I enjoyed this historical fiction novel, Redeeming the Rake by Lorri Dudley. With a good girl falls for the bad guy trope, we see lots of action, intrI enjoyed this historical fiction novel, Redeeming the Rake by Lorri Dudley. With a good girl falls for the bad guy trope, we see lots of action, intrigue, many faith nuggets, and much character growth in several different characters. Adoption, trying to penalize oneself for mistakes made, rejection, forgiveness for others and oneself are all themes. Although, the biggest theme is that God loves all people He has made and is willing to have even the worst turn to him in repentance and receive forgiveness.
Reading the author notes is always enlightening. It is interesting to learn that part of the story is based on historical legend and rumor.
Some great twists are involved in the story.
My fave secondary character is the vicar. He is so unassuming, yet he appears in the story at critical times to give wise, godly advise.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“We all have worth. Do you know how I know?” Christian shook his head. “Because Jesus paid a high price for us.” “On the cross?” “Indeed.” Emily slid her fingers down his arms and squeezed Christian’s hands. “You and I are precious to God.”
“Once you’ve tasted purpose, you won’t be satisfied with merely living.”
“You’re a child of God. He created ye special, and God doesn’t make mistakes.”
“Welcome to the upside-down world of Jesus, where the meek inherit the earth and the poor in spirit are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Where we forgive those who have wronged us, and where whatever you do for the least of these you do for God.”
“Our sins don’t have to define us. It speaks to a person’s character when they genuinely repent.”...more
Once Upon a Courtship is an anthology of twelve different novellas by different authors. All are Christian-themed, sweet, and clean. They range from tOnce Upon a Courtship is an anthology of twelve different novellas by different authors. All are Christian-themed, sweet, and clean. They range from the Colonial to the Gilded Era. I read a sampling of four authors’ works: MaryLu Tyndale, Regina Scott, Marlene Bierworth, and Chautona Havig.
MaryLu Tyndale’s story, The Privateer’s Prize, was just as enjoyable as her other pirate stories I’ve read. Jilted at the altar by Isaac, Thea encounters him as a hostile privateer as she attempts a journey North as a spy during the Revolutionary War. Attempting to force Isaac to band to her wishes, Thea’s actions cause damage that is hard for Isaac to forgive, even as he attempts to keep her safe. As the two struggle to stay ahead of their pursuers, they begin to see themselves as they had been years earlier, with flaws that would have torn them apart. Even now, God is refining each of them. Isaac regrets the way he treated Thea in the past, “He had not only broken her heart, but he had pushed her away from God, a far worse condition than being jilted.” Even as Isaac realizes a deeper, truer love for Thea( and she for him) he still holds one possession firmly in his fisted hands. “Isaac had turned back to God, had committed his life to Him, but he had never fully given Him everything. He had never put Him first. How could he justify such selfishness when Jesus had given His all, His very life, for Isaac? ***********
“Humility. One more item to add to the list of characteristics Mrs. Dalrymple expected Victoria’s husband to possess, along with patience, faithfulness, fiscal responsibility, kindness to animals, and frequent tithing. He would have to be an absolute paragon among men. She’d never find a groom to match.”
In Leftover Mail-Order Bride by Regina Scott, Victoria Milford has traveled west in 1870s Washington Territory to be the answer to a mail-order bride ad. Upon finding the gentleman already married when she arrives, Victoria must find work or a husband. Her hostess, Mrs. Dalrymple, fancies herself a matchmaker. Will Victoria follow Mrs. Dalrymple’s advice or her own heart? What happens when the gentleman who most appeals, Jack Willets, only wants a wife who will be an assett to the ranch?
***********
In Clara’s Compassion by Marlene Bierworth, a young woman travels West to the Canadian frontier, the Rockies, and the end of the current railroad. By marrying the railroad master there, Clara can still teach like she wants and receive her inheritance that may soon be lost. But will her compassion for all people, no matter their origins, blend with that of her husband-to-be, whose railroad exploits these same people? When confronted about her activities that offend the self-righteous townspeople, Clara avers, “Compassion for the needy holds no boundaries where God is concerned.” What will it take to make these two hearts like-minded and the townspeople willing to accept both Clara and her husband-to-be?
Notable Quotables:
“Does being accepted by the majority make ignoring the minority acceptable?”
“You are like my conscience taking bodily form.”
*************
In Courting Miss Darling, Chautona Havig does it again! She at once amuses me, admonishes me, teaches me, and entertains me. Muriel answers a letter of introduction and begins corresponding with a Dakota Territory rancher. We follow the correspondence of these two lonely people as they slowly reveal who they are on paper. I really admired Muriel for her strength, wisdom, and love she shows teaching the Casper, Wyoming children. Pete also has many good qualities, one being an ability to remember a “conversation” and ask more questions about someone in connection to that. That was one quality that endeared him to Muriel, and it was a real-life quality that endeared my hubby to me as we corresponded for awhile during our long-distance dating.
I enjoyed reading Pete’s mom’s admonition about self-confidence: “you are a son of the King of Kings. That means you are to be humble, for you are not the King Himself, and confident because your Father is the King and will protect you against all manner of things.”
Ms.Havig leads her characters on a very twisted path to matrimony. But, oh, the lessons they and you, the reader will learn as you journey together!
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own....more
“He knew what it was to be judged for the surface of things, for the mistakes and missteps. He knew what it was to need someone to look deeper, to see“He knew what it was to be judged for the surface of things, for the mistakes and missteps. He knew what it was to need someone to look deeper, to see the true heart beneath.”
Misty Beller writes great historical fiction, using the Rocky Mountains and frontier times for her background setting. Winning the Mountain Man’s Love is the fifth book in the Brothers of Sapphire Ranch series and tells Jonah’s story. Because each story builds a little more of the reader’s understanding of the unique occupation and relationship of the brothers, I suggest reading these books in order. You will be happy for the answers found in each new book!
