It’s been one bumpy week. I haven’t been feeling great which has translated into not sleeping great which has translated into dull migraines on top of not feeling great. To cap it off, it’s the busiest week of the year with one of my clients. Unfortunately, it’s also a week that we packed a ton of extra stuff into and while I want to do the things, there is the exhausted introverted part of me that’s had enough and wants to huddle up with some good books all weekend and do nothing – and I mean nothing – but read – like from now until Sunday night bed time. Is it the end of the world? No. Do others have it worse? Of course.
Charming & Quirky
I did get sometime in between all the busyness and that’s vital – it keeps me sane. I read a few quick and easy books and this one, The Little Vintage Carousel by the Sea, written by Jaimie Admans, actually had me chuckling out loud on occasion. It’s so far-fetched and the characters are adorably awful. The book is rife with humour and awkwardness – it’s a ridiculous love-at-first sight type of tale – but it works. I was charmed by the entire thing!
Parts of it were repetitive – heavy reliance on references to a classic film and song, certain turns of phrase, internal dialogue, but overall it was exactly what I was looking for – a sweet and easy romance. It was a (mostly) cheery contemporary British love story that begins in London and takes you seaside to an over-the-top little village that you can’t help but want to visit – nosy seniors and all. It wove a historical, mysterious thread through the entire plot that was relevant to the conclusion. The title is available for pre-order now – it would make a great little holiday read. 3.5 stars from me – it wasn’t epic, but I enjoyed it!
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher and/or author via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
Published by: HQ Digital Publication Date: April 3, 2019
For those of you who migrated from my old blog by the same title (hosted elsewhere), to those who followed me even further back, you’ll know I’m a huge believer in hospitality and care, in transparency and connection. I’m also a firm believer in acts of kindness – actions speaking louder than words – and that “lifestyle evangelism” should be the base of every professed Christ-follower’s testimony. Life should be about building relationships and putting people first and love in action is a HUGE thing.
When I read the synopsis provided for blogger-turned-author Shannan Martin’s The Ministry of Ordinary Places, I was hopeful that it would “click” in a very real way and I was not disappointed. Overall, Ms. Martin presented a thought-provoking meandering memoir that felt like sitting down to chat and get real with an old friend.
It was a poignant reminder that there is a whole great big world of people craving connection right in our own backyards. Foreign mission fields and big campaigns aren’t for everyone, but in today’s society with it’s sprawl and heated differences, it can be difficult to “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) Sometimes, we get so much out of being the answer, the solution, the giver, or the one who knows best that we forget that there is experience in blessing in serving others and allowing oneself to be served. There are blessings and opportunities in all the ins and outs of our boring, everyday lives.
There is so much beautiful reflection in this book of encouragement and inspiration encouraging us to be neighbours and friends. It is not new information, just a real-life reflection on how the author was uprooted from a comfortable situation and had to find opportunities and connection in a new environment. It was non-fiction that I couldn’t put down – she spoke to my heart in an authentic lyrical way.
My only slight disappoint was that some of the stories reflected upon weren’t very “deep” or “gritty” but I pushed that aside as perhaps they weren’t the author’s stories to tell and she kept them superficial for anonymity purposes. Overall, I’d encourage you to pick up a copy of this one if you want to expand your fences, listen carefully, and learn to see opportunities in the ordinary and mundane.
Published by Thomas Nelson. Publication Date: October 9, 2018
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this title via NetGalley with thanks to the publisher and/or author. All opinions are my own.
For myself, the mark of a good novel is any novel that draws you in and leaves you feeling emotionally invested by the time you’ve read the last line. I’ve read a few books this week and while they’ve kept boredom at bay, one stood out as a “really, really good book.” It sucked me in, held me captive, and left me feeling like I found a great friend right to the very end… which sounds a little like Stockholm syndrome… but I assure you I mean it all in a positive way.
…a multi-faceted gem!
The Forgotten Secret, written by new-to-me author Kathleen McGurl, was a story that made me say, “Now that’s my kind of book!” It has a 4.22 star (out of 5) rating on Goodreads so I’m obviously not in the minority when it comes to this title. It was oh-so-perfectly suited to my reading needs.
(On a funny side note, my 11-year-old son is sitting on the couch beside me. He’s been reading “No Better Friend” as his choice for a biographical book report. He doesn’t enjoy book reports or forced reading – although he does enjoy reading, but won’t admit it. Anyhow… I digress. While he’s sitting beside me, he glances over and sees the title of my post and asks why I’m writing a book report. I explain how I’m given books to read in exchange for my opinions and that sounded a bit too much like the schoolwork he’s procrastinating about and he just couldn’t understand why I would do this. I feel like an island in this home some days…)
In The Forgotten Secret two seemingly unconnected women in different eras deal with the obstacles life has thrown at them. It’s a novel of their struggles, decades apart, on finding independence, on becoming strong and vibrant versions of themselves. We’re drawn into their stories with unique perspectives and challenges that each have to deal with, sink or swim.
The contemporary heroine, Clare, comes into an inheritance of a ramshackle Irish farmhouse, providing her with the opportunity and means to leave an abusive, manipulative marriage. Our historical heroine, Ellen, struggles with finding her way in love and loyalty as Ireland is torn apart in turmoil and civil unrest. A hidden secret in the farmhouse tie the two women together as they navigate their individual lives. A bridge is built between past and present as Clare researches further into the treasure she’s found.
Ms. McGurl does a wonderful job of negotiating the dual-timeline without leaving the reader lost. She paints vivid, colourful pictures and infuses her novels with real characters and strong emotion. She plucks the purportedly random strings of each story and weaves them all into a heartwarming tale of triumph and courage. Effortlessly, the elements between past and present intersect and we’re left with a multi-faceted gem that brings mystery, friendship, romance, and loyalty to a touching conclusion that may (or may not) have (but definitely did) leave me with tears of longing and joy. 4.5 stars from me!
I was provided with a copy of this title via Netgalley with thanks to the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Published by: HQ Digital Publication Date: March 1, 2019
Surprise, surprise… I have another book review to share. I feel like sometimes books overtake the rest of the elements of my blog (scoff… not really… I mean… books.) Seeing as reading is a huge part of who I am, I suppose that makes sense in the whole sharing glimpses of my life thing. If you’re not a reader, I’d apologize… but I’m not sorry. Please just bear with me and on occasion browse the book reviews along with my other content. You might find a title to entice you!
Just in case you were concerned, I do actually do things other than read – like work, feed my family, go for lunch, occasionally throw in a load of laundry on repeat – but books often start my day and finish my day and fill in the little cracks of free time in between. They are comfortable friends from the days of awkward childhood.
I just recently finished Rachel Hauck‘s “The Memory House.” Now, I am a fan of the author, but I like to think I provide unbiased reviews. She hit this one out of the park. As I mentioned on Instagram, it’s “…a sweet book to read… Parallel stories in different eras and filled with grace and hope. Loved it!”
This is a novel of romance (*sigh*), adversity, second-chances, hope, and redemption. It’s sweet, it’s occasionally funny, and it’s told from different character’s perspectives in different eras – without being a confusing mess! (I loved Everleigh’s story… absolutely loved it.)
The characters are flawed and struggle with life, faith, family, what have you… but they persevere. They break. They mend. They find their way again and stumble upon love and acceptance while they’re at it. They’re far from perfect – their humanity was refreshing – but they don’t let their weakness or loss completely define them even as it refines them.
This descriptive, heartwarming fiction blends historical and contemporary intertwining tales in the sweetest way. I had a hard time putting it down because of the “heart” invested in the read. Bonus points for the beautifully-depicted home central to the plot. This tale gave me “all the feels.”
