ward-winning and bestselling author James L. Rubart explores the way our memories shape us . . . and how they affect our beliefs. Allison Moore has no idea why she got out of her car on that rainy March afternoon and picked up the soaked journal laying on the side of the road. Brought it home. But she did. It was empty. Except for two lines scrawled in the front, too washed out to read. And a Jesus emblem inside the back cover. Something about the journal compels her to start writing in it, capturing thoughts about her newly acquired job that she thought would be heaven, but has turned into hell. Then one day, she finds words in the center of the journal. Words she didn’t write: Mene mene tekel upharsin. After her heart stops hammering, Allison Googles the phrase, and reads the story of Belshazzar’s Feast, where a hand from God writes on the wall, and the king is slain. Fear grips her, certain God is coming after her for what she did twelve years back. What she’s done wrong her whole life. She vows to make things right. Then she discovers more phrases appearing underneath each of her journal entries. Those phrases take her on an emotional roller coaster that forces her to look at everything she believes about her past in a new light, and opens her eyes to a supernatural realm of staggering consequence.







My Thoughts: What would you do if someone gave you a journal that changed your words after you wrote and spoke directly to you? This is what happened to our main character Allison. This was an enjoyable read, about one woman and her brother and how their memories formed who they were in their lives. The memories of their father's lack of approval affected them throughout life and in relationships.


Journaling is a wonderful way to talk to God and to see how He works in our lives. This journal that is given to Allison is extraordinaire! With the changing entries that she sees in her journal, Allison is able to see who she really is and how loved and important she is to herself and those around her.


There are lessons to be learned in this novel; we really do need to look deep inside ourselves, checking our character to see if it stands up to what God wants us to be and turn to God in difficult situations. Trust God, listen for what He has for you in life.


I loved the concept of this novel. The author has done a wonderful job of putting this story together. The characters were very true to life and easy to connect with. The storyline was flowing and a fast read. I truly enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from James L. Rubart.

How many of us have ever sat quietly and considered who we really are inside? The author has done a fabulous job of making one consider that question. Am I the person that the world sees, or am I true to myself and thus portray the individual I am inside. Allison is an architect working with her best friend. When given the chance to join a larger firm, she decides that it will be a good career move. The gift of a new journal arrives at her home, just like the one she had admired earlier. Through many twists and turns and what is a very special journal, she begins to understand things that have long been denied and buried. All the people in the world can tell you who you are or should be, but the most important one to listen to is the voice of God, a lesson that turns her life around.
This book was quite impossible to put done until I had finished it, resulting in a great deal of introspection on my part. This one is not to be missed!
I received an ARC through NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The opinions and impressions are my own.

Rubart has the unique skill of imagining possible ways God might work in a person. Each of his novels is an adventure in seeing God and his angels busy in the transformation process. In this one, a mysterious journal helps the main character, Allison, see her true character and who God wants her to be. A secondary character is her brother. God uses a stint on a fishing boat in Alaska to expose his character and cause transformation. Several issues are covered in these two stories, including living up to parental expectations and seeking parental approval, knowing one's own worth, “religious” and phony Christianity, and a few more.

This novel is character driven. There is no driving plot. In fact, it took me a while to get into the story. The strength of the novel is found in the character revelations and transformations and the bold actions that come from them. I would not call this book a page turner but when I got to the end I was so glad I read the book. There is a great deal of thought provoking content included.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Once again James Rubart has crafted a story that aids his readers in searching the depths of their souls, teaching the truths of God's Kingdom. In The Pages of Her Life Rubart tells the story of Allison and Parker Moore's journey to discovering their true selves, and in doing so provides insight to help readers do the same. After reading his books I always feel like I need to express my gratitude for the lessons learned.

The term supernatural often brings forth mental images and thoughts linked to the dark side. Maybe the term is best written super natural with a space in discussing Rubart's writing. He opens windows and doors to allow us to see ways in which God continues to work in super natural ways. While God may not work exactly as portrayed in this book, our eyes are certainly opened to seeing new possibilities.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I was very grateful to have had the opportunity to read and review this book, and highly recommend all of Rubart's work.

The Pages of Her Life
by James L. Rubart

Thomas Nelson--FICTION

Thomas Nelson

Christian , General Fiction (Adult)

Pub Date 21 May 2019




I am reviewing a copy of The Pages of her Life through Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley:






This is one of those books I found hard to put down, because you are drawn into this story from the start!




Allison Moore is barely making it. The Seattle architecture firm she started with her best friend is not doing so well! At least there free of the games played in the Corporate World. She’s gotten over her divorce. Her Dad’s recent passing has been difficult although their relationship was never really strong.






Soon a bombshell drops, her Father was living a secret life, and now her Mom has a massive amount of debt.



Just as Allison finds herself scrambling to help her Mom find a way out of debt she is given a journal anonymously during a visit to her favorite Coffee shop. As the pressure to help her Mother find a way out of debt she pours her heart, her fears and heartaches into the journal but soon strange things begin happening!



Words in her journal begin to disappear and new one’s start feeling up the empty spaces words that have her looking at herself and everything she knows in a new light.



Ignoring the words could cost her everything so could embracing them.



I found The Pages of Her Life an intriguing and thought provoking read, therefore I find it worthy of five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

This is the first James Rubart book I’ve read, and I’m hooked, can’t wait to read them all! How he weaves a tale using a well-worn old leather journal, unique, yet sometimes quirky characters, with an enlightening message, kept me a captive audience! I found the story of the dry bones from Ezekiel encouraging, and very apropos for Allison’s emotional healing. Quite an inspirational story, yet not coming off as preachy, it emboldens the reader to discover their true self.

I would highly recommend this uplifting, easily relatable book.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a positive review. All views are my own.

This was a wonderful novel that demonstrated that those who have faith in God are sometimes lead down roads that seem to be futile & hopeless, but eventually lead to valuable lessons about ourselves & our faith. All we can do is continue to trust Him, & believe He desires to give us what will bring us closer to Him, & to strengthen our faith. There are those who praise Him with their lips while deceiving others, hiding behind religion. Derek is an example of this. He had no intention of partnering up with Allison. He wanted an employee not a partner.
In the end, as Allison continued to believe that God wants to bless her, not diminish her. After she was fired from her position at Wright Architecture, her life fell into place.
An interesting subplot emerged when she was given a journal by a man named Richard. This was no ordinary journal. Allison was selected to be the next person to receive this journal, & when it was time to pass it on, she knew the time to do so, & the man she was to give it to. Richard was also no ordinary man, as the reader discovers.
At the same time Allison is experiencing supernatural phenomena, her brother Parker is also being lead toward his own divine insight. Their lives converge toward the novel"s conclusion when they both realize they were affected by the same spiritual being.
I greatly enjoyed this novel. I've never read any stories by James L. Rubart, & plan on reading more of his work. The Christian beliefs weren't dumped on the reader in a preachy manner, which can cause non-Christians to become hostile & defensive & with good reason. Rather, Christianity was presented in a sensitive & soft manner. Kind of like a tap rather than a shove. Believe if you want; don't believe if you don't want to, but you'll be better off if you do believe. Kind of like the case of Paschal's Wager. It doesn't hurt a person to believe. He/she will be better off in believing.
Supernatural events occurred in a believable manner. There ARE angels walking around on the earth that look just like you or I. There ARE celestial materials in what appears to be ordinary reality. God uses everything He created to bring us to Him, and He knows just what we need in order to do so.
Thank you, Thomas Nelson Publishing & Net galley for the opportunity to read & review this novel. I received a complimentary copy of this novel. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Bravo! Another thought-provoking, unique and meaningful book by Jim Rubart. The author's ability to take a fantastical concept and make it applicable to our everyday lives can help shine a mirror onto ourselves just as it does for the characters in the book.
I loved the return of characters from Rooms and how their story joins together with these characters' stories. This book does stand alone, but you'll miss the richness of the symmetry if you don't read Rooms first.
I really connected with Allison's and Parker's struggles with their identity and their worth. I had a true sense of anxiety while reading (which is probably why I couldn't put it down) because of Allison's situation at work. I had knots in my stomach and could really identify with her troubles of wanting to help and please everyone, yet not knowing the right way to go about it. The ending was perfect to loosen my anxiety and help me know that God truly does work all things for good if we trust in Him.

2 stars
The Pages of Her Life sounded so promising. It started so well and immediately drew me. Her father’s double life, the mysterious journal, Derek with his partnership offer. The entire concept is intriguing. However, I just cannot get past Derek and his secretary. The whole journal thing just started to feel too far-fetched. I am a Christian but this just pushed the boundaries too far for me. I gave it 50 percent and put it down. Once, I found myself skimming and not really caring about the ending or the characters I figured why should I even bother reading anymore?.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own. #ThePagesofHerLife #NetGalley

3.5 out of 5 stars

“Who we are, and truly are, a matter of perception. Choose the truth, and find yourself. Step through the veiled deception. Know it from the inside out, not from the outside in. Though fear and trepidation wait, it’s time that you begin.”

“Whether you believe it or not, you are standing before the dry bones. Your dry bones. You are in the valley. And that valley seems deep, full of darkness. But that is an illusion because the valley is full of light, if you would speak it into being. Now is your time. To speak life into them.”

James L. Rubart certainly has a knock for blending in unique storylines with supernatural elements that cause you to think beyond the final pages. “The Pages Of Her Life” is no exception. While a slow burn of a read, it picks up more in the last half. Like many readers, I had no idea the direction it was heading into for awhile. There are storylines about working at an architecture firm, gambling debts, journalling, working on a fishing boat, untrustworthy bosses, angels, and friendships. All good stuff though at times, it made the book meander away at times.

The theme of the book is definitely about self worth and how God views you (and not letting others determine your worth or who you are). Great themes, though would have liked for a more personal connection with Jesus and forgiveness, since Allison’s relationship with God did seem more of what can you give me.

I did think it was cool to bring in some of the characters from Rubart’s previous book, Rooms, a book I really enjoyed and also found quite unique. So although you can read this as a stand-alone, I would definitely recommend reading Rooms first.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

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Oh I loved this book...I love Christian books with that add a little mystery and the supernatural. James L. Rubart always seems to deliver just that. I couldn't put this one down and when I had to, I was thinking about it. A great read! Without giving anything away, just read it.

The Pages of Her Life scattered in the wind for me. I thought this was slow,scattered,and I had a hard time finishing this book.

Very well written! The plot kept me intrigued throughout the book. The main characters are brother and sister who have to overcome wounds from the favoritism their father showed to their other sibling and learn to stand firm in who Christ says they are as trials come their way in life. Themes of authentic faith, standing up to lies and deception, and knowing who you are in Christ resonate in the book. This was a very entertaining read with a great message! I highly recommend this book! Check out James Rubart's other books as well.

James L. Rubart has a poetic way of capturing the "what ifs" in life. What if we lived to our fullest potential. What if we believed the truths about ourselves, instead of the lies we get distracted by. What if we were willing to trust and step out of our comfort zone. I love his fresh approach and call to live our Christian lives to the absolute fullest potential that God designed for us. Alison is in a tough place and has had the habit of regularly journaling her thoughts and feelings. She receives a beautiful journal that has a life-changing legend attached to it. Despite her skepticism, she pours her heart out. When the words miraculously change, she begins to see a more empowered, truthful version of herself and finds the strength to stand up for herself and her family. Fans of James L. Rubart will not be disappointed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

THE PAGES OF HER LIFE is about Allison Moore. However, it is also about her brother Parker and their parents. It's also about Kayla Brown, Allison's partner in a co-owned business and finally it's about Derrek Wright and his company. Also, later in the book we are introduced to Micah and Sarah who meet Allison. The story revolves mainly around Allison and a special journal that is given to her. Oh yes, there is also Richard who I cannot identify to you without giving away the ending!

As with all of Mr. Rubart's previous books, this book also made me think and ponder many issues brought forth. I enjoyed this book as much as I have all his others because he keeps you wondering what exactly is going to happen with the main character; but, also with everything else and also because he uses more than one character to bring out his initial theme of the book. His story made me sad, angry, happy and many other emotions as I read it.

If you like Christian books with a good story line; you should enjoy this book along with any of Mr. Rubart's previous books.

I was sent this ebook free by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publisher for reading the book and giving an honest review prior to final publication. This is my honest review of THE PAGES OF HER LIFE by James L. Rubart.

I did find one discrepancy (or typographical error) in the book. At one point he mentions Carl (an antique dealer) as a character; but, then calls him Ben in another line. I hurriedly went back to make sure I hadn't gotten confused; but, then he went back to calling him Carl again. Other than this discrepancy, and some odd letters in between chapters (probably due to this being a pre-published book), all else was very much to my liking.

This was posted on my Facebook page (Divonna Littlefield Thornburg) for the public:
I just finished reading an advance copy from Net Galley of this book by James Rubart. It will be released on May 21. Every book he has written is divinely inspired with a spiritual lesson that gets under your skin and into your heart. This one is no exception. It's the story of a brother and sister, with God working in their lives to help them discover who they truly are. There are supernatural ways God works with them, as well as with friends and circumstances. All of James Rubart's novels are fascinating and hard to stop reading. I call his genre "Spiritual Warfare Fiction." If you haven't read his books, I highly recommend them all! My favorites are the Well Spring Trilogy, starting with Soul's Gate. #ThePagesOfHerLife #NetGalley

Allison Moore is experiencing a troubled time in her life, with a new divorce, arguments with her business partner and the death of her father. But to learn that her police officer dad was a gambling addict who left enough losses for her mother to lose her home and still owe several hundred thousands of dollars was almost more than she could bear.

A complete stranger spots her in a coffee shop and makes eye contact then leaves. The next time she is in, she learns that he has left something for her: a gorgeous, very antique leather journal. As Allison is fond of journaling, she is very excited but extremely curious, as well.

As she sets out to find out the history of the journal, why it was gifted to her, etc, she is able to make a lot of important discoveries about herself. This may sound rather boring, but believe me, it is not! And if you're one who is turned off by frequent mentions of God, religion, the Bible (not me), please keep reading, anyway. I had to stay in bed most of the morning because I simply could not get up till I finished it! What a beautiful story!

PS **SPOILER**? ? I was so relieved that it didn't turn into a love story. One of the things that Allison was mourning was the loss of a love life, praying that the right man would appear to her, so I kind of expected it. However, it would have distracted from the splendor of the story.

An interesting take on how God can work in someone's life to change them. Honestly, it was a little hard to get my brain around at times. What was clear was how Allison and Parker were both trying to fix symptoms, thinking they were fixing the problem.

I believe in miracles but they are still weird to read about so the journal and the house were... odd, to say the least. Micah and Sarah were great characters and I would have loved to spend more time with them. Derrek, I never quite figured out if we were supposed to feel sorry for him, or dislike him, or even trust him.

There was on "bad" word and a few other more crass ones. Didn't love that element. I know it's supposed to make the book "realistic" but I don't think it's necessary.

This was my first book by this author. I have heard great things about his books, but this book did not wow me. I really wanted to love it but honestly, it was a struggle to get through. After finishing the book, the message was a very important one but the story just didn’t live up to the message for me.

The main character, Allison, is an architect who is partners with her best friend. Recently divorced and having lost her father, Allison is struggling with the challenges in her life when her mom drops a bomb shell relating to her father’s past. Allison knows she must help her mom through this financially difficult time which sets in motion a long list of choices she must face.

Allison’s brother, Parker, must also face the deal of their father and the effects of the past. He chooses to isolate himself until he discovers their mother’s plight forcing him to take a job on an Alaskan fishing boat.

Through a series of events, Allison and Parker find that even though their journeys are different, they have been more alike than they realized. As I said, the message of the book at the end is wonderful but this book had a hard time holding my attention due to feeling the story was choppy and rushed.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow! This book blew me away and surpassed all of my expectations! It was a joy to read and the writing was lovely. A new favorite book!