That said, Jonah has lost at life and love…again. To take his mind off this, he volunteers to be the one to leave the Montana territory ranch in search of little Anna’s aunt. All 8-year-old Anna can tell them is that her aunt’s name is “Patsy” and she has very red hair. Plus, her aunt came west to be married.
Little does Jonah realize that in trying to bring healing to a new “family” member, he will bring heartache to himself and many of those he loves. I feel for Jonah. Because he has been unlucky in love, he feels like he is inferior in the eyes of women. Because he is never quite perfect enough in his family’s eyes, and is an easy target for their mocking laughter, great furrows of hurt have been plowed deep into his soul.
When Jonah meets Patience, he quickly recognizes she may be Anna’s aunt. But she has seen so much meanness and abuse from men, she’s not about to trust another, even though Jonah seems so kind. She wants “freedom from the control of any man. Even this one, as tempting as he was right now. He wouldn’t always be like this. No man could be trusted.” Can Jonah convince her he can see past her surface, into her soul, like he himself longs to be seen?
Yikes! The whole social question that is still very alive today- is a child better off with family, because they are related, or might they be better off where they have been placed for a while, and are loved? What is in the best interest of the child? I wanted to shake Patience a few times with her insistence on following her path. Maybe call out the social workers, too!!
Patience having two different names just about drove me crazy. I wanted her to be called one name or the other. But maybe, the way she seems to teeter back and forth on a couple of major decisions, the double name is on purpose?
As always, just when it seems we could be ready for a happy settlement, the “Oregon Trail” music cues, and disaster strikes. This sets us up for more excitement, more chances to forgive, and more chances to restore relationships. This also gives us a headstart on yet another brother’s story.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“God wants more than anything for us to turn to Him when trials come. He wants us to hide in His protection when it seems nothing can go right. To let Him show us just how much He loves us. He does hate sin, but He’s not a God of punishment. He’s made a way for us to be free, so that when we come to Him and ask His forgiveness, our sin disappears. Then He wraps us in His arms…and loves us.”
“It seems like scratching at a sore again and again for years would make it hard to heal.”
“Don't let fear hold you back from reaching for something better.”
“But just 'cause you're good at something don't mean it's where you belong forever." ...more
“You are not useless. You have felt useless.”…“The difference is in how you see yourself. You’ve allowed others to view you in such a way. It is not t“You are not useless. You have felt useless.”…“The difference is in how you see yourself. You’ve allowed others to view you in such a way. It is not the truth. You are useful, Margherita. God has a purpose for you.”
I have loved every Danielle Grandinetti book I have read, but The Italian Musician’s Sanctuary may be my favorite of hers yet! The novel begins with Margherita, a young woman with a limp, that has put her on the expendable list of pre-WW II Italy and Mussolini’s Black Shirts. We also meet Luke Ferryman, a young Englishman whose two aging grandparents are all he has, other than their separate legacies of being a ferryman or baker.
While Margherita is definitely the one in peril from her jealous ex-fiancé, I didn’t know who to empathize with most. Poor Margherita finds it hard to hide in the small English village when her limp confines her to close quarters with an attentive Luke. Guilt hangs over her head as she has been cruelly labeled and assured she is worthless, undeserving to live. “Why are you not supposed to be alive?” “Because I am incapace … unfit, incapable … there is no use for me in the world.” Poor Margherita, who values peace, feels the stress her stay with the Ferryman family brings. “She prized harmony. Discordant notes were her least favorite within a piece of music. To be that chord here among the Ferryman family was its own thorn of doubt under her skin.” And then.. cue up the suspenseful music as things start going wrong!
I loved Luke, but, wow, is he conflicted! He is drawn rather unknowingly into protecting Margherita, then agonizes over whether it is right to conceal her , breaking the law, or whether it would be right to turn her in, sentencing her to deportation and certain death. He is so gentle, so attentive with Margherita, even though he struggles with the rightness of his actions.
Gotta love Gran and Granddad, they both have formative parts in the story. Well- drawn!
Do yourself a favor, get this book if you like 1930s historical fiction, and swoony romance.(“‘You can tell me anything. Ask me anything. You know that, right?’ Goodness, he might as well hand his heart to her on a platter right here and now.” ) Le sigh! And don’t forget the suspense factor coupled with tested faith and plot twists! Superb! Excuse me while I return to daydreaming about this amazing romance!
I received a copy of the book from the author. I also bought my own copy. No positive review is required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Margherita was as strong as the sea. And as gentle as water. She belonged on the water. A pearl of great price, created through trial and hardship.”
“if my heart is so full of love for Him, there is no room for hate. Loving my neighbor is merely an overflow.”
“Did God collect her every sorrow? Did He write each of them in His book? She was niente, nothing. Why would God deign to bend an ear to someone as … broken … as she?”
“The way he said her name. The sensation wrapped around her like a warm breeze blowing in from the Mediterranean. Like he’d found a beautiful daisy. A daisy, like her name meant when translated from Italian to English. It had been so long since someone saw beyond her deformity.” ...more
“We all have a bone to pick with Reid, so it stood to reason that he would be our first target.”
The third book of the Apron Strings series, The Enchan“We all have a bone to pick with Reid, so it stood to reason that he would be our first target.”
The third book of the Apron Strings series, The Enchanting of Miss Elliot is another great book by Grace Hitchcock featuring the Harvey Girls. With more than a touch of the Old West, fine vistas, fancy hotels, and proper serving girls, plus elements of danger, faith, and romance, you’ll be glad you read this book.
