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Category: Religious & Inspirational

Review: Hope: A Tragedy by Shalom Auslander

[ 14 ] January 11, 2012
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Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)

Reviewed by Garret Rose

Soloman Kugel is the epitome of the midlife crisis. The problem is, he was groomed and doomed this way from the time he was a toddler in this endearing and wonderfully tragic novel, Hope: A Tragedy, by Shalom Auslander. Filled with sharp wit and deep-thinking logic, this novel presents an alternative to optimism that raises the question: Is hope a predictor for failure?

After leaving the city for the quiet life, Soloman thinks that he is going insane. After several sleepless nights, he is convinced that he is hearing a tap, tap, tapping noise coming from the attic. After he decides to investigate, he discovers an unwanted guest. Although he wishes that all he had found were mice, he cannot kick the unwanted guest out. She is a critical piece of world history, long presumed to be dead. As he decides to give in to her needs and wants, Kugel finds himself becoming more distanced from his wife Bree, his son Jonah, and his mother, a self-proclaimed Holocaust survivor (although she was in Brooklyn during the Holocaust). As he tries to deal with his new reality, he is also worried about the fact that he might lose his house, either by backed payments or by an unknown arsonist terrorizing the area. Soloman Kugel becomes a tragedy in and of himself.

As his world comes crashing down, Kugel meets with his over-priced psychologist Dr. Jove, who believes that to be an optimist means that there is always false hope. It is better to not have hope for the sake of never being let down. As the story unravels, Kugel comes to face this fact and tries to live a life of direct expectations.

Auslander gives the reader a comedy, tragedy, and philosophy lesson, all in one in his debut novel. You will laugh (out loud), you will cringe, you will cry, and most importantly, you will think; you will think about your positions in many ways. This is an enjoyable novel, riddled with humor and heartbreak and a novel that will leave you wanting more offerings from Auslander in the near future. A great way to start the new year!!!

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Garret loves literature! He is creating the Vernal Journal for his students as well as anyone else that is interested in literature – be it fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, or even miscellaneous! Garret’s goal is to share, review and make connections to the world and each other.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Riverhead. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour: The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher

[ 6 ] January 10, 2012
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Rating: +1 (from 1 vote)

Please welcome Suzanne Woods Fisher, author of The Keeper, who is touring the blogosphere with LitFuse Publicity!

Reviewed by Vera Pereskokova (Luxury Reading)

Following the success of her Lancaster County Secrets books, Suzanne Wood Fisher is back with more Amish themed fiction in her new Stony Ridge Seasons series.

After the death of her mother, Julia Lapp had to grow up fast in order to help her father with her younger siblings. Since her father’s heart problems took a turn for the worse, she also took over responsibilities around the farm. Despite the hardships, Julia loves her life in the Stony Ridge Amish community, and hopes to start her own family with Paul Fisher, whom she’s dreamt of marrying since she was a little girl.

When Paul delays their wedding – for the second time – Julia knows just whom to blame: Roman Troyer, the Bee Man. Roman is an oddity in the Amish community: he is a wanderer who travels year round renting out his bees, with no attachments or a place to call home. In Julia’s mind, he’s also a shameless flirt who corrupts other young men into cancelling their engagements.

Julia is determined to make things right with Paul, but things may work out a bit differently than she’s always envisioned…

I’ve read some Amish fiction before, and to me, The Keeper was different in that the Amish way of life was not really in the forefront. There were some mentions of the differences – driving buggies, no phones in homes, etc., – but overall the Lapps could have been any regular family living in any rural town. In some ways, I found this approach appealing since it allowed me to concentrate on the family dynamics instead of fixating on the lack of modern conveniences.

The Keeper is a heart warming story and the love between the characters in the book is readily apparent on every page. Fisher’s new book will appeal greatly to fans of Amish fiction, and cozy fiction in general.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Make sure to enter to win a copy of The Keeper here

The review copy of this book was provided free of any obligation by Revell. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Doctor’s Lady by Jody Hedlund

[ 2 ] December 26, 2011
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Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Reviewed by Meg Massey

Priscilla White has long ago determined that she was never meant to be a wife and a mother. Instead, she has dreamed of becoming a missionary to India. One day, she receives a letter from the mission board stating that they will no longer send unmarried individuals into the mission field. Suddenly, all her hopes for helping the children of India are dashed.

When ruggedly handsome Dr. Eli Ernest strides into town, he interrupts a morning church service where Priscilla is in attendance. In the area to raise awareness for missions to the natives in the Oregon county area, he immediately captures the attention of Priscilla; that is until he notes that he doesn’t think she could handle a mission environment.

Despite their rocky start, the two soon find that they are being thrown together by everyone in town. Everyone seems to believe that if they marry, both of their problems will be solved. Reluctantly, they do agree to marry in name only, in order to travel to Oregon County together to perform mission work.

Along the way, Eli finds that Priscilla is stronger that she seems, and her beauty goes much deeper than her appearance. Priscilla discovers that Eli, while at times gruff, is a very sensitive, caring man. Will they keep their agreement to be married in name only? Or will their growing attraction and connection bring them together? And even if a romance grows between them, will they survive the journey to the West?

Beautifully written, Jody Hedlund’s The Doctor’s Lady is a vivid depiction of the rigorous journey that many endured to travel West during this time period. Priscilla and Eli are true characters of depth, and this novel’s storyline is also enriched by unique supporting characters. The final pages are not to be missed, as Hedlund describes her inspiration for this novel. While some might argue that the ending might be a bit predictable, I will assert that any lovers of historical romance will enjoy this tale.

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Meg lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Ryan. Library professional by day, freelance writer by night, Meg writes about life, entertainment and everything in between on her blog.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Bethany House. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock

[ 2 ] December 23, 2011
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Reviewed by Alyssa Katanic

For quite a few years now my friend has been encouraging me to read Terri Blackstock’s books. “They are so worth the read!” my friend would say, “She’s such a great writer! You won’t be disappointed!” I don’t know what has taken me so long (perhaps the thought of how many books I would have to buy if I fell in love with yet another author’s work!), but what better book for me to start out with than Shadow in Serenity.

Shadow in Serenity is actually a re-write of Blackstock’s first book out under her real name and as a decidedly Christian author. A mainstream company published the first printing, and therefore, much of the purely Christian aspects were edited out. Having reacquired the rights to the original manuscript, Blackstock has reworked and renamed that manuscript to give us Shadow in Serenity as she truly intended. It is a marker, so to speak, gateway into the Christian market, and how far she has come since then (1995).

Shadow in Serenity is a story of suspense and guessing. Logan Brisco, a highly talented con artist is out to take the town by calling them all to invest in an amusement park to be built on its outskirts. Carney Sullivan, an implant to this small town and a daughter of con artists herself, can see right through him. The question is, will the town that Carney has come to love for its peacefulness, forgiveness, and trust believe her warnings that Brisco is just out to scam them, or will Carney begin to trust him as well and end up being scammed herself?

Blackstock shows great character development throughout the novel in multiple characters. The townspeople are completely endearing, Carney is a wild ride, and Brisco… well, sometimes you want to ring his neck & other times he’s quite endearing himself!

I can’t ruin the storyline with too much detail, but it is a great ride and, as my friend has told me numerous times, definitely worth the read! Now which Blackstock should I pick up next? Hmmm…

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Alyssa is a wife and stay at home, homeschooling mother of five, with two boxers, two cats, a soft shelled turtle named after Bob the Builder, and 7 frogs (admittedly a homeschooling project gone froggy). In all her spare time, she loves to read and believes that there is no such thing as having too many books!

Review copies were provided free of any obligation by Zondervan. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson

[ 5 ] December 3, 2011
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Reviewed by Meg Massey

Fannie Rousseau’s world falls apart when her mother dies, leaving her alone to deal with the family’s deteriorating finances. When she stumbles upon a family secret, she makes the decision to head west to discover the truth about the past, and perhaps uncover why her mother was always so distant.

Along the way, she encounters Samuel Beck, a young man working on the steamboat that’s taking her to Montana. Samuel is determined to escape the drunken father whose actions have ripped his family apart, and hoping to find his sister Emma, who ran away.

Fannie soon finds that she can’t stop thinking about Samuel, and he feels the same. But will Samuel’s desire to become a pastor, and the expectation that Fannie will marry a man of means, keep them apart?

A beautiful tale of faith and unconditional love, Stephanie Grace Whitson’s A Most Unsuitable Match is a story that historical fiction fans will love. Samuel and Fannie are two characters that you’ll cheer for and cry with as they encounter their journey’s joys and obstacles.

Rating: 4/5

Meg lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Ryan. Library professional by day, freelance writer by night, Meg writes about life, entertainment and everything in between on her blog.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Bethany House. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: The Sister Wife by Diane Noble

[ 8 ] November 9, 2011
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Reviewed by Vera Pereskokova

When Lady Mary Rose Ashley boards a ship bound for the U.S. in 1841 with her grandfather, – a new convert to the new Mormon religion – she has no idea that she will step off the ship as a married woman. Mary Rose meets and falls in love with Gabriel MacKay, the talented designer of the ship, and in short time, the couple decides to spend the rest of their lives together.

Mary Rose and Gabriel are initially skeptical about Mormonism and their fellow passenger, Brigham Young. When they witness Young perform what they believe to be a miracle, both are overcome with faith in the new religion and its prophet.

As the family begins their new life in a Mormon settlement in Illinois, the enjoy the sense of belonging and camaraderie with their fellow saints. However, Mary Rose quickly finds herself at a crossroads when Joseph Smith begins to encourage the practice of polygamy. She hopes that their own family will be spared, but Gabriel is commanded to take recently widowed Bronwyn Carey – Mary Rose’s best friend – as a second wife.

I am a big fan of Diane Noble, and when I received the second installment of the Brides of Gabriel series, The Betrayal, for review, I jumped at the chance to start at the beginning.

Anyone that enjoys American historical fiction or shows like Big Love will love The Sister Wife. While the book capitalizes on the popular curiosity about the polygamist lifestyle, it does so from an educational point of view, providing unbiased details about the religion’s beginnings. Noble’s writing is clear and enjoyable, and readers will get to experience both the disappointment of those soured on the religion, and the devoutness of believers.

Rating: 5/5

Check out our review of Diane Noble’s The Veil

Review is based on a personal copy of the book. No review copy was provided. 

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Blog Tour: Reclaiming Lilly by Patti Lacy

[ 4 ] October 21, 2011
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Please welcome Patti Lacy, author of Reclaiming Lily, who is touring the blogosphere with LitFuse Publicity!

Reviewed by Vera Pereskokova (Luxury Reading)

The Powells’ desperate desire to start a family leads them to early 90’s China, where foreign adoptions are still taboo. Promised a baby, the Powells are instead told that they only child available is a 10-year-old girl, Lilly, the rumored daughter of counterrevolutionaries and the victim of China’s one child policy.

Undeterred, Gloria Powell is convinced that God placed them in Lilly’s path and that she is their child; the couple returns home to Texas with the girl and rename her Joy.

Seven years later, worn out from Joy’s rebellious antics, Powells’ receive a call from Kai, a Boston doctor claiming to be Joy’s sister. Kai arrives eager to see the sister she left at the orphanage many years ago, but also bearing the news that Joy may be suffering from PKD, a hereditary and deadly kidney disease that claimed the life of her birth mother. Can Gloria trust Kai’s intentions, or will the woman’s sudden appearance drive an even bigger wedge between mother and daughter?

Reclaiming Lily, the latest Christian novel from author Patti Lacy, explores the emotional subjects of foreign adoption and the tough reality of fatal kidney disorders. While I could appreciate the intention behind the book and thought the premise was great, I could not truly get invested in the story or the characters. I could have easily put down the book midway and not cared enough to go back and find out how it ended.

In my mind, Lacy’s writing felt forced and did not inspire an attachment to the story that this type of subject matter normally does. There was just too much of everything – overly detailed descriptions, Chinese imagery, etc. – and at times the book read more like a play than a novel. I must note that most reviewers gave Reclaiming Lily glowing praises, so I may be alone in my assessment.

Rating: 2.5/5

The review copy of this book was provided free of any obligation by Bethany House. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour: Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott

[ 4 ] September 12, 2011
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Please welcome debut author Rosslyn Elliott, author of Fairer than Morning, who is touring the blogosphere with LitFuse Publicity!

Reviewed by Vera Pereskokova (Luxury Reading)

Since her mother’s passing, Ann Miller has had to assume the tasks of caring for her younger sisters, as well as tending to the house and farm while her father is away ministering to others. When Eli Bowen, her gallant and dashing suitor, proposes marriage, Ann is devastated at her father’s refusal to let her marry at such a young age.

Soon after, Ann’s father is summoned to Pittsburgh to make a saddle for a prominent family; Ann begs, successfully, to come along. The Millers are given lodging by a local doctor, and while there, Ann meets Will Hanby, a saddle-maker’s apprentice from a neighboring property. Will indentured himself to an cruel master many years back and is beaten down daily, both physically and in spirit. Working with Mr. Miller on the saddle gives him hope for a better life, and Ann’s kindness rekindles the strength he long forgot.

After Ann’s eighteenth birthday, Eli Bowen is back courting again and is determined to make Ann his wife. And although Ann was convinced that God intended for her to marry Eli, she’s no longer so sure. Can she put all she has experienced and everyone she has met since their last parting behind, and commit to a life with Eli?

From the cover of Fairer than Morning, I was expecting a typically quaint Christian historical romance. Although there’s nothing wrong with quaint romances, I was happy to discover that I was very wrong. Set in 19th-century Ohio, Fairer than Morning paints a vivid picture of the wide chasm that existed between the have and have-nots in the industrial age, the tensions between the Northern and Southern states, and the people who worked to sustain the Underground Railroad.

Fairer than Morning is a Christian historical romance, but Rosslyn Elliott’s engaging writing and painstaking research into the period – the story is based on real people and events – make it so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed Elliott’s debut novel and look forward to the next installment in A Saddler’s Legacy series, Sweeter than Birdsong.

Read an excerpt from Fairer Than Morning here and follow along on Rosslyn’s blog tour!

Rating: 4.5/5

To celebrate the release of her debut novel, Fairer Than Morning, Rosslyn Elliott is giving away two fabulous prize packages. The first is brand new KINDLE in her Fairer Than Morning Kindle Giveaway!

On September 20th she’s giving away a $200 gift certificate toward a Custom-Made Historical Reproduction Dress (from Recollections) during the Fairer Than Morning Book Club Chat Party on Facebook! Sigh…romantic.
Fairer Than Morning is receiving wonderful reviews – Library Journal said, “A well-written historical series debut…”. Read more reviews here.

Be sure to join the fun and enter the Kindle contest - 

One winner will receive:
* Kindle with Wi-Fi
* Fairer Than Morning (for Kindle)

To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, giveaway ends on 9/19. Winner will be announced on 9/20 at Rosslyn’s Book Club Facebook Party. Details and official rules can be found when entering the contest.

Then be sure to RSVP for Rosslyn’s Facebook Party! During the party Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, hosting a book chat about Fairer Than Morning (don’t worry if you haven’t read the book yet – you could win a copy!) & historical Fiction, testing your trivia skills. She’ll also be giving away that $200 gift certificate toward a FABULOUS custom-made period dress from Recollections!

Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter

The review copy of this book was provided free of any obligation by Thomas Nelson. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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