Archive | Book Reviews RSS feed for this section

Mini-Book Review — Specters in The Glass House

13 Nov

As with all novels by Jaime Jo Wright, Specters in The Glass House had me seeing ghosts! Never fear, though, this novel is Christian fiction and all the spooky goings-on had very real life explanations. I can’t tell you what they are, because that would certainly spoil things, but just know that things aren’t always as they seem and narrators are not always reliable. 😉 The complexly-plotted novel explores blessings and curses which presented an unsettling and sinister narrative that is juxtaposed with the goodness of God. The characters are troubling and troubled and are some of the most intriguing characters written by Wright. I found the mystery spread between two timelines to be intriguing as well — it kept me guessing until the very end. The atmospheric setting of the grand, yet puzzling, house and its greenhouse filled with butterflies was perfect. If you are creeped out by butterflies (I know someone who is), you may want to skip this book. LOL. All in all, Specters in The Glass House checks all the boxes for a twisty mystery with spooky elements.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received the ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

In 1921, Marian Arnold, the heiress to a brewing baron’s empire, seeks solace in the glass butterfly house on her family’s Wisconsin estate as Prohibition and the deaths of her parents cast a long shadow over her shrinking world. When Marian’s sanctuary is invaded by nightmarish visions, she grapples with the line between hallucinations of things to come and malevolent forces at play in the present. With dead butterflies as the killer’s ominous signature, murders unfold at a steady pace. Marian, fearful she might be next, enlists the help of her childhood friend Felix, a war veteran with his own haunted past.

In the present day, researcher Remy Shaw becomes entangled in an elderly biographer’s quest to uncover the truth behind Marian Arnold’s mysterious life and the unsolved murders linked to an infamous serial killer. Joined by Marian’s great-great-grandson, can Remy expose the evil that lurks beneath broken wings? Or will the dark legacy surrounding the manor and its glass house destroy yet another generation?

Jaime Jo Wright, multi award-winning author–including the Christy and Daphne du Maurier awards–is a coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire. She has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin’s rural woodlands. Her literary vocation involves penning chilling Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a strong preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe. Two mischievous urchins adorn their family, who keep their mother on her toes – providing an exhilarating amount chaos.

Visit her at: http://www.jaimewrightbooks.com and listen to her podcast MadLit Musings on your favorite podcast player or at http://www.madlitmusings.com.

Tags: , ,

Book Review — Between The Sound And Sea

12 Nov

Amanda Cox is a must-read author for me. I’ve had Between The Sound And Sea on my NetGalley shelf way too long and was glad that my book club chose it for our November selection. Amanda won the Christy Award for general fiction for this book last week — it is so well-deserved! I loved this book for many reasons. Find out why and all the details about the book below.

Every family has its secrets. Josephina Harris wouldn’t mind if her family still had a few of their own after a lawsuit tarnishes their name. When an opportunity opens to become a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina island, she jumps at the chance to escape her small town to oversee its restoration.  
 
As the work begins, “Joey” discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the old stone walls–pages torn from a lighthouse keeper’s log signed by someone named Mae who recounts harrowing rescues at sea. Fascinated by a woman lighthouse keeper, Joey digs into the past only to discover there’s never been a record of a lighthouse keeper by that name.
 
When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and his daughter who were lost at sea during World War II. As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts together the pieces of the past, what emerges is a love story–one that’s not over yet.
 
Multiple Christy Award winner Amanda Cox is your guide upon the raging seas of young love, heartbreaking loss, and learning to risk it all for a chance at happiness in this timeless novel.

Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Amanda Cox spent her time counseling children, families, and individuals through life’s challenging moments. Now she uses those same skills to develop layered characters and stories, bringing them on a journey of hope and healing. A journey she hopes her readers experience in their own lives as they read.

A few of her favorite things are the sanctuary of the great outdoors, the feeling of pen on paper, the sound of her children’s laughter, and exploring new places with her husband of 18 years. (Oh, let’s not forget good fiction and good coffee. She’s addicted to both.) You can stay connected with her latest writing updates at http://www.amandacoxwrites.com. You can find her on social media by searching Amanda Cox Writes.

