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Mini-Book Review: Saving Amelie

28 Mar

Saving Amalie by Cathy Gohlke was included in my Audible subscription. I had read other books by Gohlke that were excellent, so decided to give this one a try. This WWII-era novel set in the early years of the war was riveting. Eugenics theory and research, the harsh and hostile treatment of the Jews, and the many women and men who worked secretly to undermine the Nazis within Germany are the focus of this book. I found the plotting to be complex, the characters well-drawn, and, on the whole, a thorough page turner! Main character Rachel is especially compelling as she learns the truth behind her upbringing, her father’s work, and the message of a sacrificing savior that was hidden from her. If you like historical fiction with a bit of romance, then check this one out.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(This audiobook was included in my Audible subscription. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Increasingly wary of her father’s genetic research, Rachel Kramer has determined that this trip with him to Germany―in the summer of 1939―will be her last. But a cryptic letter from her estranged friend, begging Rachel for help, changes everything. Married to SS officer Gerhardt Schlick, Kristine sees the dark tides turning and fears her husband views their daughter, Amelie, deaf since birth, as a blight on his Aryan bloodline.

Once courted by Schlick, Rachel knows he’s as dangerous as the swastikas that hang like ebony spiders from every government building in Berlin. She fears her father’s files may hold answers about Hitler’s plans for others, like Amelie, whom the regime deems “unworthy of life.” She risks searching his classified documents only to uncover shocking secrets about her own history and a family she’s never known.

Now hunted by the SS, Rachel turns to Jason Young―a driven, disarming American journalist and unlikely ally―who connects her to the resistance and to controversial theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Forced into hiding, Rachel’s every ideal is challenged as she and Jason walk a knife’s edge, risking their lives―and asking others to do the same―for those they barely know but come to love.

Bestselling, Christy Hall of Fame, and Carol and INSPY Award-winning author, Cathy Gohlke writes novels steeped with inspirational lessons, speaking of world and life events through the lens of history. She champions the battle against oppression, celebrating the freedom found only in Christ. Her critically acclaimed novels include A Hundred Crickets Singing, Night Bird Calling, The Medallion (winner of the 2020 Christy Award), Until We Find Home, Secrets She Kept (winner of the 2016 Christy, Carol and INSPY Awards), Saving Amelie (winner of the 2015 INSPY Award), Band of Sisters, Promise Me This (listed by Library Journal as one of the best books of 2012), I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires (listed by Library Journal as one of the best books of 2008 and winner of the 2008 Christy and American Christian Fiction Writers Award) and William Henry is a Fine Name (winner of the 2007 Christy Award).

When not traveling to historic sites for research, she and her husband, Dan, divide their time between Northern Virginia and the Jersey Shore, enjoying time with their grown children and grandchildren. Visit her website at http://www.cathygohlke.com, and find her on Facebook at CathyGohlkeBooks; on Bookbub (@ CathyGohlke); and on YouTube, where you can subscribe to Book Gems with Cathy Gohlke for short videos of book recommendations.

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Book Review: Through Any Window

15 Mar

Through Any Window, the newest mystery by Deb Richardson-Moore, explores the devious and deceptive mind. There were lots of characters with motives in this one! And with its setting of a newly gentrified neighborhood, it will make you think as well. All the details, as well as a continuation of my thoughts, can be found below.

After being questioned in a murder investigation, Riley Masterson has spent eighteen months under suspicion by the sheriff’s office. Anxious to escape accusing eyes, she finally decides to leave Alabama and move to South Carolina.

But Greenbrier isn’t the stabilizing influence she hopes for, as her neighborhood is slowly being gentrified, with homeless people living in the shadows of mansions. As Riley struggles to forge a new life, forces are gathering in the tension-plagued neighborhood as glitzy new homes rise beside crumbling mill houses, and everyone is able and willing to peer into a neighbor’s window.

When a ghastly crime occurs, an unexpected victim is caught in the crossfire. Detectives are left to ponder: Are the deaths personal or the result of rich and poor living in such proximity? Will Riley take the blame, as someone seems to have so meticulously planned?

