This would have been a nice introduction to a unique piece of history if the history in the book hadn’t been altered and adjusted.
The author’s voice wThis would have been a nice introduction to a unique piece of history if the history in the book hadn’t been altered and adjusted.
The author’s voice was engaging and enjoyable. The characters were well developed and came alive beautifully.
I didn’t care for the title because it felt like it was trying to ride the coattails of the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
This book was very realistic and gave a good idea of what it was like living in an internment camp during WWII. I love reading real-life stories aboutThis book was very realistic and gave a good idea of what it was like living in an internment camp during WWII. I love reading real-life stories about Americans who lived through tough times. It gives me hope for current-day living as well.
There was also a nice interview at the end of the audiobook.
The clash of cultures was the highlight of this adventure book for me. It was fun to see the differences between the cultures of Japan and America durThe clash of cultures was the highlight of this adventure book for me. It was fun to see the differences between the cultures of Japan and America during the 1850s. It was good to see a couple of boys learning new things about one another’s culture—that different isn’t always a bad thing. It was also neat to see the wild theories about other cultures and people prior to getting to know them. Funny how those things spiral into bizarre hyperbole so quickly!
Content: Buddhism, derogatory terms, public bathing (including nudity) ...more
This was perhaps the most important book I’ve read all year (2022). It very eloquently expressed a patriotism that seems to be fleeting in current eveThis was perhaps the most important book I’ve read all year (2022). It very eloquently expressed a patriotism that seems to be fleeting in current events, so this story serves as a good, solid reminder of what standing up for one’s country might look like.
It was wonderful to see such strong patriotism in a middle-grade child. Sometimes it’s the children that have the best ideals and strongest sense of a moral compass. There is much we can learn from this book and children similar to its leading gal.
The cover was amazing and set the perfect tone, casting an urgent, anticipatory mood for the story beneath it to live up to. The novel did just that and surpassed all my expectations.
There was such a tragic opening few chapters that I knew soon enough that I was in for a great story. The chapters kept zipping right along at a pace that made my mind whirl, but it was well worth it to discover a new favorite, fantastic story.
The plot was complex and peppered with quirky, unique characters that wrenched my heart at every possible turn of events.
I especially appreciated that this was clean fiction. Not a bad word or crude comment to speak of. What a relief! This is a book I can easily and gladly highly recommend to any reader of any age, particularly if they love getting hooked by an intriguing premise and dragged along for quite the adventure.
This book was filled to overflowing with hope despite extremely tough times. This gives me hope for 2022’s America. Things might be tough at the moment, folks, but God is in control and provides hope for a better future (namely, eternal joy and life in Heaven) for those who choose to trust Him no matter what this world throws at us. This book, while not Christian, served as a reminder that He can hold us firm and strong through the hardest of circumstances. I’m so glad He’s done that for me many times in the past and continues to do so today....more
This was an intriguing kidnapping mystery. I especially enjoyed the creepy, Criminal Minds-esque tone surrounding the cruel, evil psychopath.
UnfortunaThis was an intriguing kidnapping mystery. I especially enjoyed the creepy, Criminal Minds-esque tone surrounding the cruel, evil psychopath.
Unfortunately, this book was packed with horrible language, always unnecessary, as well as lots of crude talk about women’s bodies. Because of those things, I will not be continuing the series.
Content: expletives (excessive), sexual perversion, profanity (excessive), tobacco, alcohol, crude talk, sexual innuendo, graphic violence ...more
The premise sounded interesting, and there were a couple of aspects that felt original, but mostly, this book felt like a cheap knockoff of movies likThe premise sounded interesting, and there were a couple of aspects that felt original, but mostly, this book felt like a cheap knockoff of movies like Inception and The Island as well as books like the Divergent trilogy and The Mysterious Benedict Society series.
One aspect that felt original was that the main character was Mexican. I don’t see that ethnicity featured a lot in young adult books nor in science fiction. I would have loved to see more of the culture woven into the story to make it even more atmospheric in the leading POV. I enjoyed the leading young lady overall despite the immaturity inherent in today’s young adult genre, which was especially present in this book.
I liked the play on memory, but at times, it felt like an imitation of an X-Men movie and Professor X’s abilities combined with aspects of the Wuhan Virus plandemic as well as aspects of the movies Total Recall and the world-building skills of Inception. I had hoped this story would bring something new to the table, but it felt like a replication of a million things I’ve already experienced.
