The Christmas Book Flood by Roseanna M. White - A Book Review

  

I have become familiar with the Jólabókaflóđ tradition in Iceland over the last few Christmas seasons. I searched the internet for the correct pronunciation and got a variety of answers, most varied on the sound of the last letter. The first four syllables are consistently presented as yo-la-bok-a, while the last can be found as flot, flod, and floth among other variations. The word translates in English to Christmas (or Yule) Book Flood. Roseanna M. White's novella The Christmas Book Flood uses the story of fictional characters Tatiana Eliasdottir and Anders Johannsson who both work for a publishing company called Sogufelagith, the Story Society, to tell of the birth of this tradition; which I will not spoil for you by explaining it here.

This wonderful novella is a quick read that book lovers of all types are likely to enjoy because of the tradition they will likely want to adopt. Those who enjoy a sweet romance will be especially pleased. The theme of miscommunication and its effect on self-esteem may have each of us examining our own assumptions as well as how our words and actions appear to others. Happy reading and merry Christmas!

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Christmas Book Flood from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Reluctant Healer of Halifax by Terrie Todd - A Book Review

 

This is the second work of fiction that I have read centered around the historical event of the Great Halifax Explosion on December 6, 1917, yet I was still unprepared for the enormous devastation that occurred that day. An estimated 2,000 people were killed, and an estimated 8,000 were injured when two ships collided in Halifax Harbour. Hundreds were permanently blinded. Over one third of the victims were under the age of fifteen.

Terrie Todd makes readers aware of the big picture, but also skillfully makes the disaster personal for two fictional families and thus to the readers of The Reluctant Healer of Halifax. This multi-themed story deals with being able to do more than you ever thought possible when the need arises, sacrificing ones own needs and concerns for those of others, and perseverance coming through the testing of one's faith. This book is a wonderful read, and the enjoyment of that experience would be multiplied with opportunities to discuss the story with others along the way, making it an ideal book club selection.

I am grateful to have received The Reluctant Healer of Halifax from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Light of Stars by Jenelle Hovde

 

In 1803 two children were kidnapped from their home in Hyberabad, India, leaving their widowed mother alone. Raised on an estate in England, the two learned what was now expected of them by an uncaring grandfather who deplored their mixed heritage. Now, grown and being forced into a life they don't want to live, extreme measures may be necessary to live a life that honors God and respects their heritage.

Jenelle Hovde has skillfully blended the lives of her fictional characters with those of real life reformist William Wilberforce and missionary and translator William Carey. She has obviously carefully researched not only the lives of these men, but also the East India Company and the social and political culture of India in the early1800s. This is the first book of Hovde's that I have read, but I will certainly be on the lookout for others. I enjoy her writing style and appreciate the realism and authenticity of this story.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Light of Stars from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Spy Keeper of Marseille by Roseanna M. White

  

It's been a long time since I've read a really good WW II novel. This story was a great one with which to return to the genre. The fact that it involved the French resistance is a bonus for me. The Spy Keeper of Marseille emphasizes that each of us has strengths and talents that can be utilized in causes that we are passionate about. We must be willing to be brave and to make sacrifices for what is right. Zelie Bellarose, widowed mother of two children who live with their grandmother while their mother works as a keeper of spies, exemplifies this as does pianist Marcel Laurent. Together they rally the fine arts world into an alliance to spy on enemy soldiers and leaders. This book's themes, the intrigue, and the danger are all well written and compliment one another.

I highly recommend The Spy Keeper of Marseille and am to have received a complimentary copy from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Bachelor Spy by Pepper Basham - A Book Review

  

Pepper Basham is offering fans of her Freddy and Grace Mysteries another delightful mystery along with some special surprises along the way. This fifth book has multiple mysteries going on at once, frequently becoming entangled with one another. Basham keeps both her characters and her readers on their toes. Sorting the good guys from the bad guys is a frequent challenge. Humor, challenges, and life lessons are well-balanced. There is plenty of lightheartedness to act as the sugar to help the medicine, or in this case the morals to the story, go down. The ending is satisfying and pleasing on several fronts. I highly recommend The Bachelor Spy, but suggest reading the Freddy and Grace Mysteries in sequence in order to get maximum comprehension and reading pleasure. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Bachelor Spy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. This is a series that I will likely reread one day. 

The Christmas Quilt by Teresa Slack - A Brief Comment

  

The title drew me to this book when the Kindle copy was offered for free on Amazon. While my copy had quite a few typos, I truly enjoyed this sweet, yet intriguing, story. Mourning the loss of her grandmother, Ivy Greer comes across an old trunk containing a beautiful, Christmas-themed quilt, that her grandmother had obviously created for her. Shocked when the man who had always been like an uncle to her quickly took the quilt from her, Ivy sets out to solve the mystery of the quilt.

