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.
As tragedy ravages the camp, can She’erah step up and complete the outpost?
She’erahs is a woman trying to leave her mark in a man’s world. Her vision and ability surpasses her father’s, yet she remains second-in-command as they are tasked to build Pharaoh’s outposts in Canaan. She knows she is worthy of the task, but her clan is skeptical
The last place She’erah expects support is from her charioteer, but Lateef is the lone voice of encouragement. His integrity and steadfastness is a plumb-line in She’erah’s life and she can no longer deny her growing feelings for him.
Acts of sabotage threaten the construction and the shaky foundation of She’erah’s pride. It’s up to She’erah to break generations of rivalry, distrust, and jealousy—if she can learn to rely on the strengths and abilities of those around her to help.
Will she learn to trust God and others before her life’s legacy comes crumbling down around her?
Author of Biblical fiction, avid reader, pastor’s wife, Naomi loves reading the Bible and imagining how things were at the time. When she’s not serving in various areas at church, trying to stay on top of mountains of dishes or convincing her rescue dog, Freeway, to be cute on command for Instagram reels, you’ll most likely find her enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee. Naomi co-hosts #BehindTheStory with Naomi and Lisa, an author interview show on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice.
More from Naomi
A woman architect in ancient times?
She’erah’s family is mentioned in five verses in 1 Chronicles 7:20- 24. In this brief detour from the list of genealogy, we learn some interesting facts.
She’erah is the granddaughter of Joseph (yes that Joseph with the coat of many colors, vizier to Pharaoh)
Two of her brothers get themselves killed for cattle rustling.
Her father, Ephraim, goes into deep mourning for his sons.
There is a late-in-life baby (as a result of dad’s mourning)
and She’erah built Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen She’erah.
Then we are right back to the begats.
Wait, hold on. That’s all we get? What is the story behind her building these towns (two of which are still standing today)? What was the reaction of those around her?
Something I find helpful to remember is that when you know about someone’s family, you in a way know the person. With her grandfather being Joseph, suddenly we have opened a whole new world of what we know. She’erah and the clan would have had access to all of Egypt’s knowledge and resources. Where she still might have gotten backlash from her more Hebrew clan, Egyptian women had more independence, managing their husband’s estates, or even their own.
We also know the generational legacy that was passed down of the younger sibling being favored above the older. Ephraim over Manasseh, Joseph over his ten elder brothers, Jacob over Esau, Rachel over Leah, Isaac over Ishmael. I’m sure sibling rivalry could have been present.
So now we can see She’erah’s picture a little more clearly. A brilliantly minded woman determined to prove herself and her abilities. Raised in Egyptian courts, yet also Hebrew. A strange mix of cultures and dynamics that shape She’erah and nurture her gifts.
She’erah’s legacy is not only the towns she builds for generations to come, but also how she starts the work of unearthing the deep-seated rivalry that is entrenched in her family.
I pray you’ll enjoy She’erah’s adventures, as she learns to trust the Lord and those around her.
Best Regards
Naomi
My Impressions
“Wasn’t that just like Elohim? A juxtaposition of strength and gentleness, judgement and compassion, that compelled His people to Him.”
A woman builder in the time of the patriarchs? (I’d never noticed!) Women are mentioned rarely in Biblical genealogies, but when they are, you can be sure they were significant. While there is only one verse in the Bible that mentions She’erah, Naomi Craig does a masterful job of imagining what her life may have been like in her novel, She’erah’s Legacy.
I loved how Craig shows us that family issues that began with Esau and Jacob kept repeating through the generations. How sad that this is so often true even in today’s world, and what consequences it brings to Ephraim’s family as well. Now I am rewriting the story in my head, what-“ifing”: the story might have gone so differently if Manasseh and Ephraim had a better relationship.
She’erah has a highly intelligent mind and a very exacting plan for the towns she builds. Unfortunately, she fails to remember that just as she excels in this area, she equally needs her team who have strengths she doesn’t, and no one needs a micromanager.
