Tag Archives: christian romance

Books I Love to Read – Modern Setting/Author

3 Oct

Over on my social media pages, I’ve been sharing with you some of the books that I absolutely love and this week is all about those books that I think about often.

Over the past several weeks, I’ve be doing, well, I suppose you could call it a kind of series. Sharing videos where I talked about books I love, with a different focus or theme, each time. I’ve also been sharing blog posts on those same books. If I’ve already written a review on the book, I’ll link it! This is meant to be a quick way to get to know me a little bit more – and these blog posts will be short reads! You’re welcome!

This final week’s focus is Modern Setting/Author:

Lights of the Veil by Patty Metzer – Mere hours after meeting her nephew, her late sister’s son, both Erica and Betul are kidnapped and taken to India. Back in the place of her birth, Erica meets Prince Ajari who helps her, and then revels that he’s Betul’s uncle.

Happily Ever After by Susan May Warren – Mona Reynold’s  dream of opening her own bookstore and coffee shop is about to come true. With the help of her friend and a handyman that leaves her breathless, she races to fix the old Victorian house up in time for opening day.

A Table by the Window by Lawana Blackwell – After receiving word that a grandmother she barely remembers left her an inheritance, Carley travels to the small town of Talullah, Mississippi. Instantly charmed by it as well as the friendliness of its residents, she decides to move there. But she’s unexpectedly caught up in a murder mystery.

Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes – Lucy Clairmont, marine archaeologist, hasn’t 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 that’s it for this little ‘series’ of mine! I hope you enjoyed it and found some books to add to your to-read pile!

~Laura

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Books I Love to Read- Grew Up Reading

18 Sep

Over on my social media pages, I’m sharing with you some of the books that I absolutely love and this week is all about those books that I think about often.

Over the next several weeks, I’ll be doing, well, I suppose you could call it a kind of series. I’ll be sharing videos where I talk about books I love, with a different focus or theme, each time. I’m also sharing blog posts on those same books. If I’ve already written a review on the book, I’ll link it! This is meant to be a quick way to get to know me a little bit more – and these blog posts will be short reads! You’re welcome!

The focus is very specifically, on Lori Wick and Janette Oke books that I grew up reading. I’ll definitely share other favorites from my growing-up years but this is it for now =)

I probably started reading these around twelve or thirteen years old.

Where the Wild Rose Blooms by Lori Wick – published in 1996. Just when love blooms between young Clayton and Jackie, tragedy strikes. How can Jackie tell Clayton the truth when it could ruin everything?

A Woman Named Damaris by Janette Oke – published in 1991. The idea of living away from her drunk, abusive father grows in fifteen-year old Damaris’ mind and one day, with her mother’s love and two family heirlooms, she makes her getaway.

Roses for Mama by Janette Oke – published in 1991. Angela and Thomas struggle to care for and raise their younger siblings after their parents died. The responsibility seems to grow harder as Angela works to raise them how their mother would have wanted.

A Gown of Spanish Lace by Janette Oke – published in 1995. When Arianna is suddenly kidnapped and the boss’ son set to guard her, she fears for her life and future.

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Of Gold and Shadows Book Review

29 Apr

I used to never buy new books, much less pre-order them. But over the past few years, I’ve been changing that stance. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “If an author is dead or famous, I use the library. If they’re new or need support, I buy the book.” I’ve started taking that more to heart, and even the well-known ones still need support, you know? =) Yes, that’s book-math in all it’s glory.

Anyway, I have loved Michelle Griep’s books for years (links for her other books that I’ve reviewed are at the end of this post). Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep is the first book in Time’s Lost Treasures series. It was published in September, 2024

This novel is set in 1888 Victorian England. It follows Ami Dalton as she struggles to make a name for herself as an Egyptologist amid the gender biases that academia is steeped in. However, her heart also lies in rescuing black-market artifacts, so she’s often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.

We also follow Edmund Price, Oxford’s most eligible bachelor – after eight years in India, he’s returned to London to run for Parliament and to find an Egyptologist to value his newly acquired collection. He expects to find the esteemed professor, but instead finds the professor’s daughter, Ami. As she begins work on the collection, their connection deepens but then a golden griffin that supposedly bears the curse of Amentuk surfaces. Ami and Edmund must work together to decide whether there really is a centuries- old curse causing problems or if there’s a darker force hiding in the shadows.

