Book Review - Daughter of the Rebellion

Daughter of the Rebellion, the latest release from author Jamie Ogle, is the deeply emotional and vividly entertaining story of Visigoth war daughter Adelgard. Captured when the Roman army defeated her rebellious clan and sent to train and perform as one of the favored gladiatrices in the violent entertainment culture of Rome, Adel has leaned into her role as Amazon and endeavored to set aside thoughts of a home to which she can no longer return. The abuses she must endure are the consequences of decisions she has made that brought shame to herself and to her family. There is no path but forward.

Working in the ludus is not an appropriate occupation for a Christian, but medicus Felix must do what he has to do in order to provide for his mother and sisters. There he provides medical care for the injured gladiators and gladiatrices, making ends meet and dodging creditors in search of restitution for debts his father acquired before he disappeared. However, the Lord uses circumstances and individuals regardless of how appropriate or qualified they seem to human eyes and Felix has some heavy decisions to make when approached with a difficult offer.

This is a book I throughly devoured, regardless of every attempt to slow down and savor it. The scenes moved as though on film, expertly crafted descriptions and deeply human characters flowed in real time as pages turned and the story progressed. The messages of mercy and understanding unfold beautifully, bit by bit as our flawed and relatable characters begin to digest the concepts and embrace their identities in the eyes of the Father. The further blooming of identity is executed as deftly as the Amazon delivering the winning strike to an exhausted and unsettled opponent. Without giving away too much, it is safe to say that this is truly a story that does not end until the author strikes her final punctuation. Daughter of the Rebellion will stick with me for a satisfyingly long time.

Daughter of the Rebellion is available from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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I received a NetGalley ARC of this book. It did not influence my review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review - Midnight on the Scottish Shore

Cilla van der Zee is trapped. As a member of the Dutch resistance, her role is to infiltrate the Dutch Nazis and gather information for the underground newspaper. But the cost is too high and Cilla too headstrong to follow her cousin’s advice, which is how Cilla becomes a Nazi spy, and how she ends up in Scotland. The mythical creature washed up on the shore near Lachlan Mackenzie’s home is a threat to his sanity and his nation’s welfare, which is why he promptly turns her over to the authorities. When Cilla and Lachlan are forced to work together to advance the Allied mission, they must find a way toward a tentative trust for the greater good. 

Sarah Sundin writes with a secretive urgency that one cannot resist when reading her work. The reader feels this and is tugged into the covert operations described within, hardly able to resist the need to churn ahead with the storyline as the characters develop and the reader develops feelings for the characters. It is not only Cilla and Lachlan slinking through the darkness to accomplish a great task for the greater good, but the reader is there in the moment, as well. I must also admit that the timing and Biblical theme of this novel coincides with my own study of the Beatitudes and packs a punch of truth with themes of mercy, forgiveness and freedom, which both increases my understanding of those themes and enjoyment of this invigorating novel.

Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House    Christian Book    Amazon     Barnes & Noble    Walmart

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine. 

Book Review - Unforgiven

Set on the periphery of Amish country of Crittendon County, Kentucky, Unforgiven by Shelley Shepard Gray focuses on ex-con Seth Zimmerman and divorcee Tabitha Yoder. Unforgiven by their congregation and community for very different reasons, but facing similar separation from their families and former friends, both of them struggle with the consequences of their actions. Seth has longed to make Tabitha his wife since he was a student in her classroom, only a couple years younger, but unable to reach the woman who married Leon Yoder. Since Leon beat her near to death and she found the nerve to divorce him, Seth has taken up the habit of silently and consistently showing care for Tabitha. With time, Tabitha begins to warm up to and finally gets the nerve to speak to Seth, but the confidence Tabitha has begun to find is squelched when Leon is released from jail.

The interactions and building trust between Seth and Tabitha would have carried this story, as they struggle to forgive themselves in the face of what their former Amish community members will not. The addition of the family dynamic for each of them adds depth to the characters and their interactions, made more rich with the addition of the girl Seth protected on the fateful night that landed him in prison. Gray gives us characters we can relate to with interpersonal struggles that captivate. Some of the abruptness of interactions seem appropriate for the social style, but I did feel that there were times when it interfered with the flow of the story. Hence, four stars instead of five. Still, Gray leaves me looking forward to her next book, which hints at more of the story for dear Bethanne.

Unforgiven by Shelley Shepard Gray is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House       Christian Book        Amazon       Barnes & Noble        Walmart

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - The Road Before Us

Grab your tissues and settle in for a roller coaster ride along America’s Mother Road with Benny, Bridger, and Jade in the latest release from Janine Rosche. At its core, this is a story about people: where they come from and where they go. Traveling along historic Route 66, Benny seeks to honor her deceased beloved husband, Bridger seeks to honor his foster mother, and Jade finds herself dragged along for the drive. Running from her past, seeking closure for her future, and finding so much more than expected drive Jade toward the promised land and the future God holds for her. I have to confess that I probably would not have picked up this book if I had known the sensitive subjects Rosche addresses in The Road Before Us. There are a handful automatic “nopes” and at least a handful of other subjects that are sometimes particularly triggering and often not very well addressed. They are handled with great respect here. Grave subjects are relayed with delicate effectiveness, to shed light on these issues and drive the story forward carefully. This book confirms that Janine Rosche has a perennial place in my TBR collection.

The Road Before Us by Janine Rosche is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House        Christian Book       Amazon        Barnes & Noble        Walmart

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - Love On A Whim

Cape Cod Creamery fans rejoice! Suzanne Woods Fisher has brought the Dixon women back, along with the rest of the citizens of Chatham and a whole new storyline in which dear Brynn has lost her ever loving mind and gotten married to a stranger in Vegas. When reality hits with the break of dawn, Brynn calls her best friend and is encouraged to visit Dawn in the cozy community on the Massachusetts shore to lick her wounds and find her path. But finding her path is not as easy as it seems, especially when distractions fall into the hands of the Dixons, keeping everyone too busy to figure a way out for Brynn before things become more complicated than anyone could imagine.

Fisher has created a cozy community that, by this third book, has started to feel like home. My mind clearly sees the creamery, Intuitive Cooking School, and library as we visit each location through out the story. The strand of beach where our friends tend to walk to clear their minds, clear the air, or seek a holy moment is well known by now. Fisher has brought back familiar elements with a fresh new arc that keeps things interesting and entertaining throughout with themes of regret and reconciliation, as well as family and faith in the divine plan of the Almighty.

Love On A Whim, Cape Cod Creamery series book three, by Suzanne Woods Fisher is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House        Christian Book        Amazon        Barnes & Noble        Walmart

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.