All Categories - Kathleen Friesen

Book Review: Along a Storied Trail

6/15/2021

TITLE: Along a Storied Trail
AUTHOR: Ann H. Gabhart
DATE: 2021
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ****

From the back cover:
Kentucky packhorse librarian Tansy Calhoun doesn't mind the rough trails and long hours as she serves her Appalachian mountain community during the Great Depression. Yet she longs to find love like the heroines in her books. When a charming writer comes to town, she thinks she might have found it--or is the perfect man actually closer than she thinks?

Perdita Sweet has called these mountains home for so long she's nearly as rocky as the soil around her small cabin. Long ago she thought she could love, but when the object of her affection up and married someone else, she stopped giving too much of herself away to others.

As is so often the case, it's easier to see what's best for others than to see what's best for oneself, and Perdita knows who Tansy should choose. But why would anyone listen to the romantic advice of an old spinster?

My review:
Like a once-familiar song, the cadence of Appalachia—part of the charm of this story—took me some time to reconnect with, but within the first chapter the lilts enchanted me once again.

The beautiful and often harsh Appalachia setting makes itself an important character, molding the actions of the other, human characters. I have not yet had the privilege of visiting this area, but author Ann H. Gabhart brings it to life.

Tansy makes a compelling heroine, strong yet unsure of herself. Her determination to fulfill her responsibilities inspire me. Perdita’s journey, both bitter and sweet, adds a plethora of emotions to Along a Storied Trail.

Tansy’s two possible suitors, although unequally matched, added depth and hope, while other characters like young Coralee make me hope for a sequel.

I enjoyed Along a Storied Trail and award it four stars. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher.

Book Review: Unknown Threat

5/27/2021

TITLE: Unknown Threat
AUTHOR: Lynn H. Blackburn
DATE: 2021
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

Back Cover:
US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He's an expert at shielding others, but now the protectors are in need of protection.

FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is driven to succeed and confident in her ability to solve every case she's assigned. She's been put in charge of the investigation into the unprecedented attacks, and with Luke's life in danger, the stakes have never been higher. But it's hard to know how to fight back when you don't know who the enemy is.

As more agents are targeted, Luke and Faith will have to work together to bring a killer to justice and prevent any more names from joining their fallen brothers and sisters on the Secret Service Wall of Honor.

My Review:
Unknown Threat kept me reading without a break to the totally satisfying end. Luke and Faith are complicated people with histories full of hurt and jagged walls between them. When they’re forced to work together to solve a deadly and tangled case, sparks are bound to fly.

Sparks, bombs, bullets…they all fly in this tight suspense. Each of the agents involved is recognizable, they are so well drawn. And did I mention the tension? Extremely high, and yet touches of humor sparkled in the darkest hours, allowing me to catch my breath.

The growing attraction between Faith and Luke amazed me with it tenderness in such dire circumstances, and I appreciated the spiritual growth in both.

I was given a copy of Unknow Threat courtesy of Graf Martin Communications Ltd. and Baker Publishing Group, and this story easily earns five stars. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense.

Book Review: Present Danger

5/25/2021

TITLE: Present Danger
AUTHOR: Elizabeth Goddard
DATE: 2021
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ****

Back Cover:
Former FBI Special Agent Jack Tanner is working as a detective in Montana when he comes across a body in the national forest during a search and rescue mission. He's committed to finding the killer, even if it means working alongside his old flame, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors.

When Terra discovers that the murder victim had ties to a powerful and dangerous trafficker of archaeological artifacts, the investigation takes a deadly turn--one that hits too close to home. As Terra fears she lacks the courage to face what comes next, Jack is more determined than ever to protect her. But he's failed her before. And if he fails this time, it will cost them far more than just their hearts.

My Review:
If you enjoy fast-paced stories with multiple characters, twists and convoluted plots, you will love Present Danger. The main characters, Jack and Terra, end up working together to try to solve the dangerous puzzle entangling them and forcing them to confront deep hurts from their pasts. Whether they can solve the crimes is one complex issue; dealing with their personal history is an additional minefield.