The biggest disappointment to me was that the publisher (Thomas Nelson) is supposed to be Christian, but this book was worldly all the way around. Bad language throughout by teens, profanity in English and Spanish, male and female teens sharing a bathroom for showers at the same time (different stalls, same bathroom), crude sexual terms, suggestive material, crude talk, teen alcohol and tobacco usage, etc., inundated the book. That isn’t the type of content the website for Thomas Nelson indicated they publish. The first sentence on their “About > Company Profile” page says: “Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content.” I didn’t see much, if any, Christian content in this book. I’m highly dissatisfied.
Content: tattoos, expletives (excessive), tobacco, prostitutes mentioned, alcoholics mentioned, crude talk, suggestive material, profanity in English and Spanish, alcohol, teen drinking, teen smoking (excessive), crude sexual terms, male and female teens sharing the same bathroom (different stalls) at the same time for showers, child sexual abuse by a parent mentioned...more
If not for the horrible language and crude talk, I would have loved this story.
The cutesy cover and blurb caught my attention and drew me to this bookIf not for the horrible language and crude talk, I would have loved this story.
The cutesy cover and blurb caught my attention and drew me to this book. (I also needed a pink cover for a reading challenge.) The core of the story was charming and right up my alley. I love a search for a lost love. In that respect, this book reminded me of the movie Letters to Juliet, which is a favorite of mine. The bittersweet ending was utterly sweet and made me weep happy, conflicted tears. It was wonderful to see the plot focused around a double-decker bus, a staple in London, England. That aspect was such fun. The romance itself was sweet and enjoyable. City adventure is another favorite genre of mine, so I had fun with that aspect as well.
I just wish this book were clean. The excessive bad language and crude talk were unnecessary to the plot and wasted precious page space.
Content: tobacco, profanity (excessive), expletives (excessive), living together prior to marriage, crude talk, unwed pregnancies, tattoos, alcohol in sweets, alcohol, pornography mentioned once ...more
This book was a complete struggle for me. The only things I liked were that the baddie had a perfect alibi and that there was much more depth to his sThis book was a complete struggle for me. The only things I liked were that the baddie had a perfect alibi and that there was much more depth to his story than first met the eye. Everything else felt contrived, bullyish, over-the-top, and too easily solved.
There was at least one factual error. This book stated that “most forest fires were the result of lightning strikes.” However, the “Wildfire Causes and Evaluation” page of the United States’ National Park Service website clearly states, “Nearly 85 percent of wildland fires are caused by humans.”
There were inconsistencies and inaccuracies throughout, including calling a sundress “formal.”
It was disappointing to see how prejudiced and jump-to-conclusions the authority figures were in this book. I certainly wouldn’t want to visit this fictional town even if I could, because the authority figures were so prejudiced against the leading lady that they failed to properly conduct their investigations, which forced her to solve her case herself.
The story was circuitous and repetitive.
Most new facts were revealed via dialogue rather than seeing the things take place. This was exhausting and probably explains why it took me half a month to read this short novel.
“Well, maybe I can just believe it for you.” Yeah… that’s not at all how faith works. Faith must be personal, according to the Holy Bible, instead of by proxy.
There were some outlandish and illogical plot twists and decisions made by the characters. One such choice was leaving a crawling-with-cops safe location. No small-town killer would attack in those circumstances, so the smartest thing, the most logical thing, would be to stay put. Yet they left.
The faith thread was nearly non-existent. Other than the abovementioned line, which wasn’t accurate to Bible-taught faith, there was a last-second plea but nothing substantial. This was also disappointing, as I like a solid faith thread in Love Inspired suspense books.
On a positive note, there weren’t any content issues that I noticed. ...more
This book did capture the same OCD-yet-charm the TV-show Mr. Monk had, but I like the show better. I loved that the case came up via Julie, Natalie TeThis book did capture the same OCD-yet-charm the TV-show Mr. Monk had, but I like the show better. I loved that the case came up via Julie, Natalie Teeger’s daughter. That was a good way to kick off the book series, to immediately get Julie involved. I liked that it was an intriguing mystery, just like the show. There was some good humor throughout, but it was overshadowed in large part by the crudity that was thick throughout. Because of that, I won’t be continuing the series.