The Shadows hold secrets darker than they ever imagined

My review:

I’ll be honest with you, I’ve not been reading very many historical fictions lately. It’s a shame but as I’m very much a mood reader, these things happen. I had this one on my shelf since it released back in September but never could quite start it for some reason… Once I started it, I was quickly hooked. I do adore Ami’s kindhearted, slightly absent-minded ways. Her determination to see historical artifacts where they can be appreciated and safeguarded. Her love of flowers and bees… Of course, Edmund is quite wonderful as well. His deep loyalty to those he cares about. His devotion to being honest, and to being vulnerable when necessary.

I found the storyline to be intriguing and appreciated the, perhaps, lesser known details/facts about that era that were sprinkled in. While I found some of the plot devices a bit expected, they weren’t heavily leaned on to support the plot! Huzzah! Which honestly, is what I expected from Griep – her stories are never cliche’ and her characters never cardboard-cutouts.

The ending was quite satisfying and sweet without being sugar-coated if you know what I mean. I did love that we got to see Ami and her father’s relationship grow through the story as well.

I’d definitely recommend this novel! If I rated via stars, it’d get a solid four, maybe a four and a half, from me.

Other books by Michelle Griep:

The House at the End of the Moor

The Captured Bride 

The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane – apparently I never reviewed this one. Suffice it to say that it was fantastic- plot twists and character depths that I appreciated. It’s been two years since I read it and I can still recall some of my favorite scenes. I’ll have to read it again this year and write out a proper review!

~ Laura

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Book Reviews- Jan 2025

31 Jan

Welcome back to SGL, my friends! We’ve another book review post today, and at the bottom, there’s a quick review of my December reads.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes #1-9) by Arthur Conan Doyle – Doyle’s famous detective, Sherlock Holmes’ and his trusted assistant, Watson, in all nine books of adventures put together in one audiobook.

~I started this 69 hour long audiobook back in the beginning of September. I enjoyed finally reading the Sherlock stories but will admit that doing it all in one ‘chunk’ was probably a bit much. I enjoyed seeing how Holmes’ was written- rather than how he’s portrayed in movies/tv series. He’s more talkative and considerate in general than I think is portrayed. I enjoyed these and look forward to reading specific ones again. Definitely recommend.

Uprooted : How 3,000 years of Jewish Civilization in the Arab World Vanished Overnight by Lyn Julius – (a snippet of the excerpt from Goodreads) Who are the Jews from Arab countries? What were relations with Muslims like? What made Jews leave countries where they had been settled for thousands of years? What lessons can we learn from the mass exodus of minorities from the Middle East?

~I am working to regularly read a bit more non-fiction with the focus being Jewish history. Unsurprisingly, this was a rather hard read, which made it a slow one for me. There were so many points that I tabbed and I have started a blog post for a separate review. Definitely recommend this for adult readers who want to learn about Jewish history in the Middle East.

A Lady in Attendance by Rachel Fordham – When Hazel takes a job as Dr. Gilbert Watt’s lady in attendance, she uses an alias. Five years in a New York state reformatory have left a stain on her real name – as well as on her heart. Gilbert Watts is unsure about admitting a woman into his office, but finds that Hazel is a cheerful addition to his life even while he senses something secretive underneath her chatter. For Hazel, she finds a friend in the quiet dentist and the hope that if she can put her past to rights, she just might have a future after all.

~My mom loaned me this book with the ‘you’ve got to read this’ suggestion. =) This is the only book by Fordham that I’ve read and it was well written and enjoyable! There was one moment for Hazel that felt so out of character that I stopped reading for a few days. But it was compelling enough that I came back to it and finished. Fordham had some twists throughout the plot that kept this story feeling fresh and I appreciated that. Recommend.

Castle of Whispers (Secrets of the Quilt #1) by Elizabeth Penney – Sofia Parker inherits a family heirloom the evening before her grandmother’s funeral. A trunk and the silk quilt inside have been passed down for generations, a secret trust to be guarded. But all the guardians were women who were excellent seamstresses and Sofia can barely thread a needle, much less stitch a straight line. So Sofia is stunned to inherit this heirloom, and even more so to find that there’s a diary inside the trunk as well. A diary that chronicles the significance of each piece of the quilt and the one that intrigues Sofia is that one is claimed to be connected to the Mona Lisa!

