Under the Starry Skies by Tracie Peterson

 

I've been thinking a fair bit about this particular story since finishing it the other night. While Peterson writing itself shows the skill and finesse one expects from a writer as prolific as Peterson, the content and characters frustrated me to the point of lowering my enjoyment of the story.

Cassie Barton is described as "sensible and independent" in the book's description but despite having lived mostly independent while her father grieved in a town marked by the railway and increasing activity from revolutionaries she shows so little common sense. She doesn't lock her door, she goes out to dinner with a man who threatened her as a show of Christian goodwill, among other things. All of Cassie's character development was connected to other characters, rather than independent she read as very passive and dependent as a result.

I was equally frustrated with Brandon's storyline. While I fully acknowledge his background was traumatizing and had a lot of potential for the solid redemptive storyline Peterson has favoured in the past. Brandon's communication with his pastor regarding his familial history, while most likely era, reads as very victim blaming/victim shaming which left a bad taste in my mouth as well. 

It is also important to note that this story involves domestic violence against women and children as well as two description of killing (one premeditated and one reactionary) for readers who may be more sensitive to those plot themes.

2.5 out of 5 stars

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green

 

Amy Lynn Green is back with another WWII era novel and this one might be my favourite yet from Green. 

The first and central aspect of this story that captured my attention was that, while this was a WWII novel with loss and romance, at it's core, the story centered on community and friendship that can form in unlikely places. While Avis, the new housewife turned librarian is positioned as the main character she really feels more as one of many surrounded by the quiet Martina running from her past while caring for her children, the spirited Ginny with her big dreams, and Louise the wealthy library patron alone but for her cook and gardener. 

Green packs a lot into this motley crew and any of the characters could easily have overshadowed the other and yet Green really brings them together well. I loved how gently their stories were teased out as their relationships grew. I loved how natural their shared moments were as they realized how much they had to offer and how much they came to mean to one another.

Also, it was just refreshing to read a novel where female friendship played a larger role than romance or intrigue. I feel this really helps The Blackout Book Club stand out in its genre.

I was also pleased to see Green sticking to her trademark of incorporating some sort of correspondence from the characters within the plot, this time in the form of the official notes from the book club. I've come to look forward to these unique sections of writing from Green and this novel's inclusions were a delightful way to gain extra insight into Avis, Ginny, and Freddy especially, and it was a testament to Green's skill with this literary format that the sections always felt natural.

Green quickly made her way onto my author's to watch list after her novel Things We Didn't Say but The Blackout Book Club easily moves her into one of my favourite current writers.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

A Curious Faith by Lore Wilbert

 

If I was limited to a single book recommendation for 2022, this would be the book.

Wilbert has a gift for writing. Her words are empathetic and conversational, born out of experience as she shares her own journey with a faith that makes room and encourages space for hard questions. I was encouraged that, although her work revolves around deep matters of life and faith, it never feels inaccessible or stuck in theoretical head games. Rather, Wilbert is content to sit in the questions alongside her readers in the messiness of where life and faith intersect, a willingness to live with the unanswered questions as long as needed.

The concept of a book about faith and questions instantly grabbed my attention. Wilbert has divided her book into three distinct segments: "Questions God Asks: Living Curiously", "Questions We Ask God: Listening Curiously", and "Questions We Wish Someone Would Ask Us: Loving Curiously."
I really appreciated this framework that firsts starts with a curious God seeking to know his creation first before moving into the reflection of the individual reciprocating with their own questions. In a market that is filled to the brim with books prescribing the "right" way or the quick fix, it was refreshing to see a book that was willing to bring some balance back to the dialogue and reaffirm the value of questions for a healthy faith and spiritual dialogue. 

My one regret with this book is that I did have a timeline to read it. I really feel this is the kind of book that lends itself to a slow read and a pacing that lends itself to reflection outside of the pages to get the full intent of the author (I definitely plan to reread this one without a timeline when life settles a little bit in the new year).

5 out of 5 stars

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

Start with Hello by Shannan Martin

 

I've followed Martin online for years and always appreciated much about her writing and her skill definitely shines through on each page. Throughout the book Martin has a style that feels very authentic and conversational. It just feels appropriate that a book on living well as neighbours and authentic community reads like sitting down in the kitchen over tea and having a conversation filled with questions, advice, and story. Martin is a storyteller through and through finding the beauty in everyday moments and interactions. The stories are inspiring in that Martin weaves them out of such ordinary space that finding your own such moments and interactions feels achievable and natural.

I also appreciated how Martin focused on simplifying connection for readers, how to focus less on presentation in favour or presence and how to live vulnerably and openly within healthy trust. There wasn't anything terribly new in these pages but the book is a helpful refresher on the basics of living well with others. 

