Tag Archives: book reviews

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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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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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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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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March 2021 Book Reviews

14 May

Once again, it’s been far too long since I got any sort of post here on SGL. But, at last, I have finished the book reviews for what I read in March. It was rather a stellar month for reading exceptional books, let me tell you. Let’s get right to it!

Redwall by Brian Jacques- At Redwall Abbey, everything is peaceful and the inhabitants prepare to celebrate the Summer of the Late Rose. But what they don’t know yet is that Cluny the Scourge is nearing their valley. Cluny is a vicious warlord, a one-eyed rat who wishes to kill all in his path. He sets plans to kill the peaceful animals and take ownership of Redwall.

~I had never read this nor barely even heard of it, and am so glad that I picked a copy up when I found it at a thrift store. It turns out that my husband read the whole series as a kid and loved it. I quickly understood why as I was whisked into the world of the Abbey- Martin, Bartholomew and the others. Cluny and his army. The owl. Oh, just the whole of it. It was so good and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

To Whisper Her Name (Belle Meade Plantation #1) by Tamera Alexander – Being the widow of a man who was shot as a traitor to the south leaves Olivia Aberdeen without many options in Nashville. She has been shunned by proper society. But she is relieved to accept the invitation by ‘Aunt’ Elizabeth Harding to be housekeeper at Belle Meade Plantation. When she arrives and finds out from Confederate General William Giles Harding why he agreed to her coming, she is disillusioned and worried. This was not to be the safe haven that she had hoped it would be. But another newcomer to Belle Meade draws her interest, a young man that, although he is from the South, seems anything but a Southern gentleman. Ridley Cooper, branded a traitor and dreaming of learning the ‘gift’ that Bob Green, Belle Meade’s horse trainer and former slave, has with horses, enters Belle Meade with a host of secrets. One of them being that while he was born in the South, he fought for the North. As he battles demons within himself, both of them must deal with fears of betrayal.

~Why did this sit on my shelf for a few years before I ever read it? I’ll never know. I was quickly drawn into the story and was HELD there for the whole thing. I really liked Ridley and Uncle Bob. As well as Olivia and her struggle to overcome not only her long-held fears but the social stagnation that suddenly happens to her. A great book – highly recommend! 

Mary Poppins 80th Collection Edition by P.L. Travers – Travel to Cherry Tree Lane on the east wind and join in on all the adventures that the Banks children go on when Mary Poppins arrives to be their nanny.

~Forgive the super short synopsis but I feel like most people have a general idea of who Mary Poppins is. I had never read any of the stories about the ‘magical’ nanny, my only experience was Disney’s rendition of her with Julie Andrews. I did enjoy getting to see how Travers wrote the character and all the crazy adventures she led the children on. But, I will say, I didn’t end up adoring her, nor the whole of the book. There were adventures that I had fun reading but on the whole, (please don’t hate me for saying this), I rather still prefer Disney’s version of who Mary Poppins is. I am glad I read it though, and think it’s worth anyone who is interested in at least trying it. I will add that getting to know Poppins’ relatives makes it worth it.

Home Work: A Memoir of my Hollywood Years by Julie Andrews – This being her second memoir, she focuses on her years in Hollywood, as an up and coming actress. The highs and lows of working with the giants of cinema at the time as well as balancing her personal life.

~I enjoyed the portion that I read of this. I honestly read maybe a quarter of it but realized that as interesting as it was, there were other books that I would rather be reading. So, I opted to be done with it. But, Andrew’s writing style is engrossing and the stories she shares are interesting. I mainly wanted to read it because of learning about her experiences filming both Mary Poppins and Sound of Music.

Seraphina (Seraphina #1) by Rachel Hartman- In Goredd, the peace between humans and dragons these past forty years has done little to ease the suspicions between them. The dragons have created a way to form themselves into human shape, and their abilities in mathematics are unmatched. The anniversary of the treaty is approaching and tensions run high. Seraphina Dombegh is a new member of court when a member of the royal family is murdered. With sufficient reason to hide from both sides, she is nevertheless caught up in the investigation with the perceptive captain of the guard, Prince Lucian Kiggs. As things grow more dangerous, she struggles to hid her secret that could mean her very life, if it is found out.

