Book Review: Barriers to Entry by Ariel Lawhon

Barriers to Entry by Ariel Lawhon - 3.5 Stars

Very interesting and fascinating short story, historical fiction/mystery -- lots of information on forensic science investigations. A fictionalized story based on Frances Glessner Lee's studies - she was an American forensic scientist and very influential in developing the science of forensics in the United States. In this story, Frances is 67 years old in 1945, as a new Harvard instructor with 6 male students. She creates a crime scene and gives them 90 minutes to sold a real-life murder mystery.

I enjoyed this overall and while it kept my interest, it just wasn't my absolute favorite. She certainly teaches these men to think outside the box though. I still need to know the answer to who committed the crime though LOL.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3P4yH73

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Fallen Grace by Sadeqa Johnson

Fallen Grace - Sadeqa Johnson - 5 Stars

Wow, this short historical fiction story had me in tears by the end. I must read this author's other works. A single mother, named Bubbles, in segregated Virginia pushes back when her family sent her away after she finds herself pregnant, intending to give the baby up and have her return so she doesn't shame their family. Her father is a Southern Baptist minister so they don't want anyone to know about this. Bubble stands strong and decides to keep her baby and escapes from the home she was sent to with her daughter. She decides to use her talent of singing to make money after leaving but where she ends up - she stands strong in courage for her own daughter. Beautiful ending. What an emotional punch in such a short story. My favorite so far of this collection.

Bubbles is a character from the story House of Eve by this author. I have not read that one yet, but from other reviews, this can be read independently from that story without spoiling anything.

*Content: Mentions of sexual assault, discrimination, prejudice, and 1 use of GD for language.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/42YiplW

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Fires to Come by Asha Lemmie

 

Fires to Come by Asha Lemmie - 3 Stars

Set in the early twentieth century New York City, Carlotta, abandoned as an infant, is now black adopted daughter of an Italian Mafia Don and her family situation is tough. Her oldest brother refuses to have anything to do with her and she has never quite fit in with her neighborhood. Carlotta has to decide where she belongs - no matter the price that must be paid. 

Overall, this short historical fiction story was a bit disjointed for me and I didn't love the betrayals that happened in the way it was explained for her influence in her decisions. Even though her treatment does make you think the betrayals are justified, I still didn't love how it was expressed in this story. I liked the writing and would try other books by the author possibly in the future, but yeah, overall it was just OK and I wasn't blown away by the actual story. I liked the scenes with Carlotta and her mother most of all.

*Content - language, 1 use of GD that I remember.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/48v27SR

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Amelia's Shadow Marie Benedict

 

Amelia's Shadow - Marie Benedict - 4 Stars

Short story about Ruth Nichols who is friends with Amelia Earhart as they both try to make records in flights together. During this time in history, it was hard to stand out and do something like this. They are great friends in their work. Everyone knows the end of Amelia’s story and that is shown here.

In such a short story, this author brings emotion as she usually does in her books. I’ve read another of her works and have enjoyed her storytelling. This is a great short story to read to get a good sampling of her writing if you have never read her books before. I could have easily read an entire book like this by her. 4/5 stars

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3P3yilo

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: The Forgotten Chapter - Pam Jenoff

 

The Forgotten Chapter - Pam Jenoff - 4 Stars - Short Story 

Really enjoyed this one, it makes me want to pick up more by this author. Historical fiction short story and you know when you want more to a short story that it's a good one indeed! Pam packed so much in these short pages of history and romance! Set in 1943 London, Paige Miller, a worker at the fabled department store Selfridges falls in love with Danny, an american soldier who comes by the books counter every day to see her. As they fall in love, she finds out he holds a secret that could change the course of the war and their lives. We see how Paige's decisions impact history in that moment - this had some sad moments but was also very impactful so I want to read more by Pam for sure!

*There was one closed door - fade to black scene here but nothing was not described.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IiQKmk

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Rosie and the Dreamboat by Sally Thorne

 

Rosie and the Dreamboat - Sally Thorne - 3 Stars

This was a cute concept - Rosie goes with her sister to an exclusive spa day and gets stuck in a floatation tank when a handsome fireman comes in to rescue her from it. She is having a panic attack inside because of a past experience when she was locked into a trunk by bullies but this guy - Leo - keeps her calm while they work to get her out and it was cute and funny banter in a short story. I didn't love the language though - a bit much for me. Several F/S words and 2 GD. Short story about 1 hour audiobook and 44 pages.

Book Review: Lights Out by Natalie Walters

 Lights Out by Natalie Walters - 5 Stars 

WOW - what a WILD ride ya'll! A great start to a romantic suspense series! This one is more fast paced, action packed suspense with a dab of a great second chance romance included and I can not WAIIIITTT to see how book 2 goes! The end of this with the romance though was TOP TIER!

I am such a suspense girl now and this one is SO unique where we see this awesome team (the SNAP or Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency) work together to combat terrorism and cyber crime - something I normally don't read about. Loved it so much because it really kept me on edge where I "NEEDED TO KNOW ALLLL THE THINGS" and getting to see everything from behind the scenes was so interesting to me! 

This follows Brynn and Jack, who have quite the history together. They haven't seen each other in years and now all of a sudden they have to work together to bring down a missing spy. Jack doesn't trust Brynn for past reasons but they make it work throughout the story as their past comes to the forefront and they discuss everything. It's obvious there are still feelings between the two of them but they have a job to do with so much happening and they make sure to put the focus where it needs to be! Terrorist attacks loom among their case and things pop off left and right as they are trying to track everything down.

This felt like an episode of a show like NCIS or something like that - so engaging and fast paced, with a little bit of possible romance between our main characters - loved!

Highly recommend for anyone who loves a good romantic suspense!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6189305136
Amazon: https://amzn.to/49nC4y5
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/277381

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

 Book Review: Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly 5 Stars 

I loved this one ya'll, a new favorite middle grade. So heartwarming and uplifting. This is about a young 12 year old girl who is deaf, Iris. She is struggling in school as the only deaf person there. One day in Science class, Iris learns about Blue 55, a whale who sings at a different frequency than other whales, categorized as a lonely whale because they can never find him and he doesn't run around with other whales because they can't understand him so he isn't accepted. She feels so connected with Blue 55! She makes a song for him, gets in touch with the researchers and makes a point to try and see him, even though he is so far away....Iris and her grandmother embark on an adventure and the story goes on here.

This book was great. I absolutely love Iris' character - you will LOVE her. The author really shows us what it's like to be deaf in school and how is can be for parents and students alike. Loved her Grandmother too!

Absolutely precious and one of my favorite middle grade books now!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5375825668

Amazon:https://amzn.to/3uWqbQy

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai - Middle Grade 3 to 3.5 Stars 

This is a middle grade story told in verse (poetry style) all about a young girl and her family who go to America (Alabama) as refugees at the end of the Vietnam War. I think this story is a powerful testimony of what they went through. So many struggles trying to learn English, how to interact with others, eating new foods, attending a new school, dealing with bullies for their differences and prejudices as well. Their father is missing from war and the their family is grieving not having him around. We see them working through their pain and struggles and how to learn living in America. This brings awareness to what refugee families go/went through and is a powerful, moving story.

For content purposes: Parents should be aware before their children read this of the following:

- The religion discussions in this book reflect the refugees culture back home. The mother says they are Christians to ensure a better chance to being allowed to come to America as refugees. They are also baptized to appear as Christians in an effort to make their neighbors like them better because of all the prejudices they are facing. However, their religion is not Christianity and there is situations of chanting, being made fun of for Buddah and the child yells back "Jesus" to the kids, worship of idols is shown and use of incense etc. I just want to mention this so parents are aware before their children read this so they can have conversations about these things before they go in blind. This way parental guidance can be given since it's technically a children's book. Additionally, some of the content I didn't personally agree on but I certainly understand it is culturally appropriate and enjoyed the overall message of the story. I think it's a very important message to be shared.

Other content includes war violence mentioned and refugee struggles that may be hard for some readers to read, but it's important to the narrative of the story.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6288186442
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bLF1dr

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Unlimited Motherhood by Jessica Hurlbut

 

Unlimited Motherhood - Jessica Hurlbut - 5 Stars - Releases March 19th 

As a Autism Mama to a beautiful 5 year old boy, this book was everything I needed in this season of life. Relatable, understanding, faith-filled, vulnerable and wonderful. I often need to remind myself Jesus knows exactly where we are in this moment. Jessica's book reminds me again that He is wanting us to come to Him. He hasn't left us in the lonely seasons of life when your struggles as a special needs Mom come to the forefront and you feel like you can't leave your home. He hasn't left us when you compare your life to the other families all over social media and wonder if you're not doing enough. He hasn't left us when our fear feels paralyzing for our children's future. He's right there with you in the middle of EVERYTHING and this book reminded me once again, how JESUS is right there in the midst of it all. Every struggle. Every worry. Every fear. We desperately need Him every day. We are fully loved by Him. Fully known. And this book has 12 beautiful chapters that provide insights to everyday practices we can do as mothers for our families and how the Lord can use us even in seasons of isolation, hiding or loneliness. 

I often feel the Mom guilt and like I am not doing enough for my son - this book also reminds me: Every one of us is in need of God's grace and we all struggle in being parents. We are doing the best we can. 

My son's Autism diagnosis has been a rollercoaster of emotions. We don't know what his future holds but we continue to work with so many at school to help him be the most successful. We have good days and bad days. This book reminds me that "God is on the battlefield with us in every situation. Jesus fought for us 2,000 years ago and won. He will supply the strength we need to stand." Reading Jessica's stories about her children's autism diagnosis and the journey she and her husband went through has been extremely relatable and encouraging to me. 

I am so grateful for the opportunity to read Jessica's book and believe fully it is a must read, Christian non-fiction for all Mama's no matter what stage of parenting you are in. Specifically special needs Mama's like myself will find extra encouragement, but I truly believe all Mama's will appreciate this book. 

Thank you to Bethany House and Net Galley for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6274710097
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SOUZuG
Baker Book House (I preordered here and plan to highlight so much!):  https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/542741

Book Review: The Radiance of the Moon by Ashley Worrell

 

The Radiance of the Moon - Ashley Worrell - 4 Stars 

Had the best time reading this! Releases on February 27, 2024.

- Clean, Christian Medieval Romance 

- Scottish Protective Hero & Irish Widow Finding Love 

- Scottish dialogue, history, political intrigue and clans 

- Ruth and Boaz Inspired (Not a Retelling but some elements inspired a unique story)

- Great faith content, forgiveness and redemption

- Author's debut novel

- Looking forward to the next book!

This book is set in 1383 and if you love a good Medieval Scottish romance, pick this up! I became interested in this story when one of my friends recommended it to me and it did not disappoint. It felt like such an original story to me and as someone who LOVES Scottish stories, I was here for it! The faith content in this was so beautiful, it blew me away. We see Chieftain Hector and Irish widow Cara. They each have been through so much. Hector struggled with drinking and a past reputation less than to be desired and Cara went through spousal abuse for 10 years. When her husband passes away, it seems she has a new start is among her as she follows her mother-in-law to a new area. She had some traits reminiscent of Ruth and I loved that. Hector is betrothed to someone he doesn't want to marry for political reasons but when he meets Cara, they fall in love and he has to decide what to do. I enjoyed seeing them get to know one another throughout the process and their romance was sweet, even if I did want a little more communication between them at times. :)

I loved the faith and hope throughout this story the most and how the Lord was with our characters to help them overcome their trials and tribulations. I also love the faith elements were pulled from some of Ashley's own story as well. Solid debut from Ashley and look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to the author for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Content notes: Some scenes of Cara's previous husband being abusive, Hector's alcoholism shown but also shown is his story being redeemed by Jesus, attempted sexual assault, romance is clean and no language.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6007538374
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SSX48K

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Chasing the Horizon by Mary Connealy

 

Chasing the Horizon by Mary Connealy - 3 Stars

Readers who enjoy Westerns Christian Historical Romance will enjoy this one but be aware of some intense descriptions of women being sent to insane asylums and their horrible treatments. This brings awareness to how easily a husband could send his wife to an asylum when she did something as simple as disagree with him. This is the 4th Mary Connealy book I have read so far.

In this book, Beth Rutledge helps her mother and friend escape from the insane asylum they were wrongfully imprisoned in. Her father put her mother away and Beth went on the journey to save her from the terrible conditions she endured. They go on the run from their father, assuming new identities on a wagon trail out west. In comes Jake Holt, a wagon trail scout, who helps the women in their journey. Beth and Jake fall in love and he makes sure to take care of her and family at all costs. Meanwhile, Beth's crazy and vindictive father is right on their trail searching for them....

Overall, I liked this book but wasn't exactly in love with it and felt like I wanted the ending to be wrapped up a little more, but I know there is another book in the series to continue to see what happens next. I have enjoyed several of Mary's books but I think I also wanted something different with the romance in this one. It was very awkward to see no real romance and then all of a sudden things moved very quickly between them. It's a clean romance but I wanted more of their interactions together, getting to know each other more, etc. But I understand there was so much going on with the main plot, so that makes sense. This This also seemed a bit formulaic compared to other books I have read by her so it didn't stand out to me necessarily. However, I do recommend this book to anyone who loves a good Christian Western Historical Romance story. 

Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5932044375
Amazon: https://amzn.to/49FGr7o
Baker: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/542746

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Beren and Luthien by JRR Tolkien

 

Beren and Luthien - JRR Tolkien - 4 Stars

The story of Beren and Luthien itself would be 5 stars for me, but this book had a lot of excess commentary I was not personally invested in from the editing Christopher Tolkien did. It appears from other reviews the story of Beren and Luthien is from The Silmarillion - but this book would be worth purchasing if you are someone who would love to see the details behind Tolkien's writing from his son's point of view and the artwork throughout the book is worthwhile. The version in The Silmarillion is very straight to the point from what I have seen in another review but this one is closer to "normal prose" where it's the same story told again in a different way in verse. I think since I am not really a poetry or verse person, I prefer the original story. 

The Story of Beren and Luthien is reminiscent of Arwen and Aragorn in that this is the story of a mortal man who fell in love with an immortal elf. Beren has the quest to steal a Silmaril from the crown of Morgoth. Also, Aragorn in LOTR is a distant descendant of Beren and Arwen is a distant descendant of Luthien - so interesting to me!

I think the best thing about this book is the love sotry set against the backdrop of the First Age of Middle Earth, during a great time of strife and conflict. Beren is driven by his love for Luthien and takes on what seems like an impossible tasks to win her hand in marriage. Luthien is there to help Beren with her abilities and together they face trials. I also love that this love story is celebrated as one of the greatest love stories in Tolkien's mythology, illustrating themes of sacrifice, courage and the power of love to overcome even the greatest obstacles. You can also see, as someone who has already read The Hobbit and LOTR trilogy, how this plays a significant role in shaping the history and fate of Middle Earth, as their descendants are a critical component to future ages.

Overall, glad I read through it, even if there are some parts I don't fully understand in the verse and notes from Christopher. I would like to go back one day and see what I missed.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6236455472

Amazon: https://amzn.to/42P4FcY

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned from items purchased from these links.

Book Review: My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh

 

My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh - 5 BIG Stars!

This book is EVERYTHING I needed in a GREAT rom-com! Fake dating, witty banter, hockey player MMC, Small town chef FMC, a funny grandmother, no 3rd act break up, no miscommunication, so many interactions between our couple --we love to see it!

I was having a tough day over the weekend and picking this book up gave me all the happiness and fun I needed that day. It was the perfect light and fluffy read I needed!

Such a CUTE Valentine's sports romance read! Romance was clean!

This is all about famous hockey player Dallas Burke who bumps into restaurant owner and chef Poppy Hart. Dallas jumps right in with the situation of "fake dating" to help Poppy and the rest is history as a full fake romance ensures as his manager and meddling grandmother intervene since it would be a win-win situation to help Poppy's failing restaurant with the publicity and Dallas's bad guy reputation.

To sum it up - I just need to read all of Courtney Walsh's rom-coms now. 5 BIG STARS.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6207779116

Amazon: https://amzn.to/49kivqu

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel

 

The Irish Matchmaker - Jennifer Deibel - 4 Stars

Jennifer does NOT disappoint with her newest release, The Irish Matchmaker. I have read every one of her books and they consistently deliver captivating tales filled with profound emotion. In The Irish Matchmaker we follow the daughter of a well-known matchmaker, Catriona Daly. She is helping widowed cattle farmer Donal Bunratty find a wife to help take care of their family farm and raise his daughter by his side. He attends the matchmaking festival as a wish for his young daughter, only to end up not finding the one he thought he would. But what happens when the one doing the matchmaking appears to be the woman of his dreams? The story goes on from here as Donal and Catriona get to know one another but Lord Osborne's son, Andrew, throws a "cog in the wheel" we will say in all the matchmaking.....

This Christian Historical Romance is set in Ireland and Jennifer always has the best descriptions and dialogue for the setting and characters. You really feel like you are there with them. The characters always touch your heart too. I love a good single Dad story finding love again - one of my favorite tropes - and this was so sweet as his little girl stole my own heart! The story did take a little bit for me to get invested but around the 50% mark, I finished the book so quickly and loved the ending. The romance was sweet - I thought originally it was going to be a love triangle, but it wasn't really a serious one, as we knew Andrew was not a good guy from the beginning and Donal and her had a great connection together. 

My favorite part of this is the ending and the Sermon on the Mount scriptures and discussion with his little girl. Absolutely beautiful.

I will always recommend Jennifer's books - solid clean, Christian Historical Romance. No content warnings or triggers to report as the romance was completely clean with kisses only. :)

Thank you to Revell and Jennifer for allowing me to be on the Launch Team and providing me with a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6198893136
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UKxWDF

Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/542763

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Powerless by Lauren Roberts

🗡️✨Powerless by Lauren Roberts🗡️✨ 4 STARS

 OK, ALL I WILL SAY IS WOWWWW WHAT A GREAT SECULAR YA FANTASY I NEEDED! ITS THE ROMANCE FOR MEEEEE. YOU CAN CUT THE TENSION WITH A KNIFEEEE LIKE BUTTTTERRRR!

(I may update this review later to be more like a FULL review in sentence form but here are some immediate thoughts.)

*4 stars, it was 5 stars for me up until 75% ish but still a SOLID story!
*Full vlog on Monday to come to my YouTube Channel Monday, 2/19
*I need the second book ASAP
*So glad I read this with friends, great book to buddy read with others!
*It's giving FANTASY HUNGER GAMES AND I LOVED THAT! We have trials, and lavish descriptions, interview with those in the trials, the purging is the reason they have the trials etc.
*We have a "faction-like" set up -- our main girl Paeydn is an "ordinary", our main guy Kai is an Elite. She is pretending to be an Elite with psychic abilities and saves Kai in a crazy situation. Kai and her end up in the trials together and a romance with the ULTIMATE tension happens! The kicker?! Kai is the son of the king and kills Ordinaries as his job....but he doesn't know the girl he is starting to fall for and who saved him is an Ordinary--- YALLLLLLLLL!
*Scratches the itch you need for books like Hunger Games, Red Queen, Divergent etc.
*I was in the "I NEED TO KNOW" feels for most of the books
*Great book to buddy read
*KAI AND PAEYDN FO LYFE - Romance is clean
*The KING is awful villain!
*KAI'S DESCRIPTIONS OF HER AND EYES AND OTHER DIALOGUE WAS THE BEST. SWOOOOON!
*AUDIOBOOK NARRATION IS GREAT! Male and female POVs and narrators.

Now, let's talk content and why it wasn't 5 stars but it felt like 5 stars up until the ending. The reason it felt like 5 stars up until the end...all the things above that I loved! What didn't I love? I didn't love the amount of language throughout the story, it didn't typically bother me but I do think it could have been cut down (no F words but several S, D, A etc). Also the drinking in this book was a bit random, it felt like adding real life things in a fantasy world haha but just want to mention there is some drinking in this.

There is a lot of blood mentioned in battle scenes that are reminiscent of Hunger Games type fighting with blood descriptions. Those didn't really bother me because I was so involved in the story and the romance. However, I did find some scenes at the end bothered me with the gore/brutality in one fight scene. There was also a love triangle brought in I didn't love because the brothers are very close and I didn't love some of the betrayal going on there with the girl and the brothers but it's YA and I can move on lol. It's expected. The ending I wish we had some context given to one of the characters and some communication BUT I see what she is setting up here for book 2 so it's all good!

I think Lauren Roberts writing is very engaging and she did an AWESOME job with this series introduction and tying in so many things from previous words/books that so many of us have grown to know and love but she made it her own original story and I loved that!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6033094488

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3uDNkHr

FULL YouTube Reading Vlog to come on 2/19/24

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Submerged by Dani Pettrey

 

Submerged by Dani Pettrey - 5 Stars - Re-read higher rating!

I am not much of a re-reader but I loved the experience re-reading this one! Submerged is book 1 in the Alaskan Courage series and I plan to make my way through this series in 2024. I read this book in 2021 but never continued so before I continue on in the series, I wanted to re-read book 1 so the characters would be fresh in my memory. So glad I did! I enjoyed it so much more this time around and am rating it 5 stars! 

A solid romantic suspense set in Alaska! Bailey Craig vowed to never return to Alaska but when her Aunt is killed in a plane crash and evidence shows more to the case than they thought, she proves to be an asset to the investigation and stays around to help investigators. Bailey's past mistakes are following her when she comes back home but she is a new creation in Jesus and knows it doesn't define her anymore. She only hopes everyone else sees it the same way when she returns. Then we have Cole McKenna, the guy she left behind when she left 10 years ago. He knows Bailey has changed and really encourages her in that. He still has feelings for her when she returns and will stand up to anyone who treats her bad or unworthy. He knows she is worthy and a new creation in Christ - I loved his character so much! They work to piece the case together and the rest goes on from here.

This book shows us how unconditional God's love truly is. I loved the faith content and the characters really make the story. Excited to dive into book 2!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3763026152
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3I1hJTd
Baker:  https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/37869

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

 

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis - Narnia Series - 4 Stars 

I just love this world. Reading this series as an adult for the first time is quite the experience. Every time I dive into a book I am whisked away to such an amazing world. Our characters Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy are back in the world of Narnia! Lots of action going on in this one and while some parts I loved more than others, this is such a fun read! Love the talking animals and seeing Aslan again in this book. As always, the allegory is great. You can see a parallel to the Christian Life throughout this series. A good example "But who believes in Aslan nowadays" - direct correlation to the criticism we receive at times for believing in Jesus and the struggles in the Christian life. Lucy's journey is important as she has to go against her friends and family to follow Aslan (Jesus allegory). Not everyone can see the path but she can. She makes some mistakes but Aslan makes it clear he is still compassionate and loving to her. 

Just such a good series and I can't wait to read more to finish the series this year.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6252658640
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UwdVRn

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Lady of Disguise by Melanie Dickerson

 

Lady of Disguise by Melanie Dickerson (Book 6 in The Dericott Tales, but can be read as a Standalone) - 4 Stars

Another great retelling in the Dericott Tales! This is a Jack and the Beanstalk retelling and I really enjoyed this one! Set in 1388 England and Scotland, Louisa dreams of finding the rumored "Giant's Treasure" in Scotland. After her father has died and Louisa and her sister go live with their greedy uncle, Louisa is determined to find the treasure. She wants to run away from her Uncle's home and take her sister with her to keep her safe and away from forced unwanted marriages. She runs and disguises herself as a boy, using the name "Jack", and encounters a young knight, Sir Charles, who accompanies her on her journey. Charles knows she did pretending to be a young boy but does not reveal this knowledge as he wants to help her along the way as much as possible. However, things come to a head along their trip and they find themselves starting to care for one another once everything is revealed. The story goes on from here as her Uncle is on the hunt for her and they continue their journey for the hidden treasure.

This is one of my more favorite ones in the series. I loved Louisa and how she would do anything to protect her sister. I love how determined Louisa was in her journey and is always wanting to help others along the way. Sir Charles was an honorable man and I love a good protector in a story and he sure was a great one!

My favorite part of this story though has to be the scenes with the giant - very good faith and prayer content in this section and very heartwarming. 

The romance was fast but sweet. Overall I recommend this one to anyone who loves a good Christian fairy tale retelling and romance and wants a sweet, light read.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5765450015
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bvfPYv
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/542225

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin

 Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin - 5 Stars

This WWII story will leave you with so many emotions - it's a must read! We have war, mystery, a bit of romance and a mother who will stop at nothing to find her son in London. This is the second book I have read by Sarah and I can't wait to dive into more of her backlist! 

This book starts off with a emotional punch - our main character Aledia is with her abusive husband and young son during their escape from the Nazis in the Netherlands. While she is asleep, her husband tears their son from her arms and gives him away to a random man and woman because he is embarrassed of his son's hand deformity. When Aledia wakes up, she realizes what has happened and is devastated - determined to find her son. Before she can even discuss what happened with her husband, he is killed from effects of war. Left a widow and alone, she is desperate to find her son in London. She makes her way there and meets a BBC reporter - Hugh Collingwood. Hugh and Aledia work together to find her son, along with unraveling a murder mystery along the way. All of this is occurring in the midst of bombs in London.

As a mother of a young boy the same age as Aledia's son, this book tugged at my heart strings in many ways. I was so invested and connected to our characters and the slow burn romance was beautiful in the end between Hugh and Aledia. They went through so much together. 

The faith element in this shows us that God never leaves us, nor forsakes us and He walks with us even in the valley of the shadow of death. 

I loved the ending so so much. I was in tears. Your heart will be broken and restored by the end. You are truly transported right there in the middle of all the events taking place. 

A perfect Christian historical fiction with everything I love in a good book. Highly recommend! 

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Goodreads Review:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6017708425
Amazon: https://amzn.to/49uGHWy
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/542757

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Fatal Witness by Patricia Bradley

 

Fatal Witness - Patricia Bradley - 4.5 rounding up to 5 Stars on Goodreads

Fatal Witness is book 2 in the Pearl River Series and it will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat needing to know ALL the things! Fans of book 1 will be happy to see Alex and Nathan back in book 2 as they help K-9 Officer Mark Lassiter work the cold case of Dani Bennett's parents murder and her learning her true identity after being in hiding in Montana for the past 25 years. Dani has no memory of her life in Tennessee or the murder of her parents. She returns after her Grandmother, Mae Richmond, finally finds her from a photo she notices in a pottery magazine and the story goes on from here as Dani starts to uncover her past and relive old memories to figure out what happened many years ago.

This book kept my interest from the first chapter. As a Tennessean myself, I love the Tennessee setting in this series. The suspense in this one is top tier as you are eager to continue to see all the reveals to come. Someone is always breaking in somewhere, watching and tracking our characters and with many suspects, you'll find it difficult to figure out the killer up until the very end. It will keep you guessing, which I loved! 

The faith content in this book was very nice and woven in beautifully. Dani's Grandmother Mae also truly steals the show - she is feisty and strong willed - we love to see it!

The romance between Mark and Dani was sweet, even thought I did want a little bit more between them in the ending. :) Mark is such a great guy who had some past trauma he was trying to work through and scared to love again but Dani was willing to be right there with him through every emotion and I loved that. 

I also loved seeing Nathan and Alex from book 1 helping throughout the suspense and getting some additional backstory with them.

This book could technically be read as a standalone, but I think you best enjoy it after reading book 1 in the series. If you love a good Christian romantic suspense, I highly recommend this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6020211383
Amazon: https://amzn.to/42uJbSG
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/542755

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: All My Secrets by Lynn Austin

 

All My Secrets - Lynn Austin - 5 Stars

All My Secrets by Lynn Austin is a multigenerational story of 3 women that explores first loves, grief, high society lifestyle, history, the Christian faith and the essence of what matters most in life. I highly recommend this book as I was fully immersed in the story and characters. 

Set during the Gilded Age in New York, we see the strength of the Stanhope women following the passing of Arthur Stanhope. Left uncertain of their future paths, Junietta, Sylvia, and Adelaide grapple with the ramifications of Arthur's will and the looming uncertainty surrounding their family's estate. As they navigate through the aftermath, family secrets begin to unravel, shedding light on their intertwined history.

I absolutely loved this story. I was very invested in the audiobook narration and learning about Sylvia and Junietta's past. We see the beauty of the Gospel in this story several times as our characters grapple with their past decisions, mistakes made and contemplate future choices. Additionally, there is a central theme of helping the poor and giving to charity, as well as discussions surrounding wealth, the dynamics of marriage, and the choice between marrying for financial security or for love.

Lynn Austin's storytelling is undeniable and I am thankful to have received an advanced reader copy to honestly read and review. I will be purchasing this one for my collection as it's one of my favorite books of 2024! 

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5727032905
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UBlx5f
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/540744

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Rocky Road by Becky Wade

 

Rocky Road by Becky Wade - Book 2 in the Sons of Scandal series - 4 Stars

Rocky Road is a cute, fake dating clean, Christian romance featuring FBI agent Jude Camden and perfume maker Gemma Clare. Jude approaches Gemma in an effort to take down her criminal cousin from France who is selling her family perfume secrets. They go undercover and have a fake dating romance but as they start to catch real feelings - things get complicated since Gemma has a current long distance boyfriend and Jude isn't allowed to date those he works with on cases. As genuine emotions surface, Gemma realizes her current relationship lacks true love, prompting her to move on and explore a deeper connection with Jude. We also see a side story about Gemma's great grandmother who has dementia and has forgotten her love story. Gemma sets out to help her great grandmother remember her love story as she pieces everything together for her all about her past.

I loved the first chapter, it had me laughing out loud from the first scene of Gemma and Jude together! I'd say after that I started to get truly invested with our characters and story around the 30-40% mark, when the fake dating began. I honestly didn't connect with our characters until this point, and was not crazy that Gemma had a boyfriend throughout the first part of this book. I personally do not like that "trope" where someone has a boyfriend while they start to get interested in someone else, however, I thought if you have to have the main girl have a boyfriend in the story to start off, Becky handled the break up well and early on.

I did enjoy seeing them get to know one another and how different they were as Jude is very serious and business like and Gemma is bubbly and very outgoing. I loved Jude quoting poetry to Gemma - it felt like a Mr. Darcy moment haha!

I also loved seeing the family elements in this book - this series has been fun to see the brothers interacting as they are hilarious! The faith elements in the book were great to see, specifically in the ending. I loved those intense scenes in the end!

I did listen to the audiobook and the narration was great! Overall, a good continuation to the series and I am looking forward to the next book! 

Thank you to Becky for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5828856960
Becky's Website: https://beckywade.com/home/rocky-road/

Book Review: Marmee by Sarah Miller

Marmee by Sarah Miller - 5 Stars 

Marmee by Sarah Miller is a captivating exploration of the beloved character, Marmee, in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I LOVED this book so much. This book takes you on a journey of the events in Little Women but all from Marmee's point of view through her personal journal entries. It brings such a depth to her character that I think ever person who reads Little Women would appreciate. Marmee was already my favorite character in Little Women, but after this book, I love her even more. It really feels like it goes with the true Little Women story.

The author skillfully weaves a story that uncovers Marmee's joys, struggles, and the choices that shaped her into the compassionate and wise mother we know from Little Women.

Seeing other struggles she went through that we could assume could have happened in this story were truly eye opening and heartbreaking. I sobbbbbeedddd several times while reading this books, specifically in the ending. I could relate to Marmee as a wife and mother throughout the story many times also. It was also nice to see more details of her marriage to Amos and her feelings she could have felt while he was gone to war during that time. It felt so vulnerable and real to me to read through her journal entries.

In conclusion, "Marmee" is a must-read for fans of Little Women as Sarah Miller's portrayal of Marmee breathes fresh life into a timeless character.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6057796949
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SpuE6b

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Book Review: Just The Nicest Person by Christy Barritt

Just The Nicest Person - Christy Barritt - 3.5 to 4 Stars, Maybe 3.75 :)
(Book 1 in the True Crime Junkies series)

What a wild ride! Just the Nicest Person was our Christian book club pick for January and I had a fun time reading this. It's a Christian Suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you NEEDING to know all the things! Very fast paced, which I love in books, and not just 1 plot point - we see secondary plot points that can be explored in future books which is always interesting because now I need to read book 2! 

This story is about Andi, a previous attorney with a mysterious past. She is driving her "ice-road-truck" through Alaska - as she is there to find justice after a friend's murder. Things take a dramatic turn when she sees a man in the middle of the road during a white-out snow storm and her truck veers off the road.

Enter Duke McAllister, a former CID investigator gone tour guide in Alaska, who comes to Andi's rescue. The person in the road Andi saw is no where to be found and with Duke having his clients, brother and sister, with him on a tour at the time, they end up getting involved in the situation as well and travel with Duke and Andi to the nearest trading post.

As they all get settled in from the snow at the local trading post, they realize their favorite local Alaskan podcaster, Craig, goes silent right before he was to reveal the name of a cold case killer. This leads them to dive right in to investigate together...only to make a terrifying discovery that he has been murdered. Together, they embark on the full investigation, but the lurking killer, always watching, poses a constant threat. Will these strangers be able to find the killer before its too late? 

The story's setting in Alaska is a standout feature that I thoroughly enjoyed. The unique backdrop, coupled with insights into the challenges faced by law enforcement in the area, added depth to the story. While Andi's character sometimes grated on my nerves with her persistent "because I'm a woman" attitude and certain choices she makes frustrated me, I loved the other characters of  Duke, Simmy, Mariella and Michael. They were AWESOME. Mariella stands out and adds a bit of humor to the story as she is an online influencer so she uses her skills to help in the investigation. Nevertheless, I am really excited to get back into this series to explore Duke's missing fiancé and Andi's career issues. 

Additionally, the exploration of Andi's faith journey and Duke's explanations for why he believed in God were great. The formation of a group for true crime enthusiasts adds an extra layer of anticipation for book 2! I look forward to delving deeper into this series and seeing the progression of these characters and their stories.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6075121730
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vXYzuy

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.