That said, there was a lot that just, personally, missed the mark for me in this particular book in this season. Although Martin has done a lot of work expanding her horizons beyond her own worldview and privilege that work hasn't yet crossed into disabled perspectives based on what I found in this book.

For example, in one chapter, Martin advocates for humanizing people by using person first language among other things but in the disabled community many dislike person first language due to a complicated past, it's always safer to ask. It felt out of place to see advice like this as a statement, especially considering a previous chapter on listening.

Throughout the book, Martin talks about challenging her introverted nature and getting out there, finding ways to connect with her neighbours through walks, service, daily routines like walking to school. Martin book was peppered with stories at how these daily routines gave room for moments of connection that eventually lead to deeper community. However, there were no alternatives for those with disabilities that might prevent that, no gentle awareness that the tasks she suggests may not be an option right now. I was actually surprised how much of the book focused on simply getting out and being aware. 

Much of Martin's book felt geared towards reclaiming prepandemic rhythms and even spoke of getting back to normal with gatherings or past terminology but many I know in the disabled community are still in various levels of isolation or with reduced capacity due delayed treatments or long covid. Even in Martin's expanded circle of awareness it felt hard to see space for safe and accessible connection with current events.

While I still appreciate Martin's voice on so many topics this book just fell short in my experience. 

3 out of 5 stars

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

Celebrities For Jesus by Katelyn Beaty

 

Every once in awhile you find a book that gives you something to sit with, think on, and continue processing long after you've closed the last page. I think Beaty has provided just such a book with her new offering Celebrities for Jesus. 

The lure of harnessing celebrity for Jesus is certainly not a new approach. I appreciated Beaty's recognition of this by giving readers a quick, but well-laid out, introduction to evangelicalism long standing interwoven relationship between business, celebrity, and their approach to the gospel. I found the history from Moody through Graham fascinating and certainly not a hard leap to the parachurch moguls, megachurch personalities, and social media influencers that permeate church culture today.

From there, Beaty looses no time highlighting the dangers and pitfalls of celebrity intermixing with the gospel pulling out current examples from RZIM to Mars Hill, ministries that, by all accounts, had started with sincere intentions and hopeful footing before allowing themselves to be swept into the pitfalls of fame.

 I personally found these real life illustrations helpful and sobering (especially having read A Church Called Tov earlier this year, I found these two books to complement each other surprisingly well). Although it was disheartening that Beaty had so many real life examples to choose from, some that have even continued to be revealed since printing, it was eye opening to see just how easily a ministry can get swept away and how evangelicalism does seem to have some built in weaknesses to celebrity due to its early partnership with business practices.

I also appreciate how Beaty doesn't try to wrap up the issue into a tidy ending . While she does bring the book to its conclusion well (I enjoyed Beaty's writing style throughout the book), she also acknowledges there isn't a quick fix or formulaic solution. I appreciated Beaty's willingness to sit in the mess that is the balance between fame and celebrity, the lure of celebrity for the kingdom, and acknowledgment that there is no easy fix in a socially saturated culture that is always evolving.

4 out of 5 stars.

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin

 

A Dangerous Beauty is a romantic suspense novel by Melissa Koslin. While I was intrigued by the concept I don't think I was the target audience for this particular story. 

I enjoyed the concepts Koslin brought to Liliana as a main character. She really had some rich development as she healed and discovered herself as an individual on the other side of trauma. Meric was also an interesting concept that feels very familiar in the romance genre of the strong, quiet male on the road to redeeming his origins.

The suspense storyline was also interesting to see unfold. I appreciated Koslin's skill at drawing out her plot, laying clues and twists to help build up the final reveal. My problem came down to the romance.

As much as I enjoyed Liliana and Meric as characters in their own right: the modern setting, the isolated nature of the characters due to the plot, and the speed and approach that the more traumatic elements were handled I just couldn't appreciate the romantic aspects of the novel. It read too much like a trauma bonding scenario for me to really root for the couple at the stage the story took place.

For readers ready to dive in it should be noted that due to the heavier topic matter there are some potentially triggering plotlines including: loss of loved ones to violence, violence against women, sexual assault, scene describing assault with intent to kill, human trafficking. 

3 out of 5 stars

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

The Clutter Fix by Shannon Acheson

 

After a bit of a summer break it somehow feels right to jump back into reading and reviews with a book on decluttering and simplifying the day to day. 

For those of you who have poked around my corner of the internet for awhile, you may recognize Acheson's name, as I had the opportunity to review her last book Home Made Lovely, a how-to guide on finding your style and building a space that is welcoming and beautiful to those that live there. Now, Acheson's back helping readers organize their styles into functional and peaceful space.

There was a lot to like in here. At it's heart, this is a very practical book. Acheson really takes the time to break down each stage/room for decluttering to make the job more accessible regardless of how much clutter one is facing. I appreciated the variety of lists she includes both for keeping yourself on track an das a guideline to modify for your own needs.

Which was another thing  I appreciated. Acheson spends a lot of her introduction explaining how not all points in her book will apply to everyone, something I greatly appreciated. So many how-to/fix it books are so focused on promoting their method it can feel inaccessible for those who don't meet the target audience. Acheson, though, seems much more aware, even in comparison to her first book about the reality of different familial and living arrangements fully  encouraging her readers to take what fits their lives and leave what doesn't. In essence the book's first area of decluttering is it's own advice.

I  also appreciated Acheson's inclusion of different organizing types and how that can affect both your decluttering phase and maintenance phases. Our home holds four people, we probably fit into 3 of the 4 organization models she outlines in chapter 5. As someone already familiar with decluttering this chapter really opened my eyes to some of the areas where our family struggles and has already helped up make some real progress.

Overall, I appreciated this book for it's honesty. Acheson presents tips and tricks that are modifiable for any organizational type or personality who wish to have some more tools for taming their space. 

4 out of 5 stars.

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

My Body is not a Prayer Request by Amy Kenny

 

If I could only recommend one book this year, this would be the one. With a mixture of honesty, humour, and self awareness Kenny lays out an important mixture of disabled history, theology, and autobiography to lay out some of the realities of disability within the church.

Considering the text is less than 200 pages, Kenny packs a lot of content in providing a great overview into the issues surrounding disability justice, accessibility, and thriving.

I appreciated how Kenny took the time to look into historical issues like the church's poor relationship with ADA, to how that culture is continuing to affect disabled individuals today.

As a disabled person, many of the historical and cultural elements were familiar to me.  It really is so valuable though to have a resource that is engaging and easy to recommend to others who are looking to broaden their awareness on disability issues. 

I was also encouraged and amazed at Kenny's work presenting teachings on how disability is positively presented in scripture and the value the disabled church brings to the full body of Christ. I cannot remember another place despite attending a religious college and being part of a faith community where disability was so embraced and celebrated as part of the gospel story as I saw Kenny lay it out here.

There are two elements I could see some readers taking issue with and I feel they're worth addressing. First, there are many sections of the book which feels more autobiographical than readers may be expecting.  I found this extremely helpful to highlight just how different each disabled experience is. Kenny is the expert in their own life and so that is the foundation that anchors her experience. I appreciated how Kenny both speaks to fundamental truths of disability as well as acknowledges the limits of her own perspective.

The second thing some readers may find surprising are the times that the tone of the book becomes more pointed/aggressive. At first, it caught me off guard too until I released that, as a disabled person myself, I wasn't used to seeing disabled people unashamedly taking up space and calling out where the North American church has failed their disabled members and neighbours.

As a disabled person, to see the challenges of the disabled church acknowledged and our strengths celebrated was meaningful in a way that is hard to put into words.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

Where the Road Bends by Rachel Fordham

 

Rachel Fordham has returned with a new tale of second chances and starting over. 

Where the Road Bends features a young struggling farmer Norah King, on the cusp of her wedding in 1880s Iowa to save her farm and Quincey Barnes a former fighter trying to find a better way of living.

As usual, Fordham has presented a story with wonderful protagonists filled with enough charming characteristics to draw readers to their side and just enough rough around the edge to make them relatable. 

I have to say though, Mrs. Dover is probably my favourite character in the book, she really was brilliantly written as a way of connecting the misfit crew of the Mission Hotel. Her warmth and wisdom helped her steal every scene she entered and oh how I'd love to read more of her story.

It is fair to note that this novel does include themes of violence towards women as well as the physical, emotional, and mental recovery from those events. While Fordham doesn't get graphic in her descriptions, her ability to pour emotion into her characters could make these themes triggering for some readers.

That said, Fordham really took time to craft Norah's journey through trauma and recovery with respect. I also felt that Fordham's willingness to incorporate Norah's recovery: her fear responses to trauma triggers, the physicality of her recovery, and the emotional fallout, allowed the redemptive and restorative nature of the story to come more clearly into focus. 

I've come to appreciate how Fordham gives her characters room to breathe, grow, and make mistakes. There's no rushing to gloss over or fix the loss, grief, or trauma in this book (with one exception I'll mention shortly). I've come to appreciate how Fordham lets her characters have room to speak as it adds to their charm.

