Book Reviews Feb 2024

12 Mar

Hello again, fellow readers! I know that audiobooks can be a polarizing topic but let me tell you, if it wasn’t for being able to listen while working up crochet patterns in the evenings and on the weekends, I’d be going slightly insane by this point.

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (Lord Peter Wimsey #4) by Dorothy L. Sayers- No one quite knew what time ninety-year old General Fentiman had died but that detail figured in a half million pound inheritance. Lord Peter Wimsey will need all his wits about him as he tries to unravel the mysteries of the lack of a poppy on the old man’s outer coat, how the club’s telephone was repaired without a repairman and how the old man’s knees swung freely when the rest of him was rigid with rigor mortis. His friend’s future is on the line – this is one case that he can’t get wrong.

~ I thoroughly enjoy these murder mysteries set in the 1930s. Peter and his butler and right hand man, Bunter are just my favorite. We can’t leave out Peter’s friend, Parker, either though. This one was different, as so much of the story occured inside the gentleman’s club- the Bellona- and the deceased was a (rather crochety) respected war hero. The twists and turns often left me wondering what- if any- significance there was to the latest revealed fact. Highly recommend!

Babylon’s Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo by Lawrence Anthony- During the Iraqi war, the only thing that conservationist Lawrence Anthony could think of was the Baghdad zoo that was located in the midst of the crossfire. When he arrives, he learns that combat and looting have killed almost all of the animals in the zoo, but not all. Along with the help of American soldiers and Iraqis, Anthony sets about improving the lives of the animals and turning the bombed-out zoo into a peaceful park.

~I picked this up from Brown Paper Packages Bookmail on Instagram, as it seemed interesting. It was a well written chronicle of Anthony’s time trying to get into Baghdad, saving the lives of the animals in the zoo and any other animals that he could from around the city. It was a potent reminder of how terribly animals can be treated but how, with a little initiative of some good people, things can be changed and improved. Definitely recommend this if you enjoy real-life accounts. It did have some pretty upsetting details of the state some animals were in.

The Davinci Code by Dan Brown – Robert Langdon, symbiologist, is woken in the middle of the night while visiting London to come investigate a crime scene. The curator of the Louvre was murdered inside the museum and the clues that he left are baffling.

~Whatever caused me to decide to read this, I’m not sure. But I did. The mystery-chase-intrigue was what kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed that part a lot, as well as the characters being really well written. For those reasons I could give this five stars.
But, as most probably already know, this is a pretty sacrilegious book. I’m not catholic, but even I found a lot of this… well, maybe not offensive but on that path.
Aside from that, I shy away from reading books that devote time to describing physical bodies and… the like. How it started out was a bit, uhm, much, but minimal enough that I kept reading. But it only increased as the story continued. All in all, I can see why Brown keeps getting published but also why this series in particular is such a controversial topic.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Harry Potter #1) by J.K. Rowling -Harry’s aunt and uncle immediately confiscate an intriguing envelope from a place called Hogwarts. But that one isn’t the only letter to try and reach Harry – although he’s never even heard of Hogwarts before. He’s given a shock when a giant named Rubeus Hagrid arrives and tells Harry that not only is he a wizard, but that he’s been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

~I honestly never thought I’d read this series. But, well, we watched the movies over the winter and I was intrigued enough to request the audio book from the library (loving hoopla). How Harry is treated by his aunt and uncle reminds me of the book “A Child Called It’. I liked seeing Harry enter the new fantastical world of magic and how he dealt with the fame that he didn’t know he had. I adore Ron and the Weasleys so much. I wish I’d been as faithful as a student as Hermione is. As a cautious recommendation: obviously this book (and series) deals in magic, so if you’re comfortable with that, I can definitely recommend it. Otherwise, skip over this one! It’s a fun read with a main character who is starting this new adventure/life, but who remains kind and humble.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2) by J.K. Rowling- His summer with the Dursley’s has been absolutely miserable and Harry is eagerly looking forward to returning to Hogwarts for his second year. But just as summer break is ending, a strange creature shows up and warns Harry not to return to school or disaster will strike. The creature was correct- Harry’s school year is full of horrors and danger, the most awful thing being that students are getting turned to stone. It could be Draco Malfoy, Hagrid, or even Harry Potter himself!

~The Dursleys really are terrible people. I just need to start with that. They were bad in the first book, but in this one? Geesh. I was glad to see Harry standing up for himself a bit -even if it wasn’t in the best way possible… Anyway, the things that Harry, Hermione and Ron go through are terrifying. Hagrid has a special place in my heart now.

Currently Reading:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Around the World in Seventy-Two Days by Nellie Bly

Knowing God by J.I. Packer

My goal of reading more classics this year hasn’t gone too well… although Sayer’s books do fit that bill I suppose… But I do want to dive into a Dickens or the like in March.

What are you reading lately? Do you have a book/genre that you’re looking forward to reading?

~Laura

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Book Reviews – Jan 2024

15 Feb

Well, I’d planned on getting this up right at the beginning of February… But I’ll skip all those life-happens-better-late-than-never anecdotes. Let’s get right to it!

