What a wonderful biography of Miss Potter! I learned much and thoroughly enjoyed my time in this book. I’m so grateful my parents got this one for me What a wonderful biography of Miss Potter! I learned much and thoroughly enjoyed my time in this book. I’m so grateful my parents got this one for me for Christmas a year or so ago.
One line particularly stood out to me (though there were many, many great ones):
“Beatrix never lost her critical independence, liking some of his paintings while rejecting others.”
This, to me, is the same as liking some of an author’s books while disliking others for whatever reason. It’s the viewer’s or reader’s prerogative to enjoy or not the paintings and books and films they take in for entertainment purposes. I have found many books and movies and pieces of art to enjoy, and I’ve bumped into plenty that weren’t a good match for my personal taste. My friends have had similar experiences. In this way, we are all very similar to Miss Potter. What a delightful thought! ...more
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from Revell Reads. These are my honest thoughts.
Despite a single expletive, thFTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from Revell Reads. These are my honest thoughts.
Despite a single expletive, this book has soared onto my favorites list this year. This debut was fresh and different and deep. When I first saw the cover, I was blown away, but I wasn’t certain what to expect beneath it. Let me tell you, it wasn’t anything like I would have guessed.
The story began with a homeless man, and this was something I had never seen done before. This approach tugged my heart in right away. This was a time-split novel, and sometimes the new scenes took me away from what I wanted to keep reading about, but overall, this was very well done (even in those tense moments).
The theme of seeing the unseen people in our lives (those society deems less than worthy of our attention) was superbly on display. This is one reason this book is now a favorite. It takes the “look after orphans and widows” (James 1:27) and “will assemble the outcasts” (Isaiah 11:12) themes and creates a haven for those who are looked down upon by the vast majority of society.
This story is powerful and needed today. I think it’s a must-read for anyone who wants to grow in compassion and who wants to know how to see with new eyes what you’ve missed so many times before.
I loved the tension throughout. It was crafted by the constant unpredictability of the ups and downs of the story and the plot twists and surprises along the way. This helped create a wonderful, thick atmosphere for the story. Harvey’s and Ivy’s lives and problems, fears and hopes and goals fit well into this rich atmosphere.
My emotions were engaged well from page one, and I ended up weeping on a couple of occasions (which made my heart happy even as the words on the page ripped it apart).
Some of my favorite lines were:
“I have faith God is somehow going to heal what feels impossible.”
“There’s a better life for you out there than the one you’re living. All you have to do is take hold of it.”
“We all need a place to rest and be reassured.”
Triggers: losing a child/infertility, rape/sex trafficking, suicide (mentioned and inferred)
Amanda Cox may be new on the Christian fiction scene, but I think she’s whittling out a place to settle in for a while. I can hardly wait to discover her next story.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.
This story was the fun, lighthearted read I FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.
This story was the fun, lighthearted read I needed this week. It was a quick read that was laced with humor and quirky events. I liked that the leads were a stage actress and a construction worker. These roles paired off well and played against each other beautifully.
I was disappointed that there was zero faith thread. The characters solved all their problems themselves and didn’t turn toward God at all. I found this odd in a Christian fiction book. Still, it was an enjoyable story, even if it didn’t go as deep as I would have liked because this thread was absent.
Another disappointment was that one character used bad language in the only scene he appeared in. The thing about this was that the bad words were bleeped out (“bleepity bleep,” for example). While I appreciated that the author did not use the vulgar words themselves, the usage of bleeps made it feel like the character was being censored. Thankfully, this only happened in chapter two, so it was easy to move forward from this moment and enjoy the rest of the book.
While the war itself felt quite immature at times—and was admittedly an “adolescent war,” as the leading lady said once—it was creative and fun to read about and definitely entertained me for hours. The farm animals were an especially funny surprise. The banter between Bree and Chip was phenomenal. This was, perhaps, my favorite aspect of this story. The author definitely has a knack for creating witty characters who interact in believable ways. This was what kept me interested in this story and cruising through the chapters.
My favorite moments, though, were the ones that pinched my heart. The road trip late in the story. The creepy-children-wallpaper experiment. The duct tape dress straps. These and other heartfelt moments made me sigh and smile, and they were what truly endeared this book to my heart.
The neighbor’s dog was fun, and his interactions with Bree were some definite highlights for me.
I was a little surprised the bumper sticker never came up in the dialogue between Bree and Chip. I thought for sure it would be a bone of contention between them, but it faded as fast as it popped up.
Featuring Singin’ in the Rain was an added bonus. This is one of my favorite musicals, and I was glad to see that it was highlighted in this book. The written-out tap dance moves were fairly easy to imagine in my mind as I read.
Content: bleeped-out bad words, tobacco, alcohol, three or four sexual terms/comments
Recommended for 18+ because of the sexual terms/comments ...more
Now this is suspense! From the very first page, the action and stakes were high—and they kept rising! The characters were three-dimensional and intereNow this is suspense! From the very first page, the action and stakes were high—and they kept rising! The characters were three-dimensional and interesting, and the backstories were inserted in small chunks along the way to help fill in the blanks of the past as we cruised through the present.
The mystery surrounding a murder off the coast of an island during a nor’easter was wonderful. I enjoyed how the weather played a large role in this novella. That was a brilliant touch by the author, and delivered well. The way clues were dropped here and there along the way was great, but I still didn’t figure out who was behind it before the big reveal. Well done, Mrs. Pettrey!
Content: one sexual term, a couple of derogatory terms, mention of a one-night stand (with a drug involved)...more
This story was entertaining and held a thread of humor that made me chuckle more than once. There were hints of suspense that made it feel like the auThis story was entertaining and held a thread of humor that made me chuckle more than once. There were hints of suspense that made it feel like the author’s suspense stories were leaking into her contemporary romances. I wasn’t completely opposed to that merging, but it did come as a surprise. It actually added something special and worked well for this particular storyline.
One of my favorite lines was found in chapter three: “It’s amazing how one caring touch can make a person feel less alone.” This line reminded me that hugs , high-fives, and heartfelt smiles are incredibly healing, for the mind if not also for the body. This line reminded me that mental health matters and makes a difference in physical health too.
Content: one expletive, one profanity, one sexual term, sensuality (many kisses, emphasis on longing for “much more”), alcohol (including “beer can chicken”)...more
Every time I’ve read a Tracie Peterson novel, I’ve been impressed with the complexity of the story. This book is another prime example of that. Once aEvery time I’ve read a Tracie Peterson novel, I’ve been impressed with the complexity of the story. This book is another prime example of that. Once again, she’s featured a trio of sisters (this was also done in the Heart of the Frontier trilogy I recently read), and I think she handles this masterfully.
This book, of course, has a co-author, Mrs. Kimberley Woodhouse, and I’ve enjoyed another of her books with Mrs. Peterson, In the Shadow of Denali. I was delighted to see that this one was just as enjoyable.
The dairy farm was a fun and beautiful setting. Variety of animals was beautiful. It included cows, chickens, sled dogs, and even sheep. I’m hoping the sled dogs will come into play even more in book two, as they were sort of back-burner in this one. What was especially neat about this setting and the animals was that it was a family-run farm. Seeing the sisters, mother, grandfather, and hired hands work together was so enjoyable, and the details included really made this farm pop to life in a way that it felt like it could easily be located just up the road from me (if I lived out in the country, which I don’t currently).
Who doesn’t love a foreign-born lead in Christian fiction? That John Roselli was born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States prior to the start of this story simply delighted me. As his family history was layered in, I found myself more and more invested in his portion of the story. The depth gained by the rich background was well worth the wait for every nugget that was uncovered.
Just as with all the other Tracie Peterson books I’ve read in the past, this one proved that she does an exquisite job throwing in all sorts of twists and turns that are unexpected. I will say, though, that I predicted one major plot twist from the prologue; other than that one, I didn’t see many of the other surprises coming.
The theme of learning contentment is one that was very timely for me, as this is something I’m actively practicing right now. I love it when God nudges me to read the exact book that confirms that I’m on the right track in my personal life.
Content: gambling, alcohol and drunkenness, tobacco (including as a prescribed medicine), saloons and their ladies, marital affairs (mentioned)...more
For those who aren’t huge fans of Amish fiction, this is a good book to try, because the Amish angle is very back-burner. ThThis book melted my heart.
For those who aren’t huge fans of Amish fiction, this is a good book to try, because the Amish angle is very back-burner. The nanny is Amish, so there is a bit of talk about Old Order Amish ways, but the Amish religion is not the focus of this story.
The father/daughter vibes were amazing. Jack and Nattie were amazing together, and I liked that there were good parenting skills on display. Each character had their own personality, and they played well off of each other. I liked that there were also moments, like in real life, when their personalities clashed. That created natural-feeling conversations, actions, and misunderstandings.
Dating was featured in a fun, entertaining way.
I especially loved the core story. The hunt for a kidnapped baby (who would now be around nine years old) was amazing and heart-wrenching, and it was easy to relate to Kelly’s heartache and the lengths to which she was willing to go to find her child. It was also great to see the papa bear come out in Jack, because he loved his little girl fiercely.
Wish I could say more, because this story was completely amazing and melted me, but I don’t want to spoil anything for you. Just do me a favor and read it. I think you’re going to love it.
Content: alcoholism as a backstory (handled beautifully), drugs (mentioned a couple of times), mention of suicide ...more
This story was hard for me to connect with, because there was very little action and the tone throughout was extBetrayed By Dee Henderson Rating: 1 star
This story was hard for me to connect with, because there was very little action and the tone throughout was extremely passive. The entire plot felt too stiff, too controlled, which left no room for the characters to have natural reactions to any of the plot points.
Where was the suspense in this suspense book??? The crime was already done and over. Getting a character pardoned from prison was much too easy with everything falling perfectly into place with no bumps along the way. The governor even granted the pardon without hearing any proof or looking at any new evidence, instead relying solely on a man’s word of honor based on his gut instinct and conspiracy theories and one piece of evidence that even he admitted would make the prisoner look guilty rather than innocent. That felt flimsy at best. Were I that governor asked to pardon a convicted murderer, I would want to see ALL the evidence and see if the train of thought through the evidence made sense before signing any paperwork that would pardon someone convicted of murder.
The entire plot felt contrived, orchestrated, toward a specific end. There was no wiggle room for the characters to come alive and make their own choices, so they ended up feeling very flat and one-dimensional. Where was the development? Where was the growth? I wanted to get to know Ann and Paul and Gregory and Janelle along the journey, to feel like they became friends, but that didn’t happen at any point in the story. It always felt like they were two counties away from me, that I was viewing them through a spyglass or something rather than walking right beside them. There was a bit of hot emotion in Janelle, but even that felt contrived as no one else showed any emotion whatsoever, even when she blew up a time or two. Contrived melodrama is not my cup of tea.
My favorite parts of this story were the lake-effect snow, the dog, and the fact that an innocent person was set free from prison.
This really was more of an emotion-recovery book, and I’m not sure what genre that fits into, but it definitely did not feel suspenseful at all.
I miss Mrs. Henderson’s old style of writing, found in the O’Malley Chronicles, which is still one of my favorite book series.
Deadly Isle By Dani Pettrey Rating: 4 stars
Now this is suspense! From the very first page, the action and stakes were high—and they kept rising! The characters were three-dimensional and interesting, and the backstories were inserted in small chunks along the way to help fill in the blanks of the past as we cruised through the present.
The mystery surrounding a murder off the coast of an island during a nor’easter was wonderful. I enjoyed how the weather played a large role in this novella. That was a brilliant touch by the author, and delivered well. The way clues were dropped here and there along the way was great, but I still didn’t figure out who was behind it before the big reveal. Well done, Mrs. Pettrey!
Content: one sexual term, a couple of derogatory terms, mention of a one-night stand (with a drug involved)
Code of Ethics By Lynette Eason Rating: 5 stars
1/3/19 The first book I read in 2019 landed squarely on my favorites list! I'm so happy about that I could just jump for joy. I needed to start this reading year off right, and this book definitely fit the bill.
Ruthie and Isaac were amazing and relatable. Their adventure was great and intriguing, keeping me riveted and flipping pages. While this story is short, it is tall on action and deep in heart. It's a special little tale that should be on everyone's reading list this year (but catch up on the previous books in the series first!).
I can't wait to read the next story, Code of Valor. My copy is sitting on my desk, just waiting for me. Where is yours?
7/9/20 Again, I adored the suspense vibes of this story. The characters were so amazing and felt realistic and as if they could burst into my living room at any second. Such a vivid and entertaining story deserved a second read. I’m pretty sure it’s earned several future readings too. ...more
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley. I ended up listening to the audio version. These are my honest thoughtsFTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley. I ended up listening to the audio version. These are my honest thoughts.
This story had some high points that I rather enjoyed. The fact that an ex-convict was featured was a surprise. The guy had served his time and repented of his crime, and it was interesting to see the struggles he faced when he tried to make a way for himself in the world again, legally this time. Lexi’s little boy was cute! The interaction between the dog and him was fun to read. It was good to read of a decent, wholesome police officer. I need more stories about good law enforcement officers, please!
The negative outweighed the positive for me with this story. That saddened me, because I had really enjoyed the previous book in the series (Sea Rose Lane).
The sensuality in this book was quite heavy and gave me the willies. What irritated me the most about this aspect of the story was when a woman said to her four-year-old son, “… after you recover from your sugar orgy.” Say what? Why are we using that vulgar sexual term, especially when speaking to a preschool-aged child? Though he wasn’t curious at all about what the term meant (which I found completely unrealistic, because four-year-olds are forever curious and asking what things mean), using a term like that with such a young child would naturally invite way too many grown-up questions that would ruin the kid’s innocence before he had a chance to experience the highs and lows of childhood.
There were also a handful of expletives throughout.
Content: sensuality (heavy; includes two sexual terms), expletives, one odd “miraculous” animal moment (the birds again; see my review of Sea Rose Lane for details on that)...more
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, but I ended up listening to an audio version. These are my honest thoughtFTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, but I ended up listening to an audio version. These are my honest thoughts.
This story was adorable. The small-town vibes were amazing. Hope Harbor is definitely a town I would cherish getting to live in, given the chance. (Too bad it’s only fictional!) I loved the renovation work and the distinctive characters. Featuring a Cuban immigrant was a nice touch! That isn’t something I see a lot. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve read anything before that spotlighted this. And I especially loved that he went about it the right way, the legal way, and got his green card. Yes, please!
I thought the depression issue was handled with tact and grace. It wasn’t over-the-top at all, and it felt raw and genuine while not getting bogged down in the depths of the darkness that depression is. There was a fine balancing act on the author’s part, and she handled this like a master.
The community service work was amazing! I’m not sure I would want to participate in a project like this particular one, because it’s not safe for a single lady to be moving in with a stranger, elderly or otherwise, but I like how it was portrayed here. It seemed to be highlighting the best of cases, and I like that. I think shining the spotlight on happy news is exactly what is needed right now.
There were a couple of odd “miraculous” animal moments. A pair of birds seemed to know more than they ought and worked mysteriously to keep a person where they needed to be for a few more minutes. This creeped me out and did not seem realistic at all. There’s no way those birds knew that someone was heading that way at that precise moment or that this particular person they were hemming in was the person that other somebody was needing to talk to. Too contrived! There was one or two other moments like that, and they drove me batty, because they were obviously contrived for the sake of having a “miraculous” thread to the book that, honestly, wasn’t even needed. This book would have been five stars instead of four for me if those odd moments weren’t included.
Trigger warning: suicide attempt, depression
Content: one expletive; idolizing a man: “I’m no Charlie. Don’t expect miracles.” ...more
This book was tough, no doubt about it. It tackled the tough topic of rape, but the author handled it like the pro she is. I especially enjoyed seeingThis book was tough, no doubt about it. It tackled the tough topic of rape, but the author handled it like the pro she is. I especially enjoyed seeing Rowena discover just how sweet a romance could be for a gal who’d been sexually abused. The careful, gentle sweetness of Brice was exactly what Rowena needed, and their romance gave me hope that others found in similar circumstances as Rowena would be able to find healing and hope in the Lord for their future and not completely give up on romance because of their abuser’s cruelty. There is still hope, folks, and this book shows that off beautifully.
The themes of brokenness, hope, trust, and love were woven together without seams into an exquisite tapestry. I recommend this book for older teens and up.
Content: mention of suicide, mention of rape/rape as a theme (not shown on the pages), alcohol ...more
There were several things I adored about the final book in the Ladies of the Manor series. The humor between Cayton and his valet caught my attention There were several things I adored about the final book in the Ladies of the Manor series. The humor between Cayton and his valet caught my attention and made me laugh aloud. I enjoyed Kira Belova and the dash of Russian culture that came along with her. The pregnancy and babies were wonderful! It was interesting to see the illness that came up, because it isn’t one I see featured a lot in fiction. It was handled well and was not so detailed as to make me woozy or anything. I liked that the leading lady had a tendency to wander off and get a bit lost. This was a fun aspect of the story. I loved that the Fire Eyes diamonds were woven throughout the entire trilogy. That was a really neat thing, and it’s got my own writer’s mind spinning with ideas.
I feel like I didn’t comprehend as many details as I wanted to, due to the physical pain I was in while reading. Perhaps a second read at some point will improve my rating from three stars.
Favorite quotes:
“Life is more interesting with a bit of fancy thrown in—don’t you think?”
“Death was an inescapable part of life.”
“Everyone needs bread for a journey.”
Content: one profane word, mentions of Pegasus (Greek mythology) and Hindu tiger gods ...more
What a charmer! There were so many things to adore about this book. The upstairs/downstairs vibes were amazing. The Anastasia-style plot was incrediblWhat a charmer! There were so many things to adore about this book. The upstairs/downstairs vibes were amazing. The Anastasia-style plot was incredible and executed exquisitely. The “fire eyes” thread was entertaining. There was mystery, romance, Edwardian-era England, and so much more! I liked the themes of finding one’s place and loving through hard times.
Content: one profane word, alcohol, mention of gambling, mention of rape ...more
The adventurous opening snagged my attention right away. Stealing a preacher? It’s right in the title, but it still managed to surprise me with how itThe adventurous opening snagged my attention right away. Stealing a preacher? It’s right in the title, but it still managed to surprise me with how it was written. It was definitely a twist on the sort of incident that was used. Very smart!
Sweet and fun romances are such joys to read, and this one definitely delivered. There was humor throughout, which was delightful, and the characters were all relatable. The twists kept coming, but I shouldn’t be surprised, as the author has always been great at that.
A heartbreaking hunting incident scene had me weeping in pain, but an exquisite salvation scene switched me to tears of joy. I’m so happy that my emotions got tangled up in this book!
Content: referring to God as “big man upstairs” once ...more
What a fun story! I enjoyed the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers feel of this one. It was entertaining from start to finish, and I loved the spunkinessWhat a fun story! I enjoyed the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers feel of this one. It was entertaining from start to finish, and I loved the spunkiness of not only Meredith but also the four Archer brothers. As usual, this Witemeyer book kept me riveted, laughing, and cruising through the pages. I can hardly wait to start the next book in this series.
This, my second reading of this book, was just as enjoyable as the first, many years ago. The human trafficking angle is perhaps even more perfectly tThis, my second reading of this book, was just as enjoyable as the first, many years ago. The human trafficking angle is perhaps even more perfectly timed now as then, since there is, in 2020, more awareness of this billion-dollar atrocity. I pray for the victims of this heinous organized crime to be released or rescued and find healing in Jesus Christ.
The relationship between single parent Connor and his rebellious teenaged daughter was spot-on and genuine. I liked seeing the progression, both good and bad, and it was easy to relate to, even if I didn’t go through anything like it in my own teen years.
There was, on each page and in every chapter, such a deep heart for healing broken people through the salvation of Jesus Christ. This struck a chord with me, and it is my hope that other readers will find peace and will be inspired to search out the truth of salvation because of this book’s Christian messages.
It was really fun having a computer specialist as a lead. This made for some interesting analogies as well as highlighting electronic clues along the journey of solving the cases. Such details created a prime example of how to expertly use the lead’s career to immerse the readers into her POV.
Another thing I enjoyed was a certain character’s unwillingness to compromise her standards in order to get married. It was important to this character to marry a fellow Christian, to be equally yoked, so to speak. The fact that this was included in a seamless way that felt organic to the character added a richness to the faith thread that I don’t think would have been included without this stand for the character’s beliefs....more
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