TITLE:  The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip
AUTHOR:  Sara Brunsvold
DATE: 2022
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

From the back cover:
Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she’s been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who’s just entered hospice care.

​But there’s more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she’s not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it’s a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that’s just what Mrs. Kip will give her—but she’s going to have to work for it.

My review:
How can I describe this book? Extraordinary! I fell in love with Clara Kip on the first couple of pages, and my admiration grew with each chapter. Spunky even while nearing death, her love of her Lord and whoever He put in her path pulled at my heart. What an incredible woman.

Aidyn’s assignment to write Clara’s obituary seems to her a punishment, but the pert old woman sees the true picture. As their relationship grows and blossoms, the change in Aidyn kept me flipping pages. As Clara’s amazing life becomes clearer to the young woman, so does her purpose.

I absolutely love The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip and easily award it five stars. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. Highly recommended!

​I am living with heart failure.

After giving the diagnosis, my cardiologist tried to reassure me, saying something like, “It’s fairly common in people your age, and combined with your genetics…”

Thanks a lot! The good news is, I’m doing well, and knowing why I tire quickly helps me feel less guilty about accomplishing less.

But a few nights ago, I awoke from a dream with the words, “Redeem the time” echoing in my mind. I knew the phrase came from one of Paul’s letters to the church but wasn’t sure which one. Ah, there it was, in Ephesians 5. I’ll skip some verses for brevity’s sake, not to change Paul’s meaning.

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

That begs the question, what does it mean to redeem the time? As I re-read the verses, the first thing I realized is that redemption costs. And it’s not cheap. Jesus Christ gave His life to redeem us from sin and eternal death, “an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

For me, redeeming the time means giving up my desire to hide away, comfortable in my introvertedness. (Spell check doesn’t approve of that word, but you know what I mean!) I have to push past those comfort zones and reach out more. It’s hard; I’m risking rejection every time, but it’s worth the effort from an eternal perspective.

In the end, that’s what it’s about: living from an eternal perspective. And so I will keep trying, often failing and needing the forgiveness bought by Jesus Christ’s redemption. The redemptive circle moves me closer and closer to heaven, my ultimate destination.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

Three years ago, God grabbed my attention when He led me to Isaiah 58:6,
"Is not this the fast that I choose:
    to loose the bonds of wickedness,
    to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
    and to break every yoke?

As I read the entire chapter again and again while praying for understanding, memories of news about human trafficking intruded into my comfort. I don't know how to express the experience other than it felt like a holy commission. An overwhelming one!

"How, Lord? What can I do?" As a woman past her best-before date, how could I possibly attempt such a daunting task?

The answer came a few weeks ago when someone mentioned the Joy Smith Foundation. Have you heard of it? I hadn't, so I looked it up online (www.joysmithfoundation.com). What an eye-opener!

Joy Smith's son, Edward, a police officer, served in the Integrated Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit, whose purpose was to track down predators who had used the Internet to lure in and sexually exploit children for profit. His work caused his hair to turn grey overnight, compelling Joy to ask him about it.

Those conversations changed her life. From teaching to becoming and MLA in Manitoba and then an MP, Joy worked tirelessly to educated and change laws to protect victims and punish perpetrators. She began the Joy Smith Foundation, Inc. on October 27, 2012, to focus on prevention and awareness programs. 

 What do you know about the horrific business of human trafficking? Are you aware it "earns" $150 BILLION per year? Did you know that the average age of entry into the sex trade in Canada is 12-13 years of age? How about the fact that more than 90% of trafficked persons in Canada were born and raised here? 

What would you do if it were your child or grandchild?

Here's a quote from Joy Smith: "Less than a kilometer from where you're sitting right now, someone has been trafficked."

How does that make you feel? 

Once a year, the Joy Smith Foundation holds a major fundraising event. This year's is Joy in Action 2022 (https://www.joysmithfoundation.com/p/joy-in-action-2022-registration). This is where I - and hopefully you! - come in. I volunteered to be a team captain for this virtual action event, and I'm looking for teammates. If this interests you, PLEASE contact me. We can raise money in a variety of ways, no matter where we are, to support this important work.

