This was perhaps the most important book I’ve read all year (2022). It very eloquently expressed a patriotism that seems to be fleeting in current eveThis was perhaps the most important book I’ve read all year (2022). It very eloquently expressed a patriotism that seems to be fleeting in current events, so this story serves as a good, solid reminder of what standing up for one’s country might look like.
It was wonderful to see such strong patriotism in a middle-grade child. Sometimes it’s the children that have the best ideals and strongest sense of a moral compass. There is much we can learn from this book and children similar to its leading gal.
The cover was amazing and set the perfect tone, casting an urgent, anticipatory mood for the story beneath it to live up to. The novel did just that and surpassed all my expectations.
There was such a tragic opening few chapters that I knew soon enough that I was in for a great story. The chapters kept zipping right along at a pace that made my mind whirl, but it was well worth it to discover a new favorite, fantastic story.
The plot was complex and peppered with quirky, unique characters that wrenched my heart at every possible turn of events.
I especially appreciated that this was clean fiction. Not a bad word or crude comment to speak of. What a relief! This is a book I can easily and gladly highly recommend to any reader of any age, particularly if they love getting hooked by an intriguing premise and dragged along for quite the adventure.
This book was filled to overflowing with hope despite extremely tough times. This gives me hope for 2022’s America. Things might be tough at the moment, folks, but God is in control and provides hope for a better future (namely, eternal joy and life in Heaven) for those who choose to trust Him no matter what this world throws at us. This book, while not Christian, served as a reminder that He can hold us firm and strong through the hardest of circumstances. I’m so glad He’s done that for me many times in the past and continues to do so today....more
A fairy-tale retelling from Karen Witemeyer? Yes please! I love that it’s going to be a series, too.
So this was a Snow White retelling set in 1890s TeA fairy-tale retelling from Karen Witemeyer? Yes please! I love that it’s going to be a series, too.
So this was a Snow White retelling set in 1890s Texas. I loved the western setting and felt it was played to its fullest to make this story shine. The homages to the Disney animated version of the story were plentiful, but the creativity on display spun it all into a unique tale that felt original and spot-on and exactly what I wanted to read this month.
It was so much fun to have a butterfly migration included in the story—and that the butterflies made it to the cover of the book! I love little touches like that which perfectly tie the cover to the story beneath it.
I loved that the “dwarfs” in this story were little, old men—this reminded me of Barbara Stanwyck’s Great Balls of Fire movie, which was also a Snow White retelling.
This was a well-crafted story that I will definitely be purchasing a paperback copy of and rereading many times in the future. And I can hardly wait for the sequel to come out!
This book was fantastic. It featured community charity work, diverse personalities, and a sweet romance. I liked that the romance was between a blacksThis book was fantastic. It featured community charity work, diverse personalities, and a sweet romance. I liked that the romance was between a blacksmith with a pair of rambunctious sons and a teacher with a book-loving daughter.
It took a long time for Martina to grow on me. She was initially so manipulative and rude! And to plot to take someone’s child…? I have personal reasons for disliking that goal, but the woman was exquisitely well written, and I looked for every opportunity to let her grow on me. Eventually, she did, thankfully.
If not for the saturation of sensuality and a couple of bedroom scenes, this story could have been a dazzling five stars.
The grand adventure of this cIf not for the saturation of sensuality and a couple of bedroom scenes, this story could have been a dazzling five stars.
The grand adventure of this circus-set novel appealed to me, as did the delicious cover and Gothic vibes. Once I dug into the story, I was captivated by the unconventional convenience-marriage trope and the mother-daughter-reunion angle. The story delved into the depths of such themes as melancholia (depression), the search for a place to belong, and hard-edged grief all while navigating the competitive atmosphere of the circus.
While the prose was well written, it often pushed into titillating sensuality, which felt wholly unnecessary for the plot or character arcs.
I appreciated that a character realized a dark, evil sin needed to be stopped. It was just a shame it wasn’t the leading character who had instigated the sin in the first place.
This was a charming Christmas short story. A lot of it was a recap of what had happened in the previous book, and most of it was completely internalizThis was a charming Christmas short story. A lot of it was a recap of what had happened in the previous book, and most of it was completely internalized. The big surprise at the end was predictable to me, but I really enjoyed seeing the circus in its winter setting. Holland was as adorable as she was in The Lady and the Lionheart. It was fun to see Ella, Charlie, and Holland in their new family routine.
I had hoped the book would get better from this opening line: “I’m begging you, please stop looking at naughtyI couldn’t get out of the third chapter.
I had hoped the book would get better from this opening line: “I’m begging you, please stop looking at naughty pictures in the library” as well as that event being equated to being “a rowdy fifteen-year-old boy.” I don’t find pornography to be any type of definition of “rowdy” or of a teenager. In fact, I find it quite sinful, and I’m unsure why it was included in a Christian book and tossed off as a “rowdy” teenager problem. Instead, this issue is a serious problem.
Sadly, the book did not improve within the first three chapters.
In fact, it got worse.
There were two blasphemies in the first three chapters. This, of course, was a humongous disappointment in a Christian fiction book.
First: “Luke found salvation in the passages of Byron, Keats, and Coleridge.”
True salvation is found only in one name: Jesus Christ.
“Jesus Christ the Nazarene … There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.” Acts 4:10-12 HCSB
Second: “Oh noble sun, cleanse my sorrows with the sweet kiss of morning dew.”
Only God Almighty can cleanse sorrows through the blood of Jesus Christ.
“… the blood of Jesus [God’s] Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 HCSB “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 HCSB
The leading man was a bully, demanding people just fall all over themselves to do his bidding. I’ve been told this attitude improves, but I didn’t see any signs of it in the early chapters. I’m hoping he did learn that people were worth treating with at least the minimum respect due every fellow human being.
Beyond that, there was parental bullying on at least two occasions. The first was to excess, while the second was a passing comment.
The leading man’s father bullied him because he wrote poetry. He went on and on for pages about this bullying, coming to this ridiculous finale: “Why don't you ask your mother to sew you a dress if you want to write poetry like a girl."
The story takes place in 1897, so it made sense to me that the kid would be inspired by and following in the footsteps of such poetry greats as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Walt Whitman, and Henry David Thoreau (not to mention “Byron, Keats, and Coleridge” who were mentioned directly during one of these bullying scenes)—all of whom are men. Maybe the dude’s dad ought to read a book every now and then.
The other parental bullying was: “Gertrude’s parents warned her that girls who looked like a russet potato shouldn’t aspire to marriage and encouraged her love of music as a means of earning a living.”
The year, as I mentioned, was 1897. Average-looking women got married all the time then, as they do now, so I do not understand this mindset for her parents. It was impossible for me to fathom that a parent would call their child a “russet potato” and tell her she’s not worthy of finding a husband and raising children. That is her God-given right, if she so chose to accept it, as mentioned many times throughout the Bible, which has been a known Book since ancient times.
I truly hope the characters learned to be better and overcame such terrible past behavior, but I couldn’t continue reading to find out.
My favorite part of this book, through the third chapter, was that a library was so heavily featured. Typically, that is a favorite setting in fictional stories for me, so I fully expected to like this book. Unfortunately, it’s another book I couldn’t finish.
Content: parental bullying of children, pornographic pictures mentioned and tossed off as rowdiness, blasphemies ...more
I enjoyed this in-depth study and comparison of the careers and lives of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. I found myself riveted by the fascinating detaI enjoyed this in-depth study and comparison of the careers and lives of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. I found myself riveted by the fascinating details in the various stages of the men’s lives. This wasn’t an easy read, but it was one I’m grateful to have taken the time for.
My big beef with this book was that there was zero warning that it dealt with prostitution. I don’t mind reading about it in certain cases, but I loveMy big beef with this book was that there was zero warning that it dealt with prostitution. I don’t mind reading about it in certain cases, but I love having warning about it right in the back-cover blurb so that I can decide whether or not I feel like investing my mental and emotional energies into such a tale. Some days I do; some days I don’t.
For some strange reason, I seem to be drawn to those books that feature a love triangle where one of the guys is completely abhorrent. I have no idea why this is, and it drives me nuts every time, but I stumble across this trope time after time after time…
I’m getting worn out on racial-issues-fueled books. I’ve simply grown beyond them and prefer not to read books in this trope very often anymore.
The first memorable moment of faith came at the 40% mark. That felt way too late in the game. Even after that mark, the faith thread felt practically non-existent for most of the story. It was much too light for my taste.
In the audio version, the transition between time periods was abrupt at times. Context helped to sort out which era each scene was in, but I did wonder a few times if there was a smoother way of transitioning from one era to the other.
I loved Audrey’s brother! He was so charming and delightful.
Luca was amazing. He was the type of hero I could root for: chivalrous and gallant to the core. My heart broke for his sister and how his story ended.
The Tennessee Centennial Exposition setting was so enjoyable! I love settings like that when the authors are able to bring them to life, which Mrs. Shocklee was able to do here. This aspect of the book was my favorite.
