reviewsbyerin

The faith message is the best part

Revisado: 04-23-24 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Carsten is seeking to live an honest life after being raised by a thieving father. Despite his track record since turning to the Lord, the people in town are still somewhat distrustful of him, and when he is falsely accused of stealing, too many are quick to believe the report.

Since the sheriff won't do anything to prove his innocence, Carsten and his friends set out to run their own investigation. Along the way they discover there's more to this crime than first meets the eye. Will they be able to take down a whole network of criminals?

I've seen other reviewers mention this is a young adult story, though it's not marketed as such as far as I can tell. A young adult audience makes sense, as the storyline is rather simplistic, and characters are decidedly either good or bad. There are also consistency issues in the narrative that took away from my enjoyment of the story.

However, the best part of this novel by far is the way Carsten earnestly desires to obey God and turns to Him regularly through Bible reading, prayer, and putting God's Word into practice. This is a valuable example to readers no matter their age.

If you enjoy western stories with a strong faith theme, I recommend Be Still, My Soul. The audiobook is done well and it's easy to imagine this is Carsten's own voice telling his story.

I received my copy of the audiobook from JustRead Tours. All thoughts in this review are my own.

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YA dystopian with Christian themes

Revisado: 01-10-24

I really do enjoy a good speculative title every now and then. This YA dystopian tells the story of Jadzia, a 17-year-old who is forced into the military after a series of terrorist attacks plunges the United States into war.

(Review note: Yes, the main character's name is Jadzia. Like Jadzia Dax from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. I'd hardly gotten used to it when the names of other Star Trek characters appeared, including Sisko, Bashir, Archer, and Riker/Ryker. Readers who are not Star Trek nerds might not pick up on this, but it did make me roll my eyes, if only because there were so many of them.)

Jadzia is motivated to do well in the military, but soon it all becomes too much and her goals change dramatically. She must lean on her instincts and her training to cross hundreds of miles, facing hunger, exhaustion, and attacks from unfriendly foes. Is anyone trustworthy?

Travel with Jadzia for one survival adventure after another. When she meets a group who live by the tenets of the Bible, she has to make different choices entirely.

I thought the writing was well-done, as was the narration for the audiobook. There were a few minor things that bothered me, such as the second point of view character not being introduced until around Chapter 40, and the book ends in a cliffhanger to draw you in for the second book in the series. Overall, however, I would recommend this for fans of YA dystopian with a Christian theme woven in.

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If you like Charles Dickens, give this a try

Revisado: 09-05-22

Aurelie Harcourt grew up in debtor's prison with her storyteller father and no mother. She was the keeper of her father's greatest secret—that he was the famous serial novelist Nathaniel Droll. With his death, Aurelie is cast onto the care of family who didn't even know she was alive, and she determines that she will finish her father's last work and deliver it every week to the publisher as scheduled.

She knows his work, Lady Jayne Disappears, is about her mother. What happened to the real Lady Jayne? Why did she give Aurelie up? Is she dead or alive today? Aurelie keeps her secret about Nathaniel Droll close, faithfully scribbling at night and adding in new characters that coincide with the new people she is meeting.

As Aurelie gains friendships within the house, she soon becomes aware that Lady Jayne's secrets may be found in the very place where she now resides. But someone is intent that she never find out. Meanwhile, the public hunger to know the identity of Nathaniel Droll has increased due to recognizable places in his latest chapters, and Aurelie must keep that secret closer to heart than ever.

I quite enjoyed this story. Aurelie is a wonderful character with a pure, unpretentious heart. Her background is reminiscent of Amy in Charles Dickens' Little Dorritt. Although the wrap-up of this novel is a little anticlimactic, there was much I enjoyed about the novel overall, and I heartily recommend it for fans of Gothic historical romance.

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A Regency tale of intrigue

Revisado: 08-27-22

Rag woman Raina Bretton has never known anything except London's slums. When a mysterious man offers to let her masquerade as Lady Enderly at the country estate of Rothburne Abbey, Raina feels she has little to lose. The man she loves is dead, and she has no hope for a future beyond selling rags. There's no harm in pretending to be a countess for a day or two, is there?

But it soon becomes apparent that this isn't going to go as planned. A web of intrigue surrounds her, her lost sailor love has returned, and it's clear that Raina is unlikely to get out of this situation alive. What happened to the real Lady Enderly? Can Raina find her—and save her—before they are both doomed?

I listened to this on audio and quite enjoyed it, though I felt I wasn't able to follow all the threads of the mystery as well as I would have liked. The shining star of this of this novel was its strong faith element and its grappling with identity. I thought that was masterfully and naturally woven in.

This was my first Joanna Davidson Politano book, and it certainly won't be my last!

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Nice setting for this historical novel

Revisado: 09-01-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

1968 comes to life in this novel by Dawn Klinge. Former teen model Elka Hansen works at the Palm Court at the Biltmore Hotel in New York City, and wants to establish an identity beyond her former glory. She has a good reputation at the hotel, but will an injury sideline her rise to management?

Jacob Lewis wants to go to law school, but while he waits for acceptance letters, he works and studies hard. Is New York going to be his home, or will his native Seattle call him back?

I really appreciated the look at this era. The author seamlessly weaves in the culture of the day, from the war in Vietnam War to the civil rights movement to political shifts. There's so much in this little book! I liked the characters, but the setting of the novel may have been my favorite thing about it.

The characters in this novel are Catholic, attend mass, and grasp rosary beads when they are upset. It was a different faith journey than my typical reading selections, though it was genuine and fitting for the characters. Some readers may feel differently.

Overall, a sweet read in a time period which should definitely be covered more. The narration is very well done and thoroughly engaging.

I received my copy of the book from the author. All thoughts in this review are my own.

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Final book in the Porter Family series

Revisado: 08-01-21

NFL tight end Gray Fowler has a stalker, but he doesn't believe it's a serious threat. He bucks against the idea of having a protection detail, and especially one that includes a female agent. Dru Porter, though excellent at her job, is anxious to prove herself again after her last assignment didn't end well. The two clash in a battle of forceful personalities and attraction.

So glad I finally got to listen to the final book in the Porter Family series! It wasn't my favorite because Gray isn't my favorite kind of hero, but Becky's writing is stellar as always. I enjoyed catching up with the rest of the clan from the previous books as well.

The narration was easy to follow, and included a variety of Texas and southern accents. Great job.

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Loved the narrator and this wonderful story

Revisado: 06-06-21

Davis Donnelly is a new creation. After turning his life over to Christ, he overcame an alcohol addiction and has been growing in his faith. With a desire to enter the ministry, Davis is seeking to wrap up all loose ends from his former life. There's just one left–his marriage. While he was in the military he'd received a Dear John letter along with divorce papers. He'd signed them, but he'd never gotten a copy of the finalized paperwork. After tracking down Joy's address, he arrives at her apartment just in time to witness Joy stepping in a hole and breaking her ankle. A trip to the ER gives them time to reconnect.

Joy can't believe that Davis has shown up now. Her life is barely holding together, what with her escape artist of a toddler complicating every aspect of her life. Working, going to school, and solo parenting don't leave her time for anything else. Including maintaining friendships.

When Davis realizes that Joy's broken ankle is going to sideline her for several weeks and she has no help for herself ofr young Hank, he impulsively declares he'll take care of them until she's back on her feet.

As Joy's recovery unfolds, she can't believe the Davis she sees in front of her. He's a completely different man. Kind, patient, and good with Hank. If he'd been like this when they first married, she never would have asked for a divorce. What has made the difference in this man? And what about his friends who keep showing up and helping beyond anything she could imagine? What is with these people?

I really loved this story. The string of crazy mishaps kept me laughing, the faith content was top notch, and the romance was sweet and proper. Everything about this book made me want to continue digging into Janet W. Ferguson's back list to catch up on what I've missed!

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Great romance with a strong Christian emphasis

Revisado: 01-21-21

Star Youngblood just received her one year sober chip and is preparing to move out of Reclaimed, the Christian addiction ministry which helped turn her life around. Although she has a job helping elderly Mrs. Kelly, she's also looking for something more permanent, though her choices are limited as a high school drop-out with addiction in her past.

Paul Kelly has worked hard to become a private pilot for his European boss. He's saving for the day he can return to the States and help his mom in her retirement. When his mom suffers a health crisis and Paul receives an anxious and accusing phone call from her assistant, he can't wait to give the woman a piece of his mind.

Though Star and Paul don't like each other, their shared concern over Mrs. Kelly binds them together. He can't wait to find other arrangements for his mom's care, and he's tired of hearing Star's Bible talk. He had enough of that during his years as a missionary in Africa, and after the way his tenure on the field ended, he has no use for God or religion.

There were many things I enjoyed about this story. The characters feel real, they tackle deep issues, and there are laugh-out-loud moments. Janet W. Ferguson weaves an adventure that also has a strong faith focus. I appreciated how much Scripture was in this novel. Some readers might call it preachy, but I'm a Christian who does try to live her life by the guidance of the Bible, and I thought it was really great to see that here in this book.

This was my first time reading this author, but it won't be the last. I look forward to more of her works in the future!

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Loved returning to the sewing group!

Revisado: 12-23-20

After loving Molly, the first book in Sarah Monzon's Sewing in SoCal series, I was thrilled to have a chance to visit with these friends again. This time Jocelyn takes center stage. As a Black female accountant in corporate America, Jocelyn has made it a goal to keep her head down, work hard, and not have anyone question her place.

But when the corporate retreat is scheduled for a dude ranch, it throws this city girl completely out of her element. She doesn't even own a pair of jeans, and she watches horse riding tutorials on YouTube to prepare for the event. What on earth is she getting into?

Malachi Thomas is fighting to keep his family's ranch afloat. As an introvert, he'd just as soon nix the dude ranch responsibilities, but the tourists provide much-needed income. When the CPA group arrives, one woman charms his dog, his horse, and his family. Who is this Jocelyn Dormus, and what has she done to win the hearts of those surrounding Malachi? His own heart might be in danger if he's not careful.

Jocelyn and Malachi both wrestle with issues of family, dreams, and calling. Is the safest route always the right one?

Like Molly, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The narrator was wonderful and I would definitely listen to this story again for its humor and heartwarming moments.

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Love these vintage stories

Revisado: 08-12-20

The narrator did an excellent job reading this story set in Yellowstone in 1933. The story was skillfully written and the characters deeply layered. Our heroine has been working to save up money to go to college and become a teacher, and meanwhile an illiterate New Yorker joins a government program in order to have a job during the Depression. I loved the setting and the characters won my heart.

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