Equality. Quite the buzz word all around in this book. Between male and female. Between siblings. Between workers. Between free and slaves. She’erah thinks she practices equality, and does so admirably in some instances. Like most of us, she has a few blind spots that only the Lord can smooth out. Sometimes He uses Lateef, sometimes her brother, but even sometimes those like Aleph who are in opposition against her.
So many scenes to love in this book! One of my faves is when She’erah discovers that she, in fact, decides to make Elohim her personal God. “Speak to me. Let the truth of Your promises penetrate my being. You have been the God of my family, but this day I choose You as my God. “
This novel has it all. Romance, family issues, work issues, equality, psychology, drama and intrigue, plus a ton of Biblical TRUTH for living !
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought a copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“I would ask nothing from you but that you live in wisdom and integrity. That your work ethic is as strong as your wills.”
“The mind doesn’t have any bearing over who the heart will choose.”…“The heart is the plumb line that squares you up to the one your soul chooses, not the mind.”
“He was a plumb line holding her straight and true.”
“Anything the Lord asks of you will have opposition. But if He is in it, all the pain and enduring that happens before you see it come to fruition is put there to reach His end.”
“Look up…Elohim is not dethroned because you took your eyes off Him.”
“The family of Joseph does not succumb to trials.” “When we are hindered, we look up and trust that Elohim is still working His plan. Even if it means we don’t see the results for years upon years.”
“You are still learning something. Sometimes Elohim uses our messed-up areas to show us we need to rely on His greater plans.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! Naomi Craig as an author who recently caught my attention. Now she is one I am trying to catch up with and follow closely!
He was the Beloved Disciple… …and he would be the last. The burden to tell the whole story now rests on his shoulders.
He was the Beloved Disciple, chosen by Jesus and destined to be the last to carry the divine message. Devastated by the loss of his adopted mother Mary, John has no time to mourn. The streets of Jerusalem teem with danger, as Roman rulers engage in fierce conflict with Jewish rebels, all vying for control.
While his allegiance lies with his people, John is at odds with the rebels’ passion for earthly power. His quest is to preserve and share the legacy of Jesus.
Will he succeed in spreading the gospel?
Or has he waited too long?
As Jerusalem descends into chaos, John escapes to Antioch. He finds rest, renewal, and purpose among the devoted Christians there and begins sharing his account of the life and teachings of Christ.
Yet even within this refuge, the old conflicts descend on Antioch too, and the dangers ignited in Jerusalem draw near.
Set against a backdrop of actual events, The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch is the second novel in a series woven from the Bible and Christian history.
Join John as he embarks on an extraordinary journey, discovering the true essence of faith, love, and divine purpose.
Your heart will embrace The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch because John’s story is the story of our hope and promise.
Kurt Brouweris a Christian and a member of a vibrant Christian church in Hawaii. He also loves to write.
A few years back, Kurt did a study at his church on the Apostle John. If you’ve ever been obsessed by anything, you’ll understand that Kurt couldn’t stop researching, digging, diving into the life of John and other first century Christians. The result is a series of Christian historical novels.
The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem was published on Amazon in November 2022. It has been in the top five for Inspirational Religious Fiction and Religious Historical Fiction in 2023.
More from Kurt
Right now I’m living in two worlds: writing and researching the first century world of the early Christians while also tackling the technical demands of self-publishing and online book promotion in the 21st century.
LIVING IN TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS
Writing a book and publishing it have become almost polar opposites, at least for me. Research and writing require a focus on history, places, people, and then the work of creating a written narrative that brings all these to life. With my books, I focus on the first century Biblical world of John, the disciple of Christ. So I have to study, imagine, and then describe the life of first century Christians like John, Timothy, Priscilla and many more.
But publishing has to be done in the modern world of software, online apps, book cover graphic design, and navigating sites like Amazon.com. I actually enjoy this, but I definitely find it frustrating too.
GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR BOOK TWO
For example, I had my book cover designer create a graphic I wanted to use as a part of the book detail page on Amazon. But when I go through the step-by-step instructions on Amazon, I get an error message. Eventually, I’ll figure it out, but there’s a steep learning curve in the publishing and promotion side of writing. Here is the design. It may not be on Amazon yet, but you can see it now.