My only negative take away from the story was the more fantastical elements of the ending. 

Don't get me wrong, it was wonderfully written, hits a strong emotional chord, and falls in line with what most readers will probably find themselves hoping for. Maybe it's the cynic in me of late, but the ending feels a little too Hallmark with the town's final stand against Norah's past.

4 out of 5 stars.

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

Slow Growth Equals Strong Roots by Mary Marantz

 

There are a lot of books out there about feeling not enough, about feeling burnt out, stressed out, and always needing to perform. Yet the truth in Marantz's word, the compassion and strength of her voice that can only be shaped through experience, and the kind grace in her message all make Slow Growth equals Strong Roots worthy of a second look.

Although this isn't Marantz's first book it was my first introduction to her work. I found her writing to be personable, earnest, and down to earth. At one point Marantz writes about how oversaturated the market feels on every topic and yet there is still room for a voice to share their message and their dreams with truth. While there wasn't a lot of new material in this book, Marantz has a way of owning her experiences, her highs and lows, with a humility and companiable way that her message stands out for the crowd. 

The book itself is quite giftable I mean I'm a sucker for a shiny cover and a sewn in bookmark. But I also appreciated the artistry in the book's compilation. The use of Marantz's photography further weaving in her story. The contrast and comparison they added to support the words helped make this book very visually appealing.

The message was laid out quite well and I was surprised to see that Marantz has accompanying material online like a quiz to see which characters represented in the book "The Woman Who Is Always Performing, The High Wire Tightrope Walker, The Contortionist, The Masquerader, and The Illusionist" may fit your experience best. I personally found the different personas a helpful take as well as Marantz's explanation that she had struggled with each one at different stages or in different experiences. 

I will definitely be recommending this to some of the people in my circle as a summer read.

4 out of 5 stars

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer

 

Libby is trapped in a world on the brink of WWI attempting to fend off her mother's attempt to use her as a social pawn and dreaming of delving into things that matter, until she goes to sleep and wakes up in Colonial Williamsburg running her late father's print shop as the colonies and England move closer to war.

Honestly, this is one of the most unique premises I've encountered in awhile.
One consciousness, two bodies, two time periods, two entirely separate lives. 
Each day is lived as any other until midnight strikes, the traveler sleeps and wakes in their alternate life loosing no time in one while living the other. This cycle then continues until their 21st birthday when they must choose one life leaving the other and all it holds behind forever.

In a lot of ways this felt like two historical novels in one. I really enjoyed how Meyer was able to capture the details and rhythms of both colonial America and early 20th century America. More importantly, I was captured by Libby and how thoroughly Meyer captured her heart and duty in both lives and the tension she held as her birthday approached.
Meyer's ability to capture Libby's growth and grieving really anchored the story as well as highlighting the premises uniqueness attributes. Libby's reality of saying goodbye to a life that would think her dead and gone while she stayed anchored in the other added different layers to her relationships that really gave the plot an extra layer of interest. 

I appreciated the implied lore of time travelling running through family lines as well with Libby's Williamsburg mother also being a traveler, mentoring Libby in how to navigate the unique challenges of the life they'd been given. 
I also found it interesting that, given how unique the time travelling premise was, the travelers we meet throughout the book are all people of faith despite their situation. I'm not exactly sure what genre this type of time travelling falls under (it doesn't quite feel sci-fi, yet it's so grounded in historical fantasy doesn't feel accurate either.) but it was encouraging to have a faith based story that wasn't afraid to incorporate more fantastical elements.

The only downsides were in it's conclusion. Considering how well written and engaging each timeline was, everything felt almost too neatly wrapped up with Libby, Reggie, and Henry in the end. I mean I know this is historical fiction/ time travel book and stretches beyond the fantastic but for so many paths to converge into a perfect path just seemed a little too shiny as much as I wanted happiness for Libby.

As a fan of historical fiction, this was like getting two engaging stories in one and despite my mixed feelings over the conclusion I would easily read another one of Meyer's characters journey through time

4 out of 5 stars

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

When The Meadow Blooms by Ann H. Gabhart

 

Ann Gabhart is one of my go to comfort writers. 

The way she captures the beauty of country life balancing its joys and hardships, her characters, and her gentle weaving of plot made her a quick and solid go-to. So, I was intrigued to see her taking some new turns with her latest When The Meadow Blooms

While I usually would say Gabhart's novels are character driven, this one feels far more thematic and plot driven. While the story focuses almost exclusively on the Meadows family and their neighbours, the story really centered on the idea of moving forward after hardship and loss as well as the mystery of Anneliese. While it was different than I anticipated I enjoyed how Gabhart's patient pacing fit the narrative both in the slow unravelling of the mystery as well as in the honesty of time it can take to recover from trauma.
I also appreciated how Gabhart used unique elements like Stanley and Josephine to help move the plot forward. It's those little touches that just help the book to stand apart with charm.