The multi-layered mystery kept me riveted, even though the characters didn’t really resonate with me. I did find the short chapters/scenes distracting, but others will likely appreciate them. I enjoyed the story enough to read it twice. Present Danger earns four stars.

I was given a copy of Present Danger courtesy of Graf Martin Communications and Baker Publishing Group.

Devotional: God's Garden

5/17/2021

GOD’S GARDEN
Kathy Friesen
(Cherished Women’s Garden Social)

I’m sure you’ve heard this lovely little verse:

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God’s Heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.

But have you heard the entire poem by Dorothy Frances Gurney? It’s called God's Garden, and it seems fitting for our time here this evening.

THE Lord God planted a garden In the first white days of the world,
And He set there an angel warden In a garment of light enfurled.
So near to the peace of Heaven, That the hawk might nest with the wren,
For there in the cool of the even God walked with the first of men.
And I dream that these garden-closes With their shade and their sun-flecked sod
And their lilies and bowers of roses, Were laid by the hand of God.
The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth,--
One is nearer God's heart in a garden Than anywhere else on earth.
For He broke it for us in a garden Under the olive-trees
Where the angel of strength was the warden And the soul of the world found ease.

No wonder we love to garden!

When Nicole asked me to give a devotional this evening, I was excited. After all, we’re combining three of my favorite things: fellowship, gardening, and Bible verses about gardening.

The first Bible verse that came to mind is John 12, verse 24. Jesus is on His way to the cross, and as He talks with His disciples He cuts to the quick with these words:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

The obvious conclusion here is that Jesus is talking about His own death, when He ransomed us from the penalty of sin, eternity without God.

But then He continues: “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

Hmm, sounds like He’s talking about us, doesn’t it? But if we die like a grain of wheat, how do we then serve Him?

When a seed is planted, it has to die completely in order to grow into the promised plant. Have you ever had a seed that didn’t want to let go of its seedling? I have. Sometimes with tomato seedlings, the shell of the seed will cling to the emerging leaves, the cotyledons (kaa tuh lee’ dn). Sometimes the shell will let go on its own or with a little help – apparently saliva works best! - sometimes it won’t. If the seed continues to cling to the tiny plant, the seedling, imprisoned and unable to grow, will die. No produce, no harvest.

Perhaps this is a picture of how people may want to follow Jesus Christ but also want to cling to their old way of life. It doesn’t work. Without complete surrender, the spark of faith-life will shrivel and die. With surrender we get glowing, abundant, fruit-producing life!

The second passage is also from the book of John, in chapter 15. Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
Is anyone else bothered by that phrase, “he takes away”?

This verse has always given me an uneasy feeling, like, Am I bearing fruit? If not, is God going to take me out?

Time for some research! Thanks to good ol’ Strong’s Concordance and a Bible commentary by Pastor Tony Evans, I found a more encouraging way to look at this phrase.

The word translated, “takes away, cuts away or removes,” has more than one meaning. The Greek word airo (ah’ ee ro) is a primary verb meaning to lift. It’s used in several places in the New Testament to portray raising a voice, bearing up, carrying, lifting up, loosing, putting away, removing, or taking away or up.

Intriguing, isn’t it? I checked the other places where this word is used. One is Matthew 4:6, where Satan tempts Jesus and quotes the Old Testament: “On their hands they (angels) will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

Then there’s Matthew 27:32 and Mark 15:21 where Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry the cross for Jesus.

In Luke 17:13, ten lepers lifted up their voices and begged Jesus to heal them.

There are others, but I don’t want to take too much time. In each of these verses, airo is used. Bear up. Carry. Lift. Sounds more like affirmation than destruction, doesn’t it?

In his Bible commentary, Tony Evans begins unpacking this verse by confirming that “every branch” refers to Christians, because they are IN the vine, Jesus.

The Son – the vine – feeds the branches, and the Father – the gardener – tends them, bringing them from no fruit production to abundant fruit.

He explains it well; a quote is better than any explanation I can give.
“The branches in a vineyard could become large and drag on the ground. So God the gardener “takes them away” (airo) from the ground by lifting them up. God will, therefore seek to make you fruitful by lifting you up, encouraging you, and motivating you – for example, through his Word and through the people of God. Those who are fruitful, God also prunes so that they bear more fruit. Sometimes God will bring challenges and trials into our lives to enable us to grow in our faith and cast off anything hindering full productivity.”

Regarding the Father’s pruning, I’d like to tell you a little story.

Back when my mother was fighting cancer, I visited her as often as possible, and one of the things I enjoyed doing there was caring for her yard. During one visit, Dad called me outside to her favorite tree, a pink flowering cherry.

“Look at this.” He pulled down a slender branch full of white flowers, not pink. “Whaddya think of that?”

Pruning is not my favorite part of gardening. What if I cut too much? Or not enough? I couldn’t bear to “hurt” my plants or trees.

But in this case… I remembered reading about the problem – and it was a problem. “Not good, Dad. You need to cut out that whole area. It’s called ‘reverting to type,’ and if you leave it, eventually the whole tree will lose its pink colour and revert to white.”

I don’t understand the science behind it, but it does fit with these verses. The beautiful pink flowers on Mom’s tree were a result of grafting onto sturdy rootstalk, in this case, a white flowering tree.

Sometimes, though, the old nature sneaks up past the graft and reasserts itself.

Do you see where I’m going with this? When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are grafted into His family tree, a new, beautiful creation, designed to produce fruit. But sometimes our old nature creeps back, twisting our outlook and damaging our faith-walk. These tendencies must be pruned out completely for our sakes and the sake of the Kingdom of God.

We, the branches, remain attached to the life-giving Vine, while the resurging old nature is cut out and destroyed by our loving Father, freeing us from its clutches.

Remember, no branch can produce fruit by its own will. It must be attached to the vine or trunk – that’s where fruit comes from.

So, we the branches abide in Jesus Christ the vine and are pruned by Father God the Divine Gardener to produce the fruit of good works for His glory.

Pretty amazing, isn’t it? We are God’s garden!

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God’s Heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.

Book Review: Blackberry Beach

4/18/2021

TITLE: Blackberry Beach (A Hope Harbor Novel)
AUTHOR: Irene Hannon
DATE: 2021
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

From the back cover:
Katherine Parker is on the cusp of having everything she ever wanted--fame, money, and acclaim. So why isn't she happy? In search of answers, she comes incognito to Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast for some R&R. Maybe in her secluded rental house overlooking the serene Pacific she'll be able to calm the storm inside.

Coffee shop owner Zach Garrett has found his niche after a traumatic loss--and he has no plans to change the life he's created. Nor does he want to get involved with his reticent new neighbor, whose past is shrouded in mystery. He's had enough drama to last a lifetime. But when Katherine and Zach are recruited to help rehab a home for foster children, sparks fly. And as their lives begin to intersect, might they find more common ground than they expected . . . and discover that, with love, all things are possible?

My review:
I have loved every Hope Harbour novel I’ve read, and Blackberry Beach continues the trend. Zach intrigued me from the first time we “met,” and Kat/Katherine makes a fascinating heroine. Hope Harbour seems an unlikely home for each of them, given their backgrounds, but something about the small town draws them in.

While Zach is already established in his small coffee shop business, Kat is just vising—hiding, really. Watching their relationship grow from tentative outreaches and responses warmed my heart.

Getting reacquainted with the sweet and quirky residents of Hope Harbour made my time there thoroughly enjoyable. Charley is a perennial favorite, with his mysterious insights and wisdom, while the two pastors and their comical bickering enticed several chuckles.

Faith plays an important role in this story, as in the previous Hope Harbour books; the message comes through clearly and realistically.

Blackberry Beach is everything I look for in a novel, and it easily earns five stars. I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Book Review: Crazy about Maisie

4/6/2021

TITLE: Crazy About Maisie (Happenstance Chronicles Book 2)
AUTHOR: Janice L. Dick
DATE: 2021
PUBLISHER: Tansy & Thistle Press
STARS: *****

From the back cover:
Hairdresser Maisie McDonald loves her life in Happenstance, but when private investigator Sam Kowalczyk comes to town, Maisie is spooked. Will Sam’s questions reveal secrets relegated to the past and ruin her present and her future? And who hired him?

When mysterious newcomer to Happenstance, Julia Freemont, purchases an abandoned shop to turn it into a bistro, everyone is excited. But is Julia’s presence valid, or a ruse to get to Maisie?

Maisie will do anything to protect her family, but can she fight the power that money can buy? Revisit the townspeople of Happenstance as they rally round to help her through her struggle between fear and trust.

My Review:
I jumped at the chance to revisit the enchanting town of Happenstance after thoroughly enjoying my previous trip there in The Road to Happenstance. The close-knit community is curious about the two newcomers, unsure of their motives. Each character of Happenstance is charming—some more than others—and I loved renewing our acquaintances. Maisie’s insecurity endeared her to me. Annaliese’s charming accent, Bear’s quirky Yogi Berra-style quips, Johanna’s uncanny preparedness and the gentle quibbling between the Barlow sisters all make Crazy About Maisie a delight. Newcomers Sam and Julia find themselves on an unexpected journey of discovery—no surprise to those who’ve lived there for a while.

If you enjoy a gentle tale of delightful characters mixed with mystery and some danger, you’ll love Crazy About Maisie. I loved this story and look forward to the next Happenstance adventure. Crazy About Maisie easily earns five stars. Highly recommended!

Book Review: Facing the Dawn

3/14/2021

TITLE: Facing the Dawn
AUTHOR: Cynthia Ruchti
DATE: 2021
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ***

From the back cover:
While her humanitarian husband Liam has been digging wells in Africa, Mara Jacobs has been struggling. She knows she's supposed to feel a warm glow that her husband is nine time zones away, caring for widows and orphans. But the reality is that she is exhausted, working a demanding yet unrewarding job, trying to manage their three detention-prone kids, failing at her to-repair list, and fading like a garment left too long in the sun.

Then Liam's three-year absence turns into something more, changing everything and plunging her into a sunless grief. As Mara struggles to find her footing, she discovers that even when hope is tenuous, faith is fragile, and the future is unknown, we can be sure we are not forgotten . . . or unloved.

My review:
I’ve never done this before. I’m going to review a book I didn’t—no, couldn’t—finish. The book came highly recommended; many readers wiser than I loved it. But for me, the unrelenting, soul-crushing heaviness of the storyline nearly undid me. By the time I got into the eighth chapter, I needed to put the book away.

The prose is flawless, and Mara Jacobs makes a tragic heroine. From the recommendations, light does eventually shine at the end of the long, dark tunnel of woe, but my mental health could not continue on this journey with her. I apologize to the author for that.

If you enjoy tragedies, you may love this book. If, like me, your emotional health is less than prime, bypass this one. I could only give this story three stars. I was given a copy of Facing the Dawn by the publishers.

Book Review: A Cowboy for Keeps

3/12/2021

ITLE: A Cowboy for Keeps (Colorado Cowboys #1)
AUTHOR: Jody Hedlund
DATE: 2021
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: ****

Greta Nilsson's trip west to save her ailing little sister, Astrid, could not have gone more wrong. First, bandits hold up her stagecoach, stealing all her money. Then, upon arriving in Fairplay, Colorado, she learns the man she was betrothed to as a mail-order bride has died. Homeless, penniless, and jobless, Greta and her sister are worse off than when they started.

