Family

by

A Charming and Gentle Story – Guest Review by Hayley

The Summers sisters return to us in the second book of the “On Devonshire Shores” series.  Emily Summers is the main focus of this novel, although we do get to check in with Sarah as well, from time to time.

I greatly enjoyed the history in this book, with much of the story involving the Duke and Duchess of Kent (parents of the future Queen Victoria) and their historic visit to Sidmouth.  Although the visit ends tragically, the history was fascinating, as well as the effect that royal visitors had for the residents of Sidmouth. Continue reading →

by

Gripping, Horrifying, And Very Powerful

“The Warsaw Sisters” by Amanda Barratt is a beautiful story that was, for me, also very unexpected.  It is in the Christian Historical Fiction genre so I thought I knew what I was getting into, but that was not the case.  It is an extremely powerful and well-written tale, that much is certain.  The depth and emotion and historical truth of it is quite astounding, in fact.  But it is also VERY graphic, and the depictions about the horrors of war will likely stay with me for a very long time.  This was the author’s intention, of course, to impress upon our imaginations the reality of what happened in Poland during the Second World War.  I’m not sorry I read it, I just wasn’t prepared for it.  And that’s my own fault. Continue reading →

by

A Memorable Sequel Story!

I enjoyed the first story in Amanda Cabot’s “Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing” series, so it was a given that I’d have to give the second installment a try.  “Against the Wind” tells the story of the youngest Vaughn daughter, Louisa, and her return to the town where she grew up.  Picking up where the last novel left off, we jump right into the thick of things in the aftermath of the town doctor’s death. Will Louisa be able to fill his shoes in caring for the health of the community members, or will the fact that she’s a woman deter them from reaching out to her for help…? Continue reading →

by

A Favorite Book Of The Year – Guest Review by Hayley

My favourite books are the ones that have a little bit of everything on the emotional spectrum.  A story that captures laughter, tears, love, pain and everything in between are the ones that I remember the most.  “On Moonberry Lake” is definitely one of those.

It was, quite simply, a beautiful book.  There are some books that just make you feel good and “lifted up” when you read them.  For me, I found that this book evoked a sense of calm that was just what I needed at the time.  Which, oddly enough, is much like the theme of the story itself.  People come to Moonberry Lake, and find just what they need to heal their hearts. Continue reading →

by

This Story Is Like Beautiful, Everyday-Ordinary Poetry

What an unexpected, beautiful story this was, oh my goodness! “The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass” by Katie Powner is one of the most heartfelt books I’ve read in awhile.  I cried, I laughed, I could barely put it down to go to sleep – seriously.   Continue reading →

by

A Beautifully Crafted Story

Doesn’t the title alone just capture your attention right away?  It did for me!  “The Legacy of Longdale Manor” is the first novel I’ve read by Carrie Turansky, but now I have a hankering to go back and dive into some of her previous work because, well, it is very clear that she’s an amazing and talented author.   Continue reading →

by

Another Memorable Saga Concludes


Deep sigh…..  that’s how I always feel when I close the cover for the final time on a series that I spent many hours with.  “Summer in the Spotlight” is the third and final story in Liz Johnson’s “Prince Edward Island Shores” series, and it is rather bittersweet to know that I will no longer be following the saga of the Ross brothers and “their girls”.   Continue reading →

by

Susie Finkbeiner Hits A Home Run

Susie Finkbeiner has a way with words that is all at once nostalgic and hopeful, artistic yet simplistic, raw and so very tender.  Published by Revell in the summer of 2023, “The All American” is a charming story that you won’t want to miss.  The Hardings felt like my  neighbors by the time I reached the mid-way point, and by the end they had become family. Continue reading →

by

Destined To Become A Classic Coming Of Age Story

This book… I’m certain it’s destined to become a classic, truly.  It’s so multidimensional, it has so many different elements of living life and growing up and finding your place in the world…  and it somehow manages to speak to readers across the board, regardless of our experience, age, past, or present.  “The Best Summer Of Our Lives” is the newest release by Rachel Hauck, and I hands-down describe it as a work of art.   Continue reading →

by

Unusual… And Beautiful

What a unique story this was, on so many levels…. “This Is Where It Ends” by Cindy Sproles is a slow, contemplative, redemptive, and far-reaching novel that is best slowly savored and explored, chapter by chapter.  It is repetitive, but in a way that makes the characters more real because, after all, life’s struggles can be repetitive, can’t they? Continue reading →