Hope's Enduring Echo by Kim Vogel Sawyer - A Book Review

  

Hope's Enduring Echo takes place in 1915 Colorado. Seventeen-year-old Jennie Ward had taken over her daddy's job of walking and examining the water pipeline that provided water to Cañon City after he fell and broke his leg when she was 15. Her father had slipped into depression after the fall and had never been able to return to his job. It was a heavily guarded secret as her family depended on the income and home that was provided by the Water Works Department. The first person to discover their secret was Leo Day, a young college student aspiring to become a paleontologist and to use that platform to prove the biblical creation story and his belief in young earth creationism. What better place to go on a dinosaur hunt than Colorado, the home of the Bone Wars from 1877 to 1892? Jennie had been without friends since moving to the pipeline. Leo seemed to be an answer to her prayer for a friend. And so began the summer of 1915. Readers will be moved by the many events that occur before that summer draws to a close. The author beautifully illustrates how God moves through prayer and through suffering when one allows oneself to have hope in the Lord and to place themselves and those they love in His care.

Kim Vogel Sawyer consistently writes sweet stories that address difficult themes. This story does not only address the controversial topic of creationism, but also mental illness. It addresses the first with a logically reasoned argument without being argumentative, and the second with great compassion. I highly recommend Hope's Enduring Echo, and all previous works by this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry - A Book Review

  

The Story She Left Behind is inspired by the true literary mystery involving the disappearance of author Barbara Newhall Follet in 1939. Barbara wrote her first novel at the age of eight. She became a published author at the age of twelve. The mystery of her disappearance at the age of twenty-five has never been solved.

Henry's character, Bronwynn Newcastle Fordham was also a child literary prodigy. In 1927, she disappeared off the coast of South Carolina leaving her husband and eight-year-old daughter behind. Twenty-five years later, her daughter, Clara, still grieves the loss of her mother. AS a single mother of eight-year-old Wynnie, Clara's own creativity is expressed in her paintings and book illustrations. She has never quite healed from her mother's abandonment. When she receives an unexpected call from a stranger in London saying a satchel containing some of her mother's papers had been found among his late father's things. Clara and Wynnie begin the adventure of a lifetime.

The Story She Left Behind is filled with magic and mystery, secrets and suspense, and make-believe and wisdom. I usually review Christian fiction, while the characters, or maybe even the author, don't see God in their story, those with eyes to see will certainly glimpse Him there. Although, just like in real life, not all choices will reflect him. The language in this book is beautiful. It is meant to be savored, not hurried through. While the ending is not rushed, readers will not be fully ready for the story to end.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Story She Left Behind from Simon &Schuster via NetGalley without obligation.All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Break My Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn - A Book Review

  

It was a treat to be back in Gossamer Falls with the Quinn family. It would be hard to find a more loyal yet quirky family. Readers new to Gossamer Falls will find that Break My Fall works well as a stand-alone read, but will likely want to then read the first book to spend more time with the Quinns and learn more of the backstory alluded to in this book.

As always Blackburn provides some sweet romance as a backdrop to an intense suspense story. Danger abounds! Break My Fall is written in classic Blackburn style. Her work is consistently engaging and compelling. That is why I am never hesitant to recommend any and all of her novels. Her dialogue flows naturally, her protagonists are people it is easy to care about, and she creates vivid mental images of her settings without being too wordy in her descriptions.

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

How to Fast: Rediscover the Ancient Practice for Unlocking Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Renewal by Reward Sibanda - A Book Review

  

I was sitting with a group of ladies telling them about this fascinating book I am reading on the topic of fasting. I am not sure they thought fascinating was the right word for a book on this topic, but after reading How to Fast: Rediscover the Ancient Practice for Unlocking Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Renewal by Reward Sibanda, I truly have a greater understanding of the essence of fasting as well as the process. I feel more prepared to build on my past experiences as my husband and I plan to be more regular and intentional in practicing fasting as a part of our continued spiritual formation. Sibanda gives a detailed explanation of what physically occurs day by day during a water fast as he also explains the spiritual benefits. He brings out cultural aspects of the practice of fasting. After reading this book and sharing parts with my husband, we not only sense the Holy Spirit's encouragement, but are genuinely excited about the impact fasting will have.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has any questions about fasting and who wants to receive the greatest possible spiritual and physical benefits. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of How to Fast from WaterBrook without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Ambush by Colleen Coble - A Book Review

  

Ambush is the first in Colleen Coble's Sanctuary Novel series. It has the bonus of including appearances from her Pelican Harbor series and the Tupelo Grove series she co-wrote with Rick Acker. The novel is written in a similar style to these two series. Her protagonists are people who have had great challenges in life, survived, and are now ready to thrive. Unfortunately, obstacles abound, unlike answers which are elusive. A series of unexplained events from break-ins to possible murder place Blake Lawson in Deputy Creed Greene's crosshairs, in spite of the fact that it appears that Blake is actually the victim rather than the perpetrator. Blake, along with his high school girlfriend, who has recently returned to solve a mystery from her own past, must work to solve the mystery of who is after Blake before he finds himself in jail for the crimes.

Ambush has all the elements necessary for a great romantic suspense story: a wonderful plot, well-planted clues and red herrings, romantic tension, high stakes for the protagonists, and several likely suspects. Coble has pulled them all together to create a story readers won't be able to put down, and she has left a bit of a cliffhanger originating from the case Paradise Alden originally came to investigate to prepare us for the next book in the series. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Ambush from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

When the Sky Burned by Liz Tolsma

  

We have all heard of the Great Chicago Fire, a conflagration that began on October 8, 1871, but few of us are likely to be familiar with the fire that consumed the village of Peshtigo in northeastern Wisconsin on that same day. Approximately three hundred people died in the Great Chicago Fire. Between twelve hundred and twenty-five hundred were killed in the Peshtigo fire. Exact numbers were impossible to ascertain as the extremely hot fires reduced many bodies to ash.

The fire in Peshtigo, Wisconsin is the focus of the latest addition to Barbour Publishing's A Day to Remember series. It is written by Liz Tolsma. While the main characters are fictional, the details of the disaster are well-researched and accurately yet sensitively described. Mariah Randolph suffers great loss during the fire, loss beyond material possessions, and even beyond loss of loved ones. The story becomes one of reconciling faith and the hope and joy found in choosing to see God's blessings even in times of hardship.

Seeds of this story were planted in the author's heart and mind years ago. Now, readers will be blessed with the fully mature product of those seeds. When the Sky Burned is a story whose encouragement will linger on for some time. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this novel from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Where Your Treasure Is by Eugene H. Peterson - A Book Review

  

I have been reviewing books for years and do not often have difficulty doing so. This book posed a challenge to putting my ideas into paragraph form. Rather they seemed to want to organize themselves into a three column table of portions that touched my heart and soul, portions that challenged me to think deeper, and portions that I had to trudge through. The last being at least partially responsible for the length of time it took me to complete this book.

The theme of the book certainly rings loud and true. As the author states, America is in conspicuous need of unselfing. The point is made that this great need is best addressed through prayer. Eleven Psalms are used to focus the reader on eleven areas in which this needs to occur. Author, Eugene H. Peterson connects this need for unselfing to the need to stop dividing our lives between religion and politics. He encourages us, through our prayer life, to allow our faith in Christ to fully permeate all areas of our lives.

I read through the first five chapters, taking notes, gleaning things here and there. Then, chapter six struck me deeply. The importance of humility, a forgotten virtue in our society where self-assertion is prized, and the importance of allowing God to assert Himself in and through us is beautifully unfolded in this chapter. Chapter ten also took me deeper; it is here that Peterson addresses our relationship with the rest of God's creation. Chapter eleven gives much food for thought as it focuses on the responsibility and impact a godly loving marriage is capable of having on our society.

I am grateful to have received a copy of Where Your Treasure Is from a friend. 

Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard - A Book Review

  

Elizabeth Goddard holds her readers firmly in the palm of her hand from start to finish in her most recent novel, Storm Warning. The powerful storms rolling into the Pacific Northwest mirror the storms threatening Remi Grant. Yet, while she can see the storm clouds gathering, tumbling over one another, heading her way, helping her to predict their impact and to know how to prepare, her amnesia makes those things impossible for the storms of life headed her way. Helicopter pilot Hawk Beckett has flown through his share of storms while in the 160^th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Night Stalkers. Since leaving the Night Stalkers he has been flying through personal storms. Now that he and Remi's lives have intersected, the storms are intensifying for them both.

I highly recommend Storm Warning for fans of romantic suspense. The action, intrigue, and personal lives of the main characters are all quite intense. The physical storms almost seem as if they are a character in the story as Goddard reveals their impact and ferocity. Surprises abound.

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

Guilty Until Innocent by Robert Whitlow - A Book Review

  

It had been a couple of years since I had read a Robert Whitlow novel, and I was so ready for one. His legal thrillers are always thoroughly engaging and Guilty Until Innocent is one of his best. Tension normally doesn’t sound like a good thing, not an environment one longs to be in, but the tension Whitlow builds within this story is the kind that is compelling, the kind that combines angst and that tingle of anticipation.

 Ryan Clark’s law career had gotten off to a rocky start. It seems as if Ryan, working for his third law office, is living life waiting for the other shoe to fall. He doesn’t want to let his faithful and supportive wife down again. So, when circumstances arise that involve a twenty-year-old murder case, his current boss, and threats from an unknown source, Ryan has to decide whether to pursue safety and security or justice. The stakes just keep getting higher.

 Whitlow masterfully includes characters with deep faith and those with emerging faith in Christ. Their lives are testimonies to the value of faith and the goodness of God. Whitlow demonstrates that one’s value is determined by God rather than money or position.

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

Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin - A Book Review

  

This World War II novel is set in Scotland, not a setting for this time period that I have often encountered in my reading. It was interesting to see the varied reaction of the Scots to serving in the British military, some seeing it as their duty, others as a threat to their longed for independence. Of special interest in this novel is the work of MI5's Double Cross program, turning spies with German loyalties into double agents. Cilla van der Zee's attempt to become a spy for the Abwehr as a ruse to leave behind the difficulties she was experiencing working in the Dutch resistance allowed her to use her many skills and talents within the Double Cross program, but made it difficult for her to be accepted as honest and trustworthy among those with whom she worked. Outgoing and social by nature, her situation forced her to become more introspective and to consider her relationship with God and His hand in her life.

Lieutenant Lachlan Mackenzie was grateful for another opportunity, however brief, to serve in the Royal Navy after being expelled a few months shy of graduating from the Royal Navy College. He struggled with forgiving his younger brother for his role in that expulsion. His nature led him to strictly adhere to rules and regulations, making if difficult to understand or forgive either his brother or Miss van der Zee with whom he was coerced to work.

I give this novel five stars for its original plot, wonderful characters, and the manner in which the author brings the setting to life. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Midnight on the Scottish Shore from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Secrets Between the Shelves by Cynthia Hickey, Linda Baten Johnson, Teresa Ives Lilly, and Marilyn Turk

  

Secrets Between the Shelves contains four cozy mystery novellas set in or around bookshops, each by a different author. If I were reviewing each story separately, there would be one three star and three four star ratings. Each story contains quirky characters and is well-plotted. Three have good character development, enough realism to keep the reader's interest, and a satisfying conclusion. I would recommend this collection of stories to fans of cozy mysteries and mystery lovers in need of a quick read. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Barbour Books via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Protecting You by Robin Patchen - A Book Review

Robin Patchen's Nutfield Saga and Coventry Saga books were are all wonderful, all twenty-one of them. Her current series, The Wright Heroes of Maine is unbelievably even better! The first four books each highlight a different Wright brother, this one, book number five, highlights one of their cousins, a cyber security expert, Alyssa Wright. Many of the books deal with intrigue involving terror_ _ _ (an -ism word that some sites flag and reject reviews for). The heroes of this series put themselves in harm's way to serve their country and to protect those they love. While the books in each of these series fall within the romantic suspense genre, never does the romance overshadow the suspense and intrigue.

In Protecting You, Alyssa leaves her government job to start her own business as a cyber investigator. Unfortunately, her best client, the one that keeps her in business, is not the person she thought him to be. CIA agent Callan Templeton has requested a desk job as he sorts out unexpected personal issues, but when he sees his former college crush in a restaurant with this client, he can't leave her alone with him. This leads the two of them into desperate circumstances in which they must call on all of their personal expertise as well as that of Alyssa's family and their contacts. I most highly recommend this book, this series, and Patchen's previous series. While Protecting You can be read as a stand-alone read, I suggest reading the books in this series in order. Be prepared to want to binge read, forget Netflix. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from the author without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Defending the Child by Sharon Dunn - A Book Review

  

Sharon Dunn has gifted readers with non-stop action in Defending the Child. Marielle Coleman, a child psychologist, encounters her former fiance and DEA agent, Graham Flynn, as she strives to protect her foster son from the man who murdered his mother. Chaos ensues. The themes of God's timing and the ways He uses suffering and loss are woven into this story, leaving readers to ponder their own response to these themes within their own lives. On a personal note, I was also reading Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp as I read this book. It was amazing how the themes of these two books, one fiction and one non-fiction, interplayed with one another, enriching the impact of the fictional tale.

I recommend Defending the Child for fans of romantic suspense in need of a quick read. By giving the male and female protagonists a past relationship, the author is able to speed up the relationship building process without sacrificing the authenticity or integrity of the characters. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz - A Book Review

  

From the 1710s to the 1770s Scottish merchants who traded in tobacco grown in the colonies were known as Tobacco Lords. They were innovators in capitalism who became very wealthy. The American War of Independence marked the beginning of the end for this type of tobacco enterprise as growers were then able to send their tobacco directly to Europe, cutting out the middle men.

Juliet Catesby, also known as the Indigo Heiress, helped her father run his business interests including the multiple crops that the Royal Vale Plantation grew. In spite of her assistance, Royal Vale continued to accumulate debt, a problem her father chose to alleviate by betrothing her to Tobacco Lord, Leith Buchanan.

Laura Frantz weaves a tale filled with action, romance, betrayal, and intrigue, all wrapped around extensive research of the era's history on both sides of the Atlantic. The story includes characters that readers will easily become attached to and empathize with. Emotions will run high as injustices and poor timing impact Juliet and Leith's relationship. Readers will be encouraged by these characters' developing spiritual maturity, evolving priorities, and the power of prayer in their lives.

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

Serial Burn by Lynette Eason - A Book Review

  

Lynette Eason consistently provides good romantic suspense for readers to enjoy. Fans will be happy to know that, unlike many series, Lake City Heroes is not ending with this third installment. There is another adventure coming, this one featuring Air Marshal Kristine Duncan and FBI Agent Andrew Ross.

Serial Burn, as its title implies, revolves around an arson investigation. Deputy State Fire Marshal Jesslyn McCormick lost her family in a fire twenty years ago. Now it appears that the arsonist is trying to finish the job by killing Jesslyn as well. This action-filled story is wrapped in the theme of hope, hope through God's forgiveness, hope through the knowledge that God is on His throne and in control, and hope in the relationship we have with Him and with those He puts in our life.

While there were a few instances when I asked myself if people really talk like that, the book is overall well-written with characters readers will care about, subtle clues that will seem trivial at the time, and backstories revealed that enhance the story. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Serial Burn from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

When the Avalanche Roared by Lauralee Bliss - A Book Review

  

When the Avalanche Roared is the latest installment in Barbour Publishing's A Day To Remember series featuring historic North American disasters. This fictionalized account of the 1910 Wellington, Washington avalanche that killed ninety-six people sticks closely to the historical record of the event. While some books in this series jump right into the disaster, this one uses the first ten chapters to develop the fictional story of Lillian and Griffin. This author's writing style is simple and straightforward, however she is still adept at character and scene development. The plot is believable and flows smoothly. Although the negative impact of such a horrific disaster is not minimized, the good that comes from people coming together to support the community and one another softens that impact in the story.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of When the Avalanche Roared from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.