As Paul Brandt said, "With the knowledge that people are being bought and sold, you're forced to make a decision. You're forced to decide whether you're going to do something about it or turn a blind eye." 

My decision is made. Will you join me?

Please take a few minutes to check the websites shared above as you consider what God would have you do. To donate to our team's fundraising, click https://bit.ly/3AoixyQ

From my heart to yours, thank you and God bless you. 

TITLE:  Gossip & Grace (Happenstance Chronicles #3)
AUTHOR:  Janice L. Dick
DATE: 2022
STARS: *****

From the back cover:
How does a person return to everyday life after spending almost a year behind bars? Nineteen-year-old Solomon Wuppertal throws himself into the new job his sister offers him as barista at Happenstance Bistro & Books.

But not everyone is pleased to see him return to town. His father is disappointed in him, the local gossip columnist spreads rumors, and secrets from his past haunt him. Besides interacting with customers, Sol must cope with cranky Morris Craddock, who runs the lending library in the same building.

When books go missing from Morris’s library and Sol is implicated, he decides to solve the mystery of the book thefts and stop the rampant rumors. As obstacles mount and self-doubt plagues him, Sol struggles to believe the truth and trust those willing to help him.

Will his determination be enough for him to move ahead and create a productive life in Happenstance? Will he succeed against all the odds?

My review:
Gossip & Grace carries us back to the town of Happenstance, where quirky characters and strange occurrences are part of everyday life. Sol Wuppertal doesn’t fit in with his hard-working, business-minded family—especially his strict father. Sol’s stint in prison marked him as untrustworthy, but his sister Rachel sees the younger brother she has always loved.

I love dear Bear and his malapropisms, and grumpy Morris Craddock might turn out be a little bit lovable, himself.
​
As Sol fights his deep-rooted negative self-image, reinforced by the town gossip, unexpected gifts of grace plant seeds of hope in his soul.

This story reminds me of a smoothly flowing river, calm on the surface but with a strong, deep current. I love Gossip & Grace and give it five stars. Highly recommended, along with the first two Happenstance books. Can’t wait for the next one!

TITLE:  When the Meadow Blooms
AUTHOR:  Ann H. Gabhart
DATE: 2022
PUBLISHER: Revell
Stars: *****

From the back cover:
If any place on God's earth was designed to help one heal, it is Meadowland. Surely here, at her brother-in-law's Kentucky farm, Rose and her daughters can recover from the events of the recent past--the loss of her husband during the 1918 influenza epidemic, her struggle with tuberculosis that required a stay at a sanatorium, and her girls' experience in an orphanage during her illness. At Meadowland, hope blooms as their past troubles become rich soil in which their faith can grow.

Dirk Meadows may have opened his home to his late brother's widow and her girls, but he keeps his heart tightly closed. The roots of his pain run deep, and the evidence of it is written across his face. Badly scarred by a fire and abandoned by the woman he loved, Dirk fiercely guards his heart from being hurt again. But it may be that his visitors will bring light back into his world and unlock the secret to true healing.

My review:
Rose Meadows never imagined she would need two years at the sanitorium when she’d left her daughters at an orphanage. To make matter worse, the cryptic letters from her girls made her worry—with good reason.

But God provides a rescuer: Rose’s brother-in-law, a stranger she’d met only once. When Rose and daughter Calla reach out, unknowingly at the same time, Dirk Meadows feels duty-bound to help however he can. Without getting too close, of course, since he’s accustomed to his hermit-like lifestyle. His plans go awry, though, as Calla, her sister Sienna and Rose open his eyes and heart to once-forgotten dreams.
​
Author Ann Gabhart weaves together memorable settings and compelling characters in this story of redemption, healing and hope. Add in a tantalizing mystery, and When the Meadow Blooms easily earns five stars. Recommended!
 
 
 

TITLE:  Sea Glass Cottage (Hope Harbor #8)
AUTHOR:  Irene Hannon
DATE: 2022
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

From the back cover:
Christi Reece is desperate. The onetime golden girl’s life has tarnished, and a cascade of setbacks has left her reeling. She needs help, and she’s certain Jack Colby is in a position to provide it.

When she shows up in Hope Harbor, however, Jack wants nothing to do with the woman who betrayed him. He’s built a new life on the Oregon coast—and there’s no room in it for Christi, even after she takes refuge in a charming but mysterious cottage nearby. Yet it soon becomes apparent his opinion of her may need revising…especially when he ends up needing her help.

Can these two hurting souls open their hearts to a new beginning?

My review:
Returning to Hope Harbor feels like coming home. I’ve read each book in this series, and the townspeople seem like old friends. Charley, with his compassionate heart and other-worldly wisdom, is a perennial favorite. Hope Harbor itself carries a sense of sweet mystery, and I enjoyed seeing how it affected Jack and Christi, as well as Beth and Steve.

Irene Hannon’s characters are realistic, recognizable and appealing in their brokenness and longing for hope. What better place to find hope than Hope Harbor? Faith is a vital component of this story, since forgiveness can only come through faith.
​
I loved Sea Glass Cottage and award it five golden stars (regular ones aren’t enough). I was given a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions are my own. Highly recommended!

TITLE:  The Catch (US Marshalls #3)
AUTHOR:  Lisa Harris
DATE: 2022
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

From the back cover:
After a harrowing attempt on a judge's life at the courthouse, Deputy US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are tasked with finding a missing woman and an endangered child in connection to the murder of the judge's wife. What seems like a fairly straightforward case becomes hopelessly tangled when the marshals discover that the woman they are searching for is in witness protection and the Amber Alert put out for the missing child has put two lives in danger.

Madison and Jonas are forced into a race to find the woman and the child before the men who want her dead discover her location. And in a final showdown that could cost her everything, Madison will come face-to-face with the person who murdered her husband.

My review:
What do you look for in a suspense novel? Action? Check. Appealing characters? Check. Good setting? Check? Fast-paced plot? Double check!

Since I’d read The Escape and The Chase (books 1 and 2 of the series), Madison and Jonas were already known, and I’d been eager for the final resolution of Madison’s mystery. The action begins immediately in The Catch and doesn’t let up until the end.

Twists and surprises fill the pages, but action isn’t the only draw in this story. Faith is not preached but is important, and the hesitant relationship between Madison and Jonas touches the heart. If you enjoy high-tension stories with plenty of plot twists plus a sweet love story, you will love The Catch.
​
I thoroughly enjoyed The Catch and award it five stars. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher.

TITLE:  Looking for Leroy
AUTHOR:  Melody Carlson
DATE: 2022
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ***

From the back cover:
It's official: Brynna Phillips is done with men. They only break your heart. But just when she makes this declaration, her friend Jan convinces Brynna to join her on a camping vacation in Sonoma Wine Country. As they wind their way toward their destination, spanking-new mini camper in tow, Brynna recalls her teenage camp romance with a boy named Leroy. How can it have been nearly 30 years ago? All she remembers is that Leroy was a genuinely good guy and that his family owned a vineyard--in Sonoma. She doesn't even remember his last name. Jan insists they look for him, and the search begins.

Beyond the slim chance they'd ever be able to find him are questions that have haunted Brynna for decades, including What is the point of digging up the past? and Can Leroy ever forgive me for losing touch?

My review:
The gorgeous cover of Looking for Leroy convinced me to read this book, as it reminds me of the beautiful Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. As it turns out, the Sonoma setting was my favorite character.

The humans populating the story, Brynna, Jan, Mike, Leroy and others had some quirky charms, but they never became real to me. Brynna seemed quite young and almost flaky, not at all how I picture a successful teacher. But keeping true to her role, she was at her best when with small children.

Leroy’s temper didn’t impress me, even though it was triggered by emotional pain. His work ethic, however, impressed me, as did his devotion to the family business and the land.

Faith doesn’t really play a part. Prayer is mentioned as a emergency tool without a real spiritual relationship. I wanted to love Looking for Leroy but was disappointed. It’s a sweet read, nevertheless, and earns three stars.
​
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.