Category: Book Reviews

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The Paris Betrayal, by James R. Hannibal, 2021, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

Pertinent Themes

The Paris Betrayal is simultaneously the oldest and the newest story ever told.Still pertinent, it is an allegory based on the oldest book ever recorded–the book of Job in the Bible. Interestingly, Hannibal began writing the book before the COVID-19 world-wide pandemic set in. Yet, he themed the story around biological warfare–an engineered plague designed to wipe out enemy nations–the injectable cure also created by the same evil organization.

Action-packed, with gentler moments sprinkled in

I don’t usually choose racy shoot-em-up spy novels, with dead bodies and horror all over the place. This testosterone and adrenaline-packed page-turner is written by a former stealth pilot, who has experienced some of the scenes first-hand. However, as an older woman, providing I didn’t linger on the details of the fights, disease, and death, it was actually a welcome change to read something quite different from my normal fare. There are a few women and threads of touching romance. A memorable quote is from a woman the main character meets on a train, when he is diseased and ugly from all his wounds, feeling sorry for himself because he didn’t purposely betray his leader and didn’t deserve to die this way. She says, “Stop asking what you deserve, Ben. Try asking, ‘What is my purpose?’… I keep busy by asking that purpose each day. For instance, tonight I think my purpose is to sit beside a wronged man on a train.”

Biblical Allegory

It got very interesting when I began to notice the Biblical themes. Having studied the book of Job several times in my life, I recognized the underlying thread. It was gratifying to discover in the Author Note at the end, that I was right about that. In the end of the novel, there seems to be a Jesus allegory as well. Hmm, it would be interesting to check out Hannibal’s comparative Bible study and book club resource on his website at www.jamesrhannibal.com.

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Blackberry Beach, by Irene Hannon, 2021, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

Blackberry Beach, by Irene Hannon

Blackberry Beach. What a lovely name for a romance novel. There’s nothing like sun-warmed blackberries growing on a beach–the heady scent of the berries and the bushes themselves, the juicy rich sweetness of the berries–add to that a fresh sea breeze contrasted with warm sun on your skin; enough to put one in a romantic mood if you ask me!

Irene Hannon’s novel is set in Oregon, but I enjoyed reading it sitting on one of the many beaches with blackberries here on the west coast of Canada. The setting described in the book felt familiar to me, with the culture of a beachside community of people who frequent a friendly specialty coffee shop, taco stand, bakery and so on, and who join together on projects to help the less fortunate.

The story revolves around two couples that fall in love–one is a younger couple, the other an older couple. Both men have established their lives in Blackberry Beach, but the women are visiting. Will their new love interests be strong enough to hold them there? It would mean major changes for both of them.

The people of the community are banding together to start a home for foster children, sponsored by the two churches. Both couples come together to help renovate a house for this worthy project–an altruistic way to begin a relationship.

There is a lot of head space in this novel, with each main character mulling over and deliberating about what they want in their lives and why. The author expertly brings out the way past experiences have molded characters. Through the minds of characters she explores relationships, career choices, and more.

Find Blackberry Beach on Indigo/Chapters here.
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facing the dawn, by Cynthia Ruchti, 2021, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

Contemporary Women’s Fiction

facing the dawn, by Cynthia Ruchti, is a Contemporary Women’s Fiction story. It was refreshing to read a novel that doesn’t follow a typical plotline. This one reads almost more like a memoir or biography, except that those aren’t usually written in quite as sarcastic a tone. book photo

A rotten attitude

For the first couple of chapters, I didn’t like the main character. Her name is Mara, which means ‘bitter’ (in part), and her attitude is shown in her sarcasm. Perhaps she reminded me too much of myself when I went through a similar phase in my life. Mara resents her husband’s absence as their children grow up. She feels that maybe if he were with them the children would not have gotten into the problems they’ve gone through. She finds herself in the petty difficulties of contemporary American life as well, and could use his support. It’s partly her own fault. She encouraged him to go to Africa, telling him she was a strong, independent woman (also part of the meaning of her name).

Mara’s husband has been in Uganda for three years, building wells with a humanitarian organisation. He won’t be back for another year. She’s tired of dealing with the kids and house on her own. She has to work to make ends meet, and her job is unfulfilling.

Plunged into a dark valley

However, in chapter four, Mara’s situation suddenly changes with a phone call bringing bad news. Now the family is thrust into grief. But along with the grief, God has sent friends like angels to support and encourage them. Then there is more grief. And Mara goes into a serious depression over Christmas.

Readers go through Mara’s grief with her in vivid detail. Her ‘forever friend’ is there for her through all her mixed feelings, always knowing what she needs. A kind man and his son who live nearby also pitch in to befriend and help this forlorn little family.

Emerging to face the dawn

Mara has many questions in her mind. Facing the dawn is part of the answer, which at first is a bit of a mystery to her as well. It comes in layers.

I’m glad I chose this book from the new novels Revell offered me to review. Having gone through major grief myself this past year, and having raised children through hair-raising childhood and teen years, I could relate to Mara. Reading about the things that helped Mara on her journey to healing are interesting too. Maybe I’ll try some of them myself.

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Facing the Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti — also see my review and others on Goodreads

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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A Dance in Donegal, by Jennifer Deibel, 2021, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

Ireland 1921

A Dance in Donegal transported me from Canada in 2021 to a village on the west coast of Ireland in 1921. I haven’t quite returned home yet. If I really went there and encountered all that this main character did, I doubt I would fare as well as her, though. She was transported from Boston, alone in the unknown.

Vivid Contrasts

A young American woman moves to her mother’s hometown in Ireland.

My thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review. I chose it out of the several they published this month because it’s based in Ireland. Two of my great-grandparents were Irish and I’m curious about their land and lives. I wonder if they came from villages like this. Thank you to the author for painting a vivid word-picture. You showed us the setting and the interactions of villagers, good and bad. Simple and poor living conditions, generosity, gossip, lies, loyalty, betrayal, sickness, superstition, hatred and love. Most of all, the miracle of God’s love, which changes lives. You even gave us tastes of the language, integrated in phrases.

Tea and brown bread seem to be mainstays. I wonder whether it’s the same brown bread we eat nowadays here in North America, made with yeast. Perhaps they used a quicker molasses and soda recipe.

Writing Style

Chapters are short; nice for me as I read in between doing other things. The pace is comfortable. I like how the author gets into the heads and hearts of the main characters. Readers can almost feel their emotions with them. However, some of the physical emotive description seemed overdone to me. I couldn’t relate to tears splashing onto my breast, or bile in my throat as a reaction.

I’m glad the main character survived her first few months. At the end, somehow it seemed like a beginning from which the story could continue. Maybe there will be a sequel.

To learn more about the author and upcoming books, go to JENNIFERDEIBEL.COM.

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Ribbon of Years, by Robin Lee Hatcher, 2001, First RobinSong Inc. ebook edition, 2018

Download to Kindle App

I found this free ebook offer several months ago and downloaded it onto my Kindle app to read later. I always like Robin Hatcher’s books. The pace suits me–not too speedy, but not draggy either. Robin writes novels from a Christian viewpoint, but is not preachy.

Women’s Fiction–relatable events in a woman’s life, from teens to falling in love, motherhood and beyond.

Ribbon of Years appealed to me because it is the (fictional) life story of a woman, starting from the age of 15. There is a dual timeline, and it starts out with a woman discovering a box of the main character’s mementos; items that signify meaningful events and people in her life. As each item is removed from the box, the associated story from the main character’s life is told.

The first item in the box leads to the story of Miriam as a precocious fifteen year old who can’t wait to break loose from her parents and her little hometown. She sets out for Hollywood with dreams of becoming a movie star. I won’t spoil it on you by telling how this works out.

Her friend Jacob, who is in love with her as a teenager, is with her throughout the story, as are some of the other characters. Miriam goes through ups and downs over her life. I cried along with her several times, because I have gone through similar experiences.

Initially Miriam was disillusioned with her parents’ Christianity and church, and mad at God. But eventually she realized that God was her best (and sometimes only) friend. Her faith in God keeps her strong and steadfast through the journey of her life, giving her joy in spite of hard knocks that would have left others bitter.

If you, like me, appreciate stories that are more realistic and meaningful than run-of-the-mill formulaic romances or suspense novels, I recommend this book to you. As an older woman looking back over a lifetime of ups and downs and experiences that are not straightforward, I could relate to this main character. Very touching.

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Author’s Website

Find out more about Robin Lee Hatcher and other books she has written at: www.robinleehatcher.com.

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The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, by R. A. Dick, 1945, Vintage Books (Random House)

A widow is befriended by the ghost of a sea captain.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

This book was the last present to me from my husband. I saved it to read until now, half a year since his passing. He watched the movie late one night last March, after I’d already gone to bed, and loved it so much that he went to Chapters and ordered me the book. I knew it held significance to him, so I postponed reading it until a time when I was able to take it in and think about the reasons Sid wanted to share it with me.

Shortly after Sid ordered the book, Canada was suddenly shut down due to COVID-19. At the same time, his physical condition was deteriorating rapidly from pancreatic cancer. So our concentration was on these things and we almost forgot about the book. Finally when covid restrictions lightened up they phoned a couple of times to say the book had arrived at Chapters, and I took a few minutes away from tending my dear to go pick it up.

I remember watching the sitcom of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir a few times in the sixties. But the book seemed more serious. Did you know ‘muir’ means ‘the sea’? And Mrs. Muir’s first name, Lucy, or Lucia, means light. She was a little woman whose husband had recently died. She moved to a small town by the sea with her two young children to establish her own life, away from controlling in-laws. An introvert by nature, here she could live a quiet life.

She found an affordable house to rent, offered cheap because it was haunted by a sea captain who used to own it. The captain became her friend. Was he real or a figment of her imagination? At any rate, it was his idea that she write a book.

I can see why Sid wanted me to read this story. I totally relate to Mrs. Muir. Like her, I love living near the ocean. It restores my soul. Like Mrs. Muir, there was a time in my life when I needed to find myself, away from others. Like her, I enjoy the simple things of life, like walking with my dog or puttering in a garden with a few roses. I also enjoy working on a book I’m writing.

Plus there’s the theme of being a widow. In my case I wonder if Sid was thinking he would come and converse with me like the captain and Mrs. Muir did. Indeed I have found comfort in talking to Sid over the last six months since he passed. Whether he really hears me or not is kind of beside the point. I recall things he used to say, and things we enjoyed together. And cry because I miss his physical presence. But I haven’t forgotten that we were often at odds with one another, just the way Mrs. Muir was with the captain. You’ll have to read it to see what I mean. I’m glad to know I’m not the only person who gets cranky like that.

This book reminds me of one I recently read–Love, Anthony, by Lisa Genova. Also about a young mother living by the sea. Also with a theme of enjoying the simplicity of life without trying to please others by doing and accomplishing things all the time.

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Tidewater Bride, by Laura Frantz, 2021, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

Early America

Tidewater Bride, by Laura Frantz

Tidewater Bride, by Laura Frantz, transports readers to early 1600s Virginia. We’ve all heard of the legendary Pocahontas, a true love story of that era between a native girl and a white settler. How did they come to fall in love? Frantz brings alive the situations and circumstances of several characters in this book. Many peoples are at odds in the unstable times of the setting. It’s not just settlers and naturals (the term Frantz uses for natives). Several interesting and intriguing subplots bring readers into this new world.

Skillfully Written

Frantz creates suspense on several levels. The romance between the daughter of a merchant and a tobacco grower includes characters from the various peoples who inhabited Virginia at the time. Tensions simmer between settlers and natives. African slave owners abuse them. White settlers include British elite, Scottish indentures, Puritans who keep to themselves, doctors, merchants, innkeepers, and shiploads of brides. Many male settlers have already arrived. Some married native girls. Imported brides are never enough for the men who want wives.

Colloquial Lingo

The author makes extensive use of the colloquial lingo of the era. It took a couple of chapters to get used to it. The flowery way of speaking almost seems poetic. It helped put me into the viewpoint of the main character. I felt for all the different people of her world.

I chose this book to write a review on, and the publisher sent me a free copy. Frantz has researched well, and I recommend the book to readers of early American historical fiction.

www.revellbooks.com

www.laurafrantz.net

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Moral Compass, by Danielle Steel, 2020, Dell (Random House)

Moral Compass, by Danielle Steel
A high school rape–the circumstances and results.

Moral Compass, by Danielle Steel, addresses the topic of rape in the setting of an elite boarding school in the United States.

The novel starts out on the first day back to school in September, with faculty arriving and observing students and their parents unloading baggage from cars. Many characters are introduced and we learn that it’s the first year that the school is accepting female students. We don’t get into the action until chapter three, at Halloween.

The pace picks up quickly from there. Danielle Steel brings out the unique personalities of the characters vividly. Each person involved reacts differently to the incident, and there are many more people affected than one might think. Faculty, board members, parents, police, lawyers, and the students themselves. Which way will the dominoes fall? Each family of the students involved has their own sub-story, with surprising results.

The complex relationships between all the characters is very interesting. As a reader I learned a lot about how the American justice system works.

Moral Compass appealed to me as a parent, a former teacher, and women’s worker. So glad my son picked it out as a Christmas gift for me.

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Love Anthony, by Lisa Genova, 2012, Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster)

Free download

An offer of a free e-book from Simon & Schuster popped up on Facebook, and from the handful of choices I picked this one. Several years ago I read Still Alice, by Lisa Genova, which I really liked. So, I already had an appreciation of this author, but the blurb told me that Love Anthony was centred around an autistic child. I wasn’t so sure I was interested in reading about autism at this point in my life, as currently there are several other personal issues at the top of my list of concerns.

Qualified author

Lisa Genova is well qualified to write about brain disorders, as she holds a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard. Still Alice centres around dementia, and because her books are novels, they bring a more personal understanding of a particular disorder than a textbook does. She gets right into the heads and emotions of not only the person with the disorder, but also the family members and others in their lives.

It’s about so much more than autism.

So, between syrupy Hallmark movies and scaled down COVID-19 Christmas activities, I cozied down with a soft blanket in my lazyboy and started reading. The novel begins with two women who don’t know each other, but both live on Nantucket Island. I learned that Nantucket is in some ways similar to Vancouver Island, where I live. Dark drizzly gray winters that go on too long and bring on depression. But amazing sunny beach summers that bring boatloads of tourists with their hustle and bustle.

Needs in marriage

These two women have a few things in common. Both are newly separated from their husbands and facing up to that turmoil. Both had set aside their creativity and writing/editing interests for years while raising children.

Anthony’s story is woven in as his mother reflects on his short life and reads her diary. Then he tells some of his own story through the other woman, as she is inspired to write about an autistic child.

Understanding traits

The author cleverly gets across the point that autism is a wide, wide spectrum, and everyone has some of the traits. As I read I saw some of the traits in myself: the need to escape from noisy crowds, the preference for quiet preoccupation as opposed to human interaction. But the difference with Anthony is that such traits are extreme. He doesn’t speak at all or make eye contact. His life exists outside of social awareness.

Looking to God for answers

His mother questions her faith in God as part of processing her son’s autism. She prayed and prayed for answers, to no avail. She quit going to church a long time ago, but a priest tells her to keep trusting God and the answers will come to her.

As Anthony inspires the other woman to write his story, he speaks to her about love and acceptance, universal needs.

Simply ‘being’, in love, is the best thing in life.

I was very glad I read this book. It’s message will stay with me, helping me to understand love in a new way. The book is about so much more than autism or the lives of these two women.

Anthony’s mother, in retrospect, has the happiest memories of simple moments she spent with him, seemingly doing nothing, but oh so meaningful. Talking, doing, and accomplishing take a back seat after all, to simply being together. I totally relate; my most precious memories are of time spent with the people in my life in silence, enjoying the sunshine, the blue sky, ocean waves, fresh air, even cozied up in warm blankets looking out at a drizzly winter day.

Suggestions to the publisher

I would recommend this book to anyone. Unfortunately the title doesn’t give any clues to draw readers. I think I would change the book cover as well. After reading the book the title and cover make sense, but readers need something to draw them to the themes found inside. It’s like hiding your light under a bushel, as the Bible story goes.

Simon & Schuster offer a free download of the Glose app for reading. I found it very good. The only glitch was that a few pages here and there came up blank. I discovered that if you tap on the blank page the words appear.

https://glose.com/book/love-anthony

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The Escape, by Lisa Harris, 2020, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

The Escape, by Lisa Harris, is a Romantic Suspense novel, the first in the US Marshals series. Madison and Jonas met several years ago but have lived in different states for the last few years. Suddenly they are assigned to the job of transporting two murderers from Seattle to Denver together. The weather is stormy, and the small plane crashes in a remote forest. Both pilots and one prisoner are killed, but the other escapes. US MARSHALS BOOK 1

Madison and Jonas must arrest this dangerous but charming killer before he commits more murders. But where are they? What state are they even in? The plane has come to rest in a treetop, and all they can see is miles of forest.

The two work well together, and admire each other’s skills, but there isn’t much time for thinking about each other as they try to stay on top of this clever killer. He’s always one step ahead of them. Just when it seems he’s finally been caught, he always manages to escape. Will they ever finally succeed? And will Madison and Jonas, both of whom are telling themselves that they aren’t interested in falling in love again, admit to their developing feelings for one another?

Lisa Harris leaves out no details for the reader to wonder about in this fast-paced suspense. The characters are well developed, with more than one side to them. Even the serial killer has a mother who loves him and still believes in him. Family members of main characters come into the mystery. Settings and scenes are well described.

The ending ties together the strings of the main suspense plot, but leaves the reader wanting to get to know the main characters and their families even better, and solve another ongoing mystery.

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Softly Blows the Bugle, by Jan Drexler, 2020, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

Softly Blows the Bugle, by Jan Drexler is thoroughly enjoyable. Historical Fiction is my favourite genre to read, and I have discovered a new (to me) favourite author. The writing flows well and the pace is just right. Romance and suspense and integrated historical detail bring alive the setting. The Amish of Weaver's Creek, Book Three

Although the third in a series, it reads very well as a stand-alone. Incidents and people from the previous books are sometimes referred to, but not in a way that creates any gaps in the story.

The main character, Elizabeth, is a young widow. She strayed from the Amish faith of her parents and married a non-believer, too late realizing her mistake. Elizabeth is actually glad to be a widow, as she endured thirteen years of abuse at his hand. Seeing the contrast between her husband and the men of her Amish family, she vows never again to marry someone from outside her community. But never say never. You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens.

I love how the author portrays the various characters with their flaws and thought processes. There are twists and turns in the plot. Characters’ eyes are opened, causing them to undergo changes of heart.

Readers become acquainted not only with the Amish community, but also with the civil war and the then-recent legal emancipation of blacks shown through characters from those realms. One feels with them the despair of their circumstances as well as the peace and joy of putting their trust in Jesus, the Redeemer of our souls.

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The Key to Love, by Betsy St. Amant, 2020, Revell (Baker Publishing)

What does Romance have to do with Love, anyway?

I chose The Key to Love because I wanted to read a light romance as a get-away from tough times this year. Thank you, Revell, for choosing me as a reviewer and sending me a copy.

The title and cover promise a sweet love story, with pink and black and a bakery window full of French pasteries. I hoped perhaps this novel would even take me to Paris and I might get a recipe for macarons. But no, the story stays in a town called Story in the heart of rural America.

The Key to Love, by Betsy St. Amant

St. Amant presents us with a taste of Americanized ‘French’ romance. The main character has a French name, as does her love interest. Born and raised in this little American town, she is devoted to it and her career as a French pastry chef in the footsteps of her mother. Her mother had gone to Paris to learn this skill many years ago. The book makes me want to eat petit fours and travel to Paris. The protagonist does eventually get there but disappointingly we readers don’t go with her.

Down-home, messy realities

You will like The Key to Love if you get off on non-stop sarcasm and bickering. To give them credit, the main characters consciously attempt to overcome these habits. However, it takes at least the first half of the book for them to climb out of their rut. Hope exists, though, and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

There is lots of homey humour, and love is seen through acceptance of reality rather than holding out for the imaginary dreamy version. I just wish, as an honest reviewer, that the first two-thirds of the story could have been shortened and the last third developed more. It’s not until the end that we get some more serious thoughts about the real keys to love.

What was the mother’s story?

Some intriguing mysterious threads are only loosely tied up in the end. I hope St. Amant will write a sequel taking readers to Paris with the protagonist. She might research the history of her mother’s time there. Perhaps we could meet the legendary photographer she knew. The author could take us to the places mentioned in The Key to Love and look into the mysteries that she has enticed us with.

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Firstborn: A Novel, by Robin Lee Hatcher, RobinSong Inc. ebook edition, 2018.

Ebook Edition

Firstborn, by Robin Lee Hatcher, was a free ebook download. I read it on Kindle with a free app. Normally I prefer to read traditional paper books because I like flipping through the pages. This was my first time reading on this Kindle app, and it was okay other than the annoying features of the page jumping ahead or going black on me.

Themes of Teen Pregnancy, Secrecy, Adoption, Family and Forgiveness

Robin Lee Hatcher is one of my favourite authors, and this book is on a similar theme to my work in progress, so I wanted to learn from her approach. It centres around a young woman who, although she mostly lives by Christian values, makes a mistake and becomes pregnant in her teenage years.

The storyline alternates between Erica’s adult present life in the story, and her younger years in the ’70s. Hatcher uses month and year dates on some of the chapters to notify the reader of the timeline. I like this because as a reader you are not left guessing where you are in the story. Knowing what year it is also helps you understand the setting of the chapter.

The author explores thoughts and emotions in depth from the point of view of each character, especially at certain pivotal times in their lives. In this story the main character keeps her teenage pregnancy a secret, but it resurfaces into her ‘perfect’ adult life, causing untold disruption. The superficial perfection is shattered. Disaster looms, but in the end each character goes through much soul-searching and come out better for it.

I would consider this more of a Women’s Fiction than a Romance because the turmoil eclipses the elements of romance, although there is a sweet ending involving decisions of love. The story would be viable even if it ended differently, as it likely would in most real life situations.

The topic is relevant, exploring teen pregnancy, adoption, secrecy, family relationships, friendship, and spirituality. Life isn’t perfect, even for Christians. Acceptance and forgiveness are central to true Christianity, not superficial perfection. God doesn’t stand in judgement; it is people who do this to each other, ruining lives in the process.

Jesus Christ gave his life to bring forgiveness. Until the church embraces this gospel, it is a sham of destruction. Hatcher does a good job of bringing out this hypocrisy as each character in the story faces their own pride and unforgiveness and with God’s help is able to forgive the others, resulting in a satisfying ending.

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The Forgiving Jar, by Wanda E. Brunstetter, 2019, Shiloh Run Press (Barbour Publishing Inc.)

The Prayer Jars, Book Two
The Forgiving Jar

The Forgiving Jar is a novel about a young woman whose mother has recently passed away. In her mother’s Bible, she finds a note about her mother’s parents, who she never knew. She learns that they are Amish, and she goes to meet them and live with them for a period of time.

The main character, Sara, is not a Christian at the outset of the novel. She cannot find it in her heart to forgive. But she finds a jar full of thoughts and verses on little slips of paper. Intrigued by these notes, she reads a few when she finds herself in need of encouragement. Some of the notes are about forgiving. Why is forgiving so important anyway?

The Forgiving Jar is second in a series, but I read it as a standalone and didn’t need to read the first book to understand the story. I enjoyed it very much, and will read more of Wanda Brunstetter’s books. I learned some things about the Amish community and their gentle ways, and the Strasburg area in Pennsylvania where the novel is set. The book makes me want to visit the area–maybe sometime for a holiday.

The characters in the novel are all likeable. Some are Amish and some are not. We see how they interact with each other. Sara meets a young man who is studying to become a pastor. She isn’t a Christian, but he is so nice. Will their relationship be able to grow? You’ll have to read it yourself to find out.

To learn more about the author, visit www.wandabrunstetter.com.