The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner

The Nature of Small Birds invites readers into the lives of a "normal" American family and the effects of the Vietnam war over the course of multiple generations and through the eyes of various narrators.

Before this particular novel I was more or less unfamiliar with Susie Finkbeiner and her work and I'll admit it took me a little while to adjust to her writing style (Oh how my tired brain would have loved a family tree at the beginning of the book to help me sort out Bruce, Linda, and Sonny as the narrators), eventually I fell in love though.

One of the strongest aspects of Finkbeiner's work is her ability to capture the emotional aspects of her plot for good and for bad. While Sonny is a bit older than myself the nostalgia as Finkbeiner captures the pop culture aspects of her growing up with PBS before moving to malls and movie theaters, I was amazed at how easily my mind was able to capture their world thanks to Finkbeiner's inclusion of these pop details.

Finkbeiner also knows how to handle more serious emotions with a careful and delicate touch, you can see her heart and research going into the scenes where Mindy is processing the emotions surrounding her involvement in operation babylift. I quickly grew to love Finkbeiner's heartbreaking honesty when it comes to life and loss as you saw it throughout the adoption journey as well as with Mindy's adopted uncles time in Vietnam and the effects on them and their loved ones.

I also appreciated how Finkbeiner doesn't try to wrap the story up neatly into a tidy ending, she acknowledges some losses and some messes are too big and too complicated to tidily fix in 356 pages. Some characters get an honest ending instead and I feel like that's truer to the story that was being told one that wasn't finished, wasn't resolved but also one that wasn't devoid of hope.

While it hasn't been terribly long since I finished it, The Nature of Small Birds feels like one of those books that just sticks with a reader popping up in their mind from time to time, something I'm not opposed to in the least.

 4.5 out of 5 stars

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

To Find Her Place by Susan Anne Mason

 

In the  second offering of the Redemption's Light series, Mason reintroduces reader to former case worker Jane Linder and wounded veteran Garret Wilder as they both seek to fill the acting director position for the Toronto CAS. 

While I feel this is the weaker book in the series so far, there are still a lot of elements that make this book worth a look regardless of whether or not they've read A Haven For Her Heart (which I highly recommend!). 

Once again, Mason doesn't shy away from heavier topics to add some depth and realism into her books. I appreciated watching Jane interact with the children in the society's care and Mason's inclusion of how some children grief can appear as anger and/or misbehavior.  I also appreciated her exploration of grief as it related to life altering injury and that she had her characters take time to explore what that meant on an emotional and mental level. Obviously a book tackling WW II era elements will at least touch on grief but I was impressed both with the sheer natural variety Mason includes in this tale as well as how naturally she allows her characters to articulate their grief, even if it's messy.

The story itself was interesting. I appreciate how Mason tackles historical events that are close to home as a fellow Ontarian. She isn't afraid to delve into lesser covered areas and I enjoyed experiencing this fictional account of how children's aid worked in the WW II era. I also appreciated how naturally Jane and Garrett's relationship developed. She took the time to incorporate the back stories she gave them for a natural progression that was far more satisfying. The side story of the missing money was also interesting but felt very much a side story, that wrapped up quickly and without fanfare.

Which touches upon my critique, many of the storylines in this book wrapped up quickly and far more sweetly than was believable given the nature and era of the story. Almost everyone came back from war, children placed with families healed from their issues easily and smoothly, a character faced a disabling injury that he recovered from quickly but also had people bending over backwards to help with accessibility plans in case they didn't (as someone with a disability I confess I laughed at everyone's eagerness to accommodate). After such serious elements it made the ending feel too "fairytale" in some ways for me. While I somewhat expected and maybe even rooted for the unbelievable happy ending it just felt too clean and polished.

3.75 out of 5 stars.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

Sustaining Faith by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan

 

Fans of Oke and Logan will be pleased to reunite with sisters Lillian and Grace in Sustaining Faith. This book is a direct sequel to Unyielding Hope (which far warning I somehow missed) and follows the two sisters as they settle into all the changes the past year has brought to their small family.

Now as I mentioned before, I haven't read book one in the When Hope Calls series. For people jumping into the series at this point it is totally doable. Logan and Oke present a wonderful tale with Lillian and Grace's story, however I did feel I missed some of the richness of the world, plot, and emotions that they laid out earlier. Essentially, if you can get your hands on book 1 first go ahead and enjoy it but if you can't I think you'll pick up just fine.

Oke and Logan really draw on their strengths with this novel. While the events of the book feel very ordinary, right down to waiting on phone calls with spotty connection, Oke and Logan shine with their emotion connection and their ability to pull out their characters hearts, hopes, and fears. Given the underlying themes of loss and starting over that run throughout the book, the authors had plenty of chances to dig deep and I was thrilled to see how often they let their characters sit with what was happening around them.

I've read a few novels in the past that touched on the stories of international orphans sent out to the frontier to find homes or work placements but I really appreciated the approach taken here. With Grace's own experience growing up in homes and Lillian's as someone who was adopted, Logan and Oke really give their characters the ability to explore the issues surrounding the developing care system from different angles.

I was pleased, remembering Oke gentler style from previous novels, to see the authors digging into the more painful emotions that can surround these placements and the grief that surrounds them. From Grace, to Jane, to Freddie the character reacted with an honesty in their portrayal that made my heart ache.

Now, one key point I forgot about an Oke and Logan series is don't expect an ending until the end and that also proves true. This novel very purposefully weaves itself into the story previous and the one (or ones) that are yet to come. In fact, warning to readers, this book does leave you on a cliff hanger on more than one plot line. Not in a lazy way but in one that leaves you checking the calendar for release dates.

4 out of 5 stars.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright

In her latest novel On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor  Jaime Jo Wright brings together her trademark mix of mystery, attraction, and timelines for a complex, keep you guessing until the last page tale.

As someone familiar with Wright's work, I was excited to see that she has stayed true to her familiar style of weaving one mystery throughout two time periods. This time, readers being invited to follow Adria Fontaine in 1885 looking to escape her troubled life by way of missing gold as well as Kailey Gibson in modern times looking to understand a tragedy from her childhood.

This style is truly the strength of the story. Wright has an undeniable skill when it comes to guiding her plot through her chosen eras building mystery and anchoring her plot. As a result of her style, Wright is one of the few writers who consistently keeps me guessing (and turning pages throughout the early hours) in an attempt to figure out the next clue.

Wright also stands out as an author who doesn't shy away from harder topics. In this particular novel, she touches on disabilities, trauma/PTSD, mental health, abuse, and addiction to name a few. My favourite character of the entire story was a resident named Maddie, a delightful older woman living with dementia thanks to Wright's skill teasing out the balance between Maddie's wonderfully realistic spunk in life with the grieving of her reality and disease. 

That said, there were elements of this book that sat differently with me, one being Mr. Crayne. Mr. Crayne bothered me as a male lead. While I appreciated the potential in his character, the timeline felt too rushed for me to be comfortable with the end results. If you've read my reviews before you'll know I'm a sucker for a good redemption arc and Mr. Crayne, initially, seemed to fit that type with his tragic past, his harmful coping mechanisms, and his traumatized mind coupled with his growing desire to change. 

However, and here lies some spoilers, given his traumatic past and Adria's own troubled mindset wrestling with her abusive family and suicidal tendencies, the relationship felt dangerous in the short time frame rather than romantic. It was hard to see the romance over the warning flags.

I also struggled with the feeling that some characters were there less as a part of the worldbuilding and more because the plot needed some form of move ahead. It just left me feeling a little less immersed and a little more disjointed than I'm used to feeling with a Wright novel.

While the structure and the mystery Wright lays out in Foxglove Manor are as solid as ever, there were just a few points that fell short for me this time. 

3.5 out of 5 stars.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

A Lady In Attendance by Rachel Fordham

 

I think this has easily become my new favourite from Fordham. Between her fascinating yet imperfect characters, her excellent pacing and world building, and her obvious passion for this story and its characters A Lady in Attendance is an engaging historical romance that draws you in from start to finish.

I really appreciate Fordham's ability to highlight characters that aren't the norm in her genre and A Lady in Attendance  is no exception. The main character, Hazel, has a familiar background (rich socialite) but Fordham brings a different twist by introducing her to readers after 5 years in a reformatory for a crime she didn't commit and attempting to rebuild her life by taking a job as a lady in attendance for Gilbert, our leading male.

This was fascinating for me. I'll admit I probably would have been more hesitant to pick up a book revolving around characters working in dentistry (anyone else got some dental anxiety) if I didn't trust Fordham's writing and she doesn't disappoint. Fordham did her research and it was interesting to see this glimpse into the early establishment of dentistry and dental assistants. The way she paints Gilbert as an artist really changed the tone of the story beautifully and challenges some long standing dental stereotypes.

Another thing I noticed with this book was the pacing. Fordham had a lot to cram into her story between Hazel's quest for redemption/revealing of her past, the romantic dreams of her best friend Ina, and the investigation into the Sally Belle. Through Fordham's skill the pace never felt rushed on any of the main storylines, the timing actually drew me further into the story which is a rare treat and definitely helped the romance.

Let's face it, if you've read my reviews before fast paced romances are one of my pet peeves in this genre but I loved watching Gilbert and Hazel's relationship unfold. The back and forth as their relationship deepened and secrets were revealed for good and bad felt so realistic. Even the secondary story of Ina's longing for love received the same careful treatment as she dealt with her own past of rejection vs. hope for the future. I really feel pacing is an area Fordham has grown in over the course of her last few books and I love it. 

For those looking for a sweet historical romance with believable characters, interesting historical tidbits, and an engaging plot give A Lady in Attendance  a try.

4 out of 5 stars

I received this as part of the RevellReads #ALadyInAttendance book tour. The opinions are my own.

Along A Storied Trail by Ann H. Gabhart

 

There are few authors whose book releases are marked in my calendar, Ann Gabhart is one of them. Honestly, I've been counting down for the release of Along a Storied Trail since the beginning of the year and wasn't disappointed in the least.

Along a Storied Trail is set in 1937 Kentucky and, as usual, Gabhart makes her setting come alive to readers through her attention to detail, her wonderful characters, and her ability to focus in on unique points in history like the packhorse librarian. Tansy Calhoun, our heroine is one such librarian and readers will journey with her as she follows her library route and her heart.

I love this about Gabhart's books, she introduces me to so many fascinating aspects of recent(ish) history. Her stories are filled with couriers, midwives on horseback, and now, travelling librarians. Tansy is exactly what I expect from a Gabhart heroine, she's relatable mix of confidence and question, sweet and sass. 

While I would consider Along a Storied Trail more firmly in the romance category as Tansy seeks to find her way with two suitors (not to mention a few other romances that pop up for others at home along the way). Gabhart doesn't shy away from the harder realities of life for her characters. There are mentions of family loss and separation through illness, birth, and poverty. The characters wrestle with the realities of staying afloat during the great depression and through the loss of the chestnut trees. Not only does this help ground and round out the characters but Gabhart really utilizes these elements well to peer into historical realities.

Another reality I really enjoyed was Gabhart's treatment of disability in this particular novel. Both Tansy's mom Eugenia and Aunt Perdie both had noticeable disabilities in this book, Eugenia's from a birthing injury and Perdie's from age. As someone with a disability, I love how Gabhart wove these naturally into the story, the little details about sitting for tasks, sleeping issues, etc. . . it was written to be real not inspirational drivel. I loved that these were carefully woven into the characters in a way that made sense and not blatantly shouted for an awkward diversity quota. 

I really can't recommend this or any of Gabhart's books enough for readers who like solid Appalachian romance in the not so distant past. I can't wait to see where Gabhart takes us next.

4.5 out 5 stars

I received this as part of the RevellReads #AlongAStoriedTrail book tour. The opinions are my own.

Shine Bright by Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal

 

 I started this book with a lot of optimism, which unfortunately fizzled quickly.

The basic structure is familiar, each of the 60 days starts with a verse, includes a short narrative about one of the authors experiences that is then tied to the verse, and concludes with a reflection activity. The font was readable and the devotional readings were kept short to be accessible.

It's the content I struggled with. I was definitely confused on who this book's audience was. I felt far too old as a mom with all the girl talk and lazy grammar.  I'm guessing maybe this is meant for late junior high/early high school but it wasn't clearly stated.

The devotionals themselves felt more along the lines of getting to know the authors with a bible verse added in afterwards. The content also was a little off for me too. There was lots of talk about biblical womanhood which, in my experience, usually has some toxic theology behind it and so many entries did seem focused on presenting as the right Christian vs. living out faith/being the church/ reshaping your heart.

2.5 out of 5 stars

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."