Sara Davison, Darlene L. Turner, Helena Smrcek and Melanie Stevenson have contributed to a fantastic contemporary Christmas anthology set in Canada.
TSara Davison, Darlene L. Turner, Helena Smrcek and Melanie Stevenson have contributed to a fantastic contemporary Christmas anthology set in Canada.
These four stories capture the chaos of the season and focus on individuals who are trying to find their way home. In each case, they are searching for something but have allowed the road bumps of life to temporarily engage their focus rather than being focused on the reason for the season.
Melanie Stevenson’s rom-com, ‘Where My Heart Belongs,’ captured my attention and made for a one-sit read. Porsha Ivy and her Good Samaritan explored the idea that perhaps the worst things in life often lead us to the place we were meant to be all along. Turner’s caution that we don’t get too busy that we lose ourselves in exhaustion and ignore God was a good message for me.
Helene Smrecek’s ‘Love Across Time’ was my favourite and was a dual-timeline historical fiction novella focused on family connections and heirlooms. You need to read this one!
I was excited to find this was a Kindle Unlimited book.
When forces are determined to keep the truth buried, Helaine and Louise show how love and sacrifice thwart the efforts and illuminate the path to secoWhen forces are determined to keep the truth buried, Helaine and Louise show how love and sacrifice thwart the efforts and illuminate the path to second chances. Jenoff showcased the juxtaposition of her main characters well and readers will have a compelling story that showcases two difficult, yet very different wartime experiences.
I always anticipate and appreciate a Jenoff book because I know I’ll get a well-researched and well-written piece of historical fiction that explores a little-known piece of history. Jenoff explored the complex wartime role of the Red Cross in Europe, piqued my interest in Mizpah charms, and wrapped me up in a compelling story about a Red Cross volunteer and a Jewish Holocaust victim.
I was most invested in Helaine and Gabriel’s story and enjoyed uncovering the threads of mystery.
I quickly found myself down a Google rabbit hole investigating the author’s inspiration for this book and have added Juliet Blackwell’s book, The Paris Showroom, to my tbr in an effort to learn more.
I was gifted this copy by Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review. ...more
Hanley, Minnesota is Adam Sandler’s ‘Lunch Lady Land’, a place where remarkably unremarkable things happen. Despite their recent promoti3.5 rounded up
Hanley, Minnesota is Adam Sandler’s ‘Lunch Lady Land’, a place where remarkably unremarkable things happen. Despite their recent promotion, Crystal, Coralene and Sheila, three lunch ladies from across the district, are the corps de ballet for Minnesota’s public school system.
Author Jodi Thompson Carr cautions us from disregarding their power or influence and highlights these three women and their role in pulling off a successful community event. Like the corps de ballet who are positioned behind the principal dancers and often overlooked, these lunch ladies play a crucial role in the community celebration. Each woman has experienced loss and is responding to grief in a different way. This response has shaped their choices and their relationships. In a school kitchen, they may all blend together in a sea of white, but in the spotlight, readers see them for who they’ve become as a result of this pain and value them for the important role they provide.
Despite the author’s reliance on the storyline rather than the storytelling at times, I appreciated an examination of how illness, aging and end-of-life affect us all. I was intrigued by the concept of “rescuing travelers from the obituary page and finding them suitable companions” and reached for my journal to record the picture the author painted when Sheila explained how someone ‘frequented a spare room’ in her mind, arrived unexpectedly, overstayed his welcome, and left a mess.” I took heed and will make an effort to banish these types of visitors in the future; they always take rather than give. I don’t need to make room for them!
In an increasingly self-centered world, this focus on community was a welcome read.
I was gifted this copy by Century House Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review. ...more
Queue Frank Sinatra’s ‘Come Fly With Me’ album, pour yourself a Cosmopolitan and give yourself time to binge-read this fabulous book.
I really enjoyedQueue Frank Sinatra’s ‘Come Fly With Me’ album, pour yourself a Cosmopolitan and give yourself time to binge-read this fabulous book.
I really enjoyed being swept back to the Golden Age of air travel and rooting for two women who chose to make their bruises and scars of life a catalyst for metamorphosis by enrolling in the Pan Am flight attendant program.
Beverly Caldwell lived a privileged life in New York and had everything a person could want but she wanted something ‘different’.
Judy Goodman also wanted something ‘different’ and was encouraged by a neighbour to leave Pennsylvania and rebuild herself.
Both women were flying towards something as well as flying away from something. It was interesting to read about the career and lifestyle expectations for young women in the early 1960s versus those today. I appreciated the author's reminder that it’s never too late to make up for old mistakes and transform ourselves. It was good to read about those who facilitated a way out and held the light; we all need a friend like Ronelle Rorbaugh. We should strive to be more like Ronelle - chosen sisters to each other.
“The giraffe gives its tears to the women and they weave them into the basket. Why does the giraffe give its tears? I suppose that it means that we ca“The giraffe gives its tears to the women and they weave them into the basket. Why does the giraffe give its tears? I suppose that it means that we can all give something. A giraffe has nothing else to give - only tears.”
This second installment of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency is as much about family relationships as it is about solving crime. Precious and her fiance kept me engaged in their lives as they solved crimes, dealt with a nosy/manipulative housemaid, and began planning their life together.
I appreciated the moral dilemmas presented: Should one always tell the truth, or is lying sometimes the better choice? Does a moral end justify immoral means?
I’ll remember this book for the multiple times it brought a smile to my face and the reminder that regardless of how empty we feel, we always have something to give.
I pulled this book off my shelf for 'November Reads' because I remembered that it was a year ago I met AMS, purchased this book and had him sign it for me. A year. Ugh. I couldn't leave it on the shelf another year unread.
I’ve been following Cecilia Blomdahl for almost a year on her Instagram page and am addicted to her beautiful posts about life on Svalbard, an island I’ve been following Cecilia Blomdahl for almost a year on her Instagram page and am addicted to her beautiful posts about life on Svalbard, an island close to the North Pole.
@sejsejlija hoped to spend three months in Longyearbyen when she arrived in 2015 … she’s still there! This book captures the beauty of the seasons and shows readers why Cecilia LOVES living on an archipelago in the far North.
Longyearbyen is the last town before the North Pole. It’s 580 miles north of Norway and 400 miles south of the North Pole. Approximately 2,400 people live in the town.
What amazed me: ❗She experiences polar night from mid-October to mid-February; 24/7 darkness for 84 days. Could you do it? 23% of her year is in complete darkness. Black. Stars at lunch.
❗Polar day is from mid-April to mid-August and she experiences 99 days of 24/7 daylight. I think this would be more difficult for me than polar night. 27% of her year is constant daylight.
❗Their home is close to the edge of a cliff with fantastic views of glaciers for as far as the eye can see. Polar bears and reindeer meander across her view as do pods of whales. It’s quiet. 60% of the island is covered in glaciers, BUT could you trade this for a home so isolated? She is not connected to sewer or water. You’ll learn about her independent cabin system. I would have loved to read about her internet availability, cell-phone possibility, and seen what it was like to get provisions.
“People want to disappear sometimes. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want someone coming after them. It doesn’t mean they don’t want to be found.”
“It“People want to disappear sometimes. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want someone coming after them. It doesn’t mean they don’t want to be found.”
“It’s possible to be found and lost at the same time. And Holo and I know all about what it feels like.”
This was not the thriller I was expecting. It came across as a little too YA for my liking. It wasn’t the taut read that I expected, and I had to suspend disbelief often.
That being said, I enjoyed the book.
It asks the reader to:
(1) question the similarities between a family and a wolf pack, particularly the idea that we assume roles within the group to help the group thrive.
(2) ponder if the two species are more alike than we previously thought.
(3) redefine our definition of a family and question if we have a right to judge the choices made within other family units. We all parent differently. Who’s to say what’s ‘right’, as long as the best interests of all involved are considered.
I enjoyed the examination of what it means to be lost/found and what’s involved in taking care of someone and protecting someone.
Advice? Hang in there until the mid-point and then brace yourself for a plot twist.
I was gifted this paperback copy by Grand Central Publishing/Hachette and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I continue to be amazed at the skill and versatility with which Kate Hewitt writes. She has a book for whatever mood I find myself in at that moment. I continue to be amazed at the skill and versatility with which Kate Hewitt writes. She has a book for whatever mood I find myself in at that moment.
‘The Last Stars in the Sky’ was unique - so spectacular and I couldn’t stop singing its praises. Hewitt had left readers with a cliffhanger and I was hoping she’d revisit Alex and Daniel’s situation and give readers some closure. ‘The Midnight Hour’ picks up right where the last book finished and takes readers from the safety of the isolated Lost Lake cabin into the unknown Canadian wilderness.
I appreciated the pacing, drama, and tension and noted how Hewitt balanced these with emotional connections and powerful moments of community and resilience. I was on the edge of my seat reading about this family who’d faced devastation and had no choice now but to drive away from oblivion and towards the unknown. I may never face what the Walkers experience, but it reminded me that sometimes life doesn’t go according to plan. Sometimes it implodes. Sometimes it isn’t full of the “montage of Hallmark moments” we’d envisioned. It’s what we do in the afterward that’s the important part. I didn’t have children but I can imagine the struggle I’d have to ensure that my niece and nephew have something to hope for and something to believe in.
“We’ve got out of the habit of sacrificing ourselves for a greater good no one seems to believe in anymore.”
I think this quote and the moment it was spoken will stay with me the most. I, too, have noted that society seems to have an ‘every man for himself’ attitude these days. It was good to be reminded about the dangers of individualism. Since emerging from Covid lockdowns, I feel we’ve lost the camaraderie and ‘can-do’ attitude that was so prevalent. Certainly, we’ve lost the sense of duty and honor that society had pre-war.
My takeaways:
✔️I’d like to take the following quote as a warning and remind myself (hopefully weekly) to read the biblical reference to Habakkuk 3.
“When we most need to stick together, we all seem to be splintering apart.”
✔️I want to remember the lightbulb moment when I realized that everyone processes in different ways and we need to give each other space to do so.
I found myself down a rabbit hole with 22 Wing and North Bay! I loved Swiss Family Robinson as a kid and knew I'd enjoy your twist on it.
Thank you for penning a fantastic sequel, Kate Hewitt.
I was gifted this copy by Storm Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review....more
I love to read about other cultures that I’m not a part of and I want to be sure that what I’m reading is tr“Well, we’re messy. But we’re also real!”
I love to read about other cultures that I’m not a part of and I want to be sure that what I’m reading is true. When I think back to my school days and reading Little House on the Prairie and The Indian in the Cupboard, it never occurred to me that what I was reading wasn’t accurately represented. I’d never heard of cultural appropriation or cultural misrepresentation. Katherena Vermette has given me an opportunity to place more importance on creating space for Indigenous people to share and support their efforts to educate.
Katherena Vermette’s novel ‘real ones’, unmasks identity and unabashedly reveals messy authenticity. It’s the story of two Michif (Red River Metis) sisters who must face their past trauma when their mother is called out for false claims of Indigenous identity. Despite being a recognized and award-winning indigenous-style artist, their mom, Renee, is called out as a ‘pretendian’. The sisters, June and Lyn, deal with the emotional and intellectual unpacking, aftershocks and flashbacks of their mom’s selfish embedding within the community.
I learned about the dangers of pan-indigeneity and was prompted to Google the Indigenous groups in my country. Did you know that there are more than 60 distinct First Nations in Canada?! Each has their own unique language and culture. How can we possibly lump them all into one group and assume they are ‘one’?
I also learned about ‘pretendians’ and how their claims impact the Indigenous communities they claim to represent. Vermette’s story shows how the ‘small’ affects the whole and explores the cost of selfishness on others. I’d never considered the possibility of this occurring and appreciated the spotlight on the dangers of taking up space from legitimate people.
I was surprised by almost 90% of what the author shared about pretendism. I feel like I’ve had my head in the sand. The thing that stood out to me the most was how inadequate people of the Metis culture have been made to feel and the long road they’ve journeyed to feed back their identity.
This journey of identity and gaining ownership of it was enhanced by Katherena Vermette ‘zooming’ into our book club. I want to continue to be a reader who gives rise and amplifies Native writers so that I can understand more....more
Holly Varni is a skillful writer; she ever so subtly welcomed me into the small Northwoods town of Moonberry Lake, Minnesota, and enchanted me with heHolly Varni is a skillful writer; she ever so subtly welcomed me into the small Northwoods town of Moonberry Lake, Minnesota, and enchanted me with her immersive small-town narrative stuffed with unforgettable characters, authenticity, grit, humour, and bighearted drama.
The sense of place and the power of community captivated me. Moonberry Lake’s charm gives rise to big personalities, all of whom are definitely created from the setting. The gentle rhythm of small-town life is the perfect backdrop for the quirky townsfolk and the comic relief they provide. The half-naked poker-playing senior runaways hiding out in the back of her shop, their demands and their retaliation strategies, kept me giggling. I also loved the blooming of Delphinium Hayes; uncovering what makes her tick, watching how she deals with customers, and seeing how she makes room for unexpected love.
I think what I loved most was that Delphinium wasn’t willing to compromise to make a sale. It would have been the answer to her financial woes, but it would mean selling her artistic soul. I admire that quality. I also love it when a book drives me to Google and I had to see a photo of a Delphinium bloom to appreciate the Greek origin of the name.
You’ll want to move this one to the top of your ‘to be read’ pile! Varni expertly navigates the challenges of this close-knit enclave in an engaging way and creates a story that will resonate with a wide variety of readers on a personal level. I know you’ll be immersed and captivated with Varni’s spotlight on belonging, the varieties of human experience and will appreciate recapturing that long-forgotten feeling of hometown pride.
I was gifted this copy by Revell and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This was one of the best historical fiction novels I’ve read this year!
I absolutely loved the way the l“I think liberty is as lovely a word as hope.”
This was one of the best historical fiction novels I’ve read this year!
I absolutely loved the way the liberty scarf was woven throughout each story. I don’t have a favourite; each one was unique in its own way. From one I learned about the origins of the Liberty scarf, the iconic storefront and the term ‘blighty’. From another I learned about the US Army Signal Corps and General Pershing’s ‘Hello Girls’. And from the third story, I learned about Pieter Breugel’s painting ‘The Blind Leading The Blind’ and an orchestra formed to play at the frontlines and boost troops’ morale.
I enjoyed every moment with Captain Richard ‘Rex’ Conrad, Iris Braxton, Captain Maxime Auvray, Genevieve Tremblay, Roman Allaire and Clara Janssens and I think “The Feathered Hope” story will stay in my mind the longest. I appreciated the epilogue and how it tied everything together nicely for readers.
I wonder if the scarf in the cover could have been represented differently to reflect the story within….when I think of a Liberty scarf, this red scarf is not what comes to mind.
“Everything tastes sweeter when served with a heaping spoonful of nostalgia.”
I was gifted this copy by HarperCollins Focus and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review. ...more
This novel opens in New Jersey 2006 with Katrine finding a hidden box beneath the floorboards of her mother’s house and then hops back to 1938 BadensbThis novel opens in New Jersey 2006 with Katrine finding a hidden box beneath the floorboards of her mother’s house and then hops back to 1938 Badensburg, Germany to give us background on Allina Strauss.
Allina has been hiding a secret for most of her life. Keeping it hidden when everything is taken from her becomes a necessity. Allina is forced into nursing at Hochland home where she uncovers the horrors of Heinrich Himmler’s eugenics program and the atrocities committed in perpetuating the ‘master race’. Unable to restrain herself any longer, she risks it all to ally with an SS officer, Karl von Strassberg.
This debut novel is more than 20 years in the making and highlights the Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. Although I’ve read a few books centered around this program, I appreciated Adriana Allegri’s dedication to research. Her teacher’s heart came through as she uncovered the atrocities the children lived in daily and the bleak outlook many in the home faced. Allina’s courageous decision adds to the tension and I found myself rooting for her as she walked with her heart behind every step.
Why historical fiction readers will want to read this one: ✔️it shows that something beautiful can grow in the absence of light ✔️it shows the importance of nurturing our sunflower souls so that no matter how dark it gets, we will always chase the light.
I was a little shocked at the language.
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review. ...more
They say that reading the right book at the right time can change your life. This week ‘A Dance in Donegal’ by Jennifer Deibel found me.
I don’t belieThey say that reading the right book at the right time can change your life. This week ‘A Dance in Donegal’ by Jennifer Deibel found me.
I don’t believe it was luck or sheer blessed coincidence. I had a lesson to learn and Moira Doherty was there to teach it. I’m fully confident it was divinely orchestrated.
This book hit me like a train. I’m still teary.
I’ll remember it for my lesson about forgiveness, extending mercy, and the importance of planting seeds of compassion.
Like the others in Ballymann, Donegal, I’d have left Aedach MacSuibhne right where he was. In fact, I was worried about Moira heading off to his house and then humbled see how she ministered to those in need. I’ve got far to go to catch up to Moira.
Things I will remember for a LONG time:
☘️“Smack in the middle of what God is askin’ is the best place for any of us to be.” ☘️Make a difference in this world one person at a time ☘️“When someone seems bent on making your life miserable, heap coals of kindness on their head.” ☘️“The Laird said to love and pray for our enemies. He didna say ‘twould be easy.” ☘️“Accept the consequences of yer obedience.” ☘️Compassion reigns supreme
With 60 days left in 2024, I’m going to propose that this is my favourite book of the year! ...more
I’m really enjoying the Black Tower Security series. It’s a perfect blend of sweet romantic suspense and faith.
The two main characters in this story I’m really enjoying the Black Tower Security series. It’s a perfect blend of sweet romantic suspense and faith.
The two main characters in this story struggle with perfectionism, which is something with which I can relate. I loved how they debated the meaning of spontaneity as it’s something my husband and I work on, too. I’m a scheduler and focus on measurable output. My husband is all about the journey and the fun! We make a great team.
Ryder, the quintessential bad boy, really is a McDreamy. I loved seeing the softer side of his personality and the challenges he met in establishing his faith. - Learning that he’s not beyond forgiveness or being a hero - Learning to “steep in the grace of Jesus” - Struggling to comprehend why evil and trauma exist
Fiona learns the importance of embracing her imperfections and allowing people to see her true self as well as yielding to spontaneity. The part about thinking that prayer didn’t feel like enough, stopped me in my tracks. Been there.
If stories featuring God’s grace, reconciliation and redemption appeal to you, this is a great read. ...more
I’d seen this book all over my Instagram feed last month and knew I needed to investigate the hype.
I loved it!
It's basically about brokenness, what’I’d seen this book all over my Instagram feed last month and knew I needed to investigate the hype.
I loved it!
It's basically about brokenness, what’s involved in healing, and the importance of redefining purpose.
I loved the reminders: -that God works in our lives to use our unique talents in new ways -that everyone has to figure out for themselves what it means to follow God yet still live in this world -of the importance of glorifying God with our actions and pointing people to Jesus -of paying attention to see God working
The multi-generational characters were beautifully crafted and they all navigated a believable and compelling journey Seeing how each generation faces challenges gives me a great learning experience.
I look forward to Winter Wishes, book 2 of the Seasons of Love series....more
I loved this book that reminded me that we were never meant to do it alone. Watching the main character grow from loving her anonymity and isolation tI loved this book that reminded me that we were never meant to do it alone. Watching the main character grow from loving her anonymity and isolation to craving connection and protection was fantastic. I felt for her during her struggle with rejection and I rooted for her while she tried to evade those who were intent on kidnapping her. It was good to be reminded that when we think we are in the wilderness, our Father is always there … watching and protecting. None of us are beyond his reach.
The pacing and tension that drew me in while reading ‘Rescued’ in the ‘Cold Escape’ anthology was still there in this book and that made me extremely happy. I’ve added this author to my auto-read list.
Just about anyone can go viral with anything these days.
We’ve all heard the term ‘fake news.’
Please tell me you don’t believe everything you see or Just about anyone can go viral with anything these days.
We’ve all heard the term ‘fake news.’
Please tell me you don’t believe everything you see or hear!
Even though we now share information differently than we did 80+ years ago, the dangers of misinformation and propaganda are still the same. Author Jennifer Coburn’s pleas to wisely navigate the myriad of information we’re bombarded with daily, stem from her time spent visiting the site of a former ‘glimmer factory’ - Terezin, or, as the Nazis called it, Theresienstadt.
Pared down to its main objective, The Glimmer Factory, exposes the Nazi strategy of deception at Terezin.
All was not glitter and glam at the ‘spa resort’ in, what is now, the Czech Republic. and Coburn warns that the same strategy that was utilized to hoodwink Red Cross officials in the 1940s and is being utilized today. Yes, ‘spa visitors’ created more than 5,000 pieces of visual art: sketches, paintings, sculptures, and dolls. Yes, there were daily musical performances, like Verdi’s Requiem. Yes, there were also theatre, readings, and lectures. After all, the majority of the residents were prominent talented Jews.
The truth is that Terezin was designed to deceive the world about the true nature of the ‘final solution.’ It was curated after reports leaking the true conditions and functions of the death camps sparked concern and the Red Cross put pressure on the Nazis to inspect. A plan was hatched to present it as a model ghetto by masking the true purpose and conditions. The showcase of cultural activity was orchestrated to discredit accusations of maltreatment. It worked; the Red Cross was duped. So was the rest of the world. Heck, I didn’t even know about it and I’ve read many books with a Holocaust focus.
Coburn’s novel is set in this ‘glimmer factory’ and showcases two women, a Jewish prisoner working with 'glimmer' and dreaming of survival and an ambitious filmmaker, who were once childhood friends. Hannah Kaufman is willing to risk it all to show the world the truth about Terezin. Coincidentally, this is Hilde Kramer’s objective, too. She works for the Reich Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda and has been sent with a film crew to renew confidence in Hitler’s plans for the Jews. When they reunite they mutually hope to use their connection to further their cause. The trouble is, they aren’t on the same track, going the same direction. Will they be able to help each other survive? Will their friendship carry them through even the most harrowing times?
This gripping historical fiction, with an absolutely PERFECT title, that explores both sides of the Nazi oppression is not to be missed.
“One cannot be part of such an evil movement without great personal cost in the end.”
“Oppressors are the least creative people in the world. They constantly borrow one another’s ideas, and if we learn the early warning signs, we are better equipped to defeat them.”
I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review....more
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