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Publisher by Thomas Nelson. Publication date: April 2, 2019
I meal planned this week… and not a single meal went to plan so far. We’re going with it. Monday, Kev brought home samosas that we paired with spring rolls. Last night, he decided to pick up pizza. Tonight, I prepared dinner for 20 teens that I had conveniently thought I didn’t have to do for another few weeks. (Meatball subs using frozen meatballs for the win… I mean, I did heat up the meatballs first.) I have a few meatballs in sauce left… so tomorrow night won’t go according to plan either. Whatever. We have food in our bellies and extra supplies for next week. Not a big deal.
My boys are finally home again and I’m so happy! Do parents feel like this when their kids are my age (30-something…) and decide to pop in for a visit? Do you ever lose the excitement of your kids coming “home” if you haven’t seen them in awhile? Asking for a friend… Just so you know how much they missed me, while I was in the middle row of the van my mom was driving to go visit my niece yesterday, both boys took off their shoes and put their disgusting smelly socked feet in my face. So yeah… I feel loved and cherished.
While the munchkins were gone, I read ALL. THE. BOOKS. (Not really… but I put a good dent in my NetGalley to-be-read pile and have to catch up with all the reviews.) One such title was Simon Brett’s “The Liar in the Library.”
Unwittingly, when I requested the title, I was not aware that it was the 18th book in the Feathering Mystery series. It didn’t make a huge impact – I could figure out who characters were and what was going on without having to dig up 17 previous titles. But really, who starts reading a new series at Book 18? Something about that bothers me… I have my issues.
It was a classic Whodunnit, throwing one of the key protagonists into the spotlight of suspicion. I wasn’t blown away by the mystery or the writing, but it was a cozy piece of crime fiction set in a quaint British seaside community with not entirely loveable characters.
Again… this novel was of those titles that’s just a midpoint rating from me. It was easy to read and a good little escape, but didn’t leave any particular strong feelings or impressions one way or another.
A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
When a publishing assistant at Agora Books reached out to me in January to ask if I’d be interested in reading the re-release of Two Silver Crosses, originally published in 1992, written by the talented Beryl Kingston and being a part of a Blog Tour, my immediate reply was, “Thanks for the opportunity” and I was, of course, sure to include my mailing address. Thus, the journey of a big beautiful book across the Atlantic into my greedy little hands most welcoming arms. When I finally sat down to immerse myself in this title, I found another historical gem.
Here’s a synopsis of the book straight from the publisher’s press release:
Another historical gem…
“‘Nobody is to know where we are. You must forget England. That part of your lives is over.’
Twins Ginny and Emily Holborn have everything they could ever need in their Wolverhampton home: a loving family, a garden to play in and a staff waiting to attend to their every need. Until, one summer day in 1926, they disappear without a trace.
Ten years later, bright-eyed solicitor Charlie Commoner is given his first job: track down the still-missing Holborn twins. Despatched to France, he’s left to unravel a web of infidelity, mystery, and terrifying family secrets.”
My thoughts on the novel are positive. It was not a short tale, nor was it fast moving – it was an actual commitment to read – no casual one-night encounter here. However, it didn’t need to be fast-paced and it would have lost so much vital content if it had been shorter. It wasn’t fluffy at all, but had depths of emotion and detailed environs.
Ms. Kingston does a remarkable job of transporting the reader back in time and place with her vivid, descriptive prose. Her characters are well-developed and thoroughly charming, flawed, and enjoyable – with the exception of her antagonists- they are still well-done, but utterly detestable. The book as a whole is warm and moving – a true tale of overcoming adversity and self-discovery.
I will say that I was surprised (within the first chapter) at the depth and content of the family secrets. They were not what I was expecting and the author did a remarkable job of ensuring that it influenced every part of the book. And, yes, while I know I was reading fiction, I was angered on the twins’ behalf that societal norms dictated such a lack of education and awareness of certain matters and that society itself was so harsh. Very much a sins of the father (mother) theme going on.
Overall, I was thrilled by the novel and impressed anew at how well the author captures a different era. It was enjoyable, emotional, and even educational, I would say. Gripping pre-WW2 fiction done absolutely right.
The Talented Ms. Kingston
Beryl Kingston is the author of 30 novels with over a million copies sold. She has been a writer since she was 7 when she started producing poetry. She was evacuated to Felpham at the start of WWII, igniting an interest in one-time resident poet William Blake which later inspired her novel The Gates of Paradise. She was an English teacher from 1952 until 1985 when she became a full-time writer after her debut novel, Hearts and Farthings, became a bestseller. Kingston continued writing bestsellers for the next 14 years with titles ranging from family sagas to modern stories and historical novels. She currently lives in West Sussex and has three children, five grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
If you’d like to catch thoughts on this title from the first Blog Tour stop, head over to Wrong Side of Forty and the second stop at Buttercup Book Review. For the next stops on our tour, visit Books in Their Natural Habitat tomorrow, and both Love Books Group andDebra’s Book Cafe on the 21st. Pick up a copy of this title for yourself and use the hashtag #TwoSilverCrosses when sharing your thoughts on social media. Also, make sure you tag the publisher – @AgoraBooksLDN on Twitter and Instagram – so they can see and share anything you post!
My thanks again to Agora Books and Beryl Kingston for the opportunity to read this title, share my review, and be a part of the tour.
I recently completed a book that completely intrigued me – a historical thriller – that left me feeling like I needed a bath when I was done because it was so descriptive in the seedy, unhygienic, poverty-ridden world of late 1700s Sweden setting. Afterwards, I felt a craving for something decadently sweet to read to tilt my scales back to normal.
Marie Bostwick, bestselling author of uplifting historical and contemporary fiction, with a Macomber-esque flavour to her writing, is a new-to-me author. Her heartwarming novel, Hope on the Inside (a play on words), hit completely opposite on the feel-o-meter and left me all warm and fuzzy when I hit the final page. Sweet, sincere, redemptive, inspiring… I could go on-and-on, but this title hit all those boxes.
Decadently Sweet
The synopsis of the story is that our heroine is facing some unexpected challenges in a mid-life crises type of situation. After supporting her husband’s career and subsequently raising her kids, she’s the mom all the neighbourhood kids loved and can tackle any craft like she’s Martha Stewart. Having to find a new employment position, she stumbles upon a chance connection and winds up with a new position teaching a home-ec/craft class at the local women’s prison. Issues, of course, arise, but positivity and perseverance save the day and at the conclusion, everyone is living happily-ever-after.
This was not deep, thought provoking fiction by any means. It was, however, charming and easy-to-read, dare I say even inspiring, despite its triteness. It’s a story that’s been told a million times before, but it had its own unique spin and was quite the enjoyable page-turner.
I was provided with an advance copy of this title via NetGalley with thanks to the publisher and/or author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publisher: Kensington Books Publication Date: March 26, 2019
While a warm and fuzzy historical romance will always be my first pick for escapism when it comes to books, a close second is a fast-paced thriller or mystery and Colleen Coble always delivers in that genre. I’ve read a number of her titles in the past and find them enthralling and still manage to sleep at night. Win-win.
Drama & Suspense With A Good Dose of Romance
Secrets at Cedar Cabin is the third release in the Lavender Tides series and I read it as a standalone a few weeks ago without any issue. (I’m a little behind in posting my reviews… life has been a little hectic lately. Reading is a must. Reviewing was shelved.) This contemporary novel is rife with drama and suspense while focusing on human trafficking and the sex trade.
Of course, romance is entwined with all the excitement and the good guys win in the end. (If only real life were so tidy.) The whirlwind mystery left me guessing until (almost) the end. Likeable, flawed characters. Family secrets. Descriptive settings. Some kick-butt scenes. It has it all.
Coble is a Christian author and as such, her books are clean as far as content, but theme’s are still adult. I don’t find the faith aspect overdone, but appreciate the struggles and humanity of the characters. Easy to read and not too graphic – but still intriguing and sometimes infuriating – it was an entertaining book overall.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from ThomasNelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Publication Date: 22 Jan 2019 Publisher: Thomas Nelson
I am one who finds it fabulous when I get my 10-12 thousand steps in a day. I enjoy a day at the lake with a fishing rod nearby, but most often with a book in hand. Kayaking and canoeing are enjoyable when I’m a few feet from shore and the water is glass without a cloud in the sky. I am not an adventurer and readily admit that I enjoy my comforts and the calm of my home. The rugged Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and even the Yukon are places I like to visit through pages and pictures, but would not want to conquer on my own.
I realise that 2019 is still in its first quarter, and I’ve read some really excellent books so far, but The Sun Is a Compass by Caroline Van Hemertis my most favourite read in a very long time. My poor family members had to listen to me narrate what was happening any time something caught my fancy. It’s not often that a memoir captures my attention and reads better than fiction. It is, as described by the publisher, “…the gripping story of a biologist’s human-powered journey from the Pacific Northwest to the Arctic to rediscover her love of birds, nature, and adventure.”
The well written first-person narrative captured my attention from the opening paragraph and kept me in its grip until the very last sentence. A descriptive, relatable text chronicling human nature vs. Mother Nature. It was an incredibly beautiful tale of human endurance and a reminder of how small we are in the vastness of the wilderness. Inspiring and humbling all at once, I cannot recommend this title enough. It was a brilliant blending of insight and observation.
If you are looking for a book to point out that you are quite satisfied in your semi-rural, daily grind existence, this is it. If you enjoy living vicariously through the adventures of other individuals, this is it. If you find courage in tales of human vs. wild, this is it. If you find motivation in accomplishment and beating the odds, this is it. If you want to find yourself lost in a recounting of someone finding themselves in living and travelling by their own power through remote and austere environs, this is it. Colourful, descriptive, and moving. Absolutely brilliant – I have huge respect for the adventurer and her husband and how well she retold their story. I felt a strange sense of pride in their accomplishment.
(P.S. I’m not a huge fan of book to movie renditions, but I could vividly imagine this on the big screen with every new page.)
I was provided with a copy of this title via NetGalley courtesy of the author and/or publisher. All opinions are my own.
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Publication Date: March 19, 2019
I shared a link to this organization on my Facebook page a few weeks ago after briefly exploring the digital copy of the book I was provided. I actually requested the title on a whim – and I’m so glad I did! I enjoyed the preview of the digital Hope Blooms copy so much that I ordered a physical, actual book to hold in my hands the same day. (You may recognize some faces and names from their pitch on Dragon’s Den – just a small step in their story.)
While tackling many of the same issues of yesterday’s book review – social inequity, poverty, diversity, etc. – this non-fiction work chronicles the hope that’s been found in North End Halifax through gardening. The Hope Blooms organization’s history and impact are chronicled in a beautifully written portrayal of community, mentorship, and team-work providing ways to overcome food insecurity, health issues, and socio-economic imbalance.
This was a book that moved me to tears – it’s not a difficult read and it’s not a long read. It’s replete with photographs of the youth involved in the venture and filled to the brim with stories of hope, promise, and foundations laid for a better future. It is a tale of education, social enterprise, equipping, growth, victory, and success. It’s a story of a group of someones seeing the potential, the dream, and doing what is needed to not only better their own lives but the lives of those around them. It’s a success story of inclusion, equality, empowerment, and social enterprise. It is a reminder that from a small seed comes a big harvest. A definite must-read – especially for Canadians and those who want to impact their youth and their community. (Bonus, the recipes included look delightful. We’ll try the jerk fish tacos one day!)
Now to plan a visit Halifax to get my hands on some of those dressings… (that’s a long way to go for some salad dressing!)
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this title via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
Life Love Laughter Linds 