4.7 stars (5/10 hearts). Alan Douglas is the minister at Rexton, and he loves the seashore nearby. One day on a solitary ramble he meets beautiful, my4.7 stars (5/10 hearts). Alan Douglas is the minister at Rexton, and he loves the seashore nearby. One day on a solitary ramble he meets beautiful, mysterious, chilly Lynde Oliver. A chance rescue introduces him to her suave scamp of a father, and from then on their friendship grows until out a clear blue sky, various trials reveal their love and the impossibility of a romance…
This is one of Montgomery’s tales that just fascinates you. It’s quite long, but the setting is wonderful and the story itself is just... fascinating. I love Lynde and Alan is such a nice fellow, and the twists don’t stop coming! Some of the story was later used in Leslie’s story in Anne’s House of Dreams, and I believe the rescue scene was repurposed in Emily of New Moon? Anyways, it’s splendid and so much fun.
3 stars. Anna Williams’s practically engaged to Gilbert Murray, but he’s gone off west, and Anna has no intention of waiting for him—or marrying him, 3 stars. Anna Williams’s practically engaged to Gilbert Murray, but he’s gone off west, and Anna has no intention of waiting for him—or marrying him, either. Alma can’t bear to believe it’s true, so to keep Gilbert’s love fresh she writes him letters under Anna’s name. Then Anna does the unthinkable and marries Charlie Moore…
Well, Anna saddened me. And Alma’s deception wasn’t right. It all turned out well, though… an interesting story, but not my favourite.
4 étoiles. J'ai commencé cette série avec tome 3, ne sachant que C'ÉTAIT une série. (Pourquoi les livres français ne notent-ils pas souvent la série s4 étoiles. J'ai commencé cette série avec tome 3, ne sachant que C'ÉTAIT une série. (Pourquoi les livres français ne notent-ils pas souvent la série sur le dos/la couverture ??) C'était amusant de découvrir enfin le début de l’Escouade 06 !
Alex et Caroline sont des enfants sympas et la famille d'Alex est… intéressante. Ce ne sont certes pas des modèles mais ils ne sont pas affreux non plus… ? J'espère cependant que F. changera un peu après tout ceci et que M. B apprendra à se prendre moins au sérieux… et que Mme B écoutera un peu plus ses enfants ! Le sergent Raymond Q. est également un gars sympa, et même si j'ai soupçonné l'un des méchants dès le début, ils n'étaient pas ce à quoi je m'attendais – et le héros final non plus !
L'intrigue était simple mais intéressante. Il n’y a pas eu autant de recherches que dans Sous le Pont Jacques-Cartier mais c’est compréhensible. Le point culminant est étonnamment rapide mais pas trop précipité. Dans l’ensemble, c’est un bon roman québécois pour ados et j’attends avec impatience le tome 2.
Contenu : Quelques mentions de baisers sur les joues ; le méchant attache Caroline au-dessus d'Alex et fait une blague grossière.
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4 stars. I started this series with book 3, not being aware that it WAS a series. (Why don’t French books often note the series on the spine/cover??) It was fun to finally discover the beginning of Escouade 06!
Alex & Caroline are nice kids, and Alex’s family is… interesting. They’re certainly not role-models but they’re not awful either…? I hope F. changes a little after this, though, and Mr. B. should learn to take himself less seriously… and Mrs. B. to listen a little more to her kids! Sgt. Raymond Q. is a nice fellow, too, and while I suspected one of the villains early on, they weren’t what I expected—and neither was the final hero!
The plot was simple but interesting. There wasn’t so much sleuthing as in Sous le Pont Jacques-Cartier but that’s understandable. The climax is surprisingly quick but not too rushed. Overall it’s a solid quebecois novel for teens and I look forwards to book 2.
Content: A few mentions of cheek kisses; the villain ties Caroline on top of Alex and makes a rude joke....more
5 étoiles. D'accord, c'était la façon parfaite de terminer la série ! J'ai beaucoup apprécié la narration de M. Gaston, et voir mes principaux personn5 étoiles. D'accord, c'était la façon parfaite de terminer la série ! J'ai beaucoup apprécié la narration de M. Gaston, et voir mes principaux personnages préférés des 3 tomes précédents (Manouche, J.-P. et Raymond) réunis. C’était tellement agréable de faire la connaissance des parents de Caroline – qui sont tout simplement géniaux – même si j’aurais aimé que les parents d’Alex soient un peu plus présents.
Le mystère était super complexe, mais tellement amusant et excitant et pour une fois bien tracé et expliqué ! Le petit détective, E-chose, a apporté tellement d'humour et les méchants étaient super intéressants et dans certains cas inattendus. Je suis vraiment désolé pour M., mais lui + E. ont tellement ajouté à l'histoire…. J'ai même apprécié une partie de l'écriture – il y avait des passages vraiment humoristiques et j'ai adoré l'article sur le cheval de calèche. Certainement 5/5 de ma part, un plaisir pur et total. :)
Contenu : Violence légère (quelqu'un est battu à mort hors écran); A & C se font des mamours.
