I highly recommend this book. It is simple and easy to read and apply.

“Help me raise my children in the innocence of childhood, for to children belongs the kingdom.” Constantly hearkening to mind pieces from the Breastplate of St. Patrick, the prayers of a mother from A Mother’s Prayer build the armor around children with the fragrance of holiness. There is so much about mothering, about parenting, that is left in the painful and beautiful unknown. These prayers, echoing the words of saints, fit perfectly as a holy safety blanket from the hearts of mothers over their children. They have become the daily prayer of my heart, speaking perfectly all that I wish to say for their sake.

The illustrations are rich and evoke the fleetingness and realness of these moments in parenting, “the days are long; the years are short.” The scenery depicted reminds me with each page to do something with my kids now while I can to bring these prayers to life within them.

“A Mother’s Prayer” is a beautiful book for mothers or anyone who with children in their lives. The poetic prayers put into words our own hopes and prayers for the children we love. The heart-warming pictures portray scenes from the everyday life of caring for and loving children. This book makes a wonderful gift for anyone who cares for children and is a staple in every mother’s prayer corner.

It was with great anticipation that I received Christine Rogers’ latest book, The Lost Saint. Her previous works were wonderful and I was not disappointed with this one.

The story is set during the Siege of Rhodes in 1522 and told from the point of view of an eleven year-old boy, Marko. His own journey of coming to terms with loss, grief, and guilt is intertwined with the account of the discovery of the icon of St. Phanourios by three monks with whom he has found himself. The slow unfolding of this story is masterfully accomplished. In addition the characters are well-rounded and come to life.

The horrors of siege and battle are blunted a bit to make the book appropriate for children while not sugar-coated. Likewise the description of the martyrdom of St. Phanourios is honest without being gratuitously violent. Because the protagonist is eleven this crafting makes sense and does not feel contrived.

I’m always pleased when I see a book is thick because that means I can lose myself in the story longer! Don’t let this scare you off, though; the typesetting and layout mean the pages themselves are not packed. It’s the perfect length for a tween.

I would highly recommend The Lost Saint. Put this on your Christmas list to add to your child’s library, but don’t neglect to read it yourself. You will fall in love with the characters and the book just as I did.

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I received my copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book is such an incredible tool for mothers! Each read is a prayerful, meditative experience. Megan managed to embody the deep beauty of the church, a mother’s love for her child, and the prayers available to us in such a playful and imaginative way. I loved that it was a book that my kids cared to follow along with but it was at the same time incredibly fortifying for me. Can’t wait to have this book in my prayer corner and to gift it to all the mommas I know!

Deep in the trenches of new motherhood, I often times find prayer to be the only way to truly keep my peace and harmony in my home. Having this beautifully illustrated book as a resource for prayers that speaks to the heart of all mothers wanting to pray for their families, is truly a blessing!

Amen to "A Mother’s Prayer"! Becoming a mother was like a sobriety checkpoint in my prayer life. I suddenly realized how essential prayer was, and how poor my prayer life had been. Although with a new baby, I often came to the prayer corner tired and unable to pray. I wish this book was around all those years ago with prayers to whisper for any and every moment; prayers for my child and prayers for me too. "A Mother’s Prayer" will be a faithful companion to all mothers whether they have a newborn, teenager or an adult child. We never cease being a mother to our children and that means we never cease praying for them either. "A Mother’s Prayer" should be in every mother’s prayer corner.

The illustrations in this book are, as all of Megan’s work is, stunning! This is sure to be a treasured resource and a comfort to every Mother. Definitely looking forward to gifting this one.

A beautiful book - gives a totally different perspective to looking at life's problems. A book full of wisdom. Must read.

Hear me: A Prayer book for Orthodox young adults,
Is a must have for youth who are looking to built their spiritual life and grow in Christ. It covers various aspects of life from daily prayers to prayers during tough situations from anger and addiction to lust and worldliness. I especially loved how they incorporated the saints and their intercession with the prayers and how to call certain saints to help in certain situations. I think all Orthodox youth need to understand that power of the intercession of saints. It also covers basic concepts about orthodoxy in simple yet accurate terms. I enjoyed listening to the audio version which I believe will be a hit with today’s youth. It’s a good book to have, to listen to anytime and incorporate into the daily prayer life especially at times when I am down I can’t even voice my own requests.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is going to be a popular Christmas gift for several people in my life this year! I have already recommended it by mouth to several people, and will be purchasing it for several more. If you struggle with depression, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or life, this book is for you.

