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BOOK REVIEW: THE MERMAID AND THE SHOE

3/29/2014

TITLE: The Mermaid and the Shoe

AUTHOR: K.G. Campbell

ILLUSTRATOR: K.G. Campbell

PUBLISHER: Kids Can Press

DATE: 2014

STARS: *****

Each of King Neptune's 50 mermaid daughters boasts a special talent, except for little Minnow, who seems to be good only at asking questions. When she finds a strange object, Minnow follows her questions to a wondrous place and finds answers, including the answer to the most important question of all: Who am I? A gorgeously illustrated story about finding one's purpose.

Poor little Minnow. Her father boasts about his other daughters’ impressive talents, but she fails at everything she tried. She’s curious, though, and wants to learn. So she asks questions. Many questions. Until one of her older sisters tells her to stop. “Be remarkable… What are you even here for?” What is a young mermaid to do?

I loved the illustrations in this picture book. K.G. Campbell is a gifted artist as well as a talented writer. This story sweetly invites the reader to not only find her purpose but to realize, also, that what appears unimpressive can be quite remarkable. I was offered an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I give The Mermaid and the Shoe five stars.

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BOOK REVIEW: SUMMER OF JOY

3/27/2014

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TITLE: Summer of Joy

AUTHOR: Ann H. Gabhart

PUBLISHER: Revell, a Division of Baker Publishing Group

DATE: 2008, 2014

STARS: ****1/2

For Jocie Brooke, the summer of 1964 certainly was eventful, but it's nothing compared to what's coming to Hollyhill, Kentucky, and the Brooke family next. The past is coming to call, threatening to destroy the relationships that everyone thought were so strong. Two people--one thought to be gone for good and the other no one's ever heard of--are making their way to the small town. And it promises trouble for everyone.
This complex and beautifully written story is the perfect conclusion to The Heart of Hollyhill series. With true-to-life family drama, refreshing humor, and characters readers have come to love like dear friends, "Summer of Joy" will delight Gabhart's fans.

When I received an e-copy of Summer of Joy for review, I didn’t realize at first that it was part of a series. So the opening pages made me feel like a late-comer to a party of strangers. However, they didn’t stay strangers for long, as the author paints vivid pictures of the varied residents of Hollyhill.

David Brooke is the publisher of the local newspaper as well as the pastor of one of the town churches. His daughter, Jocie, is a lively and affectionate teenager who dreams of becoming an investigative journalist. She also carries a dream of having a mother, one who will love her for who she is. And she has someone in mind: Leigh Jacobsen, the woman David wants to marry, if only he could work up the nerve to propose.

This story is filled with quirky characters, sweet relationships, and just enough tension to keep this reader flipping the pages. I give Summer of Joy four and a half stars.

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BOOK REVIEW: DEATH BY THE BOOK

3/10/2014

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TITLE: DEATH BY THE BOOK

AUTHOR: Julianna Deering

PUBLISHER: Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group

STARS: ****1/2

Drew Farthering wanted nothing more than to end the summer of 1932 with the announcement of his engagement. Instead, he finds himself caught up in another mysterious case when the family solicitor is found murdered, an antique hatpin with a cryptic message, Advice to Jack, piercing his chest.

Evidence of secret meetings and a young girl's tearful confession point to the victim's double life, but what does the solicitor's murder have to do with the murder of a physician on the local golf course? Nothing, it would seem--except for another puzzling note, affixed with a similar-looking bloodied hatpin.

Soon the police make an arrest in connection with the murders, but Drew isn't at all certain they have the right suspect in custody. And why does his investigation seem to be drawing him closer and closer to home?

Once I figured out the era for this story, I quite enjoyed it. I hadn’t read the first book of this series, and that would have helped. (I was given a free e-copy by the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.) Perhaps print copies will include the date nearer the beginning of the book, but it appeared only on the last page of the digital book. So the first few pages left me floundering as to the time and place of the story. Nevertheless, Death By The Book pulled me into the ever-twisting mystery of the hatpin murders. Drew Farthering is a bit of a mystery himself, but a delectable one. His chosen sweetheart, Madeline, cannot decide if she should follow her heart or her aunt’s advice. The romance aspect is secondary but sweet, and the murder mystery kept me guessing.

I will definitely look for more books by this author, and I give this one four and a half stars.

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My Favorite Genre(s)

3/10/2014

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Today’s subject for the blog hop organized by Ruth Snyder is “My Favorite Genre.” The favorite, eh? I guess that depends on my mood and need. According to my bookshelves, I have an equal interest in fiction and non-fiction, but almost all are Christian or at least inspirational.

When I want to read for pure enjoyment, I’ll go for an inspirational romance, either suspenseful or light-hearted. Or both. Actually, I love stories that fit Alfred Hitchcock’s definition of a good story: “Like life with the dull parts cut out.” So heartbreak, comedy, drama, and suspense all have their place in the stories I love to read and love to write. Books like my first novel, Melody’s Song.

Non-fiction books that challenge and inspire me fill several shelves. Books on Christian living, Bible studies, gardening guides, a few children’s books, and craft books enrich my life.

Actually, each book I’ve read over the years has, in some way, enriched my life. And that’s the real reason we read, isn’t it?

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Book Review: Wildwood Creek

3/2/2014

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TITLE: WILDWOOD CREEK

AUTHOR: Lisa Wingate

PUBLISHER: Bethany House

STARS: *****

With love and loss tangled together, how was she to know where her life would lead?

Allie Kirkland has never been one to take wild risks. But when she’s offered a costuming assistant’s job on a docudrama in the hills near Moses Lake, she jumps at the chance. She’s always dreamed of following in her director-father’s footsteps, and the re-enactment of the legendary frontier settlement of Wildwood is a first step. The family expectations will have to wait.
But in 1861, the real Wildwood held dangerous realities. Town founder Harland Delevan held helpless residents, including young Irish schoolteacher Bonnie Rose, in an iron grip. Mysterious disappearances led to myths and legends still retold in the folk songs of Chinquapin Peaks. Eventually, the entire site was found abandoned.
When strange connections surface between Allie and the teacher who disappeared over a century ago, everyone in Wildwood, including Allie’s handsome neighbor on the film set, Blake Fulton, seems to be hiding secrets, and Allie doesn’t know who she can trust. If she can’t find the answers in time, history may repeat itself . . . with the most unthinkable results.

WILDWOOD CREEK is part of the author’s Moses Lake series, but it can stand alone without problem. This story grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go. Lisa Wingate takes us back and forth from 1861 to the present, and before long, the past and present are inextricably tangled together. And I was caught in the web of the mystery of Wildwood Creek.

Superbly crafted, this story held me captive to the very end and continues to haunt me. This is one of the best books I have read this year. It easily earns five stars.

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GRACE NOTES - BLOG

BOOK REVIEW: THE MERMAID AND THE SHOE

BOOK REVIEW: SUMMER OF JOY

BOOK REVIEW: DEATH BY THE BOOK

My Favorite Genre(s)

Book Review: Wildwood Creek

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