The Women of Oak Ridge by Michelle Shocklee - A Book Review

  

I have read many books set during WWII, but none have been anything like The Women of Oak Ridge. This book has a very original plot. Through its dual timeline in the 1940s and late 1970s, the story of Maebelle Willett slowly and carefully unfolds. We first meet young Maebelle as she answers President Franklin D. Roosevelt's call to serve her country after being approached by a recruiter to work for Clinton Engineer Works, a Tennessee company involved in war work. We meet Maebelle as an older version of herself as her niece comes to spend the summer with her to do research on how living and working in the secret city of Oak Ridge, Tennessee impacted the lives of those who, mostly unknowingly, helped in the making of the first atomic bombs, and therefore in the death and destruction that resulted. The Women of Oak Ridge becomes a story of spies and espionage, a story that reveals how easily lines between right and wrong can become blurred. It also reveals the toll secrets and unforgiveness, even if it is for ourselves, can take on one's life.

Michelle Shocklee's careful research and skillful storytelling is masterfully displayed in The Women of Oak Ridge. Her use of the dual timeline to reveal information that carries the story forward and develops her characters is carried out with great precision, intricately weaving the story together. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Codebreaker's Daughter by Amy Lynn Green

  

I have always enjoyed Amy Lynn Green's books, but The Codebreaker's Daughter is by far my favorite. This dual timeline novel tells the story of Lillian Kendall's life and her work as a codebreaker in WWI; and the life of her daughter, Dinah, who was trying to serve her country in her own way during WWII. The true historical characters are well-portrayed alongside their fictional counterparts. The themes of mental health and overcoming insecurities are developed as we come to know the characters better and as the intrigue intensifies. Determining whom to trust while working in intelligence and special operations is not an easy task. Ulterior motives abound, even where least anticipated.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Codebreaker's Daughter from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

  

I have been a Jaime Jo Wright fan since The House on Foster Hill was released in 2017. I have read each of her books released since then, each eerie in its own way. Specters in the Glass House has a mood reminiscent of The House on Foster Hill and The Curse of Misty Wayfair, two of my favorites.

This latest book has dual-timelines. Marian Arnold came to live in the Müllerian Manor near Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1921 after her father's death and bankruptcy, the home in which her mother had died. Remy Crenshaw came to live in the manor in present time having taken a job as research assistant for a famous biographer who wants to write Marian's story. Specters and disembodied voices also populate the manor, a manor where long-ago murders are yet unsolved, and new murders seem likely to occur.

I don't want to spoil the story by revealing the deeper themes, but I assure you that this is no simple ghost story, but rather a tale with weighty matters to ponder. As with each of her books, the reader comes away with a fresh insight or an affirmation of a facet of God's character.

Specters in the Glass House will hold readers captive from the first page to the last. They will find themselves, as I did, repeatedly adjusting their predictions of who the culprit or culprits might be. I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this wonderful book from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox

  

Between the Sound and Sea becomes a dual timeline story mostly through the memories of octogenarian Finnegan Walter O'Hare, AKA Walt. In the early 1940s sixteen-year-old Walt left his best friend, Cay, behind as he left to join the merchant marines. It was the last time he saw her because she was reported to have disappeared the same night his ship was blown out of the water. Her father was found dead not long after, and so rumors about the father and daughter began. In 2007, Walt is still looking for ways to make things right.

Both story lines are interesting and well-thought-out. Each has its share of love, tragedy, and loss. The overall theme of restoration is well-done. The characters are ones that readers will come to care about. I highly recommend all of Amanda Cox's books. They are rich in excellent writing and deep themes. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Between the Sound and Sea from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Bitter and Sweet by Rhonda McKnight - A Book Review

  

Bitter and Sweet is a beautiful piece of women's fiction with a wholesome message. It deals with a wide variety of relationship issues, some of which are not often dealt with in Christian fiction novels. It is a dual-timeline story that focuses on Tabitha Cooper and her great-great-granddaughters. Tabitha was a dark skinned black woman living in a time and place where light skin was prized. While that caused enough complications, she also was the victim of a smooth-talking older man who separated her from her family and made her dependent upon him. Four generations later one great-great-granddaughter is widowed and homeless, her sister going through a divorce and trying to cope with depression on her own. The sisters' relationship is tenuous at best, both continuing to deal with the aftermath of their mother's death years ago.

The character development in this story is masterfully accomplished. The storyline is realistic, and readers will empathize with the main characters, cheering them on as they develop into the strong women they are meant to be. Hopefully some may find inspiration for their own journey to heal relationships and to develop inner strength. 

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. 

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 Wings of Poppy Pendleton by Melanie Dobson - A Book Review

  

The Wings of Poppy Pendleton is a wonderful read. It is truly original; I have never read another story quite like it. Author Melanie Dobson peels back the many layers of Poppy's story through the interplay of Poppy's childhood and coming of age story with the contemporary story of Chloe and Emma who now reside on the island that was for a short while Poppy's home. Dobson highlights the drug epidemic that has haunted our nation for many years through the legal sale of opium during the Gilded Age to both the legal and illegal sale of opioids and narcotics during contemporary times. The impact of addiction and those who profit from it is devastating to individuals, families, and society in general. While incorporating this into The Wings of Poppy Pendleton, Dobson doesn't allow her readers to get bogged down there. The mystery of Poppy's disappearance that Chloe and investigative reporter Logan Danford must solve carries the story. There are many surprises in store.

I highly recommend this book to fans of dual-timeline stories and mysteries. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Keys to Gramercy Park by Candice Sue Patterson - A Book Review

  

Candice Sue Patterson skillfully intertwines the present day storyline with the one set in the mid- to late-1800s. Andrea Andrews' job as a journalist for Smithsonian Magazine thrives on historical research, especially if a mystery is involved, and even more so if it might lead to a promotion. Currently she must supplement her income waitressing at an upscale restaurant in New York City. That is where she meets Beau Davidson-Quincy. Although, she does not initially recognize the gubernatorial candidate. Beau welcomes the opportunity to help Andrea solve a mystery involving counterfeit money in order to get to know her better.

Edward and Franklin Davidson might have been almost identical twins, but there were no similarities in their personalities nor in their moral compass. Franklin was a Civil War hero, Edward a swindler and a counterfeiter. It has been a long time since I have read a book in which the author spent so much of the story developing the character of the antagonist. In this case it was time well-spent. While Edward seemed to have gotten away with perpetrating great evil, will his exploits come back to haunt his descendants?

This truly engrossing mystery brings about a gambit of emotions. The author reveals information at just the right time, and keeps the reader totally in the palm of her hand. I highly recommend The Keys to Gramercy Park and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.  

In Spotlight and Shadow by Rachel Scott McDaniel - A Book Review

  

In preparing to write this review, I had to step back and take an unemotional look at the story, fearing that its having followed on the heels of two exceptional reads might cloud my opinion. Doing my best to be fair-minded, I would say that In Spotlight and Shadow is a fair read. I did enjoy the Vaudeville era timeline much more than the contemporary one. The characters felt more genuine and down-to-earth. The rich country music star in the contemporary storyline was a bit over done. The mystery of the earlier storyline had a Dashiell Hammett feel to it that was enjoyable. To use an analogy, if this book were a movie I had seen on television, I would feel good about the time spent. If it were one I had chosen for a date night at the theater, I would feel a bit disappointed.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of In Spotlight and Shadow from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.