~This was another book my mom loaned me. I admit that I was a bit uncertain about it but I’m glad I gave it a try. It was a cute read – one with a fun historical twist that since the synopsis doesn’t say too much about it, I won’t either. Suffice it to say that this was a sweet story although, once again, the main character, Sofia, did something that irked me. It was better explained further on (the motivations behind) but, I’ll admit, it still doesn’t sit quite right…? I don’t know. But. If you’re wanting a sweet read with some fun history thrown in, check this one out. And apparently it’s a whole series!

Lord Peter: The Complete Lord Peter Wimsey Stories by Dorothy L. Sayers – a full collection of the 21 Wimsey short stories along with an article about the author.

~This is linked to a review that I did of the whole series earlier this month – definitely check it out if you like mysteries. It was quite fun to go through these, even though I’m not normally a fan of short stories. I will always recommend this series!!

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia #1) by C.S. Lewis – When the Pevensie children are sent away from London, they’re sent to stay at a house owned by the professor. Lucy, the youngest, finds a wardrobe in an empty room and stumbles upon the fantastical land of Narnia. Soon, all four siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy- will be blinking in the bright sunlight of that frozen land, meeting Aslan and be forever changed.

~After the chaos that was December, I needed a cozy story to listen to, so I (naturally) turned to Narnia. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Michael York. I adore the Pevensie siblings, and of course, especially Lucy. And Peter. The beavers and Mr. Tumnus are wonderful as well. Suffice it to say, I highly recommend this intro to the Narnia series!

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson – Tress leads a simple life on her island home in the emerald sea. She enjoys colleting cups that sailors bring her and listening to the stories her friend Charlie tells her. But then he’s taken away from her by his father to find Charlie a bride and disaster strikes. Charlie has been captured by the Sorceress in the Midnight Sea. Tress decides she must sneak off her island and rescue Charlie. The journey she undergoes is dangerous, not only because one drop of water in a sea of spores can mean instant death, but because it will challenge her in every way.

~First off, how is this my third read of this book and yet it’s the first time I’ve reviewed it? Anyway, this is a fairytale but with the heroine being more than just the damsel in distress. Tress has no idea how she’ll accomplish her plan, but through it all, she proves that she is more than a simple window washer from a tiny island no one knows about. Sanderson wrote this with a bit of tongue-in-cheek that differs from his usual style and it just makes it that much more fun. Highly recommend.

Since I apparently missed doing a review on December’s reads, here’s a quick list of what I read! The first several are short stories from the Victorian age. I was part of a read-along on Instagram that’s called Dickens December. It’s quite fun if you want to check it out – look up Laura (pixie.hallows) or Jess (dickens.and.docks)

The Christmas Mummers by Mary Charlotte Younge

Old Hooker’s Ghost by Anonymous

The Black Bag Left on a Doorstep by Louisa Catherine Perkis (a new favorite. It’s about a female detective!)

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Other reads in December:

The Legend of Luke (Redwall #12) by Brian Jacques – Martin, along with friends, Gonff, Trimp the hedgehog and Dinny Foremole, leaves Redwall on a dangerous journey to the northern shores to find his father, Luke. There, he finds the story of the evil pirate stoat, Vilu Deskar and the warrior mouse, Luke, who pursued him over dangerous seas to enact revenge, even if it meant abandoning his only son.

~I always enjoy a Redwall story. I’d been curious about the story of Martin’s father, as I’ve been slowly reading through the series (although I did go out of order on this one, whoops!) I liked the different creatures that the travellers came across, and how they either outsmarted/defeated/befriended them, depending on who they were. All that to say, I enjoyed it even though this isn’t one of my favorites of the series.

Hangman’s Holiday: a collection of short mysteries (Lord Peter Wimsey #9) by Dorothy L. Sayers – this collection not only shares some amusing things that happen to/around Wimsey, but they also include some stories featuring amateur sleuth Montague Egg.

~I started this a little unsure, because I’m honestly not a huge fan of short stories, but they were still delightful! I thought the ones with Montague Egg were hilarious, and wouldn’t mind reading more books about him.

Quite the diverse list, isn’t it? Did any strike your fancy? What’s a book you’ve read recently that you absolutely loved? Let me know, down below!

~Laura

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Sisters of Bethlehem Springs Series Review

11 Dec

Updated on Dec, 11th 2024 – In the interest of sharing some more historical fiction novels with you, I decided to bring this post from 2019 to your attention. I fondly remember these sweet stories from time to time – Hatcher is a favored storyteller for sure. With my own novel set in the late 1890s, it’s fun to revisit novels set in the same time period!

I’m excited to be sharing this series by Robin Lee Hatcher with you guys today. I know I promised this review to you way back in December but it’s finally here! And it’s definitely worth the wait. Trust me. I actually heard about this series from my aunt who found it at her local library.

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A Vote of Confidence, When Gwen Arlington complains about the mayoral candidate for their small town of Bethlehem Springs, she is encouraged to run for office herself. Although she’s unsure about upsetting her cozy life as a piano teacher and writing for the local newspaper, she decides to go for it. Unknown to her, newcomer Morgan Mckinley also decides to run for mayor. The health spa that he’s trying to build has stalled and he’s decided that being mayor will help cut through all the red tape. As both Gwen and Morgan try to prove that they are the best candidate for the job, not only to the residents of the town but to each other, sparks fly. But Gwen’s fiercely protected independence and Morgan’s guarded heart may just keep them as adversaries instead of allies.

Fit to Be Tied,  Cleo Arlington isn’t your typical young woman. She can rope, ride and wrangle a horse with the best of the outfit on her father’s ranch. But in 1916, those qualities aren’t what men are looking for in a wife. Her dreams of being married and having a family of her own look grim. So when Sherwood Statham comes to their ranch, she has a hard time with his uppity attitude. This English aristocrat isn’t there in Idaho by choice, but by order of his father. Cleo and Sherwood’s every encounter leaves one or the other mad as all get out. There’s no way he’s the one she’s been waiting  for, is there?

A Matter of Character, Writing dime novels isn’t what people expect of an heiress, so Daphne Mckinley keeps her hobby to herself. But the stories are a hit and the readers keep asking for more. Daphne eagerly obliges, continuing the saga of her villain Rawhide Rick, who is loosely based off local lore. But when Joshua Crawford comes to town in search of the man who has slandered his grandfather’s good name, Daphne learns just how powerful words are. She also has to make a choice on using her gift and just what she wants her life to be.

This series was so much fun. I love the time period – starting in 1915 – and Hatcher describes just enough of the world that you can picture it without there being too much reminding. Know what I mean? (there really can be too much description in a book. . .) The main characters are great, although I have to admit to liking Daphne the most (although I do remember getting frustrated at her a few times…) but I suppose that’s no surprise as she’s a writer and I’m a writer.

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aren’t these covers just perfect?! I’m in love

Anyway, this series was SO much fun, my friends. I read them all so quickly and was sad when they were over! Faith was an aspect of each book, but not overly done. (there can also be too much preaching in books…)  There is something so fun about reading novels set in this time period – the newfangled contraptions of typewriters and automobiles. The dresses, gloves and hats. (happy sigh)

The twists and turns were great as well, keeping me in suspense as to just how each book would end. I highly recommend this series, from teens on up! This series is definitely on my re-read list (we all have one of those, don’t we?)

Also, I have reviewed another of Hatcher’s books, The Shepherd’s Voice. Go check it out! It’s also set in Idaho.

~Laura

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Book Reviews – April and May 2024

7 Aug

Time for Book Reviews again! I know, already?! But I’m trying to catch up to be able to do them monthly as usual. If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that I’m currently in at least three series’. Two of them are children’s/young adult and one is murder mystery.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4) by J.K. Rowling- In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry is looking forward to learning new spells and playing Quidditch. But when he’s unexpectedly chosen as as competitor in the dangerous Triwizard Tournament, he’s suddenly thrust into more dangerous territory than he ever has been.

~I feel like this is the last book that the trio – Harry, Ron and Hermione- are still innocent kids enjoying school and holidays. The scenes where the muggle world and wizarding world interact, were wonderful and… magical. (sorry but I had to crack at least one joke like that in these reviews). The danger is so ramped up and yet, Harry’s got friends that help him along the way… or snub him, as the case may be. Anyway, this one was a lot of fun but also held so much heartache that sometimes caught me off guard.

The Five Red Herrings (Lord Peter Wimsey #7) by Dorothy L Sayers- While Wimsey is visiting the Scottish coast with some friends on a painting retreat, the hated Sandy Campbell is found dead. But although it looks like an accident on the cliffs, Wimsey is certain that there’s something wrong with the death and starts to investigate.

