The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham

 

The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham - 5 Stars - AMAZING!

The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham is a delightful and captivating story that effortlessly weaves together elements of a classic 1920s romance with a storyline that is perfect for lovers of You've Got Mail and Romeo and Juliet. At the heart of this book lies two characters - torn apart by their family feud many years ago. Laura Bradshaw and Isaac Campbell. They were childhood friends at one point but they were torn apart by circumstances unknown to them many years ago. All they know is the Bradshaws and the Campbells hate each other and are to not be seen together.

The twist of this tale comes when Laura and Isaac have been secretly exchanging letters together in the big tree in the Buffalo Zoo in New York for years. The one rule? Never to reveal each other's name to one another. It all started when Isaac found one of Laura's poems she wrote and put in the tree - so he wrote her back many years ago. 

So, they have grown to care for one another through these letters, yet neither one know they are writing to the other. Perfect story for lovers of You've Got Mail! There's more then meets the eye to this old family feud....as things would have it, circumstances push them together, things start to be revealed and BOY do we have a GOOD story on our hands! 

We have so much more to the story too as we see close friends and business partners that can't be trusted get involved in many business dealings with others and they try to figure that out as well with the help of a private investigator.

I absolutely ADORED this book. The audiobook narrator did a fabulous job and she really kept me immersed in the story. She does great male and female voices in my opinion. Mrs. Gaskin was such a mother figure to Laura - she needed that since she lost her mother when she was very young. I loved her so much and how she truly cared about her happiness as a mother would. I also loved how Isaac truly cared for Laura, he wanted to protect her and the letters were THE SWEETEST. 

I think if you are someone who loves a good zoo setting in a book, stories with letter exchanges, the 1920s, Romeo and Juliet references, and just a beautiful clean romance - this is for you! I love Rachel's writing and can't wait to read more of her books. I am SO glad I preordered this because I will be recommending this for a long time.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an audiobook copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5907758944
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PUV6Dt
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/528830
YouTube Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt-U-nf5HX8

DNF Review - Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet

 Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet - DNF at 51% - Ch 21 

Let me start by saying this book has tropes I am not usually a fan of - so take my review with a grain of salt. This may be something for you - and it's just not for me. I do think Rebekah has great writing and I would love to check out future books by her if the tropes are up my alley - I probably should have really waited to see if the tropes would have been for me or not but I digress. 

Julia Monroe is a 40 year old widow and mother of 2 boys, 18 and 19 years old, who are off to college now, leaving Julia at home alone to figure out this next stage of her life. She had a beautiful, happy marriage to her husband Mark - but he passed away 10 years ago and she is not eager to jump into a new relationship, for fear of getting hurt again. In comes Samuel Reed, the "ex-boyfriend before her life with her husband". Their relationship ended on bad terms but 20 years later, he's back in town and arrives at her church and old memories resurface.

Ya'll I reallllllly wanted to love this book. I feel bad honestly, but it just wasn't for me. I am not going to "rate it" since I didn't finish it, but from what I read 50% in, I was beyond frustrated with Julia. 

She sees Samuel at her church and references how he "needs to find another place of worship" and that rubbed me the wrong way. She continues to be so mean and hating him for a good portion of the book, but she's still thinking about how handsome he is and stuff - yet she's so mean. Some of what she said just rubbed me the wrong way. I understand she has not forgiven Samuel for what he did and there's some trauma she is holding onto - but 20 years later Samuel has truly changed, is a Christian and showing true remorse after all he has done, yet she is holding such a grudge against him and cannot move past their past. This is something I struggle with reading in books - the "I can't let this go" trope. It's frustrating - I know it's hard to forgive people but as a 40 year old she just exhibited such immaturity in her thoughts and behavior. She was downright mean to him and that just frustrated me. And then he just kept coming back after she was so rude - it was truly like a hate to love situation that frustrated me.  I have enjoyed enemies to lovers in the past but....this was just truly hate to love and I didn't like that.

After hearing from a close friend more frustrating things that occur in the 80% mark, I decided I was just not the right person for this book and decided to DNF. I honestly think several will enjoy this - for those who love the second chance hate to love books, but I am starting to realize what I enjoy in romance books and this was just not for me. I have seen there are some good faith moments in this book but unfortunately I was not able to make it there with everything I wasn't loving.

