The Sedalia Code by Patricia Raybon - A Book Review

  

Not long after starting The Sedalia Code I recognized something in the writing style and recalled a book by Patricia Raybon that I had previously read and thoroughly enjoyed. So, I settled in for a great read and was not disappointed. The Sedalia Code is largely set in North Carolina during World War II during the time Jim Crow laws were in place and enforced throughout the south. Laurette Lowe strived to lift herself out of the poverty she had been raised in. Her goal was in sight when she was provisionally hired to teach mathematics at a prestigious Black finishing school in Sedalia, North Carolina. Lieutenant Neville Pierce was stationed nearby at Camp Butner which housed prisoners of war. Together Laurette, Neville, and some of the school faculty are drawn into a plan to protect the country after coded messages were discovered on base.

Raybon does a wonderful job of building empathy for her characters as they face extreme forms of prejudice and persecution. Empathy is something our country needs more of. So, this type of book is invaluable. I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Sedalia Code from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Pride and Practicality by Pepper Basham - A Book Review

  

It was a joy to revisit the family of Ravenscross from Sense and Suitability. In Pride and Practicality, we get to meet the prodigal sister of Lord Ravenscross who maybe wasn’t as prodigal as some assumed. Plans to reintroduce her to society do not quite proceed as planned, but is the goal a lost cause? We also learn more about Lady Ravenscross’ cousin, rector Thomas Bridges. Thomas has been assigned the responsibility of restoring confidence in the respectability of the rector’s position in St. Groves. How might a connection to his cousin’s sister-in-law impact his ability to meet this expectation?

Pepper Basham creates such fun, easy-to-love characters, and her villains are people one loves to see brought to justice. She creates lively, quick-witted, natural-sounding dialogue that often reflects the reader’s feelings. The mental images she creates and the emotions she evokes come easily and quickly. Since I am especially a fan of her historical fiction, I highly recommend Pride and Practicality, as well as Sense and Suitability.

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

Tenderly Betrayed by Hannah Linder - A Book Review

  

Tenderly Betrayed is a psychologically intense story of grief, betrayal, loneliness, and healing. The story is a bit dark, but the ending is filled with light. It does not follow any stereotypical historical romance tropes with which I am familiar, which contributed to its being a more challenging read as far as successfully predicting what comes next. Readers who suffer from depression will have to decide whether they want to wade through a great number of depressing events before there is a resolution, as the writer is skillful in placing her readers into the middle of her stories.

I do highly recommend Tenderly Betrayed and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.