Because of the plot centering vs. character centering I did have a harder time connecting to an individual character. Rose's recovering from the sanatorium, Dirk recovery from the fire and Anneliese, Calla and Sienna's recovery from the orphanage all were treasure troves of character development and I do wish there had been space for more of a dive into how they were processing the rich tapestry of experiences Gabhart set in motion.

As with all of Gabhart's novels I've read, there is a strong faith component to this book with Rose and Calla praying throughout the book and relying on their faith to help them navigate life. Dirk also has a faith narrative as he wrestles with how faith can be possible given life's experiences providing a strong contrast to the girls.

Fans of Gabhart will find lots to love about Meadow land farm and the stories it holds. 

4 out of 5 stars.

The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart

 

A missing Faberge egg and a global treasure hunt across the centuries was more than enough to draw me into Stuart's new historical fiction The Master Craftsman. However, when I got into the pages I found more of a mixed bag than I anticipated.

The highlight of this book, for me, were the historical plot sections. Stuart takes a fascinating premise in her idea of an unknown missing egg and weaves together the social and personal events that might lead someone like Faberge to create such an item.

While I am familiar with the Faberge eggs I was less familiar with Faberge himself and, well recognizing creative license, appreciated the approach took exploring the possible mindset of the craftsman watching the events unfold that led to the ends of the Romanovs. The development is believable and the fascination of the eggs was enough to make me rabbit trail through old history books again. Stuart really shows their research well weaving in well known landmarks, historical events, and establishing the timeline of the Romanovs fall.

It was the modern sections that fell flatter for me. 

Ava has real promise as a lead and honestly if Ava and Zak got their own treasure hunting series I would read the next installment without question. 

But I felt the modern sections relied too heavily on stereotypes. The commentary on Xander's appearance felt so over the top I never was able to take the character seriously which made the climax less impactful. The possible love triangle felt out of place given Nick's illness and really left Zak as an underutilized character which was a shame given his potential.

I think Stuart really captures the pacing and excitement of a global treasure hunt it just fell flatter on the emotional/relational plots which Stuart had set up with such potential. Another surprising element, in my opinion, was the lack of any memorable faith elements in the plot. I'm honestly scratching my head looking back to recall any mentions of faith, God, or pray in a significant manner as I normally would expect from a Revell novel but it seems notable absent in this plot. Regular Revell readers may want to note that if it's a significant factor in the books they pick.

Overall, this book feels insufficient as a stand alone and I truly hope it's just the beginning of Ava's adventures.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

Along the Rio Grande by Tracie Peterson

 

Tracie Peterson is back with new series, Love on the Santa Fe's, debut novel Along the Rio Grande. Fans of Peterson will find many familiar elements on these pages and a relatively easy read almost to the point of being forgettable.

Susanna Jenkins is a typical lead female for the genre. She's determined, levelheaded, kind, and had kept her faith through great loss. She's agreed to help her family learn how to survive after great losses financially and socially. All great elements but she really doesn't stand out among other female leads for good reasons, I was confused how she was lauded for her common sense but pours out her family's problems to the first handsome stranger. Much of the time she felt more a passenger in her life than a primary lead.

Gary's storyline has interesting potential in the young man trying to find his place in life but, like many of the plots in this novel, it felt spread too thin and not enough substance. While their parents did show more of their own motivations and struggles they were very unlikeable until the book's climax, so I personally didn't find that engaging either.

I guess I'm a little at a loss. I can see where Peterson has touched upon solid themes of starting over, redemption, and love in ways that have so much potential. But I also felt uncomfortable with her one secondary characters only memorable line being a  self directed racial insult and disconnected from storylines that felt like they could have mixed and matched any Peterson characters and still come out with a similar story.

I think Peterson fans will still enjoy Susanna's tale as the writing and themes are what you expect from Peterson. I just think, for me, I felt frustrated at the glimpses of depth I saw that never delivered.

3 out of 5 stars

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

Sea Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon

 

Hannon is once again inviting readers to stop and rest in Hope Harbour. 

Sea Glass Cottage is the eighth outing by Hannon to this charming little town and returning readers will be thrilled to see that many of the characters who make up the heart and soul of HH are back for another tale.

Now, I will say as someone who has read most of the series (I believe 2 books slipped by me during busier seasons), this was the first book in the series that I really felt having read prior novels would add significant enjoyment to the story. So many of the little nods like Eleanor's cake, the town experts at the festival, the coffee shop, and Charley with the birds really build off prior novels and their stories. I'm not saying a new reader wouldn't enjoy Sea Glass Cottage but this would not be my top recommendation for introducing the series.

So, onto the story. First, Charley has been a favourite of mine since his first appearance in book one and I was thrilled to see him play a larger role in this story. His talks with Beth and Steve showed so much more of his character as did his scenes with Noah and I loved seeing Charley shine. I appreciated seeing Hannon dig a little more into Charley's quiet faith and his steadfast service to the town, Also, how can I get so happy over seeing that two fictional seagulls have not changed? Those birds always make me smile.

The primary storyline centering on Christi and Jack feels very familiar to Hope Harbour with it's centering themes of new beginnings, redemption, forgiveness, and of course romance. Honestly, I am always intrigued by Hannon's willingness to incorporate characters that don't fit the norm of her genre and her openness to tackling grief through the experiences of Steve, Hannah, Beth, and Jack were probably the most memorable scenes of the book for me. That said, there wasn't anything stand out about Christi and Jack for me this time and I can already see them fading into the quiet background of Hope Harbour in my memory.

While the story itself was a sweet and well wrapped up read, I felt that Hannon relied more on the familiar in this book. The faith topics felt a little more preachy than I remembered, the time jumps felt a little more jarring with weeks rushing by, the pacing just didn't match what I expected from Hannon or the series. 

For readers going through harder times I think it's worth mentioning that this novel does touch upon the sudden loss of an adult child, loss of a parent, foster care, and child abuse/bullying themes.

3.5 out of 5 stars.  

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin

 

Sundin is easily becoming one of my favourite WWII novelists. 

Until Leaves fall in Paris  follows former ballerina turned bookstore owner Lucie Girard and factory owner Paul Aubrey as they navigate the tensions of being American citizens in Paris in 1940.

Sundin provides a riveting story filled with romance, suspense, and emotion as Lucie and Paul navigate an unfamiliar France where neighbours have become résistance, collaborators, or an unknown in-between.

Lead character Lucie is young and idealistic. Like many young women she doubts herself and her abilities but she has a creative spirit, a strong heart, and a wisdom about her. I absolutely loved her scenes with young Josie as she really does gain so much confidence and surety of self in her time with the young girl.  Josie was a real treat of a secondary character as well.  I loved Sundin's plots around the feenie stories and the highlighting of a child's abilities.

To my surprise, it was Paul that stole the story though. Sundin wrote his grief and struggle so acutely that you couldn't help but be drawn into his tension between grief and duty, past and future. 

Sundin is good at tension. While she doesn't shy away from the danger her characters would have faced in 1940s Paris she also manages to tell a story that never completely loses sight of hope. Whether it's Lucie's initial youthful optimism, Josie's childhood innocence and Feenie stories, or the elements of faith that run throughout Sundin's work there is always an element of hope. I think that's one of the more appealing elements of her writing. Sundin presents good historical context, suspenseful drama, and satisfying character development while never loosing sight of the hope underscores her work.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water by Erin Bartels

 

So, before I get into my feelings on the story itself, I feel this book is a great example of why Christian fiction needs to have content warnings. I love that more Christian authors are digging into the deep and messy realities of life in our world, however, it's not fair to blindside readers who may be struggling with the issues themselves and, like so many, were reading as an escape. So, this book really needed a content warning for childhood sexual abuse and probably suicide as well.

What made this more frustrating is that Bartels is such a good writer. I was impressed by her intentionality in word choice, her ability to paint a scene, and how she conveyed emotion into her characters. 

Kendra was a fascinating lead. While not the bubbly or adventurous I think a lot of readers may expect I found her a good representation of a young woman seeking to heal and understand her trauma. Because Kendra really did wrestle through things, between her absent father, her strained relationship with her mom, the abuse, the fear of loosing her "summer family", the fear of failing her editor her reactions make sense. Her strong reaction to the rejection of her anonymous but known critic, her fear of outing her abuser and loosing the closest family she knew, even her refusal to put out Andreas after his sudden arrival. Bartels writes the messiness well though perhaps not in a way readers familiar to the genre will find satisfying.

The story itself does take a little while to adjust to as there's such a strong element of narration with Kendra writing to her critic, sorting her feelings, processing her memories, and trying to defend. But the style eventually grew on me and made such sense when the major twist at the end was revealed.

For a Revell novel there is almost no faith content and conservatives readers may struggle with the obvious serious content as well as some of the casual drinking and smoking that many characters engage in. 

I also feel some readers of the genre may not be content with the ending, there is forgiveness, there is moving forward with life but there are no legal ramifications for the abuse. While this is frustrating I feel this is also so true to so many women's stories that I felt it fit the style and story well.

This isn't a feel good book, but it was one that touches on deeper issues and truthfully acknowledges the messiness of life. Overall, I'm glad it stumbled onto my bedside table.

3.75 out of 5 stars.

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

The Spark of Love by Amanda Cabot

 

I'm going to be honest, this review may be a little biased because I absolutely love Mesquite Springs and The Spark of Love was the perfect way Cabot could have ended our journey alongside such a dear cast of characters.

The Spark of Love is Cabot's third and final outing to Mesquite Springs and this time readers are given two lead female characters. Alexandra Tarkington, daughter of hotel owner Calvin Tarkington (introduced in the previous visit to Mesquite Springs) and dear Laura Downey who finally gets her own time to shine as well.

One of my favourite things about Cabot's writing is the way she takes themes, plot points, and anecdotes from previous books in a series and weaves them into current stories.  I loved getting the updates on the the townspeople from the main characters Laura and Alexandra through to earlier primary characters like Polly, Evelyn, Dorothy, and Mrs. Lockheart. Even the puppies got an update. This really helps reader immersion and it felt like visiting old friends and catching up after being away. I also felt these moments helped emphasize just how much care Cabot puts into her characters and stories to wrap them up with the storylines they deserve.

So I was pleased to see Laura get a shot at love after two books of heartbreak and it was so worth the wait. I appreciated the patience Cabot gifted Laura's story as neither Laura nor her beau would have been in a place to maintain a healthy relationship in book one. Instead readers see both characters slowly grow, learn, and heal into a place where they can be equal participants balancing, encouraging, and loving each other.

That said, Alexandra is the obvious main character and for the "outsider" in town she manages to hold the story well. 

Those new to Mesquite Springs may find a lot of familiar plot hooks in this series but Cabot hasn't set out to rewrite the genre. Her strength is in tested wisdom, characters that leap off the page and invite you to sit down over pie, romances that make you want to play matchmaker, and plots that wrap up with a completion that makes you want to cheer.

I recommend taking a chance on Mesquite Springs but to get the full breadth of its charm and Cabot's skill do yourself a favour and read all three in their printed order, it's worth the time.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

This book was provided as part of the #RevellReads book tour. The opinions are my own.

Sheltering Mercy Prayers Inspired by the Psalms by Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt

 

While I know it's still early for 2022, this may be my favourite non-fiction of the year.

Sheltering Mercy is not a translation nor a true paraphrase of the first 75 Psalms but rather poetic prayers and reflections based on each of those chapters. I was really impressed cover to cover with Smith and Wilt's efforts.

First the visual appearance instantly drew me in, with its stylized illustrations and careful word placement the words flowed that reflected their initial inspiration in the Psalms. I appreciated the authors earnest, emotive word choice, their used of footnotes to additional inspiration verses throughout scripture, emotional honesty.

I also appreciated how they took these psalms and reflected on them through the lens of the Christ crucified and resurrected. It was a perspective I've heard encouraged previously but never laid out so beautifully.

I truly hope the authors will continue this effort with a second volume covering the second half of the Psalms as it feels like such a needed and underrepresented area in new Christian literature.

5 out of 5 stars

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh

 

Fair warning, I'm still a little conflicted on this book.

The central character Brielle's story of rediscovering her heritage, deciding her future and falling in love was a great romantic read and I enjoyed it. Honestly, there were a lot of positives in the way Shiloh wrote the dynamics for Bri with those closest  to her. Iris was a great best friend with her combination of wise centering faith and partner in crime. The scenes between Bri and her mom showed the nuances of relationship between parent and adult child. It was fun to read solid women of faith supporting one another.

I also enjoyed the romantic aspects of the story (although a rushed timeline is a pet peeve). I love how central and natural Bri's faith felt in her seeking a husband (actually in all she did). I loved how she knew her own mind and worth while looking for a spouse and I loved the way Shiloh crafted such a perfect match for Bri all along.

Considering Shiloh mentioned being unable to travel (for obvious reasons) while writing the book, I also felt like she did a wonderful job in presenting a setting that felt grounded and with depth behind it.

That said, I also felt a little disheartened by other elements of the story. 

While Bri's storyline was satisfactorily resolved and Iris was set up to possibly feature in her own novel other plotlines felt rushed at best or even unfinished. Mori's conflict and identity within his family of origin seemed to be leading to so much story potential given his role in the story only for the plot to feel rushed into a resolution at the engagement party and pushed aside. Bri's struggles to find her footing and acceptance within the family (aside from her grandfather who was a wonderful character) also felt rushed with a single person present for a hasty apology.