Deb Richardson-Moore is the author of five mystery/suspense titles and a memoir, The Weight of Mercy, about her early years as a pastor at the Triune Mercy Center in Greenville, S.C. A national award-winning former reporter for The Greenville News, Deb is a popular speaker at book clubs, universities and churches. She has also won numerous awards for her work in homeless services and community involvement.

A graduate of Wake Forest University, Deb lives with her husband in Greenville. They are the parents of three grown children.

My Impressions:

If you like a mystery that will make you think, then Through Any Window by Deb Richardson-Moore is a good choice. The novel starts with the crime and then leads the reader through the backstories, relationships, and motives of a collection of characters who certainly could be the murderer. The backdrop of the story is the conflict between those who have gentrified the neighborhood and those who have been residents for decades, including the local homeless shelter. The long hot southern summer and the rape of a young woman escalate the tension and tempers reach a boiling point. I thought the author did a great job of keeping me guessing and turning the pages. I read this book in record time! The social issues discussed, the element of mental illness, and the morally gray areas of crime all contributed to a thinking person’s novel. I enjoyed it very much. Please note there is some language, drinking, and intimate adult scenes in the book — it is marketed towards the general market.

Through Any Window was a twisting journey that fans of mysteries will enjoy.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: Never Fall Again

11 Mar

Never Fall Again is the first book in the brand new Gossamer Falls series by Lynn H. Blackburn. With a lovely southern mountain setting and charming characters, this book pulls a reader in. There’s plenty of chemistry between the two main characters, and the suspense will keep you on your toes! Find out more below.

Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. After serving as the artist-in-residence, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home in which to grow up. 

Former Marine Callum Shaw always knew he would someday join his family’s construction business in Gossamer Falls. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. The beautiful artist who has hired him to build her new house is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. He’s loved–and lost–someone like her before.

When Landry’s pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire, it becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger — but from whom? Cal will have to risk his heart again if he has any hope of protecting them.

Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she’s a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she’s sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas!

She’s currently writing the Gossamer Falls series set in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The series will include three novels and one novella and kicks off with Never Fall Again.

Unknown Threat, the first book in her Defend and Protect series, was a 2021 Christy Award finalist, and her previous titles have won the Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice Award.

Lynn lives in South Carolina with her family. You can stay up-to-date by signing up for her newsletter at her website and following her on social media @LynnHBlackburn.

My Impressions:

Never Fall Again is the newest novel from romantic suspense author Lynn H. Blackburn. Book 1 in the Gossamer Falls series, its setting is the mountains of Western Carolina. I love that area of the country, and found the descriptions in the book really set the stage for the books to come. There is a lot of building to be done for the series, including laying the foundation for the characters’ relationships. Big families with lots of adopted friends and generational interactions and feuds are all part and parcel of the small town of Gossamer Falls. Never Fall Again focuses on builder Cal Quinn and artisan Landry Hutton. Both have lots of baggage dealing with past relationships, hence the title of the book. But there sure is a lot of chemistry between the two! Fans of the romance side of romantic suspense will be quite pleased with how the book progresses. The suspense develops slowly — a fire here, a little vandalism there — until the danger is deadly. I did not figure out whodunit, but in retrospect the clues are there if you pay close attention. This book is a bit different from most of the suspense novels I read — law enforcement and investigative work is done by secondary characters mostly off stage, hence the characters and the reader being caught unaware and off-balance. If you like being kept on your reading toes, this one is for you.

A good start to a new series, Never Fall Again is perfect for fans of romantic suspense. I look forward to more intrigue in Gossamer Falls!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Takeover Review Blitz — 8 Down

7 Mar

8 Down JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for 8 Down by Kimberly Woodhouse hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

8 Down

Title: 8 Down
Series: Alaskan Cyber Hunters #2
Author: Kimberley Woodhouse
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: February 20, 2024
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

8 bodies down.

8 more lives at stake.

Investigator Carrie Kintz is new blood with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation in Anchorage. But with a serial killer on the loose, there’s no easing into the job. It’s sink or swim. The only clues to help law enforcement stop this madman are the taunts he drops into crossword puzzles across the country–always in the same 8 DOWN position.

Carrie is desperate to prove her worth to the force and the community by catching the killer. But when she discovers signs that these deaths are just the tip of the iceberg in a frighteningly elaborate cyberattack, it’s time to admit she needs help.