A friends-to-lovers trope, Lorna has become a Harvey Girl on a bet with her brother. She hopes to be placed in a hotel far away from her hometown of Las Vegas, New Mexico, but is placed exactly there instead. How is a girl to get over her childhood crush if she has to see him often? For his part, Sheriff Gaston Reid has grown up as Lorna’s brother’s best friend, but was enamored of another Harvey Girl. When that girl marries another, Reid takes s second look at his old friend… who has built up s wall protecting her heart from interest in him.
However, the leader of The Death Riders, a very dangerous gang, has escaped prison, along with his outlaw wife, and life in the West just got a lot more hairy for both Reid and Lorna. There are some unique twists in this book.
Can Reid keep Lorna safe as he promises? Will she ever see him as more than a friend? The Death Riders are like a bad penny. They keep turning up over and over again, and know one knows just when or where they’re going to appear next. While it actually applies to another character, Lorna easily could have said, “…it is a daily act, giving God my fears…” She certainly is learning to trust God through these times!
Lorna suffers from a lack of friends, which is why Reid’s friendship is so valuable to her. She does make friends with some of the other waitresses at the Harvey House Hotels. One of them, knowing Lorna is working at getting over Reid, reminds her, “Remember your goal, and when you waver, count all the blessings the Lord has given you, and pray that He changes the desire of your heart.”
What will it take for this couple to admit that what they feel for each other is more than friendship and God is directing their course to each other?
In summary, the danger, romance, and twists kept me intrigued from the moment I started the book. I am glad there will be more Harvey House Girl historical romances by Hitchcock!
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“…bitterness and rage only blinded the person holding on to the offense.”
“But wouldn’t an apology like that hurt her and the confession would be more for me than her? Yes. Yes, it would.”...more
“But when my life fell apart, Mirette helped me pick up the pieces and glue them back together. Because that is what we southern women do for one anot“But when my life fell apart, Mirette helped me pick up the pieces and glue them back together. Because that is what we southern women do for one another. We pull up our stockings, forgive one another, and hold our friends close no matter what. Understood?”
Welcome back to the 1950s. It is a time of huge department stores, and women are starting to work outside the home. Still, a majority of women are housewives. Segregation is still in effect. The Women of Wynton’s by Donna Mumma brings all these things into sharp focus.
Four very different women are brought together through Wynton’s department store. Audrey is the secretary to Mr. Wynton, the store owner. Having been away from Levy City, FL for many years in NYC, Audrey is back, in a place of authority, and few of the store employees like her. Gigi is rough around the edges, works in the cafeteria, and feels that she doesn’t measure up to those around her. Mary Jo is a housewife and mother who must work because of her husband’s disabling accident. Her dearest wish would be to stay home with her daughters. And lastly, Vivien is an older woman who has a successful wedding salon inside of Wynton’s. Yet, Vivien is feeling like some may want her replaced with a more youthful salon owner.
When we meet Audrey, she is rich, educated, and traveled, but unliked. However, the interactions we see her have with others like Nelson, Mr. Wynton, and Mary Jo do not match the vicious rumors concerning her that fly faster than super sonic jets around the store. All the gossip going around makes me sick. One can see that there are two diametrically opposed sides in this battle- yet some of the workers can’t seem to decide which side of the fence to land on. I wondered why the women aren’t better judges of character- and then realized that real life is so often like that! Sometimes the truth is hard to ferret out. “People aren’t always what they seem when you’re standing too close.”
Some of the characters I just downright despised. Will poetic justice have its way, and the guilty be caught, or will the schemers be successful? One character surprised me! Plot twist! It was a good one!
I appreciated the look at segregation, though it was painful. To realize that some people couldn’t have the same rights as others based on skin color. Yet, others knew that was wrong, but were afraid to make their voice heard and buck the system.
Mumma does a good job of keeping the mystery going until very near the end. While you may figure out who the culprit is, the question quickly becomes one of suspense, will they be caught in time? I was on pins and needles, trying not to bite my fingernails as we closed out the novel.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Sure you made some mistakes in your life, but who cares? God forgives all of us, rich or poor.”
“It’s 1955. Things shouldn’t be that archaic.” “Lotta things not the way they should be right now.”
“Avoiding foolishness doesn’t make it stop.”...more
“Don’t you go lookin’ for no ghosts, Miss Gracie. Not here. You get on with your own life an’ don’t spend it pokin’ about in the rubble of the past li“Don’t you go lookin’ for no ghosts, Miss Gracie. Not here. You get on with your own life an’ don’t spend it pokin’ about in the rubble of the past like Miss Martha.”
Denise Weimer gives us a beautiful setting of Tallulah Falls, Georgia in the Gilded Age, in this case 1886. It is the time of fancy hotels and resorts attracting the wealthy way from the heat of their regular mansions. I loved the descriptions of the gorge, the waterfalls, the gorge, the mists, and the hiking trails. They made me want to visit the area as it had been back then!
And to see the spectacle of a tightrope walker. Not so sure I would enjoy that, but I’m sure it would add to the crowds, just as it did in the novel.
Against this backdrop, we meet Grace Galveston, a poor, rich girl who must rest her operatic voice if she is to be the next Met Opera diva. Accompanied by her matronly and snobbish Aunt Martha, Grace finds new friends as they stay at the Cliff House resort. Amelia and Daniel become wonderful friends to Grace.
While Grace doesn’t look at the same past for answers as her aunt, she finds she has a huge hole in her heart. Living up the her rich father’s expectations is nearly impossible, and a longing for belonging compels her to dig into her parents’ past.
Weimer uses Daniel’s sermon to show Grace and the reader that without God, everybody has an empty space in their heart. “No possessions, no experiences, no talents, can fill the void created by the Lord. Nothing can but Himself.” Yet, Grace starts to find success with her singing and in her relationships and begins to dream of the future.
I liked Daniel a lot, but I was disappointed in his failure to keep alert. But sometimes we do that, too. We make our plans and close our eyes to anything that may hint that we may not be in God’s will.
