The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano - A Book Review

  

I truly appreciate Politano's mastery of storytelling, her skill in the artistry of using words to build ethereal mental images, and the way she uses language to create a melody. I admire the way she uses fiction to explain truth, the most important of truths. In The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple she has woven a sense of fairy tale into a work of historical fiction set in the silent film era. The story also includes a mystery involving a missing gem. While all I have said about Politano's writing is true, I must admit that I wasn't in the right headspace to truly appreciate the whimsical nature of this story at this time, although I still feel comfortable recommending this book because I can imagine myself having been enthralled with it at another time. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this novel from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron - A Book Review

    

While this book took a bit to pull me in, once it did, I was completely immersed. The book is a dual timeline story, with most of the same major characters in each timeline. The earlier timeline occurs leading up to and during the First World War, the second during the Second World War. Young Charlotte longs for freedom from society's expectations, including the right to marry outside of one's class. The more mature Charlotte has raised a strong, independent daughter who has many more freedoms and choices available to her. Young Amos Darby, a tenant farmer may not agree with class restrictions, but has more readily accepted them. He is a man who loves books and a man of integrity. The more mature Amos is a man both physically and mentally damaged by the experience of war, a man who seeks to anonymously look out for those he loves while dismissing his own needs and desires.

Please take time to read the Author's Note at the end of the book. As always Cambron has thoroughly researched her setting and its history. It is interesting to see how well she has woven facts into her fictional story. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The British Booksellers from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Songbird of Hope Hill by Kim Vogel Sawyer - A Book Review

   

Set in 1895 Tulsey Texas, The Songbird of Hope Hill is a five star historical fiction novel that will rest in readers' hearts for long after the last page is read. It is a story of hope, healing, forgiveness, and restoration. It is also a story of living sacrificially, putting God and His kingdom first. Kim Vogel Sawyer has written characters who realize and demonstrate that we are all sinners for whom Christ died, and one sin is not any more or any less forgivable than another. Readers will also be encouraged to persist in prayers for the lost, relying on God's timing.

I highly recommend The Songbird of Hope Hill to those who enjoy historical fiction, to those who think they are beyond hope of redemption, and to those who have a passion for praying for the lost, and for those who just love a well-written, thought-provoking story. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook & Multnomah via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

   

This is the eleventh Jaime Jo Wright book that I have read, and it is my very favorite! Both the 1901 tale and the present day tale get five stars for eeriness and suspense. They are filled with things that go bump in the night, dark secrets, unsolved murder, and fear. One would definitely have to think about the wisdom of reading this book late into the night. While Jaime Jo Wright always serves up a wonderfully spooky story, she also provides fodder for thought at a deeper level. In this novel it is on the theme of fear, not the type of fear her stories ignite, but the fear associated with death, and with living, fear that can cripple. I truly appreciate Wright's mastery of blending entertainment and life changing messages, but if you are in it just for the entertainment, don't worry, the message won't bog you down. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy and plan on purchasing a copy for my husband. Bethany House provided my complimentary copy via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

These Tangled Threads by Sarah Loudin Thomas - A Book Review

   

This dual timeline story follows the same characters in the mid-1910s and the early 1920s, with about a seven year span between. The story is largely set on and around the Biltmore Estate with the characters linked to the Biltmore Industries. The main character, Lorna, is an expert weaver charged with teaching novice weavers. She is a bright, poised, talented young woman, what she isn't is creative, a trait desperately needed by the floundering weaving business. Desperation can cause people to make unwise choices, choices that come back to haunt them later. Lorna is not a character readers will quickly warm to, but eventually that will happen as they will likely recall a time that they too have been in need of grace.

The story is well written with some memorable characters, a lovely setting, natural dialogue, and good pacing. The one thing I would have liked to see in this book is an Author's Note telling about her research regarding Biltmore Industries, Mrs. Vanderbilt's philanthropic endeavors, Cornelia Vanderbilt, and the Vanderbilt's relationships with and treatment of their employees. I do recommend These Tangled Threads to fans of historical fiction, especially to those who have an appreciation of Appalachian decorative arts. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep - A Book Review

   

It's been about one and a half years since we were last treated to a story about Jackson and Kit Forge. Jackson is now an over-worked chief inspector, and Kit is trying to balance motherhood and opening a new detective agency with her father. All of Kit's growing maternal instincts and feelings make it impossible to turn down the first case that comes to the new detective agency, that of a missing child, in spite of her father's objections. This lively story has more than its own share of chaos and mayhem. Even Kit and Jackson's close friends and colleagues get pulled into the maelstrom. Readers will likely feel that they've been sucked in as well. As in real life, there are lessons to be learned in the storm. Griep allows us to learn alongside her characters from the safety of our favorite reading spots as her characters face danger head on.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. In my opinion this book is quite worth the time spent between its covers. 

A Noble Scheme by Roseanna M. White - A Book Review

 

  

The Codebreakers has been my all time favorite Roseanna M. White series, but I think it is going to have to move over and make room for The Imposters. I have so enjoyed reading the first two books about the lovable, quirky characters that make up the investigation team known as The Imposters. This second book in the series has two very interesting storylines. The first is, of course, the case that they are currently investigating, a kidnapping case involving a ten-year-old boy, a case of mistaken identity. The second, a sad yet poignant story of a loving couple whom circumstances have driven apart, a story of unforgiveness, and a story of turning one's face away from God. The saddest part of the advanced reader copy I received was the page that said that the final book of this series will be available in November of this year. I will miss these characters and am sad to see the series end with the next book. I certainly hope they will make cameo appearances in some of White's future novels. As always with White's books, A Noble Scheme is well thought out. Information in this book and in its connections to the first one is carefully woven together and released at just the right moment. Much to my satisfaction, the ending was not rushed, the author was generous with the time and space she allowed for bringing the story to a meaningful conclusion. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of A Noble Scheme from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse - A Book Review

  

Set in Stone is the second book in Kimberley Woodhouse's Treasure of the Earth series. It is the character that remains in the shadows for most of the story that holds the reader's attention. A serial killer lurks in their midst and Martha Jankowski is completely unaware. Martha is focused on fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a full-fledged paleontologist. In those efforts, Martha is leading a dig in competition with another for the right to display a full dinosaur skeleton in a Denver museum. While rules are in place to keep the competition above board, someone is pulling strings to cause increased tension between the competitors.

An important part of this story revolves around the compatibility between the Christian faith based on the Bible and science, specifically paleontology. While not all of the questions often posed are answered, one can appreciate the characters wrestling and coming to terms with what seems contradictory to many. One also has to appreciate the author's perseverance in gifting readers with a wonderful story while also caring and grieving for a beloved family member.

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

Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn - A Book Review

   

I am a long time fan of Lynn H. Blackburn's writing, and this novel is my favorite thus far. The romance between two wounded souls gives the story the emotional element that bonds characters and readers. The intense suspense is what grasps the readers' attention and keeps them highly engaged. While some elements are likely only to occur in books or movies, it doesn't spoil the heart of the story. Never Fall Again is a multi-themed book focusing most on emotional healing, healthy familial relationships, and honoring God. These themes are well-developed within this gripping tale.

I am looking forward to the second book in Blackburn's Gossamer Falls series, and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this first book of the series from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

When the Waters Came by Candice Sue Patterson - A Book Review

  

I read the second book in Barbour Publishing's A Day to Remember series, and was so touched by it that I had to go back and read the first book in the series, When the Waters Came. Like the second book, When the Waters Came had me searching online for the details of the disaster, this one a flood that struck Johnstown, Pennsylvania on May 31, 1889. The story includes several historical characters including Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross and Doctor Hamilton, Surgeon General of the United States along with Henry Clay Frick and Andrew Carnegie, members of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club. Many blamed the club and its members for the collapse of its dam that caused the flood. The two central fictional characters are Annamae Worthington, A Red Cross nurse, and Pastor Monty Childs. The themes of struggling with why God allows such devastation, the harm in holding grudges and seeking vengeance, and forgiveness of those deemed responsible are key to this disaster story as well as to current disasters and the daily misfortunes of life.

I highly recommend When the Waters Came, and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. This is a well-researched novel with authentic sounding dialogue, and writing that evokes vivid mental images. 

   

July 6, 1944 was a day to remember, but not for a happy reason, but rather for a tragedy. It was on this day that 168 people died and more than 700 were injured in Hartford, Connecticut as a fire spread and brought down a Ringling Brothers, and Barnum & Bailey Circus big top. As horrible asa that was, it could have been so much worse at 6,000 to 8,000 people were in attendance. While Rhonda Dragomir tells the story around her fictionalized characters, her research is evident as she includes the events of that day, and honors some of the victims by including parts of their stories. The emotions in this story swing from deep relief to gut-wrenching grief, from stalwart resolution to mind-numbing weakness. Readers will deeply empathize with Evelyn Benson as she searches for her family, marvel at her brother as he heroically saves lives, and root for Hank Webb as he seeks to help Evelyn while he wrestles with his past. They will be inspired by Bernice Riegel's selflessness as she offers all she has to give.

This novel spurred my interest in the original events of July 6, 1944, and I found myself frequently researching online to learn more. I highly recommend When the Flames Ravaged, and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Trapped in Yosemite by Dana Mentink - A Book Review

  

With dozens of books to her name, surprisingly Dana Mentink is a new-to-me author. I will be on the look out for her titles in the future. Trapped in Yosemite is a wonderful suspense novel. I don't usually like books in which the romance develops too quickly, in this book that wasn't an issue as Von Sharpe and Stella Rivers has once been engaged. That ended eighteen months before an earthquake and a murderer threw them back together. Finding their way in extreme circumstances and adjusting to the changes that had occurred in their lives over their time apart both helped and hindered in defining their new relationship, or if there was ever to be a relationship. Being trapped at the Mountain Dog Wilderness Guides Camp with dwindling resources, fractious campers, and a murderer lurking about with his sights on Stella, caused a roller coaster of emotions in both Von and Stella, and that wasn't even the half of it! Mentink has written a believable suspense story that highlights God's grace and His willingness to give repentant people second chances, something we need to be willing to do as well.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Trapped in Yosemite from Harlequin via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary by Charles R. Swindoll

  

Typically I consult commentaries when I am looking for more information on a particular verse or section of Scripture. I recently read the book of Revelation along with Charles Swindoll's commentary on that book. I had read Revelation straight through many times, but I gleaned so much more this time thanks to Swindoll's knowledge and his ability to connect things together in ways I would never have seen on my own. I was so excited about how this commentary enlightened my understanding of this Scripture, and I had stopped so many times to share insights with my husband, that we purchased the entire fifteen volume set of this New Testament Commentary for both ourselves and one for our son who is a pastor. I am now a little over halfway through the first volume that covers Matthew Chapters One through Fifteen. My own grasp of this book of the Bible was already greater than my understanding of the symbolism and imagery of the book of Revelation, but I am still excited about the new things I am learning. I highly recommend this set of commentaries, and look forward to reading through the New Testament with greater understanding compliments of Dr. Swindoll's wonderful writing and teaching style. 

One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey - A Book Review

   

One insurance investigator, one FBI agent, four private investigators, and two cases to solve make for an intense read. While two too-quick romances don't always add up, in this case they are not greater than the suspense so the reading pleasure is not decreased. Bullets are flying everywhere, riddles are dropped as clues, and the investigators travel by land, air, and sea. There is non-stop action as the investigators divide to conquer. Themes of dealing with one's past and forgiving those who caused much grief, even if one of those people is oneself is well-developed. Readers see the contrast between bitterness allowed to take root and becoming a new creature in Christ.

I highly recommend One Wrong Move to fans of romantic suspense. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Fatal Witness by Patricia Bradley - A Book Review

   

Patricia Bradley had me hooked by the end of the first paragraph. Danielle Bennett AKA Dani Collins had a nine-year hole in her memory. A hole that included anyone she had known and loved during the first nine years of her life other than her Uncle Keith. Now circumstances were lining up to pull her into that hole, and into a killer's sights.

Once again Bradley has woven a tale of mystery and suspense with plenty of clues and misdirection. Fatal Witness is a book that won't easily be laid aside. While the story includes a touch of romance, it does not overshadow the suspense. While readers may consider the correct character in the role of villain, it is doubtful they will feel confident in that prediction until almost the very end. Bradley shows herself to be a master of the plot twist, and in doing so brings hours of reading pleasure.

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

All My Secrets by Lynn Austin - A Book Review

   

Adelaide Stanhope had always lived the privileged life of the Gilded Age high society, that is, until her father's untimely death and the restrictions placed on the family's wealth by her great grandfather's will. Now there are hard choices to be made, choices made more difficult by the vastly different opinions of her mother and grandmother. The lives of these three women change as they learn many lessons over the next year, lessons readers of each of the story's represented generations could learn from as well.

This novel focuses on priorities: allowing them to be formed for us or choosing to form them on our own, determining what position one should have within their own priorities, and contemplating where and how God's will impacts one's priorities. These are meaty questions, ones Lynn Austin masterfully walks her characters through as they negotiate their changing circumstances. A secondary theme of how to live with or to move on from mistakes and hard feelings is equally well-handled. The story is beautifully written and is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.

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

What I Promise You by Liz Tolsma - A Book Review

  

This is Liz Tolsma's second book in her Echoes of the Past series. Each of the books works as a stand-alone read with no crossover storylines or characters, but I would highly recommend reading the first book, What I Would Tell You, because it is a wonderful read. What I Promise You is a slower-paced story. At first I was thinking the author could have omitted the middle timeline, but realized at the end of the book how that timeline actually pulled everything together. The earliest timeline, set in the early 1940s, tells the story of Noémie Treves, a secular Jewish woman, following her imprisonment at Camp de Rivesaltes in Vichy France. Noémie loses everything through the Nazi's cruelty, even her identity. Through the work of two Christian women, her life was spared, but would she be able to truly live life again? In the 2022 timeline Caitlyn Laurent struggles to cope with her best friend's death as she tries to live out the goals they had intended to achieve together. While her life was spared in the automobile accident, would she truly live her own life, or was she destined to live the life Lindsey had wanted to live?

The themes of finding and living one's calling, adapting to life's unexpected circumstances, and trusting God's plans for one's future are all explored within these two ladies' stories. While I cannot say this is my favorite Liz Tolsma story, I can say that it is well-researched and well-written, and I recommend it to fans of historical fiction. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

 

The Foxhole Victory Tour by Amy Lynn Green - A Book Review

   

The Foxhole Victory Tour is much different that any of the other World War II era books I have read. Rather than focusing on what was occurring in Europe, this story focuses on the members of a USO troupe touring in North Africa. The author examines their motives for joining the troupe and the evolution of the relationships among the members. Character development if key to the story, and well done by the author Amy Lynn Green. She also very adeptly immerses her readers in the settings from a Minneapolis performance hall to the streets of Casablanca, Morocco. The plot moves along at a slow, steady pace. Some readers may be wishing for a bit of intrigue, but if they stay with the sweet story, there are memorable moments and lessons to be learned.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Foxhole Victory Tour from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Double Take by Lynette Eason - A Book Review

 

  

Wow! This romantic suspense story has so many twists and turns, it almost makes one's head hurt. Just when you think you've got things figured out, you don't, or at least not quite in the way you thought, but then maybe you do, or not...and so it continues. Lynette Eason fans are going to be thrilled with this latest book, and it's kind of cool that she gave a shout out to fellow romantic suspense author Lynn H. Blackburn.

Laine Jackson is questioning just how severe her PTSD has become when she begins to see someone who appears to be her dead ex-fiance lurking about. She knows it can't be him, after all she is the one who killed him! Detective James Cross, who also deals with PTSD following his honorable discharged from the military, had always thought of Laine as just one of his sister's friends, but she had changed in his absence. Now he feels drawn to her, and drawn to protect her, but from whom? Reader's will greatly enjoy finding out the answer to that question.

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

Stories That Bind Us by Susiie Finkbeiner - A Book Review

  

I was excited to find one of Susie Finkbeiner's books that I had not known about. We purchased one for me and three for gifts. I truly hope those that received one as a gift enjoy Stories That Bind Us as much as I did. The story is set in the early 1960s, but many of the events are indicative of that entire decade. It is interesting to read historical fiction that overlaps one's own childhood. It was also interesting to know that myself and one of the gift recipients would read it through a much different lens than the other two recipients. The wonderful thing is that the important themes of this book will resonate with all generations.

Susie Finkbeiner crafts beautiful, poignant stories centering around believable, relatable characters experiencing real world events. While Stories That Bind Us revolves around civil rights and the Vietnam War era, the theme of mental health dominates the story. Finkbeiner's writing skills make it very easy for readers to walk with Betty Sweet through life's beauty and adversity. They will admire Betty's ability to create just the right story to explain life's events and to encourage herself and her nephew. Readers, too, will be encouraged.

The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz - A Book Review

   

I really enjoy Laura Frantz's historical fiction stories, but my favorites are those set in and around Williamsburg. The female characters who ply a trade are most interesting whether it be a lighthouse keeper, lacemaker, chocolatier, or, as in this book, a seamstress. Sylvie Galant lived in Acadie, modern day Nova Scotia, in the mid-1700s, serving as a seamstress to the French Fort Beauséjour. She and her family fall victim to the eviction of Acadians by the English, in spite of their neutrality in the conflict with the French. The story tells of Sylvie's life after she and a few fellow Acadians were rescued when the ship they were placed on foundered in a storm off the Virginia coast. Frantz admittedly has written in some key characters who treat the Acadians as they should have been treated rather than as most Virginians treated them in actuality. That is the beauty of historical fiction, sometimes we can view events through a lens of what ifs. Of course the story includes a touch of romance with a brave hero, Major William Blackburn, a man of integrity and the conviction to do the right thing.

I give The Seamstress of Acadie five stars and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble - A Book Review

  

Fragile Designs has a wonderful plot including a missing Fabergé egg, murders and attempted murders, break-ins, and a kidnapping. Coble has created interesting characters that readers will root for: Carly, a young widow; Lucas, the police officer that lives next door; Mary, Carly's boho wearing grandmother; and many more. Where this story lost one of its stars from my review was in the details that did not line up with one another, or that did not line up with how the real world works, a pet peeve of mine. If you are looking for a quick read with lots of action, and are not one to get bogged down in the small details, this will be a great choice for you.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Fragile Designs from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.