Summer in the Spotlight is book 3 in the Prince Edward Island Shores series, by Liz Johnson. Although it works to read as a stand-alone, I felt it would have been best to start with book 1. Even though I had read book 2, at times I was missing bits of backstory.
This book features Levi Ross, the youngest brother in the Ross family. The previous two books feature other family members. Their stories carry on in this one as secondary characters.
I’m not sure if it was just me and the things going on in my life right now, but it took me a long time to get through this book. Normally I like to linger on details, but I found it hard to make sense of them, so I skimmed. Even at that, it wasn’t until the last few chapters where Levi and Kelsey’s romance finally picked up, that the story carried me better. But the wedding at the end featured characters from previous books in the series. Somewhat distracting from the main story.
You might like this book if you are drawn to a painfully shy character matched with an accomplished extrovert. And again, I’d recommend reading the series in order.
My thanks to Revell for sending me this paperback at my request.
This is where it ends. Minerva Jenkins has lead a lonely existence atop her beautiful mountain since her husband, Stately, died, some 30 years ago. Were it not for the secret she’d promised to keep for him, she might not have spent all this time fending for herself. In fact, she has never even known what the secret was.
Told from Minerva’s Point of View, the story gradually comes to light. Something she’d never wanted to realize is forced to the surface. It starts when a young reporter arrives asking questions about her past. He needs a place to stay, and she has prayed not to die alone. He’s just what she needs–someone to care for her as her health fails, who even banters with her and enjoys her company. But then there’s his friend, a nefarious character.
Their questions send her into reverie, and she must settle matters in her mind. “Things that were pushed clear to the back of my soul wiggled their way to the front.”
She’d married at fourteen, told that the two shall become one, and not wanting to become a a burden to her parents. “It would have been a disgrace to marry after sixteen and have my folks be the parents of a spinster.” That was the last time she saw them.
Stately took her away to a lovely place on a mountain. “I took in a breath, and the scent of pine filled my senses. The birds set on the branches of the oak trees, and their song was like a choir singin in harmony. Through the trees, I could see the sun slowly restin itself on the summit. There was hardly anything prettier than the yellow hue that glistened over the mountain at dusk. I rubbed my eyes, dreadin the day my sight would leave me altogether.”
The book is full of beautiful scene descriptions. Minerva loves this place, but has been ever so lonely. She loved Stately and remained faithful to him, but as the story unfolds she comes face to face with reality. As she deals with it, she forgives for her own freedom, and finds that in the end she has a circle of loving friends after all.
Sproles paints lovely word pictures, and gets the reader into the mind of Minerva. A mix of loving her home, and realizing her time is drawing nigh, guarding her territory and letting go to this stranger who has entered her life . Choosing forgiveness over resentment.
It’s a lovely story. However, it took me a long time to get through it, although only 259 pages. Minerva seemed to take forever to die as she sorted out her past.
You may like this book if you enjoy reading descriptive, slow-paced, reflective stories about the elderly. I did enjoy it myself, but have been distracted lately by several things going on in my life that made it hard to concentrate.
Get to know the author by clicking here: CindySproles.com, where you can read her blog and sign up for her newsletter.
With every memory that emerges as her brain slowly heals from the accident, earthshaking consequences are triggered.
The accident erased the past eight years of her life. Now back home after nearly a year in a rehab center, random memories keep emerging. She must solve the personal mysteries of her own life. But can she trust her own mind? Or her husband? Or her mother? Friends?
And then there’s her teenage daughter, going through her own sorrows and struggles.
This is the first book I’ve read by Janine Rosche. I found it a bit of a roller coaster ride. Points of View alternate between mother and daughter, who are each coping in their own way with the loss of a family member.
It was interesting to learn something about the way memories can work after a traumatic brain injury, and how the brain can fill in with vivid, sometimes false memories. To be sabotaged by one’s own mind is tragic, not only for oneself but for family members and others who may be affected by your actions.
Issues touched on in the story include grief, faithfulness in love relationships, commitment, betrayal, and exploring what’s really important in life and values and family. It could trigger some great discussions for a book club.
Thank you to Revell for sending me this book at my request. This is my honest review.
The cross before him. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
When you see a cross what do you think about? What does it mean to you? Where do we see crosses?
At the time of Jesus, about 2,000 years ago, the cross was the worst form of execution, used for terrible criminals. When they saw a cross beside the road it caused feelings of fear, humiliation, horror, shame, and disgust.
It seems almost beyond explanation then that the cross became the symbol that Christians wear around their neck, tattoo on their arms, and display in their places of worship. But the cross was where Jesus died, and so because of our love for Him and what He did, we cling to the cross as a symbol of our faith, instead of rejecting it as something offensive.
The cross before him
Jesus told his disciples many times that he was going to be killed. His friend Mark wrote about it. He said:
Jesus… began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed… Mark 8:31(ESV)
“He was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him…”
Mark 9:31(ESV)
Jesus was walking ahead of them. Those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him…” Mark 10:32–34(ESV)
How did he know about the cross before him?
Jesus knew that he would die because of the hostility of the Jewish religious leaders toward him.
– Mark says that from the very beginning of his ministry, the Pharisees went out and began to plot how they might kill Jesus. Mark 3:6.
– Jesus knew that their increasing resentment toward him would end in his death.
Jesus also knew about his death because of what the Old Testament said. His death was a fulfillment of these prophecies. The purpose of Jesus as the Messiah was to suffer and die for the sin of mankind.
Jesus quoted Isaiah in Luke Ch. 22. He identified himself as the Messiah, the one “despised and rejected by men… pierced for our transgression and crushed for our iniquities…” He said, “this must be fulfilled in me!”
The cross before him was his purpose.
As the hour of his crucifixion drew near, he said, “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose, I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.”
John 12:27(ESV)
Through the cross his purpose was fulfilled, and God was glorified.
That sounds strange, doesn’t it? That God is glorified through the cross?
What did Jesus mean by that?
Jesus prayed before he was arrested. He lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do…. “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world.John 17:1-6 (ESV)
By his death on the cross, Jesus showed God’s love to us.
The cross is where the Son of God gave his life so that we might have life. By Jesus’ death on the cross, we are made holy and righteous. When we look at the cross, we see pain and suffering. But Jesus wants us to see so much more. He wants us to see God’s plan and purpose in bringing us redemption. Jesus wants us to accept his forgiveness. He wants us to see how much God loves us, and he wants us to glorify him by telling others.
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AFTER the SHADOWS is Book 1 in the secrets of SWEETWATER CROSSINGS series by Amanda Cabot. I chose this book from Revell to read and review because I loved the previous stories I read by her, and this one didn’t disappoint me. It works fine as a stand-alone, but I do look forward to the next books in the series to see what happens to familiar characters.
Emily is a likable main character, returning to her hometown and large family home as a young widow after an abusive marriage. She ends up using the house and her hospitality and cooking skills to board several people who need a home. Without giving spoilers, I’ll say there are a series of suspicious deaths that occur, eventually turning the plot into a murder mystery. Craig, the new schoolteacher, helps her solve the mystery.
Cabot’s writing is a nice balance of characters and plot, intriguing without stressful suspense, and an enjoyable pace. Not to mention the thought-provoking principles of life sprinkled in. I’d recommend it to those who want a relaxing yet captivating book to read. I liked that the characters span all age categories and friendship and compassion for all kinds of people are central. Emily and Craig step up to the plate and fight for what’s right.
Visit AmandaCabot.com to learn more about Amanda and her books, and to sign up for her newsletter.
Do you know someone who was in a terrible situation (maybe sick, or in a war, or in a bad family, or with no family, or in a bad job), but instead of getting discouraged, they encouraged others?
Paul was not discouraged. Seeing obstacles as opportunities changed how he felt.
… I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel…
Phil 1:12
The writer, Paul, was in prison, but he was not discouraged. He wrote a letter to the church to encourage them.
… what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel…
… so that it (the gospel) has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Phil 1:13-14
Paul said that his imprisonment advanced the gospel. It helped spread the good news of Jesus because he told his guards about Jesus.
His church brothers were encouraged. Paul was not discouraged, so they were not discouraged either. They were not afraid to tell people about Jesus.
Don’t be discouraged by those who oppose you.
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.Phil. 1:15-17
Some Christians didn’t like Paul. Some people envied Paul because people loved him. They were jealous of him. They preached about Jesus because they wanted to compete with Paul.
Other Christians spread the gospel because of love. They did it with ‘good will’.
“What then?” He writes, “Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” Paul didn’t care why people spread the gospel. He was glad because they told people about Jesus.
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1:19–20
Paul rejoiced. He was happy. Why? Because people prayed for him, and the Spirit of Jesus helped him. He knew he would be delivered from prison. He expected not to be ashamed. Paul had courage that Christ would be honored either by his life or by his death.
Can you start seeing obstacles as opportunities? How can you encourage people even when you have obstacles?
“Look for opportunities to share the gospel, instead of the obstacles that prevent you from sharing your faith. Don’t become overwhelmed by the difficulties you encounter or become angry or vindictive when you experience opposition.” –quote by Pastor Wayne Snider
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The shop on Blossom Street has opened. Lydia is excited. Her very own little yarn store. Knitting is her favorite hobby, an anchor to her soul through her struggles with cancer.
She starts a knitting class, and three, truly diverse people sign up. Two are from opposite ends of Seattle’s social spectrum–a high society older lady and a young woman on probation who’s barely scraping by. The other is a 30-year-old person who longs for a baby.
As they embark on their first project, a baby blanket, Lydia finds she’s more than a knitting coach–she’s coaching relationship building as well.
Although I’ve never been interested in knitting, I loved this book. I almost want to take up knitting and open a shop. It was wonderful to enter the stories of the characters with their struggles and victories. I look forward to reading more in the series.
This is the first book I’ve read by Debbie Macomber. I’ve heard her books recommended, so when I found a couple of them at a thrift store, I grabbed them. So happy I did.
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Red Carpet Summer waited in my TBR pile till I finally read it as my last book of 2022. I read the first two chapters a couple of years ago, then got distracted by other books and set it aside.
The plot takes several twists and turns. In chapter one, the main character, Addie, is working at an orphanage in Africa. In chapter two, she’s suddenly back in her hometown U.S.A., with her ordinary but not spectacular friends and family.
This has already been a major switch, but the next thing you know, she’s hired by a pop-star American musician as an assistant, travelling around the country in a bus. Why settle for the mediocre? That’s Addie’s motto, though she doesn’t realize it at first.
She can’t understand herself. With the great friends and family she already has, why can’t she settle down? One reason is that she’s determined to make a difference in the world. To do her best for the children in the orphanage, and others in need of help–even her new famous musician friend.
For me, the story got more interesting once I got further into it. As a woman in my late sixties, this isn’t normally a book I would have chosen, but I got it free from the author and wanted to read one of her books. I would recommend it more as a Young Adult novel. But I liked the writing and wanted to find out what Addie’s choices would lead to in the end. Given the opportunity I would read more books by Melissa Ferguson.
To find out more about Melissa Ferguson and her books, visit www.mlferguson.com.
Easy scalloped potatoes give a meal that special comfort quality. Satisfying and delicious, they go well with sausages or pork and cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, or here I’ve got cauliflower and broccoli. We also had a side bowl of applesauce to perfectly round out the flavors.
I used 6 med-small yellow potatoes. After peeling, slice into scallops, two potatoes at a time, to layer into the casserole dish. Atop each layer, sprinkle salt and pepper and flour, and dot with butter. Then pour in 3/4 cup milk. I used skim milk, as I’m trying to keep it a little less fattening, and found it just as deliciously creamy. You need enough milk to come up to halfway in the casserole dish, so you can adjust the amount according to how many potatoes you’re using.
Put the cover on the casserole dish and bake at 400 degrees F. Test with a fork after half an hour. If potatoes are soft, remove the lid and leave in oven for another 10 minutes to brown.
This versatile dish can be altered in various mouth-watering ways. Thinly sliced onion can be added between the layers to spice up the flavor. Or cut up farmer sausage into it, or add shredded cheese.
I found a small helping of these easy scalloped potatoes wonderfully satisfying, but they were so delicious that my son polished off the rest of the casserole. It’s nice to cook for someone who appreciates it that much!
A meadow in bloom is a vast bouquet of love from our heavenly Father. A sensual treat, enveloping in joy. Ann Gabhart makes you feel it in this novel. Her word pictures put you in the meadow, a magical place lit up by moonlight. Natural, health-giving comforts of God’s creation, away from the institutional jails of the city.
Rose and her daughters, Calla and Sienna, have no place to go. The girls have been in an orphanage for two years while their mother is treated for tuberculosis in a sanitarium. It’s 1925. With no one else to turn to, they reach out to her husband’s brother, a recluse who they barely know. But alas, he has a heart. Or at least a sense of duty. And space for them in his house, situated in beautiful Meadowland.
Wonder, danger, mystery
The author skillfully brings readers into their lives, with their worries and fears. Some wonder, some new experiences, some danger and fighting for their lives. An old mystery threads through the story, to be solved at the end. The characters are alive, with their distinct personalities. I do hope this becomes a series. I want to know what happens to them later. And I want to visit Meadowland again.
Animals included
Not all the characters are human. A pair of crows are integral in solving the mystery. The dog plays a role too, and a loveable cat comforts Rose. Even chickens contribute to the healing of this family. Perhaps in the next book Sienna will meet the mouse she hopes to befriend.
My thanks to Revell for sending me this beautifully made paperback. The cover is gorgeous. I’m so glad I chose this book to review. I can honestly say I loved it! It inspired me to visit the meadows in bloom near my own home, and bask in the vast bouquets of love from my heavenly Father.
Learn more about Ann Gabhart and her books at AnnHGabhart.com.
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A snapshot of lives and changes with the onset of World War II, this story begins in 1939 in Washington DC. Liane is married to Armand, an older French Ambassador whose first wife passed away. They love each other deeply, and have two young daughters.
Armand is transferred back to Paris, and the family accompanies him. Liane meets Nick, owner of Burnham Steel, and his wife and son, while crossing the Atlantic on a luxury ship. His son befriends her daughters, and Nick and Liane keep each other company. Armand has work to do even on the ship, and Nick’s unfaithful wife goes off partying with new friends.
Peace for Now
In 1939 people wonder whether the war might impact France. For the time being, at least in Paris, there is still peace. For those in high society, dinners and dances and other social activities continue on as before. Armand works long hours and shares less and less about it with Liane. She is lonely, but doesn’t complain.
When Armand sees that the war is coming to France, he wants to send Liane and the girls back to the States, but Liane insists on staying and supporting him. Although he’s busy working long days and no longer shares anything about it with her, at least he comes home for a few hours at night.
The Last Freighter Home
Nick’s wife and son return to the States, where she is involved with another man. Liane has not seen Nick, but finally, when Armand puts her and the girls on the last freighter bound for home, there’s Nick again, on the same boat. Together they work to save the lives of hundreds of men from a ship that was bombed. And find themselves irresistibly attracted to one another.
What will they do? Both are dedicated to their spouses and children, even though Nick’s marriage is hopeless and Liane’s husband is immersed in his work. She cannot tell anyone that s a Armand is a double agent, and he cannot share anything much about it to her.
Back in Washington DC, Armand is seen as a traitor by their former friends. Liane and her daughters move to San Francisco to live with her uncle.
Nick tries unsuccessfully to get his wife and son back. Life is depressing and frustrating for him. Eventually he re-enlists in the navy. Before I give away any more spoilers, I’ll stop here.
A snapshot of lives and changes during the onset of WW II, this historical fiction shows the heart-wrenching struggles that some families faced.
Writing Style
Written forty years ago, Danielle Steel used an older form of narration. Currently most novels are written from the “Point of View” of one character at a time in each scene. But this story is written from an “Omniscient” POV. The author sees through the eyes of several characters in each scene. As an older person myself, I grew up reading books in this style and I don’t mind it. When I started writing a novel myself seven years ago, I had to unlearn this writing style. But there is much I still learn from her writing, such as how to include emotional tension, and the amount of work she must have put into research.
Thank you to my son for picking up this book for me from a Little Lending Library, which Nanaimo has many of around town. You can put your used books there for someone else, and find some for yourself to read.
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Fighting for women’s rights while struggling with personal desires is the theme here. It’s 1916, and Katie has returned home after living in Washington DC where she got caught up in the Women’s Suffrage movement.
Catching Katie
Back home in small-town Idaho, women have already been granted the right to vote. She hopes to motivate them to exercise this right and to fight for nationwide rights and equalities.
Little does she realize how influential she is. Smart-looking, vivacious, and dynamic, she soon has many followers of both sexes. Including her closest childhood friend, Ben, now a swoon-worthy man. As the publisher of the local newspaper, he agrees to let her write a weekly column, which attracts much controversial attention.
Katie and Ben instantly fall back into their old friendship. However, it’s been years, and things have changed for both of them. Yet, despite their differences, they can’t escape their magnetic attraction to one another. What their heads tell them is contrary to their heart’s pull. What to do?
Katie has a strong calling to dedicate her life to fighting for women’s rights. But this doesn’t seem to jive with her heart’s desires. Is it possible to reconcile the two? Can Ben catch the woman he loves, and must he modify his own desires to do so?
I received this book as a free download from Kindle, and enjoyed it very much, as I do all of Robin’s books. Her writing is pleasant to read, and always thought-provoking. Find out more about the author and her books at www.robinleehatcher.com.
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A slice of 1970s Mississippi. A decade of change. Hypocracy exposed. Appearances and loyalties questioned. Using first person, Grisham makes the writing very personal, as if he were reflecting back on his own story. It’s quite believable. The main character, as a young adult, almost by chance acquires ownership of a local newspaper in a small town. He puts his all into researching and writing what will be interesting to readers, Guided by his convictions, he boldly exposes dangerous characters and political agendas in spite of personal risk. The newspaper effects real changes in the community, even radiating out to surrounding communities.
The Power of the Written Word
The power of the word. So powerful in fact, that it inspired me to do some of my own powerful writing to authorities in my own community, hoping to effect certain changes here. People want to read about what really matters. About members of their own community. About values and truth–exposing hypocracy. Especially in USA of the 1970s. Young people questioned everything and turned society upside down. Because in those days appearances seemed to be more important than truth–even, in fact especially, in churches.
Churches
Willie has jumped into his newspaper with both feet, cares to the wind. He exposes the hypocritical attitudes of the white Christians, who preach love, kindness and acceptance, yet are against integration. In this town of protestant churchgoers, himself an agnostic, he befriends an older black woman named Callie. Callie is the last juror chosen in a murder trial, and the first black woman to be on a local jury. Callie becomes Willie’s best friend. She makes him a wonderful meal every Thursday. Her warm-hearted family is closer than his own. She cares about his soul, and inspires him to research all the eighty-some churches in the county. I especially liked chapter 32, in which he compares many of them from his point of view. Although the basic beliefs are the same, the devil is in the details, and it seems so very important not to cross the boundaries that make them distinct. Willie doesn’t officially convert, but at the end he feels God’s presence when holding hands and praying with Callie’s family. Suspense, mystery, and a slice of 1970s Mississipi. Change effected by the written word and brave authenticity. Exposure of hypocracy. A bit of history to learn from.
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I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for writing my review.
The author and her husband are involved in several motivational ministries to Christian leaders and are based in Oregon.
This is a very personal devotional book for women. I think it would appeal most to busy young moms, although it was encouraging to me too, as an older woman.
Jenny starts by telling about some of her own life. She is the mother of five children, the youngest still a toddler and the oldest a teenager. As if this doesn’t make her busy enough, she is also heavily involved in Christian ministry and her own successful business. And she still finds time to meditate, write, exercize on her spin bike, socialize, travel, and drive her kids around! Wonderwoman for sure!
She also tells about her growing up years in which she experienced sadness and loneliness starting with the divorce of her parents when she was still a young child. She struggled her way emotionally into adulthood, trying hard to be a good person and blundering through the pitfalls of bad relationships and drinking. Finally she totally committed herself to Jesus.
The book is about finding rest in the midst of the storm. The cover illustrates this with the word ‘Still’ in the centre of a swirl. Her basic premise is that the kind of spiritual rest or stillness that is found in Jesus is like the calm in the eye of the storm.
Part 2 of the book, entitled Seven Ways to Rest, is Jenny’s recommendations for purposefully getting into this spiritual rest in Jesus. Way 7 even includes how to do that while training on a spin bike! A psychological, spiritual and physical multitask!
In a very short Part 3 she finally explains our spiritual position of resting in Jesus, and then in an appendix she gives the reader a few exercises in spiritual resting.
Jenny makes the book interactive by directly speaking to readers and including blank lines where she asks readers to write their own thoughts and feelings as they meditate on her questions. This is part of what makes this such a personal devotional book.
This is the third Christmas novella by Melody Carlson that I’ve read this season, I’m enjoying them so much! So glad my church library has a good stock of them!
The Christmas Blessing
It’s 1944. Amelia Richards and her newborn son are setting out to make an attempt at becoming part of his father’s family in another state. Shortly after little Jimmy was conceived his father’s plane had gone down over the Pacific Ocean. Amelia doesn’t know whether he has even had a chance to tell his family about her, as theirs had been a whirlwind romance.
They had met in San Diego at a New Years Eve dance for the service men where she was a hostess, and had fallen madly in love. Now she is alone in the world with his son. Will his family accept them? She is unprepared for the cold Montana weather and has never actually seen snow. Mixed emotions of hope and trepidation swirl around in her mind as she looks for James’s family.
But then things get worse and Amelia finds herself in dire straits. What will she do? She must take a risk and hope for the best. What will be the outcome?
Amelia is a courageous character. She doesn’t know what to expect in James’s parents. What will they be like? The author has done a good job of bringing out the personalities of each character, which is what really makes this story. They are not perfect people but they do hope in God and have care and kindness in their hearts.
This is an intriguing story and I’m looking forward to reading one more of Melody Carlson’s Christmas novellas this week during the holidays.
A slice of 1970s Mississippi. A decade of change. Hypocracy exposed. Appearances and loyalties questioned.
