Tag Archives: chronicles of narnia

Half-Yearly Book Recap

15 Jul

I know I normally only do a list at the end of the year of my favorite reads but, I thought I might try looking back over the first half of the year at all the books I’ve read.

35 books read

24 new reads

13 e-book or audio

Surprised to love it: Antique Hunter’s Death on the Red Sea by C.L. Miller

Disappointed by: New Spring by Robert Jordan

Knew I’d love: Caligo by J.J. Fischer

Didn’t hold up to hype: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Sweet Modern Romance: The Red Heart Cafe by Rebekah A. Morris

From physical TBR Pile: Han Solo Adventures #1-3 by Brian Daley

Historical Fiction: Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep

Old cozy favorite: Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis

Honorable Mention: The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray

*special note, I did have images of each cover but WordPress was doing weird things and making it all look terrible. So, in a moment of defeat, I deleted all the covers and stuck with a strictly (other than the blog title graphic of course) word-based blog post. Apologies, but at least you can easily copy and paste the book title and author that you might be interested in and search for it that way. I give in.

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Book Reviews- May 2025

3 Jun

Hello my friends, thanks for stopping by SGL. I read a variety of genres this month …. okay okay, I guess most of them are sort of fantasy-esque… whoops. Well, that’s what happens when you’re a mood reader, eh?

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.

The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale- Feeling fearless and unstoppable, young reporter Nellie Bly is in New York City in 1877 with ambitions beyond the ladies’ page. But the editors on Newspaper Row think women are too emotional and fragile for the job. So when she’s challenged by the editor of the New York World to go undercover, she accepts. It doesn’t matter that she’s mad to accept it; she’d be mad to refuse. She’s to go undercover as a patient at Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum for Women.

~I’ve long been interested in Nellie Bly (she’s even mentioned in my own novel, Amelia) so when I received this novel as a gift (thanks mom and dad!), I was excited. It’s a fictional telling of the very stunt that put Nellie Bly on her path. I enjoyed this story so much, the research that was done, the well developed characters, the twists in the plot. There were a couple things that I wasn’t crazy about, slipped in but…I honestly can’t remember what they were. (hides face in shame). I do think that there were a couple of curse words. Definitely recommend – but not for younger readers.

The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia #7) by C.S. Lewis- Age-old treacheries come again during the last days of Narnia. Hope seems lost as the battle lines are drawn and old friends are called once again to Narnia during this conclusion of the series.

~I never remember much about this book when I start it. It’s enjoyable overall and the poetry throughout is simply lovely. Poor Puzzle, is all I’ll say. It’s not one of my favorites even though it was good. There are a lot of complaints of racism being rampant in this story and while I didn’t like some of the descriptions, I don’t think ‘racism’ was the intent. This is a darker tale for sure- dealing with end-of-world scenarios and death. Lewis showed loyalty and devotion quite aptly and what treachery can lead to.

New Spring (The Wheel of Time #0) by Robert Jordan –  Al’Lan Mandragoran, exiled king of Malkier is the finest swordsman of his generation. His city of Canluun sits close to the Blight- the place where it’s said that those who serve the Dark One reside- and when he arrives home after years of fighting, all is in chaos. But it’s there in Canluun that he meets young Aes Sedia, Moraine. She’s on a desperate quest to prove or disprove a prophecy- that the dragon reborn has been born.

~Having read all of the Wheel of Time series, I was glad to get into this prequel. We get to see Moraine become an Aes Sedai and her friendship with Siuan. We also see a slightly-less encumbered Lan. However, the first half (?) was really quite slow. And the …wait, if you’ve not read the series and want to, skip to the next book review, there will be spoilers…. where we see Lan and Moraine bond as Aes Sedai and warder was less than I was hoping for. All in all, I’m actually undecided if I’ll ever read this book and if it’s worth keeping on my (overflowing) shelves. The parts I did enjoy was the time that Moraine was seeking the child said to be the dragon reborn and when her and Lan were interacting. I’m putting aside the ‘carneira’ plot line that felt rather gross, and the ‘pillow friends’ that was much more subtle/ignor-able in the main series. If I did star-ratings, this would probably get a 2.

Caligo (Nightingale Trilogy #4) by J.J. Fischer – Cassius Vera is searching for a fresh start. But the ache in his chest, the memories in his head and the truth-telling gift are all things he can’t leave behind. Zaire Delmar, werebeast, is also running – from accusations of murder and heartbreak – and the last person she expects to meet on the ship she’s stowing away on, is Cass. He’s an alter, and offers his help, despite the fact that she’s half beast and can more than adequately take care of herself. But circumstances leave them with no choice but to rely on each other – will they be able to forget the betrayals of the past and trust each other?

~This is a sequel to The Nightingale Trilogy Review, but it can be read as a stand-alone. Although, honestly, why anyone wouldn’t want to immerse themselves in Fischer’s world as much, and as long, as possible, I don’t understand. I liked getting to see both Cass and Zaire after the events of the aforementioned trilogy. These characters were so much a part of that story that it was really lovely to get to see where they were at and where they… end up. Both of their personal developments were SO good and so many truths woven in that got me thinking! I love how Fischer weaves faith into the story so naturally.

Han Solo at Stars End (Star Wars: the Hans Solo Adventures #1) by Brian Daley- The Millennium Falcon is ordered to be brought in for inspection – but since Han Solo knows better to trust anyone, especially in regards to his spaceship – he does what he does best, slips out of the tight spot with barely an inch to spare. But when the galaxy’s best illegal ship rebuilder (the one they need to help with the required overhaul) disappears, Han and Chewie must find him. Their search leads them to some ruthless enemies and a desolate asteroid.

~First published 1979. This was one of a stack of original* Star Wars books that I giddily claimed at a thrift store. It was incredibly fun to read about Han Solo and Chewbacca on an adventure, where Solo’s priorities are his ship, Chewie, and making money. And not dying. I liked Blue Max and Bollux, two droids who join his crew for this job – and the villians! ah. Classic. This is a short, fast, fun read and I fully intend on reading it again. And reading more of Daley’s S.W. books.

*I do not know, officially, if this book or the others are technically considered original/canon Star Wars books. They seem like they would be to me, what with the publication date, so I’m going with it. Don’t yell at me if I’m wrong. I don’t need to cry today =)

Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both our Hearts and our Minds by Jen Wilkin- this study is about making sure that when you study the Bible, you’re not solely focused on your emotions but instead on feeding your mind first.

~I did this study with my sister-in-law and I appreciated Wilkin’s points of making sure that you’re coming to the Word with the right approach. She also shares study techniques to be intentional and mindful about what you’re reading. Recommend if you’re wanting a refresher on how important Bible Study is

Currently Reading:

Lust for Life by Irving Stone

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook to Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson (audiobook)

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (audiobook)

Han Solo and the Lost Legacy by Brian Daley

Upcoming Possibles:

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

The Last Hero: a biography of Gary Cooper by Larry Swindell

Ten Days in a Madhouse & Other Stories by Nellie Bly

What are you reading? Let me know!

~Laura

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Book Reviews – March 2025

27 Mar

Welcome to another monthly book review, my friends. I admit that I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately – nothing seeming quite right… But, I did enjoy a few books this month.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia #3 ) by C.S. Lewis – King Caspian has built the first Narnian ship in centuries and he’s determined to find the lost lords that his evil uncle Miraz banished years before. Caspian is joined by Edmund, Lucy and their cousin Eustace to the ends of the world.

~This one always calls to me because of how much we get to see of Reepicheep and that we meet Eustace and Glimfeather. The plot style is different in that I don’t feel that it’s building toward a big climax but the adventures they go through are quite dangerous (!) and interesting.

The Horse and His Boy (Chronicles of Narnia #5 ) by C.S. Lewis – Young Shasta runs away with Bree, a talking warhorse. But when they learn of a Calormen plot to attack Narnia, they race to warn about the impeding danger.

~This remains one of my favorite books of the series. Shasta, Bree, Aravis and Hwin all bring different personalities to the plot. It’s fun to see the Pevensie siblings as Narnian kings and queens. I adore how Aslan appears. Basically, what makes this story quite different in style from the others is exactly what makes me love it so much.

Awakening (Infinity Blade #1) by Brandon Sanderson – The young knight, Siris, was trained for one thing: to face the God King in one-on-one combat in order to free the people from enslavement. This tradition has been passed down through generations of his family and Siris trains diligently throughout his childhood. But when the unexpected happens and Siris kills the God King, he’s suddenly thrust into a much larger world. And a much larger quest – to find the Worker of Secrets.

~I hadn’t heard of this book before so was interested when I found it as an audiobook on hoopla. Apparently it’s based on a video game? Shrug. I found it intriguing and definitely enjoyed listening to it. There was one joke that absolutely could’ve been left out (which means that I was shaking my head and waiting for that part of the scene to be past…) but aside from that, it was, as usual, quite clean. It was a fun adventure although I feel like maybe some stuff might’ve made more sense if I knew the game.

Currently Reading:

Memoria (The Nightingale Trilogy #3) by J.J. Fischer

Redemption (Infinity Blade #2) by Brandon Sanderson

The Reverberator by Henry James – uncertain if I’ll finish this. Reason: far too much descriptions of the characters. Yes, I actually said it. There Can be too much!

The Fighting Preacher by John Hill Aughey – uncertain about finishing. Reason: well. guys. I’ve read full speeches from two different statesmen…

Up next possibles:

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep

The Book of Three

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Book Reviews- February 2025

4 Mar

It’s time again for some book reviews, my friends! It’s been a mood-read kind of winter for sure. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve picked up a book that I’ve been meaning to read for months, and sat down with it, only to stand back up and switch it out for a different book. Shrug. I did get three books off that TBR though!

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman- Lyra is hurrying to the North- where armored bears and witch clans rule. For the North is where all stolen children are sent, where Lyra’s friend Roger has been sent. It’s also where her imposing uncle is attempting to build a bridge to a parallel world.

~Having seen and enjoyed the movie multiple times, I wanted to read the book. While I did enjoy it- the writing was good, the plot was entertaining, there were a few things mentioned that I felt were unnecessary and actually pulled me away from the story. (and some that added nothing to the plot whatsoever, instead feeling like something that the author just really wanted to make a statement about). I had intended on reading the whole trilogy but, don’t have any intention to at this time.

Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia #2) by C.S. Lewis – When Susan’s horn is blown, the Pevensie children are called back to Narnia to help Prince Caspain reclaim his rightful throne. The false king is ruthless and will stop at nothing to kill the old Narnians and maintain his rule.

~ Prince Caspian is, I think, one of my favorites of the series as we see some of the growing up the Pevensie’s have to go through and of course, we meet Caspian and see Aslan again.

The Silver Chair (Chronicles of Narnia #4 ) by C.S. Lewis- Narnia is in danger and Aslan sends Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole to help. They, along with marshwiggle, Puddleglum, set out on a journey across Narnia to find the missing prince. Their quest leads them to face many trials- snow storms, man-eating giants, underground tunnels and an evil witch.

~I listened to this via hoopla, Jeremy Northam narrating. I admit that it took me a little while to get into this story, this time around, but I do adore Puddleglum and his dire predictions. The giants are probably one of my favorite parts. And when Puddleglum speaks to the witch about Narnia. (I’ll say no more, no spoilers!) A lovely addition to the series, even if it does have a… different feel to it.

The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray- When Mr. Knightley and Emma, now happily married, throw a house party, they bring together new friends and distant relatives. Mr. Wickham was certainly not invited – but he arrives anyway – his latest scheme having created even more enemies, it’s not long before he’s found murdered. Everyone in the house is a suspect, except for the two youngest guests, leaving them to solve the mystery: Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy. Juliet is the daughter of Catherine and Henry Tilney and is eager for adventure outside of Northanger Abbey. Jonathan is the Darcy’s eldest son and he somehow makes his father seem almost relaxed by his own strict adherence to propriety. But these two must learn to work together and solve the crime before an innocent person is convicted.

~I thoroughly enjoyed this who-dun-it by Claudia Gray. This was an uncharacteristic splurge purchase, with no prior knowledge of author or book. It was fun to read about these characters that we know and love (although, I’ll be honest, I’m not too familiar with some of them) and see them interacting with each other. The relationship dynamics were written so well, creating doubt and a depth of feeling that I appreciated. There were some conversations about same-sex relations (an outside character) but, to me, it seemed to be well handled. I did thoroughly enjoy this story and look forward to reading more of the series.

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. Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was fun to see the events through both Yumi and Painter’s points of view and to be surprised by the revelations all over again. There are a few mentions throughout that, I’d suggest reading this prior to giving to a young reader, but, it is quite mild still. (I’m just overly cautious when it comes to such things). Highly recommend.

Shadow Moon by George Lucas and Chris Claremont – Did Not Finish (dnf). I was excited for this one (George Lucas!!), but struggled to make it even forty pages. I’m not sure if it was the writing style, the feel that we’d gotten dropped into the middle of a story at chapter one, or what, but I just couldn’t get into the plot. The dragon was cool. I like Willow… mostly. What was strange is that I thought the movie (which I do enjoy!) was based on this, but…apparently it wasn’t? All in all, it seems I agree with the reviews I’ve found on Goodreads that this book just doesn’t deliver. Such a bummer.

Currently Reading:

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia #3 ) by C.S. Lewis

The Reverberator by Henry James

Up Next Possibles:

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep

The Book of Three

What was the last book you gave up on?

~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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Book Reviews May 2020

28 May

Sadly, my quest to find a book that just sucks me into its world is still continuing. Well, let me clarify, The Horse and His Boy, Virginia and House at the End of the Moor did the job admirably well, it’s been ever since then that I’m still struggling. (and, transparency here, I adored the book by Griep and had intended to do a separate post but as I loaned the book to my mom before I took pics, I decided to just add it here). I’m enjoying the two classics that I’m reading right now but both are better at little spurts of reading, and I’m really only slogging through one because I REALLY want to have read all of it at least once. Which, this isn’t something I do, normally… Anyhow, that’s a very long and probably confusing introduction!

Virginia: Four Inspiring Stories of Valor, Virtue and Victory by Cathy Marie Hake – In these four short stories, follow a family from the turn of the century to the end of World War I as they battle loss and love, faith and prejudice.

~Now, if you’ve been around SGL for a while, you know that I’m not a big fan of short stories, but as these were all written by Hake, they ended up feeling kind of like a whole novel. (not really b/c they ARE about different people). But I couldn’t even really peg which one was my favorite, each was unique and pull-you-in. Definitely recommend this!

The Prarie Legacy Series by Janette Oke – Follow Clark and Marty’s granddaughter, Virginia, through her teens on up through her adult years. As she struggles to fit in with her friends in school, falling in love, learning sacrifice and faith and then onto marriage, children and the inevitable heartache that accompanies life. Her faith and family bolster her through them, growing her into a woman of strength and godliness.

– I don’t think I’d ever read this series before! I fully expected to recognize it, once I got into it but that never happened! (I’m such a fan of Oke’s that I’m surprised when I run across a book I’ve not read of hers). This series was similar to her Love Comes Softly series but as it is based on their granddaughter, it helps it feel like a continuation. There were aspects of the book that hit so close to home that I had a hard time reading, but that’s what I appreciate about Oke’s books is that she writes what real life looks like – to a point anyway. If you’re looking for a sweet series that teaches life and faith lessons throughout, this is the one to reach for.

Tis Herself by Maureen O’Hara – In a straight-forward tone, the famed beauty and actress talks about her life from girlhood in Ireland to becoming a star in Hollywood. The men that formed her career and tried to destroy it; a disastrous marriage; birth of her daughter; lifelong friendship with ‘Duke’ and so much more. She doesn’t simper away from her mistakes, rather owns up to them and moves on. As so many of her roles in movies, she was a fiesty, strong red-head who fought for what she wanted.

It’s always a little scary starting a book about a favorite actress, so this book sat on my shelf for about a year until I picked it up. I’m glad I read it even though it was a sad story, if you know anything about O’Hara’s life, you know that she had Trials. But the way she writes (this is an autobiography after all) and the things she shares – like her long friendship with John Wayne – keeps you engaged and interested. It was fun getting to read about how Hollywood used to be, and the making of some of her movies that I enjoy. If you’re a fan of her movies and don’t mind reading about heartaches and laughter, give this a try.

The Horse and His Boy (The Chronicles of Narnia) by C.S. Lewis – When young Shasta talks about running away, he’s startled to realize the horse that he’s confided in can Talk. And not only talk, but wants to run away as well! With warhorse Bree helping him, Shasta sets off toward Narnia. Their travels include great adventures and require both of them to move past fear and prejudice.

~In reading other reviews of this book, a big theme of them was ‘racist’ and ‘prejudice’ but I never thought that the whole time I read it. Yes, the Calormen are the slave-owners and terrible people but, I never associated that with Lewis saying all dark-skinned people are such. That aside, this is one of my absolute favorites of the Narnia books. Perhaps it’s because a horse is one of the main characters? For whatever reason, I really truly love reading this. The lessons on Not judging people by what they look like are true for every generation (which is why I probably never have thought of it as racist…) and the truths that Aslan imparts are so so good.

The House at the End of the Moor by Michelle Griep – When a powerful politician threatens to ruin opera singer Maggie Lee’s life, she runs away and lives in anonymity on the edges of the moor. While life is lonely, she knows she’s safe. Until one day, she finds a wounded man and takes him in to care for him. But this man isn’t who he seems to be either. Escaped convict, Oliver Ward, is out to set the wrongs in his past right – little does he expect to find the same jewels that got him convicted in the very house that he’s now staying in. Both Oliver and Maggie decide to try and set things right by returning the jewels, clearing his name and, in the midst of all that, keeping Maggie’s identity a secret.

– I got this as a birthday present and LOVED it. I’d never read anything by Griep before but I do want to give some of her other books a try now! The twists and turns in this mystery were good- so much so that I had a hard time putting it down once I’d picked it up! As well as one time that I got so worried about what was going to happen to Maggie that I Couldn’t pick it up for a day or so – ha! I just loved Oliver as he tries to get his life back and yet is eaten up so with hatred and revenge. So superficial but you’ve got to check out the Cover! It’s simply lovely. But really, just get this book, you won’t regret it! This became a Top Favorite for 2020

Montana Marshalls series by Susan May Warren – Follow the Marshall siblings as each have to face their fears and doubts along the way as they have to choose between who they think they are and who they want to be. Love comes calling for each of them- Knox, Tate, Wyatt, Ford and Ruby Jane- but will they be able to survive long enough to reach for it?

I won this series as ebooks as a giveaway and was quite excited as I’ve enjoyed most of Warren’s novels. I enjoy series that focuses on siblings (looking at you, The O’Malley Series), so eagerly started Knox (book 1). I’ve made it through most of the books but am really struggling to finish this series. Which makes me sad. I’ve enjoyed the adventure aspect of each one, and have found some favorites among the main and side characters. I’ll try to be brief on why this series hasn’t hit it off with me: Warren’s style seems to have changed and it’s a little too… millenial (?) for me; there’s more intense kissing than I think is necessary – especially when the people barely know each other/aren’t married; lack of remorse for intimacy out of wedlock for one couple. Now, that last one might change as I’ve not finished the book. All in all, I’m not sure I’ll finish the series, if I do, I might skip forward (something else completely unheard of for me).

Currently Reading:

Pillar of Fire by J.H. Ingraham

She: A History of Adventure by H. Rider Haggard

To-Read:

Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

the next Narnia book

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris

the next Wheel of Time book (I have to figure out which one I’m on!)

Did you find any books to add to your To-Read pile? I’d love to know which ones! And if you have read any of the ones that I wasn’t that crazy about, did you love them? Share that too!!

~Laura

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February 2020 Book Reviews

11 Mar

It’s a bit late for a Monthly Book Review but I’m going to give you guys a quick one! I’m going to be talking about the books that I shared in My Library Book Haul.

I’ve already shared my thoughts about The Bridge to Belle Island. Trust me, you want to click over and have a read.

The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill – When Piper Sail’s best friend, Lydia, goes missing, the only thing she knows is that she can’t just sit around waiting for the police to find her. Especially when it seems that they are looking in all the wrong places. She sets out on her own investigation, with the aid of a young detective, into the underbelly of Chicago in 1924. She’s determined to find Lydia, no matter what. But she soon has to decide exactly what that means as the truth just might upset her privileged life.

~This book immediately made it to my Favorite Reads of the year list. I’ve not read anything else by Morrill but she wove an incredible story of family, intrigue and 1920s Chicago. It was also very clean, with only subtle mentions of women of a certain profession and innocent romances. If you’ve followed SGL for a while, you’ll know that for this to be on my Faves list, it HAS to be clean! I adored Piper’s spirit, her brother (even when he was being a jerk), and of course, the detective who decides to help her.

The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl (The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club #3) by Theodora Goss – When the girls of the Athena Club return home only to find that their friend, Alice has been kidnapped along with Mary’s employer, Sherlock Holmes, they rush to find them. But along the way they realize that the kidnappings are only a small part of a sinister plot that threatens not only the Queen, but all of England. Can Mary, Justine, Diana, Catherine and Beatrice stop the plans already in motion and save, not only their friends, but their country as well?

~ These were both on the ‘new arrivals’ shelf of my local library and they intrigued me. This series is very different from what I’m used to – seeing as how each of the girls are victims of an evil scientists’ experiments on them (one’s poisonous, one’s a vampire, one’s part cheetah etc). I’d almost say that I’d enjoy these stories more if those elements were taken away. But, I’m certain that those very parts are what makes this series stand out. I did end up enjoying this one- to a degree. The chase and revealing of the sinister plot were clever and intriguing – and were what kept me reading. The other stuff relating to the… vampire and such, were a bit much for me. Just like in the first book, honestly. But it seemed to be more present in this one. I don’t think I’ll read either of these again but they were well written with a fun, unique plot. If you want to see my review for the first book, click here.

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini – I want to do a review of the full series, so for now – know that I enjoyed this conclusion to The Inheritance Cycle.

Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams – The Early Years 1903-1940 by Gary Giddins – This covered Bing’s childhood and on up to his rise in fame til the 1940s. I did enjoy what I got read of it. But, well… it took me several weeks to get a quarter of the way through it. And that was with skipping ahead to a section that was of more interest to me. Giddins wrote it well, and he did extensive research on Bing’s ancestors and life. While I fully appreciate that, it was a bit more than I was wanting. I finally just wanted my (huge) stack of library books gone, so I returned it without finishing it. Perhaps one day I’ll get back to it. But, even if I don’t, I still learned some cool (and sad) information on Bing. And found some songs of his that I’d never heard before!

Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia #2) by C.S. Lewis – When Susan’s horn is blown, the Pevensie children are called back to Narnia to help Prince Caspain reclaim his rightful throne. The false king is ruthless and will stop at nothing to kill the old Narnians and maintain his rule.

~I’m reading this series as part of a reading group on Instagram. It’s been fun to re-read these again as I feel it’s been a while! Prince Caspian is, I think, one of my favorites of the series as we see some of the growing up the Pevensie’s have to go through and of course, we meet Caspian and see Aslan again.

Jennifer: an O’Malley Love Story by Dee Henderson- I have read the O’Malley Series, for years and I still enjoy them immensely. This is a short story with one of the siblings as the main character. It was so nice to get to read more about Jennifer as a doctor and see as she falls in love. The heartache though! Agh. Even knowing what is coming (thanks to reading the O’Malley series beforehand), it was still a good, quick read. If you love the O’Malley’s, check this one out.

Thrive by J.J. Eden – A small book of poetry and micro-fiction that focus on the highs and lows of life. On keeping the will to thrive strong in our hearts.

~I got this book free for my honest review. And while I haven’t read any poetry in several years, I enjoyed this a lot. So many of her words resonated with me and some of the micro-fiction I was wishing was a full length story!

Currently Reading:

Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

None Like Him by Jen Wilkin

Tate (Montana Marshalls #2) by Susan May Warren (ebook) – this one is so good but with it being an ebook, I’m just not reading it much.

Zorro by Isabel Allende

To Read:

Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia) by C.S. Lewis

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Series Review – Chronicles of Narnia

9 Feb

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. Originally published between 1950 and 1956, this children’s classic series has become the author’s best-known work. It has sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages (thanks wikipedia for these fun facts). This was only my second time reading them – although as a home-schooler, I feel like I should have grown up reading them. Ha. But! I’m so glad I’ve been introduced to them now as an adult.

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There are seven in all, and while there is some disagreement on how they should be read – chronologically or the order in which Lewis wrote them, I’m not sure it matters too much. I think it comes down to personal preference. But, let me give you an overview of this series.

Each book chronicles adventures in the land of Narnia. Aslan’s country. Each time that the country faces real threat, children from our world are called to help. It takes courage and faith for these children to succeed at their tasks. They meet many friends, and many foes, along their journeys. From The Magician’s Nephew, we see the creation of Narnia and follow its entire history until it’s destruction in The Last Battle.

I love the little lessons that are learned along the way in each adventure – and the worlds they come upon. In reading reviews, a common feeling is that The Last Battle (#7) is the strangest of them all and in some ways I have to agree but I did still enjoy it. They all are a few hundred pages each so they are pretty quick reads. (I mainly read them while taking detox baths!)

I highly recommend these books, for any age. The lessons within are great for when reading aloud to kids, or even as reminders for adults.  If you haven’t read this series, I suggest you give it a try.

~Laura

*fun fact, the series we have is the set that my hubby grew up reading.*

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Dec 2017 Book Reviews

5 Jan

It’s a blustery day here in Oregon, leaving the landscape looking slightly barren and depressing. There’s no snow, no sign of a cold, beautiful winter. Just windy, cloudy and rainy. But, that’s why there are such wonderful things as books to get lost in. I cannot believe I read 70 books in 2017 . I’ve decided to set this year’s reading goal to 60 books. I have always been an avid reader but I’m hoping to tone down my amount of reading just a smidgen and increase my amount of writing a lot! I enjoy keeping track of what I’ve read on Goodreads, it’s so much easier than writing them all down like I used to do.  (please tell me I’m not the only one who did that).

If you  missed it, I shared a post of my Top Reads of 2017 just last week, check it out!

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Photo by Alice Hampson on Unsplash

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson – Two princesses’ lives are thrown into turmoil. While both scramble to learn the ways of their new environments, political upheaval is on the horizon.

~As good as this story was, I admit to being a little disappointed with how much sexual content there was. While I realize that it was mild, it was still more than I like. Because of that, I don’t think I’ll read this book again – which makes me sad because I really liked Siri and Lightsong, and the different twists and turns and character development that happened throughout.

The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis – Shasta and Bree – a young slave and a talking horse – are running away from cruel masters. Their destination is Narnia.  But when they discover a plot to overthrow Narnia, their journey becomes a race to warn the people of the impending attack.

~Series review coming next month!

Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman – A compelling love story between a young Irish girl, Katherine Mary O’Fallon, new to the Canadian wild, and Sergeant Mike Flannigan of the Canadian Mounted police.

~This is a yearly – winter read for me. The wilderness and those occupying it – the animals, peoples and nature itself – are described so vividly, it’s a delight. The heartbreak that occurs will tear your heart out just as surely as you’ll rejoice when good things happen. If this book isn’t considered a classic, I’m not sure why. Read it, you’ll be glad you did. 

Cowboy Christmas by Mary Connealy – When singer Annette Talbot shows up, with trouble following close on her heels, Elijah Walker has to decide if she’s telling the truth or lying. Like his ex- fiancee. Despite himself, he’s drawn to her – and just when he decides to trust her, he finds out she’s a wanted woman. Will he find out the truth before he loses Annie forever?

~ This was my second time reading this sweet romantic mystery. I liked how Connealy dealt with Elijah’s struggle to forgive himself and Annette’s mis-guided belief in ‘bearing her cross’. Faith is central to this novel, and it’s done very well. It’s a great Christmas-time western read.

For Men Only by Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn

~A full review along with its companion book, For Women Only, will be up this month!

An Amish Christmas : December in Lancaster County by Beth Wiseman – Forgiveness is on the horizon – or is it? – for several people in Lancaster County. Facing some of their deepest fears at Christmastime has the potential to change their lives.

~I forgot how sweet these stories were. I enjoyed all 3 of them – I am seeing on Goodreads that it says there’s four novellas, my copy doesn’t have “Christmas Cradles”. A good way to describe these are Hallmark movies set in an Amish community – and that’s not a bad thing. They deal with different struggles, but all 3 stories tie in with each other. They may be a bit cliched but sometimes that’s what you want. It only took me a few days to read all of them, they are quick, fun reads for anyone. 

 

Currently Reading: 

Adrenal Fatigue by Dr. Wilson

Samantha Among the Brethren by Marietta Holley

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

The Supernatural Ways of Royalty by Kris Vallotton

 

 

To Read:

A Yellow Journalist by Miriam Michelson

The Writer’s Journey by Vogler (finish!)

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

 

What are you reading?

 

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.

~Laura

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Nov 2017 Book Reviews

8 Dec

Hello again! I read varying types of books this month – and am sad to say there are a few that I didn’t care much for. I do love how much I was able to read this past month though! I have already more than met my Goodreads goal of reading 52 books this year.

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Just the Essentials by Adina Grigore 

~This was a fun book that tells about the history, composition and encouragement to enter the world of essential oils. To make it even better, there were several do it yourself recipes for the home, personal care and cooking.

Jewish Roots by Dan Juster

~ As an introductory book about Messianic Judaism, this book (originally printed in 1995 I believe) did a nice job of answering a lot of questions. It was easy to read. I recommend this as a good starting place if you’re curious about how it got started, where it was at at the point of printing and the basic beliefs and traditions. It would go well with God-Fearers as well.

Beside Still Waters by Annalee Conti  – When Violet Channing’s aunt, her sole relative, dies, she isn’t sure what she’ll do. She certainly doesn’t want to continue working in the Boston garment factory, so she takes a job in the Yukon Territory as a live-in teacher for a sick child. As she’s traveling, she falls in love with a Yukon riverboat captain. But, tragedy strikes again and Violet has to decide if she’ll become bitter or learn to love again.

~I received this book free from Ambassador International for my personal review. I was excited for this book as it’s set in the early 1900s and in Alaska, no less! After receiving it, I realized that it’s the third book in the Alaskan Waters Series. Perhaps this is why I didn’t get into the book until I was three-quarters of the way into it. I couldn’t connect with Violet well. It was interesting and fun to find out the history of Alaska that is sprinkled throughout the book. Some of the side characters I really liked and would have liked them to have an even bigger part! (like Cally).

Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann – When Trevor MacDaniel rescues a toddler from a cougar, he inevitably meets sculpter Natalie Reeve.  But trouble comes at them from all sides, including a twisted mind seeing him as an adversary. Can the hero save himself?

~I tried to like this one so much! My mom recommended it and let me borrow it but… I got a quarter of the way through (barely) and haven’t picked it up in weeks. I normally like Heitzmann’s books so I really want(ed) to like it but it just hasn’t hit the right note for me I guess.  I felt like I couldn’t get connected to one character before being introduced to another one; it almost felt like I was expected to already know a few of the characters; the main character felt like they should be more of a minor character (and then with talking to mom, apparently someone else is the main character so now I’m really confused). Anyway, since I have it for a few more months I’ll keep trying it but it might be a lost cause. Which makes me sad.

Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia #2) and Voyage of the Dawn Treader (#3) by C.S. Lewis

~I will be doing a separate post on the Chronicle series (how have I not done it yet?!) but for now –  I love the completely different people they meet and  ‘worlds’ and they enter as they travel! And Reepicheep. Always Reepicheep.

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The Mermaid in the Basement (Lady Trent Mystery #1) by Gilbert Morris – In London, 1857, Lady Serafina Trent has one goal – prove that her brother is not a murderer. In order to do this, she must ally herself with people outside of her social class. But nothing will stand in her way.

~This book is probably in my top ten historical fiction list now. It’s also a mystery which, let’s be honest, makes it even better. I haven’t read much of Morris’ novels ( mostly just The Price of Liberty series, which I reviewed a little of here and here) so I wasn’t really sure what to expect but I quickly got pulled in and found it hard to put down! I highly recommend this novel. (fun fact: this is one of almost a dozen books my mom and I got for $1!!)

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For Women Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn

~I read this right after we got married and did a short review on it . I’m planning on reading the accompanying book For Men Only next and want to do a separate review for both – so here’s hoping! Suffice it to say that this book is well worth the read!

 

Currently Reading:

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

The Horse and His Boy  by C.S. Lewis

For Men Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn

 

To Read:

Adrenal Fatigue by Dr. Wilson

Samantha Among the Brethren by Josiah Allen’s Wife (printed 1892)

Next Narnia book

Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman

 

I hope you found something to add to your to-read list! Happy December!

~Laura

 

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