Historical – Page 2

Tag: Historical

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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To Spark a Match

By Jen Turano

MY REVIEW

This was another fun read by this author. I enjoy dialogue in a book, and this book has a lot of fun and enjoyable dialogue.

The main characters were wonderful and well done. Adelaide is so fun! I love books, unique bookstores, and cats, and so does Adelaide. I really liked her character. She was a well fleshed out character who brought much life to the story. Gideon was a fun loving hero who didn’t mind Adelaide’s quirky ways and long talks. The secondary characters added much to the story as well.

The faith theme was very well done in this story, and I very much enjoyed the moral ideas put forth in the storyline.
This was a well done novel. This author really writes books that are very unique which, I think, is why I enjoy them so very much.

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

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Against the Wind

by Amanda Cabot

MY REVIEW

*I want to start by saying I did read the first book. Though this second in the series can stand alone, I do recommend reading the series in order. I got a lot more understanding from the second book after I read the first so I highly recommend reading this series in order.*

This book reminded me much of a prairie romance. Only this has a woman fighting to be accepted as a doctor. I am thankful for women doctors, but this particular theme of women fighting for a previously held man’s job has been a bit overdone of late. At least it has been that way in my choice of books (grant it, I don’t always read a book the year it comes out-but I’m close).

I enjoyed the characters and the secondary characters. I didn’t realize this was a second in a series until it arrived in the mail. The first in the series is on its way. I really liked the male main character more than the female. He seemed to have more spiritual growth in him, and I loved it as he continued to grow and learn more.

Most of the storyline is predictable in this read with a few minor surprises. It’s a fairly good storyline with a very well done faith theme that is intrinsic to the story itself. This author always seems to do a good job at that which is why I continue to read. Her romance isn’t overdone, and it grows naturally and is built on the character and morals of the characters themselves which I appreciate. It did seem to drag a bit, but that might be because the plot was just so predictable.

It’s a sweet prairie type story with wonderful characters, a beautiful setting, and a very well done faith thread.

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

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A Beautiful Disguise

by Roseanna White

MY REVIEW

This book felt much different to me than the author’s other books. It has the mystery, interesting character group, and life among those with money. The interesting part, of course, is the fact that among the wealthy is a circus and two who love the trapeze and other acts that are done in a circus. To an extent, I enjoyed it. However, I had a hard time finding it believable.

It just seemed to be a bit of a stretch to find trapeze artists and circus animals among the “rich and famous.” It just didn’t seem at all realistic. I did enjoy the characters in the book-both the main and secondary characters were interesting. The storyline itself and the mysteries are what kept me turning the pages.

The faith thread in this book fits in well with the story, and it is well done. It isn’t like anything I’ve ever read before, and I do enjoy different books. If you like something a bit different, give it a try. It is a fun read. It kind of had a touch of Jen Turano in it, and I love her books.

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

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This is Where it Ends

by Cindy K. Sproles

MY REVIEW

This was a different way to present a story. I enjoyed the look back and the thoughts Minerva had as she approached the end of her life. I really enjoyed the writing style, and the sweet relationship that occurs between the elderly lady Minerva and the young man Del. I love how the author gives the facts of the past to the reader through Minerva’s point of view.

The characters and secondary characters are well done, and I was surprised by who turned out to be the bad guy in this story. The storyline flows very well, and I didn’t want to put the book down.
The scenes written on the farm were beautifully done, and it sure put the reader in the setting. Minerva’s thoughts really bring the story alive for the reader, putting the reader in her shoes so to speak.
My one disappointment was I felt that the faith theme could have been incredibly strong in so many places in this story. It did have hope and forgiveness in the storyline. It definitely wasn’t missing a faith theme. I just wished at so many places throughout the book that it had been stronger-just my point of view.
I love these kinds of stories. Ones that make one think, where everything isn’t sunshine and roses. The realizations to which the main character comes are very well done and powerfully written.
This is an emotionally touching read with life lessons learned and realistic characters and storyline.

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

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Remember Me

By Tracie Peterson

MY REVIEW

I really enjoyed this book. My favorite thing was the incredibly strong faith and forgiveness theme. Christian fiction doesn’t always have such a strong and open faith theme. This one was incredibly well written, and it is intrinsic to the story so it flows very well.

I liked the history of the expo as well…there is some very interesting historical facts in the book that made it a wonderful read that I didn’t want to put down.

The main characters are well done in the book. They grow in their faith and towards each other throughput the book. The secondary characters are wonderful, and they really help complete the story.

This was an enjoyable read with strong characters, well written story, and a heartfelt faith theme.

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

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The Weight of Air

By Kimberly Duffy

MY REVIEW

The Weight of Air covers some difficult topics. Most of these were not ones to which I could personally relate. I was never able to give birth ( different emotional difficulties there), and I had a utopian type childhood. I do, however, have some close relationships where postpartum depression was such a struggle, known those who committed suicide, and those who were abandoned by parents. So I understood to some extent the struggles these characters face.

Mabel was by far my favorite because she seemed to really grow throughout the book. She had a heart to forgive and love. The characters were very well done as is common for this author. I really enjoy her writing style, and I have read and own her other books.

