Better Ways to Read the Bible by Zach Lambert

If I had to pick two words to sum up Zach Lambert's new book Better Ways to Read the Bible they would be hope and healing.

In this book, Zach takes four commonly used interpretive lenses in the Evangelical church: literalism, apocalypse, moralism, and hierarchy and uses a variety of resources to highlight the harm these lenses have caused over the past number of decades. He then contrasts them with four healthier options: Jesus, context, flourishing, and fruitfulness. 

I found myself instantly drawn in by Zach's easy storytelling approach to writing as he effortlessly weaves personal experiences with scriptural evidence and peer reviewed references. Though the topic is a bit more academic in nature, this combination of writing elements makes the book accessible and enjoyable and I often caught myself responding out loud to different points (which is a bit more of an issue when the kids are asleep and it's midnight, grin). 

However, my biggest takeaway, by far, was the sheer amount of hope I felt reading this book as someone who has lived through church trauma, deconstruction, and is trying to rebuild faith in a chaotic world. The graciousness with which Zach platforms other scholars is evident in every chapter. The commitment of inclusion and it's grounding in scripture is one of the best I've read in recent years. Best of all, for me, I now have a resource for the others in my circles who have been hurt by the church and need a safe place to start exploring faith again.

4.5 out of 5 stars. 

The Song of Sourwood Mountain by Ann H. Gabhart

 

Ann Gabhart is best known for her sweet romances set in the early 20th century Appalachians. I've been following her stories for awhile now and I know I can count on Gabhart to always have a close attention to detail and a wonderfully vivid, detail filled capturing of the Appalachian spirit and the traditions and personalities of those who lived in the communities there.

Once again I loved Gabhart's choice of setting. Sourwood was delightful to explore, especially through Mira's fresh eyes and Ada June's enthusiasm. Gabhart also tried to give a balance to the community from the sweet young Joseph to the distant Riley. As someone who grew up in a rural community I appreciate when a fictional community shows the same sort of quirks that make those communities home.

That said, these may be my least favourite of Gabhart's main characters. Mira is a sweet and brave young woman but I struggled with the way her relationship with Gordon was presented. The entire "God told me to pursue you" and continuing to pursue until they were married a week later is such a dangerous mentality that has been romanticized to the harm of many women. I feel like I would have enjoyed Mira and Gordon so much more if they had a recent history or a longer courtship instead of their red flag start and Gordon's continual refusal to communicate throughout the book.

Ada June's story on the other hand left me wanting more. I would have easily read a book solely devoted to her story of finding herself and her family. I loved how Gabhart paced her healing, I loved the respect given to her trauma induced mutism, and she had such a spirit about her. However, because it was Mira's story not Ada June's I found myself more invested in Ada June without the same level of resolution.

While Mira's story does follow the traditional pattern of a happy ending in this genre, Ada June's as a secondary character felt like it had loose threads. Still readable but less satisfying.

3 out of 5 stars.

I received a copy of this book as part of the RevellReads program in exchange for my honest opinion. 

The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel

 

Jennifer Deibel is back with another February release! 

The Irish Matchmaker is Deibel's fourth release and are her novels are becoming a midwinter tradition around here. I don't know about you but after a few months of Canadian winter I need something cozy, sweet, and delivers an ending that leaves me smiling and this tale fit the bill entirely.

This time Deibel invites readers into the lives of Donal Bunratty, a farmer and single father to nine year old Sara, and Catriona Daly one of the matchmakers of Lisdoovarna.

I loved these characters and the care with which Deibel crafts their story. While this definitely is a romance, Deibel made sure to give each character their own foundation to stand on. Caty's search for self and security and Donal's search for wholeness after the losses in his life provided a rich setting for the romance to bloom amid the Lisdoovarna Matchmaking festival (which does actually exist to this day). 

While A Dance in Donegal is still my favourite overall tale from Deibel, Caty and Donal are my favourite romance. Deibel's pacing in this story was delightful. The romance happens naturally allowing for so many sweet scenes (I still can't decide if the painting scene or the dance was my favourite). This more natural pacing also crossed over into the religious elements. Donal's journey through his hurt and grief, his slow return to his faith, and his eventual return to community felt relatable in that it honours his pain while still providing the hopeful conclusion you expect in the genre.

As usual, Deibel provides wonderful worldbuilding through her descriptions of the Irish countryside, the festivities surrounding the festival, and the use of Irish words throughout the story (I recommend a second bookmark for the glossary at the front).

4.5/5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, the views expressed are my own.

The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt

 

If I could only recommend one novel from 2023 it would be The Warsaw Sisters  by Amanda Barratt.

Following the story of sisters Antonina and Helena Dabrowska, sisters living in Warsaw, Poland during World War II, Barratt takes readers through a fictional insight into how the German occupation affected those left behind in the city.

Barratt shows a strong eye for detail weaving in many key events from Warsaw's wartime history. Her use of the sisters as story anchors throughout the occupation gave a natural way to cover so many elements of Warsaw's wartime history from Irene Sendler's work and the Home army to tragedies like the Katyn and Wola massacres. 

I also appreciated Barratt's character development allowing the events to shape the characters, their convictions, and their decisions as the war progressed. While not all of the decisions may be ones readers expect to see from this publisher, the choices felt understandable and reasonable given the reality and conditions the sisters faced as the war dragged on.

The Warsaw Sisters was not necessarily an easy read but Barratt has done her best to capture a fictional slice of historical events that need to be remembered, perhaps more than ever in these turbulent times.

5 out of 5 stars

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

The Deep Down Things by Amber C. Haines and Seth Haines

 

The Deep Down Things reads as a collection of both memoir and spiritual truths. There is no denying that both Seth and Amber Haines are gifted wordsmiths and storytellers. Their ability to paint images with their text, convey emotions, and lead readers through the details makes this a interesting read.

It was also interesting to read of their journey through trauma, away from their Anglican service and into Roman Catholicism. While not all of the theology is going to line up with the majority of protestant readers, I appreciated the reminders of how many things, such as holy silence, transcend denomination and are just inherent to following Christ.

I also appreciated the honesty present in their stories. I was unfamiliar with the authors prior to this book, but the nature of this story required a vulnerability and openness that can sometimes inspire a glossing over or toxic positivity in contemporary religious books which was refreshingly absent from the Haines' work. Instead, I found their book to be willing not just to face the "deep down things" but open to sit and wrestle with them as each scenario required.

I did find it interesting that their chapter on forgiveness/reconciliation still tended more towards what I've seen in evangelical circles. Perhaps more fresh in my mind as I just finished another book on trauma, I was surprised to see more the traditional focus on the need to forgive, the work on the affected party's side, etc. While they did acknowledge the need of both parties involvement for reconciliation and a small mention of when healthy reconciliation cannot occur, I would have loved to see if there was anything in RC practice about healthy boundaries, recovering from trauma, and so on.

4 out of 5 stars.

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

When Religion Hurts You by Laura E. Anderson, PhD

 

When Religion Hurts You is a timely resource for those processing their own experiences or helping others process their experiences in high control religions (HCR). 

Inspired by Anderson's doctoral research as well as clinical and personal experiences, When Religion Hurts You gives readers an oversight on the multitude of effects trauma can have on an individual's nervous system, regulation, and overall mental/physical health before narrowing down to scenarios more common within a  HCR.

I appreciated that Anderson takes the time to make her information accessible without insulting intelligence. 

Her work on nervous system regulation/dysregulation is well written and presented in a way that is easy to follow. I appreciated Anderson's sections with practical tips for addressing inner voices, recognizing the need to pace healing, and even her reframing of healing vs healed. The book is a wonderful resource full of information that feels possible rather than just jargon (not to mention Anderson provides a wonderful resource library list in the back that is categorized by topic).

That said, I could easily see individuals who are working to heal from HCR but still stay within a Christian faith struggling with some of Anderson's main points. Obviously this isn't a theology book, it's a book about trauma. However, it feels like Anderson's work, either due to personal beliefs or limits due to the scope of the project, leans far enough away from faith that some of her statements on evangelical beliefs in particular could be dysregulating for people still early in their own healing.

4.5 out of 5 stars

 

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

The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky

 

In The Legacy of Longdale Manor Turansky brings readers the story of  Gwen Morris and Charlotte Harper. I've noticed an uptake in dual timeline stories the last few years and this one places the leads 100 hundred years apart but with unexpected ties that hold fast through the years.

Turansky does a solid job bringing these two characters to life and I felt Turansky does a good job balancing and weaving together both plots. I enjoyed both lead characters although I did find myself enjoying Charlotte's storyline more, perhaps due to the urgency of her timeline given the recent upheaval of their living situation. Turansky maintains a solid pacing that is both engaging but doesn't feel overly rushed as the ladies wrestle through grief, growing up, and romance.

I found myself with mixed emotions regarding the book's take on the theme of forgiveness. While in Gwen's timeline her family's past decisions led to some obviously laid out consequences, repentance, forgiveness, and moving forward I didn't feel that same pattern was always as clear in Charlotte's story. It felt like the responsibility was more on the women to forgive than to make space for acknowledging the hurt and harm that had occurred. 

Overall, this was a pleasant easy read, the characters and plot are solid with lovely historical nods and a good eye for detail and continuity. I'm just not sure if this is a novel that I'll be able to recall by name in a few months time.

 3.5 out of 5 stars

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

This is Where It Ends by Cindy K. Sproles

 

I was so excited when I read the premise of Sproles new novel This is Where it Ends. The hidden gold, the mysterious box, the handsome young city reporter, and the mountain woman close to the end of her journey all felt like the elements of a book I was sure to love and yet I found myself disenchanted.

While I typically love the old mountain granny type of character ( I know so many ladies who would fit that category in real life minus the mountains), Minerva's character frustrated me on a few levels. 

Minerva's story, even in its resolution, just hit me as sad. While some may applaud the character's faithfulness to her promises and husband, the story presented was one of such loneliness, captivity to promises that didn't deserve it, and wasted potential that her final chapter of peace feels like too little, too late to really be satisfying. Minerva herself spends most of the book asking/complaining why she can't just die.

The story arc with the young reporter Del Rankin could have had potential between his role in the mysterious box, his learning life outside of the city, and the connection he slowly builds with Minerva but with the rushed timeline and the reader stuck in Minerva's waiting to die mindset Rankin's quest for answers feels too rushed to feel like a true redemption arc.

Perhaps I just had misplaced expectations about the story's focus. When the book's blurb mentioned "a lonely life" I expected more of the sometimes lonely and less of the toxic decisions that set the course of Minerva's life.

3 out of 5 stars 

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

In the Shadow of the River by Ann H Gabhart

Gabhart loves taking readers into the lives of characters I don't often see featured in this corner or historical fiction and In the Shadow of the River  is no exception. Here, Gabhart introduces readers to the life of Jacci, a young showboat actress who has spent her life on the river avoiding the darkness that hides in her past.

One thing I always appreciate about Gabhart's books is her characters. Jacci herself is an interesting lead character as she uncovers the truth of her origins both familial as well as with river life. The supporting characters add a lot of fun too and I wish we had  a prequel with Grampus' adventures with Captain Dan, Marelda, and Aunt Tildy's adventures when the kids were young and the show was being established. 

I also appreciate the attention Gabhart takes in introducing her plot elements and making sure Jacci's story has no loose ends upon the story's end. Between the mystery of her parentage, the romantic tensions on the showboat, and the dangers pursuing Jacci from the past it could have been easy to see some plot points dropped or awkwardly fit into the overarching flow of the story, but Gabhart's ability to weave in her plot elements with care and focus comes through once again.

That said, this book does move much slower and has a clunkier pacing than I'm used to from Gabhart. The first third of the book covers Jaccci's arrival into showboat life, but the major focus of that section is essentially summarized with the major tensions resolution revealed on the book's back cover.

I would have far rather had more of Jacci establishing herself on the showboat especially given the story's themes around family and identity and the interesting cast of characters that Gabhart gave Jacci for her showboat family over the 100 pages of summary revealed plot we received. I think it may have also eased some of the age difference uncomfortableness between Jacci and Gabe if more time had been given to their friendship/relationship instead of him dropping it on her (and readers) after 15 years.

3.5 out of 5 stars 

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

The Long March Home by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee

 

The Long March Home  is a fictional tale based on the actual events in the Pacific theatre during WWII. Centered on the character of Jimmy Propfield with his best friends Hank and Billy, this novel covers their childhood in Mobile, their experiences in WWII, and their desire to return home.

Honestly, this story was almost impossible for me to put down. The fact that Brotherton and Lee chose to tell Jimmy's whole story, from his childhood friendship with Hank, Billy, and Claire through to enlistment really emphasized the humanity and youth of the characters, as well as the real life men they symbolized. While obviously a war based novel, Brotherton and Lee have presented so much more with these characters as they explore, coming of age, brotherhood, grief, and forgiveness. 

This is one of those stories that catches you by the heart and sits with you long after the final page is turned.

On a more nerdy note, I appreciated how the authors note at the book's conclusion provided additional context on this less covered aspect of WWII. The explanation of certain historical figures and mysteries that made their way into the fictional plot as well as additional supplementary reading on Bataan is a good starting point for anyone else who had their interest caught on the historical side of these events.

As a warning for longtime readers of this publisher, this novel is far more graphic than usual offerings. The plot covers the forced death march of P.O.W.s, torture and abuse of prisoners, murder, and general horrors of war. None of these scenes felt gratuitous as they were based on the actual events and developed Jimmy's story but they can be hard to read.

4.5 stars out of 5

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

The Other Side of Special by Brown, Clime, and Holt

 

I went into this book with high hopes but feel like this book was a well intentioned missing of the mark.

 My first point of concern came on page one when the authors talked about "special needs" making an off hand comment about "whatever the newest acceptable label is at the moment". The fact is, the term special needs came from the abled community, studies show often creates more discrimination, and is rejected by the majority of the disabled community. It was the first of many disappointments.

While I agree with the authors that many resources don't capture the nuance of parenting in the disabled community, their book doesn't either. I saw no highlighting in this book of the richness that comes from embracing and living in the uniqueness of disabled culture, no disabled joy, no promoting of all the hard work the disabled community has put in the last number of decades regarding advocacy, inclusion, and acceptance. In fact, I saw no evidence at all that the authors regularly sat with and learned from disabled peers and community leaders. 

I also struggled with the book's layout. While the author's covered some useful information, those sections felt like generic Christian parenting advice.
 Every parent will face negative emotions and reactions at times in their parenting journey and this book could have used its platform to highlight the similarities first, before branching out into how those common issues may uniquely impact disabled families. Instead, the book seemed to separate the disabled segments of their experience into the "messy, emotional" part of the book's tagline and the "joy-filled" parts to the generic advice.

I'm a mom to children with a variety of disabilities and I'm also disabled myself. Parts of this book were uncomfortable to read due to the casual inclusion of ableism and the general negativity surrounding disabilities. 

I would love to see these authors spend more time actually embracing and learning from the disabled community in the future.

1.5 out of 5 stars.

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

The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy

 

In 1911, Mabel MacGinnis is Europe's strongest woman and has performed beside her father in the Manzo Brothers Circus her entire life. But at his unexpected death, she loses everything she's ever known and sets off in the company of acrobat Jake Cunningham for America in hope of finding the mother she's just discovered is still alive.

Isabella Moreau, the nation's most feted aerialist, has given everything to the circus. But age and injury now threaten her security, and Isabella, stalked by old fears, makes a choice that risks everything. When her daughter Mabel appears alongside the man who never wanted to see Isabella again, Isabella is forced to face the truth of where, and in what, she derives her worth.

(excerpt from back of book)

This may not be Duffy's most polished novel but I feel like it may be one of her more memorable and emotional ones. I feel pretty confident saying this won't be everyone's cup of tea and more conservative readers will probably find the subject matter uncomfortable. However, I found the story highly engaging and a thoughtful attempt to address some deeper topics in fictional form.

While the story may be centered in the world of 1911 circus life, Duffy uses the tale to explore themes such as post-partum depression, abandonment, suicide, loss of spouse, and having to rebuild your life/self. 

Mabel and Isabella were interesting leads in both their comparison and contrasts. I appreciated how Duffy used their storyline to highlight just how often generational pain can be unintentionally handed down and how much strength can be required to being healing at any age. While I was sometimes frustrating with either woman's decisions Duffy really works hard to provide framework within her characters stories to highlight how past trauma and fear can drive her characters decisions even years later (and yes I'll include Jake in that as well).

Though Mabel and Jake do fall under the marriage of convenience trope, it still comes across as a wonderful slow burn romance and really helped give the characters some space to heal from the previous mentioned trauma to come to a place where they were ready to pursue a relationship. Which made it a much more satisfying read, in my opinion.

4 out of 5 stars. 

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

The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green

 

I will confess, Jocelyn Green has always been a hit or miss writer for my personal taste. So I was thrilled to find myself on the edge of my seat as Green takes readers back to Prohibition era NYC.

Leading this tale is Dr. Lauren Westlake, the assistant curator of the Met's Egyptology department. I mean, there was so much I liked about Lauren, she's a smart and capable scholar, a caring and attentive friend, and yet Green writes her longing for family and stability with such vulnerability to make her feel relatable and well-rounded.

As usual, Green does deliver a strong and complex storyline. The Egyptology/art forgery storyline is utterly fascinating. Green's descriptions of key signs for forgeries, her ability to convey the excitement and dismay of Lauren as items were confirmed or found short really helped to engage the story as I was relatively clueless on the subject before this book.

I also appreciated Lauren's more personal storyline centering on the theme of her family both with her strained relationship with her father as well as her reconnection with detective Joe Caravello. Green does such an excellent job capturing that alternating hope and pain that can be present with childhood trauma.

With Green's attention to detail and ability to capture the feel of her settings there are definitely times this novel feels like a written film noir. Joe's plotlines with police corruption, prohibition, and murder have that grittier feel with Green's detailed world building.

Readers looking for a clean, happy ending will probably find themselves a little disappointed by the ending. While Green wraps up the story beautifully there's definitely not the "storybook happy ending" for all the plot threads that readers may expect from this publisher. However, I think Green made the best choice for her story as anything else would have felt hollow to the characters she has created and the realities of their tale.

4 out of 5 stars

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

A Match in the Making by Jen Turano

A Match in the Making is my first time reading a book by author Jen Turano but I certainly hope it won't be the last. This latest story was a delightful mix of romance, humor, and heart that gave me some modern day Pride and Prejudice vibes as well.

Here our protagonist is Miss Gwendolyn Brinley, former travelling companion to her cousin turned assistant matchmaker in Newport's well-known summer season. I really loved Gwendolyn's no nonsense approach to life, her sense of humor, and her care for those she encounters. She's a lead you just want to cheer for. While there is some tension in her storyline  about traditional vs. nontraditional goals the takeaway felt more about finding one's own path wherever that may lead which felt appropriate for Gwendolyn

Her male counterpart is Walter Townsend, a widower looking for a wife who ends up one of Gwendolyn's clients in Newport. Townsend had a lot more depth than I expected and I truly enjoyed watching his growth with regards to his family throughout the tale, not to mention his frequent head to heads with his matchmaker. 

My favourite part of the whole story though was simply the experience that comes through Turano's writing. Her ability to capture the little details, to add the ridiculous and hilarious scenarios that come from both life with small children and from a pack of socialites looking for a catch, and the careful ways she slowly weaves her characters together to a satisfying ending just makes this an enjoyable read start to finish.

 As a final note, Adelaide really stood out among the Newport Summer crew and I'm definitely excited to see that she'll be continuing the series in To Spark a Match  the second addition to this series currently slated for release in late 2023.

5 out of 5 stars

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

After the Shadows by Amanda Cabot

 

Amanda Cabot is back with another small town tale on love and finding life after loss.

After the Shadows focuses on the story of Emily Leland. Faced with the recent loss of her parents, her husband, and the departure of her sisters, Emily finds herself running a boarding house out of her childhood home for Mrs. Carmichael, the new schoolteacher Mr. Ferguson, his son Noah, and more as she struggles to rebuild her life and find the truth behind her father's passing.

Now, one thing you can count on with Cabot's writings is a romance that will pull on your heartstrings and After the Shadows is no exception.  

Given Emily's introduction, it would be easy to see her "in need of rescuing" in this genre but Cabot has provided a protagonist who's a wonderful balance of heart and determination as well as vulnerability and healing. Cabot really works well to provide a balance for the type of space and grieving the difficult and painful situations in Emily's recent life would have created while also showing the resilience possible when people are given room and support to heal.

I also must say Cabot created a wonderful male lead in Craig. I appreciated how he too had his points of grief and restoration needed rather than the default "white knight." 

 Cabot also included a subplot that brought up the topic of ableism centered upon the young resident Beulah a young girl who physical and mental disability. I'm definitely a fan of including disabilities into the stories we read and Beulah was a sweet young girl in the story that had to face down many challenges. The story was a bit hard to read as a disabled person though when I realized how many of the Christian townsfolks protests at Beulah's inclusion are still prevalent in churches today.

Now, I will say, I wish there had been a little more satisfaction with the storyline involving the new ministers family. It felt a little rushed and incomplete compared to Cabot's usual attention to detail, which threw me for a little seeing how much these characters affected the town. However, I've made note of similar "hanging threads" in the first of a Cabot trilogy before only to find more revealed in books 2 and 3. So perhaps the minister's wife and daughter may return?

For readers who may be sensitive to certain topics, it's worth noting that this particular novel does touch on spousal abuse, suicide, murder, and as noted above ableism where a town's actions are directed towards a minor.

4 out of 5 stars.

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

The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel

 

Jennifer Deibel is inviting her readers back to 1930s Ireland in a tale filled with mystery, charm, and heart. Deibel has such a talent for infusing her stories with the little details and nuances that help bring them to life and it's one I see growing with each novel she writes. From her usage of Irish in her characters dialogue, to her sensory filled descriptions of the Irish landscape, to her attention to detail in building her stories you can feel the excitement and love she has for the characters she's created and the country itself.

Anchoring this particular story is Brianna Kelly, a young maid who works and lives at Ballymacool House and Boarding School. Brianna feels, to me, like a wiser and more lively Cinderella type character. Brianna serves as a wonderful guide as the story leads readers through questions of identity, faithfulness through hardship, and grief. 

Michael provides a strong counter as this story's "prince charming" a bookish member of the gentry. While he definitely has his heroic moments it's his willingness to serve and to advocate that makes him such a memorable character. 

I really appreciate how Deibel is able to walk the fine line between giving readers a cozy romance that feels like it deserves it's own cuppa and a cozy blanket with allowing her characters to engage in a full range of emotions and the consequences of their decisions and the actions of those around them. 

I do wish that there had been a little more time to give cousin Adeline more nuance throughout the plot. Deibel gave hints of her story that just leave her story feeling like it was still swirling with untapped potential. Maybe Adeline will make an appearance in a later novel as Deibel has shown she is open to having old characters reappear if the era and location allows.

Deibel fans, old and new, will not be disappointed 

4 out of 5 stars

Disclaimer - I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinions are my own.

All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes

 

Amanda Dykes is back with a tale of love, redemption, and discovery of self in a beautiful tale set amongst the historic canals of Venice.

Dykes infuses beauty and poetry into every element of her storytelling. I'm always amazed at the amount of heart and soul that streams out of her narratives. Dykes, by far, is one of the most talented storytellers in her genre today. 

Honestly, if I could only recommend one historical novel from the last 12 months this would be it.

While I'm usually drawn in by a character in the fictions that capture a piece of my heart, with All the Lost Places it wasn't so much a character but a question -Who am I? Dykes draws on the tensions between the weight of the past and the hopes of the future throughout the plot with each character holding to the central question of identity. From Sebastien's mysterious origins as an infant in a basket on the canals of Venice, to Daniel's life of loss and regrets, to Venice herself shifting and flowing against the plans of stronger forces each story draws readers back again and again to that query of who am I and who can I become.

That's not to say the characters aren't strong as well. Sebastien, Daniel, Marianna, Vittoria, and the Guild each hold their place as Daniel seeks to find the lost book detailing the life of Sebastien Trovato. 
The character pairings balance each other well and are engaging, well thought out characters. But this is one of those novels where it's the story shines beyond its characters long after the last page is finished.

5 out of 5 stars 

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

The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin

 

WWII fiction lovers are in for a treat with Sundin's latest novel  The Sound of Light. 

In this latest novel, Sundin is inviting readers to Denmark 1943 alongside American physicist Dr. Else Jensen and Baron in hiding Henrik Ahlefeldt. 

I was quite excited to see Sundin chose to base her novel around Denmark's own tale of resistance and community during the German occupation as it's a story that has continued to catch my interest throughout the years and I find people are either very familiar or completely unaware of the courage the Danish people illustrated during this time. It really is such a fascinating slice of history.

It also served as a solid backdrop for Else and Henrik as the wrestled through questions of courage, truth, and standing up for what is right. I really appreciate when an author can explore a theme from multiple angles without it feeling forced or overused. Between Henrik's relationship with his past, his role at the shipyard, and his work with the villa through to Else's challenge with her coworkers and her work with the paper, to the Dane's decisions regarding the "cold shoulder" and their Jewish neighbours, Sundin managed to weave courage in all it's forms into each corner of her tale.

I also appreciated how Sundin allowed both her main characters to have an arc that allowed them to grow and develop rather than a one sided rescuer romance. Else's challenges really resonated as she struggled to find her voice in a male dominated field and then as she sought to find her courage in the face of societal wrongs with the occupation. However, I loved that Henrik had a solid redemption arc of his own that required personal and emotional work before Sundin allowed the story to veer into romance. Honestly, it made the story feel richer and made the relational story threads feel healthier.

As usual, Sundin has delivered a solid Europe based WWII novel filled with heart, historical detail, and hope. 

4 out of 5 stars

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

Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White

 

This may be my favourite story from White to date. 

While the synopsis focuses on a young innkeeper, Evie, and a possible German spy, the reality is that White has invited readers into a tale that weaves itself through the decades and across the generations tied together in the small island of Okracoke.

Now, I'll be the first to admit, it took me a little while to catch the flow of this story. 

White initially alternates each chapter between Lousia's experiences during WWI and Evie's in 1942. 

Although many characters are the same in both timelines, the alternating plot and the multitude of nicknames did make my head spin for the first few chapters, but once I caught White's rhythm I could not devour this story quick enough.

So what did I like about this book? First, I have to highlight Grandma Elsie. I loved that White not only included a disabled character but also gave her equal character development to other secondary characters rather than relegating her to "inspiration porn" or a moral lesson. I love when disabled characters are simply living their lives and the descriptions of ASL were a nice addition to the detail of the plot.

White gives readers a plethora of characters with her dual storyline plot but I was quite impressed by Evie and Louisa's ability to anchor their plots. I felt like Louisa's storyline with her quest to understand her past, her complicated relationship with Rem and family, and her friendship with Celeste gave a lot more emotional depth and intrigue to latch onto as a reader. Evie's story was necessary to make the plot feel complete and properly resolved  but Louisa was my favourite. 

White provides an intricate, detail-filled plot that will take readers on a journey of love and loss, prejudice and restoration. This one's definitely a book I'll pick up again.

Trigger warning: Readers should be aware that aside from the obvious heavier nature that can surround wartime novels, White also includes a scene involving the last minutes of a torpedoed ship, racial discrimination and violence, and a storyline that involves the coercion and abuse of an intimate partner.

5 out of 5 stars

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

The Rose and The Thistle by Laura Frantz

 

Laura Frantz is back and inviting readers to join her back in the days of early 1700s Scotland. 

Lady Blythe Hedley is in trouble. Aside from her Catholic faith in a now Protestant England, her father has been secretly supporting the Jacobite rebellion putting their holdings and lives in danger. Sent to her godparents for safety she finds herself in a Protestant Scottish hold with her godfather recently passed and his eldest son navigating the ever changing political climate.

Frantz is one of those authors I know will pack a lot of emotion and detail into her plots and The Rose and The Thistle is no exception. Although some may find it slows their reading speed, I highly appreciated Frantz time to include Scottish dialect and brogue into the Hume's dialogue. It added such an interesting texture to the conversational segments and was a lot of fun to sort through, especially as Blythe began to try some out herself. 

Frantz also showed her usual skill in descriptive writing allowing the scenes and landscapes to jump off the page in the readers imagination. I'm always caught off guard just how vividly she writes and it's always such a joy to explore.

As far as main plot goes, Hedley and Hume are a fairly familiar contrast  in historical romance. So while there are no real surprises in the storyline, the ending does wrap up the main plot threads involving the main characters.

Which does lead me to some elements of the story that didn't quite hit their target with me personally.

Although I appreciated Frantz's happy ending their was a lot of really good luck and some reliance familiar plot twists (such as the brother confusion in battle). It felt almost too neatly wrapped up for such a messy period of history.

Also I felt the main characters were oddly firm on some beliefs and passive on others. The matter of Blythe and Everard's opposing sides in religion felt quickly resolved considering the historical ties and Blythe's own consideration of convent living prior to Scotland. I felt like this could have been a far more interesting point of conflict vs the typical spurned suitor which came into play.

Also, considering how tightly Blythe held onto her mother's fallen status (in an era where most women would have been keenly aware of how little power they had especially in relation to the king) it felt odd that her tightly held faith was so easily resorted into Protestantism for a wedding. It felt inconsistent to the character.

However, most of Frantz readers will probably be thoroughly charmed by Blythe, Hume, and the cast of supporting characters (including dear sweet Orin)

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