This is one of those books that I could readily identify with the hurts of several of the characters. Would each one rise above those hurts and find a way to forgiveness, or would each stay bitter at those who had wronged them? If you love historical fiction based on real geographical locations, and faith-filled romances, this would be a great choice!
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Grace couldn’t imagine having a human father that involved in the details of one’s life, much less a heavenly one.”
“Or do you think God is as distant as your own father?”
“He had let himself drift along, satisfied by surface comments, drawn into a relationship without having a clear sense of her faith when differences between them in this area could prove a far greater obstacle than mere geography.”
“There’s only one Person who will never let you down.”
“It will give you answers…It will show you God loves you and longs to heal your hurts and fill the hole in your heart.”
“my faith is not important to me because I’m a minister. My ministry is important to me because my faith is the core of who I am. It affects everything about my life.”
“They all expected her to show herself worthy. And what didn’t she have to justify? Her father’s money, her mother’s life, Aunt Martha’s wasted years, even her own existence. Yes, all those things she held inside her, and their raw edges scraped when they stirred.”
“…He allows humans a choice. Because of that, there is evil in the world. But difficulties can produce character, if we allow.”...more
“‘As they bury their roots in this giant of the past, all of the goodness and accomplishments of this tree pass on to the next generation—a rich inh“‘As they bury their roots in this giant of the past, all of the goodness and accomplishments of this tree pass on to the next generation—a rich inheritance of nutrients. Everything it worked for in its life now strengthens those that follow.’She glanced at Aunt Marion. ‘One generation, leading the way for the next and giving them the strength and courage to stand tall.’”
This was my first experience reading a Karen Barnett book. I read for her name recognition as an author of national parks novels. After reading Where Trees Touch the Sky, my expectations on out will include not only great scenic vistas, their smells, atmospheric majesty, and history, but the stories of the complex humans involved. I read Where Trees Touch the Sky because it is a dual timeline, and I enjoy seeing an author tie the two times together.
I enjoyed the seventies portrayal, and unfortunately, can remember enough of the era to say, “right on,” Miss Barnett, your depiction there is “so hip!”
I loved that June, a polio victim, works twice as hard to be given a chance at jobs and other opportunities that people without those issues cannot really comprehend. What I loved most about June, though, was that people saw her intense love for nature and the Redwoods in her talks and walks and her enthusiasm transformed her. Do you have a belief, a cause, or a job that transforms you when the topic arises?
A major lesson of the book is that things, whether people or history, are never as straightforward and simple as they seem. Becoming stoked about a foray into the past history of the trees, June and Adam become aware that giant trees can cast giant shadows that are hard to escape.
In summary, I loved Where Trees Touch the Sky. It is by turns historic, romantic, and faith-filled. Its characters are brave, self-sacrificing, ambitious, yet selfish and deeply flawed at crucial times. What a great movie this would make!!
I received a copy of the book from the author and Just Read Tours. I also bought my own paperback for the keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“The trees wouldn’t survive without the web of life in which they reside—fungi in their roots, lichens in the treetops. The big and the small, weak and strong, all relying on one another. Just as the Good Lord intended. Redwoods aren’t strong simply because they’ve got fancy genetics. It’s because they work together, holding tight to the roots of their neighbors.”
“We all fall down; it’s just important that we keep getting back up.”
“‘If you want to understand who God is, you got to whittle away all the added-on stuff that isn’t Him.’ Mr. Wheeler dug the knife in a little deeper. ‘Chip off all the layers of rules and good deeds people have been trying to add for centuries, and you’ll find His grace waiting for you there.’”
“She’d been chosen because of her disability. Just once, she’d like to be chosen because of who she was or what she could accomplish instead of being viewed as nothing more than a girl on crutches. Was that too much to ask?”...more
“By agreeing to travel with him, she had placed herself under his protection. Her body might be petite, but the responsibility of keeping her safe wou“By agreeing to travel with him, she had placed herself under his protection. Her body might be petite, but the responsibility of keeping her safe would be massive. Was he up to the task?”
Trail of Promises by Susan F. Craft is the second Great Wagon Road book ( and second in the series) that I have read. Quick thoughts in this paragraph: These books are great historical standalones , not about the Oregon Trail, but about the Wagon Trail that ran through the colonies from New York usually extending to South Carolina or further. I liked the first. I was definitely hooked by the second. Author notes are very important, and I love the help finding out which events are based on history! The fourth thought- after two of these books, you couldn’t pay me enough to be a part of this exceedingly dangerous wagon trail road!! ( But I will definitely be reading the other books of the series as soon as they release!!)
In Trail of Promises, unexpected tragedy causes a woman, sketcher-portrait artist to travel unaccompanied in 1753 on the trail with an attractive, former British military man and his younger brothers. But they are unmarried without a proper chaperone. Will this do harm to their reputations once they reach any settlements?
Stephen Griffith and Tessa Harris eventually do enter a marriage of convenience, but will that be enough for each of them? ( Note: This is a clean, and faith-based book.)
The trail is arduous not just in its path, but the events that the foursome must pass through. Will they crack under the horrendous strain of their encounter with extreme evil and other difficulties, or will they come out tried and shining as gold?
For those who love pre-Revolutionary times, wagon train stories, faith-filled stories, and great evil vs good.
I received a copy of the novel from the author via Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Even though the soap washed away the scent of death, nothing could ever erase the dark memories that must be lurking in their minds.”
“God walked with her through her valley. His love would sustain her through whatever lay ahead.”
“He made mistakes. We all do. Do not dwell on bad memories, but try to recall some of the good times you had with your father.”
“So, as a man, you feel compelled to hide your emotions?” “They were trained out of us, I’m afraid. Not the emotions themselves, but any display of them.”
