarming story and another for my TBR list. No, I do not belong to a book club either, but also a member of Pat Bradley’s Blog Club, love it!!
Tim I have been praying for your eye surgeries, and good luck with the next one. It’s a great feeling when you put that last drop in your eyes!
I’m still reading Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble.
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Hi Ms. Dottie! I think you’d really enjoy Rise on Eagles Wings. And thank you so much for reading my blogs!!
Thank you, Ms. Dottie. The worst part of the recovery for me is having to wear the “pirate’s patch” over my eye while I sleep. I’ll be glade when that’s done. Even though the patch is “clear” plastic, it’s not clear enough to see through very well. My eye did find the holes in the patch from time to time on the first day. At least now it’s only a nightly thing.
I read “Fragile Designs” a short time ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The photo matches the opening sentence of your featured book!
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Oh, wow, I hadn’t notice that, Sally Jo!