When Hope Springs New (Canadian West series #4) by Janette Oke- Elizabeth and Wynn have taken over a new posting. One that is even more remote than Beaver Creek was. The women in this settlement are afraid to have anything to do with Elizabeth, making her days long and lonely. But when disaster strikes, will the Delaney’s be able to help the people of their new home? 

~I’ve read this series since I was a teenager, so was surprised by how little I remembered of this story! I enjoyed it, but didn’t connect as much with it as I did the previous three. I liked the side characters, and seeing how Elizabeth faced the…challenges – and contrasting that with how she’d have handled them in the first book. (always love character development). I was surprised by the ending, and how rather abrupt it was. It felt rushed to me? Turns out though, that there are two more books in the series, though they are focused not on Elizabeth and Wynn specifically. I’ve never read them. But, it was fun to read this series again these past four months.

Harp of Kings (Warrior Bands #1) by Juliet Marillier- Liobhan is an eighteen year old singer and expert whistle player while her brother, Brocc has incredible talent on the harp. But Liobhan’s dream is to become a Swan Island warrior. When she and her brother get the chance to train for spots on the elite warrior band, she puts all her heart and soul into it. Then they are chosen for a covert mission while still in training- something never heard of. Their mission is to find and retrieve a special harp before the crowning of the new king. Faced with druids, courtiers, a storyteller and ill-mannered Prince, their task is difficult indeed.

DNF (did not finish) –I found this on hoopla as an audiobook. I was eager to get into it as it had everything I just love in fantasy novels – an elite warrior community; based in, basically, Ireland; fae creatures; strong sibling relationships; and a mystery with a deadline. Those parts were all fantastic. Marillier does fantastic writing fae creatures, they are so alive and other-worldly. I liked all three main characters, Liobhan, Brocc and Dau -and as the story progressed, I liked Dau more and more. Now for the negatives in my opinion- there is a scene where a man is trying to force himself on a woman. I cannot handle these scenes- and while I can admit that she did keep it limited to what could’ve been written, it was still too much for me. I fast-forwarded and was able to enjoy the story again. I probably got over halfway through the novel (hard to tell in an audiobook sometimes), and romance of a personal nature was written about with enough detail that I turned the book off. I’m very disappointed because when Marillier keeps her stories clean, they inevitably end up as some of my favorites. (Wildwood Dancing for example). I’d love to know who stole the harp, and who of the trainees end up getting to stay on Swan Island. But, after a search online, I couldn’t find out these things. Can’t recommend this series, sadly, because, apparently, one must have sex in a fantasy for it to be complete. Argh.

Hunted by Megan Spooner- Yeva is secretly relieved when she moves back to her father’s hunting cabin at the edge of the woods with her father and sisters. She knows and loves the Beast’s forest. But when her father disappears, she is deaf to her sister’s pleas and sets off to hunt the creature that he’d been tracking. Yeva ends up in a world different from her own- one of enchanted castles, a cursed valley and creatures that were only in fairy tales.

Yep, I had to read it again. I needed a cozy fantasy one evening, so instead of reading the other books I was already in… Anyway, thoroughly enjoyed this all over again. I love reading about archery and of course, retellings can be so delightful. One thing I realized about this Beauty and the Beast retelling that is different for Beauty herself- she isn’t ‘plain’ or ugly. She is pretty, as pretty as her sisters even, but it’s not something she thinks about/focuses on. She is just not concerned with outward appearances, so it doesn’t come up. Of course, there’s so much else that stands out about this retelling from others that I’ve read, but that was my latest revelation. I wish Spooner would write more retellings!

Homegrown Tea: An Illustrated Guide to Planting, Harvesting, and Blending Teas and Tisanes by Cassie Liversidge – You’re shown how to grow your own plants no matter how much space you have and how to harvest and make your own teas and tisanes

~This was such a cool resource. There was so much information in this, I’d love to have my own copy one day. It was nicely laid out with plenty of pictures of the plants.

Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie – Jack Argyle was found guilty of having bludgeoned his mother to death and sentenced to life imprisonment. But Dr. Arthur Calgary, eager to do the right thing, comes forward with proof of Jack’s innocence. But it’s too late, Jack died in prison. What’s worse though, is that Calgary’s proof opens up the family’s wounds and makes them all face the fact that the murderer is still free…

~ I picked this up when I needed something to be able to carry in my purse – one reason I love the little mass market size paperbacks. It was a unique plot, that I could not decide just what and who done it! Even when it was revealed, I had to flip back some pages and read it again because I was so surprised! The ending felt a little rushed, too on-the-nose in a way, that took away a little bit of the enjoyment.

Whose Body? (Lord Peter Wimsey #1) by Dorothy L. Sayers- It wasn’t unusual for a man to be naked in a bathtub, but the rest of the circumstances were. The man was dead, for one. And he was wearing a pair of pince-nez and his face had been shaved after death. Lord Peter Wimsey doesn’t agree with the police that it is a popular financier and sets out to prove his theory

~It was fun to listen to the first installment in Lord Peter’s investigations. Bunter – Lord Peter’s valet- was already a favorite but is even more so, after this story. These are partly so fun, I think, because Lord Peter and Bunter aren’t professional, or associated with the police. So they can blunder and do sometimes outrageous things to get at the truth, where others couldn’t. Of course, it’s also fun to have it happening during the 1920s, and among the British aristocracy. The only thing that I disliked about this one, really, was the stated attitude about certain races -and classes. But as I understand, that that was the case in that time period, it at least fit the novel and didn’t feel like it was something the author shoved in just to make a point. Also, that attitude hasn’t been present in the other novels of the series. All in all, I’m thoroughly enjoying the series and plan on reading more throughout the year.