The scrapbook was phenomenal! I love how this was incorporated into the story and brought the leads of the 1960s’ era together.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
This book had me constantly amazed and baffled and shocked FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
This book had me constantly amazed and baffled and shocked by turns. So much good information! I love learning about true crime and how criminals were caught and such, and methodology as well as psychology are fascinating to me. This book was right up my alley.
The great thing about it was that the author presented it in a way that I could easily understand it. A lot of texts like this one are way above my head to where I feel like I need to hold at least five or six PhDs to understand half of it. Not so with this book. The language was easily comprehended and written almost like a novel. It was very engaging and kept me riveted to the pages, though I had to pause many times to digest (pun intended) each new shocking thing that was revealed.
This is a great book for murder mystery writers to have on hand. I’m a writer of a different genre at the moment, but I will definitely be keeping this book in mind if I every dive into writing murder mysteries.
Content: nudity, expletives (few), mythology, alcohol, drugs, bars/pubs, brothels, marital affairs, prostitutes, abortions, unwed pregnancies, substance abuse, alchemy, teen use of drugs, teen use of alcohol, teen use of tobacco, Catholicism, premarital sex ...more
I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t take great notes when I read it during a busy season, so I don’t recall many details just now (more than a year aI really enjoyed this book. I didn’t take great notes when I read it during a busy season, so I don’t recall many details just now (more than a year after reading it). The one thing I remember is that there were a few lines that made Rachel’s character completely different than she was in book one.
I did jot down a couple of favorite lines: “It shouldn’t be that hard for an Englishman to overcome a dim-witted American. After all, we’ve been at the game far longer than they have.”
“… after questioning God and wondering why in the world He would allow bad things to happen to good people, I came to realize that it isn’t important that I have the answers—it’s only important that I trust Him.”
“I give you my trust, my hope, my faith, and my love. I know that you are able to take all of this madness and turn it into calm and peace. I will rest in you.”
The heartrending beginning hooked me in right away. It was shocking to see that a man would sell his daughter, but that does reflect certain real-lifeThe heartrending beginning hooked me in right away. It was shocking to see that a man would sell his daughter, but that does reflect certain real-life scenarios and it felt very realistic. My heart completely broke for Simone, that she had a father like that. Watching her break free and fight for the future God had designed for her was so beautiful. I love a good Harvey girl story, so this book was right up my alley. The sweet romance was exactly what I’d come to expect from Mrs. Peterson, as were the surprises along the way. Her plot twists are some of the best in the business, from what I’ve read.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
This is a really great WWII resource. I enjoyed every chaptFTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
This is a really great WWII resource. I enjoyed every chapter, because they taught me things I didn’t already know in a way that was easy to absorb the information. The author voice was great and easy to understand. Overall, this book was fascinating and absorbing.
Here are my personal summaries of each chapter’s heroes: Virginia Hall, amputee spy who defied the odds as well as the Nazis. William Sebold, a double-agent who took down several German spy rings. Marlene Dietrich, an actress with a knack for boosting morale. Juan Pujol, a writer and his make-believe spy ring fooled high-ranked Nazis. Carl Lutz, risked his life to save 72,000 Jews. The Ghost Army, diversion tactics made a huge difference. The Battle for Castle Itter, WWI veterans hold the fort.
The only two of these heroes I had heard about before were Virginia Hall (from the book A Woman of No Importance, which is a biography about her) and Marlene Dietrich (as an actress; I had not heard prior to reading this book that she participated in WWII). The majority of this book was news to me, and I found myself intrigued by each new chapter’s informative content.
This is the second book by this author that I have read (the other being Invisible Heroes of World War II), and I’m eager to read more. There was a note in this one that he’s also written about the Vietnam War, so I’m curious to see how he approached that one and how similar or different it might be to his presentation in the two WWII books of his that I’ve read.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
This story was pretty amazing. I enjoyed watching Susanna rFTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
This story was pretty amazing. I enjoyed watching Susanna respectfully defy her parents’ unfair demands. She appropriately showed how to respect one’s parents while not enabling their poor decisions. That balance was exquisitely written and provided a fantastic example to learn from.
I liked that there were a couple of different ethnicities working together in harmony. Mrs. Peterson has proven herself strong at writing this sort of thing in a very believable and realistic way that reflects real life and how people of different backgrounds may work together to build a strong community. I especially like how she always incorporates faith in God in the mix, because He’s the One Who is able to heal broken communities.
This story was a beautifully rich and emotional story of an imploding family, and it provided many themes to cherish along the way. From correcting wrong life paths and working to love one another to finding second love and encouraging family members to make better choices (and not enabling them despite their begging and mischief-making), these themes were strong and encouraging and challenging.
The cover is gorgeous and drew me in immediately, but the story itself was just as beautiful.
