The Book Bug Baby #sol18

Please note: If you are commenting on those posts actively participating in the Slice of Life Challenge only, stop reading right now. I know of this challenge through a sister-in-law, but did not take up this challenge myself.

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This adorable little guy is my nephew, Liam. As with any proud auntie, I will gush about his adorableness and his alertness and his intelligence. I will proclaim his perfection and revel in his smiles, giggles and coos. I love listening to him “talk.” He’s so expressive about it, as his entire body is often utilized in his “conversations,” from waving his arms to bending his knees up and blasting off as he makes a particular point. Unsurprisingly, I am smitten with him.

            Liam enjoys being read to, which is why I couldn’t help but share this photo. It was taken just over a month ago at four months old. Such command of the book he has! What an avid reader he is! Such a prolific life he’ll surely lead!

            Does it surprise you that I go through withdrawal when I haven’t seen him in over a week?

"A Chance at Forever" by Melissa Jagears

A Chance at Forever (Mar. 6, 2018) by Melissa Jagears.*

Living up to one’s name can be daunting, and Mercy McClain has felt the pressure of it, especially with the reappearance in Teaville, Kansas, of George “Aaron” Firebrook. Aaron was her biggest tormentor as a youth, daily harassing her about her right arm, which never fully formed. Mercy hasn’t seen him in over a decade, as she moved in fifth grade, and when she returned to Teaville, Aaron was no longer in the area. She finds fulfillment working at the local orphanage for Nicholas & Lydia Lowe, participates in meetings and group efforts with the Teaville Moral Society and serves on the school board. Though her heart may feel otherwise, her mind has long expected and accepted her spinster status.

            Aaron’s return throws many wrenches in. The biggest childhood bully she’s ever known is licensed and wants to, of all things, be a teacher. Unfathomable! But Aaron has been working to turn his life around one bullied classmate at a time, and Mercy is definitely on his list. When he lands a job working at the same orphanage as Mercy, he finds she’s also on his mind and perhaps even on his heart. But just because her name is Mercy doesn’t mean she will forgive easily. He’s got his work cut out for him and not just because of Mercy. Jimmy, a young teenager at the orphanage, is an angry, hurting, stubborn bully reminiscent of himself at that age, and he wants to redirect his path. Will he succeed? Can old wounds be healed and new, positive paths be forged? Or are these chances ones which will fail?

            The next story in the Teaville Moral Society series, I thought the pace moved steadily forward. Bullying isn’t new to the news, and I found it interesting that the author chose a lead character who was a bully in the past. He is trying to atone for his vast misdeeds of the past, and that is admirable. Meanwhile, Mercy struggles to forgive Aaron. She knows she should, but it’s too easy to hold onto the grudge. They both find it difficult to let go of the past, but you “shouldn’t let the voices of your past or present define who you are. Let God do that” (p. 94). This inspirational, historical fiction (set in 1909) novel is gripping. The only critique I have is that, with everything going on, I sometimes felt the story was too chaotic. Is that real life? Certainly. But there were too many things going on that weren’t central to the story of Mercy and Aaron. From a very difficult orphan to a fire at the lumber mill to the relationship issues between employees Sadie and Franklin to Caroline, there’s extra stuffing. The author wrote it well, but leaving a few items out would not have detracted from the story.

            Also from this series, which I’ve reviewed: A Love So True

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"A Refuge Assured" by Jocelyn Green

A Refuge Assured (Feb. 6, 2018) by Jocelyn Green.*

Lacemaking is an honest trade and an artisan of such a trade nowadays would be rare, but in the 1790s, being a lacemaker to the queen of France, Marie Antoinette, and other aristocrats is enough to send one to the guillotine. So lacemaker Vivienne “Vienne” Rivard flees Paris, “the Paris she loved – and the Paris she hated,” across an ocean to Pennsylvania. When it becomes necessary to leave Philadelphia out of concern for the safety of her young charge and herself, she goes to French Azilum (Asylum).

            Having met Vienne in Philadelphia on his mail runs between there and Asylum, schoolteacher-turned-militiaman William “Liam” Delaney is drawn to the Frenchwoman who is a different person than he initially assumed her to be. Liam served during the American Revolution, but he now feels caught up in the Whiskey Rebellion. How does he dutifully serve the democracy he fought for, but barely recognizes, when the oppressive whiskey tax impacts his own family? Did he trade one revolution for another? Add in the fact that he lives near French émigrés fleeing their own revolution, including a woman and boy he’s come to care for deeply, and what’s a man to do?

            My first novel from Green, I enjoyed the richness of the story with the details the author wove together – the details based on historical fact and those she used literary license with. She was able to weave fact with fiction seamlessly. This inspirational, historical fiction novel is smartly written, and the faith of the main characters supports them and does not overwhelm who they are. Vienne and Liam are relatable characters that I wish I could meet in present-day real-life. And I appreciate Vienne’s thought, which can pertain to anyone who is struggling to put the past behind them: “It was time to lay aside the shape of her old life.” We cannot move forward when we keep looking at the past. This story isn’t just about fighting for peace and safety; it’s about moving forward despite a traumatic past and forming new relationships (and not just of the romantic variety).

            Humor within the pages that I enjoyed: “He killed an ice cream! Such villainy!” -- Martine to Vienne when she shares her horror over a loathsome man purposely beheading a lobster-shaped ice cream to prove his point (p. 100).

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Like a Giant Tree in a Storm #sol18

Please note: I am not a teacher, nor am I actively participating in the Slice of Life Challenge by the Two Writing Teachers. But one of my sisters-in-law is, and when I came across the inspiration for this piece, I couldn’t help but write up my own little slice. If you are someone participating in the SOL Challenge and want to read slices from active participants only, please do not hesitate to leave this page now. But for anyone sticking around …

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I want to read fortune cookies that have a frivolous fortune, to say something amusing that I know won’t actually happen but am entertained for the briefest of moments.

• “You will move to a mountain chalet.”
• “You will soon find yourself with a great sum of money.”
• “Something pleasantly important will happen to you in the next three days.”

Instead, here is what I read: “Be calm, like a giant tree in a storm.” It was technically my mom’s fortune, but I read it so my mom would not have to put on one of her umpteen pairs of reading glasses (a representative mixture of actual prescription glasses and cheater readers). While not the fortune-made-of-dreams that we would’ve liked, we were still amused.

Because there was some enactment involved. I got up off the counter chair, stood as a sturdy tree trunk and put my arms akimbo like calm limbs. Now picture my mom. She did roughly the same, though her tree-limb arms were all over the place. But she claimed they were calm limbs that happened to be blowing wildly around as she, a giant tree in a storm, remained calm.

It was priceless, and I’m so glad no one else was there to video it.

So, while not a fortune, it is sage advice. The next time you feel like the angry storm or the wild, frustrated winds of an angry storm, be calm. Be calm like that giant tree in the angry storm.

I’d also like to add that those redwood trees have nothing on us!*

* This is a lie, and the writer of this post knows it. As does her mother.

The Positive Page-turner's Challenge: Take 4

I admit that I am a bit mortified with myself. It has been almost 10 months since my last Positive Page-turner’s Challenge! Look how close to a year that is! So my challenge to myself is straightforward and will cover the months of March and April. For half the number of books I read within those two months (chapter books on up), I will donate $10 per book to my home church. For the other half, I will donate a package of bar soap (eight-count or greater) for each of those remaining books. Therefore, if I read 24 books between the two months, I’ll donate $120 to my church and purchase 12 packages of bar soap.

            “Where will the bar soap go?” you might ask. If you’re unfamiliar with my previous challenges, I donate all bar soap to GoServ Global (out of Eagle Grove, Iowa) with the expectation that it will get sent to Haiti. Meanwhile, the monetary donation to my church will go to one of the specific funds. Perhaps the Haiti Project, but I won’t rule out donating it to Sunday School, Altar Guild or another fund altogether.

            Challenges of all sorts can be wondrous, whether you set them yourself (like this one) or take up a suggestion from others. The important thing is that you are challenging yourself to do something more, perhaps even something far larger than yourself. Whether it’s a challenge that pushes you alone or reaches others is up to you. And sometimes, those challenges are not the ones we choose, and if you’re going through any of those, I hope you persevere and rise above them. But this is not a post to focus on the truly tough, the nasty tough, the I-don’t-have-words tough. This is a challenge of positivity in reading. So, with that, happy reading, my friends!

"A Song Unheard" by Roseanna M. White

A Song Unheard (Jan. 2, 2018) by Roseanna M. White.*

Where would you go if you needed a top-notch thief to steal a key before it ended up in the wrong hands, and the person you suspect holds the key is a famous master violinist? If you’re Mr. V, you go to London and find Willa Forsythe – “one of London’s best pickpockets.” She is also a violin prodigy. She poses as a family friend of the wealthy Davies sisters of Aberystwyth, Wales, where they are patrons for the Belgian Symphony Orchestra, which is made up of Belgian refugees. World-renowned violinist Lukas De Wilde is one of these refugees. He is Willa’s target, but he’s also the target of others, who would do him harm and already have, if his healing shoulder is any indication. He wants nothing more than to continue the search for his mother and sister. But with Germany invaders in Belgium, it is too dangerous to travel freely there. His only distraction is the amazingly gifted Willa and his newfound faith. But what will happen when her secret crosses his path? No cipher key will help him then.

            As I would expect from White, she has created a captivating, historical fiction novel with another strong-willed and savvy woman. Willa also has street smarts. But whereas Lukas’ faith grew throughout the story, Willa struggled longer. Because she has been as broken as a destroyed violin for a long time. Incorporating that into the plot, along with points-of-view from Lukas and his sister, Margot, provided extra elements. Instead of one layer like a piece of music for violins only, there were multiple layers like music for an entire orchestra. And White orchestrated well. My attention was kept, and I expect an encore when we are next introduced to Barclay’s story!

            Quotable: “Can a man compose a symphony without paying attention to each individual note? Can he put together an orchestra without caring about each musician in it? It’s ridiculous to posit a Creator who stands back, unconcerned. If we grant a God, we have to grant a complete God.” -- Margot, in a reminiscence by Lukas when he tried to challenge her faith (p. 126).

            Shadows Over England: Book One: A Name Unknown

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Oath of Honor" by Lynette Eason

Oath of Honor (Jan. 2, 2018) by Lynette Eason.*

To say law enforcement is in her blood is an understatement, although Isabelle “Izzy” St. John didn’t always know she wanted to be a police officer. She works out of the fictional Midtown region of Columbia, South Carolina, and there are things going down. First, her best friend and partner is murdered. Forget time off: this incites Izzy to join the investigation, which means trying to track down leads in a major criminal organization. Shadowing her is her late partner’s brother, Ryan Marshall, a homicide detective. Tracking down the killer is only one piece of a sizable puzzle. Dirty cops are likely involved, and one of them could be a member of her own family. When Izzy is targeted, she doesn’t at first understand why. She only knows she must work harder to find answers. And it doesn’t help that someone from her past is out of prison. Can she solve the case while keeping those she loves safe? What about herself? And is there a place in her heart for Ryan when she’s spent years guarding her heart?

            “Oath of Honor” is the first in Eason’s Blue Justice series. It is an inspirational fiction, romantic suspense novel that is an absorbing thriller. Too often I seem to read stories in which one of the characters has to return to faith. In this one, both Izzy and Ryan have a good basis in faith, which was a refreshing change. Eason’s skill as an author is apparent throughout the story. It’s a story that is multi-faceted, but the complexity didn’t muddle another area of the story, nor detract or confuse. All of the characters are engaging and dynamic. The St. John family sounds like a family I’d like to know more, and I hope we’ll meet the five other St. John siblings in subsequent novels. “Oath of Honor” is a strong start to a new series, and I highly recommend it if you enjoy inspirational suspense novels.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Holding the Fort" by Regina Jennings

Holding the Fort (Dec. 5, 2017) by Regina Jennings.*

With her “uncommon talent,” Louisa Bell should audition for America’s Got Talent. As it were, Louisa is a fictional character, and her story takes place in 1885, so that’s not even close to possible. Still, Louisa does have amazing vocal ability, and the first time Major Daniel Adams hears her voice, he’s done something ridiculous and has a head wound. Louisa has traveled to Fort Reno because her brother, a cavalry soldier, has run afoul of his commanding officer (ahem, Major Adams) for hijinks performed. She’s just lost her job as a dance hall singer, so she is hoping for work at the base in Indian Territory.

            Imagine her surprise when she’s mistaken for a governess to Major Adams’ two daughters! Desperate for a position and with nowhere else to go, she works hard to keep up the façade. But Louisa is not whom Daniel was expecting. She is fair of face and younger than he; he was expecting an old widow, “a matron experienced in training young ladies.” Instead, he has a governess whom he finds too attractive. The chemistry is there, but how can Louisa express her true feelings for Daniel with her background and deceit?

            This charming, historical inspirational fiction novel is the first in Jennings’ Fort Reno series. While nothing overly surprised me as the story unfolded, I still found it to be multi-layered with likable protagonists in a dusty, character-driven setting. There’s a lack of cavalry when an uprising seems imminent, a mother-in-law who’s rather like a monster-in-law, secrets and deception. There’s also strong faith and faith absent. Louisa asks some questions, gets some answers and wants to embrace faith and gain a respectable future, but she carries so much shame. She doesn’t understand God’s love for her and feels she’s so undeserving of Him that He could therefore never accept her as His child. It is heartening to see her progress and, yes, struggle through the story to reach Him. “Holding the Fort” is smartly written and is an enjoyable tale that’s easy to enjoy if you’re a fan of the author and/or genre.

            Extra note: My favorite character is supporting character Lieutenant Jack Hennessey. He is quick-witted and funny and is Daniel’s right-hand man. If he’s the male lead in the next book, I want to read it!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Out of the Ordinary" by Jen Turano

Out of the Ordinary (Nov. 7, 2017) by Jen Turano.*

Working as a paid companion is nothing out of the ordinary in 1883, but Miss Gertrude Cadwalader’s employer tends to exhibit peculiar tendencies, often making Gertrude’s job unpredictable. She does all manner of things from wearing a birdcage on her behind (in the name of “fashion” … and large bustles) to returning pilfered items (not hers, but Mrs. Davenport’s, her employer and lady of the elite set). Upon returning pilfered items to wealthy shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair’s yacht, she is caught by Harrison’s mother, the indomitable Mrs. Sinclair, who immediately thinks the worst of Gertrude.

            Harrison cannot stand for his mother to think ill of Gertrude. Not only does he consider Gertrude to be a good friend, she also has a “delightful figure,” which is alarming only in that he doesn’t tend to notice such things about women. But with other thefts, including at the Manhattan Beach Hotel (considered a swanky place amongst the elite set), things aren’t looking so positive for Gertrude or Mrs. Davenport. Before Harrison can properly court Gertrude, there’s a mystery to be solved. Is he ready for the adventures?

            Like Turano’s other stories, I found “Out of the Ordinary” to be a delightful, fizzy, light-hearted tale. Gertrude is an independent woman who does questionable things (like return pilfered items) out of a dependence on her only source of income. Harrison is confident in his shipping work, but is something of a bumble despite all of his sisters’ romance novels that he secretly reads. Both of them are imperfect, yet are just right for this story. It is bright with humor and liveliness, but there are moments, too, where you shake your head with empathy. Gertrude may think herself ordinary, but she shouldn’t, and neither should we. After all, “God doesn’t expect His children to live ordinary lives, but extraordinary ones” (p. 123).

            Apart from the Crowd: Book One: Behind the Scenes

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Dangerous Illusions" by Irene Hannon

Dangerous Illusions (Oct. 3, 2017) by Irene Hannon.*

You know the saying about kicking you when you’re down? That is probably how Trish Bailey feels right now. She’s stressed with the demands of her teaching job, her ailing mother and tragedy from her not-too-distant past. And, as her mother’s accountant, Matthew Parker, has pointed out, Trish has been having memory lapses. Could it be that one of those lapses led to a tragic death? Trish is certainly wondering and doubting herself, not to mention the scrutiny she’s now receiving from the police.

            Because he’s on a night shift rotation, Detective Colin Flynn gets called onto the case. He’s immediately drawn to Trish, but he mustn’t let personal feelings interfere with workplace professionalism. As new details emerge and answers come for some things, he realizes that there is more than just an accidental death – like, it likely wasn’t accidental. What is at work isn’t just dangerous, it could be deadly, and Trish could be in the line of fire, even as an innocent.

            “Dangerous Illusions” is an inspirational, romantic suspense fiction novel. It is the first in Hannon’s Code of Honor series. In the only other book I’d read from this author, I found myself wanting more from the story, but that was not the case with this story. There was intrigue and a smart twist revolving around the antagonist. The female protagonist, while not immune to vulnerability, showed grit and strength against all that was stacked against her. Her life has been fractured multiple times over, but she perseveres and endures. And while Colin wants to be her constant rescuer, he also acknowledges her strength. They both need strength to stay afloat in the murky, turbulent waters that are beneath the placid surface of the seemingly straightforward plotline. This was a good start to a new series.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”