This gets five stars and I do not do 5 star ratings very often! I was completely enamored with this book. I knew nothing about it when I started – but man, Hartman did an amazing job weaving a story together with dragons in a whole new way. I really liked Kiggs’ character development, as well as Seraphina herself. The only things I feel like I should mention: the word ‘bastard’ is used throughout but in the instance of being a child born out of wedlock, not as a derogatory name. There is a very subtle instance of a possible relationship between two men, but it’s so subtle that I probably wouldn’t have even caught it if I hadn’t looked up the term that Hartman used for it. I am eagerly awaiting reading the sequel.

Dr Fate Vol. 1 The Blood Price by Paul Levitz (from goodreads:) In modern-day Brooklyn, Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead, has called up a great flood in order to cleanse the world. If left unchecked, his magic has the power to wash all of humanity away. To turn the rising tide and save mankind, Nabu the Wise, the mystical helmet of Fate, must choose a new champion from among Earth’s greatest heroes—instead, he settles on Khalid “Kent” Nassour, Egyptian-American first-year med student. Unfortunately for the inexperienced and overwhelmed Khalid, instructions for his new abilities can’t be found in any of his textbooks. Unless he can learn to harness the ancient power of Nabu, Anubis will claim everything the new Doctor Fate holds dear, including his family, his girlfriend and the world as he knows it. Yes, the Doctor is in…way over his head.

~sometimes, the goodreads synopsis is just too good. Whoever wrote this one, nailed it. Confession time: this was my first comic book. Not to read of course, there have been a few over the years. But to own. And it is, naturally, about Dr. Fate. (marrying a nerd has had its advantages in getting exposed to some really cool superhero characters). This is a modern retelling of Dr. Fate’s origin and I liked it. I really appreciated that they worked in a (full page) spread of him in his original outfit. (insert girlish squealing). The storyline kept me interested and the artwork was incredible.

What have you been reading lately?

~Laura

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Jan and Feb 2021 Book Reviews

25 Mar

Well, it’s been a minute since I last posted, hasn’t it? As you can tell by the title, I’ve decided to lump the book reviews in two months today. Hopefully I can then get caught up and do March’s book reviews in the next week or so. Let’s begin, shall we?

Photo by Mahendra Kumar on Unsplash

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson – English orphan, Maia is sent to live with her distant relatives who own a rubber plantation on the Amazon. Excited to explore the new world of sunshine, bright flowers and butterflies, she is surprised to encounter her cousins who douse the house with bug killer and won’t let her leave their compound. But Maia can’t be cooped up forever and she becomes involved in a mystery about an inheritance, a reluctant actor and a giant sloth

~ This is a children’s story so well written that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I fell in love with Maia and her governess, Miss Minton. I highly recommend it to pass on to young readers as well! It was such fun and getting to read about the Amazon just added to the delight.

A Year of No Sugar: A Memoir by Eve Schaub – when Eve’s eyes were opened to how sugar is hidden in just about everything (bacon, dressings, baby food, etc), she challenged her husband and two daughters to going a whole year without sugar. As they traversed the rocky road through holidays, birthdays and vacations, she learned what the real cost of such sugar consumption is- obesity, diabetes and increased risk of heart disease among other issues. Eve talks about what it’s like for an average American family to kick the sugar habit.

~ Every now and then I love to read food memoirs and this was a good one. I appreciated Schaub’s easy to understand explanations about sugar byproducts, and her honesty about the challenges of cutting sugar out of their diets. As someone who has had to cut out all processed sugars out of my own diet, I identified with a lot of what she talks about. It also motivated me to keep looking at the ingredient lists of anything I buy – which can get wearying after a few years but it’s Worth it. Highly recommend, whether you’re wanting a good kick in the pants to minimize your sugar intake or just a good memoir to laugh and groan along with.

Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin – We all know that habits are the key to change but Rubin wondered – how do we change our habits? She gives practical advice and theories – that she tested on herself and those around her- mixed with humor and research, on how to improve our lives by intentionally creating habits that help us lead the life we want.

~ This book was so inspirational. I’m tempted to buy it (I got it from the library to read) and actually give some of her ideas a try. This book was such an easy read and kept me turning the pages. (I even stopped reading the novel I was in at the time, it’s that good). I highly recommend!

Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes – Raised on stories of the magic of the past and high seas adventures, Lucy Clairmont grew up to be a marine archaeologist. She’s not seen her childhood friend, Dashel, for years. But when tragedy strikes, it’s his knowledge as a forensic astronomer that will help her unravel the mystery that she finds in her childhood home. Somehow, it’s linked with a story two hundred years old- of childhood love, betrayal, sacrifice and redemption. And so, Lucy and Dashel journey to an estate on the East Sussex coast, where they find a community of gentle souls and long-lost secrets where they both just might find healing.

~ Deep breath, you guys. This novel was Incredible. It immediately went onto my Favorites of 2021 list. I adore when an author can carry two different timelines through the story and weave them so seamlessly together. This was my first novel of Dykes by the way, and I was thoroughly enchanted with her writing style. I wanted to shake Lucy a few times as she let fear or assumptions dictate her actions- but don’t we all do that at times? And really, if you can write marine archaeology into a book, I am probably going to be a fan. If you’re wanting a novel that you just can’t put down, give this one a try! I already can’t wait to read it again.

My Secret War: The World War II Diary of Madeline Beck, Long Island, New York, 1941 by Mary Pope Osborne – This diary follows the adventures and trials of young Madeline. Her and her mother live in a boardinghouse on Long Island while her father serves on an aircraft carrier on the Pacific Coast. When her and her friend find a German U-boat on the coast, they form “Kids Fight for Freedom” to do their own part in the home front war effort.

~ This is a part of the ‘Dear America’ series. I have read a few, mostly when I was a young teen, and enjoyed them. This was no exception, even if it was written a little simply and I would have loved more details on certain things. But, this is written as a diary, not a novel, so it makes complete sense as to its level. I appreciated the growth of Madeline throughout the story as she goes through good and bad times during the war. Also, it’s a little known fact that a German U-boat was found on the coast in New York. I definitely recommend this for younger (and older) readers.

Books coming up in the next review:

Redwall by Brian Jacques

To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

and more!

What have you been reading lately? I’d love to hear!

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Book Reviews- Oct/Nov

14 Dec

Two months of book reviews in one today! I guess it’s just not in me these days to be consistent on my blogging. No matter how much I want to be. I’ve not only shared some novels but I’ve also linked a few reviews below that I shared previously as well as research books for my own novels. I hope you’ll find something to add to your TBR. Happy Reading!

Skyward Series by Brandon Sanderson –

Kingdom above the Cloud by Maggie Platt

After reading it, I had to buy my own copy

Rebecca by Daphne Du Marier – Even though working as a lady’s companion is a step up for her, it’s still a small and dismal world to be a part of. So when the heroine of Rebecca meets and subsequently gets an unexpected proposal from Max de Winter, she accepts. She’s quickly swept into a world that she has no experience with. Max takes her home to his estate -overwhelming and set in its ways – Manderley and the staff that comes with it. The memory of Rebecca is kept alive by Mrs. Danvers, Max is haunted by the memory of his late wife and becomes taciturn and our heroine is caught in the middle.

~Over the past few years I have been getting told that I simply must read this book. When I saw that Enchanted Book Club was reading it a few months ago, I decided it was the time to give it a shot and was able to borrow a copy from a friend. And I’m so glad that I did. There were times that I did not enjoy what was happening in the story – why was Max so cold all of a sudden? Why was Frank Crawley so nice and yet seemingly so disliked by Mrs. Danvers? What was Mrs. Danver’s problem anyway? What changed Max so much when they got to Manderely? etc. The Questions were numerous. But they just made me keep reading, needing desperately to know the answers. The unexpected reveals in this story just blew me away. I didn’t see them coming. I did really love seeing the new Mrs. De Winter gain self confidence as the story went on, as she learned more about what was truly going on at Manderley. The writing style was incredible, I’m interested in reading other books by Du Marier now. I wouldn’t recommend it for younger readers, due to the intensity of the storyline.

the copy on the left was a gift from my 9th birthday!

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – We follow the March sisters as they grow up in New England during the Civil War. Feminine and proper Meg, tomboy Jo, spoiled Amy and tender, sickly Beth each go through their highs and lows. Young neighbor Laurie joins in many of their adventures.

~It had been a few years since I read this classic story and I have to admit that I forgot so much of what happened (that isn’t typically in the movies). I liked seeing how Amy grew and matured; Beth’s faith despite everything; Meg’s learning how to be a good, Godly wife and Jo’s independence and realizing love can come, despite your intentions to avoid it. Can readily recommend this for younger readers, the life lessons throughout are just wonderful, for any age.

