The Healing of Natalie Curtis by Jane Kirkpatrick

by | Oct 9, 2021 | Books, Native American, Western

MY REVIEW:

The Healing of Natalie Curtis is a fictional account that brings to life the quest of the real life Natalie Curtis who traveled to the southwest with her brother in hopes of finding healing after several years of illness after an emotional breakdown. In the quiet and beauty of the desert and the music and spirit of the Native Americans she encountered, Natalie not only received healing for her body and soul but a purpose for her life. Preservation of the languages, music, dances, and customs of the various tribes became a driving goal for Natalie and nothing would stand in her way.

This novel gives readers another look into how the Indian people were mistreated by the men in charge of assimilating them into the American culture. Mistakenly assuming that taking away everything about their way of life would be beneficial, these men nearly destroyed a culture rich in art, beauty, and music that made this country so unique. Thanks to brave and determined women like Natalie, at least some of their culture has been preserved and will live on for others to learn from and enjoy.

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 came to the West for rest . . . what she found was a passion.

Classically trained pianist and singer Natalie Curtis can’t seem to recapture the joy that music once brought her. In 1902, her brother invites her to join him in the West to search for healing. What she finds are songs she’d never before encountered–the haunting melodies, rhythms, and stories of Native Americans.

But their music is under attack. The US government’s Code of Offenses prohibits America’s Indigenous people from singing, dancing, or speaking their own languages. Natalie makes it her mission not only to document these songs before they disappear but to appeal to President Teddy Roosevelt himself, who is the only man with the power to repeal the unjust law.

Award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick weaves a lyrical novel based on a true story that captivates to the very end.

Read an excerpt Here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling and award-winning author or contributor to thirty-nine books, including Something Worth Doing, One More River to Cross, A Name of Her Own, All Together in One Place, A Light in the Wilderness, The Memory Weaver, This Road We Traveled, and A Sweetness to the Soul, which won the prestigious Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Center. Her works have won the WILLA Literary Award, the Carol Award for Historical Fiction, the 2016 Will Rogers Gold Medallion Award and 2021 Silver award. They have been short-listed for the Christy, Oregon Book Awards, and the Spur Awards. A clinical social worker and former consultant to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Early Childhood programs, Jane now divides her time between Bend, Oregon, and Rancho Mirage, California, with her husband, Jerry, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Caesar. Learn more at www.jkbooks.com.

A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano

by | Oct 9, 2021 | Books, Historical, Romance

MY REVIEW:

It should not be so difficult to write a review of a book one enjoyed as much as I loved A Midnight Dance yet I find it difficult to put into words. As expected, the story itself was beautifully written with evocative prose that pulls the reader into the sights and sounds of the backstage of a ballet theater. Characters were well developed yet at times mysterious which only added to the allure of the tale.

And what a tale it was! Aspiring ballerina Ella Blythe is determined to prove herself to her unknown benefactor by reaching the same level as her once famous mother yet her attempts at perfection have overshadowed her true talent. Two different men also inhabit her world – one she has dreamed of for years after a brief encounter and the other, the ever-present Jack who seems to taunt her yet somehow seems to be trying to help her achieve her goals.

As Ella’s history unfolds and with the help of Jack she discovers more about her parents, Ella begins to realize that almost everything she has always believed to be true was a myth. Surprises pop up around every corner and only one man will prove himself worthy of her love.

 I loved A Midnight Dance and its cast of remarkable characters. It was exciting to observe Ella as she grew from a self-centered young woman to a mature and caring person as she discovered truth and faith.

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 best moments in dance are the unscripted ones

At their core, all theater romances are tragedies. Ella Blythe knows this. Still, she cannot help but hope her own story may turn out different than most–and certainly different than the tragic story of the Ghost of Craven Street Theater.

After a chance encounter with one of the ballet company’s handsome dancers late one night, Ella is swept off her elegantly pointed toes. The dance they share and the promise he makes to her feel like a new beginning. Yet as she faces mounting challenges in the ever-shrinking ballet company, Ella cannot deny the uncanny feeling that her life is mirroring that of the ghostly ballerina.

Is she dancing ever closer to the edge of her own disastrous end? Or will the secrets that are about to come to light offer release from the unyielding grip of the past?

Read an excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, and The Love Note. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone’s story. She lives with her husband and their children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan. You can find her at www.jdpstories.com.

Since You’ve Been Gone by Tari Faris

by | Oct 9, 2021 | Books

MY REVIEW:

I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the books in the Restoring Heritage series by Tari Faris and am quite sad that Since You’ve Been Gone brings it to an end. As final books go, this one was a winner with a double shot of romance as well as learning the story behind Otis, the mysterious wandering Hippo. Heritage Michigan is a small town I would love to visit and I have had fun meeting and getting to know some of its many residents.

Jonathan and Leah have known each other since high school and have been at odds most of that time. Leah believes that he destroyed her dreams and has toted around a load of unforgiveness for years. Jonathan has secretly loved Leah for all those years but somehow either sticks his foot in his mouth or gets his wires crossed when attempting to communicate with her. Now she wants to reopen the store her family once ran in the building she has joint ownership with Jonathan. Unfortunately he is being pressured to sell by his uncle and the board of the business he inherited from his father. Will he do the right thing?

Then there are Colby and Madison. Colby is a famous Christian recording artist hiding out in Heritage after a devastating betrayal by his partner. He becomes acquainted with Madison, who is in town to repair her family home before selling it. Not only is Madison considered the town bad girl but she has secrets that no one knows. Both Colby and Madison have damaged hearts. Will they be able to find healing with each other?

I loved Since You’ve Been Gone with its excellent cast of characters. Each of them is flawed in some way but readers can literally see the Holy Spirit at work as they walk out their problems. I cannot wait to see what this author has to offer next.

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:

With her vision and his know-how, this thing just might work . . .

Leah Williams is back in the quaint town of Heritage, Michigan, and ready to try again to make her business a success. But blank slates are hard to come by, and a piece of her past is waiting for her there. Heir to the Heritage Fruits company, Jonathan Kensington is the guy who not only made Leah’s past difficult, but he also seems determined to complicate her present as well.

In order to avoid forcing a buyout of Leah’s building, Jon will have to strike a compromise. Can the two of them work together? Or will their troubled past set the tone for their future?

Read an excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tari Faris is the author of You Belong with Me and Until I Met You. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy, she is the projects manager for My Book Therapy, writes for learnhowtowriteanovel.com, and is a 2017 Genesis Award winner. She has an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary and lives in the Phoenix, Arizona, area with her husband and their three children. Although she lives in the Southwest now, she lived in a small town in Michigan for 25 years. Learn more at TariFaris.com.

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox

by | Oct 8, 2021 | Books

MY REVIEW:

A good friend recently told me that The Edge of Belonging is one of the best books she has ever read. I would have to agree and that is why I was eager to read the most recent novel by Amanda Cox, The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery. Although its title hints at possible mysteries, the secrets in this book are not of the spooky kind but personal ones that affect the lives of the keepers and their families.

As I read this book I was quickly pulled into the lives of three generations of women. Their stories are told through a dual time line with the earlier story doled out bit by bit through the present day narrative. Such secrets these women had! Sometimes their choices hadn’t been the best and some choices had even been forced upon them. Secrets were kept with the intention of protecting those they loved and other secrets had been buried for other reasons. But as most of us know, secrets have a way of coming to light and often the results are not what we expect.

I loved the fact that the book was set in a small town in my general area. I did not particularly recognize any details about the town but most descriptions were general and could have applied to any small town in west Tennessee. I have personally been in several family owned local groceries in my childhood and happily spent much of my small allowances in them. It is a shame that most of these stores have been replaced by large corporate groceries.

The plot held my attention throughout and I truly wanted to know how things turned out for these women. It was delightful to discover unexpected surprises along the way and I was quite pleased at how the story ended. This author has such a way with words and a talent for telling a great story interwoven with faith and truth. I highly recommend both of her books.

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:

Present Day. Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood home, determined to finally follow her dream of running the family business alongside her mother and grandmother. So when her mother, Rosemary, announces to her that Old Depot Grocery is closing, Sarah and her grandmother, Glory Ann, make a plan to save the store. But Rosemary has worked her entire life to make sure her daughter never follows in her footsteps. She has her reasons–but she’ll certainly never reveal the real one.

1965. Glory Ann confesses to her family that she’s pregnant with her deceased fiancé’s baby. Pressured into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve her family’s reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises are not as easily kept as she imagined.

This dual-time story from Amanda Cox deftly explores the complexity of the mother-daughter relationship, the way the secrets we keep shape our lives and the lives of others, and the healing power of telling the truth.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amanda Cox is the author of The Edge of Belonging. A blogger and a curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband and their three children. Learn more at AmandaCoxWrites.com.

A Christmas In the Alps

by | Oct 8, 2021 | Books, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction, Romance

MY REVIEW:

It just wouldn’t be Christmas without the latest novella of the season by Melody Carlson. I have lost count of how many I have read but I now look forward to reading one each year. A Christmas in the Alps is somewhat different than the author’s earlier Christmas tales but then again, none of them have really been very similar. I find that to be some of the fun in reading her most recent offering.

A touch of mystery and a bit of romance bring a new spark to the life of Simone whose best friend persuades her to follow instructions in a letter from her late great-grandmother. When she flies to France to track down the family treasure, Simone finds more than she expected and a treasure to last a lifetime.

A special Christmas story just as lovely as the beautiful cover, A Christmas in the Alps is one most readers should enjoy. If you are not already a lover of Melody Carlson Christmas Novellas, why not begin your collection with this sweet romance.

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:

Get ready for a magical mountain holiday

After a time of heartache and loss, Simone Winthrop discovers a tantalizing letter from her French great-grandmother, which seems to suggest that Simone is heir to a family treasure. Ever practical, Simone assumes the claim is baseless, but her best friend encourages her to find out for sure. Despite her deep-rooted fear of flying, she boards a jet to travel to Paris at Christmastime to uncover the truth.

During the long flight, Simone meets the charming Kyle Larsson, who’s on his way to France to become an apprentice clockmaker. Though they abruptly part ways, an unexpected rendezvous in the French Alps at Simone’s family’s clock factory may lead to the discovery of the family treasure . . . and so much more.

Read an excerpt HERE.

Purchase a copy HERE.

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than 200 books with sales of more than 7 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice, and her novel All Summer Long was made into a Hallmark movie. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.