Book Review: Honest June Secrets and Spies by Tina Wells

 

Honest June: Secrets and Spies - Tina Wells - 4 Stars - Book 3 in the Series - Really great ending to the series, would love to see more in June's life!

Another great story all about our sweet baby June! This one follows June as she continues to juggle friendships, first love and consequences from book 2 when things went crazy! She is still under her fairy godmother's truth telling spell and is trying to repair relationships the best she can to get rid of it. She starts to discover a family secret about the history of Featherstone Creek and things go on from here. A great closing to these 3 books - hope we have more in the Honest June series to come!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5513156061

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pVz5eC

YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mHWHokCowI&t=103s

Book Review: M is for Mama: A Rebellion Against Mediocre Motherhood by Abbie Halberstadt

 

M is for Mama: A Rebellion Against Mediocre Motherhood - Abbie Halberstadt - 4 Stars - Abbie gives biblical wisdom on a variety of motherhood topics!

I really enjoyed this as Abbie Halberstadt gives biblical wisdom on a variety of motherhood topics and how to embrace Christlike Motherhood. We need Jesus in every aspect of us being a Mom. I specifically liked the chapter on Self Care - which can be releatable to all of us, regardless of being a Mom or not. She mentions Self Care is getting SOUL Care. Time with the Lord. Not getting to a point where we feel angry when we don't get what we want for "me time". She talks about that time being more so, time with the Lord. Loved the way she explained it. Also liked the penny reward system she mentioned. While I couldn't relate to much when it came to her discussing her kids and parenting, because my son is autistic and special needs (4 year old), and not everything she mentioned would be applicable to us -- I think many parents would get a lot of out this.

Goodreads Review:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5508478426
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3NYdytV
YouTube Review Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mHWHokCowI&t=103s

Book Review: When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer

 

When the Day Comes - Gabrielle Meyer - 5 Stars - FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME!

WOW. Literally my FAVORITE book of 2023 ya'll. This book had me invested from the very beginning. I love time travel books and this one was BEAUTIFUL.

This is all about Libby who lives 2 lives - one during 1774 in Colonial Williamsburg Virginia and the other in 1914 New York. She wakes up every day alternating these different time lines. When she turns 21, she must make the decision to either stay in 1774 or 1914. What Libby goes through is difficult and she must make some hard decisions throughout the story - how can she ever make this decision? Will God lead her to where she is meant to be? What is His plan in all of this? Can she change the future without repercussions? We see all of this unfold.

My favorite part of this was the time travel aspect, as the dual timeline was so interesting with the back and forth in each time period from each chapter you read. I loved the romance she found and in the middle when we had a major twist - I had NO idea what she was going to do! She just had to trust the Lord for the best path for her in all of this and this book truly shows how the Lord works in - as many say - mysterious ways - but we all know it's in His ultimate plan for us, even if we don't see it in the moment.

The ending was CHEF'S KISS! PERFECTION. I CRIED. I can't wait to read book 2. I loved the family and details in the 1700s - this is really my favorite time period as ya'll know with my love for Outlander ;) The relationship between her mother and Libby was so precious as well. And HENRY - LOVE Henry! I think this was just such a unique story unlike anything I have read before and I loved the level of faith detail throughout the story. 5 big stars!

*Content Warning: This book does have 2 small scenes of marital rape, but they are not detailed. Very off page in my opinion but wanted to mention this for content purposes.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5503726213
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Y0QVJT
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/405425
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mHWHokCowI&t=103s

Book Review: Veil of Winter by Melanie Dickerson

 

Veil of Winter - Melanie Dickerson - 4 Stars - A sleeping beauty retelling! (Book 3 in The Dericott Tales Series)

Really enjoyed this one! A sleeping beauty retelling - yesss! The beginning part was my favorite with the sleeping beauty vibes. This story is all about Elyce who doesnt want to marry the guy her father has set out for her to marry because it all ties back to his plan to work with another king to make her people work in the dreadful mines - when they aren't people who would make it working there. So she devises a plan to drink a potion to put her to sleep for a few days and then she would escape and travel to another king to try and convince them to help her people.....but she doesn't wake up and along comes Sir Gerard - who has a vision from God instructing him to help Elyce. He goes to help her and things go on from here as they are perused by her enemy's guards over mountainous terrain and deadly winter.

Like I said, I enjoyed this story, these books are always a fun time - this one leaned more on the YA side but still enjoyed it. I personally like that we know our characters are Christian and can see their thoughts to God asking for His help throughout the story, or asking is this His will, etc. My favorite character was Sir Gerard and love that he has a vision from God to go help Elyce.

The romance was cute but a bit too instalove-y for me and Elyce was a bit whiney at times but again, this is YA so I could forgive it a bit haha. Overall, if you like retellings I think you would enjoy it, but its definitely for a younger audience. Excited to read book 4!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4626574821
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pVw1iN
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/418291
YouTube Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mHWHokCowI&t=103s

Book Review: A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin

 

A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting - Sophie Irwin - 4 Stars - A fun, clean regency romance!

What a fun, clean regency romance with all the witty dialogue I needed! 4 stars - Really gave me Pride and Prejudice vibes and I have heard its great for fans of Bridgerton - but thankfully, this is without the spice and totally clean! :)

This is all about Kitty (Katherine) Talbot who needs a rich husband to take care of her father's massive debts after he passed away - and help save her sisters from ruin. Kitty finds herself searching for a man with a fortune. With the help of Lord Radcliffe, she is introduced into high society to mingle and find herself a husband so she can help save her family. Lord Radcliffe saw her for the fortune hunter she is but will he end up being the one for her after all?

I really liked this story! It dragged some here and there but overall so much fun! I loved the back and forth between Lord Radcliffe and Kitty - their banter cracked me up. Very light hearted read and just want I needed!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5489564143
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pU0Bt4
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mHWHokCowI&t=103s

Book Review: The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese

 

The Words We Lost - Nicole Deese - 4 Stars - “No heartache has ever gone unseen and no darkness has ever been too dark for light to overcome.” (Book 1 in the Fog Harbor Romance Series)

The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese will take you on a journey of emotions. This is the third book by Nicole Deese I have read and she truly knows how to touch your heart in her books. It touches on grief in such a way that leaves you filled with hope. If you enjoy books that have a publishing, writing, manuscript vibe - you will love this!

This book is all about Ingrid, who is an editor in California. She is having such a hard time in her job reading manuscripts since the death of her best friend, Cece. Cece had a brain tumor and passed away before she could publish the last installment of her famous fantasy book series. Because of all the trouble Ingrid is having in her job, her boss is about to let her go when she offers her a deal to try and find the missing manuscript of the final installment of the popular series everyone wants to see finished. Throughout this process, she meets back up with Joel, from an old relationship and Cece's cousin. Joel says Cece left them a manuscript she wanted them to read together (she is matchmaking even after she is gone, my heart ya'll!). They start to read through this manuscript, rekindling old emotions, working through their grief together and learning about things of the past. The story kicks off from here.

I truly appreciated this story where we got to see the actual manuscript / story of the past of Cece on page before she passed away with her best friend and cousin. It's almost like a story inside a story - which was so interesting! We see both perspectives as they are reading the manuscript and then dealing with the grief of her no longer being there and other items in their past. I loved seeing this added in too because it gave a lighter element of friendship added in with the grief that I felt like was needed.

Thank you Bethany House/Baker Publishing for a copy to honestly read and review. The ending made me cry and the author’s note is a must read y’all. My heart.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4823127548
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Djl7GL
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/465075
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mHWHokCowI&t=103s

Book Review: The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert

 

The Art of Losing Yourself - Katie Ganshert - 4 Stars - An emotional rollercoaster!

What an emotional rollercoaster ya'll! I read this as one of my friend Oceana's favorite books and I really enjoyed it! Beautiful faith content and characters who truly went through hard things. This was almost a 5 star read but the ending was a bit flat as I felt like it ended too abruptly and I wanted more resolution with the characters but I still really enjoyed it.

We follow 2 sisters, Carmen and Gracie. Carmen is known as a famous Florida meteorologist with her husband Ben, the handsome and popular football coach. On the outside, they look like they have it all together in their marriage. But inside, they are hurting. After Carmen has suffered through 6 miscarriages, their marriage is struggling from all the grief and hurt experienced. Then we have Gracie - Carmen's 17 year old sister who is struggling from dealing with her mother's alcoholism and the wrong crowd in school. She continues to have rough patches in school and getting in trouble. Her mother wants to send her to her Dad's but she runs away from home and ends up at her aunt's old boarded-up motel and crashes there for a few days before Carmen realizes she is there. Carmen takes in Gracie and you wonder how the Lord is going to use each other's circumstances and this broken down motel to bring each other back to life.

Like I said, I really loved the faith content and the story was SO emotional - trigger warning for multiple miscarriages, character with dementia, struggling marriage, processing grief, etc. Also, if you are looking for a "happily ever after" - that's not this book but it is a realistic view of how God is always there in life's storms and struggles we face. I'm so glad I read this and look forward to more of Katie's books.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5421275981
Amazon: https://amzn.to/44TNJlp
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mHWHokCowI&t=103s

Book Review: Resistance by Jaye L. Knight

 

Resistance - Jaye L. Knight - 5 Stars - A wonderful surprising read! Great start to a Christian non-magical fantasy series! (Book 1 in The Ilyon Chronicles)

WOW, what a wonderful surprise! I read my friend Celestria's favorite books and this was a 5 star read for me! :) A great start to a Christian Fantasy series! Even if you are not someone who loves fantasy, ya'll would LOVE this because it's more of a fantastical "world", set in medieval times then fantasy elements in the story so it's easy to understand with great characters! The reason I loved this so much is the Christian allegory was TOP TIER! I felt Daniel/Shadrach/Meshach/Abednego vibes - these people are NOT going to bow down to false gods - we are here for this story ya'll!

In this story, we follow Kyrin and her twin brother, Kaden, as they are training in Tarvyn Hall. They are believers in Elom (allegory to God) but they have to keep their belief hidden. Things get crazy when Kyrin is forced to go work for the Emperor Daican to read people. The Emperor wants everyone to worship these false gods and anyone who doesn't will be sentenced to death.

Then we have Jace - half human, half animal - does he have a soul? People doubt it and have always looked upon him with fear and contempt because the half animal in him has always been very dangerous and a vicious kind. But Jace is a believer in Elom and is trying to hold on to what little faith he is starting to have left as he feels it crumbling from all the hardship he has been through. He works under Rayad - a father / mentor figure for him - a wanted man but a main of faith who helps him and they grow close during the next few years together. Things get crazy for Jace and our character perspectives start to mesh together as they begin to form their resistance together.......

As I said, the best part of this was the Christian Allegory and the characters ya'll. SO GOOD.

Overall, book 1 in the Ilyon Chronicles is one of my favorite books of 2023 and can't wait to get into the rest of the series!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5420714269
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pOYgzM
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mHWHokCowI&t=103s

Book Review: Fierce Marriage by Ryan and Selena Frederick

 

Fierce Marriage - Ryan and Selena Frederick - 5 stars - A BEAUTIFUL Christian Non-Fiction I needed!

This book was so timely for me and my husband's journey right now. Parenting a special needs child can be so tough on your marriage, frustrations come to the forefront so easily and you don't seem to get the dedicated time together as you once did and need as a married couple. This book reminds you of the covenant of marriage, what it means to put Christ first in our relationship together, what Christ wants for our marriage, how the Gospel directly correlates to marriage and how we can glorify Christ in our marriage. This has real like conversations and stories that I can relate to and I am so glad I read it. I plan to discuss some of these topics with my husband and I can feel myself ready to slow down, be patient and work through frustrations more then quick to anger, quick to frustrations and quick to arguing. This book truly reminds you that without Jesus in your marriage, everything falls apart quickly. We need ot trust Him and put everything at His feet. I will see myself referring to this many times over the years.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5476507416

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3XXqhBE
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mHWHokCowI&t=103s

Book Review: Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard

 

Cold Light of Day - Elizabeth Goddard - 3 Stars - An action packed romantic suspense set in Alaska!

This book is filled with action and lots of twists and turns that kept my interest and I love a good Alaska book setting, but ultimately I wasn't connected with the characters and it just wasn't a favorite of mine. 3 stars

I think romantic suspense lovers will probably enjoy this fairly well but I just personally didn't connect with our characters as I hoped to. I think this was really well written and loved the small town vibes. This book is all about Autumn who is a police chief and starts seeing lots of crime and obstacles in her way. She meets a guy named Grier, who is really the hero of the story helping Autumn throughout the story with all the tough and dangerous situations going on. When they find the two people from the beginning of the story dead, they seek out to figure out what is going on in their small town.

We have some family drama with Autumn and a little romance between Autumn and Grier.

Overall, even though some of this I did enjoy, I don't know if I will continue on with this series but think it's one many will enjoy.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5366170700
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3NYxeOq
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/465117
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mHWHokCowI&t=103s

Book Review: Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright

 

Echoes Among the Stones - Jaime Jo Wright - 4.5 Stars - A surprising read for me! Loved this!

What a surprising read for me! I picked this up when trying some of my friend's favorite books and this was SUCH a surprising book. I listened to this mostly on audio and read the last 25% on kindle. 4.5 rounding up to 5 stars.

The narrator pulled me in immediately. I think if I physically read the beginning portions, I may have not been so interested but the narrator did such a great job with the two timelines.

This is a Christian fiction mystery-thriller but this wasn't creepy in any way to me. I felt like it leaned more mystery then thriller.

We have Aggie, who travels to Wisconsin to visit her grandmother, Mumsie. She is dealing with the loss of her mother and still learning how to grieve that loss. Aggie sees her grandmother obsessing over an old, unsolved crime scene - recreating it in a dollhouse - and you as the reader start to wonder how is she connected to the past timeline....

In the past during 1946, we see Imogene Grayson coming home to discover her sister has been killed. She sets out to try and solve the murder but the case grows cold fast. We follow her journey as she tries to figure out what happened to her sister Hazel.

I personally loved the alternating timeline and seeing how her grandmother was connected to the past timeline. I really liked some of the faith at the end surrounding grief. "Don't let grief tie your years up into a lifetime of regrets. Let the good Lord take care of your aches and heal you. So that you don't miss out on the good - on the blessing He hides in the middle of all that hurting." Jaime did a wonderful job explaining how we struggle with grief and how she handled it was beautiful and heart-breaking at the same time.

I did NOT figure out who the murdered was the end - this book sure did keep me on my toes and guessing the entire time.

Def a fav of 2023 for me. The only reason its 4.5 and not 5 fully -- is I wanted a little more romance but overall such a good read.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5460598874
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rwn9AB
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/38654
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mHWHokCowI&t=103s