“People do many things when their life or the life of someone they love is threatened.”
“Many beautiful things in the wilderness have an ugly side.” ...more
“Why can’t it be normal to be varied and different? In a world full of colors and shapes and backgrounds, who decided we were all supposed to be the s“Why can’t it be normal to be varied and different? In a world full of colors and shapes and backgrounds, who decided we were all supposed to be the same?”
Oh, Rachel Fordham! I don’t know which of your characters in Beyond Ivy Walls I love most!!
I love Sadie because she refuses to gossip meanly, works hard, and is determined to support her family, no matter the cost to herself. She is always putting others first. Whether she is in the feather duster factory or in the big house, she is looking out for others and has a strong sense of duty. Plus, she knows that people are more than meets the eye. “People are much like plants. There is so much more to them that cannot be seen. Ambitions and dreams. Fears and hopes. Buried beneath the soil, overlooked, but vital . . .”
For Otis’s part, I love him for the horrors he endured as a boy, the actions and attitudes that he should have been safe from, occurring in his own home. Yet, he returned. He struggles with staying, but who wouldn’t? And he discovers as he opens up to Sadie and their friendship develops, that he can challenge her in her weak spots, too. And what he does for Sadie!
Leon and Mildred- I love them because they are like catalysts in a slow chemical reaction. Loving Otis, seeing the real man, encouraging both Otis and Sadie as they learn to tolerate each other, making the big house a pleasant place to be.
The mystery is well-played and adds a beautiful counterpoint to the storyline. All in all, I am just plain in love with this Beauty and the Beast retelling. *Sigh*
I highly recommend this Christian historical romance novel. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy!
I received a copy of the book from Just Read Tours via NetGalley. I also purchased my own Kindle copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Unwanted. It was a label no child, no person, should have.”
“Just remember there is more to you than what happened in the past. I’ve seen pieces of your heart—others will too. Come and meet my family and you can see pieces of mine.”
“beside the grief was happiness. Somehow, pain and joy were walking side by side. He did not understand it, but he felt it.”
“Love, acceptance, abandonment, trust. He wanted to run from it all and in the same breath to make sense of the scattered pieces and find peace.”
“It’s a shame, the way we shun when we should rally around those who struggle. And no matter how others behave, in the pit of their stomachs, I think they know it too.”...more
“I want no part of your settlements and civilization.” “Done turned savage herself.” Eyes-Like-Sky is a bitter captive to the pre-Civil War days America“I want no part of your settlements and civilization.” “Done turned savage herself.” Eyes-Like-Sky is a bitter captive to the pre-Civil War days American army. When the Comanches have decided to deter the white men from their territory by sheer terror of raids, the army fights back. In one such retaliation, Eyes-Like-Sky’s husband is killed, and she and her baby are taken captive by the white man. But… Eyes Like Sky vows they will never convert her back to her original Texan roots. “‘I don’t have an English name. I’m Comanche.’ Maggie. The word throbbed in her head. She would never be Maggie again.”
I enjoyed being challenged by this book to remember that sometimes we people think others need to look, think, talk, dress, or act like us to be acceptable. “Those vultures. Trying to change her name. Taking her clothes. They’d take her whole past if they could. Turn her into some pale-face city girl who’d never seen a Comanche.” Shindelar writes in such a way as to show both race’s possible POV’s, and one can better understand the customs and clothing of each, and even the distrust each holds for the other.
This is definitely a slow-burn romance. Very slow! It takes a long time for Eyes Like Sky especially to trust Captain Garrett Ramsey. We wonder whether Ramsey can or will keep her safe. We also wonder whether Eyes Like Sky will stay with the white men long enough to find out.
All of this happens on the Eve of the Civil War. How does the time period add to the unrest of the country and the army camps?
Both Ramsey and Eyes Like Sky have some familiarity with the Bible. How will faith play into their relationship, or will they both even choose to develop a faith? “Why had God allowed her to lose everything, almost everything, again? God loved her. He was a personal God, not just an all-powerful creator beyond the stars. He’d sent His Son for her. The truth had permeated her childhood and embedded itself in her heart. But where was that love now? As cold and distant as the stars.”
And a baby. Add a baby to a story, and there’s bound to be a softening of a character or two. Plus, I personally think that attracts readers to the novel. I can almost imagine holding that little one myself!
Possibly one of the biggest questions the author brings up, is when are we going to stop seeing a group of people as guilty of the wrongs of a few or even some, and judge people on their hearts instead? “A man should be judged for his own actions. Not his people’s.”
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I also purchased an ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own....more
“I will capture your heart, Ahinoam bat Toren, no matter how hard you run.”
Brave: The Story of Ahinoam, by the Biblical fiction queen Mesu Andrews, is“I will capture your heart, Ahinoam bat Toren, no matter how hard you run.”
Brave: The Story of Ahinoam, by the Biblical fiction queen Mesu Andrews, is a remarkable novel that sews together Scripture and “what might have been.” The narrator alternates between Ahinoam and David, enough so I believe both men and women could enjoy this saga of David and his rag-tag band of malcontents in the desert. Much strategy, some conflicts in the camp and without, action aplenty, and a good look at the land of Israel all make this a compelling read. Can Ahinoam, an outsider, join the ranks, and more importantly, declare allegiance to the king-to-be’s heart?
Much research of the land, the times, and the customs of the various cultures is very evident, enriching the perilous journey as David flees from Saul. We see not only Ahinoam’s romance,but a loyal, steadfast group of followers who are threatened by thirst, hunger, and poverty as they protect the man they believe is God’s anointed. Andrews offers plausible ideas for David’s rejection within his own family. Psalms are woven into the story as well as other Scriptures that tell of David’s time running from Saul.
I both loved and wanted to cry when David and his family killed the sheep for Passover in the desert. They had kept this perfect lamb in the “home” for four days, until it was like a pet. Then, it was time to sacrifice it, a true heart sacrifice as everyone now loved the lamb giving its life for them.
The hardest part of the story for me, was the acceptance of multiple wives. Whether it is the culture, or whether it seems like it is not in God’s perfect will for there to be more than two people in a marriage, Ahinoam is warned by different people before she makes her decision. “Let no man—or woman—ever question your position or God’s love for you. You have the courage of a warrior. But to live as a royal wife, you must be brave enough to forgive a thousand times simply because your husband wills it. You must have the mettle to let a gentle reply deflect criticism. And, to maintain a peaceful royal house and your self-respect, you must fight the most formidable enemy of all—the other women who will bear David’s children.” Ahinoam is certainly going to need to realize David’s humanity will fail at some point. Every married person needs to remember this: “So, remember the only One who never leaves you, never betrays, never abandons, never dies.”
Which leads me to mention that Abigail appears in the story, bringing hope, turmoil, and help. I was disappointed that we don’t see much of Abigail and her story seems so truncated. But Andrews offers a prequel “Abigail” found by subscribing to her newsletter. I was much happier after reading that.
Still, I have to think that a family with multiple wives will have a few more problems to come. I’m sure we will see more of this possible conflict of the hearts in the following books, including the next book about Maakah.
I received a copy of the book from Just Reads and Netgalley. I also purchased my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Do you trust God’s anointed leader with the authority to make decisions that differ from your own will and judgment?”
“rebuilding the relationship meant she took on the far more difficult task of choosing to resist bitterness whenever memories rekindled the hurt.”
“I will sometimes lead my people into hard places but never into known danger. Yahweh does the same… The barrenness strengthens and shapes us into what the Lord wants us to become.”
“Sometimes we need to worship God even more than God needs our worship.”...more
“‘Would you consider marriage, Miss Dean? To me’…He not only had said the words, he was implying the Lord wanted him to do so.”
*Sigh.* There is someth“‘Would you consider marriage, Miss Dean? To me’…He not only had said the words, he was implying the Lord wanted him to do so.”
*Sigh.* There is something so romantic about the turn of the century (early 1900s) and the people who lived in the hollers and mountains of Kentucky.
Ann H. Gabhart spins her tale, The Song of Sourwood Mountain, and soon you are caught up in its melodic web. The heart and soul of the people of that era rise hauntingly to the forefront of a hard life. The people are hard-working, fiercely independent, and suspicious of strangers who are “ brought in” from the outside. They rally around their own and protect secrets that shouldn’t escape the hills and hollers.
It is into this world that Mira Dean, a young teacher, enters, very reluctantly, as part of a marriage of convenience. Gordon Covington has started a church and a school. He is the pastor, but he desperately needs a teacher. And he thinks God is telling him Mira, a former acquaintance, is the one.
Mira tries to run away from the idea, but boy, does she resemble Jonah of the Bible as God places roadblock after roadblock in her path, until finally, as Mira consults her erstwhile landlady, Miss Ophelia, Mira tells the woman Gordon’s approach to the issue and faith in general: “He claims that sometimes the Lord expects a man to step onto a path that is thick with the fog of the unknown. A path where he has to simply take the next step without knowing if there is a firm path there.”
I enjoyed the stern, no-nonsense- approach to life of Miss Ophelia. Surprisingly, she provides several laughs!
What a not so propitious start to a marriage! Can Mira and Gordon make a go of this marriage, as Gordon believes?
“I can’t marry you. I don’t love you.” She looked directly into his eyes. “You don’t love me.” “But I love the Lord. You love the Lord. I believe he will honor that love, and with a common mission in both our hearts, the Lord will grow love between us as he did so many of those he brought together in the Bible.”
Ada June broke my heart and captured it at the same time. I wondered if I would have had the wisdom to deal with her many fears and her difficult past? Don’t miss Joseph, Elsinore, and Bo! And the connections within the community were amazing! People are very complex in this novel, just as in real life, and a couple threw me for a loop!
Song… can be reminiscent of Catherine Marshall’s Christy, yet it is different. Making one’s heart desires those that please God is one of the main themes. God, in turn, gives us happiness in those desires. This beautiful novel is covered by a fantasticly colorful and appealing scene that begs you to read the book.
I received a copy of the book from Revell and Library Thing Early Readers via NetGalley. I also bought a pb copy for myself and one to give away. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Ours would be a mission school with our own rules for the position of teacher. A teacher chosen by the Lord.”
“When I see a bluebird, I can’t help but think of the love with which the Lord surely formed that first bird. Through that love, the Lord gifted us with joy and hope whenever our eyes delight in its sight. May this little bird help you remember not only my love but the Lord’s as well. A bluebird of happiness.”
“One doesn’t have to know everything about one’s destination when one begins a journey.”
“What were the desires of her heart? She had a ready answer. To teach them. To let her light shine. Sometimes she would quote the next verse to them. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. That was her way of letting them know that the Lord would, as her mother always said, provide. He would plant the proper desires in their hearts and show them the way to reach those goals in life. Had she taught that and never truly believed it?”
“He isn’t my young man, and I haven’t received a call to be a missionary.” “Are you sure? I think that is why you ran away this morning. You are afraid of the call you are feeling. Fear has a way of paralyzing us, coloring our thoughts, making us want to believe we know more than God.”
“Do you want me to live out your dream?” “No.” Miss Ophelia shook her head. “I want you to live out your dream. One the Lord appears to be pushing you toward.”
“Don’t we all have choices?” “We do, but sometimes until we walk the same paths as others, we can’t understand the choices they make. It’s a hard life.”
“Pain on the outside helped her not feel the pain on the inside that never went away.”
