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Book Review: You Make It Feel Like Christmas

23 Nov

Happy Thanksgiving! After the turkey/dressing/pumpkin pie has been consumed, it’s time to settle into a little Christmas reading. You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Toni Shiloh is the perfect read for Thanksgiving weekend. This contemporary romance has all the holiday feels and features a strong faith message. So get to reading!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year–for everyone except Starr Lewis.

As if going home for the holidays jobless and single wasn’t bad enough, she’s dragged into a holiday season full of activities leading up to her sister’s uber-romantic Christmas Eve wedding–to Starr’s ex-boyfriend. But when her brother’s best friend, Waylon Emmerson, attends their family Thanksgiving, she starts to wonder if maybe coming home for Christmas isn’t so bad after all.

As Starr finds the perfect distraction in helping Waylon make over his late mother’s Christmas shop, the most wonderful time of the year works its magic and the spark between them grows. But with the holidays fast approaching, Starr must decide what she wants out of life after the gifts are unwrapped and the ornaments are put away–to go back to New York City or to open her heart to a love that will last beyond Christmas Day?

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and an award-winning Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novel, In Search of a Prince, won the first ever, Christy Amplify award. Her novels, Grace Restored, was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist, Risking Love a 2020 Selah Award finalist, The Truth About Famea 2021 Holt Medallion finalist, and The Price of Dreams a 2021 Maggie Award finalist.

A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and of the Virginia Chapter, Toni seeks to help readers find authors. She loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. You can learn more about her writing at http://tonishiloh.com.

My Impressions:

Starr is the baby of the overachieving Lewis family. She has always felt on the outside and not quite good enough. Coming home for Thanksgiving without a job just adds to her feelings of inadequacy. In You Make It Feel Like Christmas, Toni Shiloh sets the stage for personal growth, new perspectives, and reconciliation. It definitely will check all the holiday romance boxes and includes a firm faith foundation and family dynamic insights. I loved the Lewis family, warts and all, and was pleased with how the relationships evolved. Starr and Waylon are the perfect romantic duo — I cheered them on as they faced obstacles and doubts with prayer and consideration for each other. As it was a novella length book, YMIFLC was a quick read for me — perfect for the busy season. The light style, serious Christmas-y vibes, and a sweet story make this one a recommended read.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

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

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Mini-Book Review: The Preacher Wore Black Leather

22 Nov

With a clever title and intriguing plot, The Preacher Wore Black Leather by Loree Lough was a book I wanted to read. This quickly read novel takes the reader to Reliable, Texas, a small town where everyone knows your name and business! The story revolves around ex-pastor Matt Maxwell. His escape from problems and heartache ends when his motorcycle breaks down outside of town. The townspeople soon take Max into their hearts and homes and his healing begins. I really liked the characters Lough created — colorful, caring, and engaging. Suspense and mystery is included to move the plot along, and there is a fairly big loose thread at the end, promising a second book in the series. There are some cons to the book, though. The writing style is a bit jerky and there is trouble with continuity. I think a little more editing would have improved the novel. But I liked it enough, despite the problems, to want to revisit Reliable when book two in the Sundown Diner series is published.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.)

Matt Maxwell wondered a lot about changing his first name to Former: Former Marine. Former minister. Former husband. One by one, he’d lost them all. After losing his wife to his church deacon, he’d packed his battered military duffel, gassed up his ancient motorcycle, and put Baltimore in the Harley’s rearview mirrors.
On an unusually cold and snowy Texas night, the Sportster breaks down along the Interstate. Out of luck and nearly broke, Matt’s lured by a bright red sign that reads SUNDOWN DINER. Inside, he meets the owners, the town’s three-man sheriff’s department, and a mechanic who thinks he can fix the old bike.
Icy weather and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday make that impossible, and Matt finds himself stranded in Reliable, where everyone seems determined to keep him from the road to anywhere that isn’t Baltimore.
Once the Harley is roadworthy, will he put Reliable behind him? Or does God have other plans for the down-on-his-luck pastor?