Theresa Slack is a new to me author. I will be keeping a look out for other books by her. This story has a wonderful plot, and is realistic. The dialogue was well written. The ending played well and didn't seem rushed. All hallmarks for me of an enjoyable read. 

Where We Belong by Kim Vogel Sawyer - A Book Review

Where We Belong is an Orphan Train novel, but the two children on whom the story focuses are not truly orphans. When their mom passed away during the younger sister's birth, their father was unable to care for them while trying to hang onto a job during the Great Depression. With their care home closing and an inability to reach their father, the girls were placed on the Orphan Train heading west. Where We Belong is the story of the girls' lives with the lady who adopted them as well as a young boy from the train, the oldest sister's struggle to get back to New York City where their father can find them, and a desperate father's search for his daughters. While the ending is easily predictable, readers will enjoy following the emotional journey of the girls and the people who love them. Vogel has done a wonderful job generating empathy, developing her characters, and painting vivid word pictures of times and places I have never personally seen, but can now readily visualize.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Where We Belong from WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Lumber Baron's Wife by Lynn Austin - A Book Review

  

The Lumber Baron's Wife is a dual-timeline story. The common element is the setting: two Craftsman style homes built in the 1870s in a town on the western coast of Michigan. In the 1870s Kate, the young wife of Lumber Baron Henry Abernathy, resided in the larger of the two homes. Kate had been brought up in poverty and was unprepared to be the lady her husband wanted her to be. The smaller home was the residence of her unlikely friend Harriet and her husband, Dr. John Benson. The lives of these two women became tangled together sometimes supporting and helping one another, other times lost in their own sorrows, until Kate's disappearance.

The current day storyline focuses on Ashley Gilbert a new bride who moves to Michigan, giving up her job at a history museum to go where her husband has been hired for his dream job. Fearing they never would find a home they would agree upon, Ashley and David finally come to an agreement, purchasing Dr. and Mrs. Benson's 150 year-old home, with great reservation on David's part. As Ashley seeks employment, she stumbles upon the run-down Abernathy mansion and the volunteers who are striving to restore it. In no time she is hooked, and becomes enthralled with the unsolved mystery of Kate Abernathy's disappearance.

Lynn Austin does a wonderful job developing these three women's characters as well as those of the men in their lives. She skillfully draws compassion from her readers, well except for maybe that one character that elicits a more negative reaction. Themes of allowing God into one's tough times, and seeking His will are well-developed. The dialogue is well-written, and the things left unsaid speak loudly. I highly recommend The Lumber Baron's Wife and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Bookshop of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

  

This dual-timeline novel tells the story of Ambrose Fields, a home built not long before the American Revolution, that survived the Civil War, and was now an historic site. Minnie Tipton moved to Ambrose Fields twenty-five years after the Battle of nearby Gettysburg. Minnie had lost her mother at seventeen, and could not understand why her father had uprooted them to move to this estate which was home to a gruesome past and the ghost stories that generated. Triss Billamy moved to Ambrose Fields in current times in an effort to flee her family and their joint livelihoods focused on the supernatural and paranormal. She was on a quest for truth and to know God. Her part in her family's profession had left her frightened and confused. At Ambrose Fields she would be among her favorite things, books, as the manager of the sites's bookshop and having been tasked with cataloging the library as well. When Triss' brother and his crew show up to investigate the paranormal sightings at the estate, Minnie's and Triss' worlds collide.

Jaime Jo Wright has once again successfully guided readers through a spine-tingling tale filled with things that go bump in the night and people who behave in unexpected ways. As things begin to fall in place, she reveals insights into God and how one may come to know Him. There is another prominent theme, but revealing that here would classify as a spoiler. So, I will leave that to my fellow readers to enjoy discovering that for themselves.

I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Bookshop of 99 Doors from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.  

The Bird of Bedford Manor by Michelle Griep - A Book Review

 

Set in 1820 Bedfordshire, England, The Bird of Bedford Manor is a Regency era, Gothic, romantic suspense tale. Henry Russell is struggling to fill his father's shoes as head of the manor and in his business affairs. Being very hard on himself as he works to prove himself to his father, things are complicated by an unknown someone who is seeking to frighten, and maybe harm, his sister. Seeing to her protection and solving the mystery of her tormentor's identity, Henry feels God is providing a helper in his efforts in the form of Juliet finch, a poacher who was apprehended on his property, and one possessing skills he requires.

Michelle Griep once again rewards her readers for patiently waiting for her next novel. Her passion for this time and place, and for exposing the darkness to light, is on full display in The Bird of Bedford Manor. Obvious evil will be exposed and brought out into the open, and the darkness of one's soul will be expelled. I highly recommend this book and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Caregiver at Wounded Knee by Debby Lee - A Book Review

  

The Caregiver at Wounded Knee follows Rose Rushing Water, a member of the Lakota tribe who had been educated in Boston to be a nurse. While in Boston, Rose's experiences included the pains of prejudice against her people as well as the joys of learning nursing, discovering new authors, and making a best friend. Rose was ready to liver her dream of returning home to her brothers and serving the Indians and settlers residing there. She also was excited to reconnect with her language and traditions, something that was far more difficult than she had ever anticipated. The story of Rose's life leads to her presence at the Wounded Knee Creek on the day of the infamous massacre.

The theme of understanding how an all-powerful and loving God allows people to do horrible things to one another, sometimes in the name of Christianity, and that of justice unrealized are at the center of The Caregiver at Wounded Knee and are well-developed. There is a particular analogy the author uses that goes a long way in explaining why we should not give up on God when people do terrible things.

For the most part, I truly enjoyed this novel. There were a few places where the dialogue or the descriptive prose seemed to be that of a less mature writer, but that certainly wasn't a consistent feature. I enjoyed the story and may seek out others based on this time period in the American West. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Caregiver at Wounded Knee from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Fault Between Us by Stephanie Landsem - A Book Review

 

To be honest, there were several times during the first third of this book that I considered abandoning it because it was filled with characters I didn't particularly like that spent most of their time whining and bickering. Fortunately, I trudged along and by the time I was midway through the book, I was hooked. The last half of the book was compelling, and I ended up liking all of the major characters, and enjoyed seeing how they matured through the many hardships they faced.

The Fault Between Us is set in 1959 in and around Yellowstone National Park. Landsem's fictional characters had endured hardships in life, and largely coped with them in unhealthy ways. Experiencing the non-fictional earthquake that occurred in the Hebgen Lake area greatly impacted their priorities and relationships in a very positive manner. I am grateful that I was moved to continue reading and that I was able to experience this wonderful story. I am also grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this novel from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

 

The Red Cottage by Hannah Linder - A Book Review

    

The Red Cottage has a Regency Cornwall setting, a sometimes brooding Scottish hero, a damsel in distress with two handsome men vying for her hand, and unknown assailants. Well disguised clues and red herrings abound. Author Hannah Linder has readers in the palm of her hand until the very end, an ending that is not rushed and completely satisfies. The themes of true love, resilience, and forgiveness versus retribution are well written into this dramatic tale.

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

Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham - A Book Review

  

Set in the early 1800s in St. Groves,England, Miss Emmeline Lockhart, a gentleman's daughter, is entering her third season in society with a still tender heart, no great motivation to attend parties or balls, and a secret. Simon Reeves, the new Viscount of Ravenscross, must find a wife whose dowry can save the floundering estate he has inherited. This means giving up the woman who his heart truly belongs to in order to provide for his family. Fans of Pepper Basham, and sweet romantic fiction of the Regency era can easily guess how this story will end, but getting there is so much fun! While there are periods of tension and disappointment, humor and good will carry the day in this lighthearted story. Emmeline's willingness to demonstrate compassion rather than hold tightly to hurts leads to many good things, even though getting there was quite bumpy. While we as readers enjoy the humor, perhaps some consideration of how we might do likewise would be beneficial.

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

In the Light of the Sun by Angela Shupe - A Book Review

  

I have read lots of WWII novels, but very few have focused on what life was like in Italy and none have focused on the Philippines. In the Light of the Sun does this by placing Rosa Grassi in Italy with her grandmother and her sister, Caramina, with their family in the Philippines. Both sisters aspire to careers as sopranos in the opera like their nonna. While they both deal with cruelty, dwindling resources, and separation caused by the war, these things take different forms for each of the sisters.

The author's mother, aunts, and godmother grew up in the Philippines. This story is inspired by the stories they shared about the beauty of their country, the closeness of their family, their faith, and the role music played in their lives, things that helped them survive and thrive in wartime. Shupe also did considerable research, and this is evident in the details of this story.