Again, while I am disappointed that I didn't end up loving this or finishing it, I will be on the look out for more of Rebekah's books in the future - just need to make sure the tropes are for me! :)

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of this book to honestly read and review.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt-U-nf5HX8

The Lost Boys of Barlow Theater by Jaime Jo Wright

The Lost Boys of Barlow Theater - Jamie Jo Wright - 4.5 Stars 

Wow, Jaime Jo does it AGAIN! This is a haunting and intricately woven novel that seamlessly combines elements of mystery and suspense. We have richly developed characters and a storyline that spans generations. This book is going to keep readers engaged from start to finish! 

Set in the eerie backdrop of the Barlow Theater, this story is told through dual timelines - one in present day and one in the early 1900s. In 1915, we see Greta Mercy, who is skeptical of the theater as her brother died there in an accident during its construction. When her younger brother goes missing after breaking into the building, Greta hopes the local police can help her solve this mystery of where he is. Plus, early on in the story, Greta caused quite the uproar when she says she saw a child fall from the theater balcony during one of the productions...yet no child was found. Was she seeing things or is there more to this theater than meets the eye?

Decades later during present day, we follow Kit Boyd, whose best friend Madison goes missing at the Theater when TV ghost-hunting host and skeptic, Evan Fisher, is there with their crew filming episodes of their TV show trying to catch secrets of the theater on film. Evan and Kit work together trying to piece together the puzzle and find Madison before it's too late. 

I am so glad I read this! It explored so much in both timelines and Jaime Jo always weaves the timelines and generational families together SO well! I can't say which timeline I liked better because I genuinely wanted to keep reading both! There were some parts that dragged a little for me but this is truly a 4.5 to 5 star read and I think if you are looking for a good, gothic fall read, this is for you! The content was not triggering for me in any way, the opening is a little unsettling with the thought of a possible child that fell from the balcony, but we soon question if that even truly happened or not. 

I loved Evan and Kit together most of all - he was just an awesome guy and I loved how he combated the "medium" or "psychic" in this story and explained how the supernatural world we "think" of today is most likely an illusion from the devil making us see what we think we want to see and how many of these things are things God doesn't want us even dabbling it - preach it Evan! The faith in this book is also weaved in very naturally and isn't preachy - it's beautiful to see how Evan reminds Kit that God hasn't abandoned her yet and he still won't. Jaime Jo may have had some details with psychics and mediums in here but she made sure to debunk what they were doing and point it back to God!

In conclusion, The Lost Boys of Barlow Theater will grip readers as an engaging and eerie fall read and I highly recommend! 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/5882194710
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tqWLsJ
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/516373
Vlog and YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt-U-nf5HX8

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

  

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien (Book 2 in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy)

“It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end… because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing… this shadow. Even darkness must pass.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

'Why, Sam,' he said, 'to hear you somehow makes me as merry as if the story was already written. But you've left out one of the chief characters: Samwise the stouthearted. "I want to hear more about Sam, dad. Why didn't they put in more of his talk, dad? That's what I like, it makes me laugh. And Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam, would he, dad?"'
'Now, Mr. Frodo,' said Sam, 'you shouldn't make fun. I was serious.'
'So was I,' said Frodo, 'and so I am.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

What can I even say? There is just something about Lord of the Rings that brings me comfort and pure happiness. I highly recommend the narration by Andy Serkis - top tier. He sounds just like every character from the movie so it makes it much more like listening to a movie from his voice. AMAZING. Maybe that is why I was so engaged. My favorite parts were with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, plus the chapter about Treebeard was AWESOME.

I like that we got to see the splits between what was going on with Merry and Pippin, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, plus other characters, and then cutting to Frodo and Sam at the end. 

This book exudes all things friendship, bravery, loyalty and strength. While there are some parts that may drag at times, I was still completely immersed while reading, well listening :) 

Sam has become one of my favorite characters after this book. I mean, he truly is the reason Frodo continues and as the quote says above, Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam. So much truth. We all need a Samwise Gamgee as a friend. Sam sees Gollum for what he has become and is capable of - and we almost see Gollum as an example of what Frodo could become should the ring corrupt him too. So Sam continues the quest, looking out for Frodo and keeping a careful watch on Gollum - for good reason - throughout their quest.

I also really enjoyed the parts of Faramir and their meet up with Sam and Frodo. Very interesting to see the conversations and to discuss Boromir's end. 

We also start to see Aragorn evolve as a character here and really become a leader. I can't wait to see more of him in Return of the King. 

ALSOOOO - Gimli and Legolas' Friendship Bond! MY FAV.

Overall, such a classic tale and I can't wait to continue in the next book. 

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1816023090
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZPqmbB

YouTube Review to come, but here is my vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0ApnuX2mAw&t

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt-U-nf5HX8

The Cider Shop Rules by Julie Anne Lindsey

 

Cider Shop Rules - Julie Anne Lindsey - 4 Stars - Book 3 in the Cider Shop Mystery Series

What a perfect fall read! All the fall vibes, atmosphere, activities - so much fun reading it! We are back in Blossom Valley with the upcoming Fall Festival. Everyone is looking forward to Jacob Potter's pumpkin farm with hay rides, pumpkin picking and corn maze fun. Things go south fast though when Mr. Potter is found dead in the back of Winnie's pickup truck. Sheriff Colton is back trying to protect Winnie and figure out who killed Mr. Potter - but then someone named Blake comes in and a little bit of a love triangle comes in the beginning of the story...Will they figure out the killer? Who will win Winnie's heart along the way?

This is the 3rd and final installment of the Cider Shop Mystery series and I am SO sad! I want more of these amazing characters and setting! It feels so southern and real and I just LOVE it. While nothing compares to the first book, this one was a solid 4 stars for me. I buddy read this with some amazing ladies and had the best time trying to figure out the mystery. My favorite part is of course Colton and Winnie and the fall elements. 

Overall, a good ending to the series but hope she will write more someday!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5885216042
Entire Series on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Fbxk1e

YouTube Review to come, but here is my vlog on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0ApnuX2mAw&t=

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt-U-nf5HX8

You are More than You've Been Told by Hosanna Wong

 

You Are More Than You've Been Told - Hosanna Wong

I love Hosanna Wong’s spoken word poetry and got to see her perform it at a women’s conference in the past. This book was filled with the Gospel of Jesus and I got so much out of it. Some things were repeated several times but she really brings her points home. I love how she explains we have a new name in Christ with all the names He has given us. And we are NOT what others have defined us as. I also appreciated her discussions on the Sabbath and resting - and her story about her family and her past. 

This is all about how can we figure out who we are, how you don't have to live disconnected from yourself or from God. She gives us a roadmap to living and reconnecting with God. When you don't feel worth or loved or good enough....Hosanna's book truly reminds us of spending time in prayer, finding time to rest, finding time for real community, fighting for time in God's word...etc. 

No matter what stage you are in your faith walk, there is something for everyone in this book. She has such a beautiful way of explaining things in a very poetic way and I loved reading through this.

If you haven't been blessed to watch her spoken word poetry or her speak, please watch some of these videos: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A_uXO3CgwY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bgNDJ_SXWE

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5879870188

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RMB8NT

YouTube Review to come.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt-U-nf5HX8

DNF Review - On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni - DNF 33%

 

On Moonberry Lake - Holly Varni - A disappointment 

DNF 33%. This Christian Fiction book was one I was really anticipating for the Fall of 2023. The premise sounded like such a good story. I think the writing is good, the characters were making me laugh and I was loving the small town setting. She does a great job immersing you in this new town and describing it. Unfortunately, this is not for me and I am disappointed in the new age beliefs displayed. Based on what I read 33% in, I feel this book had a good opportunity to share the love of Christ - the true Gospel of Jesus - but instead, I found a girl who truly needed good, Godly friendships but she was becoming good friends with the wrong influence. Not to bash this author in any way, I am just very disappointed and surprised in the amount of new age statements shown for a Christian marketed book.

This book is about Cora, who has no family, her mother recently passed away and she has inherited her grandparents lodge and is trying to start new in this new area. She is getting to know people and we see how she truly needs a friend.

Where I have a problem with this -- we have the following:
- Page 1 mentions the main character being able to tell when someone was dying or pregnant and explains it as she has a premonition
- A character - Kitty - who talks to gravestones as if they're people and is described to be a bit witchy
- Another character - who is a bit of a hippie artsy character - who starts off saying she can make Cora some Jewish bread (or other cultural bread) and how the act of baking and creating bread can be meditative and it "centers your spirit at the present moment".
- The same character above talks about her being a hippie at heart and how they come to accept and love her and then they continue talking about "talking to people in the cemetery", how people who have died are still with us and make us better listeners.
- Our main character, Cora, makes a fool out of herself twice in front of someone and this friend says "Wow, the universe desperately wants you to cross paths with this person." Then Cora says how this person is a good influence on her and she is thankful for her new friend.

I stopped here.
I read many other reviews that say these types of things and honestly, this is just a missed opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ as I said. You have to be SO careful of your friend circle and who you are "very close" friends with. From what I read thus far, are we encouraging these types of influences? Yes, we need to minister to these friends but your close circle - should be considered very carefully and discernment should play a role in that.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrJBzCMbGUw&t=2s