Little Men by Louisa May Alcott – Years later, Jo now has boys of her own, as well as a dozen orphaned boys filling her informal school. And she couldn’t be happier, she loves each one of them and strives to help them grow in all the important ways. But boys will still be boys and they get into trouble and many an adventure.

~ This was only the second time I’ve read Little Men! I think I can honestly say that I enjoyed it even more than I did Little Women. The scrapes the the boys get into are just so interesting and you really root for them when they make the right choices. I highly recommend this for anyone, especially younger readers as it’s so fun and the life lessons are just as good as in Little Women.

Dressed for the Photographer: Ordinary Americans & Fashion, 1840-1900 by Joan Severa – Through photographs and writings, we are shown how poorer Americans could wear the current fashions within a year. And how fashion equality really rose in people’s minds as the years progressed. Through ready-made clothing and other inventions, the fashion industry changed the average American’s style.

~I got this book as research for the novels I’m writing and while I only focused on the years that were pertinent to my stories, I highly enjoyed (and took copious notes) it. The detail that Severa goes into is so great for historical information that I would love to own this eventually.

20th Century Fashion 1900-1920 Linen and Lace by Sue Mee – As part of a series that covers how fashion changed – from the tea gown to sportswear- it covers eight ‘looks’ as well as other information about the time period.

~This book was interesting but it wasn’t as in depth as I was wanting. It had some great information though!

Police Procedure and Investigation- a Guide for Writers by Lee Lofland – With this guide, you can get your facts about the inner workings of police departments straight instead of ending up like so many television shows that get so much of it wrong.

~This is yet another book for research, and that I’d love to own eventually. I didn’t need very much information from it but ended up flipping through several chapters just out of pure curiosity. Lofland gives it to you straight and detailed. A very good reference book.

Currently Reading:

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

To Read:

Christmas/Winter books (watch for an upcoming post on that!)

What have you been reading lately?

~Laura

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Book Reviews- Sept 2020

13 Oct

I’m finally sitting down and getting book reviews up for you all! I’ve been reading quite a bit lately – novels and books for research, as you’ll soon see! I’ve joined an online book club called An Enchanted Book Club, where each month a classic book is chosen. September’s was Peter Pan! Let’s get to the reviews, shall we?

Sherwood by Meagan Spooner – When Marian puts on Robin’s cape to help her maid’s brother, she doesn’t intend to lead people to believe that he has returned. Because he never can- he’s died in the Holy Crusades far from England. But there’s a corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham draining the people and land of food and hope, and Guy of Gisborne wans to take Robin’s place as Lord of Locksley as well as Marian’s fiancee’. She decides that if no one else will stop them, she will. She decides to become her own hero : Robin Hood.

– Click the title to read my review! Trust me, this book is worth one extra click.

Yours for Liberty: Selections from Abigail Scott Duniway’s Suffrage Newspaper by Jean M. Ward – Duniway started a small newspaper in 1871- one of the very few of its time that was focused on the advancement of women. This book shares excerpts from its conception to when she sold it.

-Duniway was a powerful woman in a time when women were expected to mind the house and babies. While she did raise several kids, she also pushed the boundaries of normality and became the main breadwinner after her husband had an accident. She was formidable in the fight for women’s emancipation.( I got this from the library)

Abigail Scott Duniway and Susan B. Anthony in Oregon: Hesitate No Longer by Jennifer Chambers– When entrepreneur Duniway was on a business trip, she waited excitedly to meet Susan B. Anthony outside the convention. That meeting sparked a friendship that would last decades – through travel by train, carriage, horseback and boat as they shared the message that women had a right to vote. They each were vital in the parts they played to bring about the 19th ammendment.