My Impressions:

Between The Sound And Sea by Amanda Cox is a story of regrets and making things right. All of the characters are attempting to do this in a variety of ways, even secondary characters live with regret and the desire to work to fix the past and secure the future. As they all come together to restore a lighthouse and somehow make a broken time whole again, they learn a lot about forgiveness and grace. The setting is the Outer Banks, a place Cox brought to life in her depictions of the isolated islands, the waves of the Atlantic, and the smooth waters of the sound. I felt like I could breathe the salty air and feel the gentle breeze on my face and the sand between my toes. The story revolves around a decommissioned lighthouse that was the site of a tragedy during WWII. (By the way, I learned a lot about how close the war came to American shores.) A lightkeeper and his daughter are lost at sea and legends, rumors, and ghost stories were born. The 3 main characters pursue the mystery as they seek to bring the lighthouse back to its glory. The book takes the reader along a twisting journey that not only solves the mystery, but answers the life questions the characters struggle with. The novel is Christian fiction, yet the faith message is subtle. Yes, God is a big part of the restoration process, but Cox develops that thread naturally without any preachiness.

While my review may be rambling, Between The Sound And Sea is not! It is a well-crafted novel that you will love!

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a copy of the ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags:

Mini-Book Review — Canyon of Deceit

10 Nov

There was a lot going on in DiAnn Mills‘s newest romantic suspense, Canyon of Deceit, and I loved every minute of it! This fast-paced novel features a wilderness survival trainer/guide and a Texas Ranger as they track a kidnapped girl through the high desert of west Texas. They also dodge assassins bullets and uncover a plot by the Russian mafia. Whew! The twists and turns kept the characters and Mills’ readers on their toes. This was pure escape fiction for me. The romance is slow and careful, as the main characters are on different wavelengths spiritually. I appreciated that and the faith thread the author wove naturally through the narrative. Truth without preachiness. If you like to be kept on the edge of your seat while furiously turning the pages, then Canyon of Deceit is for you.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

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

A rescue team searches for a missing young girl and suspects all is not as it seems in this high-stakes romantic suspense novel from the author of Lethal Standoff and Facing the Enemy.

When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing—and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story . . . especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.

Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet, and as the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.

Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot—no matter the risk to their own lives.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who invites her readers to step into stories where suspense meets adventure and romance warms the heart. Known for crafting unforgettable characters tangled in unpredictable plots, DiAnn believes every breath we take unfolds a story waiting to be told—so why not make it thrilling?

Her novels have consistently landed on bestseller lists including CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly, and have won prestigious awards such as the Christy, Selah, Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol awards.

DiAnn is a founding board member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Conference Advisor for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers. She actively participates in Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, International Thriller Writers, Outliers Writing University, and The Christian Pen. DiAnn passionately invests in helping fellow authors succeed through mentoring, book coaching, and editing. She travels nationwide speaking and teaching engaging writing workshops.

A proud coffee snob who roasts her own beans, DiAnn also enjoys diving into good books, experimenting in the kitchen, and unabashedly spoiling her grandchildren—whom she insists are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband make their home under the sunny skies of Houston, Texas.

Tags: ,

Mini-Book Review — Queen of Hearts

6 Nov

Heather Day Gilbert has long been one of my favorite mystery writers. Queen of Hearts is a mystery too, but not the cozy type that fans of Gilbert may be used to. This one introduces the reader to a psychological mystery/thriller that will have them checking the locks and leaving the lights on. 😉 I loved the mountainous West Virginia setting that added the right amount of spookiness to the novel. The first person POV is done really well. Alexandra Dubois is autistic and I found her a very intriguing character. And maybe a little unreliable in her narrative. You will just have to decide for yourself. This book has lots of BIG plot twists, so hold on for a fun reading ride. I flew through this book and am pretty sure I need to re-read it. It is that good!

Recommended.