The disappointing bits were several uses of the “forsaken” that takes God’s name in vain and a few expletives. These were inappropriate and disheartening, so I had to dock a star.
What a wonderful, rich finale! I adored this entire trilogy, but this book might be my favorite.
Teddy and Miranda were adorable together. I wouldn’t hWhat a wonderful, rich finale! I adored this entire trilogy, but this book might be my favorite.
Teddy and Miranda were adorable together. I wouldn’t have thought to put their personalities together, but it worked beautifully. I loved that he was a botanist. That isn’t a career I often see featured in books I read, but I enjoyed it.
I really liked that Grace’s mom made an appearance. She was a great character in book one, so it was fantastic to see her come back to help wrap up the series.
A certain event involving Crispen made me weep. He had an arc that surprised me.
The plot was completely complex and tied up all the loose ends. This was a well-rounded, beautifully expressed story. I enjoyed seeing how each character’s journey fit perfectly into the overall tapestry of the series.
Content: alcohol, mentions of prostitutes and “kept women,” saloons, gambling halls...more
This was a great follow-up to Treasures of the North.
I was excited to see that Karen was going to have a turn at romance. I was so happy for her! I liThis was a great follow-up to Treasures of the North.
I was excited to see that Karen was going to have a turn at romance. I was so happy for her! I liked that she had to fight for it and wrestle with it. Her heart for the kids in her care was so precious. The journey she went on to make sure they were all right was spectacular and breathtaking.
Peter and Grace might have had the romance spotlight in the previous book, but they came back in this installment to show us that marriage is worth fighting for. It’s worth the battle to keep one’s marriage, and I love how the struggle and fight and passion were on display here. It gave me encouragement that working out differences is possible.
The emotions in this story were spectacular. Grief was palpable, heartache tangible, and hope exquisite. Even more important, the faith thread was strong. It was neat to see the characters’ faith overcome their faulty reasoning and irrational thinking patterns. Faith and God’s love are stronger than our human fallacies.
Content: prostitutes, alcohol, saloons/gambling halls, giving whiskey to a child as a medicine...more
This story was just as good a romp as Mrs. Witemeyer’s earlier works. But it was richer on the romance side of things, as there were two romances thatThis story was just as good a romp as Mrs. Witemeyer’s earlier works. But it was richer on the romance side of things, as there were two romances that held equal merit and sweetness. I love Hanger’s Horsemen. They’re my favorite sort of brotherhood: chivalrous and strong, loyal and family-oriented. I loved that one was a sniper, too. That career choice has long been a fascination for me, and this one was written well.
The author’s trademark humor came through beautifully. I especially loved how the thread featuring a fear of horses played a significant role in the plot while also bringing fun levity at precisely the right moments.
One of my favorite things was that Jonah took a little boy seriously when he shared a concern. This was so precious.
The child-snatching angle felt timely with current events in 2023.
I’m looking forward to reading the third book in this series.
This story was deep, wide, and rich for many different reasons. The plot was unpredictable and carried manyIt’s official. This book is a new favorite.
This story was deep, wide, and rich for many different reasons. The plot was unpredictable and carried many surprises. I loved how the characters’ backgrounds and jobs played into the plot in organic ways. The Italian heritage came into play in a few different ways. Many Italian-language words were sprinkled in throughout, and I especially enjoyed the Italian wedding traditions that were part of a certain ceremony. Italian feistiness was showcased in both the Panettas and the Calarcos. I thoroughly enjoyed the Panetta/Calarco feud that added so much extra richness to this story. The details in the feud were amazing. It reminded me of the Montague/Capulet rivalry in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
I won a copy of this book many years ago, and the author sent a bookmark as well. That bookmark was laminated and included a piece of black tatted lace on the back. What a neat touch! Now that I’ve read the book, I see why that lace was such a beautiful thing to add to the bookmark.
I adore this full trilogy and will reread it many times. It’s definitely a favorite.
Other than one scene of sensuality that was uncomfortable and awkward, I really enjoyed this story. It was charming and held prose that drew me in andOther than one scene of sensuality that was uncomfortable and awkward, I really enjoyed this story. It was charming and held prose that drew me in and kept me captive. This author truly knows how to sweep a reader into her storyworld.
This book was fantastic. It featured several different journeys to Antarctica, and it was written in a way that brought each of them to vivid picture This book was fantastic. It featured several different journeys to Antarctica, and it was written in a way that brought each of them to vivid picture in my mind. I felt the cold. I grieved at the losses the men faced along the way. It was a treacherous journey these brave men faced, and I’m glad the author has shared their stories. I enjoyed learning about them and hope others will too....more
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