I really felt this book had a great opportunity to have a better faith theme. “I can do all things” was mentioned, but in relation to circus tricks-nothing spiritual. There was faith and hope, but it wasn’t tied to the faith and hope we have through Jesus Christ. A very slight faith theme comes in at the end, but it doesn’t really affect the lives of the characters at all. There is also a relationship that a woman puts herself in to keep her job. There isn’t a big forgiveness or redemption story tied to that at all either. The idea of using the beauty of a woman was portrayed as wrong, but the characters, especially Mabel, did nothing when pictures were used of her that should not have been. She didn’t like it, but she made no complaints to the boss. That just seemed strange to me.

The story itself was well written as all of this authors books are. I felt the characters were real and intriguing as we learn the circumstances that shaped them, and the scenes were so vivid. I’ve never been to a circus so the author did a good job of making me “see it.”

It’s a book with flawed and broken people making their way through the life and circumstances that occurred that were beyond their control. One of my favorite tropes is used and done so well, but no spoilers so I won’t go there. A terrific set of characters, a wonderful story, it just needed more Christian faith elements for me to truly love it. I have to say it was refreshing to read a book where men were not terrible, abusive to women…but tried to support the women in their lives! That has been a common theme in many CF books. I have a husband who sometimes carries me literally and figuratively. I’m not saying they were perfect as none are, but they grew in their relationships and supported the women in their lives whether wife or daughter. Loved that.

If you enjoyed this book and author Kristy Cambron, Lynn Austin, and perhaps Jody Hedlund are some authors you might want to consider reading. If you want more historical circus stories Joanne Bischof and Kristy Cambron have some out there that are quite good.

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

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Yesterday’s Tides

By Roseanna M. White

MY REVIEW

I really liked the characters in this book, and I liked both timeline stories which is rare. Both plots are well done, and I do not have a favorite. That is pretty much next to impossible.

The storyline with its mystery really keeps the reader engaged. The family history is another mystery for the reader to solve. The WWI and WWII history adds so much to the book! The book has action, mystery, history, and beautiful relationships. Anything else one could possibly want?

The entire group of characters is wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories of the secondary characters as well. With the dual timeline, the reader gets the viewpoint of the US as well as some viewpoint from overseas.

My favorite part of this story is all the people that we meet that are in previous stories. I thoroughly enjoyed the Codebreaker series so I was thrilled that some of the characters show up in this story. It made a wonderful way of bringing the story more to life because I had already met some of the cast of characters. I think the only thing I did not like about it was mentioning rosary beads and Catholics. I did not feel that it was necessary to point out which people believed differently than others. Those parts of the story did not seem to fit, and they could easily have been left out.

The incredibly well done characters , a very engaging plot line in both stories, special pieces of previous series by this author, and as always fascinating history all combine to make a wonderful novel.

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

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Hearts of Steel

By Elizabeth Camden

MY REVIEW

I really liked Maggie in this book…even though obsessive, her fears were definitely warranted. She was so scrappy and incredibly hard working. I liked Liam, but I do wish he had grown a bit and learned to better control his temper. He was too old for board room brawls…not saying the guy didn’t deserve it. However, he should have been above that eventually. I felt Maggie had some growth to her, but Liam didn’t really. I did love what he would do for those he loved. This was a great title for the two characters.

This story grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it. The plot and storyline was very interesting, and the attempts by the crooked guy that just keep coming seem unreal. Most of it, however, is based on a true character in history.

The two main characters complement each other well, the storyline keeps the reader engaged, and Liam ends up in the state in which I live with his yacht! He doesn’t come for a vacation, though. My favorite scene is a beautiful gift given to Liam from his sister that he treasures.

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

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Within These Walls of Sorrow

By Amanda Barratt

MY REVIEW

I am at a loss for rating or reviewing a novel as powerful as this one.. The writing takes the reader on the journey, that much is incredibly true.

A poignant, heart wrenching, tragic tale of The Ghetto. The word sorrow doesn’t really come close to all that occurred there. How humans treated other humans like this is something I will never understand. As hard as it was to read, I cannot imagine how hard it was to see and live through, if one could call it living for these souls. It’s a novel that makes the reader think of how one person could help, and yet how could a person not help. God must have put people there, miraculously through a pharmacy, to help with things beyond the scope of a pharmacy. It left people to tell the stories that needed to be told.

This book is not so dark that the reader cannot finish. The reader gets Jewish and non Jewish viewpoints. I really liked the different characters that the reader follows. It gives a good perspective. This was really one of the best books I’ve read about WWII Poland because of that…much of this isn’t fiction.

I’m still amazed every time I think of the fact that the pharmacy was allowed to stay open inside the ghetto throughout the entire time…the building is still there today.

Realistic characters, powerful and painful stories, and the ability to change the reader…this is a novel that I’m not sure I’ll ever forget. It leaves the reader with choices to make about his own life and to learn so much about past lives and their gifts to then and now.

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

A picture of the pharmacy as it stands today. Used by permission.

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