Covenant Child by Terri Blackstock

A masterfully written retelling of the story of the Prodigal Son told through the eyes of the prodigal child.
When Amanda meets Jack, a quirky widower with an adorable set of red hear twins, she figures that her life is complete. Little does she know that their paradise will soon change and that the everything she holds dear will be ripped from her hands. Through it all, she must learn to trust in the Lord and the message He gives her through Scripture.
Raised by their grandparents, who squander the money given to them to raise the girls, Kara and Lizzie grow up feeling like worthless trash. When they find out the truth about who they are and the inheritance that is theirs, the girls have a choice to make. Continue to live in the life their grandparents has taught them or to make something of themselves.
I thought this was beautifully written, though the ending was a bit abrupt. The way the story is written from Kara's perspective keeps you engrossed and on the edge of your seat. This story will tug at your heart strings and make you look more compassionately on those around you who seem not to make the best decisions, since it reminds one that you don't know what a person's walk has been like. Only God can see the heart and change it.
I give this novel a four and a half out of five.

Garden of Madness

When King Nebuchadnezzar goes mad, his family is left to run the kingdom and keep usurpers from the throne.
Tiamut, the King's daughter has waited for seven long years to see her father restored in health and mind. She is the only one in her family who makes an effort to reach out to the King, working to try to bring him back.
When one of the King's advisers is found dead in the garden, Tiamut works to find out the truth. Could the death of her husband be connected to the murder in the garden?
This is an excellent story of light conquering the darkness, a call to come out of Babylon. I love that the author uses the Jewish character, Pedaiah, to remind us that we are all "children of chaos" who have been saved from a life of sin through Christ Jesus. His struggle to not be polluted by the culture he is exiled in is admirable, but he has to learn a lesson that most of us need to: that all are sinners and yet loved by God. If you like reading about Spiritual warfare, this is the book for you. The story is a rich historical novel about the reign of Nebuchadnezzar and his Hanging Gardens.