Cara Hamilton leaves Ireland and arrives in America with nothing but a letter
from her twin brother, who she had previously thought to be dead. She seems to
have found friendship and maybe more in Rourke Walsh...but can he really be
trusted?
This book was slow moving at times, but I did find the
historical aspects interesting and overall it was well-written and suspenseful. I
had never heard of the Fenian brotherhood before reading this book, and actually
knew very little about Irish history, so it was very interesting in that
respect. The message of forgiveness and not seeking vengeance was very evident
and encouraging. I would recommend this book to any fan of historical
fiction.
This book was given to me by Bethany House Publications in
exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to give it a favorable
review.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Firefly Island by Lisa Wingate
This book was very interesting. I don't normally read books quite like this one. I have never read one of Lisa Wingate's books but I really enjoyed this one.
It took me a while to get used to the author's writting style, but by chapter 2 I was completely hooked on the story.
This was a Christian fiction but unlike most that I have read, it was kind of just in the background. I actually really liked that. It came out, but the whole book wasn't forcing ideas and theologies at you while you read it. It was peaceful and serene when it was there. Kind of a subtle undertow that tied everything together.
I liked the whole book and would recommend it to others!
I received a complementary copy of this book as part of Bethany House Publishers book review program.
It took me a while to get used to the author's writting style, but by chapter 2 I was completely hooked on the story.
This was a Christian fiction but unlike most that I have read, it was kind of just in the background. I actually really liked that. It came out, but the whole book wasn't forcing ideas and theologies at you while you read it. It was peaceful and serene when it was there. Kind of a subtle undertow that tied everything together.
I liked the whole book and would recommend it to others!
I received a complementary copy of this book as part of Bethany House Publishers book review program.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Unbreakable by Nancy Mehl
I read and reviewed Inescapable, the first book in The Road to Kingdom Series by
Nancy Mehl, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was excited to have the opportunity to
read #2 in the series, Unbreakable, as a part of the Bethany House book review
program. I received this book for free in exchange for reviewing it and am not
obligated to give a positive review.
I did not enjoy this book quite as much as the first book in the series, but it was a good read. Hope Kauffman is the main charactar. A traditional Mennonite woman who has always followed the status quo, Hope faces many challenges in this novel. One challenge is which man to marry- Ebbie, her childhood friend and the man who has her father's approval, or Jonathon, the man her father disagrees with and who has many new ideas for reforming their Mennonite community. Another struggle Hope faces is deciding whether or not she truly believes in the Mennonite's doctrine of non-resistance, even in the face of increasing threats and violence against their community. This was particulary interesting to me as I also belong to a faith that believes in non-resistance.
In spite of the interesting themes, this book was somewhat hard to follow. At times it was slow moving, and at other times, it seemed somewhat unbelievable with too many dramatic events packed in close together, one after the other. Also, it seemed obvious early on which man Hope would ultimately end up marrying. I was not at all surprised. The resolution of the culprit behind the violence and fires was quite suspenseful however.
I did not enjoy this book quite as much as the first book in the series, but it was a good read. Hope Kauffman is the main charactar. A traditional Mennonite woman who has always followed the status quo, Hope faces many challenges in this novel. One challenge is which man to marry- Ebbie, her childhood friend and the man who has her father's approval, or Jonathon, the man her father disagrees with and who has many new ideas for reforming their Mennonite community. Another struggle Hope faces is deciding whether or not she truly believes in the Mennonite's doctrine of non-resistance, even in the face of increasing threats and violence against their community. This was particulary interesting to me as I also belong to a faith that believes in non-resistance.
In spite of the interesting themes, this book was somewhat hard to follow. At times it was slow moving, and at other times, it seemed somewhat unbelievable with too many dramatic events packed in close together, one after the other. Also, it seemed obvious early on which man Hope would ultimately end up marrying. I was not at all surprised. The resolution of the culprit behind the violence and fires was quite suspenseful however.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
A Hidden Truth by Judith Miller
I was excited to read A Hidden Truth by Judith Miller because the setting is in the Amana Colonies, which is near my home. In the novel, Dovie comes to visit Amana,
hoping to find out more about her deceased mother, who grew up in the colonies.
She comes to stay with her aunt, uncle, and cousin. However, she finds that it
is harder than she hoped to find any answers about her mother's past. I found
the historical information and culture of the Amana Colonies to be very
interesting, but honestly the plot just did not grab me. I took me a looong time
to get through this book (although I must confess this may have a little to do
with having a new baby). I was interested in finding out how the plot was
resolved, but it seemed like a lot of the details in between were somewhat
tedious. There were two love stories interwoven into the plot, but they were
lacking in emotion.
Overall, this book was just ok. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the Amana Colonies, but warn them that they may find the plot a little boring.
I was given a free copy of this book to review through the Bethany House Book Review Program. I would like to thank Bethany House for the opportunity.
~ Abby
Overall, this book was just ok. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the Amana Colonies, but warn them that they may find the plot a little boring.
I was given a free copy of this book to review through the Bethany House Book Review Program. I would like to thank Bethany House for the opportunity.
~ Abby
Monday, March 11, 2013
My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade
For the most part, I really liked this book.I enjoyed the author's writing style
and humor. Kate Donavon is thirty-one and wondering if God will ever answer her
prayer for a husband. Matt Jarreau is a former pro hockey player who left the
NHL after a tragic loss. They meet when Matt is hired to renovate Kate's
grandmother's childhood home.
I loved all of the characters. Kate and Matt were very real and believable to me. There were also many humorous tibits and subplots that livened up the story. However, I was somewhat surprised about some of the language and lifestyle choices that this Christian author chose to include in her story. I was surprised that Kate, as a Christian woman, intially became involved in a romantic relationship with Matt before he became a Christian. Also, Matt's experience of becoming a Christian seemed kind of rushed and shallow, as if it was something the author had to slip in in order to make him equally-yoked with Kate. The last several chapters seemed a little rushed to me, but I did enjoy the happy, heartfelt ending.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and wouldn't hesitate to read another book by Becky Wade in the future.
I loved all of the characters. Kate and Matt were very real and believable to me. There were also many humorous tibits and subplots that livened up the story. However, I was somewhat surprised about some of the language and lifestyle choices that this Christian author chose to include in her story. I was surprised that Kate, as a Christian woman, intially became involved in a romantic relationship with Matt before he became a Christian. Also, Matt's experience of becoming a Christian seemed kind of rushed and shallow, as if it was something the author had to slip in in order to make him equally-yoked with Kate. The last several chapters seemed a little rushed to me, but I did enjoy the happy, heartfelt ending.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and wouldn't hesitate to read another book by Becky Wade in the future.
Love in Disguise by Carol Cox
Love in Disguise by Carol Cox is the story of Ellie Moore, a would-be actress in
1880s Chicago. When she loses her job and is left penniless on the streets of
Chicago, her only hope to escape the frigid midwestern winter is to become an
agent for the Pinkerton Detective Agency. After demonstrating how her acting
skills and costumes will help her as an agent, Ellie is given the opportunity to
travel undercover to Arizona to investigate thefts from a silver mine. When the
other agent who is supposed to help her runs off, Ellie is forced to play two
roles in the investigation: Lavinia (an older woman) and Lavinia's niece, Jessie
(a beautiful and vivacious young woman). Things get complicated as she attempts
to investigate the thefts while playing the two different roles. When one of the
mine owners starts to fall in love with "Jessie", Ellie also has feelings for
him but fears that he only loves the woman she is impersonating.
I found this book enjoyable and really wanted to find out how it ended. It was a good read but a little slow moving for me and definitely wasn't one of those books that I just couldn't put down. The end was fairly predictable, but all in all it was a good book.
I was given a free copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers and all opinions are my own. I would like to thank Bethany House for the book and the opportunity to review it.
I found this book enjoyable and really wanted to find out how it ended. It was a good read but a little slow moving for me and definitely wasn't one of those books that I just couldn't put down. The end was fairly predictable, but all in all it was a good book.
I was given a free copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers and all opinions are my own. I would like to thank Bethany House for the book and the opportunity to review it.
Inescapable (Road to Kingdom Book #1) by Nancy Mehl
This book had everything I look for in a Christian suspense novel. I loved the
characters, the setting, and the plot. Lizzie Engel is a likeable heroine who
has made mistakes in the past but is trying to make the best decisions for her
and her daughter's future in the face of danger and many obstacles. Besides the
mystery/suspense theme, there is also a deep message of love, forgiveness,
mercy, and repentance. I really could not predict how the book would end and
read through it very quickly because I couldn't wait to find out what would
happen. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next book in
the series soon.
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my review. I was not obligated to give the book a favorable review.
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my review. I was not obligated to give the book a favorable review.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Over the Edge
I received this book from Bethany House Publishers because I signed up to be a
book reviewer.
I absolutely loved this book! I have many of Mary Connealy's books and totally love her sense of humor. This book had more of the same but it didn't seem as powerful as in some of her other books.
Seth's story was great to read! And wraps up the Kincaid Brides series very well.
This book had an awesome extra detail that wasn't mentioned on the back cover. The extra detail (a big one) also makes the whole reason for Callie's return make sense.
Overall I was very pleased with this book and will be looking forward to the next book by Mary Connealy.
~Emma Metzger
I absolutely loved this book! I have many of Mary Connealy's books and totally love her sense of humor. This book had more of the same but it didn't seem as powerful as in some of her other books.
Seth's story was great to read! And wraps up the Kincaid Brides series very well.
This book had an awesome extra detail that wasn't mentioned on the back cover. The extra detail (a big one) also makes the whole reason for Callie's return make sense.
Overall I was very pleased with this book and will be looking forward to the next book by Mary Connealy.
~Emma Metzger
Short Straw Bride
I signed up to be a book reviewer for Bethany House Publishers. I post a review so here it is:
Short Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer
I absolutely loved this book. It was humorous and interesting the whole way through! Meredith sets out to help Travis who had rescued her 10 years earlier. She has always pictured him as her hero. They end up marrying and although it isn’t a love match, they both are... determined to help each other. I love how the back cover of the book did a good job of making the story sound interesting without giving away important details or summarizing the whole story.
Like many books, the bad guy turns out to be unreasonable and horrible, which can be kind of over done, but I did not feel like it was unrealistic in this book. I felt like the characters where realistic and faced problems with normal human reactions. I like how the author had all of the characters as imperfect people who grew and became stronger through the book.
All-in-all I really enjoyed this book and would like to see a sequel. I will definitely look forward to reading more books by Karen Witemeyer.
Short Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer
I absolutely loved this book. It was humorous and interesting the whole way through! Meredith sets out to help Travis who had rescued her 10 years earlier. She has always pictured him as her hero. They end up marrying and although it isn’t a love match, they both are... determined to help each other. I love how the back cover of the book did a good job of making the story sound interesting without giving away important details or summarizing the whole story.
Like many books, the bad guy turns out to be unreasonable and horrible, which can be kind of over done, but I did not feel like it was unrealistic in this book. I felt like the characters where realistic and faced problems with normal human reactions. I like how the author had all of the characters as imperfect people who grew and became stronger through the book.
All-in-all I really enjoyed this book and would like to see a sequel. I will definitely look forward to reading more books by Karen Witemeyer.
~Emma Metzger
Taming the Wind
Taming the Wind- Tracie Peterson
I received this book through the Bethany House Publishers Book Review Program. This book was fine but not outstanding to me. It didn’t capture me and pull me in. I have not read the previous two books in this series, but this book stands very well on its own without needing the background stories from the other two books.
The plot had a lot of unexpected things h...appen to make it a good book, but the kidnapping/hostage situation is getting to be an overused conflict in many books. This one did have its own twist and solution which did help.
Although I liked this book just fine it wasn’t a book that I just couldn’t put down, nor did it make me want to immediately read the other books in this series or by this author. The situations that arose in the book caused strong emotions and reactions in the characters, but I didn’t feel like it was written so that the reader would feel the same. The love story in the book also seemed kind of ho-hum. They were friends, talked a few times, he was gone most of the book, and suddenly they both just feel like they are in love and want to get married when he returns. I didn’t feel like there was as much excitement and intensity in the book as the back portrayed.
Overall I enjoyed the book but I, myself wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to others.
I received this book through the Bethany House Publishers Book Review Program. This book was fine but not outstanding to me. It didn’t capture me and pull me in. I have not read the previous two books in this series, but this book stands very well on its own without needing the background stories from the other two books.
The plot had a lot of unexpected things h...appen to make it a good book, but the kidnapping/hostage situation is getting to be an overused conflict in many books. This one did have its own twist and solution which did help.
Although I liked this book just fine it wasn’t a book that I just couldn’t put down, nor did it make me want to immediately read the other books in this series or by this author. The situations that arose in the book caused strong emotions and reactions in the characters, but I didn’t feel like it was written so that the reader would feel the same. The love story in the book also seemed kind of ho-hum. They were friends, talked a few times, he was gone most of the book, and suddenly they both just feel like they are in love and want to get married when he returns. I didn’t feel like there was as much excitement and intensity in the book as the back portrayed.
Overall I enjoyed the book but I, myself wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to others.
~Emma Metzger
A Home in Drayton Valley
A Home in Drayton Valley by Kim Vogel Sawyer
I received a free copy of this book as part of the Bethany House Publishers Book Review Program. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved the characters. None of them were perfect, all of them had character flaws, but they grew and learned through the course of the story.
I loved how the major conflict/resolution of the book didn’t revolve around one o...f the character’s past catching up with them. The racial conflict in the story added another dynamic that was very interesting and helpful to the plot. It gave a deeper insight and perspective into what our nation used to really be like.
I got very wrapped up in this story and am looking forward to more by this author. I think a sequel to this book would be really good. I loved the characters and the story line and have thought about where their lives may have led them after the story ended.
~Emma Metzger
I received a free copy of this book as part of the Bethany House Publishers Book Review Program. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved the characters. None of them were perfect, all of them had character flaws, but they grew and learned through the course of the story.
I loved how the major conflict/resolution of the book didn’t revolve around one o...f the character’s past catching up with them. The racial conflict in the story added another dynamic that was very interesting and helpful to the plot. It gave a deeper insight and perspective into what our nation used to really be like.
I got very wrapped up in this story and am looking forward to more by this author. I think a sequel to this book would be really good. I loved the characters and the story line and have thought about where their lives may have led them after the story ended.
~Emma Metzger
Courting Cate
Courting Cate by Leslie Gould
I received this book free as part of the Bethany House Book Publishers.
Wow! I loved this book! There was way more to this book than I was expecting. I loved the characters and the plot. I loved how the book was written in first person so I didn't know the perspective of more than one character. I loved how this book was about the Amish, but didn't involve any of the members of the Amish church leaving it. It seems like alot of books tear down the Amish lifestyle. I also loved how the book showed the Amish as any Christians and just that their traditions are different than many other denominations.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series and will definately read it!
Great book!!!
~Emma Metzger
I received this book free as part of the Bethany House Book Publishers.
Wow! I loved this book! There was way more to this book than I was expecting. I loved the characters and the plot. I loved how the book was written in first person so I didn't know the perspective of more than one character. I loved how this book was about the Amish, but didn't involve any of the members of the Amish church leaving it. It seems like alot of books tear down the Amish lifestyle. I also loved how the book showed the Amish as any Christians and just that their traditions are different than many other denominations.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series and will definately read it!
Great book!!!
~Emma Metzger
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)