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5 stars. Okay, this was a perfect way to finish the series! I really enjoyed the narration of M. Gaston, and seeing my favourite principle characters from the 3 previous books (Manouche, J.-P., and Raymond) brought all together. It was so nice getting to know Caroline’s parents—who are just awesome—though I wish Alex’s parents had featured just a bit more.
The mystery was super complex, but to was so fun and exciting and for once well plotted and explained! The little detective, E-whatshisface, brought in SO much humour and the villains were super interesting and in some cases unexpected. I feel so sorry for M., but he + E. added so much to the story…. I even enjoyed some of the writing—there were some really humorous bits and I loved the piece about the carriage horse. Definitely 5/5 from me, a pure and total enjoyment. :)
Content: Mild violence (someone gets beaten to death off-screen); canoodling between A&C....more
3.5 étoiles (3/10 cœurs). Au début, j'aimais beaucoup ce livre et j'aurais aimé lui donner une note plus élevée, mais j'ai trouvé la fin quelque peu d3.5 étoiles (3/10 cœurs). Au début, j'aimais beaucoup ce livre et j'aurais aimé lui donner une note plus élevée, mais j'ai trouvé la fin quelque peu décevante. J'ai bien aimé les personnages. Alex et Caroline étaient tous deux des jeunes sympas et avaient de bonnes personnalités. J'aimais beaucoup Martine aussi, et Manouche était tout simplement pathétiquement mignon ; les parents étaient gentils. Presque tout les autres je n’ai pas trop aimé. Je ne détestais pas Elisabeth mais elle était attristante ; les méchants étaient, eh bien, méchants ; et je n’ai pas aimé non plus le détective (qui a littéralement tabassé le professeur d’art ?? pourquoi, je n’en ai aucune idée ???). Mais j’aimais bien le pauvre vieil oncle…
Et cela nous amène au décor. J’ai choisi ce livre délibérément parce qu’il se déroule à Montréal mais PAS en Nouvelle-France (comme c’est unique !). J'aime aussi le pont J.C. et, bien sûr, ayant grandi à Montréal pendant un certain temps, j'étais curieux d'en savoir plus sur la ville d'un point de vue contemporain et non historique. J'ai découvert plus tard que les personnages principaux étaient originaires de St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, près de chez moi maintenant, donc un lien supplémentaire intéressant pour moi !
J'ai aussi choisi ce livre car il promettait du mystère et du suspense, qui a été bien livré. J'étais assez perplexe et extrêmement intrigué tout au long de l’histoire. Le style d’écriture était plus simple et clair que celui auquel je suis habitué dans les livres français, ce que j’ai apprécié, mais j’ai trouvé qu’il manquait parfois de clarté. Il y avait beaucoup de va-et-vient sur la chronologie, ce qui était acceptable si les choses étaient claires, mais déroutant sinon ; certaines choses étaient très mal et brièvement expliquées tandis que d'autres étaient récapitulées à maintes reprises ; les conclusions des personnages sur le mystère étaient parfois assez soudaines (comme Caroline insistant sur le fait que le frère était l'homme qui avait tenté de l'écraser, alors qu'elle le voyait à peine) ; et finalement, toute l'aventure s'est soudainement arrêtée à la fin et tout s'est terminé avec le détective expliquant tout le dénouement que nous n'avons pas eu l'occasion de voir ! Il a également expliqué les différents aspects du mystère et j'ai trouvé cela très insatisfaisant ; peu de mes questions ont reçu une réponse et celles qui l’étaient n’ont pas été expliquées suffisamment clairement ou suffisamment profondément.
Il s'avère qu'il s'agit du tome 3 d'une série (pourquoi cela n'est pas noté sur la couverture, je ne sais pas) et certains éléments ont été référencés dans les tomes 1 et 2, mais seulement quelques-uns, donc cela peut certainement être lu comme un livre autonome. Et malgré ma déception à la fin, j’ai suffisamment apprécié l’histoire pour aller chercher les tomes précédents. Aussi, j’ai apprécié la façon positive dont la police était présentée.
Dans l’ensemble, c’est un mystère approprié, passionnant et entièrement québécois.
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3.5 stars (3/10 hearts). I started out quite liking this book, and would have liked to give it a higher rating, but I found the ending somewhat disappointing. I quite liked the characters. Alex & Caroline were both nice kids and had good personalities. I really liked Martine, too, and Manouche was just pathetically cute somehow, the parents were nice. Pretty much everyone else was not my favourite. I didn’t hate Elisabeth but she was saddening; the bad guys were, well, bad; I didn’t like either the detective (who literally beat up the art professor?? why, I have no idea???). I did really like the poor old uncle, though…
And that leads us to the setting. I picked up this book purposefully because it’s set in Montréal but NOT during New France (how unique!). I also love the J.C. bridge, and of course being raised in Montréal for a time, I was curious to read about the city from a contemporary and not historical perspective. I later discovered the main characters are from St.-Jean-sur-Richelieu, near where I now live, so an additional interesting link for me!
I also picked up this book because it promised mystery and suspense, which was well delivered. I was quite puzzled and hugely intrigued the whole book through. The writing style was more simple and clear than I’m used to in French books, which I appreciated, but I did find that it was lacking sometimes in clarity. There was a lot of hopping back and forth on the timeline, which was okay if things were clear, but confusing otherwise; some things were very poorly and briefly explained while others were recapped over and over; characters’ conclusions about the mystery were sometimes rather sudden (like Caroline insisting the clergyman was the guy who tried to run her over, when she barely saw him); and finally, the whole adventure was suddenly drooped at the end and it all wound up with the detective explaining the whole dénouement that we didn’t get to see! He also explained the various aspects of the mystery and I found it very unsatisfying; few of my questions were answered and those that were, weren’t explained clearly or deeply enough.
It turns out that this is book 3 in a series (why that isn’t noted on the cover, I don’t know) and some stuff was referenced from books 1-2, but only a handful, so this can definitely be read as a standalone. And despite my disappointment at the end, I enjoyed the story enough that I’m checking out the previous books. Also, I appreciated the positive way in which the police was presented.
Overall, it’s a clean, exciting mystery, and fully Québécois....more
4 stars. When Elizabeth married a ne’er-do-well against all advice, her siblings refused to have anything to do with her for years. But over time, Geo4 stars. When Elizabeth married a ne’er-do-well against all advice, her siblings refused to have anything to do with her for years. But over time, George, Ellen, and Charlotte relented and wrote to Elizabeth to lend one of her children for the summer. Yet Paul still will not have anything to do with Elizabeth’s child…
I think Montgomery has a thing for writing about estranged family, and specially having nieces win over stubborn old uncles. Worth is amazing and her relationship with Paul is just so sweet and funny. It’s a delightful, heartwarming tale!...more
3.7 stars (4/10 hearts). Poor Marguerite Forrester lives a dull, drab life under the tyranny of her severe old aunt who contrives to make even vacatio3.7 stars (4/10 hearts). Poor Marguerite Forrester lives a dull, drab life under the tyranny of her severe old aunt who contrives to make even vacation miserable. Aunt Martha hates many things, but specifically men… which makes life interesting when the brother of a school chum shows up.
Okay, so of course I don't agree with the whole clandestine-wooing part, but Aunt Martha was ridiculous and wrong, and Marguerite (who reminds me of Pauline from Anne of Windy Poplars) was never really happy with the underhand part and admitted it at once. Barring that, it’s such a cute, funny, sweet little rom-com, very clean and summery, and I can’t help loving Francis Shelmardine. ;) Also the setting!!...more
3 étoiles. C’est un bon point de depart pour enseigner l’histoire au tout-petits. C’est pas fabuleux, mais c’est correct. C’est aussi pas tres memorab3 étoiles. C’est un bon point de depart pour enseigner l’histoire au tout-petits. C’est pas fabuleux, mais c’est correct. C’est aussi pas tres memorable; je ne me rappelle de rien sauf qu’au tout debut, ils expliquent les siècles (XVe = 1400s, etc).
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3 stars. This is a good starting point for teaching history to toddlers. It's not fabulous, but it's okay. It’s also not very memorable; I don't remember anything except that at the very beginning, they explain the centuries (15th = 1400s, etc.)....more
5 étoiles. Super joli livre sur les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, écrit dans de beaux vers libres lyriques, avec de illustrations bien jolies. Il y avait tell5 étoiles. Super joli livre sur les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, écrit dans de beaux vers libres lyriques, avec de illustrations bien jolies. Il y avait tellement d’amour, d’émerveillement et de souvenirs heureux entre ces couvertures !
Contient quelques illustrations de personnes en maillot de bain
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5 stars. Super pretty book about the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, written in beautiful, lyrical free verse, with very nice illustrations. There was so much love and wonder and happy memory between these covers!
Content: a few illustrations of people in bathing suits...more
5 étoiles. C'était un si beau, un très beau livre, contenant les souvenirs de diverses personnes âgées du Québec, avec des portraits en pleine page de5 étoiles. C'était un si beau, un très beau livre, contenant les souvenirs de diverses personnes âgées du Québec, avec des portraits en pleine page de plusieurs des gens. Tout était en vers libres, très bien écrit, et m'émouvait presque aux larmes par moments… Quelle belle façon de préserver et de célébrer le Québec d’antan et la vie de ceux qui l'ont vécu, ainsi que les nouveaux arrivants sur nos rivages et leurs histoires !
