Unusual but very enjoyable story

 

A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell

Miss Clara Marie Stanton is known to her loving grandfather as Little Atlas because she often carries the weight of the world on her shoulders.  Living in the mid 1800’s, she is terrified that something horrible will happen to her family, especially if the word gets out about her uncle and his disgraceful demise.  The rest of the family is quite unique with her mother an animal rights activist who can’t pass up a stray and her grandfather who is an inventor of automatons including butterflies and a huge flying owl.  As she seeks to protect her family, her grandfather leads her on a merry scavenger hunt across Europe.  She attempts to follow his clues while staying ahead of her former fiancé who wants nothing more than to use her family for his own nefarious purposes.

There were many things that made this book unique and entertaining.  The automatons were a fun surprise.  The many interesting locations in the book were fascinating.  The characters were quirky, a definite plus for this reader.  And the vocabulary was delightful, often requiring me to use the look up feature in my kindle.

Readers who enjoy a witty read with unexpected elements, a bit of romance, and lovable characters who grow spiritually are sure to enjoy this book.  I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in return for this my honest review.

 

Recipes and Relationships

 The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

Nikki Werner is at her wits end to know what to do with her life.  Her father has divorced her mother and according to a social media post, has recently remarried.  She is confused and afraid to move forward with her own relationship with her boyfriend, Isaac.  After school is out for the summer, she takes off for her grandmother’s farmhouse and her Uncle Wes, a virtual stranger.  The summer away, time with her relatives and her grandmother’s handwritten recipes help her to rediscover her roots and mend the broken places in her life.

This book contains some endearing characters.  Uncle Wes and Joyce were some of my favorites.  I loved how Nikki matured and came to understand her father better through the stories of her relatives.

The plot and characters kept me engaged with the book and provided a satisfying ending.  I think other readers will enjoy this book also, especially those who have experienced broken family relationships and need the hope of reconciliation.  I am grateful to the publisher for the complimentary copy of this digital book in exchange for my honest review.

New to me author

 

An American Immigrant by Johanna Rojas Vann

Melanie is a second-generation immigrant from Columbia.  She just doesn’t understand her mother until she receives an assignment to visit Columbia and write a story about the drug problem there.  Her mother insists that she visit her grandmother in Cali and Melanie’s life takes a drastic turn.

This was an enjoyable story, but one to which I really couldn’t relate.  But not everyone will be able to say that. With so much of our political life focused on the many immigrants who have recently entered our nation, this book has an important viewpoint for people like me who don’t have an immigrant experience in their recent past.  It was a valuable story in that it showed me the human element of illegal immigration.

The characters showed growth, especially Melanie, and the plot moved along nicely even though the ending was not a total surprise.  All in all, it was a satisfying read which conveys an important message of empathy towards others who walk a different path in life from ours.

I received this book in exchange for this, my honest review and I thank the publisher for their generosity.

 

Jamie Langston Turner's latest book

 

Every Ocean Has a Shore by Jamie Langston Turner

This book is one of the few on my blog that I haven’t received in return for an honest review.  Jamie Langston Turner is one of my favorite authors and I just had to purchase this book and include it on my blog.

True to form, this book moves at a leisurely pace so that the reader becomes very invested in the lives of each of the characters.  Gary, Fawna, and Alice are bound together by a near tragedy and despite going their separate ways, they maintain a friendship in which they each grow and develop as people.

Jamie has developed a wonderful cast of characters in her many novels and I was pleased to meet Eldeen, Jewel and Willard again.  It was like visiting old friends after years of absence.  And now I consider Gary, Fawna and Alice friends, too, and hope to meet them again in another book.

Jamie’s books stimulate the interest of the reader in the personalities and quirks of fellow humans.  She can make a character reading a National Geographic magazine seem fascinating.  I could also identify with the inner thoughts of the characters because they were so well expressed.  And at the risk of giving away a spoiler, I was truly sad with Eldeen’s death.  I was looking forward to seeing her in another book.

Although her books don’t beat the reader over the head with a Bible, the message of salvation and faith is quietly present as the characters make their way to God.  The love that they show to each other, and their families is a testament to their faith.  These elements make reading her books an uplifting experience that many readers would enjoy.  I enthusiastically recommend this book and her former ones as well.

 

Time Slip Mystery Novel

 

The Wings of Poppy Pendleton by Melanie Dobson

Poppy Pendleton, child of Amelia and Leslie Pendleton, goes missing on the eve of her fifth birthday.   She has disappeared from her parents’ castle on Koster Island.  No one has ever solved the mystery of her disappearance.

Chloe has inherited the castle and island, along with a candy store from her grandparents.  As a child she was never allowed entrance to the castle.  But now the appearance of a little girl, Emma, demands that she find the truth to the secrets the castle holds.

This time slip novel takes the reader between the present day and the past.  Readers learn more of Poppy’s history and family while the author skillfully weaves in the present-day story of Emma, Chloe and Logan.

This book has a complex plot with many surprises but a satisfying conclusion.  Despite dealing with some of the seamier sides of life in the past and present, the author handles it gracefully.  The characters are well drawn and very relatable.  The writing pulls the reader into the story.

I enjoyed this book and am grateful to the publisher for a copy in exchange for this, my honest review.

Heavy Novel on Suicide

 What a Wave Must Be by Angela Hunt

Angela Hunt is one of those “must read” authors for me.  I absolutely love her writing style and the fact that each of her books is so unique.  This book is also unique, but not for the faint of heart.  She delves into the weighty subject of suicide.  Why does a person commit suicide?  Could anyone have stopped them?  What are the ripples that spread outward from the suicide?

I kept hoping for a departure from the topic, but it colored every page of this novel.  No doubt, this is a subject that can be easily passed over due to the difficulty of it, but the author does not shy away from it.  It would be my hope that an adult considering this option would read this book and discover the devastating effects his decision might have.  That being said, I do not think this book would be best for younger readers, those not having enough life experience to be able to think maturely about this subject.

This is a dark book but not without the hope that is found in Jesus.  The characters in it seem to find their way forward and to value their own lives and that of their family.  I am grateful to the publisher and netgalley for this complimentary copy in exchange for this, my honest review.

Southern Fiction set after the Civil War

 

Letters from My Sister by Valerie Fraser Luesse

Callie and Emmy are as close as sisters can be, growing up on their well-to-do farm in the South.  Like many families, theirs undergoes many heartbreaking incidents.  The letters in the title are between the two sisters as they are separated due to illness.

This book contains a sweet love story and some mysteries which take place after the Civil War.  I was surprised at the sad turn of events but appreciated the author’s writing style.

The author includes some interesting characters.   I was intrigued by Tirzah and Ura’s ability to “see” things. But my favorite character was Callie with her free spirit.

Although the mystery is solved, it had never really gripped me.  I enjoyed the development of the characters more than the plot.  I am grateful to the publisher for a complimentary copy in return for this, my honest review.