This is the description for book two:
He was the Beloved Disciple… …and he would be the last. The burden to tell the whole story now rests on his shoulders.
He was the Beloved Disciple, chosen by Jesus and destined to be the last to carry the divine message. Devastated by the loss of his adopted mother Mary, John has no time to mourn. The streets of Jerusalem teem with danger, as Roman rulers engage in fierce conflict with Jewish rebels, all vying for control.
While his allegiance lies with his people, John is at odds with the rebels’ passion for earthly power. His quest is to preserve and share the legacy of Jesus.
Will he succeed in spreading the gospel?
Or has he waited too long?
As Jerusalem descends into chaos, John escapes to Antioch. He finds rest, renewal, and purpose among the devoted Christians there and begins sharing his account of the life and teachings of Christ.
Yet even within this refuge, the old conflicts descend on Antioch too, and the dangers ignited in Jerusalem draw near.
Set against a backdrop of actual events, The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch is the second novel in a series woven from the Bible and Christian history.
Join John as he embarks on an extraordinary journey, discovering the true essence of faith, love, and divine purpose.
Your heart will embrace The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch because John’s story is the story of our hope and promise.
But now I’m heading back to what I really love, writing and research. I’m about half way through with the first draft of book three in the series. The title will be, The Last Disciple: Exile to Ephesus.
Yours in Christ, Kurt
My Impressions
“Thank you, Lord. Your love and that of my brothers, Symeon and Emmaus, brought me out of my grief and back to my senses. To do what, I know not. Yet all is well with my soul, for I know my name is written in the Book of Life. Written in heaven. Beyond that, I just put my faith in you. Your will be done.”
So prays John, as he struggles to decide what purpose God has for him at the start of The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch. Escape to Antioch is book 2 in a series of 4 books about the disciple John. The title caught my attention and made me want to read this exciting book by Kurt Brouwer. It stands on its own, although it does end in a cliff-hanger.
Following the death of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is his adopted mother, John decides to leave Jerusalem and minister to the church in Antioch. He takes his nephew, Emmaus, with him. The two share many harrowing experiences as they visit relatives and church leaders on their way, avoiding both the zealot Jews and the war-ready Romans.
Brouwer has done a lot of Biblical and historical research. I liked how he shows the Christians, John in particular, are changed into more peaceable people because of Jesus’s message and love. The Gospel is clearly presented and many Scripture quotes are included, many as memories of what Jesus said. I did not care for the inference that Mary, after her death, was capable of telling John what to do. I felt like that should have been, at best, Mary’s memory encouraging John to follow Jesus. She seemed, to me, to get more importance than I believe she deserves Scripturally.
I did like all the subterfuge and scheming portrayed in the book. With having so much going on military-wise, whether it all happened the way Brouwer imagines, it sure makes for a good story!
I received a copy of the book from the author through Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great! I think I’ll have to get books 3 and 4! I’ve learned a lot!
Uncovering long-held family secrets may sting at first–but the result can be sweeter than honey.
Beekeeper Beckett Walsh is living her dream, working alongside her father in their apiary, until his untimely death sends her world into a tailspin. She suddenly finds she must deal with a new part owner of the family business–one who is looking to sell the property. Beck cannot fathom why her father would put her into the position to lose everything they built together.
When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she’s never heard of, she’s not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help getting into rehab for her lifelong substance abuse issues, making Callie’s financial situation rather . . . precarious. She’s sure she has no right to someone else’s farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she’s always craved.
As these two women navigate their present conundrum, they will discover a complex and entangled past full of secrets–and the potential for a brighter future for both of them.
Get your copy at link below!
About the Author
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
“He’s gone. He’s not coming back. It’s just me now.”
Two young women, strangers and alone in the world, find themselves thrust into each others’ lives in an irrevocable way. Finding their common denominator brings its own crisis, as each would have given her eye teeth for what she believes the other had. Can the young women with so little in common, work together to forge a better future than the pasts they endured? Will they allow others around them into the deepest parts of their hearts and lives, or will they continue as they were, totally alone, totally “safe”?
With He Should Have Told the Bees, Amanda Cox has penned a poignant, angsty, yet faith-endowed story that will stay with me for a long time after the last page swipe. My heart hurts. Yours might, too, and you might need Kleenex. This is really the story of two grown-up children.
Both Callie and Beck have become young adults, but their troubled backgrounds keep their emotional growth stunted. Beck hides out on her farm, continuing to raise her father’s beloved bees, and Callie is trying to get her own small business going when the past comes back in physical form.
I was happy to see that Cox mentions therapy a lot in the book. Some issues are too deeply ingrained for a person to find their way out alone. I was also happy to see how well she describes panic attacks (people that have never had one, often don’t understand the seriousness of one.) And these are serious! I wanted to cry for these little girls grown up so many times.
But… there are many people who are knocking on their heart’s door, trying to get in to offer support, comfort, and a listening ear, if not wisdom. Will either or both girls open their hearts’ door, or had they slammed them too tight years ago?
My runaway fave secondary character is Katya or Fern. Because of her imagination. Her love for the bees. Her quick “adoption” of Beck, whether Beck wanted claimed or not!!
I highly recommend this book. I received a copy from Revell Reads. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“It’s hard to know the difference between tough love and giving up on someone.”
“…beauty comes from the light. Dust doesn’t change itself. The light does that.”
“Healing is like an onion. It might feel like you’re going in circles, but you’re actually discovering new layers.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent!! So heart-rending!! But because of God… there is Hope!!
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!
Book: Preacher on the Run: The Truth Will Hold Its Own
Author: Jayna Baas
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Release Date: April 12, 2020
STANDING FOR TRUTH COULD COST HIM HIS FREEDOM. FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM COULD COST HIM HIS LIFE.
It’s 1771, and North Carolina is at war. On one side stands the power of the Crown. On the other side stands a dangerous freedom of conscience.
Former circuit rider Robert Boothe has spent the last four years leading the tyrant-hating Regulators against North Carolina’s corrupt British government. All he wants is a safe place for his little Baptist church to worship God.
But when Colonel Charles Drake arrives in town, Robert becomes a target. The Church of England wants him to shut up. The governor wants him dead.
Now Robert’s church and family are caught in the crossfire. And that safe place is farther and farther away.
Jayna Baas, pronounced as in “baa, baa, black sheep,” is the author of Preacher on the Run and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. She lives in northern Michigan with a great family of real people and the family of pretend people who live in her head. (Yes, she does know her characters are not real. No, she does not want you to tell them she said so.) Although she enjoys multiple genres, her favorite story is this: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Learn more and sign up for a free short story at http://www.booksbyjayna.com.
More from Jayna
Freedom is risky. If people are free to make up their own minds, they might discover they’ve been lied to. They might discover the truth and then act on it, and they just might turn the world upside down.
That’s a story that’s been happening ever since Christ freed his first followers from the law of sin and death. They shared that freedom all over their world, and the hierarchy didn’t like it, from the Pharisees on up to Nero. It’s a story that happens over and over again. And it happened in eighteenth-century North Carolina.
Almost all of the Thirteen Colonies had an official state-sanctioned church that could banish, imprison, or even execute those who did not conform. The most common “state church” in the southern colonies was the Church of England, and that’s what we find in North Carolina at the time of Preacher on the Run.
Imagine you’re a dissenter preacher in this time and place. Up the street is the local vestry, which you’re taxed to support, while you’ve been threatened with jail for preaching without a license. One of your church members is about to be dispossessed for not paying taxes—taxes he can’t afford and has probably already paid once. No one dares go to court; everyone knows the courts are nests of extortion, and you could be charged with felony if you stay at a meeting after an official deems it seditious.
Now the governor’s new agent comes to town—a man who is hungry for power, a man who knows you’re a leader not only in your congregation but also in the grassroots resistance that is rising against the government’s corruption. To him, your belief that people can go to God directly through faith in Christ without the state church is blasphemous. And your belief that all men are on equal footing before God and the law is unthinkably dangerous.
What would you do?
This is a scenario that set my story-loving imagination on fire. This is the story of Preacher on the Run. It’s the story of a spark that ignited and spread throughout the colonies until it was a blaze of revolution—not the rejection of authority but the restoration of rightful authority. It’s the story of countless men and women who faced persecution on American soil for the sake of truth and freedom. Truth never needs to be forced on others, because it can never truly be defeated. And only where there is freedom can truth flourish and spread and turn the world upside down. Because, as Robert Boothe says in Preacher on the Run, the truth will hold its own.
This is his story, and ours.
My Impressions
“He says being brave isn’t always feeling brave. Sometimes it’s just doing brave things.” “He doesn’t always feel brave either, Susanna. But he still does brave things because he knows God is with him.” “Just like God is with us.”
It’s easy to forget that our country, while supposedly founded on the basis of religious freedom, also often followed in the footsteps of the continent that sent settlers here. Religious persecution and the marriage of church and state existed in many of the early colonies. With many thanks to Jayna Baas, who reminds us of this fact in her novel, Preacher on the Run.
Most of the story takes places in North Carolina, starting in 1767. We meet Pastor Robert Boothe, his family, and their church in the town of Ayen Ford. When Col. Drake, a new agent of Gov. Tryon arrives, persecution of Boothe, his church, and the Regulators(so called because they wanted to hold the government responsible for injustices) begins in earnest.
There are many compelling figures in this story. So many relationships that produce growth in each other, yet by painful rubbing. Three of these I especially appreciated were Rob Boothe and Alec, and Mitchell and Hank, and Mitchell and Rob. Underneath it all, though, was the willingness to surrender to God’s prompting, or the common denominator to fight against God’s leading.
The gospel is clearly shared and many beliefs are explained well and naturally due to the religious and political conflict present. There is a lot of suspenseful action. Topics like trusting God (completely), slavery, salvation, Holy Spirit, pride, and listening to God’s voice are discussed. I would have liked to have seen a more balanced look at the Native Americans. There were a few times I laughed out loud at a character’s antics.
I received this book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotable:
“Just take things one day at a time.” “I don’t have time for only one day at a time.” “That’s the only way they come,” Mitchell said. “Let God give you a little grace, all right? He loves doing that more than we give Him credit for.”
How can he protect her from himself when she keeps winding up in his arms?
She never gave up hope. After ten years of prayers for her husband, presumed dead in the Peninsula Wars, Abigail Emerson is shocked to discover him alive. Yet what should be the happily ever after of fairy tales becomes a nightmare when he coldly instructs her to forget she’d ever seen him. Abigail refuses to let her beloved slip through her fingers again, and she’s willing to battle for his love, despite the walls he’s created to barricade his heart.
Nicholas Emerson’s time as a spy for the War Office has left physical and mental battle wounds. He can never be the charming, carefree man he once was—the man his wife deserves—but when a threat to Abby’s life returns him to their small Midland village, keeping her safe proves more challenging than expected. If only Abby would forget him and remarry, then he wouldn’t have to face the torment of all the tender, buried feelings she evokes. The consequence of his life as a spy means he can never have her again…
Lorri Dudleyhas been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household. Find her online at www.lorridudley.com.
More from Lorri
When writing stories, I delve into research to provide the best experience for my readers, hoping to transport them to another time and setting, in this case, the lush green rolling hills of England’s Cotswolds at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. However, God had an alternative plan for me during my research and writing of Reclaiming the Spy. To prepare for the beginning scene with Mama Em, I read Glimpses of Heaven by Trudy Harris, RN. Trudy Harris was a hospice nurse and wrote about her clients in their final days. I’ve never sobbed through every book chapter quite like I had this one. At the same time, I was encouraged to hear how many of her patients heard glorious music, observed beautiful scenes, had visions of past friends or family members, witnessed angels, or even saw their Savior, Jesus Christ.
I didn’t realize that God was preparing me through my research for my dad to go into hospice care. In his final stages, my dad spoke of seeing his parents in vivid dreams, and thanks to reading about similar situations in Glimpses of Heaven, I know they were waiting to welcome him into heaven. I’m so grateful for how God readied my heart, and I was able to draw comfort in seeing how He blurs the lines of this realm and the next to make for an easier transition. God is good all the time, and I felt his presence beside me the entire way.
I’d initially titled my manuscript Love Never Fails because Abby and Nicholas struggle to learn the qualities of love from 1 Corinthians 13, “Love is patient, love is kind… love believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Nicholas’s debilitating spells and nightmares after serving as a spy in the Napoleonic Wars cause him to fear Bedlam and that he may hurt Abby. Post-traumatic stress disorder wasn’t a mental health diagnosis of the early 1800s, but it did exist. Mental hospitals (or madhouses) were frightening places where inmates were often treated like zoo animals. Spectators would come for enjoyment to stare and laugh at the men and women housed there.
While my parents didn’t have a wartime story like Abby and Nicholas, they shared a love that endured through good and bad times and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past year. The last few days my dad was alive, he sang Amazing Grace and to my mom a Doris Day song, I Love You a Bushel and a Peck. They shared a love that never failed, and that is the love I hoped to convey through Abby and Nicholas’s story.
My Impressions
“I didn’t want the world. I just wanted you.”
Set in the broader scope of Regency England, Lorri Dudley’s Reclaiming the Spy is a great novel to read on so many levels. You could read it for the romance. Will Abby and Nick ever get their conflicting, see-sawing emotions and actions on one plain?
On the marriage front, several thoughts emerge. When is enough, enough? How long do you keep hoping and praying for change? Can you assume you know how your partner will respond to your trial?
Who are the true friends? Who are the enemies? You may be surprised!
I loved that Mama Em’s words of faith often come back to Abby, even after Mama Em has passed. Our words of faith can have such power! “Now, it was Mama Em’s words that kept Abby from teetering over the edge into hopelessness. ‘Bring your questions to God. He can handle them.’”
And, our intercession for others can makes all the difference, in Heaven’s economy. “There were times when Abby hadn’t been able to pray. It had been too painful, but Mama and Katherine had prayed in her stead.” Hopefully, you have prayer-warrior friend like that!
And a thank you to Ms. Dudley. We are dealing with a ongoing, painful, family crisis. I laughed my way through the last part of the book and felt healing for my soul!!
A must-read!! I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought a copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“It’s like I told you, even when He’s silent, He’s working.”
“God hasn’t deserted you.” Her voice pleaded for understanding. “It says in His word that He will never leave you or forsake you. I used to think God had forgotten me, but I grew to realize that He was by my side pulling me though. He’s with you too.”
“Just remember…if God opens a door, no one can shut it.”
“…marriage isn’t an emotional thing. People don’t merely fall in and out of love. You make a decision to love, for better or worse. Sometimes you have to make that decision daily—sometimes it’s hourly.”
‘The success of one’s turnaround depends upon the depths of one’s desperation.’
“You aren’t responsible for your injuries, but you can be accountable for your own healing.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent!! I really loved the dependence Abby learns on the Lord and the way Abby fights for her marriage! What an example to married women!
Urgent intel warns of terrorist cells planning coordinated attacks throughout Europe. Special Agent Jacob Coulter of Brussels Interpol is assigned to find the terrorist financiers supporting these groups and shut down their funding operations.
An opera singer’s life and career hang in the balance.
The Queen of the Night’s vocal pyrotechnics have launched many a soprano’s international career. But Riley Williams, Jacob’s fiancée, is terrified of heights, and her Antwerp Opera debut as the evil queen requires her to sing from a hydraulic lift forty feet above the orchestra pit. When newspapers cite Riley’s recent unmasking of an international terrorist plot and the lift malfunctions, Jacob suspects terrorist sabotage.
He encourages Riley to accept her BFF’s invitation to stay the Savoy Hotel in London where she’ll be out of danger. Or so he thinks …
A series of murders connected to a notorious terrorist financier known as the Priest leads Jacob across Europe. When the victims’ deaths point to London, his Interpol partner convinces him London is a haven for terrorist financiers.
But the clock is ticking, and what Jacob uncovers is more devastating than anything he could have imagined.
Sara L. Jameson won Scrivenings Press’s grand prize publishing contract in 2020. They released her debut romantic suspense novel, Cruise to Death, in June 2021. Death in High Places, (Book 2 in the Troubled Waters series), releases February 28, 2023, to be followed by Vengeance in Vienna, December 17, 2023.
Sara is the pseudonym of a multi-published former university professor who writes non-fiction under her real name. She also writes WWII historical novels. When not writing, she enjoys reading, swimming, cooking, and dog-sitting.
More from Sara
God never wastes our life experiences. I never suspected my love of travel and years as a professional classical singer in Europe would lead to a romantic-suspense series. Schlepping a suitcase of opera and art-song scores on cross-country trains kept me trimmer than a gym. A few encounters with they-shall-remain-unnamed international security agencies created fodder for the Troubled Waters series. And a lead character who’s far gutsier than I.
My personal experiences often generate story events. Sigh. Even some of the embarrassing moments soprano Riley Williams endures in Cruise to Death and Death in High Places. Sadly, the blue-eyed hunk, Special Agent Jacob Coulter of Brussels Interpol, is pure fiction. Whenever possible, I visit or have lived in my novels’ locales.
Cruise to Death launches Riley’s attempts as a musical theater singer, a romance she never saw coming, and tracking terrorists. In 2019, I revisited each stop of the riverboat cruise that inspired the book.
Trips to London and stays with a friend in Sussex inspired the unsettling events in Death in High
Places, which released February 28, 2023. I’m indebted to my friend for help verifying details in key scenes. When I travel, I don’t necessarily expect a day sightseeing to morph into a life-and-death moment in a book someday. Well, not until now. Naturally, Antwerp and Burie’s Chocolatier, my favorite Belgian chocolate shop, had to feature in this story too.
I’m excited to announce Vengeance in Vienna releases December 19, 2023. The book draws on my years in Austria and a disturbing criminal element now active there, which I was made aware of in 2019.
And ideas are already flowing for book 4!
My Impressions
“Why did everyone want him to put Riles in more danger? All they cared about was the outcome. Not whom they used.”
What a hard book for me to read this week! Riley Williams, the main female protagonist of Sara Jameson’s Death in High Places, has a very scary incident involving heights and frenzied movement causing dizziness. Physical dizziness is no fun!
Neither is emotional dizziness, and it seems Riley, desperate for an opera house role, and her fiancé, Jacob Coulter, are tossed back and forth quickly as they (and Jacob’s Interpol team) attempt to determine who the terrorist financier is. How many people will die before they have answers? Before they forfeit their own lives?
I liked that Jameson shows the struggle it can be for someone in a service or protection job to make quality time for family. Would the story have been different if Jacob especially didn’t wrestle with this dilemma?
I liked the bits of humor Jameson intersperses within the romantic suspense element. “‘Try to stay calm. Help is on the way.’ Calm? She was a loose-cannon American, not a well-brought-up Brit. Next thing she knew, the woman would suggest she pour a cuppa.”
I loved the way Riley cares for her friend, Frénie. Unfortunately, Frénie doesn’t like Riley’s form of caring and the friendship flags. Which leads me to muse… just how tenacious should we be about somebody else’s choices, once we’ve shared our thoughts? Is there a time to butt out of others’ affairs?
Watching Riley consume chocolate at every opportunity almost had me gaining weight. Finally, Riley has an epiphany. “With every crisis, she’d made Jacob and chocolate her crutch. Instead of running open-armed to her heavenly Father. She pressed her fingers between her eyes, but the tears welled anyway. Dear God, please forgive me. I’ve made everything except You my God. No more. The next crisis, I’m turning to You first.”
If you enjoy mystery, suspense, romance, and relationships, you might enjoy Death in High Places.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Dealing with her was like crossing Niagara Falls blindfolded on a tightrope.”
“Tiny fingers clutched Jacob’s pinky and sucked every inch of his heart into its grasp.”
“Scary what greed and bitterness could do to a person.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent! Some very pertinent topics well-handled.
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!
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions 