Loving My Actual Neighbor by Alexandra Kuykendall

As Christians, we know we are called to love our neighbor. We may even grasp that "neighbor" encompasses more than just the people living next door or down the street. But what we too often don't know is how to begin. How do we love our neighbor? Where do we start? What does this look like in our increasingly isolated world?

(quote from back of book)

Honestly, I have a strong interest in books on community. As an introverted geek I love being involved in community but tend to rock the awkward person in the corner or frazzled mom look over coherent person.

In Loving My Actual Neighbor Kuykundell presents 7 practices to help people learn  how to embrace the community they naturally encounter in their everyday lives and there's even a chapter that specifically addresses being awkward (talk about a book that speaks to my heart.)

When I read Kuykendall in the past, I did struggle  to find her central message amid her storied, train-of-thought writing style. Here, Kuykendall takes a far more direct approach to her topic presenting one chapter on each of her practices followed by some practical application appendices to start brainstorming application when you're finished reading. I was surprised and impressed by these changes as I could still see the central heart Kuykendall's style within a more readable structure.

Overall, I was really impressed with the practicality and ease of application of Kuykendall's book. I, honestly wish this was available when I was in college as she takes concepts such as active listening and makes them accessible. There's nothing overly groundbreaking in these pages as far as information goes. Common sense reigns here with topics such as humility, quietness, giving, or lightening up. 

But it's in this common sense and structurally conversational tone that Kuykendall finds her strength. Community should flow out of the natural and sometimes awkward encounters in our lives, there isn't usually a lot of time for complexities in the everyday and this book reflects the everyday reality it's meant to find its life in.

4.5 out of 5 stars

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

First of all, it's worth noting that Joyful Surrender is a re-publishing of Discipline first released by Elliot in 1982. So perhaps I am caught in a generational gap when reading theses pages and trying to find some point of connection (although Elliot does not seem big on relevance either).

Honestly, I did not and will not finish this book. She talks of grace and love but leaves no room for diversity. Night owls do not belong to the kingdom they are merely undisciplined. Physical illness/mental illness you need to connect with God not man. I'll be honest our family is filled with amazing friends and family with special needs many since birth. 

I read Elliot's words and see her passion for the church. I recognize her desire for the necessary place of discipline in a believer's life. However, when that discipline ignores scriptures which tell us of God's plan or tries to stamp out the uniqueness of the body for a unified organism I start to wonder how isolating her gospel was.

2 out of 5 stars

I received this book through the Revell Reads Book tour in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Governess of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E Ladd

Delia Greythorne has been followed by tragedy and what an interesting premise she makes for a main character. Ladd has given readers two solid main characters around which her story gravitates through widowed governess Delia and her charges guardian Jac Twethewey. You can tell where Ladd has done her research with Delia fitting in well with her era and locale. I appreciated the acknowledgements of her unique space as governess and the consideration of her place in life, fleshed out in her conversations with her brother, regarding how her experiences had changed her views from the common goals within her family.

Jac, himself, was the typical male lead as the well-liked underdog attempting to save the family land. Fans of the genre will probably find Delia, Jac, and Penwythe pleasantly familiar company as they ferret out the trauma of Delia's past and try to save their future. There really aren't any twists and turns for those readers who want a nice comfortable afternoon escape.

As far as concerns go, I did find the pacing a bit slower on this novel compared to Ladd's other works. Admittedly, my own health and mental space may have added to this but the pacing just felt off with all the drama and tension of Delia's past, the current grief, and the growing affection with Jac falling aside to many moments of contemplation and reflection. Now, don't get me wrong, these all still showed Ladd's gift for the English language with her strong command of words and grammar, I just yearned for a little more adventure.

I also felt like the role and presence of the children were underutilized. The children were a natural bridge and connection for Delia and Jac and, I confess, only Sophy's name came easily to me memory.

Overall, this was a solid read thanks to its strong concepts and Ladd's obvious skill within the English language. However, it fails to be as memorable  as some of Ladd's previous offerings with its odd pacing and under incorporated characters and emotions.


3.5 stars out of 5

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The Bride of Ivy Green by Julie Klassen

Julie Klassen has long enchanted readers with her ability to weave research, drama, and romance into enthralling tales of Regency-era England. However, the Tales from Ivy Hill marks Klassen's first foray into a full series. 

While I have a few frustrations with the ending of The Bride of Ivy Green, overall, I am thrilled Klassen has stretched her talents into  forum that allows for the full fleshing out of her locations and characters.

The Bride of Ivy Green fills the final spot in the Tales from Ivy Hill series. I had the pleasure of reading book 1 when it was released but somehow missed book 2's arrival. This is definitely a series that benefits from a thorough and chronological reading. There were definitely moments that were unnecessarily jarring due to missing a third of the story with book 2.

As for its own plot, Th Bride of Ivy Green  seeks to see the stories of Jane Bell and Mercy Grove move to their newest conclusion while welcoming in the mysterious dressmaker Madame Victorine.

Honestly I loved how Klassen pushes these two characters in this series. Jane's fear of miscarriage is so real and the questions it brings into her relationship with Mr. Locke felt very natural concerning a topic and loss many still feel uncomfortable acknowledging. To see her arc of reconciliation within her family and her acceptance of herself was relatable, heartbreaking, and utterly sweet as she finds her peace.

Mercy's struggle felt very much in line with a Klassen novel as she seeks to find her way in life and with her heart. That said, it was no less satisfying to see Mercy wrestle through her new realities as life in Ivy Hill continued to change around her. Mercy has such a strength as a character as she sets her own path away from her family and leans into her faith. (and, slight spoiler, to see how her quiet service is met by the  rallying of the town women was such a series highlight for me).

That leads me to two noticeable differences in this novel. 

I found the faith content was much lighter in this novel vs others by Klassen in this era. While faith is still present it's in much more quiet moments.

Additionally, some of the stories felt as though they could easily continue on into a new novel What did Mr. Drake's decision mean for Mercy at the conclusion? How did Mrs Shabner get on with her new apprentice? This could be considered a strength of the series as a whole, however, Klassen has fashioned such a sweet little village and formed such stories and relationships that naturally flow out of it it almost seems off to say goodbye to Ivy Hill.

4 out of 5 stars

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

When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams by Jill Eileen Smith

I loved the premise of this book, the idea of looking into the lives of Old Testament women who can feel somewhat overlooked. Unfortunately, I found this book to have a serious identity crisis. 

Jill Eileen Smith has a long history as a fiction writer and her skill at crafting a story is evident with the way she can form a sentence and pull readers in. However, it felt like this non-fiction book ran more into fiction than not. I understand the value of putting ourselves into another's shoes, another's perspective but the constant speculation and additions to biblical text often felt out of place in this type of book, especially when some of the speculation ran into controversial theology (the story of Adah's almost daughter in law for example). 

The non-fiction section of each chapter also left me wanting more. I felt confused as to the goal as there wasn't more than a cursory awareness of psych or trauma leaving many heart and mind motivations feeling glossed over and oversimplified. At the same time, it felt like the scriptural analysis was also rushed in an attempt to fit in the fictional and situational based examples.  

In the end, I felt like, although bearing a strong concept, this book was trying to be too many things and not finding its footing in any.

2.5 out of 5 stars

I received this book as part of the Revell Reads Tour.

A Tender Hope by Amanda Cabot

There's something sad about the third book in a trilogy. Thanks to Amanda Cabot's work  A Tender Hope   feels a little bit like saying goodbye to old friends with the characters and town of Cimarron Creek.

While A Tender Hope functions as a stand alone, filled with the romance and criminal mystery that has woven through our time in Cimarron Creek,  Cabot has crafted a trilogy that stands stronger together. Cabot isn't afraid to plan long-term and a good portion of A Tender Hope's satisfaction comes from the resolution of plots begun in A Stolen Heart.

Aside from the resolution of stories including Bertha's family and the ever-changing love life of Nate Kenton, A Tender Hope centers upon the stories of Thea Michener and Ranger Guthrie who are both drawn to Cimarron Creek following the murder of Thea's husband. I really enjoyed Cabot attention to pacing and emotion within this main plot. Thea's grief reads so earnestly as she struggles to reconcile who Daniel was and what that means for her future. Guthrie's confusion on his own feelings also read true and made me chuckle that his moment of clarity came with a conversation with Nate.

It, like so many moments in the novel felt like the town and relationship were coming full circle.

Again, Cabot has built up her wonderful cast of characters. I appreciate how those introduced in early novels are not discarded but built further in later books. In a small town series throw away characters stand out like a sore thumb and Cabot really seems to strive to give each character their own purpose.

I did feel the pacing faltered slightly at the end where the climactic scenes took on more of a rushed tone. 

Cimarron Creek is not a fast paced, edge of your seat read. It's more like coming home to friends. I would definitely recommend taking the time to read all three, in order, so that one can fully appreciate the characters and town Cabot has crafted.

4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book as part of the Revell Reads Tour.

A Desperate Hope by Elizabeth Camden

Elizabeth Camden once again weaves her skill s researcher and storyteller to bring history to life through the fictional village of Duval Springs. Influenced by the real life towns and villages who were moved and relocated during the building of the Ashokan Reservoir, Camden explores themes such as community, belonging, love, and identity.

Once again I had the chance to learn through fiction (honestly one of my favourite parts of historical fiction). I had never heard of the Ashokan Reservoir or the towns that were moved in its construction. While Camden chose to construct her own fictional town for the purpose of this story, her skill as a storyteller allows Duval Springs/Highpoint to spring up as central characters in their own right. She captures so many small town quirks that naturally evolve in such close knit communities especially in a time that is so intertwined with grief and hope.

The central human story focuses on Alex Duval, mayor of Duval Spring and Eloise Drake.  Alex really stood out as a primary character, perhaps due to Duval Springs presence and Alex functioning as the living, visible "heart" of the town driving it into the future. Eloise was interesting as well, strongly written with two clear paths, I appreciated how she was able to see her own strengths as well as how both romantic options were people she had established knowledge and experience with.

Spiritually, Camden does weave faith into both Eloise and Alex's lives bringing faith up as an important factor on numerous occasions and being  an important factor on life changing decisions for both characters. Well never preachy, the characters faith is certainly not hidden.

A Desperate Hope is filled with hurting hearts, wild dreams, and irrepressible hope as Duval Springs and its inhabitants face their future in a landscape changing for progress.

4 out of 5 stars.

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