This story was exactly what I needed. It was so beautiful and charming, a truly delightful coming-of-age tale. It held grief and hope and a friends-fiThis story was exactly what I needed. It was so beautiful and charming, a truly delightful coming-of-age tale. It held grief and hope and a friends-first romance, which was so refreshing and well written. I liked the search for the truth of one’s past as well as the search for peace. It even had some heartbreaking plot twists that engaged my emotions perfectly.
Content: teen smoking mentioned, drunk driver ...more
If there hadn’t been some bad language in this book, it would have easily been a five-star read for me.
Madeline Martin sure knows how to spin a good If there hadn’t been some bad language in this book, it would have easily been a five-star read for me.
Madeline Martin sure knows how to spin a good WWII tale that wrenches the heart and shows the depth of humanity in the midst of terrible circumstances. Though this is only my second of her novels, it certainly won’t be my last. Her voice and storytelling style are right up my alley and keep me flipping pages long into the night.
The plot in this one was intricate and detailed and filled with intriguing twists. The depth of the tale added to the richness of emotion involved. Every heartbreaking scene built on the one before until I was completely wrapped up in Ava’s and Elaine’s stories and their journeys at saving Jews’ stories and documents before it was too late as well as hiding and rescuing Jews before they could be killed by the Hitler regime. It was interesting to see how the French Resistance and Underground Railroad worked together in this fight for morality. The dangers involved were completely realistic and kept me on the edge of my seat.
I can hardly wait to discover the next Martin story that I’ll want to add to my collection of WWII books.
Content: expletives, alcohol, tobacco, suicide, nudity mentioned but not dwelt on, profanity ...more
This one was disappointing. The romance was way too physical for my taste and included casual mentions of “cold showers” being needed, a “virile man,”This one was disappointing. The romance was way too physical for my taste and included casual mentions of “cold showers” being needed, a “virile man,” “pecs,” and a “joke” about short-term romances (which indicated one-night stands). The sexual overtones were thick throughout. Not my cup of tea at all!
I was confused at why either lead assumed the guy was the intended target when the girl was the one shot and possibly dying. (This happens super early on in the story.)
There was enough focus on “fate” that it stood out to me. I found this odd in a Christian fiction book.
The creepy psycho who thought God wanted him to kill people was, perhaps, the best-written aspect of this entire book. I definitely felt shivers during this person’s scenes, and I was kept on the edge of my seat as to what would happen next with this bad guy.
Content: sexual overtones throughout, half an expletive phrase, bars, alcohol, skimpy clothing...more
If it weren’t for the creepy, evil vibes surrounding psychic/medium-type experiences, I probably would have loved this story. As it was, though, the eIf it weren’t for the creepy, evil vibes surrounding psychic/medium-type experiences, I probably would have loved this story. As it was, though, the evil vibes clung hard and creeped me out the whole time I was reading this book. I’m glad to have done with it now.
It was also weird that several people in the FBI were concerned about germs on a piece of evidence and suggested the guy “toss it” into the garbage. Say what?! Germs are typically on all of their evidence. I have no clue why these people were such germaphobes in the type of work they’re in.
The kidnapping thread was superbly written. I rather enjoyed seeing how that portion unfolded. That was the thread that saved this book from being only a single-star read for me. The reunion angle helped too.
Content: replacement expletives, one profanity, a couple of expletives...more
What a spectacular story! From the scalawag renegade with a grudge to the estranged sisters trying to rediscover a healthy relationship to a man with What a spectacular story! From the scalawag renegade with a grudge to the estranged sisters trying to rediscover a healthy relationship to a man with a heartrending past and hesitant hopes for the future, this story whisked me away to 1910s New Mexico and entertained me well for many hours.
The theme of domestic abuse as well as one of neglect were well written in a way that showed the faults yet revealed how grace can come alongside and sweep the wrongs into the past in order to give people a completely fresh start. It was special to see how certain characters were attempting to break those negative cycles that can so easily carry down through generations.
The faith journey was so rich! It was strong and instilled hope in the characters and reader alike. It was wonderful to see the characters yearning to right the wrongs of their pasts. Sometimes it isn’t possible to do so, but it’s great when it is. The highlight on forgiveness was fantastic, because it wasn’t a pat thing. It was heart-deep and sincere—a true example of how living out God’s love through forgiveness can look.
Outside and in, this story was a beautiful concerto to the soul.
My heart sang while absorbing Ava’s and Gil’s journey through broken hopes, shattered Outside and in, this story was a beautiful concerto to the soul.
My heart sang while absorbing Ava’s and Gil’s journey through broken hopes, shattered dreams, and misunderstandings. Each chapter brought forward fresh opportunities and plot twists that surprised and delighted me, as well as delicious treats I could practically smell as the characters snarfed them down.
Themes involved in this novel’s plot were numerous and beautiful, yet the one that outshone them all was that of discerning and following God’s direction in one’s life. The other themes underscored this exquisitely.
It was wonderful to see a character stepping into his mentor’s shoes until he could find footing of his own. Even more fun was that cousins were featured as rivals. The musical aspects of this story were written with detailed flourish and provided the backbone for the sweet-as-honey romance. It was neat to see participants of all ages within the community.
The complex and charming characters fit perfectly with the author’s trademark style. Even the one I loved to hate grew on me, as Mrs. Sawyer is so skilled at doing in her stories. As per usual, her cast carried regrets and hopes, flaws and talents, dreams and faith as they journeyed together.
The narration by Barbara McCulloh was fantastic. She’s one of my favorite narrators, and I was glad to see (and hear) that she’d signed up to do the reading for Mrs. Sawyer’s latest novel. Very great choice! ...more
What a darling little story! From the cover to the escapades, this middle-grade romcom had me engaged from beginning to end. There was high tension frWhat a darling little story! From the cover to the escapades, this middle-grade romcom had me engaged from beginning to end. There was high tension from the beginning since the lead wanted a dog and her mom had a “no-pets rule.” It was fun seeing how a new kid struggled to survive the Big Apple, and it was equally intriguing to see the preparations for a quinceañera unfold.
The two pugs with fun names were what stole the show, though. Osito, meaning Little Bear, and Pancake; what could be cuter?! I really enjoyed spending time with this mischievous dogs and their super-sweet story.
Content: replacement expletives, replacement profanity, crude sexual terms ...more
I enjoyed this in-depth study and comparison of the careers and lives of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. I found myself riveted by the fascinating detaI enjoyed this in-depth study and comparison of the careers and lives of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. I found myself riveted by the fascinating details in the various stages of the men’s lives. This wasn’t an easy read, but it was one I’m grateful to have taken the time for.
This was a great story with a gorgeous cover. The remorse directly after sin was so realistic and naturally woven into the story. That made it feel veThis was a great story with a gorgeous cover. The remorse directly after sin was so realistic and naturally woven into the story. That made it feel very engaging and as if it could have been about any person in my community. I loved how complex the plot was. There were just enough threads and subplots to keep my ADD mind fully engaged and busy trying to sort everything out along with the characters.
Some important themes in this story were broken relationships, poor choices, remorse, compounding one’s problems, realistic mindsets, hope, new beginnings, and second chances. These aspects all played well together, fully showcasing a beautiful story of redemption.
Some plot points were predictable and felt overly common in the unwed-pregnancy trope. I would love to see this trope with more unpredictability in the future. Shake things up and give me something fresh, please.
Lillian was the character I struggled with the most, as she was manipulative, selfish, and cruel.
I absolutely loved the “unseen guy” romances in this book. Those were written beautifully.
Content: replacement profanity, alcohol, drunkenness, premarital sex, underage smoking, tobacco, unwed pregnancy, expletive, misquoted Bible verse (“pride goeth before a fall” should actually be “pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall,” according to Proverbs 16:18 KJV) ...more
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
The blurb and cover for this book originally caught my atteFTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
The blurb and cover for this book originally caught my attention. They sounded and looked, respectively, so intriguing to me. Had I known that Alma Pihl, the historical-era lead, was a real-life person, I would have known not to request this book. Reading about real-life leads is not my thing, as I do not typically enjoy fictionalized versions of real people’s stories. There are rare exceptions on occasion.
This was not such an occasion.