Even the reveal of the story's antagonist felt incomplete as there is no exploration of the truth behind their identity and what was the royal family's response to their aggression and trauma. To be honest, I'm still not sure if the villian reveal was a well written surprise or just not well anchored into the story as I had to reread earlier chapters to remember who their named family members were.

If you're looking for a fun, easy to read romance, this may fit your to read pile but there are some definite unfinished threads that may trip up your enjoyment.

3 out of 5 stars

Book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. and Baker Publishing Group.

The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel

 

Jennifer Deibel is inviting readers back to Ireland with her new novel The Lady of Galway Manor. While technically a historical fiction, I feel it would be more accurate say this tale focuses more on highlighting its romantic aspects than historical exposition.

The two characters at the center of this tale are Englishwoman Annabeth DeLacey, eldest daughter of Lord DeLacey, recently arrived in Galway as the new English landlords.  Stephen Jennings, on the other hand, is a Galway jeweler and keeper of the Claddagh, who has given up on love and letting others in. He's also Annabeth's new teacher in jewelry making.

So, first of all, I've always had a fondness for the Claddagh design so when I heard that it was going to feature in this book I knew I had to take a look. I loved how Deibel worked the legend throughout the pages, hinted toward the skill and strength it takes to craft them, and used it to work her faith elements into the storyline in a way that felt so true to the characters. This book so rekindled my love of this traditional design that I'm pretty sure my internet search algorithms are going to be giving my Claddagh images and lore for weeks (and I'm okay with this).

As far as characters go, there's not much unexpected from Anna or Stephen. I feel like fans of the genre will enjoy Anna's thirst for a more substantial life, her quick mind, and open heart. Likewise, Stephen's wrestling with his grief and loss also feels familiar within the genre but is tempered by how real and alive his relationship is with his father. That said, Seamus is my hands down favourite character in this whole book. Honestly, I would accept an offer to tea with him in a heartbeat. I love how Deibel made him jump off the pages with his wisdom, warmth, and humour.

Another character that really came to life for me was Ireland herself. You can really feel Deibel's love for and experience in the country in the way she writes her scenes. Paddy's fish and chips, the seisiun, even the care Deibel takes to write Anna's first real observations walking to the shop, the fact that Ireland has a piece of Deibel's heart is clear.

Readers looking for indepth historical action would probably feel more comfortable in another tale. While Deibel does draw on the events of 1920s Galway in the book, she admits most was altered or generalized for the sake of the story. It really comes down to what you're expecting of the book.

If you're a fan of romance, Ireland, and happy endings I recommend giving The Lady of Galway Manor a peek.

4 out of 5 stars.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz

 

Another day and another Laura Franz tale has made its way to my bedside table. I have to confess, I have absolutely loved Frantz last few novels and had some pretty high expectations going into A Heart Adrift which left me with some mixed reactions but let me explain.

A Heart Adrift takes us back to colonial Virginia and Esmee Shaw, a female chocolatier of 28 who lives with her father, runs her chocolate shop, aids in the poor house, and occasionally dreams of lost love and not quite forgotten hopes. 

Esmee was an interesting heroine. I enjoy Franz exploring different trades with her main characters like lace maker and chocolatier and her attention to detail has always allowed her to paint an engaging mental scene. 

I appreciated Esmee's nerve in chasing her dreams and going to the lighthouse which provided some of my favourite scenes. Again, Frantz does such a vivid job painting the picture of Esmee's cottage life, her lighthouse duties, and the ups and downs of her time on the island it was easy to let yourself get pulled into Esmee's story.

At it's core though,  A Heart Adrift is a love story for Esmee and her reunited flame Captain Lennox. I feel like Frantz does a great job with their story. 

I enjoyed the build up of their relationship after such a long separation and I feel like the pacing was true to Esmee and Henri's characters. Not to mention, in the middle of winter it's just fun to root for the reuniting couple.

I did have a few points where I felt less satisfied. While I'm usually thrilled with Frantz detail work there were some historical errors that slipped through that caught me off guard (as fun as it is to see a Canadian shout out we weren't around back then). This felt out of place from her usual quality.

I also felt like Eliza's storyline was shoehorned into the main plot awkwardly. While I know grief can play out differently with different people her reaction to her beauty felt awkward given the nature of the rest of the story and her role in the story's climax, while inspiring, felt rushed and incomplete.

3.5 out of 5 stars

This book was provided as part of the #RevellReadsBookTour, all thoughts are my own.