The Emissaries first book by Angela Hunt

                                                    The Woman from Lydia by Angela Hunt 

Euodia, a seller and artisan of purple dye, became a follower of Yeshua because of Paulos’ ministry in Philippi, seeks to rescue the little slave girl that Paulos had set free from demons. The Biblical story is recounted in the book of Acts. 

The author uses her sanctified imagination and meticulous research to create the details of this story. She includes the method of procuring the dye from the snails. She gives Euodia a household of freed slaves, including Ariston, an honorable believer. She also gives Euodia a passion to rescue Sabina from her abusive master. She provides a fascinating background on the life and treatment of slaves. 

The book reaches a climax and then surprisingly ends. Fans of Biblical fiction and Angela Hunt will enjoy this novel and find themselves caught up in the culture that the apostle Paul lived in. I appreciate receiving a complimentary copy of this arc from the publisher, in exchange for this, my honest review.  

Appalachian Mountain Fiction

 This Is Where It Ends by Cindy K. Sproles 

For 30 years, 93-year-old Minerva has been keeping a secret for her now-deceased husband. Granted, she does not know exactly what the secret is, but she wrestles with how long she should remain loyal to her husband, especially now that she knows the truth about him. Complicating her dilemma is her new relationship with Del, a young reporter who is digging into her past to find the truth. Can she trust Del, and can she bring herself to reveal what she knows before she dies? 

This book explores the question of loyalty, family ties and honor. It is a captivating story that transports the reader into the hills of Appalachia during the early 1900’s. Minerva is a complex character who is trying to prepare for her death by coming to grips with her past.

 

I enjoyed the description of Minerva’s way of life as well as the landscape. I found some of Minerva’s ruminating over her dilemma to be a bit repetitive. I felt the plot could have moved a bit faster and still accomplished the same ending. 

I did enjoy Cindy’s writing and found her message to be of value. Readers who enjoy historical fiction will like this one, especially Minerva’s feisty character. I am grateful to the publisher and netgalley for this complimentary copy in exchange for this, my honest review.   

Fifties Family Fiction

 The All-American by Susie FInkbeiner 

This novel takes an in-depth look at an American family in the early 1950’s. The father, a well-known novelist, his English wife and their three children plus a daughter-in-law round out the main characters of the story. 

The story was told through the eyes of the two sisters, Bertha, and Flossing. I found the characters endearing, especially Flossie. They were so well-written that I expected them to walk out of the pages of the book.

 

The book was more character-driven than plot-driven, but I enjoyed the characters so much that I had to keep reading. I found it interesting that this book dealt with the Communist concern of that era. From the title, I had expected more of a sports novel, and baseball was woven through it but was not too heavily emphasized for a non-sports lover like me. 

I would love to read a sequel to this novel and discover the rest of the story for these lovable characters. Readers who enjoy Susie Finkbeiner’s fiction will find much to enjoy about this novel. I am grateful to the publisher and netgalley for the complimentary copy in return for this, my honest review.  

Unusual Love Story

 Indigo Island by T. I. Lowe 

This book was as unusual as one of its main characters, and totally captivated my imagination. I loved (and hated some,) the quirky, well-written characters. The plot took turns that I did not anticipate and kept me reading. The ending was satisfying.  

The author created realistic and fascinating characters. Hudson was very memorable, as was Vee. I came to love and appreciate Sonny and her back story, too. I loved the way the characters responded to challenges and grew. I became invested in their lives and thought about them after I read the last page of the book.  

The plot was interesting and covered some difficult topics like sexual abuse and recovery. Woven into the plot was a love story that I had not anticipated. I enjoyed the epilogue showing the trajectory of Sonny’s life. I was glad she had found healing and a happy conclusion. 

I have read another of T. I. Lowe’s novels and enjoyed it. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy romance that breaks out of the traditional mold. I appreciate the complimentary copy that I received from the publisher and netgalley, in exchange for this, my honest review.  

  

Newest Phaedra Patrick Novel Set in Italy

 The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick 

I have read many of Phaedra Patrick’s books and love much about her writing. This book was no different. It included lovable characters who she developed throughout the book and a plot that I was not able to guess. 

Each of the characters was dealing with a heartbreak of some kind and the author slowly reveals them to the reader. She explores what helps assuage grief and what constitutes happiness. 

The ending was a bit ambiguous and left me feeling disappointed. I had hoped that Ginny would make a different choice. 

But overall, this was a very pleasant and enjoyable read and transported me for a few hours to a quaint hotel in a small Italian town. I am grateful to netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for this, my honest review. 

 

 The Year of Jubilee by Cindy Morgan  

This was the story of Grace Mockingbird’s thirteenth year in the small town of Jubilee, Kentucky. It was set in the 1960’s in the heart of civil unrest in the south. Grace deals with the pain of having a fractured relationship with her mother, the prolonged illness of her younger brother and the disturbance of civil unrest.

 

This novel was written beautifully. The author tackled many difficult subjects very realistically. It was an emotional read that drew the reader in. 

There were times when I didn’t like the choices Grace made or the way her mother or sister treated her. Her father, however, was exemplary in his love and affection for her. I appreciated how the author used the epilogue to tell us the end of the characters I had come to know.

 

If Ms. Morgan authors another book, I would definitely read it. Readers who enjoy coming of age fiction, southern fiction, or stories about the fight for civil rights would enjoy this book. I am grateful to the publisher via netgalley for the complimentary arc in return for this, my honest opinion.