~ This one was intriguing as Wimsey and his ‘helpers’ track down the alibis of six different suspects. I admit that I had a hard time, or as Wimsey would say ‘a devil of a time’ keeping track of who everyone was. And then there was the question of whether the stolen bicycle was, or wasn’t, relevant to the case. I am still enjoying this series whole-heartedly, and having Ian Carmichael narrate the majority of them brings a certain comfort to the listen.

Brotherhood by Mike Chen- Obi-Wan is sent to Cato Neimoidia to investigate a devastating explosion and finds himself fighting the separatists. Anakin, who is now a Jedi Knight and on equal footing with Obi-Wan, goes against his orders to leave Kenobi to his own mission and hurries to assist.

~Ah, Kenobi and Skywalker. It was fun to see their familiarity and camaraderie bump against their struggle in finding their balance in their new equality. The investigation and subsequent…solving of the issue was quite entertaining. Definitely enjoyed this one.

Queen’s Peril (Star Wars: The Padmé Trilogy, #0) by E.K. Johnston- When Padme, at a mere fourteen years old, wins the election to be queen of Naboo, she adopts the name of Amidala to keep her family safe. Another precaution is to gather around her handmaidens – girls of similar age and build with skills that can be her decoys, assistants and confidants. But they all come from different backgrounds, and it’s up to Padme to unite them into one cohesive group.

~It was fun reading about Padme when she was younger and how she was so intentional about her handmaidens, as well as the choices she made for Naboo. It was hard to imagine having a ruler being a girl of 14, but somehow, one was able to put that aside, or even believe it was possible, in this atmosphere.

Come Out of the Kitchen! A Romance by Alice Duer Miller- In a small Southern town, bachelor Randolph Reed seeks to purchase a quaint mansion. But the owners only agree if he will take on the current four-person staff – a butler, cook, maid and a young page boy.

I picked this one up, printed in 1916, at a library book sale. It’s a lovely little hardcover and the title was just so intriguing that I had to grab it. It’s a short, sweet, comedic story of romance with some good moral lessons in it as well. I’ve since realized that there’s been an adaptation (tv or movie?) of this but I haven’t, as of yet, watched it. Highly recommend if you’re wanting a light, lovely read.

All My Secrets by Lynn Austin- When Arthur Stanhope III unexpectedly dies in 1898, his mother, widow and daughter are dismayed to learn that the estate – and the vast wealth- is left to the nearest male heir, leaving them almost destitute. His widow, Sylvia, decides that their best hope is for their daughter, Adelaide, to marry well, before news of their downfall is circulated. But, Junietta, her mother in law, feels that their lives need some shaking up and vows to let Adelaide choose her own path in life. Caught between two women she loves, Adelaide must learn from both of them and decide which life she wants to lead.

~The synopsis of this one drew me even though I’m not reading as much of this genre anymore. But Austin is an author I’ve read and enjoyed multiple times. This story, while it started out strong for me, threw me with some of the story-telling choices that were made. Without sharing spoilers, I didn’t enjoy how the three stories of the women were told. Recommend with the acknowledgement that it wasn’t for me.

The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson- Nomad has been running from the Night Brigade for years by skipping through the Cosmere, just one step ahead of his pursuers. But with his powers depleted, Nomad finds himself stuck on Canticle, a planet that’s own sun will kill anyone that doesn’t keep moving, following the shadows. Tormented by his past mistakes and terrified of making new ones, Nomad must do all he can to restore his powers to skip yet again, but ends up having to fight for his very soul.

~It had been too many months since I’d read a Sanderson novel, so I picked this one up again. (now that I have my own hardcover copy!) It being my second time through it was still a surprise on some of the plot points but I also understood some of the hints and twists that were coming. Enjoyed it thoroughly and obviously recommend.

Now’s the time to refill your coffee cup, restart your Youtube playlist before starting on May’s book reviews:

The Bellmaker (Redwall #7) by Brian Jacques- Martin the Warrior comes to Joseph the Bellmaker one night with a mysterious message, indicating that Joseph’s daughter, Mariel and her companion, Dandin are in great danger. They’ve been gone for four seasons, having left to fight evil but no word has been heard of them since. Four Redwallers rush off to find and assist Mariel and Dandin, facing danger of their own with valiant hearts.

