Trudy Yoder shares a passion for birding with Micah Weaver–and she has an even greater passion for Micah. Their friendship is finally turning romantic when Micah abruptly grows cold. Worse still, he wants to leave Stoney Ridge.
Micah Weaver thought he was over Trudy’s older sister. A year and a half ago, Shelley had broken his heart when she ran away from Stoney Ridge to pursue a singing career in Nashville. Then, out of the blue, she’s started to leave distressing phone messages for him.
When the bishop asks for volunteers to scout out a possible church relocation in Tennessee, Micah is the first to raise his hand. Despite scant details, he’s confident he can find Shelley. After all, his reputation as a field guide is based on finding birds that don’t want to be found.
What Micah doesn’t know is that what you’re looking for isn’t always what you find.
About the Author
Suzanne Woods Fisher loves stories worth telling about people worth remembering. With over a million copies of her book sold worldwide, this bestselling, award-winning author of more than 30 books is always on the lookout for the unsung hero with an untold story.
“We’re all on a spectrum of our own perceptions.” While this thought belongs to David Stoltzfus, the more I think about it, the more I think it sums up all the different characters in this wonderful book, Lost and Found, by Suzanne Woods Fisher.
Many families are leaving the Stoney Ridge district so their children don’t join more the more permissive Beachy Amish, which has recently moved into area. With church and school attendance down, Bishop David Stoltzfus has to decide how to handle to crisis for his Old Order district.
Just as Trudy believes she and Micah are becoming close, a voice from the past threatens to undo any developing relationship. And speaking of developing, a big development may change life for many. Can it be stopped?
So much to love about this story! Trudy, the patient, plain girl is about to snag her dream man. Or so it seems. Micah is finally coming to his senses, until… ( you’ll have to read to find out!) And the birds!! I had my bird app and Google open as I read and really enjoyed all the different bird references(wow!) I have always loved seeing how carefully and lovingly David Stoltzfus handles his flock in this series. I even wished I could get a glimpse or listen of loud, obnoxious Hank Lapp who brightens each book. Not so long ago, an author asked what book we’d like to live in. This one for me! To be able to interact with all these great characters and take a birding tour with Micah, besides!
I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads through NetGalley. Plus I bought my own paperback for the keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“When you’re Amish, family was everything.”
“The future of this church hinges on how you lead everyone, how you hold it all together. You know how that old saying goes. Aller Mann fer sich un der Deiwel fer die Iwwriche. “Everyone for himself and the Devil takes the rest.”
“What the Englisch referred to as nature, like it was all happenstance, Jesus knew only as creation, a work of God. Even better, the Bible described the entire cosmos as a temple, full of the glory of God. An unending outdoor cathedral. That was why he loved his work. It felt like holy work.”
“Jesus noticed the sparrows. And the widow’s mite. And the lilies in the fields. He welcomed little children that the disciples shooed away. Nothing was too insignificant for Jesus. So why shouldn’t we take every concern to him?”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! I loved my time spent with the folk of Stoney Ridge! Another Fisher masterpiece!!
Romeo and Juliet meets You’ve Got Mail in 1920s New York when hidden letters change everything for two lost souls and the community around them.
Seven years ago, a letter left inside a tree brought Laura Bradshaw an anonymous friend who helped her navigate the tragic loss of her mother and gave her something to look forward to despite the overbearing hand of her father. Life would be far bleaker, if not for her beloved Letter Tree, her dear friend, and her secret trips to the Buffalo Zoo. But even these rays of light are threatened when her father decides to play matchmaker in order to further his business goals.
When Isaac Campbell learns that his letter friend is destined to court another, he balks at the suggestion and begs her to break her rule of namelessness and meet him. Her words have endeared her to him, he’s ready to fall at her knees and beg her to choose him—that is until he sees her face. The stranger he’s become so attached to is not a stranger . . . but the only daughter of his family’s sworn enemy.
Can the grown children of feuding parents bridge the chasm between them? Or is the divide too deep—and too wide?
• Historical romance with a forbidden love story
• Stand-alone novel set in the 1920s
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs
About the Author
Rachel Fordham is the author of Where the Road Bends, A Lady in Attendance, A Life Once Dreamed, The Hope of Azure Springs, and Yours Truly, Thomas. Fans expect stories with heart and she delivers, diving deep into the human experience and tugging at reader emotions. She loves connecting with people, traveling to new places, and daydreaming about future projects that will have sigh-worthy endings and memorable characters. She is a busy mom, raising both biological and foster children (a cause she feels passionate about). She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington. Learn more at rachelfordham.com; Instagram: @rachel_fordham; Facebook: @rachelfordhamfans.
My Impressions
“the children of the feud.”
“She stepped closer to the maple that was, in many ways, more than a beloved tree. It was memories. It was comfort. It was hope.”
Rachel Fordham spins a Christian historical romance novel that is at once warm, engaging, entertaining, and filled with truth for today. Her latest novel, The Letter Tree, is a mashup of You’ve Got Mail and Romeo and Juliet with touches of Rapunzel and Cinderella mixed in.
I was a little confused at first as to where “B,” NY is. Eventually, we are told it is Buffalo, and we are there in the year 1917, when we see young Laura Bradshaw lose her mother in an accident. Ten years later, we see the effects the accident had on her father, Stanley Bradshaw, owner of a successful shoe company, and by extension, on Laura. Laura’s activities have become very restricted by her father, and she is nearly a recluse. Her one friend is a pen pal whose responses she finds in a branch of a tree at the zoo.
The magic of this story lies in the mystery of who Laura’s pen pal is; when we find out, and the two letter writers find out, what will they do with that knowledge? It could be the key to re-chart their lives or to doom them to destruction. They and their families.
There is just enough mystery, romance, truth, emotion, and suspense to make this a very enjoyable, feel-good read.
