This week’s offerings in Newsmax Rising Bestsellers looks to the divine, from a method to renew one’s faith beyond all the trappings of Christianity, while another uses Biblical examples to give hope to women who feel alone and invisible. A third is a daily devotional to help the reader begin each day with a sense of purpose, and the finale is the memoir of a man of the church who worked directly under six popes. But there is always an escape option, including this week’s rousing, roller coaster of a ride.
“Fever Beach: A Novel,” by Carl Hiaasen (Knopf)
In this book, a clever, resilient woman who is trying to rebuild her life after a divorce joins forces with a hot-headed environmentalist to uncover a corrupt conspiracy under the guise of a philanthropic organization. The conspiracy’s principals are a clueless congressman and a billionaire couple. Add to this mad mix a half-baked crusader who’d been kicked out of the Proud Boys for being too dumb, and you get what the publisher calls Carl Hiaasen’s “most outrageous and deliciously funny novel yet.” According to the often hard-to-please Kirkus Reviews, “Fever Beach” is “The perfect antidote for anyone who doomscrolls daily headlines.” [Fiction]
“Gospel Zero: Reclaiming the Radical Message of Grace,” by Andrew Farley (Regnery Faith)
For those that believe Christianity has been buried under a mountain of rules, rituals, and recycled sermons, this is the book for you — it’s their wake-up call. Bestselling author Andrew Farley and renowned storyteller John Lynch combined to shatter sacred cows to make the reader rethink everything they knew about Christianity — about faith, forgiveness, and freedom. “This is an excellent book on the grace of God and…our identity in Christ,” wrote Ted Adams for Amazon. “In Christ, we are free, fully forgiven, perfect and are to let go of fix it lifestyle and to live in the rest in Christ in the grace that we are led by the Holy Spirit. It is humorous with a bit of satire and poked fun at typical church teachings from legalistic persons.” [Nonfiction]
“The Most Overlooked Women of the Bible: What Their Stories Teach Us about Being Seen and Heard,” by Mary E. DeMuth (Regnery Faith)
In this, the latest in the highly acclaimed “Women of the Bible” series, Mary DeMuth tells the reader, who may feel alone, invisible, and overlooked, that the Bible is replete with women just like her.
Most women have asked questions such as:
- Why can’t people seem to see and notice me?
- How can I overcome this feeling of rejection?
- What does a “seen” life actually look like in a world of social media and the insta-famous?
The reader who has asked themselves these or similar questions will discover new ways to find meaning and joy in a world that they believe ignores them. “Mary’s words of encouragement have empowered (and) energized me to speak up, live boldly, thrive in difficulties, (and) to look for those who are being overlooked,” wrote Katharine Elkins for Goodreads. “The stories of the women in this book are a gift to me. God does not overlook me. He is for me. He sees me. I am beloved.” [Nonfiction]
“Sitting with Jesus: A Yearlong Faith Journey,” by Tera Elness (Regnery Faith)
This is the author’s 365-day daily devotional to help the reader begin each day with purpose, renewed faith, with a spring in their step, simply by beginning each day sitting with and learning from Jesus. By those few minutes each morning, sharing a cup of coffee with Jesus, the reader will gain courage, and feel empowered and inspired by way of the author’s act of bringing the Bible alive in a unique manner. “Tera (Elness) is a fantastic writer, down to earth, easy to understand and in the language we speak in,” wrote Jen Haugen in her Amazon review. “It is definitely worth getting this book and also giving it as a gift. Highly recommend this book to any woman out there who is looking for purpose, direction, and understanding.” [Nonfiction]
“Six Popes: A Son of the Church Remembers,” by Monsignor Hilary C. Franco (Humanix Books)
This one has been out for a while but given that the College of Cardinals recently selected a new head of the Catholic church after the death of Pope Francis, plus Monsignor Hilary Franco’s recent appearance on Newsmax TV’s Chris Salcedo Show, this seemed a good addition to this week’s selections. Born to Italian immigrants in his Bronx neighborhood, Franco had the honor of working with the most influential figures of the Roman Catholic Church, beginning when he attended the premier seminary in Rome, and later worked directly under the famed late Archbishop Fulton Sheen. But the true focus of the book is later, when he worked in the Holy See, directly under six pontiffs, from Pope John XXIII to Pope Francis. If you’ve ever wondered what it was like working in the Vatican, Franco’s memoir delivers the goods. “Anyone who loves History will love this book!” wrote Eileen Quinn Knight for Profiles in Catholicism. “The author served under John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis and he wrote from a unique eyewitness vantage on many of the events and movements that shaped our world and the Catholic Church.” [Nonfiction]
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