Calling in security specialist Scott Patteson for his expertise seems like the right move–until Carrie realizes that he may be a dangerous distraction for her heart. With her faith fading in the face of horror and uncertainty and her career in danger of ending, this is no time for flirtation.

But with a killer who is determined to prove that he’s smarter than everyone else, it may be impossible to fight both the madman and their feelings for each other…

Put on your parkas as we head into a cold world of cybercrime, and hang on for the ride! Kimberley Woodhouse once again takes us on a nail-biter of a ride, and you won’t want to quit until you’ve read the last page!” –Jaime Jo Wright, author of The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater

“An amazing, breath-stealing, knuckle-biting thrill of a ride!” –Lynette Eason, award-winning, best-selling suspense author

Excerpt

Cyberterrorism. There really wasn’t any other way to word it. 

People had always hurt people. But now, in addition to guns and bombs, they could shut down the power and communication systems,

or in this case, traffic lights.

Who would do something like that?

That’s what he didn’t want to wrap his brain around. The cyber part was easy, at least in his mind. He had a master’s degree in computer science. Computers always made sense to him. Code. Programming.

Hardware. Software. 

But put an evil presence behind it, and all that technology could be used to harm innocent citizens. 

If someone was planning another cyberattack, his team and law enforcement needed to be ready. Anchorage was much larger than Fairbanks. A lot more lives were on the line.

Page 31

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub

More Books in Series

26 Below

My Impressions:

8 Down is the chilling sequel to 26 Below by Kimberly Woodhouse. This romantic suspense cyberthriller takes up where the previous book ends, but this time there are two new investigators on the newest twist to the terrorist(s)’ plans. Carrie is a rookie investigator with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation. She is plunged into a case featuring multiple murders with multiple causes, yet all pointing to one diabolical hacker. Scott joins the case with his strong cyber-credentials. There are others on the case as well, but the focus is on Carrie and Scott as they seek to uncover the twisting clues and develop a romantic relationship. The subject matter is pretty intense and frightening. Hackers are able to access personal laptops, medical records, traffic lights — you name it — in an effort to cause mayhem and death. The reader is introduced to the bad guy right away, and the look into a psychopath’s mind is intense! As I said, this book continues the first book in the Alaskan Cyber Hunters series, and while I didn’t have a problem getting up to speed, I should have read book one first. That’s definitely on the agenda now! A strong faith message rounds out the romance and suspense nicely. Both main characters are believers, but they have the same doubts and foibles that we all do. I also really liked the setting. Most of the action takes place in Anchorage, a town I have visited twice. It was fun to join the characters for meals at a restaurant we also loved.

If you like your suspense fast-paced, your romance sweet, and your bad guys over the top 😉 , you are going to love 8 Down!

Recommended!

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

About The Author

Kimberley Woodhouse

Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling author of more than thirty books and novellas, including A Deep Divide, Bridge of Gold, and The Mayflower Bride, as well as the coauthor of the Heart of Alaska series with Tracie Peterson. Kimberley’s writing has earned a Carol Award, the Christian Market Novel of the Year, the Holt Medallion, and many others. A proud former resident of Alaska, she now lives and writes in Colorado where she’s traded in her hat of “Craziest Mom” for “Nana the Great.”

Connect with Kimberley by visiting kimberleywoodhouse.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive signed copies of 26 Below and 8 Down, bookmarks, and other book-related goodies!

8 Down JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 6, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on March 13, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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Book Review: A Lady’s Guide To Marvels And Misadventure

6 Mar

I am so excited to present to you the debut novel by Angela Bell, A Lady’s Guide to Marvels And Misadventure. This book is termed a whimsical Victorian, and draws its inspiration from Jules Verne and The Nutcracker. Bell captures the Victorian era and has a wonderful grumpy and sunshine duo in Clara and Theodore. You do not want to miss this fun historical novel!

Miss Clara Marie Stanton’s family may be eccentric, but they certainly aren’t insane.

London, England, 1860
When Clara’s ex-fiancé begins to spread rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity, it’s all she can do to protect them from his desperate schemes, society’s prejudice, and a lifetime in an asylum. Then Clara’s Grandfather Drosselmeyer brings on an apprentice with a mechanical leg, and all pretense of normalcy takes wing.

Theodore Kingsley, a shame-chased vagabond haunted by the war, wants a fresh start far from Kingsley Court and the disappointed father who declared him dead. Upon returning to England, Theodore meets clockmaker Drosselmeyer, who hires him as an apprentice, much to Clara’s dismay. When Drosselmeyer spontaneously disappears in his secret flying owl machine, he leaves behind a note for Clara, beseeching her to make her dreams of adventure a reality by joining him on a merry scavenger hunt across Europe. Together, Clara and Theodore set off to follow Drosselmeyer’s trail of clues, but they will have to stay one step ahead of a villain who wants the flying machine for himself–at any cost.

Angela Bell is a twenty-first-century lady with nineteenth-century sensibilities. She resides in Texas with her charming pup, Mr. Bingley Crosby. One might categorize her books as historical romance, but Angela likes to describe them as “a cuppa Victorian whimsy” because it sounds so much more poetical.

Whenever you need a respite from the modern-day hustle, you’re welcome to visit her parlor at AuthorAngelaBell.com, where she can be found waiting with a pot of tea and a great book.

My Impressions:

A Lady’s Guide to Marvels And Misadventure gives a nod to several literary treasures, including The Nutcracker, Around The World in Eighty Days, and Heidi. But this debut by Angela Bell is no knock-off! With its steampunk vibe, fabulously fun Victorian settings and whimsy, and charming and colorful characters, this novel is so very good! Clara is burdened by many things, taking her grandfather’s childhood nickname, Little Atlas, to heart as she shoulders the family griefs and scandals. But her grandfather has other plans for her as he sets her on an adventure accompanied by his apprentice Arthur and chaperoned by her mother, the animal-activist Mrs. S. It takes some doing for Clara to lighten up, but she finally embraces the adventure as she solves a treasure hunt across Europe. I loved both main characters — the grumpy Clara and sunshine-y Arthur — as they made their way to each other and towards a God who provides, protects, and keeps His promises. The group travels by boat and train, with stops in fascinating cities all orchestrated by Drosslemeyer to delight and enlighten. It certainly delighted me! I admit to googling places and foods as I sought to immerse myself in this book. A dastardly villain keeps the characters on their toes as well — I gasped along with them. As the raucous romp continues, a strong faith thread is developed. This novel is full of surprises, not the least being the profound truths that made me stop and think about my own journey through life.

Fun and fabulous are two descriptors that fit A Lady’s Guide to Marvels And Misadventure. You are going to want to go along on this ride. I laughed, shed a few tears, and definitely learned a thing or two!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults

(Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Mini-Book Review — The Choices She Made

26 Feb

The Choices She Made by Felicia Ferguson is a novel of difficult choices. A young woman pregnant by her rapist makes several very hard decisions — to not press charges, to go through with the pregnancy, to keep her baby, and to let the young man she loves go. The novel alternates between the past and present, all through main character Madeline’s eyes. Are the sacrifices good or even necessary? Is the choice the best for the situation? It is interesting to see how every choice Madeline makes affects her and others futures’. I liked this book, although I wouldn’t call it an easy read. There are tough issues and tough outcomes. But the truths of God’s power, trustworthiness, and sovereignty shine through. The Choices She Made will certainly make you think — exactly what a book like this should do.

Recommended.

Audience: late teens to adults.

(I received a copy of the book through Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

In 1997, seventeen-year-old Madeline Williams is torn between continuing her family ranching legacy and accepting her Army-bound boyfriend’s marriage proposal.

But when an assault by John David Billings, the son of a wealthy rancher, leaves her pregnant, Madeline sacrifices both options, choosing to leave town and raise the child alone.

It’s been several years, and when she returns to her hometown to meet with her father, rumors circulate about John David’s trial–for assaulting other women. Madeline struggles with the secret she’s kept from her daughter–and everyone but her father–all of these years.

If she testifies, John David could be put away for good. Doesn’t help that he’s hired a killer lawyer, and it would take a testimony like hers just to put him behind bars. But if she unveils her past, that could have some dangerous repercussions for her daughter.

She has trusted God throughout her entire life, but can she trust him to carry her through his trial?

As a child, Felicia Ferguson lived in Kansas, Texas, and Louisiana before her family settled on a horse and cattle farm in Kentucky. For the past ten years, though, she soaked up the Florida sun. But then God moved her once again. This time out of the South and into the mountains of Colorado.

Felicia achieved master’s degrees in Healthcare Administration and Speech-Language Pathology, but has written since childhood and dreamed of authoring books that teach and inspire others. An award-winning fiction and non-fiction freelance writer, she is the past president of the Destin chapter of Word Weavers International and a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association.

She has previously published devotions with Christian Devotions and Inkspirations, and her first contemporary women’s novel with End Game Press, The Choices She Made, released in 2022. Her 2023 releases include two devotions in Ordinary People, Extraordinary God and three short stories in Sweet Romance for Every Season, both from End Game Press. When Secrets Come Calling, a contemporary women’s fiction book, will release in 2024 also with End Game Press. Her radio devotional, Build Faith for the Journey, airs Saturdays on Christian Mix 106.

When she’s not glued to her laptop, Felicia enjoys hiking, meandering with her twelve-year-old Frenchie, and looking forward to the next story.

Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Learn more at http://www.feliciafergusonauthor.com.

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Book Review — The Rhythm Of Fractured Grace

22 Feb

The Rhythm of Fractured Grace JustRead Takeover Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Rhythm of Fractured Grace by Amanda Wen hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

The Rhythm of Fractured Grace

Title: The Rhythm of Fractured Grace
Series: Sedgwick County Chronicles #3
Author: Amanda Wen
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: February 20, 2024
Genre: Christian Split Time Romantic Women’s Fiction

Is Siobhan too far gone to respond to the song of a God who’s calling her back to him?

When a new customer brings a badly damaged violin into Siobhan Walsh’s shop, it is exactly the sort of challenge she craves. The man who brought it in is not. He’s too close to the painful past that left her heart and her faith in shambles.

Matt Buchanan has had a rough start as the new worship pastor. A car accident on his way into town left him with a nearly totaled truck, and an heirloom violin in pieces. When he takes it to a repair shop, he’s fascinated with the restoration process–and with the edgy, closed-off woman doing the work.

As their friendship deepens and turns into more, they both discover secrets that force them to face past wounds. And the history of the violin reveals more about their current problems than they could have ever expected.

On the nineteenth-century frontier, a gruesome tomahawk attack wiped out most of Deborah Caldwell’s family. Her greatest solace after the tragedy is the music from her father’s prized violin. Given her horrendous scars, she’d resigned herself to a spinster’s life. But Levi Martinson’s gentle love starts to chip away at her hardened heart, until devastating details about the attack are revealed, putting their love–and Deborah’s shaky faith–to the ultimate test.

Full of forgiveness and the message that no one is too damaged for God’s healing touch, the final book in the split-time Sedgwick County Chronicles will thrill fans of Rachel Hauck, Lisa Wingate, and Kristy Cambron.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Christianbook | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Excerpt

Tucking the violin under one arm, Siobhan held the door for Matt, the bells jingling against the glass, and ducked into the little shop after he hobbled through. The small space was cluttered with instruments of every size, shape, and description, from basses and cellos standing at attention along a far wall to violins and violas hanging from hooks near and far. The comforting scents of wood and varnish enveloped her in a gentle hug. 

Of all the jobs she’d pictured herself in, tucked away in a tiny shop learning how to rehair bows and repair stringed instruments hadn’t even made the list.

But after her last job? Tucked away seemed ideal.



More Books in Series

Roots of Wood and Stone The Songs That Could Have Been

My Impressions:

Wow! I didn’t think I could like a book more than I already liked the first two books in Amanda Wen’s Sedgwick County Chronicles, that is, until I read The Rhythm of Fractured Grace. Another dual timeline novel set in modern day Wichita and the late 1800s Kansas frontier, this novel has powerful themes of forgiveness, identity, and worthiness in God. Modern day Siobhan has been damaged by the church. Manipulated and abused by a person in authority, then shunned by fellow church members, she keeps a low profile with her dyed hair and baggy plaid shirts. That is until Matt hobbles into her life on crutches holding a violin certainly damaged beyond repair. The second story centers on Deborah, a woman wounded physically and emotionally by an attack in her childhood. Both women feel less than, unworthy of love from man or God. I loved how the author used the old, broken violin as a bridge to the women’s stories and as a symbol of restoration. God is everywhere in the two women’s lives, though they either don’t see it or don’t want to. The men in their lives aid in the healing of their hearts, but it is God who works His will in their lives. I loved, loved, loved that!

With novels with two or more timelines, I generally like one story over the other, but in The Rhythm of Fractured Grace, I was immersed in both. The characterization is strong, the themes were relevant to my life, and I just did not want either story to end! This one is a highly recommended read!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Kregel for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

About The Author

Amanda Wen

Amanda Wen is a Selah Award–winning, Parable best-selling author of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction, including Roots of Wood and Stone and The Songs That Could Have Been, and a professional musician. Wen currently lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband and three children.

Connect with Amanda by visiting amandawen.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of the book, a mug, chai mix, and a kitsugi heart necklace!

The Rhythm of Fractured Grace JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 21, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 28, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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Mini-Book Review — By Her Own Design

21 Feb

My book club read By Her Own Design by Piper Hugely, a novel about Ann Lowe, an African American fashion designer who catered to the rich and famous, including Jacqueline Kennedy. The novel spans the years of the early twentieth century to the last days of Ann’s life. It centers on the struggles that women in her family in particular as well as all people of color faced in creating a life of independence amidst the prejudices cemented in place. The characters in the book, including Ann, are certainly a product of the social rules, racial prejudices, and laws of the time. It was an interesting look at one woman’s determination not to be defined by circumstances and expectations, Anne Lowe overcame so many abuses — she was indeed a remarkable woman.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

The incredible untold story of how Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves, rose above personal struggles and racial prejudice to design and create one of America’s most famous wedding dresses of all time for Jackie Kennedy.

1953, New York City

Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy, a pipe bursts at Ann Lowe’s dress shop and ruins eleven dresses, including the expensive wedding dress, a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way, Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them. She and her seamstresses will find the way to re-create the dresses. It may take all day and all night for the next week to accomplish the task, but they will do it.

1918, Tampa

Raised in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother, a former slave, who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic, her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Ann’s talent and offers her an amazing opportunity—the chance to sew and design clothing for Florida’s society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night, Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.

Based on the true story of one of the most famous designers of the twenties through the sixties who has since been unjustly forgotten, By Her Own Design is an unforgettable novel of determination despite countless obstacles and a triumph celebrated by the world.

Piper G. Huguley’s biographical historical fiction, By Her Own Design: a novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register (William Morrow Publishing) tells the inspiring story of the Black fashion designer of Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress. By Her Own Design was a Booklist top 100 Editor’s Choice selection for 2022, was named one of the top 100 books of 2022 in Canada by the Globe and Mail newspaper and was selected as the historical fiction winner for 2022 by the American Library Association’s Reading Council.

She is also the author of Sweet Tea, a contemporary romance about food and history (of course) and the author of two historical romance series: “Migrations of the Heart”, about the Great Migration and “Home to Milford College”. Her next historical fiction book, American Daughters (2024), is the story of the decades-long interracial friendship between Alice Roosevelt and Portia Washington, the rebel teenage daughters of President Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington, respectively. She is a literature professor at Clark-Atlanta University and blogs about the history behind her novels at http://piperhuguley.com . She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and son.

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Book Review: Up From The Dust

15 Feb

Up from The Dust by Heather Kaufman is historical fiction from the viewpoint of Martha of Bethany. Yes, the Martha, the friend of Jesus who often gets maligned for her scolding of her sister Mary and her whining to Jesus. Did I think that was all there was to Martha? Absolutely not! And this book reinforced that belief. I loved it! More below.

Martha of Bethany is no stranger to adversity. After her mother’s untimely death, Martha shoulders the responsibility of raising her siblings–quiet and studious Lazarus, and wild and rambunctious Mary. She finds solace in friendship and the beginnings of first love, but just as Martha begins to imagine a new future, hardship strikes again and her dreams crumble into dust.

Ten years later, Martha’s friend pleads for the new teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, to come and heal her husband. When Martha discovers that the carpenter-rabbi is connected to her past, she’s not sure she can trust him with her future. But as he continues to perform miracles, the invitation to believe becomes harder to resist, renewing Martha’s hardened heart, even as she faces an unknown future.

Heather Kaufman lives in the Midwest with her husband and three children. She holds a BA from McKendree University and an MA from the University of Missouri—St. Louis. When not reading or writing, she can be found drinking copious amounts of coffee and exploring new parks with her family.

My Impressions:

Up from The Dust by Heather Kaufman is a well-written and researched look at Martha of Bethany. Yes, that Martha from the New Testament. The novel is told in the first person voice of Martha and is divided into two parts — Martha’s fictionalized backstory and the point at which Jesus enters into Martha’s life. I loved the very credible history Kaufman invents for Martha. While it is purely fictional, it allowed me to see just how Martha could have been molded by her family relationships, her experiences, and her doubts and hurts to become the woman that is presented in the Gospel. Martha was in Jesus words “worried and upset about many things”, and Up from The Dust presents just such a character. I have always felt sympathetic towards the biblical Martha, maybe because I too struggle with worry and my desire to have everything just so. I gained insight into just what made Martha tick. Do we really know why she was the way she was? No, but this book helps to make Martha flesh and blood.

Part two of the novel explores Jesus’ ministry from Martha’s lens. Her faith in Him grows as she witnesses Jesus’ love, compassion, power, and sovereignty. One of the sentences that especially spoke to me is as follows — Perhaps he was larger than my history, more powerful than my pain. Perhaps I did not have to understand him completely to trust him. Reading this book was akin to being there for Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and the horror of His death. The scenes depicting how the Earth responded are especially moving.

While nothing replaces scripture in understanding God, well-done biblical fiction reminds us of the real people who encountered Him and how they are not so different from ourselves. I found this book illuminating, uplifting, and encouraging. Up from The Dust is a good choice for a book club — you will want to talk about it!

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults

(I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Mini-Book Review — The Orchard

13 Feb

The Orchard by Beverly Lewis is an Amish novel set during the Vietnam War. This turbulent time affected not only the English, but the Amish community. In order for Amish men to stay faithful to their faith and avoid the draft, they had to register as conscientious objectors. But for Evan Hostetler, the choice is not an easy one. He and his twin sister, Ellie, have an idyllic life living on the farm their family has managed for generations. In Ellie’s eyes the choice is simple, but her simple world becomes more and more difficult to navigate with Evan’s decision. The message of the book seemed to be that the Amish way of life was simple and good and that any other way of living was wrong. Ellie’s character is naive and her world small. There is conflict and tragedy, but in the end the author seemed to be saying that if Evan had just followed the teachings of his church, all would have been well. Perhaps. But the Amish church is not perfect, nor is it without problems — as are all churches. I felt that the book presented a one-sided, simplistic view of the world. Beverly Lewis is a much beloved and successful author, so check this book out for yourself and decide whether to read it.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

For generations, Ellie Hostetler’s family has tended their Lancaster County orchard, a tradition her twin brother, Evan, will someday continue. Yet when Evan’s draft number is called up in the lottery for the Vietnam War, the family is shocked to learn he has not sought conscientious objector status, despite their Old Order Amish belief in non-resistance. The faraway war that has caused so much turmoil and grief among their Englisher neighbors threatens too close to home.

As Evan departs for boot camp, Ellie confides her disappointment toSol Bontrager, the brother of her best friend and cousin to her new beau, Menno. In contrast to Evan, Sol is a conscientious objector. Despite Ellie’s attraction to Menno, she finds herself drawn to Sol’s steady presence as they work together in the orchard. Suddenly, it feels as if everything in Ellie’s world is shifting, and the plans she held so dear seem increasingly uncertain. Can she and her family find the courage to face a future unlike any they could have imagined?

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than 17 million books in print. Her stories have been published in 12 languages and have regularly appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today. Beverly and her husband, David, live in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, making music, and spending time with their family.

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