A Patchwork Past by Leslie Gould - A Book Review

    

I anticipated being entertained, but I really wasn't expecting a sweet Amish story to inform me in the way that this one did. Leslie Gould does a wonderful job of using this story to enlighten and expand her readers' views on immigration. The contemporary story follows Sophie Deiner, a young lady who was raised Amish, as she struggles with Lupus and builds relationships with undocumented agricultural workers near her parents' farm. The historical portion of this book follows Mary Landes in 1871 as she learns of the plight of immigrants in Chicago. I highly recommend this book. It will satisfy a wide variety of readers.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of A Patchwork Past from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy - A Book Review

   

A Tapestry of Light begins in Calcutta,India in November of 1885, and ends in Wiltshire, England in July of 1889. Ottilie, a skilled beetle embroiderer of Eurasian descent, struggles with loss, betrayal, racism, holding onto her heritage, and most importantly grappling with her Christian faith. She asks the hard questions, ones that many of us are afraid to ask; among them: how do we know what we believe is truth, why do we suffer, and why do some people suffer so much more that others. Nānī, her grandmother, assures her that God is not afraid of her questions. Everett Scott, an Englishman who has experienced a great loss of his own, encourages Ottilie with wisdom that eventually, paired with new circumstances, allows her to see things in a new light.

This story is filled with beautiful language, vivid mental images for sight, smell, and taste; intense emotion; and enlightenment. I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Hours to Kill by Susan Sleeman - A Book Review

   

This book caps off a wonderful romantic suspense series featuring the RED team made up of elite members from various federal law enforcement agencies. The suspense story involves attempted murder and gunrunning using high tech means of getting the weapons across the border. The romantic story line is unique as it involves an already-married couple. The wife however has no memory of her husband following a car accident that was an attempt on her life. Her husband, a key member of the RED team, must balance the personal issues inherent in the case, his PTSD from his previous life as an Army Night Stalker, and his need to maintain a professional demeanor as a Deputy U.S. Marshal. Hours to Kill lives up to Sleeman's reputation as a skilled writer in this genre. I give it five stars.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions express here are my own.

Where Prayer Becomes Real: How Honesty with God Transforms Your Soul by Kyle Strobel and John Coe – A Book Review

     

Our journey on growing a deeper prayer life began in the spring of 2020 with a sermon given by Robby Gallaty, pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He challenged us to, “not be asleep in the garden,” and to pray for an hour each morning during Lent. We have consistently maintained a dedicated morning prayer time since that Lenten season, not that this is our only time of prayer, but it is definitely the most focused. Over this past year God has indeed grown our prayer life. The most recent resource He has placed in our hands is Where Prayer Becomes Real by Kyle Strobel and John Coe. It is a very practical book, providing guided practice in ways to approach our Father God with honesty and transparency, to be real with God and have authentic communication with Him. Whether you are new to prayer or a veteran looking for a fresh wind in your prayer life, this book will be a great addition to your prayer closet.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Where Prayer Becomes Real from Baker Book via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Unknown Threat by Lynn H. Blackburn - A Book Review

   


Unknown Threat is a wonderful romantic-suspense read. It is action packed with bullets flying, bombs exploding, and emotions sizzling. The guilty party is not easily deduced, allowing the author to hold her readers in the palm of her hand and to keep them on the edge of their seats. If it were a film, this book would be the perfect date night movie. The book is the first in Blackburn's new Defend and Protect series, but characters from her previous series, Dive Team Investigations, appear, much to the readers' delight. It works equally as well as a stand-alone read, my favorite kind of series book, one that has a continuation of characters and a thread to tie the series together, but no cliff-hangers.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

My Dear Miss Dupre by Grace Hitchcock - A Book Review

Having read Hitchcock's The Gray Chamber and The White City, the style and plot of My Dear Miss Dupré were quite unexpected. The mystery elements of Hitchcock's latest book are what kept me engaged. The romantic elements were not. The book reads like an 1882 version of The Bachelorette, but that said, the whimsical nature of the plot and the opportunities to piece together clues did lead me to give this book four stars. The theme of returning to a trusting relationship with our sovereign Lord was also a strong and endearing element of My Dear Miss Dupré.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this, the first book in Grace Hitchcock's new American Royalty series, from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Purple Nightgown by A. D. Lawrence - A Book Review

   

True crime stories, like the one that this story is based on, can be, and often are, more horrifying than made-up tales of horror. In an effort to stop her migraine headaches, the fictional character of Stella Burke checked into Wilderness Heights, the clinic of the real character of Linda Hazzard. Dr. Hazzard promised perfect health through fasting. Her methods and motives proved to be much more sinister. A. D. Lawrence's book based on the proven and the suspicioned acts of Dr. Hazzard leave readers unsettled to say the least. Fans of thrillers will not be disappointed. Those easily disturbed will need to follow this book with something lighthearted. Neither will walk away unaffected.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Purple Nightgown, the latest book in Barbour Publishing's True Colors series, from the publisher via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.