“Do more than hope. Pray.”
“The Lord doesn’t limit our prayers. He’s ready to answer abundantly if it is in his will.”
“I’m not in the reforming business. Just the spreading the gospel business. I let the Lord do what reforming he thinks needs doing.”
“Sometimes niceness was just a coating like moss on a wet rock that was slippery if a body depended on stepping full on it.”
“We often think we know the best way and have a sure idea of what should happen, without considering if those ways we want to choose will delight the Lord. What we should do, what I feel the Lord wants us to do, is let him plant those desires in our hearts.”...more
He’d come to Montana Territory to find what he’d lost.”
Eric LaGrange has met up with some the Coulter brothers in Ft. Benton and convinced them to letHe’d come to Montana Territory to find what he’d lost.”
Eric LaGrange has met up with some the Coulter brothers in Ft. Benton and convinced them to let him travel back to their ranch in Montana territory, in this historical romance by Misty M. Beller. The year is 1869, and Eric is seeking the woman he expected to love for the rest of his life, Naomi. He arrives at the ranch to discover two surprises: Naomi is engaged to Jonah, one of the Coulter brothers, and she has a ten-month-old toddler who is obviously Eric’s daughter.
I was a bit put off by Eric at first. He appears on the scene, charging in like he should have a say in how his daughter is being raised and where (he considers the Montana mountains very dangerous for a young child). "Now that I'm here, I can promise you this. No man—not you and all your brothers combined—is going to keep me from taking care of my daughter the way I see fit." It seems he is quick to judge when he feels little mischievous Mary Ellen might not be as safe as he prefers. Since this is the first he’s seen his daughter, both Naomi and Jonah feel the sharp pain of their toes being stepped on harshly, plus the rest of the Coulter clan is ready to back those two. Can Eric convince Naomi she and their daughter belong with him? Back East? “He wasn't a Coulter, nor did he have any desire to live in this dangerous land, so far from his life and work back in Washington D.C.”
I am always happy to see positive relationships portrayed between Native Americans and those of European descent. Two Shoes and his wife, Heidi, play a significant role in this story, though we don’t see much of them.
There are several children in this novel. Each has a unique place and adds something special to the story. Some prepare us for the next story.
Twins. One relationship that Naomi falls back on is that of her twin sister, Dinah. Dinah can sense when something is wrong with Naomi, and is a good listener and support. But, since she’s married to Jericho Coulter, Jonah’s brother, will she automatically put her weight behind Team Jonah?
Faith appears multiple times in the story, as characters recognize the wrongness of the past, either ask forgiveness of God and carefully avoid the same issues, or forgive others for wrongs done them. Plus, God’s guidance is often sought. When God speaks in an unusual way, one character is quick to obey.
I highly recommend this book. I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit, plus I bought my own ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
"Sometimes, clarity comes in unexpected moments."
“Caring was so hard. It opened the heart to be vulnerable.”...more
“What should I do, Adonai? Did God care about their personal spats with one another? He’d saved them to repopulate a world where evil ran rampant. But“What should I do, Adonai? Did God care about their personal spats with one another? He’d saved them to repopulate a world where evil ran rampant. But they could not run from the sin in their own hearts.”
Jill Eileen Smith. A name of long associated with Biblical fiction, yet The Ark and the Dove is the first book I’ve been privileged to read by Smith.
First, I suggest bringing your waders. While obviously this is the story of Genesis 6, the flood of Noah’s day, it is so much more. While it is an engrossing read, it is not a quick read, compared to many books. You will be immersed in the deep waters of the Nephilim, the Watchers, the ever-encroaching evil, and the intense oppression of Noah’s family as they build the ark and preach about the coming judgment.
Somehow, as a mother of adult children, this novel hits especially hard, emotionally, but even young adults can relate to the sibling issues. It seems we see the stresses on the family as seen mostly through the eyes of Zara, Noah’s faithful wife. She has to place her faith in Noah to lead her family spiritually, but it is hard for all of them to follow God’s few personal directives given only directly to Noah. It is also hard for each son to maintain his marriage and close relationships with the other two brothers as doubts and fears assail. I ached along with Zara as she is heartbroken when her the families of her daughters-in-law turn against them and join in the persecution and rejection. No matter how hard she tries, one of the wives seems bent on trouble-making. Do we know these things for gospel fact? No, we only know what the Bible gives us, which Smith quotes or rephrases multiple times. She even includes references to Romans 1. The rest is author’s license, as long as it does not contradict Scripture. That is what Biblical fiction is.
I will be thinking on this book for a while to come! I was glad I had previous teaching under my belt about the Nephilim and the Watchers. Otherwise, I might have wanted them explained a little more. The Ark and the Dove caused a good discussion between myself and my husband, and I believe it would be a great book for a church book club.
I received a copy of the book from Revell Reads through Netgalley. I also bought a paperback copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Abba said that God did not want to judge us. His heart was broken by our rebellion. I never thought of the Creator as having a heart that could break like ours does.”
“We are made in His image, so perhaps that’s one way that we are like Him. We feel because He feels. Perhaps that is the greatest kind of love.”
“If someone wants to worship something other than the Creator, they will use anything to replace Him in their hearts. It does not have to be a creation of wood or stone. An idol can be anything we place above Him as the most important thing in our lives.” ...more
Quite a trip, this book, Cracklin’ Rosie by Jennifer Lynn Cary! I actually lived through this time as a young child and loved all the references to thQuite a trip, this book, Cracklin’ Rosie by Jennifer Lynn Cary! I actually lived through this time as a young child and loved all the references to the time period as they continued into the next decade, as well. So accurate, the attitudes of strong women’s liberation and young women trying to figure out how to support that and yet fulfill dreams of home and a family. Men realizing that women’s dreams and needs were changing. I had to look up the lyrics and even the possible meaning behind Neil Diamond’s song. So many songs of that time seemed to hold a hidden meaning. Love it when a book causes me to dig a little deeper. Very interesting that both Rosie and Brett are strong Christians, yet as products of their times and culture, have to figure out how best to live out their faith without losing their identity. I must say, Rodie is a main character I found it hard to like through most of the book, for the huge chip she carried on her shoulder. I received a copy of the book through Celebrate Lit and also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. Notable Quotables:
“Only know you can discuss anything with me. I won’t judge, and I promise not to try to fix. I’m just a sounding board who is on your side.”