While it took me a bit to get into the story, once I did, I was all in. I enjoyed the strong sensation of being there, especially in the jungle scenes, and feeling a strong sense of empathy for both main and secondary characters. Much of the story revolves around music, Rosa's training, Caramina's dream of one day training, and the importance of music in their daily lives. Even those, like me, who don't have a great interest in music, won't be weighed down or distracted by this focus. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of In the Light of the Sun from Random House Christian Publishing Group via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Heart of Bennet Hollow by Joanne Bischof - A Book Review

  

The Heart of Bennet Hollow is an Appalachian retelling of Pride and Prejudice. The daughter of a semi-retired geologist for the mining industry, Lizbeth Bennet, longs to help her father save the family farm and especially her beloved livestock. Socially awkward William Drake was one of several coal barons looking into purchasing the New River mine. He was, unfortunately, the only coal baron considering the well-being of the townspeople, the miners, and the farmers whose land was entangled with the mine. Meeting Lizbeth had only served to deepen that concern.

Having read The Heart of Bennet Hollow, I have now checked out Pride and Prejudice and look forward to reading the original story. I had always thought about reading it; The Heart of Bennet Hollow inspired me to carry through. Joanne Bischof DeWitt does a wonderful job of showing understanding and respect to a culture that is often stereotyped and belittled. This story of family, romance, stewardship, and care was a charming read. 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 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. 

A Sea View Christmas by Julie Klassen - A Book Review

  

A Sea View Christmas is the fourth book in Julie Klassen's On Devonshire Shores, and it is just as lovely as the others. The Summers family relocated to Sidmouth on the Devonshire shores after the death of Mr. Summers. In order to survive the daughters, along with their mother, opened and operate a guest house. Their stories and those of their guests make for delightful reading for fans of early 1800 historical fiction. Sarah Summers, the second eldest sister,has been a steady feature in each book. Now it is her time to shine, although she may be the last to realize it. Family, hospitality, and loving one's neighbor as yourself are consistent themes throughout the series with a touch of romance to help move the story forward.

A Sea View Christmas will delight readers with nostalgic Christmas and New Year games and traditions. Klassen's writing is filled with enough lighthearted fun to balance the weightier parts of the story, just as Sarah must learn to balance responsibility and the enjoyment of life. 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 French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron - A Book Review

  

This dual timeline story is set largely in France in the 1940s WWII era and the early 1950s, It focuses on Kathryn (Kat) Harris, AKA Cèléne, during the time she was working for the United States Office of Strategic Services. Kat and her brother remained close even after each chose a different parent to live with following their parents' divorce. Kat was much more suited to helping in her father's garage than attending her mother's society parties. Her proficiency with languages acquired at Wellesley College, the mechanical skills she had picked up at the garage, her innate talents, and her strong will made her a perfect candidate for the OSS. Unfortunately, one skill that she lacked that became crucial to the success of her mission was cooking, in particular cooking French Cuisine. On-the-job training had to suffice, and the skills she acquired remained useful to Kat after the war as she sought to locate her brother, or at least to learn what happened to him after she'd last seen him in France.

The French Kitchen is very well-written. Readers are transported in space and time. Their emotions become highly engaged, emotions of fear, longing for things to be different, courage, regret, and even of love and joy in the midst of chaos and pain. This is a gripping story that does not easily let go of a reader even as it draws to a close. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Undercover Heiress of Brockton by Kelly J. Goshorn - A Book Review

  

The Undercover Heiress of Brockton begins as a lighthearted read, set in 1905 Brockton, Massachusetts, about twenty-five miles outside of Boston. Henrietta Maxwell is a young woman of society, masquerading as Henry Mason, one of the top reporters for the Brockton Enterprise, a condition of her employment since a female reporter would not be taken seriously. Her personality, persistence, and the situations in which she sometimes finds herself will endear her to fans of Jen Turano's books. In Chapter Five, things take a serious turn when, based on actual events, an explosion and subsequent fire occur at the Grover Shoe Factory. In her undercover persona, Etta, as she is known by family and friends, and fireman Les Eriksson join forces to solve not only the cause of this catastrophic event, but a string of arson related fires in the Campello district of Brockton. Mixed in with the seriousness of their investigation, Goshorn has written in a developing romance with misunderstandings and setbacks. Goshorn sensitively and respectfully includes the difficulties encountered by women of the time who strove to compete in what was the man's world of business and politics. Etta, like many women of the time, struggled with being all she felt led by God to be while also being accepted and loved for being all of who she was.

I recommend this well-written and well-researched book that so well balances levity and seriousness. I would enjoy meeting the main characters as well as some of the secondary characters again in future books. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Undercover Heiress of Brockton from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.