Clouds of Witness (Lord Peter Wimsey #2) by Dorothy L. Sayers – When Peter’s brother-in-law-to-be turns up dead at the Wimsey retreat and the accused murderer is Peter’s brother, it’s enough to shake the unflappable Lord Peter. And that’s not to mention the other aspects of the case that are truly puzzling…

~I absolutely enjoyed this story! Sayers is excellent at weaving together different parts of a story and drawing them together to a clever conclusion. I’ve always enjoyed who-dun-its and am so glad to add this author to my list!
Absolutely adore Lord Peter, he reminds me a little bit of Percy Blakeney (if you don’t know that reference, go read Scarlett Pimpernel!).

Unnatural Death (Lord Peter Wimsey #3) by Dorothy L. Sayers- The fact that Agatha Dawson had died wasn’t surprising to anyone, but Lord Peter was curious about how she died rather sooner than expected and dives into this case, even though he doesn’t have any leads or clues. When Agatha’s maid ends up dead as well, Peter knows his time is short to catch the killer.

~This one was intriguing partly just because of how Peter comes across this story of Agatha Dawson and how he decides to crack it, even though there’s nothing to go on. His friend, Parker, doesn’t believe him that it is even a case. (parker is great, by the way!). This one was fun to listen to, as they all have been. Sadly though, there were race issues and some…hints about a few people’s preferences. The first was sad and clumsily done – knowing it was written in that time period I muttered against it and moved on. The second was very subtle – indeed, if I’d read this five or more years ago, I don’t think I’d have picked up on it. Because of those two things, this isn’t my favorite of the series.

~Thank goodness for audiobooks these past months, otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to read much! What with creating my own crochet patterns, sitting and reading a book just isn’t possible. But. Listening to one while I work on the patterns – absolutely! Hoopla has been saving the day in that regard.

Currently Reading:

Knowing God by J.I. Packer

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Around the World in Seventy-Two Days by Nellie Bly

What have you been reading?

Favorite Reads of 2023

11 Jan

As an avid reader, it’s always fun to go back through my list of books that I’ve read in a year and choose my favorites. I chose my top six out of sixty-five books. These aren’t in any particular order:

Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L. Sayers – #8 of Lord Peter Wimsey novels. When an employee dies at Pym’s Publicity, a respectable ad agency in London, it looks like an accident. But Lord Peter Wimsey is called in and he finds what’s really going on in the cutthroat world of copywriting.

-I found this while at a library book sale. My copy was published in 1933, hardcover and still has the paper sleeve. So of course, I had to grab it. I’d never read/heard of Sayers before but I’m so glad I snagged it! I’ve since read/listened to another of her Lord Peter Wimsey Novels, Clouds of Witness. I plan on reading more of the series this coming year. (her stories remind me a bit of Agatha Christie!)

Kenobi by John Jackson Miller – Obi-wan must set aside his status as jedi master and become Ben Kenobi as he watches over young Luke Skywalker. But he can’t help but aid the residents of Tattoine.

– This was my first Star Wars novel and since I borrowed it from a friend, I plan on buying my own copy since I’m already wanting to re-read it. It was fun to read about that in-between time that Kenobi went through -the struggles and grief and moments of peace.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson- Yumi and Painter come from opposite worlds – she from one of gardens and spirits, he from darkness and nightmares. But when their lives become strangely intertwined can they figure out why, and how to help each other?

-I listened to this on audiobook on Spotify as it was part of the Year of Sanderson releases. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was fun to see the events through both Yumi and Painter’s points of view and to be constantly surprised by the revelations. Looking forward to reading/listening to this again!

The Long Patrol by Brian Jacques – The Rapscallion army is on the move after a sound defeat by Lady Cregga Rose Eyes, the Badger Lady of Salamandastron. The hare warriors, the Long Patrol, are on their trail to stop their progress to Redwall. Young Tammo is at the forefront as he chases his life-long dream of joining the Long Patrol.

-I listened to live readings of this from Story Time with Friends but also have a physical copy of it. Once again, the story of Redwall was delightful and full of delicious-sounding food, battles and morals. I love how Jacques weaves a story together.

The Boomerang Clue by Agatha Christie -Bobby didn’t know it when he found a body at the local golf course, but he was very lucky. Not only lucky to have escaped being poisoned, but to have Frankie at his side. Lady Frances Derwant was going to help him find the would-be murderer. But their only clues were a picture and the dead man’s last words- why didn’t they ask Evans?

-I found a hardcover five-in-one edition with this novel at the thrift store in the spring. I’d never read any Christie but had been wanting to give her at try. Six books later… anyway, this one was oddly fun (can murder mysteries be fun?).

Death Comes to Pemberly by P.D. James – Darcy and Elizabeth have been married for six years. Life is idyllic – they have two sons; Bingley and Jane live nearby; Mr. Bennet visits regularly; Georgianna has a promising marriage prospect. But it all comes crashing down when Lydia shows up, hysterical that her husband, Wickham, has been murdered. Both she and Wickham had been banned from Pemberley, but at this news, Elizabeth and Darcy take Lydia in and seek to solve this mystery.

-Brown Paper Packages Bookmail on Instagram was selling this and I just had to give it a shot. Several years ago, I watched the BBC production based on this book and enjoyed it – I probably liked the book even more! A murder mystery set in Pemberley with the beloved Austen characters? What else can you ask for?

Honorable Mentions:

Lumen by J.J. Fischer- #2 of Nightingale Trilogy- Sephone, Dorian and Cass continue their search for the only man who knows how to get to the Reliquary- the elusive Silvertongue. But Sephone’s time is getting short, Dorian is accused of treason and secrets start to drive the three companions apart. What choice will Dorian make when the stakes are at their highest?

-I received an arc for my free honest opinion. If you want to read that blog post, it’s right here. Suffice it to say, I highly enjoyed this sequel to Calor, and will have my own copy soon!

The Daybreakers by Louis L’Amour- When Tye Sackett stepped between his brother, Orrin, and a bullet, both their lives were irrevocably changed. They head west to Santa Fe where Orrin becomes marshal and Tye commands respect without a badge. But their past comes hunting them and one brother must sacrifice so the other’s dreams will be realized.

-I’ve been getting into L’Amour’s more this year thanks to thrift stores and book sales and now have a whole stack of them waiting to be read. This one, however, was an audiobook. I really enjoyed it- I’ve always liked western stories and how L’amour writes them is just nostalgic and lovely. The brother’s journey and relationship was intense, suspenseful and just engrossing.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones – #1 of Howl’s Moving Castle series – It’s Sophie’s misfortune to have been born the eldest and so to have the destiny of failure if she leaves home. But when the Witch of the Waste puts a spell on her that turns her into an old woman, Sophie is forced to seek out the one place where the spell could be broken- the wizard Howl’s castle. To do so means dealing with the heartless Howl, make a deal with a fire demon and face the Witch of the Waste head on. Through the journey, she learns that there’s more to Howl, and herself, than she ever dreamed.

-I love the Studio Ghibli movie based off this book so this summer I checked it out of the library. It’s different from the movie of course, Howl is from Wales for one thing! But it was still charming and a delightful tale. After reading it I was inspired to crochet both Howl and Sophie. I want to read more of the series this year!

And that’s it! Even though I did read several others that were quite wonderful! If you want to see my full year of reading, click here to go to Goodreads. It’s always interesting to me to see, at the end of the year, what genres I favored. Especially since I am very much a mood-reader (i.e. I can have the best of intentions to next read a certain book but if it doesn’t strike my fancy in that moment, I’ll grab whatever does.) And this year, the genres were definitely mystery and fantasy. With a lot of westerns thrown in.

I’m hoping to add more classics to my reads this coming year – I’ve picked up Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens and a book about Tchaikovsky that I really want to read, among others! Just in glancing at my bookshelf next to me I see The Velvet Doublet by James Street, Come out of the Kitchen by Alice Duer Miller, Valley of Wild Horses by Zane Grey and You Can’t Go Home Again by Thomas Wolfe. (yes, these are all on my classics shelf!)

I’d love to hear a favorite read of yours! Maybe I’ll add it to my list!

Happy Reading, Laura

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Lumen Book Review

8 Nov

Welcome to The Start of a Good Life! As usual, it’s a book review that’s drawn me back again.

Lumen is by J.J. Fischer and it’s book two of the Nightingale Trilogy. I reviewed book one- Calor here!

As a reminder (and in case you didn’t follow the above link) – Calor is a Christian Fantasy series that’s set sixty years after the apocalypse and trading in memories is a lucrative business. Owning and controlling those who can do so could make a man rich. Sephone Winter escapes her cruel master to help Lord Adamo find the Reliquary and forget his past. Cassius Vera joins them, intent on keeping his past, and abilities hidden.

Lumen picks up soon after the events of Calor- here’s the official synopsis:

What if erasing the past cost more than you were willing to pay?

Having narrowly escaped their enemies, Sephone, Dorian, and Cass continue their search for the elusive Silvertongue, the only one with knowledge of the Reliquary’s whereabouts. But time is running out for Sephone, and with Dorian accused of high treason, the quest takes on a new urgency. 

As secrets from each of their pasts drive a wedge between them, Sephone invests all her hopes in finding her homeland, Lethe—where her family may yet be alive. But nothing about Lethe is as she expects, and disappointment, betrayal, and danger await her at every turn. 

When the truth about the Reliquary’s curse comes to light, the fragile bonds between the unlikely companions are tested like never before. Meanwhile, Dorian faces a terrible choice: to save the life of one who is beginning to mean more to him than the past he’s so desperate to forget, or to save his beloved Caldera from dangers outside and within.

~ Getting to enter the tumultuous world of Caldera again was so wonderful- and worrisome and wondering ‘what in the world do you think you’re doing?’ because sometimes the characters’ choices just stress you out even if you do still kind of understand. (Looking at you, Sephone. And Cass. And Dorian…) I loved the twists and turns and things getting turned upside down on you as you continue through the story. And the ending? Well, that I can describe in three words- Fantastic and heartrending. (and if you read it and wonder how I can react that way to such an ending, well, suffice it to say that I’m a writer too and also I love a good cliffhanger.)

