Three Book Reviews: Angel Paws Rescue Series by Mimi Milan

Today, I'm featuring a three-book series called the Angel Paws Rescue. Each one is a cute contemporary romance featuring a loving pet. Each book has a review with it - enjoy!

About Book One

Scent of an Angel (Angel Paws Rescue #1)

by Mimi Milan

Description from Goodreads: 

To fight... or fall in love?

The only thing Tanner McKoy wants is to disappear into the backwoods of North Carolina, hopefully forgetting about his tour in Afghanistan. However, forgetting seems improbable. And disappearing is impossible when a determined grad student uses her new shelter rescues to track him down.

After a miserable breakup with her fiance, Eva Perez returns to grad school to complete her thesis and become a physical therapist. Unfortunately, that means assisting on several case studies - one of which includes a surly army veteran who refuses help. How can she win a battle with someone still stuck in combat mode?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35411311-scent-of-an-angel 

Review of Scent of an Angel

Scent of an Angel is a cute contemporary romance novella. Like all the books in this series, it features an injured veteran who is paired with a pet from the Angel Paws animal rescue center. In this one, Tanner is struggling with having the will to live, after the war in Afghanistan took his legs and his friends. But a grad student named Eva, and her rescue dog, are determined to help him.

The story was short and sweet and reminded me of a Hallmark movie. The romance moved quickly and had a satisfying ending. And the characters grew into better people throughout the story. The story couldn’t have been developed a lot more, but it was a fun quick read as it was.

I enjoyed the Scent of an Angel and recommend it to fans of Hallmark movies.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am not obligated to provide a positive review.

About Book Two

Scent of an Angel (Angel Paws Rescue #2)

by Mimi Milan

Description from Goodreads: 

An explosion during a tour in Afghanistan took Rhett Marshall's sight, but not his mind. Too bad his family can't seem to grasp that fact. He'll do anything to regain control over his life again... even take drastic measures like marrying a complete stranger just so he can call his own shots.

Luciana Lopez came to the United States on a student visa - which is about to expire. Unfortunately, finding an employer to petition for her so she can stay in the country has proven impossible. Could marriage to a desperate army veteran be the answer to her immigration problem?

Enjoy the second novel in the groundbreaking, heartwarming series, Angel Paws Rescue, that donates twenty percent of proceeds to help army veterans and shelter animals.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35239314-touched-by-an-angel

Review of Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel is a contemporary marriage-of-convenience romance novella about a military veteran who gains a cute rescue dog and falls in love with a beautiful woman. Rhett lost his sight while serving in the military, and he asked for help from Luciana, an international student from his college who desperately wants to stay in the USA but whose visa is running out.

Touched by an Angel was an enjoyable, quick read. It was short and sweet and reminded me of a Hallmark movie. The characters and the plot could have been more complex, but for the length that it was, the story was pretty well done. I enjoyed how sweet the story was and the creativity of the author in creating the plot. There was a fade-to-black romance scene between married characters, but otherwise the book was clean.

On the whole, I enjoyed the story and recommend it to fans of Hallmark movies.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am not obligated to provide a positive review.

About Book Three

When Angels Sing (Angel Paws Rescue #3)

by Mimi Milan

Description from Goodreads: 

Fast food, fast cars, and fast women...

Eddie Rivera, a Chicano rock star hoping to break into the American music scene, has always lived life in the fast lane. The last thing he planned on was a country cutie with the belief that a guy "won't buy the cow if he's getting the milk for free." Can a shot at her lifelong dreams and a rescue kitty help him change her mind?

From boys to battlefields, Rachel Linden may have lost her hearing but she has never lost a fight. Of course, she's never had her dream of singing dangled in front of her either. Is there a strategy she can employ to win a war of wishes... without compromising her standards?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35411291-when-angels-sing

Review of When Angels Sing

When Angels Sing is a cute contemporary romance about a rock star and a semi-deaf veteran who fall in love. I really enjoyed this novel, more so than the others in the series. It was a novella like the others, and featured a veteran (a woman this time), a romance, and a rescue kitty. The story compared the lifestyles of the two characters - one, a singer with a raucous lifestyle, and the other, a farm-girl-turned-soldier with strong morals. It was interesting to see how they interacted and ultimately fell in love. And the plot twist was pretty cool. There were some inappropriate comments and insinuations in this novel, but otherwise it was pretty clean.

I enjoyed When Angels Sing and recommend it to fans of Hallmark movies.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am not obligated to provide a positive review.

Book Review: Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal by Amie Carlson

 

About the Book

Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal

by Amie Carlson

Description from Goodreads: 

Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal invites you to mix creative journaling and coloring into your personal time with God. Prayers that focus on topics such as being thankful, dealing with stress and heartache, caring for yourself and others, listening for God’s leading, and waiting patiently on Him will guide your thoughts and calm your spirit. Filled with more than 100 designs to color, plenty of space for journaling, and 40 needs-based prayers, Tranquility will help you express your devotion to God with your whole heart.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34793847-tranquility

Review

Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Book. This coloring book is beautifully designed in the art style demonstrated on the cover. Verses, devotionals, prayer suggestions, or empty spaces for writing can be found on every page. And the background to these are designs for coloring. Most of the designs are either verse graphics, nature and animals, or vintage items like ornate mirrors and even a phonograph. A few of the pages were mostly colored in when printed, including a couple of black and white photographs. I imagine these were met to set a peaceful tone via the color schemes and to provide a couple of options for days when you don’t want to color too many details.

I enjoyed this coloring book. It is beautiful, and the verses were decently chosen. I recommend it to those wanting to try a new Christian coloring book.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am not obligated to provide a positive review.

Book Review: The One True Love of Alice-Ann by Eva Marie Everson

About the Book

The One True Love of Alice-Ann 

by by Eva Marie Everson

Description from Goodreads:

Living in rural Georgia in 1941, sixteen-year-old Alice-Ann has her heart set on her brother's friend Mack; despite their five-year age gap, Alice-Ann knows she can make Mack see her for the woman she'll become. But when they receive news of the attack on Pearl Harbor and Mack decides to enlist, Alice-Ann realizes she must declare her love before he leaves. Though promising to write, Mack leaves without confirmation that her love is returned. But Alice-Ann is determined to wear the wedding dress her maiden aunt never had a chance to wear--having lost her fiance in the Great War. As their correspondence continues over the next three years, Mack and Alice-Ann are drawn closer together. But then Mack's letters cease altogether, leaving Alice-Ann to fear history repeating itself. Dreading the war will leave her with a beautiful dress and no happily ever after, Alice-Ann fills her days with work and caring for her best friend's war-torn brother, Carlton. As time passes and their friendship develops into something more, Alice-Ann wonders if she'll ever be prepared to say good-bye to her one true love and embrace the future God has in store with a newfound love. Or will a sudden call from overseas change everything?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30956079-the-one-true-love-of-alice-ann?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=jx6Gf4aLqh&rank=1

Review

In 1941, Alice-Ann is a sixteen-year-old with her heart set on her brother's friend Mack. But when he leaves no promises when WWII calls him away, she is left wondering about his affection for her. They write letters for years, but then the letters stop altogether. Heartbroken though she is, Alice-Ann still finds the strength to be there for her best friend's brother, Carlton, as he heals from a terrible injury. Will she be able to discover who her true love really is?

The One True Love of Alice-Ann is a sweet romance set during WWII. When all the men go off to war, how will a young woman discover who will be her true love? Alice-Ann certainly has trouble figuring it out. During this book, she grew from a teenager with a crush to a young woman who knows her heart, but it took her a long time and a lot of pain.

This book went at a relatively slow pace as readers follow Alice-Ann's struggle through the years of the war. She certainly grows up as a young lady, but the central romantic focus takes some time to develop. There is a little bit of a love triangle, but it takes until the middle of the book to even discover who the second young man is, much less who she will choose.

Despite the relative slowness, it was an interesting book. I enjoyed the peek into the life of a WWII woman waiting through the war at home in the US. It could not have been easy, but even during the war, life goes on.

Overall, I enjoyed The True Love of Alice-Ann, and I recommend it to fans of sweet historical romance.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for sharing them.

Book Review: All of You by Sarah Monzon

About the Book

All of You (Carrington Family #2)

by Sarah Monzon

Description from Goodreads:

Maryland, Present Day

Jacqueline Rogers can rebuild anything...except the shambles of her past. A restorer of vintage planes, she's worked hard to earn the reputation of being one of the guys. The last thing she needs is a former Navy pilot fighting his own inner demons stepping in to defend her from dangers she thought she’d outrun long ago. Some battles must be fought alone.

After a freak accident severs Lieutenant Michael “Finch” Carrington’s dreams, as well as two limbs, he’s left with nothing but a fragile faith and a duty-bound promise to watch out for his friend’s baby sister. A promise she insists is as unnecessary as it is unappreciated. But when she turns the tables and begins to weld together the broken parts of his life, it may be his heart that is in need of protection.

England, 1942

With the world at war yet again, Alice Galloway rejects her father’s traditional expectations and offers her piloting expertise to the Air Transport Auxiliary. She may be a woman in a man’s world, but when she overhears key intelligence, she must find the strength to transcend boundaries and her own fears. Or countless people may die.


Sometimes the past reaches forward to bring hope to the future.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34603638-all-of-you

Review

All of You weaves two storylines together in a beautiful tale of love and acceptance. The first is of Jacqueline "Jack" Rodgers, an airplane mechanic and refurbish-er, and Lieutenant Michael "Finch" Carrington, a military pilot grounded by an injury resulting in amputations. Both characters have severe problems to overcome. Jack's abusive ex-fiance is back from deployment, and he is threatening her. Jack's brother calls in his friend Michael, amputee or not, to guard Jack from the jerk. Sparks fly, but they are both too afraid to let go and love. The second storyline features Alice Galloway, an American pilot who traveled to England to help in WWII. She struggles with the prejudice against women in the military, her love for a handsome journalist, and the fight to come out from her father's strict influence in order to be herself. Danger abounds, but love could flourish if given the chance.

With two separate storylines, All of You is a little complicated. The two tie together loosely in the end, and it is worth the wait. Jack and Michael's story is featured the most, since they make up two of the three POV characters. Readers get to see both of their internal struggles as they cope with all life throws at them, including their struggle not to let themselves love one another. There is so much hurt in their past that it is hard to trust and to let go of fear. I really enjoyed reading their story. They are two normal people, and yet they are beautiful even in their struggles. Watching them grow and love each other made me happy.

Alice's story was a bit different. She lived decades before the others and faced a completely different set of trials. I never realized how difficult it was for women to be respected in the military. Alice and her peers were the pioneers of women in military and piloting. They were allowed and sanctioned by the government to work and fly in the war. But that didn't mean they were accepted. Prejudices against them abounded, and there was little they could do about it. They had a far-reaching impact, though, and deserve the honor of being the first women fliers in the military. Add in the romance to Alice's story, and it was as sweet as it was enlightening.

I thoroughly enjoyed All of You, and I'm hoping to read more of the series and from Sarah Monzon. She won herself a fan! I hope you, readers, will like it too. It's perfect for fans of contemporary and historical romance.

I received a complementary copy of this review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for providing them.

Book Review: The Shattered Vigil by Patrick W. Carr

 

About the Book

The Shattered Vigil (The Darkwater Saga #2)

by Patrick W. Carr

Description from Goodreads: 

Award-Winner Carr Delivers Latest in Fantasy Saga

Victory over the dark forces during the feast of Bas-solas should have guaranteed safety for the continent. Instead, Willet and the rest of the Vigil discover they've been outsmarted by those seeking to unleash the evil that inhabits the Darkwater. Jorgen, the member of the Vigil assigned to Frayel, has gone missing, and new attacks have struck at the six kingdoms' ability to defend themselves.

Just when the Vigil thought they had quenched the menace from their enemy in Collum, a new threat emerges: assassins hunting the Vigil, men and women who cannot be seen until it's too late. The orders of the church and the rulers of the kingdoms, fearing the loss of the Vigil's members altogether, have decided to take them into protective custody to safeguard their gift. On Pellin's orders, the Vigil scatters, leaving Willet to be taken prisoner by the church in Bunard.

In the midst of this, Willet learns of the murder of an obscure nobleman's daughter by one of the unseen assassins. Now he must escape his imprisonment and brave the wrath of the church to find the killer in order to turn back this latest threat to the northern continent. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28561660-the-shattered-vigil

Review

The Shattered Vigil is the second book in the Darkwater Series by Patrick W Carr. It is an epic fantasy novel, for adults, from a Christian perspective.

Willet, and the rest of the people in the Vigil, have the ability to see all of a person’s memories with a single touch. Unfortunately, the Vigil’s enemies were not vanquished as was thought but are striking back harder than before.

The Shattered Vigil was too dark for me. There is so much darkness in the human soul, and Willet has the ability to see all of it. Subsequently, this book was also very dark, darker than most Christian fantasy novels. Death, betrayal, an evil that seeped into people’s souls from exposure to the Darkwater Forest — all of it was thoroughly present in this novel. Now, Willet and others fought the evil, and so there was good in their world filled with evil. But still, the evil seemed to permeate the book via a dark tone.

The good things about the book were: unique characters, a complex plot, a well-developed world, deep questions and soul-searching, engaging writing, and a fantastic cover. I did love Patrick Carr’s other series, the Staff and the Sword.

I recommend it to fans of dark-ish fantasy with a Christian perspective. Perhaps fans of Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am not obligated to provide a positive review.

Book Review: Shadow of the Wyrm by

About the Book

Shadow of the Wyrm

by Susan Spitale Precht

Description from Goodreads: 

Until unknown relations show up unexpectedly to their summer camp, Torg, Rache, Berr, and Brom were never told that their Dvargen clan was a tiny remnant of a more advanced culture which had been hunted to near extinction by creatures known as the Wyrm. The world that they had expected to inhabit ceases to exist while the rules they had been framed by only serve to maintain the fiction their grandsire had crafted to keep knowledge of the Wyrm away. Left alone to discover the truth of their past, and to define the realities of their present, they are thrust into a dangerous adventure that will ultimately decide their future.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16110926-shadow-of-the-wyrm

Review

Shadow of the Wyrm is a YA fantasy novel about four teens in a cave-man-like setting who’s existence is threatened by the re-emergence of the Wyrms. Shadow of the Wyrm was an interesting read. It was easy-to-read, and so younger teen readers would probably enjoy it. The story world was interesting, and the setting the culture reminded me of cavemen. Not many books have a similar setting, and so I enjoyed reading about it from this author’s perspective. The four teens were unique characters who began to learn new things about their people’s pasts and had to decide how to react and what to make of their world as a result. In this way, it was a coming-of-age novel. And I love the cover! I enjoyed it and recommend it to fans of YA Fantasy. I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am not obligated to provide a positive review.

Book Review: Karina's Silver Shoes by D Leitao

 

About the Book

Karina's Silver Shoes

by D Leitao

Description from Goodreads: 

She’s got the fate of a kingdom in her hands—or rather, in her shoes.
14-year old Karina is not sure what she wants, but she knows what she’s found: fascinating silver shoes. Fascinating, dangerous, and potentially evil. On the upside, they do bring cool visitors.

When two princesses ask her to go to Whyland, a kingdom in a parallel dimension, to destroy the shoes, of course Karina accepts. Who would refuse a free trip to an alternate world?

Advised by a wise master and threatened by a beautiful stepmother, Karina goes on a journey with a princess to defeat a powerful witch. But Whyland is nothing like she expected. Karina finds herself stuck in a kingdom she doesn’t understand, with no clue on who to trust. Before saving anyone, she’d better save herself—if she figures out how.

From Brazilian / Canadian writer Denise Marques Leitao comes Karina’s Silver Shoes, a teen parody of fantasy and fairy-tale tropes with many female characters, friendships between girls and women, and some subtle romance. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36067816-karina-s-silver-shoes

Review

Karina’s Silver Shoes is a young YA fairytale-like fantasy novel for girls. Modern day Karina has a magical pair of shoes, and when she is asked to visit another world and go on a quest for some princesses, of course she accepts.

Karina’s Silver Shoes was a cute story about a young teen girl who goes on a fairytale adventure, makes wonderful friends, and grows in character while doing so. It was easy to read and is appropriate for younger teen and preteen girls. The story was fun and engaging. And the cover, while not detailed, is beautiful, don’t you think?

My favorite part was what one character said about wishes at the end. It made me think. But I won’t spoil it for you by saying more.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it to girls who enjoy fairytale adventures.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am not obligated to provide a positive review.

Book Review: What Dreams May Come by Alana Terry

 

About the Book

What Dreams May Come (Sweet Dreams #1)

by Alana Terry

Description from Goodreads: 

She's got her heart set on becoming a missionary. He's determined to recruit her for the job.

But is it possible to fall in love with someone you've never even met?

Susannah's convinced that God has called her to the mission field. That's why she's serving him with single-minded focus in Orchard Grove, waiting for the day when she can leave her small town to take the gospel to the nations.

Is falling in love with her missionary recruiter part of God's plan for her life or a distraction from the real goal?

Scott loves his life. Traveling the globe, offering spiritual support to missionaries around the world offers enough excitement that the loneliness hardly ever gets to him ...

Until he receives an application from a young girl with a heart for the mission field as large as his own, a young girl he finds himself falling for even before they get the chance to meet face-to-face.

Unfortunately, a promise Susannah made to her family may tear her and Scott even farther apart than the miles that separate them.

Book one in an inspirational sweet romance series by award-winning Christian author Alana Terry, who has won awards from Women of Faith, The Book Club Network, Grace Awards, and several others, What Dreams May Come is based off of the author's own experiences falling in love with (and eventually marrying) her missionary recruiter.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36242150-what-dreams-may-come 

Review

What Dreams May Come is a sweet Christian contemporary romance. In it, Susannah is determined to be a missionary and isn’t interested in any man unless he is headed toward the same goal. But she finds herself falling for the missionary agency’s recruiter, the man on the phone who she’s never met in person and who isn’t necessarily going to move overseas like she plans to. What is she to do?

What Dreams May Come was a very sweet romance. As the author wrote in her note, it is based somewhat on her own romance with her husband. I enjoyed reading about the characters, watching them grow and struggle through difficult choices and circumstances. It was especially interesting to see what choices Susannah made in regards to her disabled sister and to see her involvement in her community. As a whole, I found the characters very relatable and likable, and I enjoyed watching them fall more deeply in love and make choices regarding their future.

I enjoyed his sweet story very much and recommend it to fans of contemporary Chrisian romance.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am not obligated to provide a positive review.

Book Review: This Treacherous Journey by Misty M. Beller

 

About the Book

This Treacherous Journey (Heart of the Mountains #1)

by by Misty M. Beller

Description from Goodreads: 

Widowed and with child, Emma Malcom is fleeing from the reward offered for her arrest. She’s innocent of the dirty dealings her deceased husband orchestrated, but the angry townspeople didn’t stop to listen to her defense before she narrowly escaped with her life. Now, she and her twin brother, Joseph, must battle the mountain wilderness of the Rockies to reach Canada and the clean start she craves. But when a fall from the rocky cliff leaves Joseph wounded and weak, could the strange mountain man they encounter be God’s gift to see them to safety?

Simeon Grant makes bad choices. His deceased wife and twin babies are lost to him now because of his reckless decisions, and the penance he pays by living alone in this mountain wilderness is only a small piece of what he thinks he deserves. When a city woman, heavy with child, appears on his doorstep with her injured brother, her presence resurrects the memories he’s worked so hard to forget. And when she asks for his help to travel deeper into the mountain country, he can’t help wonder why God would force him to relive the same mistakes he’s already suffered through. Or maybe taking these two to safety could be the way to redeem himself.

But when their travels prove more treacherous than he imagined, Simeon finds himself pressing the limits of his ability to keep Emma and her brother safe. Can he overcome the past that haunts him to be the man she needs? Will Emma break through the walls around Simeon’s heart before it’s too late, or will the dangers of these mountains be the end of them all?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35911540-this-treacherous-journey

Review

This Treacherous Journey is a Christian historical romance novel set in the west in the 1800s.

Widowed and pregnant, Emma travels north through the Rockies with her twin brother, hoping to find refuge from false accusations in Canada. But an accident lands them stranded in the wilderness with only an antisocial woodsman, Simeon, to help.

This book was a little different than many of the western romances I’ve read in that the characters are traveling on horseback for much of the story, and that pregnancy is a large part of the story. Both combined definitely made the story interesting.

Another theme was forgiveness of self and healing. Simeon dealt with a lot of guilt and was forced to deal with his issues when Emma came into his life. It was good to see him transform throughout the story.

The romance was cute, and the historical details about the trip, interspersed into the plot, were engaging. I enjoyed this sweet, clean Christian romance and would recommend it to women who enjoy western romances.

I received a complementary copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own, and I wasn’t compensated for writing the review.

Book Review: Let's Be Real

 

About the Book

Let's Be Real: Living Life as an Open and Honest You

by Natasha Bure, Sadie Robertson (Foreword)

Description from Goodreads:

From singer, model and YouTube celebrity Natasha Bure, the daughter of Candace Cameron Bure, comes a real, honest conversational book that doesn’t hold back. Everywhere she goes and every video she posts has one basic message: this is real, this is life, and we all go through it. Whether it’s acne, boyfriends, faith, stress, or having fun, Natasha’s view is to simply be honest, simply be real, no matter what you face. Natasha’s real and relatable tone paired with personal notes and stories will help readers see that living a “real” life is the best life.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33962292-let-s-be-real?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=u4c4xufQVc&rank=1

Review

Let’s Be Real: Living Life as an Open and Honest You is a non-fiction Christian living book written for teen girls. The author is Natasha Bure, who you might recognize from the media as an actress and the daughter of Candace Cameron Bure.

Published in 2017, Natasha wrote this book as an older teenager to other Christian teen girls who are growing up in today’s world and facing some of the same pressures she did. The book is broken up into several parts and addresses putting one’s identity in Christ and becoming beautiful both inside and out. She uses her own experiences to prove her points and becomes very relatable when doing so. As well as talking about following Christ and living morally, she provides tips on living a healthy lifestyle, wearing makeup, having standards with boys, and using social media.

I think the author did a very good job with this book. It was engaging, easy-to-read, relatable, and informative. I would have no problem handing this book to a Christian teen girl.

I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for writing them.

Book Review: The Legend of the Sand Dollar

About the Book

The Legend of the Sand Dollar: An Inspirational Story of Hope for Easter

by Chris Auer, Richard Cowdrey

Description from Goodreads:

This newly illustrated edition of The Legend of the Sand Dollar renews the wonder and charm of the original and timeless tale written by Chris Auer. With new vibrant artwork from Bad Dog, Marley illustrator, Richard Cowdrey, this holiday classic is brought to life for a new generation. The Legend of the Sand Dollar tells the story of Kerry, as her cousin Jack reveals to her the deeper meaning of Easter hidden within something as small as a sand dollar. This Easter tale reminds everyone everywhere that when Jesus died for us and was resurrected, he promised hope for all.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31847557-the-legend-of-the-sand-dollar

Review

The Legend of the Sand Dollar is a cute picture book to teach children about Easter, or Resurrection Sunday. Eight-year-old Kerry and her cousin Jack learn about the legend of the sand dollar as they spend Easter weekend together. According to the legend, each part of a sand dollar tells a part of Jesus’ story, from the shape of the flower on the top to the holes in the middle to the doves on the inside.

The Legend of the Sand Dollar was illustrated by Richard Cowdrey and written by Chris Auer, the third in a collection of children’s picture books about the symbolism behind traditional holiday objects (the candy can and Easter egg). This book is based off of an old poem from residents of the North American oceanic coastlines. The last page of the book contains the poem as well as educational information about sand dollars, so that young readers can learn about the animals’ biology as well as their Christian symbolism.

The book is intended for children ages four and older. The main character is eight years old, and readers around her age may be able to work on their reading skills with the simplified language in The Legend of the Sand Dollar. Readers of all ages can appreciate the symbolism of the story and, perhaps, share it with others as Kerry did with her sister. I know I will remember it every time I see a sand dollar from now on.

The illustrations are lovely. I adore the beautiful beach scenes and blends of blue in the sky and the ocean. The shells and the characters are intricately painted and so pretty. Richard Cowdrey is a talented artist.

The Legend of the Sand Dollar is a lovely children’s book with a great message. I recommend it to Christian families and churches as a memorable way to teach children about the Easter story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Z Blog Squad from Zonderkidz. All opinions are expressly my own.

Book Review: Faithgirlz Promises for You Coloring Devotional

 

About the Book

Faithgirlz Promises for You Coloring Devotional: 60 Days Discovering God’s Hope and Love

Description from Goodreads: 

Take time to enjoy God’s Word and color images from his beautiful world. In this 60-day coloring devotional filled with unique illustrations and patterns, you will read about God’s unchanging promises through NIV Bible verses, paired with detailed line art. Each page is printed on high-quality, thick paper stock that won’t bleed through. And when you’re finished coloring with markers, metallic pens, or colored pencils, you will have a chance to reflect and journal about each promise from Scripture, and find inspiration for every day. Perfect for girls 8-12.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30649352-faithgirlz-promises-for-you-coloring-devotional

Review

Faithgirlz Promises for You is a 60-day coloring book devotional for upper elementary age girls to teen girls. Each day, there’s a verse and a couple sentences of related text explaining the verse or suggesting prayer based on the verse. Often there are lines to write out a prayer as well. And the rest of the page is filled with beautiful coloring pages of varying designs. Flowers, animals, abstract designs, verses in beautiful lettering, and even food filled the coloring pages in artful lines ready to be filled with color while meditating on God’s Word or praying. I followed a couple of the devotionals, and while they are nice, I found that I didn’t focus so much on the verse and devotional as I did on deciding which color goes in which space. So it wasn’t as meditative for me. But it really was a beautiful coloring book, and coloring in verses was a good reminder of God and His Word.

I enjoyed it and would recommend it as a beautiful coloring book at devotional for girls.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am not obligated to provide a positive review. 

Book Review: Where We Belong by Lynn Austin

 

About the Book

Where We Belong

by Lynn Austin

Description from Goodreads: 

The Adventure of a Lifetime for Two Indomitable Socialite Sisters

In the city of Chicago in 1892, the rules for Victorian women are strict, their roles limited. But sisters Rebecca and Flora Hawes are not typical Victorian ladies. Their love of adventure and their desire to use their God-given talents has brought them to the Sinai Desert--and into a sandstorm.

Accompanied by Soren Petersen, their somber young butler, and Kate Rafferty, a street urchin who is learning to be their ladies' maid, the two women are on a quest to find an important biblical manuscript. As the journey becomes more dangerous and uncertain, the four travelers sift through memories of their past, recalling the events that shaped them and the circumstances that brought them to this time and place. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34020173-where-we-belong

Review

Where We Belong by Lynn Austen is a clean Christian historical fiction set in Chicago in the mid-to-late 1800s. This book follows the story of two remarkable women who use their privileges to help other instead of just themselves. They travel the world, fall in love, and help transform their community, especially after the Chicago fire. This story was so interesting! It was a little slow, but the details in the story and the lives of the two sisters were fascinating. It followed the lives of the sisters for decades, showing their personal growth and experiences and the impact they had on the community. There was a little bit of romance, but it was more of a side plot in the story of the women’s lives. The story and the characters had depth, and there were many words of wisdom interspersed into it about God and the Bible. Part of the book takes place in Chicago and part of it in the Middle East during the women’s travels. One of the sisters had a passion for archeology, and they spent weeks traipsing through the desert in search of ancient Bible manuscripts and having memorable adventures. Some of those adventures were the most fun parts of the story. This was a very well-written book, and I would definitely recommend it to others. I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher. Everything I wrote is my honest, personal opinion, and I wasn’t compensated for sharing it.

Book Review: The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson

 

About the Book

The Christmas Blessing

by Melody Carlson

Description from Goodreads:

When she receives the news in late 1944 that her baby's father was shot down in the South Pacific, Amelia Richards loses hope. Jobless and broke, she has nowhere to turn for help but her infant's paternal grandparents. The only problem is, they don't know that she--or their grandson--exists. When Amelia discovers that the family is wealthy and influential, dare she disclose the truth of her relationship with their son? Or could the celebration of the arrival of another unexpected baby nearly two thousand years ago be the answer to her dilemma?
Beloved author Melody Carlson pens a story of love, hardship, and reconciliation that will leave readers filled with Christmas joy. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34020268-the-christmas-blessing

Review

The Christmas Blessing is a sweet Christmas novella. Set during WWII, Amelia lost her fiancé to the war. Now, an unwed mother with no money or job, she turns to her fiancé’s parents for help. But how will they react when they find out their perfect son had a fiancé and a child out of wedlock? The Christmas Blessings is a heartwarming Christmas story. I liked the characters and felt so sad for the dire straits and difficult choices they had to make. In that time, people didn’t look kindly on unwed mothers, and for the father to die before he was able to marry his fiancé, even before knowing about his son, leaving her penniless and without a widow’s pension, was so sad to read about. I wonder how many real women were faced with those circumstances. The ending of this story, though, was perfect and beautiful. I loved it. I recommend this to fans of sweet Christmas stories. I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am not obligated to provide a positive review.

Book Review: All She Left Behind by Jane Kirkpatrick

 

About the Book

All She Left Behind 

by Jane Kirkpatrick

Description from Goodreads:

Already well-versed in the natural healing properties of herbs and oils, Jennie Pickett longs to become a doctor. But the Oregon frontier of the 1870s doesn't approve of such innovations as women attending medical school. To leave grief and guilt behind, as well as support herself and her challenging young son, Jennie cares for an elderly woman using skills she's developed on her own. When her patient dies, Jennie discovers that her heart has become entangled with the woman's widowed husband, a man many years her senior. Their unlikely romance may lead her to her ultimate goal--but the road will be winding and the way forward will not always be clear. Will Jennie find shelter in life's storms? Will she discover where healing truly lives?

Through her award-winning, layered storytelling, New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick invites readers to leave behind their preconceived notions about love and life as they, along with Jennie, discover that dreams may be deferred--but they never really die. Based on a true story.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34020272-all-she-left-behind

Review

All She Left Behind is a fictionalized historical account of the life of Jennie Pickett, a woman from 1870s Oregon who becomes a doctor.

The novel follows the life of Jennie. It reads like a fiction story, with fictionalized conversations joining the recorded historical events. At first, it isn’t terribly clear where the story is going because it simply follows the Jennie’s life, starting from her wedding as a young woman. But by the end, the story showed that she was a woman worth remembering as a feminist, a woman doctor, and a loving wife and mother who overcame much to do what she did. It had a lot of feminist themes and contrasted the difficulties of women during the time to the joys of family and a marriage of equals.

I enjoyed this story and learned a lot about how women were treated during the time period. I cheer Jennie on for what she accomplished and am eternally grateful for the freedoms I enjoy as a woman in the United States. I appreciate that the author wrote about the real struggles Jennie went through, both from the sexists against her and in daily and family life. She wasn’t any more perfect than the men around her, and I am glad that was represented.

I recommend this book to those who are interested in learning about women feminists in history in a relatable way (as historical fiction).

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I was not obligated to give a positive review.

Book Review: Twilight at Blueberry Barrens by Colleen Coble

 

About the Book

Twilight at Blueberry Barrens (Sunset Cove #3)

by Colleen Coble

Description from Goodreads:

“I need you to keep these girls safe . . .”

Kate Mason has devoted herself to caring for her family’s blueberry barrens. But after her fields stop producing fruit, she’s forced to come up with alternative ways to make a living.

Renting out the small cottage on her property seems an obvious choice, but it won’t be enough. When entrepreneur Drake Newham shows up looking not only for a place to rent but also for a nanny for his two nieces, it’s almost too good to be true. And maybe it is—because Drake brings with him dangerous questions about who might be out to kill his family.

The more time Kate spends with Drake and the girls, the more difficult it becomes to hide her attraction to him. But a family crisis isn’t exactly the ideal time to pursue a romance.

Meanwhile, Kate learns that her uncle—in prison for murder—has escaped. Add to that a local stalker who won’t leave her alone, and Kate is looking over her shoulder at every turn. With threats swirling from multiple directions, she wonders if her blueberry fields will ever flourish again . . . or if this twilight is her last.

Set on the beautiful coast of Maine, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens brings together suspense, romance, and the hope that one day new life will come again. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27840707-twilight-at-blueberry-barrens

Review

Twilight at Blueberry Barrens is a contemporary Christian romantic suspense. When Kate takes up the position of nanny for the attractive Drake’s daughters, she doesn’t expect it to come with fearing for her life from the villain chasing Drake’s family.

Just look at that cover! How could I not read it? I enjoyed Twilight at Blueberry Barrens. It was an interesting, suspenseful read. The plot and characters were well-thought out, and it was fun watching the romance develop between Kate and Drake. The story was suspenseful (but not too suspenseful; another series I read just about gave me an anxiety attack), and there were dangerous people coming from several avenues.

While this book didn’t hook me into reading the rest of the series (I’m not really a suspense fan at all) I remember it being an interesting novel. If you do like Christian suspense, then you’ve probably already heard of Colleen Coble and would enjoy this book much more than I have.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am not obligated to provide a positive review.

Book Review: The Conqueror by Bryan Litfin

 I hope you enjoy my review of this new Christian historical fiction!

About the Book

The Conqueror (Constantine's Empire #1)

by Bryan M. Litfin

Description from Goodreads: 

It is AD 312. Rome teeters on the brink of war. Constantine's army is on the move. On the Rhine frontier, Brandulf Rex, a pagan Germanic barbarian, joins the Roman army as a spy and special forces operative. Down in Rome, Junia Flavia, the lovely and pious daughter of a nominally Christian senator, finds herself embroiled in anti-Christian politics as she works on behalf of the church.

As armies converge and forces beyond Rex's and Flavia's controls threaten to destroy everything they have worked for, these two people from different worlds will have to work together to bring down the evil Emperor Maxentius. But his villainous plans and devious henchmen are not easily overcome. Will the barbarian warrior and the senator's daughter live to see the Empire bow the knee to Christ? Or will their part in the story of Constantine's rise meet an untimely and brutal end?

Travel back to one of the most pivotal eras in history--a time when devotion to the pagan gods was fading and the Roman Empire was being conquered by the sign of the cross.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51273181-the-conqueror 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Conqueror-Constantines-Empire-Book-ebook/dp/B087RT65SQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+conqueror+litfin&qid=1604375916&sr=8-1

Review

The Conqueror is the first book in a new Christian historical fiction series about how Emperor Constantine re-united the Roman Empire and welcomed Christianity. The two main characters are Rex, a young speculator (spy) for Constantine and Flavia, a Christian daughter of a senator for Constantine’s rival. They are on opposite sides of the empire, but they find themselves working together for the betterment of Rome and the Christians. 

I found this an intriguing book. The events chronicled are historical, as far as I understand, as well as the culture. I knew the bare details about how Constantine's rule changed the Empire and Christianity's relationship to it at the time. I knew the bare details, but this book takes it much further and goes into battles, culture, descriptions of monuments (some of which are still there), politics, Christian theology of the time, and much more. It was fascinating! And based on the author’s credentials and non-fiction books, Litfin seems to know what he is talking about when he wrote it (though ancient history is always a little spotty). I loved it.

The fictional part of the historical fiction is the two main characters. Rex and Flavia are fictional, as is their budding romance and their struggle with initially believing in Jesus and/or remaining faithful to Jesus in the tumultuous and sinful world. I believe the characters were dynamic and well-written, and I look forward to reading more about them in subsequent novels. They were really young, though, at least for an adult novel; both were in their upper teens. But I thoroughly enjoyed reading about them, whatever their ages.

I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading the following books in the series, whenever they’re published. Especially since this book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger! I recommend it to fans of Biblical fiction and war novels. 

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Book Review: The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson

 

My Review

The Christmas Swap is a sweet Christian, Christmas romance.

Every year since her parents moved to Africa, Emma has spent Christmas with her best friend’s (dysfunctional) family. This year, they are doing a house swap where they stay at someone’s house in the cold north while the owner’s family stays at their home in the sunny south. Only, the owner of the house they’re staying in hasn’t quite left, is quite attractive, and is masquerading as the caretaker.

This was a cute Christmas story, perfect to be turned into a Hallmark movie. It features awkward situations, crazy love pentangles (is that a word?), lots of skiing, misunderstandings, hidden identities, and a happily-ever-after. As you might imagine from my description, there are a lot of things that could interrupt the blooming romance between Emma and the “caretaker,” and it was a lot of fun (mixed with frustration) to watch everything play out. I really enjoyed this easy, Christmas read, and I would recommend it to those who enjoy light holiday romances. 

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Buy the book: https://smile.amazon.com/Christmas-Swap-Melody-Carlson-ebook/dp/B087RSN9LX/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=the+christmas+swap&qid=1601091341&sr=8-3