Tag: BookLook Blogger

The Captain Takes a Wife: A BookLook Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer

The Captain Takes a Wife is an interesting novel about a soldier-turned preacher and a young woman in trouble.The story opens with the hero being thrown into a situation where he must rescue the heroine. He is encouraged by trusted friends to jump right in with faith into an odd relationship with a complete stranger. (I’m being cryptic a bit because I don’t want to spoil the story for you!) Through a chain of unexpected events which happen to be captured by a reporter, his life is changed forever in a matter of just a few hours.

I was honestly not very captured by the story-line. The premise felt awkward and unbelievable. Yes, I know fiction often has aspects which are far from reality which is part of its charm, but in this case it did not seem to fit well and comfortably. In this case I believe part of the problem was the readers did not have the opportunity to really learn about the character of the hero or heroine before a very dramatic change in their circumstance occurred. This led to my feeling it was an unrealistic storyline.

I also felt the character development was sorely lacking. While the characters did change and grow in some regard, it felt forced. This is a wholesome novel and also a light read so it would potentially make for a good change from your ordinary fictional fare, but overall I was disappointed in the story-line and it did not keep my attention very well.

Disclaimer: I received this novel from BookLook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Dawn at Emberwilde: A Booklook Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer

Sarah E. Ladd is my new favorite author! She captured my heart with The Curiosity Keeper and I was incredibly excited to read the next installment of the Treasures of Surrey Novels. Although they are connected, you could absolutely read this as a standalone novel. (But really, go back and read The Curiosity Keeper! It’s great!)

The novel opens with a young woman and her half-sister being swept away from the simply life they know at an all girls boarding school into a life of ease and luxury…or so they think. The preparatory school where they live was created for young girls without means to learn how to provide for themselves through jobs such as being a governess. The heroine, Isabel, had been trained as such and was a teacher in training before her world was turned upside down. Her younger half-sister went from being in a school that would prepare her to be a governess to being given one herself! The change for both girls is not easy, but they are left with no choice as their current situation at the boarding school is not intended for young women of privilege.

As the story progresses Isabel discovers all is not as it seems with her aunt and uncle. She must also learn to discern the character of two young men who have indicated an interest in her well-being. One young man is encouraged by her uncle, the other by her aunt. Both are charming and handsome, but one is not as noble as he seems. (You’ll have to read to find out which!)

Isabel also discovers there is some mystery surround the death of her mother and what she had been told all her life may not be exactly the truth.

You will find yourself captivated as I was as you read. It was very hard to put this down and actually go to sleep at night! The intrigue and suspense in this regency era novel will keep you turning pages.

Disclaimer: I received this novel in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Behold the Man: A BookLook Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer
The most recent book I have been reading to review is from Bodie and Brock Thoene. Although they are a well-known writing team among Christian fiction circles this is the first book I’ve read by them. Behold the Man is the third in the Jerusalem Chronicles series which recounts the tumultuous time in Israel’s history during Jesus’ ministry. I have not read the previous two books, but this one covers the end of Jesus’ ministry here on earth.
The Roman occupation is central to understanding much of what Scripture tells us about Jesus’ ministry and this is an excellent book to help get a grasp of what was happening and what it meant for both the Jews and the Romans. There is a great amount of historical detail included. It is evident that the Thoenes spent extensive amounts of time researching in order to make sure this story aligned with biblical accounts and non-biblical historical sources.
I had a very hard time getting into the story. It felt a bit slow at the beginning and was filled with so much historical reference I felt I needed to spend some time looking up the names and references in order to really understand it. I love historical fiction, but it is hard for me to enjoy it if limited knowledge of a certain period prevents me from fully understanding it. This one thing frustrated me. I enjoyed the portrayal of actual historical characters. 
If you like historical fiction that delves very deeply into the historical period in which it is set both culturally, politically, and socially, you will most surely enjoy this book. It is well written and accurately presented even though it is fictional. Personally I was not a huge fan of the weightier material.

Disclaimer: I received this title from BookLook Bloggers in return for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not required to write a positive review.

Pressing Pause: A BookLook Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer
 
Moms who are also Christ-followers know we need time alone with God, but between all of the pressures of the mundane and the day-to-day needs we meet on a minute-by-minute basis, taking that time isn’t always at the top of our list. I can’t even count the times that all my good intentions have been thwarted by bickering littles, monstrous messes, or even simply sleeping through my alarm because of exhaustion. Add to that the seasons we face where weeks go by when sickness seems to be a constant family member. 
The younger our babes, the harder it is to not only find the time to read Scripture, but also keep our minds focused enough to hear from God as we are reading. This wonderful new devotional from Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk aims to helps moms reverse this. Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments for Moms to Meet Jesus is ideal for the mom who is trying to regain her footing in spending time alone with God. The short passages are expounded upon alternating between the authors. Real-life examples from each woman’s life. At the end of each devotion is a sample prayer and questions to ponder. Finally, there is space to journal your own thoughts after reading.
This is intended to be a way for mom to press pause on their day for just a moment. I think this would have been especially helpful when I was first starting on my mothering journey. Moments with God were hard to create even though it was what my heart desired. I talk to a lot of new moms and I’ve heard this same thing over and over. 
The title for this devotional is so perfect. My girls are apt to say, “Pause the game!” when they are playing pretend and need to do something in real life for a second. The same idea is here. We need to press pause from the tyranny of the ordinary. If it has been a while since you took some time alone with God this is a great place to start.
Disclaimer: I received this title from BookLook Bloggers in return for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not required to write a positive review.

London Art Chase: A BookLook Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer
 
This first book in the Glimmer Girls series is simply delightful! Three sisters, two older twins and a younger, tag along with their mom on her trips around the world. Their mom is a famous Christian singer so they experience a very different life than my own girls do. Part of the fun of this series is the fun of all fiction, transporting yourself to a different setting and life experience!
This series is going to be a favorite in our household. We also have a family of three girls and so this has intrigued my daughters. They like the adventures and mysteries the girls find themselves in the midst of in each book. 
My 10-year-old daughter says…
“It’s really funny and I like that they talk about God in their family.”
I too love that their family follows God. It is wonderful to have our own Christian values reflected in the literature they are reading. So much of today’s fiction is not something I think is appropriate for young girls, but this is a wonderful exception to that. Not only is it spiritually uplifting, but my daughters have found the titles in this series to be engaging and fun! 
We are looking forward to reading more titles from this series when the are published!
Disclaimer: I received this title in exchange for my honest review from BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. I did not receive any other compensation.

The Golden Braid: A Booklook Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer

I discovered Melanie Dickerson’s novels about a year ago. Her creative take on the classic fairy tale has captured my imagination. This series of books are definitely one of my all-time favorite series. I’m always excited to see what is coming next and The Golden Braid did not disappoint!

 

This retelling of Rapunzel was very interesting as it is taking place at the same time as another of Dickerson’s novels in the series, The Princess Spy. I really liked the take on this classic story. I love how the author takes the magical out of these fairy tales and places them in reality of the time period. It feels as if the story could really have taken place.

After reading this novel I would like to go back an read The Princess Spy again with new and fresh insight. I thought the intertwining plot line was a really creative way to create the setting. I have never read another story which paralleled a second novel and I think the creativity of this was so beautiful. Even though many of the events overlapped I was never bored or left feeling like I had already read this before.

Dickerson does an excellent job of developing her characters emotionally and spiritually from start to finish. I also love that these novels follow the world of one main family throughout several generations and various relatives. The connections really bring forth the truth of God’s ultimate plan and design in all of our lives, no matter our station in life.

I very much look forward to her next novel in this series!

Disclaimer: I received The Golden Braid as part of the BookLook Bloggers review team. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way.                                                                                             

Whipsers in the Reading Room: A BookLook Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer
I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Shelley Gray as an author. She is not new to the Christian fiction scene, but she is new to me. I am not typically a mystery fan unless it involves a historical Christian novel. I was very excited to have the opportunity to read and review the entire Chicago World’s Fair Mystery series through BookLook Bloggers. 
 
This entire series has been engaging from start to finish. I have very little time to read for pleasure even though it is something I love to do, so when I do read I like quality stories that leave me feeling as if I know the characters personally. Overall this series has provided that satisfaction. 
This particular novel involves an unlikely pairing between a wealthy nare-do-well and a young woman who had fallen from society’s graces due to her father’s lack of provision after his death. Lydia is the female protagonist who appears rather naive despite her high intelligence. Her mother’s indifference to her in general and her own seclusion in the library where she works creates a hopelessly romantic personality that is equally separated from reality. Her station in society has spared her from some of the harshest realities of life, but through her own misguided curiosity she finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation as a potential suspect. 
The male protagonist, Sebastian, was not a very likeable character for me at the beginning, but he did grow on me as the story progressed.  His arrogant nature and demanding ways do not present him as a hero. However, his growing desire to become an honorable man does redeem him in the end. 
The fast pace nature of the story kept me on the edge of my seat, more so than the other novels in the series. While a sign of a good book is always wanting to read more, this was probably my least favorite for a few reasons. I do like a good redemption story, but in some ways that portion fell flat. The only reason Sebastian seems to want to change is because of Lydia and not a convincingly true change of heart. I also felt Lydia’s naivety made her less likable and her growth during the story felt less than sincere or realistic. 
The other area I felt was slightly lacking was spiritual growth of the characters. Now, I am not one who likes a preachy novel. Some very successful Christian authors sometimes fill their pages with full sermons and I have never been a fan of this. At the same time I like a story with true redemption reflective of a heart changed for Christ and this never entered the picture, which is why I think I did not feel the character’s changes were completely sincere. 
I would still recommend this novel and the entire series but I personally think the first two books are more enjoyable than the third. 
Disclaimer: I received Whispers in the Reading Room as part of the BookLook Bloggers review team. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way.