Obviously both Laura and Isaac’s characters have decisions to make that will cause or delay their growth. As the reader, we’re unsure which path each will choose.
My favorite secondary character, though, is Mrs. Guskin. The Bradshaw’s housekeeper is so much more to Laura. Her presence and advice is invaluable. She is the treasure map that helps the young people find gold in this story. How I loved her wise ways!
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“You are not a game piece. And you are not responsible for your father’s choices.”
“Even apart, we battle together.”
“The dream, like all dreams, faded, replaced by reality—and the truth was, she missed her friend already.”
“The children joined ranks with their parents, dutifully rallying for a cause they didn’t understand.”
“the avenue of if only led to nowhere but the land of aching hearts.”
“Hiding from the past wouldn’t change it.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! I love the easy flow of a Rachel Fordham novel, and this one is no exception.
Some secrets can only stay buried for so long. . . .
Anna Lakeman has spent her life working alongside her paleontologist father, drawing intricate sketches at every dig. When they find dinosaur bones near their home in Wyoming Territory, they’re given the opportunity of a lifetime and are swiftly caught up in the competitive era of the Bone Wars. But after her father becomes sick and Joshua Ziegler, an old beau, returns for the summer, Anna’s world is upended, and the practical, orderly life she has made for herself shatters.
Medical student Joshua Ziegler left his hometown to forget Anna, the one woman he truly loved and deeply hurt. But when he returns, time hasn’t erased the feelings they’ve always had for each other. After Joshua’s nephew goes missing–just like his sister did years ago–and Anna’s job is threatened, tensions mount and dangerous secrets are unearthed.
“Kim has long been a favorite author of mine, and her book The Secrets Beneath is no exception. This book is full of intrigue and adventure, twists and turns.”–TRACIE PETERSON, USA Today bestselling author
Pre-order from Baker Book House and receive the book at 40% off, plus two magnets and a signed book plate!
Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than two dozen books. She is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 2,000 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family’s story have garnered national media attention for many years including ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER, The Hour of Power, The Harvest Show, and over 1,000 other TV appearances and radio interviews. She lives and writes in the Poconos with her husband of thirty years. kimberleywoodhouse.com
Find Kim on twitter and facebook:
twitter.com/kimwoodhouse
author fan page Kimberley Woodhouse
My Impressions
“The garden—his garden—was alive with color today, while the inside of him was black as death.” With this ominous opening sentence, I could see The Secrets Beneath would be quite different from other historical fiction books Kimberley Woodhouse has written.
While Woodhouse’s books are on my “buy first, ask about content later,” list, Woodhouse has elevated her historicals to include psychological suspense, channeling Jaime Jo Wright or Janyre Tromp. This may be one of my best reads of 2023!
I had never heard of the Bone Wars of 1877-1892. I actually looked them up. Woodhouse meticulously researches these, and weaves a beautiful, intricate story of a Wyoming archaeologist, Peter Lakeman, and his daughter, Anna, an aspiring archaeologist. Anna has a few regrets about young men from years ago that come back to play important roles in her present life. I stayed up way too late to finish this book, as the mystery and romance held me enthralled and unable to escape.
I loved Anna’s father for his wisdom, quiet observations, and clear assessments of situations as well as parental love for his daughter. His example shows how a child will later better understand the one True Father. When one has a father more like the neighboring Julian Walker has, comprehending the love of a good Father can be very difficult.
Every chapter starts with a quote from Earl Douglass. Historical notes are always a pleasure to read, separating fact from fiction. I love the well-woven spiritual truths that are hidden within the book, as well.
Because of all the emotions evoked, the surprises, and the choices characters make, I would highly recommend The Secrets Beneath for a book club.
I received a copy of the book from the author and from NetGalley. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“But if people could see him differently . . . that would help him to be a better person.”
“If only faith and science could be reconciled. Why couldn’t the two come together?”
“Isn’t it dangerous to believe and rely on love changing a person here on this earth?” Dad shook his head. “The only love that can truly change anything or anyone is God’s love. His is supernatural. Our love here on earth fails. It falters. It isn’t enough. We shouldn’t love someone based on the idea that they will change. That’s wrong thinking.”
“You don’t need kindness—although that’s nice isn’t it? You don’t even need a friend. But you do need to see God’s love. He’s the only one who can restore you.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent!! Ready for book 2!! (Yesterday)☺️
Giveaway
For those who leave a comment on this post between today, September 16, and Tuesday, September 26, I will put your name in a hat and draw one winner to receive a paperback copy of Kimberley’s book, The Secrets Beneath. Be sure to include your email so I can contact you if you win!
In 1943, movie producer Henrik Zoltan approaches Amelie Blake under the guise of offering the Hollywood star a leading part in his upcoming film, but he has a more meaningful role in mind. Amelie’s homeland of Sweden declared neutrality in the war, but Stockholm has become the “Casablanca of the North.” When top-secret atomic research goes missing in Sweden, the Allied forces scramble to recover the files before they fall into Nazi hands.
The United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS) needs someone who’s subtle enough to spy on the Swedish elite without triggering suspicion. Who better than the “all beauty, no brains” Scandinavian starlet? Fluent in three languages and possessing a brilliant memory, Amelie loathes being labeled witless but uses the misconception as her disguise. She’s tasked with searching for the crucial files, but Fynn Ristaffason keeps getting in her way. Is the charming shipping magnate after the missing research? Or does he have other reasons for showing up at her every turn?
With the Gestapo on her heels, Amelie must rely on her smarts in addition to her acting skills to survive a world of deadly spies and counterspies.
Rachel Scott McDaniel is an award-winning author of historical romance. Winner of the ACFW Genesis Award and the RWA Touched By Love award, Rachel infuses faith and heart into each story. Rachel can be found online at http://www.RachelScottMcDaniel.com and on all social media platforms. Her work is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency. Rachel resides in Ohio with her husband and two children.
More from Rachel
Setting The Starlet Spy in Sweden
Hej! If you’ve ever been to Ikea, then you know that’s the Swedish greeting for Hello! Prior to writing The Starlet Spy, my knowledge of the Swedish culture was limited. It seemed I wasn’t alone. Early last year, I held a poll on my social media asking if anyone had ever read a book set in Sweden. A sweeping majority said no.
Since all of my previous books are set in the United States, this is my first novel with an international setting. So I immersed myself into research. I read books about the country, watched videos, followed Swedish Instagrammers to learn more about the language. And let me tell you, I totally fell in love with this Scandinavian world. It is now on my bucket list to visit because it’s just that gorgeous. I wrote The Starlet Spy with a romantic adventure vibe. I wanted to take the reader on a tour of this amazing country, from the classically beautiful Stockholm, to the quaint fishermen city of Malmo, to the ancient streets of Sigtuna—one of Sweden’s oldest villages—to the brilliant Northern Lights in the Lapland region.
Not only did I want to paint the scene of these various places, but I also wanted to introduce the Swedish culture. Tucked within the pages of The Starlet Spy, the reader will find traces of Scandinavian folklore and legends, which was super fun to explore. But to be honest, my favorite inclusion of Swedish culture was incorporating a traditional dance—the Hambo! It’s such an interesting and unique dance, and I may have been trying to coax my husband into trying it with me for an Instagram Reel, but so far, no such luck! Though I have no problem getting him to enjoy Fika with me. Fika, my friends, is a coffee break, or simply coffee. Just as the British favor their tea, the Swedes are adamant about their fika. So I can most definitely relate.
If all this intrigues you, I welcome you to read The Starlet Spy. It’s set in 1943, which was a pivotal time for Sweden during World War II. If you’ve read my previous stories, you know how much I love to weave as much true history into the chapters. This book has by far the most!
My Impressions
“Everything around me whispered lies.”
Rachel Scott McDaniel hooked me on The Starlet Spy with her very first sentence! We, the readers, find ourselves accompanying Amelie Blake, who provides first-person POV, in Hollywood, then in Sweden as she plays the ditsy blonde to work a reconnaissance mission.
Having taught 6th grade science eons ago, I was thrilled to see physicist Niels Bohr as a major part of the story, though we never see him!
I loved the possible love triangle set-up, with Finn Ristaffason and Axel Eizenburg. Plus, the suspense is palpable as the tension builds over the constant uncertainty who might be a spy or a double-spy. Who is working for the Allies and who is working for the Axis powers? Everyone is suspect!
As always, well-placed humor relieves the great suspense a bit, enough that your heart can continue beating, rather than beating out of your chest, like it’s tempted to.
So many twists, so many surprises!! I loved The Starlet Spy!! If you love clean, Christian WWII fiction, stories of how women helped the Allied cause in WWII, Sweden, or Liz Tolsma, you will love this book.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought a copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“I frowned.The more he spoke, the more all this sounded like a terrible B-movie plot…”
“I’d feel much more primed to save the world after a long nap.”
“‘Mormor once told me never to take the blame for someone else’s wrong actions.’I gave a soft smile. ‘She’d probably say that to you, too.’”
I’d been accustomed to being overlooked and invisible, but that day I’d wanted nothing more than to be seen. If I’d gained approval from a guy like Finn, I’d finally have worth. Now I could see how damaging that reasoning had been. Value was not a trophy to be won from other people’s acceptance.
“I look at you and remember God breathes light into our darkest moments. That’s what you are to me. My brightest light. My greatest joy.”
“There’s a war going on.…It’s a battle of information and misinformation.”
“But in a moment like this, it feels like the one true God is close, even more than we realize.” As if the Creator had painted the sky as a reminder of His majesty. If He could ignite the heavens, I could trust him to impart light into my darkness.”
“‘That’s the interesting thing about truth. It can be manipulated. Distorted.’ ‘No, information can be twisted.’I lifted my chin. ‘But truth? Truth will always rise from lies.’”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent!! Rachel Scott McDaniel packs a lot of WWII/Hollywood history into the book, while crafting an exciting story you won’t want to miss!
Immerse yourself in the “what if” questions related to the Lost Colony of Roanoke when a native princess meets an English widower.
Born the daughter of a Powhatan chieftain and a woman of unknown origins, Matoaka enjoys a carefree life. When strange men from across the eastern waters appear near her home, she regards them at first as a mere curiosity. Soon, though, she finds herself torn between friendship with one of their leaders and the opinions and politics of her elders. Drawn to a young Englishman, John Rolfe, who has lost a wife and baby daughter, she shares his griefs. . .and perhaps something more. Could she have a future among the English of Jamestown, accepting their ways and even changing her name? Could her fate be a part of the lasting legacy of the Lost Colony of Roanoke?
Author Shannon McNear portrays history with vivid authenticity.
Transplanted to North Dakota after more than two decades in Charleston, South Carolina, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s a military wife, mom of eight, mother-in-law of three, grammie of two, and a member of ACFW and RWA. Her first novella, Defending Truth in A Pioneer Christmas Collection, was a 2014 RITA® finalist. When she’s not sewing, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the northern prairies. Connect with her at www.shannonmcnear.com, or on Facebook and Goodreads.
More from Shannon
Daughters of the Lost Colony—how are we at book 3 already? I’m both excited and nervous about this one, which features Pocahontas and the original Jamestown. Why did I choose her, and this place, when the overall series is about the Lost Colony?
Among their various other aims, the Jamestown colonists were charged with finding the Roanoke Colony. John Smith’s own reports reference this, and one can sense his discouragement and frustration over their inability to find answers on the fate of those who came to the New World before them. William Strachey, early secretary to the colony, stated that Powhatan (that is, the paramount chieftain often called by the same name as his people group) had slain the last known survivors of the Roanoke Colony. But nowhere is that claim substantiated.
There were no solid historical connections between the Lost Colony and Pocahontas—so I created a plausible fictional one in the form of Emme Merrimoth, a historically documented member of the Roanoke Colony who in book 1, Elinor, experienced the fictional adventure of being carried captive to the Powhatan nation. Where Strachey lists the names of the paramount chieftain’s favored wives, I put Emme in the place of the real-life Winganuske.
I knew the research would be challenging on this one. What I didn’t expect was to find Emme’s aspect of this story so compelling—or to fall in love with Wahunsenecawh, the great Powhatan himself. The name alone is intimidating, but you can find sound clips of how to pronounce it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q_10PYf_0U and here: https://www.nameslook.com/wahunsenacawh/ (ignore the weird stuff and click on the little red arrows for different voices). There are at least five or six documented ways to spell it, and the one I picked is probably the most obscure. I had a year to get used to saying it, but repeat after me, slowly: wah-HUN-senacoh. Or wah-HOON-senacah, depending upon which rule you use for the U in Algonquian pronunciation, and how you interpret that “wh” at the end.
Names overall were an issue with this story. A few reviewers have already mentioned this difficulty. The thing is, in Native culture, especially what we know of the Eastern Algonquian-speaking peoples, a name wasn’t simply a casual identifier—it defined a person’s entire identity. We don’t know what most of the names recorded from that time meant, but we can be sure they weren’t chosen lightly, and they were valued by those who held them. Indeed, a change of name often accompanied a change of purpose. It has even been suggested that if the English had been paying attention, they’d have realized when Opechancanough changed his name shortly before the great attack of 1622, it signaled a critical shift in his attitude toward them.
So when you read this story, you may find it helpful to keep a finger in the cast list—or to place a bookmark on that page if you’re reading the Kindle version. Thank you so much, again, for taking this journey with me!
My Impressions
Rebecca, by Shannon McNear, is a very intellectual and scholarly novel of Pocahuntas, daughter of the highest Powhatan chief. McNear ties Rebecca to Roanoke and her Daughters of the Lost Colony by a rather surprising, seemingly unlikely, but possible connection. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I am glad to have read Elinor and Mary first.
I found reading this novel challenging, but I was glad I persevered! The overall thought and story arc are beautiful! I must admit, McNear includes so many Native American names that are difficult to pronounce. The John Smith segment especially felt like reading a textbook rather than a novel. However, like assigned high school Shakespeare, one feels enlightened and much better informed afterwards. I was eager to find out the resolution to Pocahuntas’s decisions and the how relationship between the colony and the Natives would evolve.
I did appreciate how McNear alternates between the English POV and the Native POV. She does a great job making the reader feel sympathetic and understanding towards one way of thinking, than showing the reasonableness of the other view. Neither nation appeared totally good or bad, but rather as two opposing people grappling to find their way as they are suddenly in the same land.
The author notes before and after are extremely important to the understanding of this novel. Please don’t skip them!
The story of Jesus and His sacrifice is told very clearly and slowly as part of Pocahuntas’s religious education at Bermuda Hundred. It flowed very naturally as part of the story. I love Pocahuntas’s ( Rebecca’s) proclamation: “I have seen the spirits, but I have also seen your Christ, presenting Himself as the greatest of the spirits.”
Indeed, Rebecca realizes this is more than just a history of two nations sorting out ownership of a land. “Of a certainty, as she had suspected, this was more than one people sailing across yapám and making towns upon Tsenacomoco. It was one god supplanting another in a land where all had been settled for time out of mind.”
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought my own paperback copy for the keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Her real name—she had shared her real name with him. He knew the significance of such a thing.”
“It is my wish—my hope—to bring word of your Christ to my people, so they may also know. And perhaps it was for that very thing I was born and chosen.
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great!! It took quite a while to get into, but McNear has given me a much better understanding of the people of this time.
Kick back with your faithful companion and relax with a small-town mystery in book 5 of the Gone to the Dogs series.
Lone Star groomer, Isabel Fuentes, adopts a feisty rescued dachshund, and the two are inseparable. . .until Texans quarterback, Corey Wallis, announces a large reward for his missing female dachshund. Suddenly all of Houston are on the lookout for the MIA pooch that bares a strong resemblance to Isabel’s new pup. Isabel contacts Corey, but soon Ginger goes missing and Isabel is convinced Corey and his agent took her for a publicity stunt. Then there is a reporter who could be trying to manufacture a great story or a cameraman seeking the big reward. Can there be a happy ending for Ginger?
Janice Thompson, who lives in the Houston area, writes romantic comedies, cozy mysteries, nonfiction devotionals, and musical comedies for the stage. She is the mother of four daughters and nine feisty grandchildren. When she’s not writing books or taking care of foster dogs you’ll find her in the kitchen, baking up specialty cakes and cookies.
More from Janice
The Story Behind the Story
For years now, I’ve been in the dog rescue business. I’ve fostered close to 50 dogs—some from the local shelter, some from an amazing dog rescue organization called My Chi and Me, and some directly from the streets of Houston.
About a year ago, (around the same time I set out to write Every Dog Has His Day) I was given a tiny red dachshund to foster. If you know anything about me at all, you know that I’m head-over-heels in love with dachshunds, especially red ones. I had a female red dachshund named Sasha who lived with me for 15 years. She passed away in 2017, just after my mom died.
When this tiny red doxie came to stay at my house last year, I was tempted to keep her. But I’ve already got three dogs of my own. So, she went to my grandchildren, who live about 30 minutes away.
Here’s the fun part: I got to name her. I gave her the name Ginger because of her color. (Interesting irony: I’m allergic to ginger. Can’t touch the stuff!)
Now that she’s been in the family a year or so, she’s become my favorite grand-dog. Ginger stays with me a lot—when the family is vacationing, when she needs to socialize with my dogs, and when I’m lonely for her.
I love this little girl. She’s an absolute doll. Okay, she’s naughty as can be, but she’s a doll.
So, when I got ready to write Every Dog Has His Day, I decided to include Ginger as part of the story. Trust me when I say the real Ginger is a runner, just like the fictionalized one! If I opened the front door, she would run right out. And, just like the dog in the book, she probably wouldn’t come back.
Our Ginger doesn’t have a white patch on her paw. (Most doxies, other than dapples, are solid color.) But I needed to give my fictional Ginger a distinguishing mark so that the two characters (her rescuer and her owner) could end up squabbling over her.
As is the case in most of my stories, my characters end up romantically involved. Hey, dogs aren’t just great companions; they’re wonderful matchmakers, too! As of yet, the real Ginger hasn’t brought a love interest into my life. (Here’s hoping!)
I hope you enjoy Every Dog Has His Day. As you read about that tiny mischievous doxie, just know that she’s a very real little dog—one who climbed up on my kitchen island just yesterday and got into some carefully-wrapped treats I’d made for the grandkids.
Sometimes life really is stranger than fiction!
My Impressions
“Dogs were like that. They kidnapped pieces of our heart and kept them forever.”
Every Dog Has its Day by Janice Thompson may not be true-to-life, but it is a lot of fun and has all the elements that make me love it. Like its predecessors, Every Dog Has Its Day is clean, faith-based, set in a vet- combination rescue setting, and is hilarious. Plus, the book and series focus heavily on dogs and the people who love them. I’m in cozy heaven!
Isabel(Izzy) Fuentes narrates this book in first person POV. She is the clinic’s groomer, who fosters a lost dachshund. Trouble begins when the new pro quarterback in town , Corey Wallace, shows up to claim the dog, who isn’t microchipped and doesn’t like the man.
As the clinic-rescue gains notoriety for not releasing the pup to its alleged owner, can Isabel and Corey reach a compromise without harming the clinic’s reputation or clientele? As Corey and Isabel get to know each other, an attraction develops, but will their different social statuses stand in the way? Or an unforeseen crime?
I loved being back in Brenham, Texas with the Lone Star Clinic crew. One of the neat things about this series is that, while it focuses on one couple’s story, other couples from previous books are highlighted and their stories move forward nicely.
And Grandma Peach and Hector, her terror of a cat, are a hilarious big part of this novel, too. So much fun!
One of the neat elements of this book is the relationship between generations, related or not. I could feel the love oozing out from Carmela, every time she cooked and turned on the football game.
If you love hilarious animal-based cozies, don’t miss this book!
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“I knew this side of him, the happy, healthy side. But I also knew the other side. . .and it scared me to death.”
“When you loved someone, you did everything you could to bless them.”
“It’s easy to be believable when you’re telling the truth.”
“Grief was a fickle friend. It left its mark. But it also bonded you with others who were walking through it as well.”
“That’s what you heard with your ears,” I said. “But it’s what you hear with your heart that matters.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent!! Dogs, a rescue, a vet clinic, a humorous cozy with faith, I’d be hard-pressed not to like this one!
“Another sparkling feel-good romance, brimming with perfect doses of heart and heat!”– Bethany Turner, award-winning author of The Do-Over
Gemma Bennett is the leading lady of her own life, and her true love is writing screenplays. With her trusty pink notebook in hand, she signs up for the Citizen’s Safety Academy to research her newest blockbuster hope, a rom-com with a police officer as the hero. And the fact that the handsome and heroic Lieutenant Karson Zellner is the one leading the training? Well, who can blame her for wanting to spend evenings with the man she swooned over months ago when he responded to a call at her apartment?
Karson already has his fair share of problems before Gemma shows up, and he’s not exactly a fan of the ditzy blonde who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. The last thing he needs is a damsel in distress to rescue; there are plenty of people in real need of his help. The fact that she seems to think his job makes him a superhero is just one more strike against her. This isn’t a movie, and he feels like the furthest thing from a leading man.
Gemma can’t seem to stop doing the worst, most embarrassing things at just the wrong time. And as time goes on, Gemma begins to realize that the scripts for a perfect screenplay and a real-life happily-ever-after are two very different things. Can she step out of her own way to find the hero her story needs?
Angela Ruth Strong sold her first romance novel in 2009, and her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been a finalist for the Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon bestsellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky released as a movie in 2022. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she blogs for Inspy Romance and My Book Therapy. Get to know her even better at http://www.angelaruthstrong.com.
My Impressions
“He’d become my hero when he came to my house to protect me…Is what brought him to me also going to separate us?”
Strong knocks it out of the park with Hero Debut!! The sequel to her popular rom-com Husband Auditions, this novel tells the tale of Barbie-like Gemma Bennet. Gemma enters Citizen’s Safety Academy looking for her screenplay hero, but she learns a lot in her disappointing search. Will her hero eventually emerge? Will she be prepared, or will they both cling to baggage of their perceived emotional pasts that threatens to draw the curtain early? I loved the title with its double entendre.
Written in 1st person POV, alternating mostly between Gemma and Karson Zellner, we traipse through a few weeks in the happy, but incident-prone life of Gemma. You’ll laugh uproariously all the way through this faith-based rom-com that delivers serious truths. You will benefit from the lessons, whether single or married for many years.
I loved that Strong shows us that even the protagonists we are rooting for, are not perfect. Perceptions of the past affect relationships, and two people going through the same event can experience it differently. Bravo for pointing that out!
Gemma’s roommates Kai and Charlie are present as a great foil, as are some special children. Then there’s Karson’s jovial former partner, Drew Harris. “He’s his own spotlight.”
Chock-full of quotes I will remember for a long time and pop references aplenty, I appreciated Strong’s outlook on life and even the rom-com category. She set the bar high for herself, then exceeded it, “Because the best romantic comedies have depth and meaning that make the humor poignant.”
I can’t wait for Charlie’s story, coming next as Fiancé Finale!
I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher. I also received an ebook copy via NetGalley. Plus I pre-ordered my own copy to give away. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“If you’re going to write about police, don’t romanticize our job. We give out tickets, we arrest people, and we use our firearms when needed. We’re the ones who show up after a crime has been committed. Nobody wants to see us. Though we risk our lives to protect the public, they often attack us for doing our jobs.”
“We find what we look for… And I prefer to look for the beauty and joy in life. It’s out there.”
“There are three types of people in this world. Sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs.”
“Her eyes are on me, scratching the itch of my heart.”
“Nobody is a hero all the time. We’re just all in training.”
“I don’t know if you believe in God, but His love is the only perfect love. It’s the kind that redeems when the love we’d hoped to get from other people lets us down.”
“I’ve never been in this much trouble before. I make Ramona the Pest look good.”
“I really like this thing called gratefulness. It not only helps us endure situations we never would have planned for ourselves, but it enables us to turn our sorrows into joy.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Such an excellent, fun rom-com! Strong writes some of the best!!
“The world seems full of good men—even if there are monsters in it.”
–Bram Stoker, Dracula
England, 1890
Vampires are alive and well in North Yorkshire, leastwise in the minds of the uneducated. Librarian Rosa Edwards intends to drive a stake through the heart of such superstitions. But gossip flies when the mysterious Sir James Morgan returns to his shadowy manor. The townsfolk say he is cursed.
James hates everything about England. The weather. The rumours. The scorn. Yet he must stay. His mother is dying of a disease for which he’s desperately trying to find a cure—an illness that will eventually take his own life.
When Rosa sets out to prove the dark gossip about James is wrong, she discovers more questions than answers. How can she accept what she can’t explain—especially the strong allure of the enigmatic man? James must battle a town steeped in fear as well as the unsettling attraction he feels for the no-nonsense librarian.
Can love prevail in a town filled with fear and doubt?
Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances: A Tale of Two Hearts, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at http://www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
And guess what? She loves to hear from readers! Feel free to drop her a note at michellegriep@gmail.com.
More from Michelle
A Visit to Whitby
Every time I skip across the pond, I make it a point to visit Whitby. What’s the draw? This northern Yorkshire town is steeped in history and is every bit as magical today as it was back in Bram Stoker’s day…when he went to visit and was inspired to set much of his Dracula tale there. In fact, that is exactly where he got the inspiration for the name Dracula when he visited the library and did a bit of research.
Sound interesting? Then come along with me on a virtual visit with pictures from my last trip.
When walking the windy, narrow roads of Whitby, you can’t help but let your imagination wander because it’s as if you’re there in the nineteenth century. Can’t you just see a long-gowned heroine glancing over her shoulder at you as she flees down this lane?
And overlooking these lanes is the infamous abbey ruins, an eerie sentinel that sits atop the cliffs. It is rumoured a ghostly woman appears in the window, but I didn’t see her.
Still in operation today is this old coaching inn, which of course I had to use in one of my scenes.
There are still fishermen who ply these waters for trade, but this harbor isn’t nearly as active as it was centuries ago.
Twice I’ve made the coastal hike from Whitby to Robinhood’s Bay. This is where I imagined librarian Rosa Edwards riding her bicycle delivering books.
And yes, indeed, the sea mists are a very real thing, sometimes so thick it’s disorienting.
So, see what I mean? Whitby is a magical place, well worth the effort to get to if you ever venture over to England. And if that doesn’t quite fit into your budget or schedule, never fear.
My Impressions
“I am an outsider. I have always seen things differently, and it puts people on edge. Makes them nervous when their long-held beliefs are challenged.”
“How do I love thee? Let count the ways.” No, I am not talking about the relationship between the heroine, Rosa Edwards, and either of the possible love interests, Sir James Morgan or Albin Mallow. Rather, I speak of the wonder of the novel that is Man of Shadow and Mist by Michelle Griep. Spooky, inviting cover!! Spell-binding. Mesmerizing. Unpredictable. Full of true faith. Great Quotes. Masterful. Griep is a Wordsmith Extraordinaire. ( ie: “A few more word grenades launched from Mallow and the situation would explode Miss Edwards’s reputation to shreds.” or
“Morgrave Manor was as pleasant as a cold slap to the cheek.” (Can’t you just feel that one?!! ) And so many other great visual word pictures I want to share but will save for you to discover!!
How can two solitary individuals fight ugly, local superstitions and rumors that villanize a rich, transplanted family? As evil happenings increase and coincide with either the appearance of Sir James Morgan or ill weather, gossip runs rampant and feelings get out of hand.
I loved that Rosa Edwards is brave enough to stand against public opinion and defend her new friend against ridiculous, unfounded claims. I also love to see that while her parents are eager to marry her off, she maintains a special connection and understanding with her father. This is not true in most books in the time of arranged marriages.
Sir James is tall, good looking, and underneath all his frightening demeanor, the kindest, most thoughtful, caring man I’d ever want to meet. With an amazing faith that doesn’t require God to answer prayers in his favor.
The parson and Mrs. Hawkins are both secondary characters whose influence is greatly needed and freely bestowed, without being judgmental. Will James and Rosa take their timely words to heart?
I love how Griep inserts Bram Stoker himself and his manuscript into the novel. Talk about an Easter egg. This has got to be a Fabergé! Each chapter begins with quote from Dracula by Bram Stoker.
I recommend this extraordinary novel for historical fiction lovers, faith quote lovers, possibly Jaime Jo Wright readers, and Dracula lovers.
I received a complimentary copy from the author through Barbour Books, and also through Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought a 3rd copy to give away. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Lady Dorina hails from Transylvania, the historical birthplace of such monsters.” Mrs. Edwards sniffed. “My family roots tie back to Ireland, sir, but that doesn’t make me a leprechaun.”
“If God wor so small tha’ thou could understan’ ‘im, ‘e would not be good enuff ta stand wi’ thou in all that ye face. Every one of us needs a God who is bigger than we credit, else ‘e ‘ood not be God.”
“Expect the good Lord ta give thou a glass o’ water when yer parched, ta grant thou rest when weary, ta gi’ miracles ‘n mercy ‘n a regular dose o’ comfort when thou needs. But the one thin’ thou shouldn’t expect—ever—is for ‘im ta show up lookin’ like thou might imagine.”
‘Tis the moment thou lets go of thy expectations tha’ God can fettle wi’ ye. ‘Til then, ye’ve not surrendered, thou see?”
“It’s not what goes into the body that makes one an infidel, but what comes out of the heart.”
“Ye can trust that God will grow each of His true children into His likeness in His own time and in His own way.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent!! I’ve never been disappointed by a Griep novel!! I love all of them!!
Thrust into an arranged marriage, the daughter of ancient Egypt’s high priest plays a pivotal role in Joseph’s biblical narrative in this powerful novel from the award-winning author of Potiphar’s Wife.
After four-year-old Asenath’s mother is murdered by Egypt’s foreign rulers, the child is raised to be a priestess by her overprotective father—high priest of Egypt’s sun god. For fifteen years, Asenath is sequestered in the upper levels of Ra’s temple, convinced it is her destiny to heal the land by becoming queen to the next Egyptian pharaoh. But when Egypt’s foreign king instead gives her as a bride to the newly appointed vizier—a Hebrew named Joseph—her entire world is shaken.
Beyond the walls of her tower, Asenath discovers treachery, deceit, and conspiracy that force her to redefine her destiny and weigh where her true loyalties lie. Can she still trust the gods of Egypt? Or is Elohim, the foreign God of her husband, the one who will heal her nation during the feast and famine to come?
About the Author
Mesu grew up with a variegated Christian heritage. With grandparents from the Pilgrim Holiness, Nazarene, and Wesleyan Churches, her dad was a Quaker and mom charismatic. As you might imagine, God was a central figure in most family discussions, but theology was a battlefield and Scripture the weapon. As a rebellious teenager, Mesu rejected God and His Word, but discovered Jesus as a life-transforming Savior through the changed life of an old friend.
The desire for God’s Word exploded with her new commitment, but devotional time was scarce due to the demands of a young wife and mother. So Mesu scoured the only two theology books available–children’s Bible stories and her Bible. The stories she read to her daughters at night pointed her to the Bible passages she studied all day. She became an avid student of God’s Word, searching historical and cultural settings as well as ancient texts and original languages.
Mesu and her husband Roy have raised those two daughters and now enjoy a tribe of grandkids, who get to hear those same Bible stories. Mesu’s love for God’s Word has never waned. She now writes biblical novels, rich with spiritual insight learned through fascinating discoveries in deep historical research.
Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell)–the story of Job and the women who loved him–won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year in the Debut Author Category. Her subsequent novels have released with high praise, shedding light on some of the shadowy women of Scripture. Love’s Sacred Song (Revell, 2012) tells the story of the beloved shepherdess in King Solomon’s Song of Solomon. Love in a Broken Vessel (Revell, 2013) tells the story of Hosea and Gomer and is the final stand-alone novel in the Treasures of His Love Series. Her fourth novel, In the Shadow of Jezebel (Revell, 2014) tells the fascinating story of Queen Athaliah and the courageous Princess Jehosheba.
The Treasures of the Nile series (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2015-16) included The Pharaoh’s Daughter and Miriam and spanned Moses’ life from birth to the Exodus. Her 2017 release, Isaiah’s Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah), begins the Prophets and Kings series and explores the life and ministry of the prophet Isaiah and the tumultuous days of Judah under kings Ahaz and Hezekiah. But its focus is on the woman Hephzibah–a fascinating character in Jewish legends. OF FIRE AND LIONS, Book #2 in Prophets and Kings (WaterBrook/Multnomah), released in 2019 and tells the familiar childhood stories of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the technicolor detail of grown-up research and awareness of Babylon’s splendor. 2020 holds #3 in the P&K series and the conclusion to Hephzibah’s story, ISAIAH’S LEGACY, when Andrews introduces King Manasseh to her readers and describes the most wicked king of Judah’s stunning prodigal story. In 2022, readers will meet POTIPHAR’S WIFE, who pursued and falsely accused Joseph, one of Scripture’s greatest heroes. Joseph will, however, save all of Egypt and realize God’s greater plan, IN FEAST OR FAMINE, that releases in 2023.
Mesu and her husband live in the Appalachian Mountains. She loves Jesus, coffee, her dog, and time with her grandkids–not necessarily in that order.
My Impressions
“To agree would betray the abi who saved my life. To contradict would betray my heart.”
Mesu Andrews is one of the giants in the realm of Biblical fiction writers. She always amazes me with how she can take a character who is close to a well-known Biblical hero, and make a plausible, could have been, within the confines of what Scripture actually says, novel!! Asenath, daughter of the priest of On and Egyptian wife of Joseph is just another perfect example.
Many Christians, like me, might want to say, how could a faithful man of God like Joseph be married to a pagan wife? God does not give us all the details. Where Scripture speaks, Andrews holds true. But where it doesn’t, she uses well-researched ancient history, customs of the time, and her fertile imagination to come up with a novel so intricate in detail I’m in awe!
I would suggest this book for both men and women. Politics are a huge part, as are shrewdness, scheming, emotions, faith that both wavers and grows, and suspense. And add ancient history in to boot!!
Poor Joseph. Torn between his love for his God, his first love, and now Asenath, plus managing an unstable, divided kingdom. Then throw his ugly past with his brothers into the mix. Andrews many times is wise enough to make Joseph’s path very difficult, and what a relief to see him portrayed as less than perfect.
As for Asenath? I had no idea what to expect, but I was thrilled with the way Andrews drew her and developed her character. And how I hurt for the underlying choice that she had to make over and over again- her father (“He’s a Hyksos,” he whispered. “Never forget that.”) or her stranger- husband, worshipper of a different God! (“Trusting Elohim is always a choice between doubt that sends us spiraling or faith that reveals an awe-inspiring aspect of God.”)
So much to love in this story!! Andrews throws in great curveballs you’ll never see coming and makes the resolutions believable! And, of course, you’ll love Jandayi!
Extra points for the glossary at the beginning, where I can easily flip back without being tempted to read the end of the story. Also points from me for a map and a list of characters!
I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“I think facing my past is the path for you and me to have a future.”
“we keep moving forward and leave the hearts of men to the One who created them.”
“Only Elohim can change a heart, love, and He never forces His will over ours.”
“Ahira, there are too many what ifs to consider in a day. If we feared every what if, we’d have a life of if onlys.”
“Anger is a weak weapon, Joseph.” “Forgiveness is an archer’s bow with unlimited arrows. They can pierce even the hardest heart.”
“…you and I rest in calm assurance that Elohim meets us in our pain.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent!! Mesu is an amazing student of the Word, and her Biblical fiction is unbeatable!!
“The world seems full of good men—even if there are monsters in it.” –Bram Stoker, Dracula
England, 1890
Vampires are alive and well in North Yorkshire, leastwise in the minds of the uneducated. Librarian Rosa Edwards intends to drive a stake through the heart of such superstitions. But gossip flies when the mysterious Sir James Morgan returns to his shadowy manor. The townsfolk say he is cursed.
James hates everything about England. The weather. The rumours. The scorn. Yet he must stay. His mother is dying of a disease for which he’s desperately trying to find a cure—an illness that will eventually take his own life.
When Rosa sets out to prove the dark gossip about James is wrong, she discovers more questions than answers. How can she accept what she can’t explain—especially the strong allure of the enigmatic man? James must battle a town steeped in fear as well as the unsettling attraction he feels for the no-nonsense librarian.
Can love prevail in a town filled with fear and doubt?
About the Author
I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I’ve been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write–except for that graffiti phase I went through as teenager.
My Impressions
“I am an outsider. I have always seen things differently, and it puts people on edge. Makes them nervous when their long-held beliefs are challenged.”
“How do I love thee? Let count the ways.” No, I am not talking about the relationship between the heroine, Rosa Edwards, and either of the possible love interests, Sir James Morgan or Albin Mallow. Rather, I speak of the wonder of the novel that is Man of Shadow and Mist by Michelle Griep. The spooky, inviting cover!! Spell-binding. Mesmerizing. Unpredictable. Full of true faith. Great Quotes. Masterful. Griep is a Wordsmith extraordinaire. ( ie: “A few more word grenades launched from Mallow and the situation would explode Miss Edwards’s reputation to shreds.” or
“Morgrave Manor was as pleasant as a cold slap to the cheek.” (Can’t you just feel that one?!! ) And so many other great visual word pictures I want to share but will save for you to discover!!
How can two solitary individuals fight ugly, local superstitions and rumors that villanize a rich, transplanted family? As evil happenings increase and coincide with either the appearance of Sir James Morgan or ill weather, gossip runs rampant and feelings get out of hand.
I loved that Rosa Edwards is brave enough to stand against public opinion and defend her new friend against ridiculous, unfounded claims. I also love to see that while her parents are eager to marry her off, she maintains a special connection and understanding with her father. This is not true in most books in the time of arranged marriages.
Sir James is tall, good looking, and underneath all his frightening demeanor, the kindest, most thoughtful, caring man I’d ever want to meet. With an amazing faith that doesn’t require God to answer prayers in his favor.
The parson and Mrs. Hawkins are both secondary characters whose influence is greatly needed and freely bestowed, without being judgmental. Will James and Rosa take their timely words to heart?
I love how Griep inserts Bram Stoker himself and his manuscript into the novel. Talk about an Easter egg. This has got to be a Fabergé! Each chapter begins with quote from Dracula by Bram Stoker.
I recommend this extraordinary novel for historical fiction lovers, faith quote lovers, possibly Jaime Jo Wright readers, and Dracula lovers.
I received complimentary copy from the author through Barbour Books, and also through Cekebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought a 3rd copy to give away. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Lady Dorina hails from Transylvania, the historical birthplace of such monsters.” Mrs. Edwards sniffed. “My family roots tie back to Ireland, sir, but that doesn’t make me a leprechaun.”
“If God wor so small tha’ thou could understan’ ‘im, ‘e would not be good enuff ta stand wi’ thou in all that ye face. Every one of us needs a God who is bigger than we credit, else ‘e ‘ood not be God.”
“Expect the good Lord ta give thou a glass o’ water when yer parched, ta grant thou rest when weary, ta gi’ miracles ‘n mercy ‘n a regular dose o’ comfort when thou needs. But the one thin’ thou shouldn’t expect—ever—is for ‘im ta show up lookin’ like thou might imagine.”
‘Tis the moment thou lets go of thy expectations tha’ God can fettle wi’ ye. ‘Til then, ye’ve not surrendered, thou see?”
“It’s not what goes into the body that makes one an infidel, but what comes out of the heart.”
“Ye can trust that God will grow each of His true children into His likeness in His own time and in His own way.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent!! I love how Griep can take the Gothic and make it thrilling, full of word candy, faith-filled, and logical as well!!
Giveaway
This first post of Man of Shadow and Mist is a personal giveaway. I am giving away one paperback copy of Man of Shadow and Mist. Unfortunately, this copy arrived with a crease in the cover. Leave your name and email if you want to be in the drawing, which I will conduct on Tuesday, June 6th. I will email the winner on June 7th.
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions 