The Sea Before Us | First Line Friday, Book Review

Published on March 2, 2018 by Amanda Tero6 Comments

When I think of WWII fiction, the name Sarah Sundin comes to mind. I’ve only read a few of her books, but she has capture WWII perfectly. I am completely transported back in time!

First Line:

Wyatt Paxton never realized coming home

could be so bittersweet as leaving.

My Review

Wyatt had me from page one. He was more of the quieter hero, the one who made terrible mistakes, was overly-protective… YET… he learned. He was a hero with flaws, but not without progress. He understood forgiveness, but still had to learn it on other levels. He understood the importance of God’s love more than human love. I totally liked Wyatt.

But this story was only half of him. The other half was Dorothy. She made me want to both knock sense into her and kindly point her in the right direction. Her character was very well done. She was naïve in some points, but believably so.

So when you combine two amazing characters like Wyatt and Dorothy into a story, you’ve got a pretty good start. And then, there was WWII. Sundin does such a fantastic job at capturing the inner workings of various groups in the WWII. I find that very intriguing.

The spiritual side of the story was very solid. Wyatt was a firm believer in Jesus Christ, and he honestly desired for others to follow Him too. In fact, I was impressed, because Wyatt yearned more for Dorothy to have a right relationship with God than for them to be together as a couple.

At the same time, there were a lot of kisses and romance was kind of a strong thread in the story. Unlike some of Sundin’s other books, there wasn’t detail on compromising moral situations. There was a rather shocking revelation of a side character, but it didn’t go into detail and was portrayed as the heartache that it was.

I’d recommend this for conservative readers above twenty.

*I received this book from Revell Books and happily provided my honest review*

Purchase on Amazon
Connect with Sarah online

Connecting with Hoarding Books for First Line Friday! Hop over and connect with your first line!

He Hideth My Soul | First Line Friday, Book Review, and Blog Tour

Published on February 23, 2018 by Amanda Tero10 Comments

Once again, I’m happy to join Faith and the release of another of her books! If you like clean Christian westerns, Faith Blum is an author you may want to check out.

Before I continue with the tour, though, here’s the first line!

Dear future wife,

These letters are my way of trying to keep from going deep into despondency again. At least that is my hope. In them, you will learn more about me than anyone has ever known before.

Ooh… yes, a book that begins with letters to a future wife! 😉
Share a first line, and enjoy my little portion of the tour! 🙂

Connecting with Hoarding Books for First Line Friday! Hop over and connect with your first line!

~*~*~

Have you ever had a hard time loving someone? I think everyone probably has at one time in their life. But what would your life be like if you’ve never had the courage to love anyone? Faith Blum explores that idea in her new book, He Hideth My Soul.

About the Book

He’s never had the courage to love anyone…

The only thing Otis Miller has ever wanted to be is a doctor and he wants to be the best. A surprise talk with his Aunt Eleanor days before his twenty-first birthday leads to a visit from his grandfather’s lawyer and the discovery that he is the heir to a large fortune. With all the papers signed, Otis heads to Chicago to follow his dream.

After graduating from Jenner Medical School, Otis goes to the mine he owns in Colorado to see how things are and to provide medical care for everyone in town. He finds horrible working conditions and learns to make difficult decisions that will be best for all

Will Otis learn to let God cover him in the depths of His love? Can Otis hide in God’s presence whenever he doesn’t know where to go next?

Note: 50% of my income from this series will go to the World Orphans organization.

About the Author

Faith Blum is a 20-something author of multiple books in various genres. She loves to write, read, play piano, knit, crochet, sew, watch movies, and spend time with her husband. She lives in Wisconsin in a small town with her husband and cat where she can write to her heart’s content during the day. Faith’s goal in her writing is to encourage Christians in their walk with Christ.

Giveaway

Faith is giving away three prizes! The grand prize is a paperback of her new book. First and second prizes are both an eBook of He Hideth My Soul. Enter here for the chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Review

Continuing Otis’s story from “Lily of the Valley” was a treat for me. He was a troubled kid who grew up into an uncertain adult—yet one whose faith was firm in the Lord. This is a sweet story about his life from about age 21-25, the surprises and sorrows, troubles and triumphs.

His marriage was one of convenience yet was so sweet! There really wasn’t a ton of extreme romance, though, which I appreciate. There were couples who fell in love and married, but the inner emotion wasn’t highlighted or dramatized.

There was a definite godly message with a clear salvation message. A lot about trusting God and clinging to His promises.

I’d recommend this to conservative readers 16 and up, maybe slightly younger.

*I received this book from the author and happily provided my honest review*

Tour Schedule

February 20

Bookish Orchestrations – Introduction Post

Creating Romance – Book Spotlight

Rachel Rossano’s Words – Book Spotlight

February 21

Letters from Annie Douglass Lima – Book Spotlight

Rebekah Lyn Books – Book Spotlight

February 22

Ruth’s Real Life – Book Spotlight

Kandi J Wyatt, Where Fantasy and Reality Meet – Book Spotlight

February 23

With a Joyful Noise – Review

God’s Peculiar Treasure Rae – Book Spotlight

February 24

Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections – Post from the author

February 26

Bookish Orchestration – Giveaway winner post

Phoebe’s Light | FLF, Blog Tour, Review, Giveaway

Published on February 16, 2018 by Amanda Tero12 Comments

Who likes seafaring journeys and tales of whaling? I definitely do! I also like trying new-to-me authors, which is Suzanne Woods Fisher. So I was excited to get my hands on this book. This book ended up not being in line with my tastes, but some of you may enjoy it!

First Line:

Phoebe Starbuck flung back the worn quilt,

leapt out of bed, and hurried to the windows.

There are some fun things with this blog tour, so keep reading!

But first!

Comment with a first line from your current read!

Have you read Suzanne Woods Fisher? If so, which of her books is your favorite?

Connecting with Hoarding Books for First Line Friday! Hop over and connect with your first line!

About the Book

Title: Phoebe’s Light

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Historical romance

Release Date: February 6, 2018

Phoebe Starbuck has always adjusted her sails and rudder to the whims of her father. Now, for the first time, she’s doing what she wants to do: marrying Captain Phineas Foulger and sailing far away from Nantucket. As she leaves on her grand adventure, her father gives her two gifts, both of which Phoebe sees little need for. The first is an old sheepskin journal from Great Mary, her highly revered great-grandmother. The other is a “minder” on the whaling ship in the form of cooper Matthew Marcy, a man whom she loathes.

Soon Phoebe discovers that life at sea is no easier than life on land. Lonely, seasick, and disillusioned, she turns the pages of Great Mary’s journal and finds herself drawn into the life of this noble woman. To Phoebe’s shock, her great-grandmother has left a secret behind that carries repercussions for everyone aboard the ship, especially her husband the captain and her shadow the cooper. This story within a story catapults Phoebe into seeing her life in an entirely new way—just in time.

In this brand-new series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings her signature twists and turns to bear on a fascinating new faith community: the Quakers of colonial-era Nantucket Island.

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Review

This was my first time to read Suzanne Woods Fisher. The era and setting intrigued me: whale-hunters in 1776? Definite yes! In ways, this book made me think of Elizabeth George Speare’s “Witch of Blackbird Pond”—likely because it hinted a lot about the superstitions and injustices done toward the Quakers in the 1600’s.

While most of the story was written from Phoebe’s perspective in 1776, she received her great-grandmother’s journal from 1658 and beyond. At the closure of each chapter, a portion of Mary’s journal was shared. I found her story to be quite intriguing.

The mystery in these pages was also interesting. I like a good mystery, and though at times you didn’t realize there was actually a mystery abroad in the community, as the pieces began falling together, I enjoyed it!

I really tried my hardest to like this book. I’ll admit I was a bit turned off on the first page when the main character used “Drat!” in her thoughts. Not only did this phrase not emerge until the 1800’s, a strict Quaker lass would not have used such a strong euphemism (if it had been used in her time). But, I seriously tried to push that away and enjoy the book… but so many cliché phrases kept bringing me back to the 1900’s, and my history brain just has a hard time with that.

There were also a lot of unanswered questions, but I realize it could just be my over-curious mind. Questions such as: if great-grandmother Mary wasn’t Quaker (and was suspicious of them) and was persuaded by other Christians to be baptized (Anabaptist), then how is it that Phoebe is strict Quaker? When in the family line did that major switch happen?

I suppose if you really like romance stories, this might appeal to you. Most people know I’m not a huge romance fan, but I can tolerate a good bit of it. The part that was just “okay” for me was Mary’s journal, where she is in love with and pining after one man while keeping company with and nourishing a friendship with another (though it is resolved that she didn’t mean anything by the friendship, the whole “I want this man and I will get him, but I don’t know how” really bothered me). But what I really had a hard time with was this book’s love triangle. I don’t dislike a love triangle, but when it is between a married couple and a third person…yeah, no. Sorry. Once a person is married, they shouldn’t be pining after their first love. The married girl shouldn’t be falling in love again with her jilted childhood love—or realizing that she never stopped loving him—while she’s married and her husband is still alive.

*SPOILER*

There were two scenes in which the captain began undressing or started undressing Phoebe and talking of the marriage rights. A little too suggestive for my tastes. And back to the love triangle, wonderfully for Phoebe, the captain is killed, so now she can marry the man she loved since childhood. Oh, and also, the captain was already married to another woman and Phoebe is his second wife, which she discovers mid-book. I just have a problem with all of the above. I realize terrible situations happen in real life, but this is not the type of stuff I find pure and righteous for entertainment purposes.

*END OF SPOILER*

The spiritual side of this book was really confusing. Given that it’s Quakers and Anabaptists and an era in which they were at each others’ throats and stuck on rules rather than following God, I suppose it should make sense. But it was all very vague. “Follow the Light” and “the Light is within you.” There was a casual mention of Scripture, but it was more the “wisdom of Great Mary” that was followed rather than the wisdom of God’s Word.

Like I said, I did give this book an honest go. I was prepared to like it, and I did try to. But it just wasn’t really for me.

*I received this book from Celebrate Lit and happily provided my honest review*

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including Anna’s Crossing, The Newcomer, and The Return in the Amish Beginnings series, The Bishop’s Family series, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away a grand prize of a Kindle!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c9e0

Blog Stops

Aryn The Libraryan, February 15

A Simply Enchanted Life, February 15

Moments Dipped in Ink, February 15

Kaylee’s Kind of Writes, February 15

Girls in White Dresses Blog, February 16

With a Joyful Noise, February 16

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, February 16

A Greater Yes, February 16

ASC Book Reviews, February 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 17

Book by Book, February 17

Texas Book-aholic, February 18

The Power of Words, February 18

Two Points of Interest, February 18

Splashes of Joy, February 18

A Reader’s Brain, February 19

Karen Sue Hadley, February 19

Blossoms and Blessings, February 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 20

The Fizzy Pop Collection, February 20

All of a kind Mom, February 20

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, February 20

Reading Is My SuperPower, February 21

Baker Kella, February 21

Mommynificent, February 21

Janices book reviews, February 21

Lighthouse Academy, February 22

Readers cozy corner, February 22

Mary Hake, February 22

Jeanette’s Thoughts, February 22

Pause for Tales, February 23

Have A Wonderful Day, February 23

Faery Tales Are Real, February 23

Blogging With Carol, February 24

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, February 24

Among the Reads, February 24

Carpe Diem, February 24

Black ‘n’ Gold Girl’s Book Spot, February 25

Red Headed Book Lady, February 25

Just the Write Escape, February 25

A Baker’s Perspective, February 25

By The Book, February 26

For The Love of Books, February 26

Margaret Kazmierczak, February 26

Simple Harvest Reads, February 26 (Guest post from Mindy)

Maureen’s Musings, February 27

Connie’s History Classroom, February 27

proud to be an autism mom, February 27

Bigreadersite, February 27

Bibliophile Reviews, February 28

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 28

Pink Granny’s Journey, February 28

Pursuing Stacie, February 28

A Place at our Table | FLF and Book Review

Published on February 9, 2018 by Amanda Tero9 Comments

Who is a fan of Amish fiction? I’ve read several Beverly Lewis books, but so far, she has been the extent of my Amish fiction reading. So, when I saw Amy Clipston up for review (and heard several other reader friends who read her), I decided to give her a try!

Who is your favorite Amish fiction author?

First Line:

A long, shrill tone blared through the loud speaker,

jarring Jamie Riehl from sleep.

This definitely began with excitement! I enjoy books that grip me from line one. 😉

Share a first line from the book you’re reading!

My Review

Amish fiction intrigues me. I realize it’s a super popular genre, which is probably why I’ve been hesitant to read it. I enjoy reading about life, not a romanticized version of life. And I do think that Amy Clipston captured this well in her novel. Her characters felt very real, and were definitely all very human with their ups and downs.

There didn’t seem to be a lot of Amish doctrine in here—Amish life, yes, but it didn’t go a ton into what they believe apart from everyday conversation about having faith in God, God’s will being done, and praying to him. Those were all a very strong thread. There wasn’t anything about the Gospel or salvation, but that’s not to say it didn’t have a message threaded through the pages. If anything, the message that stood out strongest to me was how to accept heartache and cling to God in grief.

I’d consider this book primarily a romance. There were, of course, other things that happened, but the primary plot and characters’ goals were obviously romance. And, as I must always put as a disclaimer, I’m just not a huge romance fan. It’s probably just my perspective but I thought that Kayla was kind of a selfish jerk. There was a ton about her hurt… and though her change of heart kind of was mentioned in the epilogue, I guess I just didn’t find it satisfying—which, could be me being just nit-picky. She pretty much just regretted her actions because of what she would lose (which, for me, is selfish). I’ll stop before I beat her up more, it just was maybe a little shallow there for me?

Back to the romance in general, while there were a lot of thoughts about getting married and finding a wife/husband, a lot of family teasing to “grab them before they slip by,” it really didn’t go into more than emotions with the romance. A couple of quick kisses were mentioned, but the presentation of the romance was fairly chaste (just… threading through the entire book, which isn’t my preference, but is what many people enjoy).

There was a ton of drama and loss—for some people, this one will be a real tear-jerker. All in all, it wasn’t a disappointing read.

*I received this book from Book Look Bloggers and happily provided my honest review*

Connecting with Hoarding Books for First Line Friday! Hop over and connect with your first line!

Sonrise Stable | First Lines and Author Interview!

Published on January 26, 2018 by Amanda Tero10 Comments

Last fall, I virtually met author Vicki Watson. Since then, I’ve been able to read and review her entire Sonrise Stable series. I’m in my mid-twenties, but I still love reading a good, solid Christian children’s series. And that is exactly what the Sonrise Stable books were for me. I loved that I could hand them over to my younger sisters without any worries about a bad influence coming across the pages.

All of that being said, I’ve got a whole herd of first lines for y’all today, as we’re going to flip open the first pages of each book in this series!! 🙂 But don’t stop there. Continue reading for a thoughtful interview with Vicki!

“There’s Grandma’s house!” Rosie’s mother was the

only other person in the car,

so there was no need for this announcement.

Add book one to your Goodreads here. Find my review here.
Get your own eBook for free here!

As the pickup truck traveled down the freeway,

Carrie turned and searched for Bandit’s

head through the small window in

the stock trailer behind them.

Add book two to your Goodreads here. Find my review here.

“Eohippus was the first horse. He lived

sixty million years ago.” Emily paused and

smiled broadly as she pointed to a small

creature on her 4-H poster.

Add book three to your Goodreads here. Find my review here.
Note for those concerned: this book features discussions about evolution and refuting its common claims.

The straw felt soft beneath me as I lay

on my side and stretched my legs.

Add book four to your Goodreads here. Find my review here.

Rosie beamed with pride as she led her

brown-and-white foal out of the back of the trailer.

Add book five to your Goodreads here. Find my review here.

“Help! He’s running away with me!”

Rosie’s arms flapped wildly.

Add book six to your Goodreads here. Find my review here.

Rosie leaned over the side of the bed

and pressed one hand against the hardwood floor.

Add book seven to your Goodreads here. Find my review here.

“How about this one?” Rosie led the way

to the next pen at the livestock auction barn.

Add book eight to your Goodreads here. Find my review here.

I encourage you all to keep reading through Vicki’s testimony. It blessed me to read her answers!
Before I share the interview though, wanted to slip in a mention of the lovely other bloggers I do First Line Fridays with over at Hoarding Books! Hop over and connect with your first line!

Also, feel free to comment here!
What is your favorite animal to see featured in a book?
What is a first line from your current read (or the book closest to you)?
How do you identify with Vicki?

Interview with Vicki

(follow Vicki on Goodreads!)

Me: When did you decide to write the Sonrise Stable books?

Vicki: When my mother died in 2006, I began to contemplate what kind of long-term impact our lives have – whether anything we do lives on after us – here or in eternity. At that time, I was approaching fifty. Suddenly, the brevity of life filled me with a sense of urgency to accomplish something worthwhile. I wasn’t sure what that “something” might be. It had never been a life-long dream to write a book.

An idea came to me one day about a girl and her pony, and how I could use a story about them to make the Gospel message real to kids. I immediately rejected it, reasoning that I didn’t know how to write a book, and even if I did write the story, no one would read it. The problem was, the idea would not leave me alone! For months, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Finally, to relieve myself of that mental torment, I sat down and wrote what I thought would be a short story for a picture book. The funny thing was, after writing those thoughts, I got another idea, and then another. It quickly turned into a chapter book, which became Rosie and Scamper, the first in the Sonrise Stable series.

Me: What was your inspiration for this series?

I homeschooled my daughters through high school. One of my most satisfying experiences was teaching them each how to read. As they became voracious readers, it was important to me to monitor what they were putting into their hearts and minds. I scrutinized the books they selected and was often dismayed at the content, even sometimes from Christian publishers. What I found particularly troublesome was the increasingly child-centric focus that often depicted children as smarter than the parents and able to function relatively independently from them. The books frequently had one or both parents missing, children disrespecting their elders, and siblings not getting along with each other. I really wasn’t interested in having my daughters read such warped representations of family life.

I guess that was a negative inspiration, however, once I started writing, I was determined not to write books that followed that trend. I’ve often thought of my books as a mixture of Black Beauty, The Waltons, and a bit of Grandma’s Attic, with me being the grandmother. God set up the family structure for a reason. I think kids today would be comforted in knowing that they don’t have to solve all their problems on their own. That doesn’t mean that adults dominate the Sonrise Stable series. The main characters are children, but they manage to get along with their siblings and respect their parents and grandmother – at least most of the time – as did my own daughters.

Me: Which Sonrise Stable book is closest to your heart? Why?

Vicki: There are parts of each book that stick out to me, but if I had to pick one, it would be Operation Christmas Spirit. Although there are many picture books about Christmas, there are few chapter books, and not many of those have a spiritual focus. After resolving to write a Christmas book, I felt a terrible weight descend on me. To write a meaningful and accurate story about the birth of our Savior seemed like such a daunting task, that my mind went blank for a long time. Then one day I read a short story by Pearl S. Buck, Christmas Day in the Morning. I cried at the emotions it stirred in me. And with that as a jumpstart, I began to write.

Me: I loved how you included so many details in the family’s life–like ASL, horse rescue, and camp life. When (and how) did you decide to add these into your series?

Vicki: As I look back, it’s interesting to see how God prepared me over the years to write these books. I was painfully shy when I was younger. I did a lot of thinking and very little talking. I had extensive conversations in my head, with me coming up with the words everyone said. Not surprisingly, dialog is one of the easiest things for me to write!

As a horse lover from as far back as I can remember, horses have been an important part of my life. Some of my happiest childhood memories involved horses. My daughters and I share many memories of 4-H, county fairs, horse shows, and trail rides together. Many of those experiences found their way into the books. My oldest daughter is in fact a nurse. And my middle daughter is an ASL interpreter. My youngest, who was only about thirteen when the first book was written, did stay involved with horses longer than the other two. She did not become a horse trainer – however she would make a good one. She is currently studying engineering in college and still owns the horse Scamper was based on.

Years ago, I attended a Sermon on the Mount presentation by horse trainer and counselor, Lew Sterrett. He demonstrated how the relationship between a horse and its master is similar to our relationship with God. That opened my eyes to seeing spiritual lessons in my own dealings with horses. Sterrett’s presentations was aimed at an adult audience. I realized that I could use my own experiences with horses to bring similar lessons down to a level that young people could understand. At that time, writing a book hadn’t occurred to me, but my daughters and I started the Christian Cowgirl Club, a day camp for neighborhood girls. In those camps, the girls learned to ride and take care of horses, and I passed on some of the spiritual lessons connected to horses, that I was learning myself.

Me: I’d love for my readers to “get to know you” a little better. What are three of your favorite things to do?

Vicki: I am down to one pony, Toby, which my eight-year-old foster daughter and I purchased at an Amish auction this summer. We enjoy driving him around in the pony cart. I enjoy having children over to help take care of the pony and learn how to harness him for driving.

I used to be a jogger, but now enjoy walking, hiking, and biking. I work as a freelance web designer and computer programmer. I love that combination of logic and creativity, and it allows me to work from home on my own schedule. I wouldn’t call myself a nerd though. I definitely view the computer as a creative tool rather than an entertainment device. My mind is like an idea factory. Sometimes I feel bombarded with all the ideas I have for projects – more than I’ll ever be able to accomplish in this lifetime.

Me: Would you please share your salvation testimony with us?

Vicki: I grew up in the 70’s, when the women’s liberation movement was really taking off. It all sounded great to me at the time. In a class of about one hundred at the public high school I attended, there was only one student that I would have identified as a Christian. She never witnessed to me, but the fact that she was willing to be different stuck in my mind. It was an atmosphere where what was wrong was made to seem good, and what was good was made to seem wrong.

I attended a liberal, mainline denominational church – because my mom made me, but the gospel was never clearly or strongly presented. I didn’t see anything different in the lives of the people who attended there. I went through the membership class at age eleven or twelve because that was the thing to do in that church. I thought I would feel something different after joining the church, but I didn’t. If anyone had asked whether I was a Christian, I would have said yes, but there was no certainty. That experience left me feeling empty and confused. Was that all there was to Christianity?

Ironically, the few people in my life who I was reasonably sure were Christians, never spoke to me about it. Outwardly, I was a kind, sensitive person, so I guess they equated that with Christianity. Inside, however, I felt lost and unloved. I floundered my way through my early to mid-twenties, half-heartedly seeking God, but never fully committing to him. Looking back, I realize that God had His hand on me from a young age, and it was His steering and nudging that kept me from going too far astray.

At twenty-seven, I was married and expecting my first child. In the months before her birth, I resolved to read all the way through the Bible, for the first time in my life. I didn’t understand most of it, but I made it all the way through Revelation before she arrived. God used that baby girl to finally break down the barrier that surrounded my heart. That might sound strange, but it makes sense. After all, He showed His love for all of us in a similar way – by sending a baby Boy to Bethlehem.

Suddenly, my whole world was different. Things that had seemed right to me before, I knew were wrong. I had a fire and passion for God and His word. I began reading my Bible, not because of some resolution I had made, but because I wanted to – and it was beginning to make sense!

Soon after that, I went back to the church I’d grown up in, excited to tell those people that there was more to Christianity. I begged the pastor to start a Bible study, but he refused. He actually told me that my experience was just emotion and it would pass. Thirty years later, that fire for God and His word has only grown stronger.

I’ve often wondered why no one witnessed to me when I was younger. I was a lost and lonely girl, seeking a true relationship with God. If someone had reached out to me then, it might have kept me from making some costly mistakes in my life. That’s part of the reason why the books in the Sonrise Stable series have explicitly Christian messages. As a young person, I was aching to know truth, and no one would share it with me. I don’t want to make that same mistake. As an author, I don’t have anything better to offer young readers than the eternal truths found in God’s word.

Me: Who is your favorite author to read?

Vicki: After I became a Christian, since I attended a church that oddly enough, didn’t have Bible studies, I began studying on my own. For the next fifteen years, I devoured commentary after commentary. During that time, I read very little fiction, other than what I read to my daughters. I remember, in particular, reading The Genesis Record by Henry Morris. That book opened my eyes to the truth of creation versus evolution.

After fifteen years, I finally commentaried myself out. The problem then was that I couldn’t find many good Christian fiction writers. I think there’s a huge need in this area. I remember scaring myself silly, late one night, reading Frank Peretti’s, This Present Darkness. Many people criticize the Left Behind series, however those books were a huge influence on me. They may or may not be correct in their interpretation of end-time events, and their literary quality can be debated, however the series filled me with a sense of urgency to witness to people.

These days my reading consists primarily of weighty tomes on php, javascript, html, css, and other equally exciting topics!

Me: Thank you so much, Vicki! I loved reading the answers to your questions and get to know you better! Your books have been a blessing, and I pray that God will continue to use them in the lives of many young readers!

Until We Find Home | First Line Friday, Review

Published on January 19, 2018 by Amanda Tero4 Comments

When I saw a book by Cathy Gohlke come up for review, I grabbed it! I really liked how she incorporated history in her book, Promise me This. I liked this book even better! If you like WWII, this is another book to add to your shelves!

First line:

Lightning crackled, splitting the night sky over Paris, illuminating letters painted on the bookstore window across the street: La Maison des Amis des Livres.

Share a first line from a book you’re currently reading (or the book that’s closest to you!!
What is your favorite WWII book?
Connecting with Hoarding Books for First Line Friday! Hop over and connect with your first line!

My Review

Refugee children in WWII and the acceptance that they faced was truly heart-felt in this story. Not only did the children have obstacles to face, but their guardian had her own challenges. I enjoyed all of the characters in this book—though I’d have to say the doctor was likely my favorite.

Having C.S. Lewis and Beatrix Potter featured in this book was a charming element. Me being a writer, I definitely loved all of the writerly threads portrayed.

There was relatively little romance in this book. Claire had hopes of romance from page one, but the way everything progressed with her romantic life was not ultra emotional and roller-coaster. I enjoyed the romance aspect of this.

The spiritual thread was definitely there. There were more quotes from Christian authors of the time than the Bible, and if I read it correctly, it appeared that one of the characters was saved when she was dreaming. That, to me, was a little odd, as I don’t see examples of that in the Bible.

In short, I enjoyed this book more than the other Cathy Gohlke book that I’d read.

*I received this book from Tyndale Publicity Team and happily provided my honest review*

About the Book

For American Claire Stewart, joining the French Resistance sounded as romantic as the storylines she hopes will one day grace the novels she wants to write. But when she finds herself stranded on English shores, with five French Jewish children she smuggled across the channel before Nazis stormed Paris, reality feels more akin to fear.

With nowhere to go, Claire throws herself on the mercy of an estranged aunt, begging Lady Miranda Langford to take the children into her magnificent estate. Heavily weighted with grief of her own, Miranda reluctantly agrees . . . if Claire will stay to help. Though desperate to return to France and the man she loves, Claire has few options. But her tumultuous upbringing—spent in the refuge of novels with fictional friends—has ill-prepared her for the daily dramas of raising children, or for the way David Campbell, a fellow American boarder, challenges her notions of love. Nor could she foresee how the tentacles of war will invade their quiet haven, threatening all who have come to call Bluebell Wood home and risking the only family she’s ever known.

Set in England’s lush and storied Lake District in the early days of World War II, and featuring cameos from beloved literary icons Beatrix Potter and C. S. Lewis, Until We Find Home is an unforgettable portrait of life on the British home front, challenging us to remember that bravery and family come in many forms.

Extras

Read a Q&A with the author here! What inspired her to write this book? Why did she choose this location?
Find this book on Amazon
Add to your Goodreads “to read” list
Visit Cathy’s website

With Love, from Me to You | First Line Friday, Book Review

Published on January 12, 2018 by Amanda Tero2 Comments

Oopsie, this didn’t post yesterday, so it’s a day late!

It’s not the month that we think of as “the love month,” but this little book I’m featuring fits perfectly for any season of the year!

A red heart sends a message

that says “I so love you,”

but we can send those same words

in what we say and do.

What book are you currently reading?
Share a first line!!

Connecting with Hoarding Books for First Line Friday! Hop over and connect with your first line!

My Review

What is the true message of love that we wish to impart to our children? This book does an excellent job of explaining how love is not just words, but actions and sharing God’s love to others. It goes beyond to expound that love also isn’t giving gifts, but helping, forgiving, and sharing. There is so much sound, Biblical explanation given in this children’s book! It is written in nice poetic form in words that are easy for children to understand.

The art in this book is colorful and cheerful, depicting a polar bear postman on a train. How much cuter can you get?

This is a book I’m more than happy to have on my shelves, and I intend to share it with many children in my life.

*I received this book from Book Look Bloggers and happily provided my honest review*

Beneath a Prairie Moon | First Line Friday, Book Review

Published on January 5, 2018 by Amanda Tero7 Comments

Happy New Year! This is the first “First Line Friday” of the year! 🙂 And I’ve got a fantastic book for the first one! Beneath a Prairie Moon doesn’t release until March, but you will definitely want to get it on your list to read! I know that I say this with every new release Kim Vogel Sawyer publishes, but… I think this may be my absolute favorite of hers!! Just re-reading the first line makes me want to stop and read the whole things once more. But I haven’t time for that. So, here’s just the first line…

“When’re you goinna have your letter ready, Mack?”

What’s the first line of one of your favorite books?
(or any other one, if you’d like)
Connecting with Hoarding Books for First Line Friday! Hop over and connect with your first line!

My Review

Be prepared for gushing.

Because I love, love, loooooved this book! So a cohesive review may not be possible.

This is probably my favorite of Sawyer’s so far. I did NOT want it to end and when I passed it along to my sister, she said the same thing. I just wanted to stay with Abigail and Mack and Helena and Bill and Spiveyville. They were all so real and believable. They each had their struggles, their strong points, and their weak points.

And the men of Spiveyville. Oh wow. I mean, two women of prestigious, Eastern training coming into a town to train sixteen westerners who want mail-order brides? That is such an amazing idea and Sawyer executed it very well! I loved seeing the growth of the various characters, the vastness of their personalities. Yeah… I just loved the characters here!

As always, Sawyer portrayed strong, Christian characters (when applicable) or young Christians who needed room to grow. There wasn’t a ton of preaching in this book because the characters lived out their Christian lives. That was so very refreshing to see!

The setting was completely amazing! I loved the many etiquette tips woven throughout the book and in Abigail’s personality. It made it feel true to its era.

I forgot at times that the basis of this book was “mail order bride.” There really wasn’t much romance until the end. It was more of solid friendships being formed and developing into a relationship. There were a few hints of things, but nothing portrayed at all.

This really was just one of the sweetest, most exciting, and un-put-down-able books I’ve read this year!

*I received this book from Blogging for Books and happily provided my honest review*

Coffee Shop Christmas | First Line Friday, Book Review

Published on December 29, 2017 by Amanda Tero15 Comments

Happy Friday-after-Christmas! How many of you got new books this month? I know that I added several nice books to my shelves and added yet more book to my towering TBR pile!

I know it’s technically past Christmas, but I’ll still feature a Christmas book today by one of my author friends, Ryana. It was a good-hearted Christmas book.

The jingling of keys reached the ears of Deputy Ellis Wright.

How many Christmas books did you read this year? Any favorites?
Feel free to share a first line from your current read!
Connecting with Hoarding Books for First Line Friday! Hop over and connect with your first line!

My Review

I loved the premise of this novella: the widow of a police officer who has opened a coffee shop. And in that coffee shop, she has a solid platform on which to reach all sorts of people who need the love of Jesus Christ shown to them.

Katherine Shannon is a very likeable character—a strong Christian, a woman who refuses to hold onto bitterness. The other characters were also neat to meet as well. I really did like Sgt. Piper. I also appreciate the realistic view into a police officer’s life in a real world.

There was a lot of Scriptural content in this. At least twice the Gospel was shared, church was mentioned. It definitely had a strong spiritual thread.

Definitely no romance. Which I liked (I mean, more than just because romance isn’t my strong favorite), because it explored different problems that people have apart from relationship issues.

There did seem to be a ton of characters, situations, problems, and solutions presented for just a novella. The author in me thinks this would have seemed more believable had it been written as a novel, and the characters had more time to ponder the way their beliefs and lives were challenged. Because it was a novella, the characters made rush-choices in about an 8-hour span that took the “real-life” aspect out for me. But, just as a story, it was a pleasant read.

*I received this book from the author and happily provided my honest review*

Purchase here.

Add to your Goodreads here.

God Bless My Family | First Line Friday and Review

Published on December 8, 2017 by Amanda Tero8 Comments

Happy Friday! For this Friday’s first line, I’ll just show you the first page. Then you get to read it and see the adorable art!

As usual, connecting with Hoarding Books for First Line Friday!
What is your favorite children’s book?
What are you reading this weekend?

My Review

I have a thing for children’s books. I have to think harder than to say “It’s truly adorable.” But this one IS. After I received it in the mail, I had laid it out and at least four family members picked it up, read it, and proclaimed, “This is the cutest book ever!” I’m from a big family, so I appreciate the positive focus on family. It covers daddy, mommy, brother, sister, grandma, grandpa, cousins, uncles, and aunts, and how God has placed each in the family for a special reason.

The illustrations are adorable. Soft pencil drawings of dogs–who wouldn’t like that? I did think that some of them were questionable as far as two dogs walking hand-in-hand (paw-in-paw). I just know some of my siblings and their curious minds (“How can the dog climb the tree?” for instance). That would be the only critical aspect I would have to say of this book. It doesn’t really bother me. Just if you’re going to have a very literal child, they may be puzzled about some of the art.

*I received this book from BookLook Bloggers and happily provided my honest review*