Having read the previous book about Duniway, this was interesting to read more about her life in detail. Chambers shares an intimate view of each Duniway and Anthony as they fought tirelessly to give women a voice. They were different in many ways, and often disagreed, but their end goal was the same. Duniway became the head leader in the Pacific Northwest for the Suffrage movement. This was a good, easy read with a lot of interesting facts about the movement. Highly recommend. (I got this from the library)

The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden – Not only is Elizabeth Black the headmistress of a girls boarding school in Victorian London, she writes ‘silver-fork’ novels- stories for the upper-class societies. But she finds the restrictions placed on women constricting, so she’s assumed the pseudonym of Mr. King and writes penny-dreadfuls. Those stories of daring fights and dashing heroes fighting supernatural villians. Fletcher Walker is the most popular author of the penny-dreadfuls, until Mr. King comes along. Fletcher has come a long way from being a street urchin and now, as part of the Dread Penny Society, helps the fraternity to rescue as many kids from that life as he can. But, Mr. King is taking his readers- and his profits. In the search to find out who the elusive author is, Fletcher goes to Miss Black for her assistance. But neither expects the danger that is about to come their way – nor the attraction that draws them ever closer

This book, you guys. This book. Just click on the title and read my full review, okay? It’s worth it, I promise. (I got this from the library)

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie – When Peter Pan lands in the Darling’s nursery to look for his shadow, he meets Wendy, John and Michael. With a bit of help from pixie dust, he teaches them to fly and off they go to Neverland where they meet pirates, pixies, Indians and mermaids. With plenty of adventures for them, the Darling children are enthralled with the Boy who Refuses to Grow up, and the world he lives in.

I’m quite certain I’ve read this before but so much of it seemed new to me that I can’t be certain… I’m not the only one who does that, am I? I adore the Disney version, so it was fun to see what they kept and what they changed in the story. The book is a tad darker but not so much that I’d limit the age of who could read it. Barrie’s style is quite different from what I’ve read before, I’m intrigued to read another of his. Peter Pan will probably be a yearly read for me, it was fun, sweet and full of little lessons along the way.

The Mayflower Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower #1) by Kimberley Woodhouse– in 1620, Mary Elizabeth, along with her father and brother, board the Speedwell with her community of Seperatists in the search for a new life. William Lytton boards the Mayflower not only as a carpenter but also as an agent of the Virginia Company, to keep an eye on their interests as the colony is set up in the New World. But the journey seems doomed from the start- the season is not good for sailing, food runs low, disease runs rampant and hope is failing. Will Mary Elizabeth and her people survive in order to start their new life? Will William be branded a traitor and sent home?

-I snagged the first three books in this series when it was on crazy sale on christianbook.com. This book, as stated, starts in 1620 when three ships started out for the New World. I enjoyed the story overall, but it didn’t suck me in completely. I’m not sure why though. Woodhouse did her homework on the Separatists and those that sailed with them, and I really appreciated that. I especially liked William as he was trying to do what was right, even as he searched for his own faith. I did appreciate how clean the romance was, so sweet and caring without anything unnecessary! Because of that, I feel that even younger teens would be able to read this book and enjoy it as well as learn faith and life lessons.

American Queenmaker: How Missy Meloney brought Women into Politics by Julie Des Jardins– “Marie “Missy” Mattingly Meloney was born in 1878, in an America where women couldn’t vote. Yet she recognized the power that women held as consumers and family decision-makers, and persuaded male publishers and politicians to take them seriously. Over the course of her life as a journalist, magazine editor-in-chief, and political advisor, Missy created the idea of the female demographic. After the passage of the 19th Amendment she encouraged candidates to engage with and appeal to women directly. In this role, she advised Presidents from Hoover and Coolidge to FDR. By the time she died in 1943, women were a recognized political force to be reckoned with.” – I grabbed this synopsis from Goodreads because it’s just so well written.

–I got this from the library as part of my research for the novels that I’m writing. I’d never heard of Missy Meloney before but I’m so glad that, not only this book was written, but that I decided to give it a try! I expected to read only the bits that were what I was wanting info on but I found that I couldn’t put it down! I think everyone should learn about Meloney- she was a woman who was behind so much in this country. I also was inspired to try and work past/through my health ailments as she did throughout her life. This book was very well written and researched, it had so many interesting tidbits of history throughout.

Currently Reading:

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Rebecca by Daphne Du Marier

To Read:

Winter’s Heart( Wheel of Time #9) by Robert Jordan

The Pirate Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower #2) By Kathleeen Y’Baro

Police Procedure and Investigation- a Guide for Writers by Lee Lofland

20th Century Fashion 1900-1920 Linen and Lace by Sue Mee

Dressed for the Photographer: Ordinary Americans & Fashion, 1840-1900 by Joan Severa

(these last 3 are library books for research for my current WIP)

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