Hey Jesus, It’s Me
by Ellen Skrmetti
Ellen talks to the reader about important parts of life in
the south. She covers topics like hot flashes,
growing up southern, southern funerals, and unspoken prayer requests. This is a quick, entertaining read and clues
in us northerners about some of the things we’ve always wondered about our
southern counterparts. If you want a
funny, laugh out loud read, containing a kernel of southern truths, this book is
for you!
Shield of the
Mighty by Connilyn Cossette
The King’s Men
book #2
This book tells Zevi’s story. He was a boy that was kidnapped by the
Philistines and later adopted by the Champion of Ashdod. He is a soldier fighting for Israel, rising
through the ranks to distinguish himself in King Saul’s men. On his quest to conscript more soldiers for
the army and to gather artisans for Saul’s court, he must return to his hometown. He is drawn into a perfumer’s shop and is
captivated by the scents and the artisan, Yochana. This chance meeting changes the course of
both of their lives.
I really enjoy the writing style of Connilyn Cossette. This is the second book with these characters
and I appreciated learning more about their histories. The characters are so
well-drawn that I missed them when the book ended. I also enjoyed learning more about life
during the early history of the nation of Israel.
Even though this is the second of the books in this series,
the author gives enough background information that this book can be read and
appreciated on its own, but for the most enjoyment, the first book, Voice of
the Ancient should be read first. Readers who enjoy biblical fiction
will find much to enjoy in this series, as Connilyn Cossette does much research
to give the reader an authentic experience in the history of the nation of
Israel. I received this book from the
publisher in exchange for this, my honest opinion.
If Otis was POTUS by Slater Harry
As a retired second grade teacher, this is a very child-friendly way to explain what life is like for the president. The little dogs are cute, the rhyming text is fun although maybe a bit contrived in some spots, and the illustrations are warm and fun. The real-life pictures of the dog characters at the end add a very special feature that kids will love. I can easily imagine reading this to a classroom to illustrate how our president works to get things done for our nation. And of course, the flea infestation easily corresponds to another national emergency in the recent past. I am grateful to have received this arc in exchange for this, my honest review.
The Borrowed Life
of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
This book was easy to love.
Frederick was an endearing character who finds himself near homelessness
when he stumbles into Bernard’s life, literally.
The writing was humorous, even laugh-at-loud funny. The characters were lovable. Frederick’s attitude toward his new life and
good fortune are refreshing. He changes
the lives of people around him by loving them well. In short, there was much to enjoy about this
book.
The reason I gave it four stars instead of five was due to
the language. It was a bit cruder than I
would have liked, but I understand that is a personal preference. I do think the author could have achieved the
same effect without the four-letter words.
If you are a fan of lovable characters, clever plots, happy
endings, and funny situations, you will enjoy this book. I am grateful to HarperCollins Publishers for
the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Waiting for
Christmas by Lynn Austin
This novella takes up where Ms. Austin’s last book, All
My Secrets, published in 2024, left off.
I really enjoyed learning how Addy and Howard were adjusting to married
life. Their little family expands to
welcome some orphans in need of temporary home.
Addy and Howard do their best to help them find their missing father,
who may be working as a sailor. As they
prepare for the holiday and work to find Jack and Polly’s missing parent, both
Addy and Howard learn important lessons about love and trusting God.
The characters are lovable and determined. I admired Addy’s tenacity and determination
to be a good wife. Howard is creative
and loves Addy well. Each character
grows and develops in a realistic way.
The plot is neatly tied up at the end of the book with some
interesting possibilities for the characters’ futures and a couple of surprises
the reader will enjoy. I am grateful to
the publisher for this book in exchange for this, my honest review.
It’s All Relative by
Rachel Magee
Helena is a high school teacher who considers it a good day
if she arrives at school early enough to review her lesson plans for the
day. Her best friend Landon is a history
teacher and soccer coach at the same school.
She wrangles him into tagging along as her plus-one on a wedding week
celebration for her mom and her new step father. The ground work is laid for lots of comedy
and some surprises.
The narrator makes this story zing! I really enjoyed listening to it. The plot twists, although not unexpected were
fun. I loved how the characters
developed over the course of the story.
The epilogue answered many of my questions and gave the story closure.
Even though this was published by Thomas Nelson, the content
was not explicitly Christian, but was very clean and enjoyable, even for teen
readers. It was the kind of story that I
was comfortable reading without having to filter any content.
I am grateful to Thomas Nelson for this very enjoyable audio
book in return for this, my honest review.
Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox
Josephina runs her own event planning business in a small
town that has snubbed her because of an issue with her father’s construction
company which has sullied her family’s reputation. She has been dumped by her boyfriend and
needs a change, so she takes a job as a project manager for an elderly
gentleman who has bought an island to refurbish the lighthouse.
The setting immerses the reader in the outer banks of North
Carolina. Small towns and marshes and
the sea provide the backdrop for the mystery that sweeps up Joey, Finn, the
grandson, and Walt, the grandfather.
The characters are interesting and revealed slowly by the
author. I especially enjoyed Joey. Although all of them have their flaws, they grow
and learn and give each other second chances.
There is a bit of romance laced throughout the story, both in
the past and the present, but not too much for a reader like me who prefers
just a little of it.
This was a captivating story and I am grateful to the publisher for the opportunity to read it in exchange for this, my honest review.