Audience: adults

( I borrowed the ebook from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Her readers love her … but one has gotten a little too attached.

Alexandra Dubois, a NYT bestselling author, has made a name for herself by crafting twisted serial killers in her romantic suspense series. When threatening notes from an “invested reader” escalate into violence, Alex has to admit she’s not safe in her own home. Although her autism makes any changes to her routine difficult, she reluctantly accepts her editor’s advice to fly to his sprawling vacation home in West Virginia so she can focus on her looming deadline.

Fighting paranoia that the stalker has discovered her mountain hideaway, Alex still forces herself to write several chapters in her novel. But when a thunderstorm leaves her stranded and she hears a knock at her door, she’s about to discover that life truly is stranger than fiction.

Fans of Alfred Hitchcock, Mary Higgins Clark, and Misery are sure to be hooked by this clean, fast-paced domestic thriller by RWA Daphne Award-winning author Heather Day Gilbert.

Tags: , ,

Mini-Book Review — Lost Hours

5 Nov

Lost Hours, a romantic suspense novel by Susan Sleeman, was a fun read. The second-chance-at-love trope added a lot to the chemistry between the two main characters, Nolan and Mina. Brought together when a game night turns deadly, the two join forces to solve the murders in the small Pacific Northwest town. I really liked the twists and turns that Sleeman took her characters and readers through. I love solving the crimes along the way as I follow the investigation by the main characters. And the forensic science shared was very intriguing. The novel was fast-paced and kept me turning the pages — I read this one in record time. There is an ensemble cast of characters, so more great books to come! There are 5 books in the Lost Lake Locators series (2 due out in 2026)! I look forward to more great reading ahead.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Protecting his friends has always come first…

When Nolan Orr, founding member of Lost Lake Locators, and his teammates receive a mysterious invitation to a secluded mansion on Lost Island for what seems to be an innocent game night with his closest college friends, he eagerly agrees to attend. Not only to enjoy the event with friends who were more like family to him than his actual family, but to figure out which friend set up the fun but unusual night.

Until he has to consider one of them a suspect for murder.

However, as the evening progresses, he soon realizes that they are pawns in a deadly game orchestrated by a twisted mastermind. Where betrayal and survival go hand in hand, ultimately leading to a missing friend, to murder and a murder investigation that Sheriff Mina Park arrives to take charge of. Problem is, Nolan and Mina had a brief summer fling one year on his visit to the island, and it ended badly. Will she let him into the investigation and work with him, or avoid him as she’s been doing for years?

Susan Sleeman writes the kind of romantic suspense that makes you double-check the locks—and maybe fall a little for the hero.

Her clean, high-octane stories are packed with danger, heart, and just enough faith to light the darkest corners.

With over sixty novels, multiple awards, and more than two million books sold, she knows a thing or two about keeping readers on the edge of their seats—and her FBI and police citizen academy training doesn’t hurt either.

These days, she calls Oregon home, where she juggles plotting crimes (fictional ones, promise), spoiling grandkids, and running The Suspense Zone.

Ready to lose sleep over your next favorite book? Head to Susan’s website.

Tags: ,

Mini-Book Review — The Words We Lost

30 Oct

This month my book club chose The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese. What an excellent choice! We all loved the story of three friends and the journeys their friendship led them through. The story within a story added depth and a real understanding of each characters’ perspective on life and love, grief and healing. We cannot recommend it enough! The novel is contemporary fiction with a subtle faith thread woven throughout.The characters are so relatable! And, it is a love story that is completely satisfying. It kept us turning the pages and thinking about it long after the covers were closed. If you want a story that touches your heart and makes you think, then this book is for you!

Highly recommended.

Great for book clubs.

Audience: adults.

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

Three friends. Two broken promises. One missing manuscript. 

As a senior acquisitions editor for Fog Harbor Books in San Francisco, Ingrid Erikson has rejected many a manuscript for lack of defined conflict and dramatic irony–two elements her current life possesses in spades. In the months following the death of her childhood best friend and international bestselling author Cecelia Campbell, Ingrid has not only lost her ability to escape into fiction due to a rare trauma response, but she’s also desperate to find the closure she’s convinced will come with Cecelia’s missing final manuscript.

After Ingrid jeopardizes her career, she fears her future will remain irrevocably broken. But then Joel Campbell–the man who shattered her belief in happily-ever-afters–offers her a sealed envelope from his late cousin, Cecelia, asking Joel and to put their differences aside and retrieve a mysterious package in their coastal Washington hometown.

Honoring Cecelia’s last request will challenge their convictions and test their loyalties, but through it all, will Ingrid and Joel be brave enough to uncover a twice-in-a-lifetime love?

Nicole Deese is a Christy and Carol Award-winning, bestselling author of hope-filled, humorous, and heartfelt contemporary romance novels. When she’s not sorting out character arcs and story plots of her own, she can usually be found listening to an audiobook and multitasking at least four different chores at once. She’s a hoarder of sparkling water, a lover of long walks and even longer talks with friends, and a seeker of fun and adventure at all times. She lives in small-town, Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two freakishly tall teenage sons, and one princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.

Find her online at http://www.nicoledeese.com.

Tags: , ,

Book Review — The Burning of Rosemont Abbey

23 Oct

I am a big fan of Agatha Christie. Having read so many of her novels, I almost feel like I grew up in the small town in which Miss Marple lived. LOL! So I was hooked from the opening pages of The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens. Although set a few years later than the Miss Marple series, this 1950s-era novel set in a small town in England had all the makings for a great mystery. Louisa Everly is faced with quite a problem — either her twin brother had set fire to the church in which her father had served years before and then disappeared or he was framed and met with foul play. She chooses to believe in his innocence and begins an investigation in which she runs head long into a number of dangerous situations. Her childhood friend and now detective is on the case as well. You can probably guess where that relationship heads. 😉 I loved the small English village setting, the many twists and turns that the case takes, and the lovely romance that grows between Louisa and Malcolm. Plus, I never saw the ending coming! That’s huge for one who reads so many mysteries.

If you like a historical setting for you mystery reading, The Burning of Rosemont Abbey is a great choice.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

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

Everyone in Wilbeth Green has something to hide, but she’s about to uncover their secrets.

1956: In a quiet English village, the smoldering ruins of Rosemont Abbey have set the residents’ tongues wagging, and everyone is quick to accuse troublemaker Paul Everly of the crime of arson. Paul has vanished without a trace, leaving only his plucky twin sister, Louisa, certain of his innocence. Fueling her conviction is an inexplicable connection—she felt her twin’s death an hour before the abbey went up in flames.

Armed with nothing but her wit and her keen sense of intuition, Louisa embarks on her own investigation, challenging the dubious townspeople and the disdain of her aunt and uncle. Even Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, once Paul’s closest friend, warns Louisa to abandon her pursuit. But Louisa is determined to solve a murder no one else believes was committed, even if it means unraveling secrets that could shake Wilbeth Green to its core.

Naomi Stephens is a bookworm turned teacher turned writer. She received a B.A. in English from Concordia University in Ann Arbor and an M.A. in English from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Her first novel, Shadow among Sheaves, was an Inspy Award shortlister and winner of the 2020 Carol Award in Debut Fiction. In bookstores, Naomi gravitates towards 19th-century British novels—the broodier the better (i.e., Jane Eyre)—but she can also be found perusing the young adult, mystery, and fantasy sections. Anything that keeps her turning pages past midnight. Though she has called many places home over the years, she currently lives in New York with her husband, her two children, and a rascal of a dog named Sherlock. When not writing or having adventures with her family, she can be found drinking tea, practicing photography, and pining for London.

Tags: , ,

Book Review — Wicked Is The Hollow

16 Oct

I stepped way out of my reading comfort zone when I chose Wicked Is The Hollow by K. E. Ganshert. While I have read and enjoyed adult fiction written by this author (Katie Ganshert), I am not generally a YA reader. I do like a spooky, speculative book in October though, and this book sounded so intriguing. Find out my thoughts below.

A STRANGE TOWN. A SPRAWLING MANSION. A PERILOUS ROMANCE.

Ever since her mother vanished, Selah Whitlock has been drawn to the unexplained. So it feels almost fated to live in Foggy Hollow, a place where mystery abounds. Even more so when her father accepts a job at the Vandenberg estate, the epicenter of the town’s most infamous cold case.

Moving into the estate’s carriage house pulls Selah into the orbit of the Vandenberg cousins: Jude, the brooding heir with a tragic past, and Rafe, effortlessly charming and undeniably dangerous.

Then a centuries-old portrait surfaces bearing Selah’s exact likeness. Suddenly, she isn’t just chasing a mystery. She’s caught in the heart of one. As the town prepares to celebrate its bicentennial, Selah and Jude are pulled into a secret that spans generations. Something sinister is stirring beneath the golden leaves and carved pumpkins. And the deeper they fall, the deadlier the consequences.

K.E. Ganshert writes romantic speculative fiction filled with high stakes, big emotions, and exciting twists. Her stories feature heroines with gifts they don’t fully understand, emotionally guarded heroes who fall hard for the girl, and dangerous worlds that aren’t quite what they seem. Perfect for readers who want to escape into supernatural, dystopian, or fantasy tales—where the romance runs deep, but never explicit.

When she’s not writing, you can find her dreaming up new story ideas, playing a competitive game of pickleball, cheering on the Indiana Fever, or spending time with her family in the Midwest.

My Impressions:

While I have read adult novels by K. E. Ganshert (writing as Katie Ganshert), I have never read any of her YA offerings. At sixty-something, I am definitely not her target audience. 😉 But there was something so intriguing about the description of Wicked Is The Hollow, that I gave it a chance. This book is a speculative (paranormal)/romance/thriller with all the great spooky October vibes. I really liked it! The story centers on Selah, a high schooler with baggage from a missing mother and a penchant for all things uncanny and weird. Living in Fog Hollow, WV helps keep her interests piqued, and she and her best friend Twig are on the case of all the mysterious happenings of their home town. But they get a lot more than they bargained for when the Vandenberg family returns. This novel will keep its readers on their toes while making their fingers turn the pages furiously. The ebook is 500+ pages, but is a surprisingly fast read. I loved all the twists and turns! I also loved that this clean romance is never morally ambiguous. The bad guys are truly bad, and for those looking for truth, evil never is attractive. Do some fall for the temptations? Sure, but that is real life. For a fun reading experience, grab a YA friend or loved-one for a buddy-read. This novel will make you want to talk!

Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: YA (16 year old-ish+) and adults.

(I borrowed this book from KU. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: , , , , , ,

Mini-Book Review — Written in Secret

8 Oct

Written in Secret, a historical mystery/suspense/ romance novel by Crystal Caudill, is fun and thought-provoking. I loved the late 1800s setting — there’s some great detail about Chicago of the era and interesting info about book publishing of the time. It was just so much fun for this book nerd! The novel follows romance and mystery writer Lydia Pelton who is devoted to her craft and to justice as she sees it. Unfortunately a killer takes her books a little too seriously. She meets her match in police detective Abraham Hall who views her novels as inappropriate and dangerous. The two clash as the killer gets closer to Lydia. I found the views of both MCs to be insightful. There is a great deal of power in one’s words. Caudill does a great job of balancing the tension of the narrative with humor. I loved this book!

If you like historical mystery/suspense, then put Written in Secret on your TBR list. I look forward to more books in the series.

Highly recommended.

Great for book clubs.

Audience: adults.

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

What happens when fiction becomes reality? In the corruption-infested Queen City, danger lurks in every shadow, but Lydia Pelton refuses to stay silent. She writes under a pseudonym, E. A. Dupin, crafting crime novels to exact justice and right the wrongs she sees in society. When a serial killer decides to be the sword to her pen, Lydia is confronted with the consequences of her words. Four men are dead, and the city blames her.

With murders on the rise, Officer Abraham Hall’s only lead is Lydia’s fiction, and he is thrust into an investigation with the “Killer Queen of Romance.” Despite his misgivings about the woman, he realizes that even with his reputation for catching elusive criminals, he needs her help. But his unexpected attraction to Lydia proves as difficult to manage as the woman herself.

As the mystery unfolds, Abraham and Lydia race to rewrite the ending, not only for Cincinnati’s citizens, but for their own hearts too.

Crystal Caudill is a tea-drinking, book-hoarding, history nerd. Her award-winning stories are ripe with history, danger, love, and hope. When not writing, Crystal can be found playing board games with her husband and boys, caregiving for loved ones, hiding in a book, drinking copious amounts of hot tea, or connecting with readers. You can connect with her at http://www.crystalcaudill.com or by joining her newsletter crew at bitly.com/CaudillNews.

Tags: , , , ,

Book Review — When The Wildflowers Bloom Again

6 Oct

When The Wildflowers Bloom Again by Donna Jo Stone is an award winner! Honored with a Carol Award (ACFW) for outstanding Contemporary Fiction, this novel explores trauma and the resulting grace and mercy of a loving God. I highly recommend it, but have lots of tissues available!

Babies are a gift of God, a fact Marigold Parker knows full well.

Fourteen-year-old Marigold (Mary) Parker spends the summer of ’78 with her cousin and best friend, Sharon, biking the roads of their rural neighborhood in Pleasant Waters, North Louisiana. The girls while away the days at the local pond, listening to the BeeGees and talking about boys. Caring for her emotionally fragile mother is Mary’s only worry, until Sharon’s older half-brother finds Mary alone at the pond one day.

She can’t speak of what happened in the woods. The truth will destroy her family and cost her the relationships she holds most precious.

But secrets have a way of making themselves known, and when Mary finds herself pregnant, she’s forced to grapple with hard decisions. Babies are a gift from God. Mary knows this full well, but she doesn’t know how to deal with a pregnancy, or who to turn to for help.

Trials seem to multiply as Mary struggles to keep faith in the God her parents have taught her to trust.

Richly detailed and evocative, When the Wildflowers Bloom Again captures the emotions and the heart, vividly detailing the struggle of facing impossible choices, the true test of family ties, and of the hope found in new beginnings. Infused with both sorrow and faith, Marigold Parker’s tale is a story you won’t soon forget.

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of historical, contemporary, and young adult fiction.

Life is messy and beautiful. In everyone’s story, there is truth and hope. Donna Jo’s novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles.

When she’s not writing, she loves to read and talk about books, poke around in old bookshops and museums, and spend time with her family.

My Impressions:

It’s been a while since a book has moved me to tears. And that is saying something because I am not a reader of exclusively fun or happy books. I like real life stories filled with real emotions and experiences. But Donna Jo Stone did just that in her coming-of-age novel When The Wildflowers Bloom Again. The book, set in a small Louisiana community in the 1970s, is told in the first person voice of Mary Parker. At fourteen years old, Mary is filled with excitement for the future, with a bit of curious rebellion built in. Her family would say she’s a handful, but really she is a a typical young teenager. That is until her life is shattered by an unspeakable trauma and a life-altering grief. The era portrayed is spot-on. I know, because I grew up during the same time period. And the circumstances Mary faces are also true to life. Mary is left desolate and alone — fearful to reveal her trauma to her grieving and fragile mother. But God’s grace shows through in her Aunt Sister, her mother, and others who choose to stand with Mary. Church and family are portrayed realistically as well. Some are judgmental, while others exhibit the love of Christ. I think that’s pretty accurate. No community or congregation is perfect, only Jesus is. While the book is pretty hard to read — I put it down numerous times to settle my emotions — it is at the end hope-filled.

When The Wildflowers Bloom Again won the 2025 Carol Award (ACFW) for outstanding contemporary fiction. It is well-deserved. Grab some friends to read this one together. You are going to want to talk about it.

Highly recommended.

Audience: older teens and adults.

Great for book clubs.

(I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →