Fun adventure! The fictional story in this two-pack was delightful and adventurous. I liked that it took place on Antarctica. That’s a continent not fFun adventure! The fictional story in this two-pack was delightful and adventurous. I liked that it took place on Antarctica. That’s a continent not frequently featured in fiction these days, and it was a refreshing delight to virtually visit the chilly place.
The nonfiction part of this pair of books was informative and neat. I enjoyed learning about the wildlife that makes Antarctica and its surrounding waters their home.
The author voice was engaging and inviting. I can see why The Magic Tree House books were, and continue to be, wildly popular.
Fun adventure! The fictional story in this two-pack was delightful and adventurous. I liked that it took place on Antarctica. That’s a continent not frequently featured in fiction these days, and it was a refreshing delight to virtually visit the chilly place.
The nonfiction part of this pair of books was informative and neat. I enjoyed learning about the wildlife that makes Antarctica and its surrounding waters their home.
The author voice was engaging and inviting. I can see why The Magic Tree House books were, and continue to be, wildly popular.
This was a cute story. While I found the solution to the mystery highly predictable, I still enjoyed the Miss Marple–style reveal. And the cover was cThis was a cute story. While I found the solution to the mystery highly predictable, I still enjoyed the Miss Marple–style reveal. And the cover was charming.
Content: underage drinking, one replacement expletive...more
This brilliant little story was chock-full of fantastic twists. I loved that it featured a woman who struggled with dyslexia yet owned a book and coffThis brilliant little story was chock-full of fantastic twists. I loved that it featured a woman who struggled with dyslexia yet owned a book and coffee shop. So creative! The book-and-coffee pairings was a cute aspect of the story. The creativity with the paper crafts was so fun. The sweet romance held lots of charm. The cover was completely adorable, and the story beneath it lived up to the expectations the cover set forth.
Comparing a cup of coffee to the birth of Christ seemed in poor taste: “Once people tried the coffee crafted at her bar, they saw the light like the Wise Men following the Christmas star.”
The ending was quite abrupt and left one major thread hanging. That was the reason for my docking a star. I hope we get Elaine’s story soon! ...more
This nonfiction book read so much like a novel that I sometimes forgot I was learning while I was reading. Spot-on, authors! I liked that Mr. KilmeadeThis nonfiction book read so much like a novel that I sometimes forgot I was learning while I was reading. Spot-on, authors! I liked that Mr. Kilmeade narrated the book. His enthusiasm for the intriguing subject came through beautifully.
Five-star charmer. I adored how Simeon took the “Twelve Days of Christmas” and put his own spin on it to court his favorite girl. This story might be Five-star charmer. I adored how Simeon took the “Twelve Days of Christmas” and put his own spin on it to court his favorite girl. This story might be short, but it’s packed with the author’s trademark spunk. Loved it!
This book was pretty great. I’ve not before seen a WWII story that featured an “anti-Hitler book club” in which the members purposely read the books tThis book was pretty great. I’ve not before seen a WWII story that featured an “anti-Hitler book club” in which the members purposely read the books that Adolf Hitler banned. This was a spectacular angle that instantly made the story unique and right up my alley.
Friendship, grief, and loss combined to add rich emotional depth to the story. That helped it resonate even stronger with me. All three aspects were very well written and had me weeping for the injustice of it all. The friendship found throughout the story was wonderful and tugged at my heartstrings at every turn.
The library was great fun! I loved how Zofia used her work there to revolt against the occupying authorities who were trying to exterminate the Jews, including some of her friends. If one does not stand up for their friends, what is their friendship truly worth? This was very well done.
The thing that stood out the most to me was that certain characters broke the laws of the land to do what was right. Sometimes laws are set in place with evil intent (such as the Nazi laws against Jews), and the only thing to be done was to stand up for the morally right thing. This was beautifully on display.
Caught in the Crosshairs by Natalie Walters was tense from the jump. I really liked that the leading lady’s allegiance was called into question. That’Caught in the Crosshairs by Natalie Walters was tense from the jump. I really liked that the leading lady’s allegiance was called into question. That’s an angle I hardly ever see in Christian fiction, so it felt refreshing and kept me flipping pages. I also enjoyed the fact that the leading man was chivalrous. That is something muchly needed in today’s society, and I’m glad this book put it on display.
The scar burning situation was odd. I have a few scars, and none of them ever burned after they healed. Maybe others have more experience with this sort of thing, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. It seemed more like the leading lady’s memories were what seared her, but the pain was attributed to a scar. It just came off weird to me.
And why did the leading characters ogle each other when they were supposed to be doing their jobs? That’s always so awkward to me. As were the physical reactions that stood out enough for me to jot a note about them as I was reading.
The leading man, who was a Secret Service agent tasked with protecting the VP’s son, seemed hyper-focused on EmilThis was a difficult novella for me.
The leading man, who was a Secret Service agent tasked with protecting the VP’s son, seemed hyper-focused on Emily to the detriment of his job. He also called his coworkers “yahoos,” which was highly unprofessional. He also called Emily “baby” long before the relationship felt stable and established. The term was also way overused throughout.