Wyatt McQuaid is struggling to get his new ranch up and running and is in town to purchase cattle when the mayor proposes the most unlikely of bargains. He'll invest in a herd of cattle for Wyatt's ranch if Wyatt agrees to help the town become more respectable by marrying and starting a family with Greta. But when old insecurities and surprising revolutions arise, can a union born out of desperation survive?

While my modern sensibility cannot imagine willingly entering into marriage with a stranger, Greta’s reasons for doing so are admirable. Her sacrifices for her half-sister drive her away from everything familiar—and into more trouble than she’d ever imagined. Greta’s gumption and strength of character make her a worthy heroine, and little Astrid is a mischievous charmer.

Wyatt’s difficult past drives him to risk everything—even his marital status—to succeed. His reasons are commendable, but he needs some wisdom from his good friend and partner Judd to conquer old insecurities.

The gorgeous front cover of this book drew me in as did the smooth writing style of the author. The supporting cast fleshes out the story well, and the setting does the rest.

I enjoyed A Cowboy for Keeps and award it four stars. I was given a copy of this book by Baker Publishing Group and Graf Martin Communications. Recommended.

Book Review: A Dance in Donegal

2/21/2021

TITLE: A Dance in Donegal
AUTHOR: Jennifer Deibel
DATE: 2021
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ****1/2

To fulfill her mother's dying wish, Moira Doherty moves from Boston to the rolling green hills of 1921 Ireland to teach in a village school. She doesn't expect to fall in love--or to uncover a scandalous family reputation her mother left behind years ago.

A week after her beloved mother’s death, Moira leaves all that’s familiar for the land of her dreams, Donegal, Ireland. Propelled by her mother’s stories and memories—and the chance to use her new teaching certificate—Moira is anxious to learn all she can about her new home and its people.

But not everyone welcomes her. Whispers seem to dodge Moira’s footsteps, and frightening warnings and unsettling dreams make her wonder why she’d come to Ireland at all.

Reading A Dance in Donegal took me across the sea and back in time, while mysteries and danger kept me spellbound. I fell in love with Sean as well as Colm and Peg, the older couple who befriend Moira.

I enjoyed this story and recommend it, awarding it four and a half stars. I was given a copy of A Dance in Donegal by the publisher.

Book Review: Obsession

2/17/2021

TITLE: Obsession (Natchez Trace Park Rangers #2)
AUTHOR: Patricia Bradley
DATE: 2021
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

Back Cover:
Natchez Trace Ranger and historian Emma Winters hoped never to see Sam Ryker again after she broke off her engagement to him. But when shots are fired at her at a historical landmark just off the Natchez Trace, she's forced to work alongside Sam as the Natchez Trace law enforcement district ranger in the ensuing investigation. To complicate matters, Emma has acquired a delusional secret admirer who is determined to have her as his own. Sam is merely an obstruction, one which must be removed.

Sam knows that he has failed Emma in the past and he doesn't intend to let her down again. Especially since her life is on the line. As the threads of the investigation cross and tangle with their own personal history, Sam and Emma have a chance to discover the truth, not only about the victim but about what went wrong in their relationship.

My Review:
Before starting to read Obsession, you may want to clear your schedule. Tension fills the air as Emma Winters returns to her workplace, Mount Locust Visitor Center, to retrieve a file. She’s used to being there in the dark, so why is she shivering and ultra-aware?
Hint: there’s a good reason for her tension. And it doesn’t let up, both from the danger pursuing her, unanswered questions from the past, and definitely not from her uneasy reunion with her ex-fiancé.

Family relations plays a huge role in this action-packed story, and faith’s role appears minor but is crucial, because without real forgiveness, there is no peace for anyone.

Sam wants to protect his heart from his strong attraction to Emma, but how can he distance himself and still protect her from a deadly danger?

I truly enjoyed Obsession, the second book of Patricia Bradley’s Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, and award it five stars. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher.