Tag: Inspirational

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Critical Threat

by Lynette Eason

MY REVIEW

The plot in this story is amazing. The storyline moves at an incredibly fast pace making it very hard to put down. Many twists and turns keep the reader engaged throughout the story. The romance is very much in the background in comparison to many romantic suspense novels, and I am very much ok with that. I really prefer the mystery and suspense to be front and center in my reads.

The characters are interesting, and they definitely have fascinating jobs. The whole idea of how they try to catch a serial killer has always fascinated me. How does one try to think like them? Or figure the why of such evil? These are just a few interesting topics this book will cover.

I would have really liked it if this book had a strong faith theme throughout. It does give one towards the end for which I was thankful. If you are a clean reads suspense fan, you don’t want to miss this one.

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

Where the Road Bends

Rachel Fordham

MY REVIEW

Another sweet story from Rachel Fordham. It has an early twist so that it does not end up like one thinks at the beginning. After a few chapters it is pretty predictable, but a sweet storyline none-the-less.

I loved the characters in this story, and they are what endeared the book to me. Flawed characters that really touch the heart..both main and secondary characters are wonderful.

I do think in the last year or so that I have read so many stories of woman abused by men. I have to admit that story line is getting a bit old and redundant. At least in this story it isn’t steeped in that for which I am thankful.

There is an orphan boy in this one, and I love reading books with children as main characters. Something about the dynamic of having a child who needs love that adds much to a story. 

It is a sweet, simple story that touches the heart. I have enjoyed all the books I have read by this author. I have one I have not read, and I hope to rectify that soon.

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

When the Meadow Blooms

By Ann H. Gabhart

MY REVIEW

Such a sweet story. This story was a good one for me. I’m bedridden much of the time, and my daughter has done so much of the work. I have had a difficult time with that so I really relate to Rose. It is hard to rest while one’s daughter is working, yet it must be done. I loved the attitude of the girls as they worked. My daughter handles the responsibility so incredibly well. I could so relate to that part of this lovely story.

This was a great read to come after a mafia story! I grew up in the city and now live in the country. I can totally relate to wanting to live or just visit a beautiful meadow. The girls are so sweet, and even as a reader I wanted to give them a hug.

Such a terrific faith theme woven in this book…hope, faith and forgiveness. Friendship and family, good times and tough times, all the things that make up our journey of life are in this story. It’s a sweet , heartfelt story…probably a new favorite from this author. 

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

Shadowed Loyalty

By Roseanna M. White

MY REVIEW

One thing I really did like about this book was that it was quite different from most books in this genre. This is the first historical I’ve read about the mafia. Some of the history and the beginnings of the mafia was quite fascinating.

I really couldn’t connect with the characters in this book, but I think that would be normal. I grew up in a very sheltered environment. These children did too, in a way, but the knew there was definitely something different about their families.

I liked Lorenzo , though I found his conduct hard to understand at times. The rosary bead mentions were a bit much for me, but I know that was holding to their history as well.

The storyline was well done and definitely keeps the readers turning the pages. It had a strong faith theme of forgiveness and hope, and though different-family was incredibly important. It was paced very well and will keep the readers attention to the very end.

One thing I really did like about this book was that it was quite different from most books in this genre. This is the first historical I’ve read about the mafia. Some of the history and the beginnings of the mafia was quite fascinating.

I really couldn’t connect with the characters in this book, but I think that would be normal. I grew up in a very sheltered environment. These children did too, in a way, but the knew there was definitely something different about their families.

I liked Lorenzo , though I found his conduct hard to understand at times. The rosary bead mentions were a bit much for me, but I know that was holding to their history as well.

The storyline was well done and definitely keeps the readers turning the pages. It had a strong faith theme of forgiveness and hope, and though different-family was incredibly important. It was paced very well and will keep the readers attention to the very end.

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

To Tame a Cowboy

By Jody Hedlund

MY REVIEW

The characters are vivid and well done in this third book of the Colorado Cowboys. This author always does such a great job of making her characters come alive. Even the secondary characters become interesting for the reader.

The setting is a beautiful one. I’ve never been to Colorado, and this book may be the closest I get. 

I read historical fiction for the history. I love to learn as I read fiction. This book, to me, seemed much more about romance and the attraction between the main characters than it did about anything else. Since I’m not a reader of just romance novels that was not a bonus for me,

If you like historical fiction with swooning romance then this is definitely a book for you.

There is a faith theme present in this read which is what gave its value to me. Christian fiction should have something of Christian in its pages. It isn’t a large one, but it is present and well woven into the story.

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