~When I want an engaging comfort story, I turn to the Redwall series. This one was quite action-packed! I always enjoy the puzzles that Martin provides for the Redwallers to decode and their subsequent rally to action in order to do good. Plus, I always find myself wanting delectable vegetable, fruit and herb dishes after reading a Redwall book.

Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy by Terry Brooks- Follow the fight of good against evil, of myth and magic and of innocence and power in the fantastic world of Star Wars. Anakin Skywalker is found as a young slave on the world of Tatooine; as a young padawan, as a Jedi Knight fighting a war among the stars.

~This is the novelization of the prequels. It was quite fun to read although there were parts that I was a bit less interested in since I have seen the movies several times. But, I’d recommend these to any fan of Star Wars for sure.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5) by J.K. Rowling- After receiving no news, even from Ron and Hermione all summer, Harry finally learns just why that is. Dumbledore also tells him about a prophecy that says that Harry will have powers to defeat the now-returned Voldemort. But the wizarding world doesn’t believe that Lord Voldemort really has returned and are making Dumbledore, and Harry, out to be liars and dissidents.

~Well, so much for any of the ‘happy kid’ feeling from the previous books. This one just hits you in the face with the harsh reality that life often holds. Harry’s left out of anything that’s going on with the Dursley’s who abuse him. And even when he’s back among the Weasley’s and his other friends, he’s still not included in much of the planning. What makes it all worse is that the Ministry appoints a new teacher who takes pleasure in hurting the students. Like I said, so much for a lovely comforting read. But still, it was quite good, seeing our trio grow and learn when to stand up for themselves and the power of friendship, love and loyalty.

Long Way Down by Ewan McGregor- McGregor and Charlie Boorman go on their second trip around the world on their motorcycles. This one is a 15,000-mile journey, from Scotland to South Africa, riding some of the toughest terrain in the world.

~I always enjoy a well written travelogue and (aside from the swear words, sadly) this one was fun. Going from Scotland to South Africa is a crazy distance but the people McGregor and Boorman meet and interact with were a highlight of this book.

Whew! You made it. You deserve another cup of coffee and at least a half hour’s reading of a good book.

Click the link for March 2024 Book Reviews where you’ll see more of the series I’m reading!

A friendly little note : While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.

Happy Reading, Laura

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March 2024 Book Reviews

23 Jul

It’s time for book reviews again! I’ve been missing doing these monthly write-ups so I’m going to do my best to keep up with them. I’m actually surprised how many books I’ve read already this year – but I know that audiobooks have had a large role in that! I do try and share with you when I read it via audiobook – and I want to start sharing more about that edition (whether I liked it or not) because the narrator can really make or break it!

Around the World in Seventy-Two Days by Nellie Bly – As a journalist stunt in 1889, Nellie Bly traveled around the world to beat the fictional record of Phineas Fogg. She even made a stop in France to meet Jules Verne.

~I’ve been a fan of Nellie Bly for years now, so reading a book that’s based off the newspaper articles from 1890 was so fascinating. It was fun to read her record of her experiences, and the fact that she was able to meet Verne! I think anyone with a love of Fogg’s journey would enjoy this short read.

Strong Poison (Lord Peter Wimsey, #6) by Dorothy L. Sayers- When a man mysteriously dies from poison, it is his former lover that is investigated. Harriet Vane, mystery writer with a knowledge of poisons, is about to be charged with murder, because the man’s death is eerily similar to a death in one of her books. But Lord Peter Wimsey is determined to prove her innocence.

~I am absolutely loving these Wimsey books. This was the first one with a bit more romance in it but, with a twist than one would expect. Which, I’m coming to realize is very much in line with how Sayers wrote. I feel like this one left me confused a bit more than the others, but as always, I loved Peter and Bunter. I listened to this as audiobook, I believe it was Ian Carmichael narrating.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3) by J.K. Rowling – After a long summer with the terrible Dursley’s, Harry can’t wait to start his third year at Hogwarts with his best friends, Ron and Hermione. But when they arrive, things aren’t the same. There’s a mass murderer on the loose and the guards from Azkaban are called to the school.

~Listening to this series slowly has been fun these past months. Jim Dale is the narrator. This book is the one where it really felt like we’ve started to leave the ‘little kid happy’ feel of the previous two books and started feeling the darkness of He Who Must Not Be Named. I did like the puzzle of learning more about Harry’s past and meeting Sirius Black. The Azkaban guards though- messed up for sure. Rowling knew what she was doing when she wrote them. All in all, a fun read with several favorite parts. (honestly, many of those having to do with Sirius).

Easy to Kill by Agatha Christie – Luke Fitzwilliam, retired officer, puts Miss Pinkerton’s story that there’s a murderer on the loose in her small town of Wychwood, and that the local doctor is next, down as fanciful. But when he reads in the paper that both Miss Pinkerton and Dr. Humbleby are dead, he decides there just might be something to it and goes to the small town to investigate.

~This one was a bit off for me in pacing, but I was able to still enjoy the who-dun-it of it all. And I definitely hadn’t guessed it correctly. I did have to turn back a few pages because it so completely caught me off guard. Not a favorite, but still fun.

Padawan by Kiersten White- Obi-Wan Kenobi feels as if his goal of being the best Padawan is almost impossible with his new master, Qui-Gon Jinn. While his friends are going with their masters on missions, he’s stuck researching or sitting in silent contemplation. When Qui-Gon agrees to take him on a mission, but then doesn’t show up the next morning, Obi-Wan impulsively sets off without him. But, arriving at the planet, Kenobi finds a group of teenagers who all seemingly have a connection to the Force. He enjoys the freedom the group offers but not all is as it seems. And danger is getting closer.

~It was fun to read more about when Kenobi was a Padawan and see his interactions with Qui-Gon. The lessons Kenobi goes through in this story were… relatable. Even taking out the Force parts of it. And that is what makes a story one that you keep turning the pages and engaging with the characters. Recommend for Star Wars fans for sure.

Master and Apprentice– Claudia Gray- Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi have been master and apprentice for some time now but they both still struggle in their respective roles. Qui-Gon’s greatest fear is that he will fail his padawan. Obi-Wan respects his master but wonders at the secrets that the man holds. Like why he hadn’t shared that the Jedi Council had asked him to join them? They are assigned a mission to Pijal, on what might be their last one together, and Obi-Wan’s faith in Qui-Gon is tested. Qui-Gon starts to have visions of violent disaster and becomes fully convinced in their truth. But a threat arises that master and apprentice must rise to face together.

~Ahh, Kenobi and Qui-Gon. I enjoyed this one more than the previous s.w. book, perhaps because Obi Wan is older now and he goes on a mission with Qui-Gon. The plot on Pijal was intriguing and seemed to pull the two men in opposite directions. I’d recommend this one even more than Padawan but they were fun to read one right after the other.

In Honor’s Defense (Hanger’s Horsemen, #3) by Karen Witemeyer- Luke Davenport has always been a fighter – for respect, for his country and those who cannot fight. But with his Horsemen friends settled down and married, he looks to tame the wildness within by accepting a job on his own. Damaris Baxter must step out of her comfort zone of invisibility when her brother dies suddenly and leaves her care of his son. She moves to Texas to care for Nathaniel, eager to create a different life for herself and to give her nephew the family he needs. But when questions arise about her brother’s death, and Nathaniel finds himself in deep trouble, Luke is there to help, along with the Horsemen.

~I haven’t read any of other books of this series but I still was able to enjoy it. Luke has a wandering, hurt soul but his faith is a vital part of him even still. I appreciated the internal struggles we saw him go through, and the growth he had. I always love it when a character is named Damaris (I think this is only the second time I’ve seen it actually. The other one is A Woman Named Damaris by Janette Oke). I felt that she acted a bit too far out of her personality at times, even if she is trying to reinvent herself in a new environment, you know? But, on the whole, this was a sweet read. I am intrigued by the rest of the series as well. I got this from the library, always a nice choice for a new read!

Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen – Marly’s father is a recovering prisoner-of-war. So to help him heal, she and her family move from the loud city to the farmhouse on Maple Hill. They share so many adventures in the small town that all help them recover and bond more closely as a family.

~This book won the Newbery Medal in 1957 and I’m not surprised at all. It was a sweet, cute kids book that showed the beauty of nature, family and friends. One also learns a whole lot about harvesting syrup. My niece gave me this book and I’m so glad, because it’s a treasure. This is a middle grade classic.

And that’s it! Come back soon for April’s book reviews!

Have you read any of these books? Did any intrigue you enough to add to your TBR?

~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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