Emily was sweet but quite pampered, so the way she easily accepted the camping trip seemed out of character, particularly since she said early on that there was no way she’d ever go camping. I expected her to throw a fit or complain or something, but she simply slipped into the outdoorsman role instead. She also seemed to ask the questions of the situation that Liam, the Secret Service agent, ought to have been asking. Their roles seemed quite reversed at times. And how dare she tell a teenager that he was toasting marshmallows wrong! There is no wrong way to toast marshmallows, as far as I’m aware, and it was just plain rude to degrade the kid in such a fashion.
Mason was quite spoiled and bratty at first, but his character had the best arc of the entire story. He gained so much maturity through the misadventure he went through. His growth was the highlight of the story for me.
The title and cover hooked my attention, but the premise and story itself kept me intrigued most of the time.
I rather enjoyed the charming widow who oThe title and cover hooked my attention, but the premise and story itself kept me intrigued most of the time.
I rather enjoyed the charming widow who owned a bookshop and a dog named Hemingway. The book club was fun in the midst of the terror of air raids in WWII. The evacuee children angle was interesting and added depth to the story.
The way the various characters connected over the bookshop and the air raid book club was fantastic and the highlight of this novel for me.
The one thing that disrupted my reading experience was the eleventh-hour admission from Charles. It reminded me of the movie A Testament of Youth; that movie and this book were otherwise fantastic stories that succumbed to one moment of what God calls an abomination (see Leviticus 18:22), which dampened my enjoyment of both stories.
Content: replacement profanity, alcohol, sexual immorality mentioned ...more
The time-slip format didn’t do much for me in this one. I was much more interested in the 1970s hunt for Noah’s memory than I was about the historicalThe time-slip format didn’t do much for me in this one. I was much more interested in the 1970s hunt for Noah’s memory than I was about the historically-adjusted 1940s thread. Cancel culture drives me nuts.
I loved the double-agent aspect. This was my favorite thing and was very well written.
This was a completely riveting read. It was fascinating to see how the polygraph was created and the crimes that sparked the need for such a scientifiThis was a completely riveting read. It was fascinating to see how the polygraph was created and the crimes that sparked the need for such a scientific tool.
What made this book so hooking was its thriller-style delivery. Even when it went on tangents, it was told well and circled back to the point while giving interesting and important information along the way.
Content: expletives, tobacco, abortion mentioned, profanity, child sexual abuse mentioned, drugs, marital affairs, rape, suicide, sexual immorality mentioned ...more
The on-page rape scene was a huge turn-off. If I hadn’t needed this book for a team game and a host of challenges, I would have stopped reading this oThe on-page rape scene was a huge turn-off. If I hadn’t needed this book for a team game and a host of challenges, I would have stopped reading this one at that inexcusable moment.
Wow. This book was so emotional and twisty and very hooking. I wish it had a stronger faith thread, and the expletives and profanity could have easilyWow. This book was so emotional and twisty and very hooking. I wish it had a stronger faith thread, and the expletives and profanity could have easily been omitted. But the story was so very good that I kind of want to reread it right away.
This is the first book I’ve read that has featured WWI and the Spanish flu pandemic. I loved that the story was set in a funeral home and revolved around a trio of sisters, each of whom had their own little dramas and goals to display. The family dynamics and secrets were spectacular and complex. I enjoyed this family, these sisters, and the adorable baby that showed up along the way.
I was disappointed that the date of a bridge’s opening to traffic was shoved forward by several months. It felt like this was used only as a contrivance to throw two people together for one car ride. Surely there could have been a different way to do this that fit within the bounds of history.
Content: children rolling cigars, tobacco, expletives, graphic description of readying bodies for burial, profanity, speakeasies, alcohol...more
The anecdotes in this memoir were full of information about the actors and their family and friends, and they held an entertainment value as well. I lThe anecdotes in this memoir were full of information about the actors and their family and friends, and they held an entertainment value as well. I loved the mother-daughter connection, their love for one another, and their friendship (with one another as well as the women in their lives). Friendship seemed to be one of the most important things to both Laura and Diane.
I disliked that there was such open and proud discussion of intimate relations and sins. The Bible tells us that sin is abominable, but these women seemed proud of it instead. They were also proud of cussing nearly worse than sailors, even though Ephesians 4:29 says, “No foul language is to come from your mouth” (HCSB).
So there were high- and lowlights to this book. One thing that was solely a highlight was the photographs that were included in the book. It was really fun to see both women at various stages of their lives. The recipes that were included were also neat. I hope to try a couple of them someday.
Content: sexual immorality, profanity, replacement expletives, expletives, unwed intimacy, alcohol, tobacco, sexual innuendo and abuse, superstitions, Catholicism, marital affairs, drugs, replacement profanity ...more
The cover of this one drew my attention. The novel’s premise sounded enjoyable. Yet, once again, profanities seeped in and sullied an otherwise beautiThe cover of this one drew my attention. The novel’s premise sounded enjoyable. Yet, once again, profanities seeped in and sullied an otherwise beautiful, complex story.
I did so love the twisty mystery hidden beneath the offensive language. The author has quite a gift for crafting a plot to keep the reader guessing and yearning for more. I just wish the story were clean!
