by admin | Jan 7, 2019 | Books, Civil War, Contemporary Fiction, Historical, Michigan, Split Time
MY REVIEW:
Debut novelist Erin Bartels has taken on difficult subject matter in her novel We Hope For Better Things. This split time narrative explores relationships between blacks and whites through the stories of three different women in the Detroit, Michigan area. Their individual stories take place during the civil war, the volatile sixties, and the present time. While the reader is presented with views from both sides of the equation, it is evident that we still have a long way to go if we are ever to resolve the divide between the races.
Overall, the story is well told although I found myself lost a time or two when the plot switched from one time frame to another. The characters are strong ones but I would have liked to get to know each of them more thoroughly than was possible in a split-time story. I did feel like the story was well researched and presented a historically accurate view of the respective time frames, especially the effects certain choices made on the women and their families. By the end of the book, most of my questions had been answered with the exception of the true cause of one death. I have my suspicions but I imagine the author intended for her readers to draw their own conclusions.
Erin Bartels definitely has a way with words and should find more of her novels on store shelves in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The past is never as past as we’d like to think
When journalist Elizabeth Balsam is asked to deliver a box of old photos to a relative she didn’t know she had, the strange request seems like it isn’t worth her time. But as she explores her great-aunt’s farmhouse with its locked doors and hidden graves, she soon discovers just how dramatically some of the most newsworthy events of the previous two centuries shaped her own family. As she searches for answers to the riddles around her, the remarkable stories of two women who lived in this very house emerge as testaments to love, resilience, and courage in the face of war, racism, and misunderstanding.
Take an emotional journey through time–from the volatile streets of 1960s Detroit to Michigan’s Underground Railroad during the Civil War–to uncover the past, confront the seeds of hatred, and discover where love goes to hide.
Purchase a copy HERE.
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
by admin | Jan 3, 2019 | Books, Colonial America, Historical, Romance, Scotland
MY REVIEW:
What an amazing book! I found myself so engrossed in the story that I pretty much neglected everything else. A Bound Heart is the kind of historical tale that avid readers would love to see acted out on screen – as long as it remained true to the written story. Honestly, this book would make an epic movie filled with lush scenery and a star-crossed narrative that extends from the rugged shores of Scotland across the Atlantic to the New World.
I loved this story of two childhood friends who grew up together on a Scottish island, separated as adults by their stations in life. Despite her soft heart for Magnus, Lark knew her place and endeavored to serve both him and his wife well. Magnus too was circumspect in his dealings with Lark. At the death of Magnus’ wife, Lark found herself accused of her murder and Magnus’ attempt to defend her sent them both to prison and then to Virginia as indentured servants, a situation that could have ended in death for either or both of them.
It was inspiring to read how time and time again, what may have seemed to be coincidence could only have been Divine intervention that showed each of them favor. To say more would reveal more than I would like. Just be assured that if you love Christian historical fiction, you DO NOT want to miss A Bound Heart.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Though Magnus MacLeish and Lark MacDougall grew up on the same castle grounds, Magnus is now laird of the great house and the Isle of Kerrera. Lark is just the keeper of his bees–and the woman who could provide an elixir to help his ailing wife conceive and bear him an heir. But when his wife dies suddenly, Magnus and Lark find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of accusations, expelled from their beloved island, and sold as indentured servants across the Atlantic. Can they make a new beginning in this New World? Or will their hopes be dashed against the rocky coastline of the Virginia colony?
Laura Frantz’s prose sparkles with authenticity as she digs into her own family history to share this breathless tale of love, exile, and courage in colonial America.
“An epic journey of faith and love wrought through hardship.”—Julie Klassen, bestselling author
“From start to finish, A Bound Heart is an absorbing, tenderhearted story about the grace of second chances.”–Lori Benton, author of Many Sparrows and the Christy Award-winning Burning Sky
“A Bound Heart keeps you riveted until you’ve turned the last page. Highly recommended!”–Michelle Griep, award-winning author of The Captured Bride
“A soaring tale. With her trademark attention to detail and lush imagery, Laura Frantz takes readers on an unforgettable journey certain to stir the soul.”–Jocelyn Green, Christy Award-winning author of Between Two Shores
Purchase a copy HERE.
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Laura Frantz is a Christy Award finalist and the ECPA bestselling author of several books, including The Frontiersman’s Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, The Colonel’s Lady, and The Lacemaker. She lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky. Learn more at www.laurafrantz.net.
by admin | Jan 3, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Law Enforcement, Romantic Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Lynette Eason seems to up the ante with every novel she writes. Just when I think it is impossible for her to top her previous books, she manages to prove me wrong once again. I believe Code of Valor may be the best one yet so I am hoping she will continue the trend and make me gladly eat my words with her next book.
Featuring Brady, another brother in the St. John family, Code of Valor begins with an attempted murder and rescue that is only the introduction to a plot filled with murder and mayhem, escalating danger, and multiple secrets that could lead to death. Eason’s characters are well developed with strong personalities and convictions. I love how the members of the St. John family support each other as well as others who enter their fold. I also loved the interaction with characters from Lynn H. Blackburn’s Dive Team series. What fun! And what would a Lynette Eason suspense be without a bit of romance? The development of the relationship between Brady and Emily seemed natural even though it took place during a crisis situation.
Code of Valor is the perfect book for anyone who wants a novel that keeps you turning those pages while sometimes even dreading what comes next. I loved this book and cannot wait for the next one!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
She’s living proof that what you don’t know could kill you
What Detective Brady St. John really needs is a relaxing vacation. Unfortunately, just as the sun is setting on his second day at a friend’s cabin on Lake Henley, he hears a scream and races to rescue a woman from her would-be killer. When the killer escapes only to return to finish the job, Brady vows to utilize all of his many resources to keep her safe–and catch those who would see her dead.
Financial crimes investigator Emily Chastain doesn’t trust many people. And even though she’s trying to cooperate with the detective who saved her life, there are some things she doesn’t know–and some things you just don’t share with a stranger. Little does she suspect that what she doesn’t know just might get them both killed.
Purchase a copy HERE.
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of Oath of Honor, Called to Protect, and Code of Valor, as well as the Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master’s degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.
Erin Bartels has been a publishing professional for more than 15 years. Her short story “This Elegant Ruin” was a finalist in The Saturday Evening Post 2014 Great American Fiction Contest. A freelance writer and editor, she is a member of Capital City Writers and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and is former features editor of WFWA’s Write On! magazine. She lives in Lansing, Michigan, with her husband, Zachary, and their son, Calvin, and can be found online at www.erinbartels.com. We Hope for Better Things is her first novel.