I feel this goes without saying but I will anyway- I highly recommend this Christian Fantasy trilogy that is a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s 1843 tale ‘ the Nightingale’, with hints of the tale of Hades and Persephone. It is a clean adventure-romance with wonderfully woven allegories. I could see this being a wonderful Christmas gift for the reader in your life!

It comes out December 5th, 2023, but pre-order is available now! Here’s the link to her Nightingale Trilogy page– just follow the pre-order link to claim your copy of Lumen!

I did receive an ARC of Lumen for my honest opinion.

If you want to check out the other books by Fischer that I’ve reviewed, there’s The Sword in His Hand and The Secret of Fire .

Have you read any Christian Fantasy? What did you think?

~Laura

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Health Update- April 2023

29 Apr

Hello again all! Thank you for still sticking around, even though this is only my second post of the year. And really, my posting has been spotty the past few to several years. But, enough of that. I would like to start sharing my health updates again- even if it’s not every month. It would be nice for me -and maybe you?- to see how far I’ve come since I was doing these regularly.

My last health update was Sept 2020- let’s do a quick recap of that, shall we? I was struggling with jaw and joint pain, severe migraines regularly, mood swings and crazy fatigue. Sleep and vision was funky.

I share that here to help get in perspective of where I was – while I was doing better than I had been, I was still pretty much a wreck. And it was a novelty to not have to sleep with an ice pack.

Migraine: typically only one nuclear migraine every three months. One severe migraine a month on average and those are typically less than twenty four hours. They average at 7/10. I am now on Emgality (Aimovig was Great but stopped working for me). It is also a monthly injection so it has few/no side effects. I also have diclofenac potassium when the headaches get too bad and I want to stop them from turning into migraines. When they do reach that next level of pain and I need something to just knock them out, I have naratriptan. This ‘system’ has had such an impact on my health and mental health. Knowing that I have ‘stages’ of medication to halt the progression of pain is such a relief. I am so glad that I finally started seeing a neurologist again.

Sleep: This is helped by taking a few things at night- Naltrexone and Biofilm- Phase 2 Advanced.

Memory/Brain Fog: My memory has improved although there are still so many times when I cannot remember something that I know that I know. I am typically able to find the correct word that I’m wanting, although when I’m tired/stressed/whathaveyou, I can’t come up with them. Brain fog is mostly non-existant these days.

Vision: Aside from my vision just changing as I’m aging, this is just fine.

TMJ: This is only a pain once in a blue moon

Fatigue: Less than it’s been in ages, I think. But I do drink coffee now- ha. But really, I do still struggle with this but it’s so much less than it used to be that I try not to let it bother me too much. Maybe once a week or so am I really just exhausted to where I don’t want to/can’t do much.

Fibromyalgia: I rarely have any issues with this anymore. I’m coming to realize that the only time I do, is when I’ve not been as active. (i.e. I’ve been sick with the flu/cold)

Weight Loss: Baby steps by baby steps, it’s slowly happening- this was my answer in 2020 but it still holds true. I’ve lost almost twenty pounds since 2020, and it’s all been extremely slow.

Mood: Back and forth on this one, taking Xiao Chai Hu Tang really helps on the days/weeks when I’m struggling

Digestion: a bit better than my normal.

Allergies have eased too – I can now have chicken eggs again- limited amount but that I can at all, is so nice. They’re much cheaper than duck eggs! And it makes it easier to bake and eat out/buy bread and things. Also, I can have limited gluten without effect- looking at you, tortillas. AND- and this is a two-edged sword, I can eat processed sugar without issue.

Current Protocol: W. L Energizer , COQ10, CalMAg, Candidastat, Xiao Chai Hu Tang, Naltrexone, Biofilm- Phase 2 Advanced. Prescriptions: Thyroid, Diclofenac Potassium, Naratriptan and Emgality

Overall Health: Doing better than I would have dreamed I could be, three years ago. Still dealing with limitations and pain but amazed that I have so few migraines and couch days.

~Laura

To see my latest posts, check out The Year of the Bear and Calor!

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The Year of the Bear Book Review

19 Jan

Another book review, friends! I have had this one waiting for me for a bit, and I finally got to reading it. Life is just too much sometimes, you know? But, I want to start out by saying that I did receive this from Ambassador International in exchange for my honest review. I’ll share the synopsis and then will tell you what I thought of it.

When thirteen year old Jason and his dad kill an attacking bear, they don’t know that they’ve left a cub without its mother. When family friend, Sasquot of the Penobscot Indians, learns about it, he decides to teach Jason how to care for the cub and teach it how to survive in the wild. As Jason learns about caring for God’s creatures, he and his father deal with the fact that Jason’s own mother has left them. Jason struggles to find his place at home and school amid racial bigotry and bullies. As the year passes and Jason bonds with the bear cub, he learns valuable lessons about himself and God.