FTC Disclaimer: I wrote one of the novellas in this collection and was the copy editor on the project. These are my honest thoughts about the stories.FTC Disclaimer: I wrote one of the novellas in this collection and was the copy editor on the project. These are my honest thoughts about the stories.
Jesus I Am Resting by Faith Blum
My favorite thing about this story was that Elinor fought hard to include orphans in her home-front work in WWI. The creative ways in which she found for the orphans to contribute to the war effort were beautiful to watch unfold. Even more so, Elinor’s heart shone through exquisitely in her efforts as a nurse, a seamstress, a laundress, and a mentor.
The Cottage on the Hill by Andrea Renee Cox
This is the story I wrote, but I still have some favorite things about it as a reader. One thing I really enjoyed during my final read-through just prior to publication was how God had tied some things together without my having realized it along the way. Some of these are really subtle, so many readers might not catch them until a third, fourth, or fifth read. But they sure are beautiful to me.
If I Knew You Were Coming by Bailey Gaines
It was really fun to learn more about the Women’s Land Army through this novella and my own research during copyedits. The author showed this beautifully in this WWII home front story. But I also loved that the novella revolved around a woman trying to take care of her own little family while also doing her part in the war effort. This woman felt patriotic as they come.
Her Heart’s Home by Grace A. Johnson
The age-gap romance was the highlight of this story for me. It was so well written that it didn’t feel like there was such a large difference in their ages. The leading characters’ personalities definitely helped, as they were easy to root for.
The Tussie-Mussie by Katja H. Labonté
The tussie-mussie itself was my favorite thing about this story, but I also enjoyed the critters. The mystery was charming, but the brother-sister relationship was one of the best aspects of this story for me. The banter they had, that easy sort of relationship where their love is clear even when they disagree on a certain point, was beautiful to behold.
The Odd Duck Society by Rachel Leitch
The lack of self confidence in Jessamy was so superbly expressed that I wanted so much to cry for this girl. It was spectacular to see her gain some friendships that were encouraging and edifying along the way, but even more important that she found confidence within her faith. That, to me, is the most crucial place in which to find confidence, because without God, we are nothing.
Fear Not Tomorrows by Erika Mathews
The journey of a young woman yearning for the future yet being stuck in the present was well on display in this novella. I loved Margaret’s heart to help her family, but her journey toward a deeper walk with God was truly superb. I felt myself tearing up in joyous fashion when she reached the pinnacle of her struggles.
Courage to Stay by Kellyn Roth
This look at an early case of post-traumatic stress disorder (long before it was even named that) was very well written. I especially loved that Rosalind was so concerned for her husband that she went to great and unexpected lengths to bring him aid. That compassion, that empathy, was beautiful. Of course there was a scene with a baby, and that was great fun, too!...more
Deep South fiction is not my favorite genre. It takes a lot of talent and a light touch on the melodrama to sufficiently draw me into such a book and Deep South fiction is not my favorite genre. It takes a lot of talent and a light touch on the melodrama to sufficiently draw me into such a book and keep my interest throughout—even more so to wow me into granting a Deep South book five stars.
This author did all that and more with Letters from My Sister.
Mrs. Luesse’s author voice tugged me in swiftly, and as the family dynamics unfolded and the mystery deepened, I found myself so riveted that the melodrama felt juicy and inviting rather than annoying.
I was surprised that the letters didn’t come into play until well past the halfway mark (57%), but there were plenty of other things I enjoyed about the story that I only began wondering about the letters a few chapters prior to their appearance.
Things I loved were the tone, characters, family aspect, that the servants were beloved like family, that sisters were featured, and that the mystery involved amnesia. So many favorite things all in one place! There was so much to love about this story, and I hardly have the words to do them justice.
I’ve long adored the story of women’s baseball in the movie A League of Their Own. When I saw there was a novel highlighting the very same sport, it wI’ve long adored the story of women’s baseball in the movie A League of Their Own. When I saw there was a novel highlighting the very same sport, it was easily a must-read for this sports-loving heart.
I loved that this story was told through the eyes of a pair of school-aged sisters. One had the hopes of joining the nearby women’s baseball team, while the other was a voracious reader dealing with some mean bullies.
Underscoring their personal struggles and goals was the Red Scare and communism trials. This was such a fascinating aspect of the story. I love reading about the Cold War, but this was an angle I hadn’t before seen in Christian fiction. It was written superbly and in as non-politically-focused way possible.
Other things I enjoyed about this story were… • the sweet high-school romance • the fact that the librarian was nice • the quirky uncle • the heart-wrenching emotional twist—totally should have seen it coming but didn’t—such masterful foreshadowing! • That the girls were growing up in the 1950s—my favorite decade
One disappointing thing and the reason for the docked star was that the humor was crude in certain moments. I don’t appreciate “loo humor,” as one character called it, as it’s immature and inappropriate.
Fun mystery set in the height of post-WWII Cold War. Neat how it revolved around a new friendship as well as dealing with the loss of a best friend whFun mystery set in the height of post-WWII Cold War. Neat how it revolved around a new friendship as well as dealing with the loss of a best friend who moved away.
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