Christian Fiction

Category: Christian Fiction

Coal Black Lies

By Cindy K Sproles

MY REVIEW

This won’t be a book that I soon forget. It has many twists and turns, so many characters that learn and grow, and a faith theme that is strong and true.

Nobody is perfect. Even if you don’t lie to everyone else. How many lies do we tell ourself and then convince ourself that they are true? Lies cause so many problems in this world, and we are surrounded by them.

This book is full of forgiveness and redemption while showing love, truth, and innocence through a mentally handicapped child who is so incredibly sweet and loving. The main characters learn that they truly can trust and lean on “the everlasting arms.”

This was a five star read for me for so many reasons. Readers who love inspirational fiction will definitely want to get their hands on this novel.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Hidden in the Night

By Elizabeth Goddard

MY REVIEW

This is another fantastic read by this author. Wonderful characters, terrific story, good faith theme, and a suspense thread that keeps the reader turning the pages.

I think my favorite thing about this novel was the setting, and all that is explained about Alaska. There is much in here about the difficulties faced due to the unique terrain, weather, and other challenges in Alaska. My daddy was in Alaska for awhile so the state itself has always fascinated me, even though I have never been there.

The characters are well done, both the main characters and the secondary. They are used well in the good faith thread. It isn’t always easy for suspense reads to have a strong faith thread as the pace of the book is so fast. It was well done in this read.

Using a lost manuscript is an interesting detail in the book, and the twists, turns, and surprises are well done. I have enjoyed all three books in this series. I definitely recommend this one.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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What I Promise You

By Liz Tolsma

MY REVIEW

Incredibly well done dual timeline story. I enjoyed ALL of this book. The characters are wonderful, the history fascinating, and the storyline so well crafted and beautifully written.
I usually have one story that I like more than the other, but I really loved both of the stories in this book.
I have read quite a few books by this author, and this is my favorite of hers so far. I was really captivated by the story and the history in this novel. It was all incredibly well done. I read this book in about 24 hours, and I highly recommend it.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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The Lady with the Dark Hair

by Erin Bartels

MY REVIEW

I really liked the writing style of this book. I can’t fly so this book brought to life places overseas I’ll never see. The storyline was intriguing as well.

I had a bit of a difficult time gettIng into the story, but once I did I was caught up by the mystery of the unknown. Both the historical and contemporary stories were interesting. That’s rare as I usually enjoy the historical far more than contemporary. This author made both of them interesting. I enjoyed the stories far more than the characters. I know nothing of painting or painting vernacular so maybe that was why. I didn’t connect with either one, but the storyline themselves were definitely enough to keep me reading.

I’m not a fan of books that don’t really have an ending. That fact and the lack of a faith theme were disappointing. I know many readers like to be left hanging to finish the ending themselves. I must admit to double checking to make sure I didn’t skip a page or something. So I liked it well enough to really want closure for the characters, which says something. I also really was hoping for some sort of faith thread that never came to be.

The author writes incredibly well so I definitely see why so many are hooked on this author. I just really like closure, and I expect a faith theme in books published by Revell.
I was trying to find an author to compare…found that hard. Perhaps Katherine Reay type writing. I’m not sure, but the storyline and writing style are very well done.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple

by Joanna Davidson Politano

MY REVIEW

“For years I’d been running and restless. Running away, yes. But also running toward something that seemed elusive and impossible. That garden experience. The safety, the devotion and intimacy…the sheer beauty.”

Wow…I think that sums up my immediate thoughts when I finished. Terrific story. This author does such a fantastic job of using her words and stories as a shadow and allegory of spiritual truths. This book was no different, yet the faith theme is even stronger in this one. I am a big lover of A Tale of Two Cities, and I loved how that was woven into the story. The ending was a surprise for me.

There is something about this author’s storytelling that pulls me in and keeps me in the book. I read this book in one sitting…with dinner in between. I usually cherish hers over two days, but I wanted so much to just relax and enjoy-so I did. It has mystery, a strong faith theme, terrific characters , and a beauty in its story. You don’t want to miss any of this author’s books. This one especially holds so much beauty and heart. It’s beautiful lyrical prose that introduces Lily to the Master Gardener and the Master Storyteller. A person every reader should meet as well.

“They could walk over life’s burning coals and come out with strength and confidence on their faces. Because they had spent time in the garden, drinking in life from their source. They had met the Gardener.”

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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These Tangled Threads

by Sarah Loudin Thomas

MY REVIEW

Beautifully written book with wonderful, realistically flawed characters. These flawed characters are filled with experiences and circumstances used by the Master Weaver to create a more beautiful person. This doesn’t result in perfection, but in a beautiful masterpiece. We need to make better choices as our life’s story is woven. It will have flaws, but that makes each of us unique and helps us learn.

The book also has wonderful threads of forgiveness, hope, redemption, and love. The storyline is fascinating, and the book was really captivating. It is a beautifully done Appalachian story with the setting of Biltmore in the Carolinas.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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While the City Sleeps

by Elizabeth Camden

MY REVIEW

I really enjoyed the mystery in this novel as well as the faith threads of hope, love, and forgiveness.

I really liked the hero in the book. He had a fascinating story, and he was simply a wonderful character. He wasn’t perfect, but he had such a big forgiving heart. His past was quite an intriguing story as well.

In all honesty, I wasn’t a fan of the heroine through much of the story. She does grow in character, though, and as she learns , I learned to like her more. I like that element in a story. People do grow and change through each day and through life.

I’ve only been to New York City for a brief time for medical reasons. It was fun to visit in the book and hear of some of the “life” of NYC. It is definitely a city that doesn’t sleep. I was stunned at the number of people that were shopping at one in the morning as if it was so normal. The book did a great job of bringing life to the setting.

The book had a wonderful mystery, terrifically done characters, an intriguing storyline and setting, and a good faith thread.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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The Irish Matchmaker

by Jennifer Deibel

MY REVIEW

This is a sweet story. This story was far more character driven for me. I love kids in books so I enjoyed Sara. It was a sweet romance read that was predictable but enjoyable gettIng to the end. The main characters were well done, but Sara and her dad were definitely my favorite of them all.

The setting was interesting. I find it fascinating that they use to have a matchmaking festival where so many met their mate. The historical notes at the end of the book were interesting as well.

I also enjoyed the faith theme of this book, and the focus on trying to learn to rely on God for provision was tremendously well done. That isn’t always easy, and it was a well placed message in the story. It was intricate to the storyline, and the Bible verses and how Sara presented them to her Dad was adorable. Oh to have the faith of a child!

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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All My Secrets

by Lynn Austin

MY REVIEW

Such a wonderfully written novel covering the stories of three women from different generations in the same family. It covers their joys as well as their sorrows. It shows that God ultimately writes our stories and can turn our great sins and sorrows into joy.

This is a Christian fiction book that actually has much about Christ and living purposeful lives unto him and leaving a meaningful legacy behind for the generations to come. It is a wonderful heartfelt, heart tugging, heart wrenching story that I will not soon forget.

The main characters are so well done. No matter what stage of life you are experiencing, this book addresses many different situations in which we find ourselves as we travel through our lives. Two of them are sharing what they have learned with the youngest. This is a fantastically written novel that readers do not want to miss.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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The Seamstress of Acadie

by Laura Frantz

MY REVIEW

A beautifully written novel that tells the heartbreaking story of the Acadians. In the many, many books I have read, only one other series that I can remember talks of their sad story. It is a very sad historical event; but the storyline, though sad, remains hopeful.

A beautiful love story that is done slowly and incredibly well, a fascinating time in history, a novel written with such impressive beautiful prose, and a unique setting all combine for a wonderful book to enjoy and savor.

Psalm 23 is brilliantly woven into the story finishing the novel off with a lovely and fitting faith theme. This is a must read for historical fiction fans, and a novel that I will not soon forget.
I received this book from the author. A review was not required.

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