“Was he a man of integrity only when it was convenient or even when it was hard?”
“But I’m choosing to forgive because the alternatives offer no healing.” ...more
“Ye need land, an’ I need a husband. But only if ye can pull yer weight.” Whoo, boy, you know exactly what to expect out of Andrea Byrd’s historical ro“Ye need land, an’ I need a husband. But only if ye can pull yer weight.” Whoo, boy, you know exactly what to expect out of Andrea Byrd’s historical romance, Reverence in the Wilderness, when you read Keturah’s words to Daniel. Well, at least you know two people are hurtling head-long for adventure, compromise, hurt, and possibly love. When Keturah’s mean-spirited father is killed suddenly, she realizes the only way to keep her land is to find a man to marry who can help her homestead it. So off she heads husband-hunting at the nearest trading post. Daniel has been injured and left behind by his westward traveling party at the post to recuperate. But, Daniel knows it goes beyond that. Failure could be his first and last name, with rejection being his middle name. Can he ever prove his mettle before God and others, or did God make a mistake when He made Daniel, as his father believes? Keturah believes God has answered her prayer for a husband quite quickly, and decisions are made that must be lived with. I will give credit to both Keturah and Daniel for seeking out advice. Says James Skaggs, the trading post owner, “Marriage itself is an adventure, one that must be learned along the way…You cannot allow the fear of failure to cause you to turn from something that could be the best choice you ever make.” Both Daniel and Keturah had fathers who greatly influenced them in a negative way. Although the fathers are not present in the novel, their attitudes towards their children have caused severe scars. In at least Keturah’s case, when things begin to go south, she sees the Heavenly Father through the lens her earthly father provided. “Had she somehow lost favor with her Heavenly Father as she had long ago done so with her earthly father?” As difficulties multiply and walls build and become insurmountable, will the newly established family crumble in the dust or find its firm footing in faith and forgiveness? A heart-rending story of two deeply damaged hearts searching for the ultimate love of the Father and the deep, abiding love of a faithful, caring spouse. Trigger warning: miscarriage I received a copy of the book from the author through Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. Notable Quotable: ( What Characters Need to Learn) “It is sometimes difficult to remember the truths of reality when you are being fed a lie.” ...more
“What a fine bucket of fish guts this was turning out to be. She’d hoped for an intriguing first case to solve— Not an impossible one.”
Ah, this story “What a fine bucket of fish guts this was turning out to be. She’d hoped for an intriguing first case to solve— Not an impossible one.”
Ah, this story by Michelle Griep!! First, because it is a Griep, buy now, ask later. Seriously, my motto for her books. However, I must say you will want to have read The Thief of Blackfriars Lane and The Bride of Blackfriars Lane, so you feel like Jackson and Kit are close friends you respect, even if it's impossible to predict their actions. Common themes to Griep are forgiveness and trust, plus judging others and trust. Beautifully depicted.
Kit has so much spunk and impetuosity, plus a great nose for mystery solving that she has connived to get her father to open a detective agency with her. All is well and good if Kit stays where she belongs, according to her father and Jack, safe in the background, in the office. As if!
Kit finds that motherhood has changed her in so many ways. She yearns for her child, yet leaves her daily with her good friend, Martha. Can she put aside her mothering instincts long enough to be an unprejudiced part of the detective team? Can she remember she is a mother enough to be sure she avoids danger? Can we say Kate is very conflicted?!
Jackson has his own issues. He’d might not miss Kate’s shenanigans so much if he didn’t have a precinct to run, with multiple officers needing attention of various degrees, and a supervisor ready to shut the whole office down. Plus a nuisance vagabond hanging around. Oh, vey!
Jackson is fortunate to have a loyal friend in Charles Bagette, an officer who entered training when Jack did. But Bagette has two strikes against him. He’s charged with keeping Kit safe. And, he’s falling for Martha, a baker and soup kitchen cook. Martha just happens to be Bella’s ( Kit’s daughter)babysitter, in addition to Frankie’s mother. The same Frankie who either has a future as a thug or a detective, under Kit’s tutelage.
One thing I always love about a Griep novel is the multiple storylines woven in and out around each other. We have all the above, plus the very complicated mystery that Kit takes on against her father’s consent. So now we also have that relationship thread to follow.
Danger. Action. Twist. Repeat. Biblical truth. Short contemplation how that should affect the character’s action. Swift, short, cry-outs to God. Then start at the beginning of this paragraph with danger and repeat the scenario. My heart barely survived the action, but surviving the emotional tugs was worse!
I cannot do justice to this book. But it will be on the very short list for my fave book of the year!!
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via Netgalley, plus I bought my own ecopy and 2 paperbacks. This is a book to be shared! No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
it always comes back to trusting in God’s plan. Rest assured that no matter what you do or don’t do, you will not thwart whatever our mighty Creator is up to.The best we can accomplish is to hold tight to our faith and keep walking towards eternity a step at a time.”
“ …love covers a multitude of sins. So, pursue that. Pursue love instead of dwelling in past failure. That path can only lead to a denial of the present and a forfeiture of the future.”
“But it’s God who brings beauty from ashes. Don’t push away that gift. It is never prudent or wise to stiff-arm God. “
Loading...