At last count, USA Today best-selling author Loree Lough had 134 award-winning books (nearly 17 million copies in circulation), hundreds of industry awards, 7 book-to-movie options), 71 published short stories, and nearly 3,000 nonfiction articles in print.

An oft-invited guest of writers’ organizations, colleges and universities, corporate and government agencies in the U.S. and abroad, Loree loves sharing learned-the-hard-way lessons about the craft and the industry.

Once upon a time, Loree (literally) sang for her supper, performing alone and “opening” for the likes of Tom Jones, Dottie West, The Gatlin Brothers, and more. Though she refuses to share the actual year when she traded her Yamaha 6-string for a wedding ring, she IS willing to admit that, every now and then, she blows the dust off her six-string to croon a tune or two. But mostly, she just writes (and writes).

Loree and her husband split their time between a home in the Baltimore suburbs and a cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, where she continues to hone her “identify the critter tracks” skills. Her favorite pastime? Spending long, leisurely hours with her grandchildren…all seven of them!

Loree and co-host Andrea Boeshaar interview writers (fiction and non), artists, editors, agents, and performers on the popular weekly podcast, Discover the Story, broadcast via iHeart Radio, iTunes, YouTube, Spreaker, and more.

Loree loves hearing from her readers, and answers every letter, personally. You can connect with her at Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and http://www.loreelough.com.

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Mini-Book Review: Breath of Heaven

20 Nov

Breath of Heaven by Deborah Raney is the 3rd book in the Camfield Legacy series. The book features newlyweds Natalie and David Chambers as they settle into marriage and the mission life in South America. Both are committed to bringing the gospel to the Timone people, but they are not on the same page when it comes to beginning their own family. To complicate things, guerrillas are coming closer and closer to their village, threatening their work and their lives. I really liked Raney’s take on the life on the mission field. Missionaries are certainly not exempt from conflicts — Breath of Heaven presented real people with real problems acting in a way all can relate to. The addition of a suspense-filled story line, including kidnapping and human trafficking, kept me turning the pages — I really could not put this book down. And the themes of guilt/unworthiness and unforgiveness made me think.

I have not read the other books in this series, but that did not hinder me from enjoying Breath of Heaven. But I think starting at the beginning is a good plan for those who are new to the series.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy of the this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

HER FAMILY’S LEGACY HAD BEEN FULL OF DEEP SORROW.
AND NOW IT LOOKED AS IF HER LIFE WOULD FOLLOW THE SAME PATH.
BUT HER GOD WAS STILL IN THE BUSINESS OF REDEMPTION.

After a joyful wedding in Kansas, Natalie Camfield Chambers is back in the village of Timoné in South America with her beloved husband, David Chambers. But the adjustments to married life while serving on the mission field in a remote Colombian village along the Rio Guaviare are more than either Natalie or David bargained for. The growing unrest in the country only adds to the challenges they face.

When the village is invaded by guerrilla soldiers and one of their Timoné neighbors, a young mother, goes missing, Natalie and David find themselves caring for her small daughter, even as Natalie has begun to suspect that she is carrying their own child.

When a trip by boat on the Guaviare turns treacherous and ultimately deadly, Natalie and David face the fight of their lives. Their faith—and their love—will be tested in ways they never dreamed, and the decisions they make will echo for generations to come.

Deborah Raney‘s first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched Deb’s writing career. She has now written more than forty books, including novels for imprints of Random House, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins. Deb served on the board of the 2500-member American Christian Fiction Writers for 18 years and teaches at writers conferences around the country. Her novels have won RWA’s RITA Award, the ACFW Carol Award, the National Readers Choice Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She is also a three-time Christy Award finalist. Deb is a recent Missouri transplant, having moved with her husband, Ken Raney, from their native Kansas to be closer to kids and grandkids. They love road trips, Friday garage sale dates, and breakfast on the screened porch overlooking their wooded backyard. Visit Deb on the Web at http://www.deborahraney.com.

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Book Review: The Warsaw Sisters

13 Nov

Some books are really hard to review. They elicit feelings that are difficult to put into words. The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt is one such novel. I’ll do my best in the review that follows, but for now just know that this is a must-read. Very highly recommended.

On a golden August morning in 1939, sisters Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska send their father off to defend Poland against the looming threat of German invasion. The next day, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their beloved city and shattering the world of their youth.

When Antonina’s beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls along with the rest of Warsaw’s Jewish population, Antonina turns her worry into action and becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland’s secret army, joining the fight to free her homeland from occupation. But the secrets both are forced to keep threaten to tear the sisters apart–and the cost of resistance proves greater than either ever imagined.

Shining a light on the oft-forgotten history of Poland during WWII and inspired by true stories of ordinary individuals who fought to preserve freedom and humanity in the darkest of times, The Warsaw Sisters is a richly rendered portrait of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of our deepest ties.

Amanda Barratt is the bestselling author of numerous historical novels and novellas including THE WARSAW SISTERS, WITHIN THESE WALLS OF SORROW, and THE WHITE ROSE RESISTS. Her work has been the recipient of the Christy Award and the Carol Award, as well as an Honorable Mention in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

Amanda is passionate about illuminating oft-forgotten facets of history through a fictional narrative. She lives in Michigan and can often be found researching her next novel, catching up on her to-be-read stack, or savoring a slice of her favorite lemon cake.

To connect with Amanda, visit: http://www.amandabarratt.net.

My Impressions:

The Warsaw Sisters is a WWII-era novel by talented author Amanda Barratt. This book, as her previous books, is extremely well-researched and written. Set in Warsaw from the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany until the end of WWII, it does not sugarcoat or mask the privations of war, the cruelty of the Nazi regime, or the crimes perpetrated against the people of Poland, especially the Jewish population. It’s a novel of survival of spirit and faith in the midst of extreme physical and emotional stress. I had to pause in my reading of the book in order to take a few breaths of relief even as I wanted/needed to keep turning the pages. I had to find out what happened to sisters Antonina and Helena and their beloved city. The two main characters are what give this book heart and soul. Although twins, the two are so different, yet their determination to have purpose in the midst of tragedy spoke of the Polish people of the time. I knew little about the capital city of Poland during WWII, but Warsaw became almost as beloved by this reader as it was to Antonina and Helena. Not the buildings, but the people who stood against evil oppression in small and large ways — each making a difference. Antonina and Helena take similar stands, yet apart from each other. Secrecy was necessary for the clandestine work they undertook, as well as to preserve the safety of those they held dear. I ached for them as the once close sisters grew further apart. There is much loss in this book, as history will attest. Yet love, hope, and faith in a God who never leaves remains.

The Warsaw Sisters is a powerful novel. The writing style is stunningly beautiful, the characters will remain in the reader”s heart, and the strong message of God’s presence in the midst of terror is hard won. I cannot praise this book enough. You’ll find that you need to talk about it, so consider it for your book club. Very highly recommended.

Very Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: The Thing About Home

9 Nov

A few weeks ago Rhonda McKnight was a new-to-me author. But with just one book, she is now a must-read writer. Her novel, The Thing About Home, is fantastic — full of heart and soul. I loved the Lowcountry setting with its rich cultural elements (the food in this book had my mouth watering, LOL!), the historical background that spoke of a rich legacy, and the family that embraced a hurting heroine. And did I mention a hunky hero? 😉 This book has it all. Get this book!

Home is not a place—it’s a feeling.

 Casey Black needs an escape. When her picture-perfect vow renewal ceremony ends in her being left at the altar, the former model turned social media influencer has new fame—the kind she never wanted. An embarrassing viral video has cost her millions of followers, and her seven-year marriage is over. With her personal and business lives in shambles, Casey runs from New York City to South Carolina’s Lowcountry hoping to find long-lost family. Family who can give her more answers about her past than her controlling mom-slash-manager has ever been willing to share.

What Casey doesn’t expect is a postcard-worthy property on a three-hundred-acre farm, history, culture, and a love of sweet tea. She spends her days caring for the land and her nights cooking much needed Southern comfort foods. She also meets Nigel, the handsome farm manager whose friendship has become everything she’s never had. And then there are the secrets her mother can no longer hide.

Through the pages of her great-grandmother’s journals, Casey discovers her roots run deeper than the Lowcountry soil. She learns that she has people. A home. A legacy to uphold. And a great new love story—if only she is brave enough to leave her old life behind. 

“. . . a beautifully written story about family, self-discovery, secrets, and forgiveness.” —Kimberla Lawson Roby, New York Times bestselling author.

Rhonda McKnight is the author of twenty-five traditional and indie-published award-winning bestsellers, including An Inconvenient Friend, What Kind of Fool, and Unbreak My Heart. She is a two-time winner of the Emma award in the categories of Inspirational Romance of the Year (2015) and Debut Author (2010). She has been nominated thrice for the African American Literary Award. She writes inspirational book club fiction and Christian romance about complex characters in crisis. Her goal is to touch the heart of women through her stories using the themes of faith, forgiveness, and hope. Originally from a small coastal town in New Jersey, she writes from the comfort of her South Carolina home.

She can be reached at her website at http://www.RhondaMcKnight.com and on social media at http://www.facebook.com/booksbyrhonda, http://www.instagram.com/AuthorRhondaMcKnight, http://www.twitter.com/rhondamcknight and http://www.SistersofFaithBooks.comwhere she has joined with sixteen other authors to introduce her stories to the world.

My Impressions:

Casey B is a woman scorned at the beginning of The Thing About Home. While I sympathized with her situation and even her response to it, I didn’t much like her. Maybe because the model-turned-influencer seemed really shallow. But as the novel progressed I saw behind the mask this main character presented to the world. Talk about character development! Rhonda McKnight puts Casey through the ringer and brings her out stronger and more grounded in faith, family, and future. The Thing About Home explores identity and family legacy. The dual timeline of Odessa’s story adds a wonderful depth to the Black family journey to the present. And the long life lived by Granna, Casey’s grandmother, added a layer of poignancy and wisdom. Both women gave Casey and this reader a perspective on struggles we were unaware of. I really liked that about the book. I learned a thing or two about history and myself. While these things would certainly be enough, the romance that develops between Casey and her very hunky host is certainly swoony! So basically you have a novel with a strong message, brilliant descriptions of culture and history of the Lowcountry, a beautifully crafted style, and a romance to beat all romances. Yes, its got it all. And it gets a highly recommended rating from me!

Highly Recommended!

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: Jane And The Final Mystery

31 Oct

Title: Jane and the Final Mystery
Series: Being a Jane Austen Mystery (Book 15)
Author: Stephanie Barron
Genre: Historical Mystery, Austenesque Fiction
Publisher: Soho Crime (October 24, 2023)
Length: (312) pages
Format: Hardcover, eBook, & audiobook 
ISBN: 978-1641295055
Tour Dates: October 16 – 31, 2023

The final volume of the critically acclaimed mystery series featuring Jane Austen as amateur sleuth March 1817.

As winter turns to spring, Jane Austen’s health is in slow decline, and threatens to cease progress on her latest manuscript. But when her nephew Edward brings chilling news of a death at his former school, Winchester College, not even her debilitating ailment can keep Jane from seeking out the truth. Arthur Prendergast, a
senior pupil at the prestigious all-boys’ boarding school, has been found dead in a culvert near the schoolgrounds—and in the pocket of his drenched waistcoat is an incriminating note penned by the young William Heathcote, the son of Jane’s dear friend Elizabeth. Winchester College is a world unto itself, with its own language and rites of
passage, cruel hazing and dangerous pranks. Can Jane clear William’s name before her illness gets the better of her?

Over the course of fourteen previous novels in the critically acclaimed Being a Jane Austen Mystery series, Stephanie Barron has won the hearts of thousands of fans—crime fiction aficionados and Janeites alike—with her tricky plotting and breathtaking evocation of Austen’s voice. Now, she brings Jane’s final season—and final murder investigation—to brilliant, poignant life in this unforgettable conclusion.

PRAISE FOR JANE AND THE FINAL MYSTERY
“Poignant . . . Elicits deep emotion out of Jane’s struggles against her own mortality. This is a fitting send-off for a beautifully realized series.”— Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Barron developed Jane’s narrative voice by reading Austen’s collected and published letters, and it is neither spoiler nor surprise to say that series readers will be sorry to say goodbye to Jane Austen, amateur sleuth.”— Booklist

“[Barron] has brilliantly combined authentic historical and biographical details with skillful plotting and a credible evocation of Austen’s wry, distinctive voice. She brings the English author’s final investigation to a poignant, unforgettable close. Fans of this historical series will not be disappointed.”— First Clue

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | PUBLISHER | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

Stephanie Barron is a graduate of Princeton and Stanford, where she received her Masters in History as an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellow in the Humanities. Her novel, THAT CHURCHILL WOMAN (Ballantine, January 22, 2019) traces the turbulent career of Jennie Jerome, Winston Churchill’s captivating American mother. Barron is perhaps best known for the critically acclaimed Jane Austen Mystery Series, in which the intrepid and witty author of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE details her secret detective career in Regency England. A former intelligence analyst for the CIA, Stephanie—who also writes under the name Francine Mathews—drew on her experience in the field of espionage for such novels as JACK 1939, which The New Yorker described as “the most deliciously high-concept thriller imaginable.” She lives and works in Denver, CO.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | BOOKBUB |

GOODREADS

My Impressions:

I am so sad that the wonderful Being A Jane mystery series has come to an end. I was captivated by Jane Austen as an amateur sleuth from the very beginning. Stephanie Barron has always delivered a faithfully-drawn Jane as she navigates the more mysterious side of Regency England society. Accurate depictions of the time and place, as well as Jane and the Austen family and friends, bring authenticity to a thoroughly enjoyable mystery series. In Jane And The Final Mystery, the reader and Jane know that her time is short. Though modern readers would consider her young, Jane is a spinster who depends on the meager revenue from her writing as well as a small stipend supplemented by her brothers and has few prospects for bettering her life. It would be easy to feel sorry for the historical Jane, but through Barron’s depiction we see a woman content with how her life has run. Jane And The Final Mystery finds Jane struggling with illness but still keen to discover just whodunit in the cathedral town of Winchester. I loved the historical details Barron uses — food, fashion, education, medicine, judicial practices — to bring early 19th century England to life. Characters, both historical and fictional, play a part in the story, making this book very believable. While there is no historical proof that Jane was a successful sleuth, this book (along with the entire series) makes my Jane-loving heart believe. 😉 The pace of the mystery kept me turning the pages as I strove with our heroine to solve the case. Barron kept us both on our toes!

For those who have been faithful followers of this series, you will love the poignant ending. And if you are new to these mysteries, you are in for a treat — 15 books to savor! I recommend you start at the beginning of this wonderful mystery series.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: Broker of Lies

26 Oct

My book club chose Broker of Lies by Steven James as our October selection. I always think of mystery/suspense/thriller when I think of October reading, and James’ latest novel delivered that in plenty! I can’t recommend this book enough!

The man who knows all our secrets has a secret of his own.

When Travis Brock, a high-level Pentagon redactor with an eidetic memory, finds a clue to solving the tragic arson that took his wife from him, he risks everything to find the truth—and chances losing himself in the process.

With a terror attack looming on the horizon and a pair of assassins on his tail, Brock drops off the grid and joins forces with a disavowed Homeland Security operative. Together they race to stop the attack before Brock is neutralized by the people he trusts the most.

From critically acclaimed, bestselling novelist Steven James comes a smart, wire-tight, and emotionally resonant thriller that asks just how far across the line we might go to see justice carried out.

Steven James’s latest thriller, BROKER OF LIES, is a smart, wire-tight, and emotionally resonant thriller that launches a new series featuring a world of intrigue and espionage where truth can be a commodity or a weapon. The second in the series, FATAL DOMAIN, releases in 2024 and is available for pre-order now!

As an acclaimed keynote speaker and in-demand storyteller, Steven is equipped with a unique master’s degree in storytelling and has taught writing and storytelling on five continents, speaking more than 2000 times at events spanning the globe.

He is also the critically acclaimed author of eighteen suspense novels. His sci-fi novel, SYNAPSE, a near-future thriller, received starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and was a finalist for an International Book Award.

When Steven isn’t writing or speaking, you’ll find him playing basketball or hiking near his home in the Appalachian Highlands of eastern Tennessee.

For more info, check out http://www.stevenjames.net. To listen to his podcast, click to http://www.thestoryblender.com.

My Impressions:

Broker of Lies introduces slightly nerdy, emotionally broken, and physically wounded Travis Brock. A Department of Defense redactor with eidetic memory (the nerdy part), Travis has been dealing with the loss of his wife in an arson (the broken and wounded part). He wants answers and justice. When a mysterious FOIA request comes across his desk he is swept up in a conspiracy that goes farther than the murder of his wife. Travis is a complex character with both weaknesses and strengths, making him sympathetic, interesting, and relatable. Other characters — good and bad and very bad — are equally compelling. And while the book is mostly plot-driven, I loved that James gave attention to what makes them all tick. The action is fast-paced with twists and turns galore. It sure kept me on my reading toes. I never knew what to expect or whom to trust. The ending is a race against time with a very intriguing cliffhanger. Yes, a cliffhanger, the bane of many readers. But this one is so thrilling, and I’m dying to get my hands on the next installment. Justice vs. vengeance vs. revenge is an overriding theme. Just where do we fit in the role that is rightfully God’s? I look forward to a lively discussion of this novel at my book club meeting.

Well-drawn characters, an edge-of-the-seat plot, and spiritual questions make Broker of Lies a good choice for readers of suspense and for a book club discussion. Grab this book and a reading buddy!

Highly recommended.

Good for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

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

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Children’s Corner — 100 Bedtime Devotions

19 Oct

The tagline for 100 Bedtime Devotions from The Beginner’s Bible is Meaningful Answers to Kids Big Questions. Designed for end of the day prayers and discussions, the book is divided up into topics including Peace, Hope and Patience, God’s Purpose for Us, and Loving God And Loving Others. There are devotions for when a child is scared or hurt, and devotions to encourage gratefulness and kindness — basically, every situation that can come up in a child’s life. The stories are short, simple, and easy to understand, and most importantly taken directly from the Bible. A short prayer prompt can help parents guide their child into quiet time with God. Brightly colored illustrations capture the eye as the truths from God’s word are shared. I can’t wait to share this book with my grandchildren!

Recommended.

Audience: children 4-8.

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

Snuggle up for some special time with God and your little one! The Beginner’s Bible 100 Bedtime Devotions contains sweet, meaningful devotions that are fun and accessible for young children, so you can end the day by reassuring your child of God’s amazing love for them.

The Beginner’s Bible 100 Bedtime Devotions is a cozy, faith-filled addition to any bedtime routine. With devotions organized by theme—including gratitude, courage, friendship, peace, and more—it’s easy to find the perfect message for anything that’s on a child’s heart or mind.

The Beginner’s Bible 100 Bedtime Devotions:

  • Is part of The Beginner’s Bible® brand, the bestselling Bible storybook brand of our time, impacting more than 25 million families for over 30 years
  • Features 100 original devotions perfect for sharing with young children
  • Organizes devotions by topic, so you can easily address anything your child is thinking about
  • Is a fun, accessible way to deepen your child’s faith
  • Features vibrant, three-dimensional art
  • Is perfect for Easter baskets, Christmas stocking stuffers, birthdays, and child dedications

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Children’s Corner — You’ve Got This, Fiona

18 Oct

Whether it’s moving to a new home, city, or school or anticipating a new baby, kids (like adults 😉 ) can be anxious about change. In You’ve Got This, Fiona, Fiona the hippo is anxious about the changes taking place around her. Seasons come and go, and she is worried she will be forgotten by her friends. I loved how all the animals in the zoo banded together to make sure Fiona’s fears were alleviated. My granddaughter loves Fiona books. She is pretty insistent on me reading them to her over and over when she visits. LOL. And I know she is going to love this one as well. She is facing some big changes in the coming months, and I think her favorite hippopotamus will be a big help in facing those changes. The book is one you would expect from a Fiona book — colorful and detailed illustrations and easy to understand, yet meaningful prose. You and your child will love it too!

Recommended.

Audience: children ages 4-8.

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

Join your favorite hippo, Fiona, the adorable internet sensation from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, in this perfect read-aloud picture book, You’ve Got This, Fiona, as she learns about the changing seasons of the year and how, even when things change around you, true friendship, family, and love stay the same.

Fiona notices that things are changing—her friends the geese are flying south, the leaves are turning different colors and the weather is getting cooler, her baby brother Fritz is born and brings change to Hippo Cove. But Fiona also wonders is everyone and everything going to change? Fiona gets a little worried … and so she heads to Mama and her friends, looking for answers.

You’ve Got This, Fiona:

  • is the perfect story to read aloud to children ages 4 to 8.
  • features art by New York Times bestselling artist Richard Cowdrey (Fiona the Hippo,Bad Dog, Marley)
  • takes kids through the seasons of the year at the zoo
  • helps children see that change—from the seasons to new babies in the family–is normal and it’s ok to be unsure about change
  • introduces Fiona’s baby brother Fritz, who was born at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens in August 2022

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Book Review — Shadows at Dusk

18 Oct

I traveled north to Alaska in Elizabeth Goddard‘s latest romantic suspense novel, Shadows at Dusk, book 2 in the Missing in Alaska series. This one is a page-turner, so be prepared to settle in for excellent reading!

Montana Detective Trevor West is desperate to learn what happened to his sister, who went missing in Alaska over a year ago, leaving nothing but a few photographs as clues to her whereabouts. At the advice of Police Chief Autumn Long, Trevor enlists the help of an experienced bush pilot. If Carrie James can’t help him find the places in the photographs, no one can.

But Carrie has her own agenda. Grieving the death of her closest friend and the only person she could trust, Carrie will help Trevor find his sister on one condition–that he help her track down her friend’s killer.

As the two close in on the answers they crave, they’ll face dangers and connections they could not have imagined. They’ll have to learn to trust one another–and face the dark secrets of the past–if they are ever to discover the truth and bring a killer to justice.

Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than sixty novels, including Cold Light of Day and the Rocky Mountain Courage and Uncommon Justice series. Her books have sold nearly 1.5 million copies. She is a Carol Award and Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry. For more information about her books, visit her website at http://www.elizabethgoddard.com.

To get book news sign up for her newsletter at her website: http://elizabethgoddard.com

Follow her on Bookbub! https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-goddard

You can connect with Elizabeth on Facebook: http://facebook.com/elizabethgoddardauthor

or Twitter: http://twitter.com/bethgoddard

My Impressions:

Fans of romantic suspense are going to love Shadows at Dusk by Elizabeth Goddard. There is definite chemistry between main characters Carrie and Trevor. The two become a team while investigating the disappearance of Trevor’s sister and the murder of Carrie’s business partner. That’s right, two twisty mysteries to keep the characters and readers on their toes. Goddard kept me guessing — I just couldn’t decide who I could trust. And the path to truth is a hard one. Attempted abductions, plane crashes, fires . . . you name it and the author throws it at her characters! The plotting is very complex but it does come together in the end. Past experiences and present dangers for Trevor and Carrie serve to keep them wary of commitment, but this is a romantic suspense, so you know there will be a very satisfying HEA! And the depiction of the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness was a big bonus for this reader. I have traveled there twice in the past few years, and while I never experienced the bush, I did fly on a float plane and visited small communities. Shadows at Dusk brought all those memories back, while making me want to return one more time.

While Shadows at Dusk is part of a series and includes returning characters in minor roles, it can definitely be read as a standalone. But I recommend starting at the beginning — that gives you plenty of binge-worthy reading while awaiting book 3, Hidden in The Night, due out next year.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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