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5 stars. This was such a beautiful, beautiful book, containing the memories of various older folks from Québec, with full-page portraits of several of the speakers. It was all in free verse, very well written, and almost moved me to tears at times… What a beautiful way to preserve Old Québéc and the lives of those who lived therein, as well as the newcomers to our shores and their stories!...more
3 étoiles. Je pense que je suis un peu trop vielle pour ce livre. C’est plutôt simple dans son style et son histoire, même s’il y a eu des moments int3 étoiles. Je pense que je suis un peu trop vielle pour ce livre. C’est plutôt simple dans son style et son histoire, même s’il y a eu des moments intéressants. Noonah et sa famille étaient plutôt sympa, même si j'en ai assez du refrain constant du « Je suis une fille mais je vais prouver que je suis aussi bonne qu'un garçon et m'assurer que mon père ne souhaite pas en avoir un. » Ce ne serait pas si agaçant si ce n’était pas aussi répandu en littérature ! C’est devenu un cliché à ce stade. Au moins ce n’était pas une grande partie du livre. J'apprécie surtout les détails de la vie des Inuits et du Nord. Cela faisait vraiment ressortir toute la beauté de cet endroit étrange et difficile.
Contient beaucoup de croyances et de spiritualisme inuites, dont les sorciers, la réincarnation, etc.
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3 stars. I think I am a little too old for this book. It’s rather simple in style and story, though it had its interesting moments. Noonah and her family were quite nice—though I’m getting tired of the constant refrain of “I’m a girl but imma prove I’m as good as a boy and make sure my father doesn’t wish he had one.” It wouldn’t be so aggravating if it wasn’t so prevalent in literature! It’s gotten to be a cliché at this point. Still, it wasn’t a huge part of the book. Mostly I appreciate the details of Inuit and Northern life. It really brought out all the beauty of that strange, difficult place.
Content: lots of inuit beliefs and spiritualism, including sorcerers, reincarnation, etc....more
3.5 stars (3/10 hearts). I remember that I’ve always been rather fascinated by this story. It’s the only one of Montgomery’s that includes the NWMP (t3.5 stars (3/10 hearts). I remember that I’ve always been rather fascinated by this story. It’s the only one of Montgomery’s that includes the NWMP (that I recall), so of course that had my appreciation right there. ;) But I’m also fascinated by the story of the society belle and the lonely government man who never loved anyone in his life… and I’m very interested by their courtship. I liked John, too… he was a good man, I think. And the slight fun poked at the Major’s wife is amusing. ;)
Content: contains some racism (derogatory comments towards Native women)....more
3.5 stars (3/10 hearts). It’s not my favourite Montgomery story, but I still enjoy it. It’s saddening to think of how much time and happiness Dosia an3.5 stars (3/10 hearts). It’s not my favourite Montgomery story, but I still enjoy it. It’s saddening to think of how much time and happiness Dosia and Wesley wasted, but I appreciate the moral. And stories of time passing always fascinate me somehow…...more
4 stars. This is a small but sweet story with such a good ending. A couple of mean college girls decide to “snub” a classmate because she dresses poor4 stars. This is a small but sweet story with such a good ending. A couple of mean college girls decide to “snub” a classmate because she dresses poorly and boards herself, and hit upon the brilliant plan of embarrassing her by sending her a prom invitation by the handsomest, richest young man in college… and the ending is such as nobody suspects.
I loved Grace! She’s such a bright, plucky, inspirational thing. Sidney was a perfect gentleman, and his family was just lovely. I rather wish Edna & Co. had got a better lesson, though. But the open ending is perfect…...more
3.5 stars (3/10 hearts). I love Montgomery’s rueful, sly humorous stories, and this was one of them. It’s also one of Montgomery’s comedic romances, a3.5 stars (3/10 hearts). I love Montgomery’s rueful, sly humorous stories, and this was one of them. It’s also one of Montgomery’s comedic romances, and it didn’t quite go as I expected at first! Our hero’s discomfiture by Gussie’s perfection is amusing, as was the enemies-at-first-sight-and-right-to-the-end relationship. And I loved the country setting! The subtle plot and the fun characters were really enjoyable and I chuckled several times. ;)...more
4 étoiles. J'ai emprunté ce livre à la bibliothèque parce que je connais très peu les actions des Québécois pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, même s4 étoiles. J'ai emprunté ce livre à la bibliothèque parce que je connais très peu les actions des Québécois pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, même si j’en suis passionnée. J'ai vraiment aimé ce livre – ou peut-être que « apprécié » est un meilleur terme. C'était un peu trop lourd pour aimer, car la tragédie était à l'ordre du jour pour la plupart des hommes. J'étais reconnaissante d'entendre leurs histoires nombreuses et variées, avec leurs familles, leurs personnalités, leurs expériences et leurs fins tristes et encourageantes. J'ai également apprécié la façon dont l'auteur parlait beaucoup des personnes laissées à la maison, principalement les épouses et les mères. Une chose avec laquelle j'ai eu du mal, c'est qu'il semblait y avoir beaucoup d'amertume dans le livre – une amertume principalement contre le gouvernement, l'armée anglaise et Dieu. Mais même si je ne suis peut-être pas d'accord avec l'auteur sur tout, j'ai apprécié la façon dont il a souligné le coût énorme de la guerre – quelque chose que les livres sur la Seconde Guerre mondiale ont tendance à passer sous silence en faveur du culte des héros – et les « zones grises » de la vie, ainsi que l’effacement de ces hommes de la mémoire et de l’histoire. Il m'a fallu du temps pour finir, mais cela m'a beaucoup marqué, et j'espère que je le relirai. Je ne pense pas que ceci soit une bonne critique – il y a trop de choses à résumer ici – mais je pense que c'est quelque chose que tous les Québécois devraient lire, honnêtement, parce que nous ne pouvons pas oublier nos propres hommes, peu importe ce que fait le reste du monde.
Âge recommandé : 17 ans sauf modification
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4 stars. I picked this book up at the library because I know very little about Québécois actions in WWII, despite being a WWII buff. I really enjoyed the book—or perhaps “appreciated” is a better term. It was rather too heavy for enjoyment, for tragedy was the order of the day for most of the men. I was grateful to hear their many and varied stories, with their families, personalities, experiences, and outcomes, both sad and encouraging. I also appreciated how the author talked a good bit about the people left behind at home, mainly wives and mothers. One thing I struggled with was that there seemed to be a good deal of bitterness in the book—bitterness mostly against the government and the English army, and God. But though I may not agree with the author in everything, I did appreciate how he highlighted the enormous cost of war—something WWII books tend to gloss over in favour of hero-worship—and the “greyness” of life, as well as the erasing of these men from memory and history. It took me a while to get through this, but it quite marked me, and I hope I read it again. I don’t think this is a good review—there’s too much of the book to sum up here—but I think it’s something all Québécois should read, honestly, because we can’t forget our own men, regardless of what the rest of the world does.
5+ stars (8/10 hearts). I haven’t cried this hard over a book since I was a teenager reading A Place Called Lonesome. And yet I was so, so happy. 5+ stars (8/10 hearts). I haven’t cried this hard over a book since I was a teenager reading A Place Called Lonesome. And yet I was so, so happy.
How do I even review this? It's so amazing. I adore Chelsea Burden's writing style. I love the gentle humour and poignant, gorgeous writing... and I have rarely read a better written (view spoiler)[death scene (hide spoiler)]. Nathan & Cherish are wonderful characters—so spiritual, yet both realistic and human. Cherish is such a model, and as for Nathan, I aspire to be as in tune with the Lord and His heart and will! Their friends are all wise and lovely, and Cherish’s bestie is such a fun, fun girl… and Erstin broke my heart…
The plot was gripping—simple and slice-of-life, but mix in life-ending diagnoses, and all that they entail through the last few months... plus all the back-and-forth on miracles and healing... and you just can't put the book down till you know what happens. And the romance. It was was very, very sweet, so beautiful and sacrificing and noble and deep!!
Yes, all this was delightful—but that wasn’t, fully, the focus of the novel.
The focus was the message. The beautiful, heart-wrenching, liberating message—that tomorrow isn’t promised… and all that this entails. I needed that right now. When I, myself, am stuck at a waiting point… unsatisfied with my life… finding my hopes and dreams unfulfilled… trying to seek the Father’s will and abide in Him… Oh, how can I cover what this book’s message really was? It’s so deep, so true, so splendid. Life is so tragic, but so beautiful; so hard, but so rewarding. God asks so much of us, but He gives so much, and He makes everything so very, very worth it. Our cameo in His story is brief, but the overall tale is so wondrous and perfect!
I find this review very dissatisfactory… I can’t express the depths and beauty of this novel well enough. It had me gripped until the very end, unsure of what would happen; it broke my heart and stitched it gently back together; it broadened my mind, it filled my soul with reverence and aspiration… It is a good story, but above all, it is a much-needed reminder.
*Quotes to come upon reread. I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*...more
**Featured on the historic fiction podcast The Gibson Girl Review! Listen as my cohost Amy Drown & I discuss this novel at https://www.gibsongirlrevie**Featured on the historic fiction podcast The Gibson Girl Review! Listen as my cohost Amy Drown & I discuss this novel at https://www.gibsongirlreview.com/seas...**
3.5 stars (4/10 hearts). I started out really liking this book. It began with a bang and didn’t stop going. I loved the bit of mystery and suspense that ran almost all the way through, and how when one mystery was explained another arose. I enjoyed the characters so much—Katharine and Jervis are both awesome—and I loved how it portrayed Canada in the late 1800s, showing how much—or rather how little—it was settled, the struggles pioneers faced, and the strong ties to England. That’s not a side of Canada that’s explored very much. It reminded me somewhat of Catharine Parr Traill and Susanna Moodie, and I appreciated it.
I discovered after that the author, Bessie Marchant, is considered “the girls’ G.A. Henty.” As a lifelong fan of G.A. Henty, I can definitely see the similarities. It’s more feminine, unsurprisingly, but you have the same perfect heroines who are daring and womanly and a little more than human in how perfect they always are, you have the excitement and the “all turns out well in the end,” you have the unrealisticness because the author never visited the countries they wrote of and relied on second- or third-hand information, you have the ones who love each other finally getting together, and you have a hefty load of “England is the best forever, and everyone else is a bit less great.”
All that said, I loved the characters. Katherine was such a nice heroine—very strong and feminine, with a great character and plenty of strengths to be emulated. I know I mentioned that something about how she’s a little more than human, but personally I didn’t mind, I thought she was very well developed and I found her very inspiring. And I was surprised by how strong and hardworking Katherine was! She works A LOT and she works HARD, which is rather unusual for books of this era. Her sister Nellie was a bit more of a frustration to me because I saw a lot of my own personality in her and I felt that the author and the other characters were often dismissive to her. But her brothers Miles and Phil were both very enjoyable characters—very well developed too, and quite amusing. And her father, ’Duke, was very interesting—his character was quite intriguing and his illness was unique. I also liked Mr. Selincourt a lot. And I ended up liking Mary. The other characters were also well done—Oily Dave was so fun to hate on—and Jervis was a great hero. I admit towards the end I started to get a little annoyed that it was always HER saving HIM, because I felt like the surprise and freshness of that plot device was wearing off. I’d have loved to see him rescue her at some point. But I did still enjoy all of the rescue scenes, and how they really showcased their characters—how Katherine is quick and practical, and Jervis is very calm and thoughtful.
I was surprised, though, with how the other village folk were presented. Everyone was sloppy or stupid in some way, which made a very interesting dynamic, and also made it hard for me to remember who was who because they came across kinda similar. I liked the lesson that Katherine gave Mrs. M'Crawney, though, and how Mrs. McKee and Mrs. Jones both had their moments of glory. It made them to be a bit more than the caricatures they were, and I liked that. But I was really bugged by how almost every single Native American was represented. That really left a bad taste in my mouth. Particularly because, as I mentioned in the beginning, the book reminded me a lot of Catharine Parr Traill, who represented the Native Americans around her accurately, without any derogatory attitude and with plenty of “what can I learn from them?” Bessie Marchant really failed in that aspect of her writing. It was so flat.
The other thing that was hard for me was the ending. It came out of nowhere, it was not needed, and I felt it was out of characters for both Jervis and Katherine. And to make things worse, the book ends very abruptly without even finishing a paragraph! No “and this is what happened after,” no “well let’s wrap up this story,” nothing. I was so mad.
As far as themes go, I loved the message that “hardship can actually help us a lot more than it hinders us,” which comes back several times, both in Katherine and Jervis’ conversation and her talk with Mr. Selincourt. I also enjoyed seeing how strongly the English characters and Katherine’s family felt that her work was not “fit for a girl”—not because they thought she couldn’t do it but because they thought she shouldn’t have to do it… although I’m not sure they would have objected if it was Mrs. Jones doing it. It’s an interesting glimpse at chivalry… but a chivalry that existed mostly for one class. But I really liked how it showed that Katherine COULD do all she had to do and do it WELL, because it HAD to be done.
My overall feelings? This may surprise people, but…. I enjoyed the book a lot as I read it, but looking back now I mostly remember what I disliked, and my feelings are pretty neutral about it. I’m not sorry I read it, but I don’t know if I’ll reread it. I just… I don’t know. But I’d like to try more by Bessie Marchant, and I think this is definitely a book worth reading if you’re interested in it!
A Favourite Quote: She was especially blithe of heart to-day, and so had donned a skirt of scarlet blanket cloth, which matched in hue the woollen cloud she wrapped about her head. On other days, when her mood was more sombre, she wore a dark-blue skirt, like the thick, fur-lined coat which was put on every time she left the house. “How gay you look, Katherine!” exclaimed Mrs. Burton, as her sister came dancing into the kitchen, where she was making bread. “But what a pity to put on that scarlet skirt if you are going to bring fish home!” “I shan't spoil it, or if I do I will wear it spoiled until it drops into rags,” replied Katherine. “I call it my happiness skirt, and I wear it only when I feel happy.” A Favourite Humorous Quote: Katherine ought to have gone, but in view of the confusion which still existed on the shelves it hardly seemed safe to leave Miles in charge, because he had a habit, when he could not find the right thing, of supplying something else which looked almost like it. So when Katherine found him tying up an ounce of caustic soda, in place of the tartaric acid which had been ordered, it seemed high time to interfere[.]...more
Front Porch Bakery by Christy Ash 4 stars. Such a super cute story! May’s a doll and Harlow is such a great father. The bakery sounds like such a n Front Porch Bakery by Christy Ash 4 stars. Such a super cute story! May’s a doll and Harlow is such a great father. The bakery sounds like such a nice place, too. ;) Evan & Carter were sweet, too, and I love the twist at the end! I’m repeating myself, but this is such a cute little story with a great little message. ;)
“He had mercy on me to send the children to us. He knew we needed them.”
Autumn Everly After by Abigail Kay Harris 4 stars. Aw, the conclusion to the Everly stories! It’s so adorable and I’m so happy for Caleb & Everly! I really enjoyed seeing more of Justice’s brothers… I wish he had his own series… hint, hint. ;) And the Romans 8:28 twist on the “mercy” theme is good.
He didn’t know where life would go from here, but somehow, having seen the love of these two, the faith, and knowing God had gotten them all there... Well, he knew it would all work out somehow.
Mercy’s Ride by C.K. Heartwing 5 stars. Yeah, it’s Olivia again! I loved getting to see her backstory. This story is just so sweet and wholesome—I love the tween cowgirl retreat—and the message about God’s mercy when we mess up is SO powerful. I needed it right now. Also, that ending is awesome. ;)
“God never promised us that things would be easy, but He did promise us that He would never leave nor forsake us. Even when things are bleak or we stumble, He still has mercy on us and helps us. He knows we are but dust…. But He makes us to grow. And isn’t that a mercy that He doesn’t leave us as we are?”
Miséricorde by Elisabeth Joy 4.5 stars. Oo, well, THIS was unexpected! I enjoyed London feels, spy adventures, and somehow WWII-era atmosphere? Also, the enemies-to-friends banter of Isabelle & “the Yank” was fun. Somehow, I was reminded by The Lies We Live by this! The “mercy” theme is simple, but a good reminder.
“Mercy is a gift,” Amélie continued, steadily holding Isabelle’s glower. “The Lord shows mercy to us all, and He tells us to do the same to others.”
In the Multitude of His Mercy by Katja H. Labonté This book took four months to write because I was in so much writing depression. But it was worth it. It’s one of the stories closest to my heart—which is saying a lot, because they all are. But this one holds so much of my summer in it. There are so many personal Easter eggs, and so many references to my friends and loved ones. And it holds the message that God taught me through all the struggles of this year… every season is needed and beautiful; and I don’t have to prove my worth by keeping up with the rat race and all the “accomplishments” of this modern life.
Life may be crazy, even too much at times, but there’s still so much loveliness. When I live constantly in the present moment, enjoying what it has to offer or seeking the blessings scattered throughout... then, life is irresistibly beautiful. Filled with a multitude of mercy.
Infinite by M.L. Milligan 5 stars. I love the sarcastic humour in this short-story collection… and this book didn’t disappoint. :P I was so sorry to say goodbye to these characters! This story had a lot going on, but I liked how everything was wrapped up from all the previous stories, and Levi’s character growth… Also, I gotta mention that the story titles and the messages are all epic and so well done. The message here was particularly poignant, no matter how often you hear it.
Forgive him? The very thought sent his lungs to spasming. That man had taken everything from him—his career, his dream, his buddies—all of it. How was he supposed to show mercy for such a thing? Then he heard it. A still whisper. ‘Haven’t I forgiven you?’ The truth had never been so clear.
Mercy in the Storm by Autumn Nicole 5 stars. Love the title, love the characters, love the story plot… I just loved this story! It’s so fun, so simple, so happy, so girly… yet with a deep undercurrent. It covers so many aspects, all of which hit me hard. I just couldn’t help tearing up. And that ending is PERFECT.
“Mercy IN the storm.” … “We see Him in storms all the way back in the time of Noah. He sent that storm as a form of judgment—this was before He sent His Son to take that judgment—but also as a way of refining. But He didn’t leave Noah alone in that storm, He was there the whole time, guiding the ark safely though the waters.”
For the Undeserving by Lucy Peterson 4.5 stars. I like stories with odd, unusual settings. This one took me forever to understand because the backstory is kind of hard to piece together, but I really enjoyed it, and once again, the message is just solid. We all need a little mercy, and maybe all the more when we are most undeserving.
“He doesn’t deserve it.” I couldn’t forgive him. Not with everything he’d done. “That’s why it’s called ‘mercy,’” Alienor whispered, squeezing my arm. “It’s given as a gift. To the unworthy. The undeserving.”
Broken by MillyJoy Peterson 3 stars. This little story just hurt! Madi was so cute, and I felt so sorry for Stephen and Allyssa… The message of mercy wasn’t strongly stated here, but I liked that, once again, there was a new twist on the theme…
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Depth of Mercy by Angie Thompson 5+ stars (6/10 hearts). Aw man, is this the end of the Anna & Lev stories too?? I’m not ready for all these goodbyes! But this was the PERFECT wrap-up. Lev is so, so sweet and sensitive, and Anna so strong and sacrificing. And River broke my heart. I kept tearing up through the whole story… it’s so powerful and poignant…
“Yes, we’re messed up. All of us. Most of it by our own choices. But He doesn’t quit caring. Just like today. Do you have any idea what Lev’s done for you, River? How much he’s sacrificed? Right now, he’s sitting alone on a mountain, in darkness that’s never going to lift, with no protection and no way out[.]And that’s after everything you did to hurt him. Because he sees you the way God does—seriously messed up sometimes, but still worth caring about in spite of it all.”
Bench Seat Buddy by Cate VanNostrand 4.5 stars. I love me some college stories. This one was delightful! I really liked Arthur and Kasey was sweet. The message, though, was my favourite part. Another one about forgiveness, but with a the angle that forgiveness doesn’t fix mistakes, but it can build new things you never dreamed of.
“That’s the sad fact of sin—its stains will never fully disappear. But with God’s help, the sting will slowly go away with time. And … God can help you both in this new phase of life.”
A Moment Redeemed by A.M. Watson 5+ stars (6/10 hearts). A POLICE STORY!! Yessss!!! Of course I loved that angle. But I also deeply related to the message of accepting God’s mercy, letting go of mistakes & failures, and going forwards instead of wallowing in guilt… okay, so I cried again. I needed that reminder.
But this...the chance to hold onto Kaylee and the kids, to redeem moments lost...this was mercy in its fullest. In spite of the time lost to the guilt and regrets of the past year, there was still mercy.
Past, not Future by Jewel Windall 3 stars. We all know I love WWII stories. I haven’t read many, if any, about returning German soldiers… I would have loved to hear more about Theo and his issues after escaping the army! Anyhow, I enjoyed his backstory. And Leah’s arc was well done. We don’t all have to go break our legs to discover this message now, thankfully. ;)
“I’ve...changed in the past few hours.” Funny how that was almost exactly what he told me. Yet I withheld the mercy from him. “I know you probably hate me after...everything, but can you...forgive me?”...more
5 stars. Yes, I’m in this anthology, but that is not why this book is worth 5 stars for me. It’s because basically every other story in here is STELLA5 stars. Yes, I’m in this anthology, but that is not why this book is worth 5 stars for me. It’s because basically every other story in here is STELLAR. In a nutshell, this is a lovely collection of beautiful stories, and it’s such a great mixture of romantic, platonic, and family love. <3 And these are my honest first reactions to all the stories:
A Tender Heart by Madisyn Carlin Theme: Love is self-sacrificing. 5 stars. I never read Carlin’s historical fiction before, but she proved she can switch genres effortlessly. The story kept all my favourite elements of her writing—the sarcasm, the sweetness of character, and the unique storylines. Ela was darling; Prescott was splendid; Archie was adorable; the plot was excellent, and oh, the message!!! It’s Madisyn’s fault my makeup was messed up because of tears!
A Baker’s Heart by Andrea Renee Cox Theme: Love is serving. 4.5 stars. Such a sweet, lovely little tale! Cressidia-Lydia was quite an inspiration and William was super cute. Sheep and animal birth are not frequent in novels, so I really enjoyed that unique angle. And the message was delightful. <3 I definitely look forwards to more by Andrea Cox!
Loving Amelia by Faith D. Cox Theme: Love is there for you. 4 stars. This story confused me a bit—it seemed to jump around a lot and I felt I was missing vital points. But it was pretty sweet and while it didn’t end the way I expected, it was still good. I enjoyed Cory & Cassidy’s banter.
Small Sacrifices, Great Love by A.Y. Daniels Theme: Love is laying down your life for others. 5 stars. This was such an exhorting story! John Mark was an excellent young man (husband material right there, am I right??) and the message of loving your family really spoke to me. Although it was a short story, the other characters were well done too and I enjoyed the whole big-family atmosphere. ;)
Everly in Love by Abigail Kay Harris Theme: Love is trusting. 4 stars. This sweet story is the sequel to Everly After in Seize the Night. I love Jay, of course, especially with all his newfound banter, and Caleb was pretty epic. ;)
A Wooden Heart Can Still Bloom by C.K. Heartwing Theme: Love still exists. 5 stars. AHHH, I loved this! First off, a writer character, and then a character who struggles with the seeming darkness of the world—I related so much to Wilder. Although this was a short story, the author handled the depression and suicide attempt well, and the message of finding love and hope was so well done! I’d love to read more by C.K. Heartwing.
To Love & to Cherish by H.S. Kylian Theme: Love is putting aside your own desires for the other. 4 stars. Aw, this was just plain adorable St. Valentine’s romance. ;) and I love the violin. And I love Grandpa’s advice. And Jonathan. And Nicki. Yeah, it was just super cute.
Raindrop World by Katja H. Labonté Theme: Love is simple. I had this title for years but couldn’t figure out the story for it. My plot finally came with the SEIZE THE LOVE contest and I wrote this story in one sitting. It’s a pouring-out of my heart right now. ...more
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