Category: Book Review

Of Gold and Shadows

By Michelle Griep

MY REVIEW

This is a fabulous mystery suspense read! I always enjoy books by this author. This one did not disappoint. The character development is wonderful with both main characters growing throughout the story. Ami is a fascinating character who is definitely courageous and so passionate about Egyptian artifacts. Edmund is an introvert really, who has a wonderful heart.

The novel caught me from the beginning. The mystery and intrigue is incredibly well written, and it kept me turning the pages well into the night. There are several things going on throughout the book and a twist or two at the end. One came as quite a surprise to this reader.

I really enjoyed the faith theme in this story. It is very well woven throughout the story…and winding up with “Serving God is the legacy…” was a wonderful faith approach to this story.

This book has wonderful mystery, thrilling suspense, and incredibly well done characters. No historical fiction fan will want to miss this story.

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

Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor

By Roseanna M. White

MY REVIEW

Beautifully written novella that I thoroughly enjoyed! I do not enjoy short stories very often, but this one was charming and delightful.

I really enjoyed the wonderful characters and the cast that made up the community. The story really brings Christmas alive with all the scenes, smell of baked goods, tastes of sweet treats, and the sweet gift of family.

The children and their play was such a whimsical part of the novel and beautifully done. If you want to be blessed with a Christmas story that will bring out the magic and beauty of Christmas, this will do it.

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

A Token of Love

By Carrie Turansky

MY REVIEW

I think this is this author’s best book that I have read. I’ve only missed a few of the early ones. It was so well written, and the characters really leap off the page. They are so well developed and fleshed out that they seem real. 

I love split time stories, but there is usually ones far prefer above the other. That wasn’t true with this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the present day as well as the historical story.
This story is very much plot driven. I don’t know why, but it did take me a bit to get into the story. I’m blaming it on my mood since it was such a well done read that’s eventually stayed up into the night to read. Both stories had such good plots to them and those plots keep the reader turning the pages .
The research is interesting, and this author is always good at that. This story just seemed to be a bit different than her others, and it is really has a lot of emotion and faith based theme throughout .

I love the children in the story. It’s such a sweet part of the novel. It closes with a beautiful epilogue. This is a book that historical fiction fans won’t want to miss!

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

Meeting Her Match

By Jen Turano

MY REVIEW

One of this author’s best yet! This book was so much fun and full of laughter. A pig is back!! Matilda was the first…Esmeralda is just as fun. The characters are fantastic. The dialogue is what really makes the book what it is and moves it along at a great pace for the reader. It’s brilliantly funny and full of very clever chatter and amusing circumstances!

I tend to think this may be this author’s best book yet, but I have enjoyed every one of her novels. If you need a book to take you away to a place where zany things happen, witty and funny dialogue rule the day, and where a story envelops you with humor-go grab this book ( or any of her books, really). I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

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

Until Our Time Comes

By Nicole M. Miller

MY REVIEW

I thoroughly enjoyed the interesting historical tidbits that I learned in this book. It’s intertwined with fiction as is usually the case in books like these. I enjoyed the characters in this book-especially Brett and Ewin.

It was a fascinating story, and I didn’t have any problems keeping myself engaged and turning the pages. The idea of transporting so many horses for their bloodlines isn’t something I’d actually given much thought. It seemed a bit reckless at times, but it wasn’t just for the horses it was for the memory of a beloved mother. Perhaps that is what made me perceive it as plausible.

The romance was interesting. It grew through his acts of saving things she loved, but they don’t really spend much time getting to know each other. I’m not disappointed in having little romance as that is the kind of book that I prefer. I just found it a bit confusing on how a bond grows when not much is there as far as knowing each other.

My biggest disappointment is the lack of a faith theme. It is mentioned at the end that God had worked things out as they were meant to be, but that was it. 

I really enjoy historicals, and I enjoyed this one as it is so different from many I’ve read. It is all encompassed by the horses and what surrounds them. I’ve never quite read a book like this one before, and I’m looking forward to more books by this author. This is her debut novel.

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

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.

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.

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.

The Song of Sourwood Mountain

by Ann H. Gabhart

MY REVIEW

It’s a slow moving sweet story that I really enjoyed. The characters are well done. I enjoyed the main characters, and I really enjoyed so many of the secondary characters as well. Ada June was probably my favorite along with her dog Bo. She is incredibly sweet, but she needs a home and some help.

I really like how love is presented in this story. It’s deep, and it’s lasting. Mira was so careful to wait until true love was present before sharing those words with anyone. “Love” is a word that is so quickly thrown around these days. I really liked how true, abiding live was presented in the characters hearts-especially between Mira and Gordon.

The people were presented in an environment that one could feel and smell. It seemed so real and alive.

Once again this author has written a beautifully woven tale of love and loss, and the faith in God that gets people through the difficult times and gives us days in which to rejoice!

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

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.