I was intrigued by the idea of a boy’s coming of age alongside a story of a bear. I’ve not read anything by Douglas J. Lanzo but as it was from Ambassador International, I knew it would be a clean story with (most likely) themes of faith throughout. First off, I love the cover they did- it makes me think of Louis L’amour books or the like. I appreciated how faith was intregal to the story- and Sasquot, ah Sasquot was a favorite character of mine. I wish that he were real and that I could have him as a mentor. What a patient, teaching man! I liked learning more about Maine and the Penobscot Indians and wildlife. Jason was a character that came to life for me pretty quickly. I always like a good coming-of-age story and having that wrapped up with how he and his father relate to each other was well done. Another theme was racial bigotry which is of course, so relevant and I appreciated how it was touched on overall.

I enjoyed the core story very much, but I found myself skipping or sometimes actually stopping reading because some of the descriptions/stories were too lengthy and/or unnecessary. I am not sure if part of this is just because I’m not into some of those things much, if at all. I think that if one is passionate about those things, the reader would love that aspect of it. But, for me, it was too much and took away from the story itself.

You can buy the book on Amazon, or on Ambassador’s site.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this book if you’ve read it, or think you might like to give it a try!

~Laura

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Calor Book Review

28 Nov

I’ve been away for far too long. But I come bearing a review for an absolutely wonderful book that you simply must order as soon as it’s available!

Calor by J.J. Fischer is a Christian fantasy novel set sixty years after the apocalypse, where trading in memories is a lucrative business. Sephone Winter is forced by a cruel master to use her unusual ability to numb memories, so that the aristocracy can forget their dark secrets. But Sephone longs to have her memories return- it’s her reason to keep living under Cutter’s thumb.

But while Sephone dreams of remembering, Lord Adamo works toward the day when he will forget his past. He speaks of an ancient relic that has the power to do what both of them want- erasing and returning memories. All he needs is her help to attain it. But not all is as it seems, when it comes to Lord Adamo, and Sephone must decide which path she will take. Helping the young lord forget his past, or traveling to Lethe where she might finally learn who she is.

I can’t even tell you how good this story was. The character arcs and plot twists! The characters themselves! The descriptions of the towns and scenery and- ahhhh. Jewel was basically an instant favorite. Cass was a great addition to the group with his skills, deboiner and yet broken self. Bas and Bear were wonderful bodyguards and friends. Damian as the broken, driven, cynical one that is hiding from himself. And Sephone, hopeful and wondering in this world that she’s seeing for the first time.

This is a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s 1843 tale ‘ the Nightingale. (Which, to be honest, I’ve never heard of and definitely want to read now.) Along with hints of the tale of Hades and Persephone.

I highly recommend this book if you’re wanting something that grabs you and doesn’t let you go, even after you’ve finished it. And if you enjoy some fantasy but really don’t want any graphic sensual or fight scenes. This book is as clean as one could hope, with solid storytelling.

It comes out December 6th, 2022, but pre-order is available now! Here’s the link to Fischer’s Calor page , and from there you can follow the link to pre-order. Also, Calor got a Publisher’s Weekly review!

I’ve also reviewed her Decantaria series on SGL – The Sword in His Hand and The Secret of Fire by J.J. Fischer Book Review. Which I enjoyed immensely as well.

I did receive an ARC of Calor for my honest opinion. I’ve had fun being part of Fischer’s street team and cannot wait to read book #2 in this series!

~Laura

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The Secret of Fire by J.J. Fischer Book Review

8 Jun

This is the sequel to The Sword in His Hand that I enjoyed so much. I was able to borrow this copy from a friend, but now that I’ve read it, I’ll definitely end up buying it.

Synopsis: The world of Darcentaria has been changed forever because Julien Arminius opened the door to the Outside. Because of the Outside’s influence, the Rebellion has fallen and El and Torsten are fighting to get back to each other. Through their journeys, they meet unlikely allies and learn surprising truths about each other. As well as the Outside and the beginnings of Darcentaria itself.

Ahhh, El and Torsten. The questions and doubts; the loyalty and sacrifice. El is a strong character that I enjoyed getting to see mature – especially from the first book. Torsten Eisleher has always been a scarred character but in this sequel/finale of the story, you learn even more why and see how he reacts when he comes face to face with who he is. I adored Kit and Creda. Poor Emery as he struggles with who he has become and what he believes. I’ll stop there, let’s just leave it to say that this book engrossed me just as much as the first one did.

The themes of faith and forgiveness were throughout, and I appreciated the scene where a certain hymn is alluded to – no spoilers! The tension rises and falls, leaving you eager to read what’s next but never so much that you just get frustrated with nothing ever going Right. (that’s not just me that struggles with that issue in books, is it?).

The ending was wonderful and satisfying as well as surprising. I really appreciated how Fischer managed to leave me happy and still thinking about how she added a few things that I had not expected. ~Happy Sigh~.

these two juts look so lovely together

Highly recommend you give the Darcentaria Duology a try. Even if you’re not normally a fan of fantasy, give it a go! It’s a clean, faith-filled story with no magic. What more can you ask of, of a great book?

~Laura

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Uncommon Heroes Series Review

8 Oct

If you’ve been following SGL for any decent length of time, you’re aware of what a BIG fan of Dee Henderson I am. I don’t read a whole lot of books set in modern times, honestly. But the way she writes intrigue, suspense and clean, intentional romance just grabs my attention and doesn’t let it go. I’ll share links to my other book reviews at the bottom of this post. I’m currently in the middle of a Henderson kick, aka, reading every Henderson book that I can get my hands on. And yes, I’m heading to the library asap to pick up more.

But today, I want to share with you a simply lovely three book series, Uncommon Heroes.

“The only easy day was yesterday.” -Navy Seal Motto

True Devotion – Lifeguard Kelly Jacobs was pulled by the waves of the sea, the cold and exhaustion making it hard to stay awake. She knew time for a rescue was running out as the sun set. But just as sure as she was about that, she also knew her best friend would come and find her. Navy Seal Lieutenant Joe ‘Bear’ Baker pulled Kelly from the sea and in those moments of being held safely in his arms, she said the wrong thing. Their friendship on uncertain terms, both Joe and Kelly have some decisions to make. For Kelly, can she risk loving another active military man? She did that once and has the folded flag to prove it. For Joe, can he learn to balance a relationship as well as his career? What they don’t know is that the man who killed Kelly’s husband is closer than either of them know and danger is just around the corner.

~ I’ll start out by saying that I love the fact that God is our refuge is such a part of this book. Both characters learn and lean on that. I just adore Bear and his struggles and wanting to do what’s right. I really enjoy the Seal aspect of the story. Of course, I can’t attest to just how accurate that part of it is but it’s interesting and done well, in my opinion.

“These things we do, that others may live.” – Air Force PJ Motto

True Valor – While Lieutenant Grace ‘Gracie’ Yates is flying an F/A-I8 Hornet and trying to keep the peace while readying for war, Major Bruce ‘Striker’ Stanton, an Air Force Pararescue Jumper, is on the ground pulling pilots and Special Forces soldiers from behind enemy lines. Bruce knows that Grace is too good of a pilot to not pull the tough assignments, and if trouble comes, his unit will be the one to get the call. They keep a relationship alive through love letters while they are both deployed, leaning on God’s assurance that He is sufficient no matter what. That faith will be tested when a dogfight erupts and Grace’s plane is damaged. Determined not to be the first woman pilot shot down behind enemy lines, Grace babies her plane and fights the need to eject. But her fighter jet goes down. And Bruce now has only one mission: get Grace out alive.

~I probably can’t say enough good about this one, you guys. This is one of my favorites of all time of hers. I just love who Bruce is – his intentional seeking out of Grace, how he keeps tabs on his sister, his friends, etc. Grace is a confident pilot who is still reeling from a loss and learning how to get back to living a full life. I really appreciate how Henderson weaves that through. And of course, the military aspect just sucks me in.

True Honor- When the cold war was over, Darcy St. James retired from the CIA with an Intelligence Star for Valor. For the last two years, she’s been enjoying civilian life. But then September 11 happened and she was called back for her knowledge and experience. The nation needs her street smarts and network of contacts. She’s on the trail of a man who knew what was going to happen on September 11 and chose to profit from it. Darcy meets Chief Petty Officer Sam ‘Cougar’ Houston during the first days of the war. He is busy following the intelligence that Darcy is finding. His role as a sniper has him taking out one enemy at a time. Their romance is one they didn’t expect but it flourishes despite the distance and stresses of their jobs. And then they find out that Darcy is high on the terrorists list of targets.

~This is my favorite of the series. Even over the second book. I just adore Darcy (I’m sure part of that is her name, tbh) and her longing to be out of the spy game while knowing that she can’t sit on the sidelines of this war. She struggles with good vs evil and finds an unexpected blessing in Sam. Sam is a solid believer, who knows what he’s fighting for and that good will win in the end. He realizes the treasure that he’s found in Darcy. I found it interesting, their dynamic of her finding information and his unit being the one to carry out the missions. I liked that overlap. It was interesting, it being based on the war that I actually lived through, and brought to home the sadness and terror a bit more than reading about other wars do. I really like the twists and turns for the search for the man that Darcy is hunting.

I think that’s all I can say about each of the books. I genuinely enjoy all three of them, although as you can tell, as the series continues I love the books more. The romances are all clean, intentional and based on faith. I so appreciate that in novels.

This series was printed back in 2002 and yet, I feel like it’s still one of my favorites of hers. I’d love to hear if you’ve read this series?

Other Dee Henderson reviews on SGL:

The O’Malley Series Review

Book Reviews- Dee Henderson Special

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Book Reviews- Dee Henderson Special

11 Sep

Over the course of the past months (a year even. if you want me to be truly honest), I’ve been buying books more than I have in the past decade. I normally prefer to check books out from the library, then if I like them enough to own them, I wait until I find them at used book/thrift stores. But with the closing and all of libraries, that avenue was cut off. What was I supposed to do? Not get any new reads?

Surely not.

Instead, I wound up finding this lovely soul on Instagram that sells books at great prices and also have found there can be great deals on christianbook.com. All this to say that my To-Read pile has grown wonderfully long, and that’s aside from the pile that I already owned that I need to read. Check out my Classics Edition and Other books to see what those look like.

ALL of that to say, I wound up with a few more Dee Henderson books, one I’d never read and the other one I think I’d only read once. And since I’m woefully behind on posting anything on here, I decided that a nice, easy welcome-back post would be to review just the Henderson books. So, here we go!

Kidnapped – FBI agent, Luke Falcon, has just walked into a nightmare. Someone has taken his cousin’s wife and son. Determined to get them back, he is searching for the kidnapper and trying to solve the crimes surrounding it. But danger is getting closer to him and the woman he loves. (published 2004, originally titled, True Courage)

~What’s interesting is this is slated as book #4 of the Uncommon heroes series. While it’s been a few years since I read them, I can’t see/remember any link to the other books. Nonetheless, this one is well worth the read. Luke Falcon- first off, a really cool name; second he’s kind of a dream-come-true-kinda guy. His life is seriously thrown for a loop when he gets the call that his family is missing. The twists and turns are just what I expect from her. The discussions of faith were really good, although they didn’t impact me as much as the ones in ‘Taken'(see below). I did feel like I should have known who a few side characters were, so maybe I do need to go back and read the Uncommon Heroes series again, perhaps they are in one of those books. But it wasn’t so much that it detracted from the story.

Before I Wake – The town of Justice, Illinois is small and quiet and Sheriff Nathan Justice loves it. He meets Rae Gabriella as she moves into town, seeking a new start after an undercover investigation went wrong. She’s decided to work as a private investigator with former boyfriend, Bruce Chapel, hoping the quiet town will help her heal. But the peace and tranquility have just been shattered by a string of murders. Women are being found in their hotel rooms, apparently dead in their sleep- no sign of theft or violence in the rooms. When Nathan finds out that Rae is working one of the cases, he’s not happy about it, especially as she fits the profile to be the next victim. Can Nathan, Rae and Bruce work together to find who and what this mysterious killer is before the killer strikes again? (published 2006)

~This was a new read for me. I really liked the small town of Justice, and the history that the Sheriff had, as his family had founded the town years before. The different aspects that were going on in this story were woven together SO well, and all actually mattered in the story. (as opposed to some books that we’ve all read that had parts that weren’t necessary to the plot and just seemed to take away from it.. but I digress). I really liked the side character, Gage Collier. Which, looking up his name just now made me wonder, isn’t he from the O’Malley series!??! Someone please tell me he is. Anyway…. pulling my attention back to this review just got harder– OK. The end was so good and satisfying although there were two things that I was like ‘wait, what?’ when I realized it was the last page. I can’t say more than that because it would be major spoilers but I’m a little surprised at her decisions in these things but I’m also holding out hope that it means she was setting it up for a second book.

Taken – Shannon’s escape was planned to the last detail, as is her plan to capture the ones who kidnapped her -the Jacoby family. Her choosing Matthew Dane, private investigator, as the one who helps her gain her freedom, wasn’t an accident. But the task of finding all the evidence, and what happened to the ransom that was paid all those years ago, is going to be harder than she thought. (published 2015)

~I did really enjoy this book. It is intense and a bit slow moving but it’s theme was different than I’d read before – taking place AFTER the kidnapping. I liked the faith of Shannon and her coming to terms with the events of her life. The romance was a little odd but it grew on me. – this was my original review from 2018. Now, having read it again, I agree with everything I said although the romance wasn’t odd to me. I liked its sweetness and carefulness. Shannon’s faith again impacted me So much. I appreciate how Henderson writes the struggles and theology into her books.

One Suggestion I have before reading Taken is to read Full Disclosure and Unspoken. Just for background on some of the important side characters. I’m sure you can read it and still fully enjoy it without but I think it would be worth it to wait and give those a shot first. They both are also excellent, from what I remember as it’s been a few year since I read either.

Here are my reviews for them from previous posts:

Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson – Ann Silver, cop, passes off a case to Luke Falcon, FBI. She’s relieved to have it off her desk, as she’s also the Midwest Homicide Investigator. He’s just been handed vital information that ties to a case he’s been working for years. But soon their lives will collide, getting far more personal than either had anticipated.

~ Whooeeee. I’d read this book years before but didn’t remember much of it. I appreciated how different of a lead female character Anne was – her end goal wasn’t marriage and kids and the white picket fence. This book has so many layers to it that I was sucked in very quickly and stayed that way. It is an intense story, as you follow along on a John Doe case. Perhaps a bit too quick of a wrap-up at the end for me, but thankfully, it didn’t ruin the whole thing. (you know what I’m talking about). 

Unspoken by Dee Henderson – Almost twenty years later, Charlotte Graham still hasn’t spoken about her past. A past that includes her being the center of the most famous kidnapping in Chicago’s history. A past that includes such pain and fear that she’s never risked telling anyone. Can she finally take that risk?

~You might notice that another Henderson kick is beginning… This one is ‘connected’ with Full Disclosure and Taken. While there was a lot of detail about coins, I appreciated how much she researched it out – it didn’t take away from the novel for me. As usual, some of the faith struggles of the characters hit a bit too close to home for me – but that is one reason I appreciate Henderson’s books. She writes not only good fiction, she gives real-life faith struggles to her characters. I highly recommend this book!

And I’ll admit that I have them in an online cart right now, debating if I should break my self-imposed book buying ban and just get them, or not. Decisions, decisions.

Have you read any Dee Henderson? What’s your favorite of hers?

~Laura

The O’Malley Series Review – click to read!

I’ve made a sticky note to remind me to do a separate post for the Uncommon Heroes series sometime soon.

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