I very much appreciated Phillips’ perspective on not only what anxiety and/or other prevalent mental difficulties are, but also (in true Orthodox fashion) what to practically DO about it. While written by an Orthodox Christian, it would read well to a Protestant or Catholic just as easily. Phillips references the Church Fathers and Holy Scriptures often, and then uses the latest research to explain the concepts of mental health found in the Fathers and Scripture. He also references not only Orthodox/Catholic saints but also heroes of the faith that Protestants admire to give a picture of how to win in the fight. He also references people outside the Faith who have lived/are living lives of gratitude despite awful circumstances, and looks at the brain behind it. He makes it not only a book about gratitude, but about how you can use the struggles in your life to draw you closer to God - and HOW to do so, starting today, by changing how you view the world and everything that happens in it.

Overall, a great, insightful read! I was concerned there would be too much jargon, but he explains things well. If you’re looking for how to “be happy”, this book may help.

As a new Orthodox Christian, baptized on Pentecost of 2020, I found this book most helpful. Developing a daily prayer life and embracing the fasting/feasting rhythm of the Church are a new challenge. Along with almsgiving, these three basic practices feel like good medicine for my soul. My hope is for true Spiritual growth. I bought a copy for a friend who was recently baptized and my spiritual father ordered ten copies for our small mission church in Oklahoma. Thank you Father Evan for taking the time to write a powerful, concise book for our benefit.

Angela Doll Carlson’s book, Garden in the East, isn’t a fitness guide or a recipe book on how to stay healthy. It doesn’t provide answers on how to make our bodies behave or look the way we want them to. And it never promises to be. In fact, it is this sort of way of thinking about our body that it challenges. It discusses through beautiful and often poetic language how we must get away from thinking of our bodies as mechanical as if we only need to tune them up a bit, and all will be well. Instead, we are challenged to orient how we view our bodies by comparing it to the natural rhythms of a garden. The change of seasons, the result of neglect, the sometimes unruliness of being creatures of body and soul. I am grateful for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. That being said, there were some sections I related to more than others. I am not in the same season as the author was when she wrote it. I definitely benefitted from some widening of perspective, but it is important to note that this book is very much written based on ponderings from the author’s own life. It is clear that her experiences influence how she learns, and those stories are woven throughout the book with her thoughts and practical inspiration. This gives it a deep, personal touch. There is nothing that she writes about that she has not struggled with herself, and she does her best to lead us to the truths that gave her peace. I listened to the audiobook, and Angela Doll Carlson narrates the book herself. I found her voice created a calm, inviting atmosphere to dive deeper into a difficult topic. Technically, the sound quality is good except, when listening to it from my phone speaker in my car, I would occasionally hear a very faint high-pitched sound in the background. Overall, I would recommend this book to others, especially those who struggle with body image issues. It provides a starting point for a healthier relationship with our physical nature and encourages acceptance of it as a partner to our spiritual nature. There is still much work to be done, but this book is a beautiful signpost along the way.

Seven Holy Women is a experiment that transcends the written word; it is an experience of the lives of the saints that cuts a swath both narrow and wide in the heart of its readers. There is something for everyone within the tales of these saints and personal stories these remarkable authors. I found myself relating to the saints in ways that made my heart ache for holiness. I have had the privilege of friendship with many of these authors and seeing what they wrote about these saints was a special glimpse into their amazing hearts. Seven Holy Women is the perfect book for a woman with a lonely soul; reading it is like having a conversation with the saints and with earthly friends. The journal prompts allow the reader to look closer at her own heart and to grow with the saints. This is the must read book for any Orthodox woman in 2020.

This book is phenomenal. Jansson masterfully weaves together captivating stories with convicting reflections, and the result a masterpiece on pregnancy and motherhood from an Orthodox perspective that is simply a pleasure to read. With her phenomenal talent for poetic writing, she invites her readers to transform the most mundane elements of pregnancy and parenthood into spiritual exercises, to reveal reality by stripping away the shroud of a disillusioned, tired modern world.

Though I found her book after having my first child, I know I will turn back to it time and time again for the pure joy of reading a well-written book overflowing with life-altering Orthodox insights. I sincerely hope she will share more of her writing, as the only downfall of such a beautiful work is that it leaves the reader yearning for more!

All Is Well By Albert S. Rossi

This book was exactly what I needed, for probably one of the worst years thus far. I took the advice of Dr. Rossi in the beginning of the book ( although I had the audible version) I took this book in slowly. I savored each and every chapter between the daily grind of being a homeschooling mother, a mother grieving the loss of another pregnancy, and all of the stress that 202 has brought me thus far. When starting I was definitely not feeling that “All is Well” on the contrary I was feeling that All was Unwell.

As I slowly devoured each chapter I begin to feel a sense of comfort and calming. I felt the darkness and stress that seemed to surround me dissipate. I was thankful for Dr. Rossi’s openness about his real life struggles, though our struggles are different it made it very easy to relate to him on a “Real Life” level. I enjoyed the very in your face, REAL, that hard time will be had. There is no sugar-coating to what he says only reality. This book draws heavily from the 55 Maxim’s and I really enjoyed that.

This book was short, sweet and very direct. I appreciate that very much. I will be returning to this book time and time again when I need a wake up to reality.

The audible version being read by Dr. Rossi was a treat in itself, he has a very calming voice in my opinion. I would suggest this book to anyone, Orthodox or not.

Review by: E. Rabago

You are walking with the Saints. From the cliffs of Ireland to the hills of Greece, “Seven Holy Women” brings the reader into the stories of these bold women saints. In following their footsteps, we can clearly see our own paths. Every person has a pilgrimage here on earth, and “Seven Holy Women” brings the reader along for the journey. Invited into their stories, the reader is given the chance to see herself as a co-worker for Christ.
Written in an engaging simple style, this book is mean to be interactive. The stories of each of the seven saints were written by different women. Rather than making the book feel like a disjointed anthology, this format lets the relationship of saint and author shine. It shows the reader that a relationship with the saints is important; knowing them is different than knowing about them. The journaling sections that accompany every chapter help us look within ourselves, asking probing questions that reveal how we share the same struggles as the saints. By asking the reader to reveal her own vulnerability, we see how the strength and grace of Christ fills us today, just as with His believers centuries ago.
It is powerful that the reader is called to add her own story directly into the pages of this book. By journaling our struggles and weakness, we are transforming our own lives into a hagiography. Our sins are real, but so is the grace of Christ, as these saints show us.
I cannot wait to share this book with friends. Its easy-to-read format helps keep the reader engaged, rather than overwhelmed. Once invested in the story of a saint, this book is nearly impossible to put down. I hope the book and the saints depicted within inspires and fills generations of women to come.

“Your storm is great! But our God is greater!” Those two sentences, lifted from the pages of this wonderful book, could easily be it’s theme. In a very readable and engaging way, Kh. Christine wrote an adventure that allows young readers to face the gravity of the world that we live in while understanding the hope and joy available through Christ and His Church. Set during an invasion of Rhodes, she takes on the difficult topics of grief and loss in a way that is genuine and healing. With a great knowledge of the liturgical tradition of the Church and the use of Scripture, Kh. Christine introduces people to a healthy monastic life, introduces a little known saint, and opens the door for young readers to see the potential for the help of God in difficult circumstances. Bringing in the true story of the finding of the icon of St. Phanarious with this fictional adventure was an inspired idea that is sure to touch many hearts. While it was written for young readers, readers of all ages will be easily engaged by this fun book!

I have been Greek Orthodox for 53 years. Fr. Evan’s book is the first writing I have encountered that maps out an inspired route for the Greek Orthodox Faithful to celebrate our beautiful Faith.

Love the language of this Psalter which in many instances is used in the liturgical services and has a familiar ring. I also appreciate the division of readings which enable the reader to cover the whole Psalter weekly, or in smaller reading portions. I have purchased several copies and have given these to friends at times of great sorrow because there is no better comfort for the human heart than the words of the Psalter.