There were inaccuracies and inconsistencies throughout the first hundred pages (I DNFed at page 101). I also was not comfortable with the scenes that depicted the strain of Mr. Fabergé’s marriage. Those details, particularly the ones that shared how his wife and he felt about each other and their marriage, seemed completely fictionalized rather than based on facts gleaned from historical accounts. Perhaps I’m wrong, and I hope I am, but it made me uncomfortable enough to lose interest in Mr. Fabergé’s thread in the book.
I found it difficult to connect with the characters in the historical thread because there were too many history dumps. In particular, there were dumps about dead master craftsmen who had been replaced. This was unnecessary information that cluttered up the pages so that I couldn’t find a sense of the present action within the scene, as it was often interrupted to share more details about some person who would not play any role within the story as they were long gone already. At times, the history dumps were so dense and lengthy it felt like I was reading a history textbook rather than a novel.
While the Fabergé eggs were described in beautiful detail, I found the placement of these descriptions awkward and disruptive to the flow of the scenes.
It was also difficult for me to connect with any of the contemporary-era characters. The lead in the present-day scenes acted like a rebellious teenager rather than the twentysomething she was. It was unsettling that she used bad language, and especially right on the pages of a Christian fiction-labeled book. Her mom acted even less mature, holding on to hurts she’s had a lifetime to work through (but apparently didn’t). I understand that sort of thing, but I don’t understand still being on a teenage level in the way she spoke and acted toward the people around her. The dad was way too passive for a treasure hunter type of person. With the personality I saw on the pages, cancer and looming death notwithstanding, he didn’t seem the type to abandon his family in order to seek treasures.
It was difficult for me to keep track of all the leading ladies. There were three POV ladies and all of them had names that began and ended with A. I understand now that Alma Pihl and Augusta Fabergé were real-life women. Their names were pre-decided, then. But why did the fictional lead have to be named Ava? I don’t know how many times in 100 pages that I got confused between Alma and Ava because the names were too similar. There were also secondary characters mentioned whose names were Amalia and Albert. That’s a lot of A names to keep track of.
“Actually, I don’t think you owe him an apology, Mom.” Actually, she did. No matter how he had treated her in the past, her using verbal abuse against him was not okay. Verbal abuse is never okay. Yet, here it was given the easiest of excuses and then rubbed in his face that she knew she didn’t need to apologize for it. This behavior does not encourage healthy relationships, and it largely contributed to my lack of connection with these characters.
Inconsistencies and contradictions popped up on occasion. One in particular was quite shocking. A single photograph was described as detailed (being able to see “some flecks of black sprinkled” in a white beard), unclear (“wasn’t clear enough to make out his expression”), clear (a woman’s “soft smile turned up her lips”), and unclear again (the expression in the woman’s eyes was hard to make out). These contradictory descriptions were unsettling and made it difficult to imagine this photograph.
The first 100 pages had feminist overtones that prevented me from connecting well with the story. In the author’s note at the back of the book, it was said that Mr. Fabergé was “a master craftsman whose creativity and vision is [sic] almost unparalleled in history.” Yet, within the story, Alma’s two eggs were “thought to be the most innovative” of all of Fabergé’s eggs. Was Mr. Fabergé or Alma the greater designer? This book provided two different answers to that question. There was becoming a large focus on the fact that Mr. Fabergé “employed several women as master craftsmen,” but lists I found online only showed two or three female master craftsmen who worked in his shop. Two is a “couple”; three is a “few”; I don’t see “several” in any of the lists I found online. There were other niggling comments that were slid in that hinted at a feminist movement sort of thing, and that is not a favorite theme of mine to read about.
Certain things were over-emphasized to the point of ad nauseam. “Padawan” comes to mind, for one example. The first couple of times were cute and a great idea. Once it piled up to be a dozen or more times within about 20 pages, I was worn out on the subject.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the Fabergé eggs. I felt they were out of place at times, as they were often part of the history dumps, but they were very well described so that they were well seen in my imagination.
I’m sad to not be able to finish this book, because I was really wanting to spend some time virtually traveling to Russia and Finland and perhaps other countries as well through this story. I typically love stories that make the settings come alive so that I feel like I was actually there while reading. I don’t know if this book does that or not, as the contemporary thread still had not ventured to Europe by page 101 and the historical thread mostly took place in Mr. Fabergé’s shop or home through that same page.
The cover was beautiful, and I really liked that one of the Fabergé eggs was added near the bottom. That was a really nice detail.
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