This seemed a rather fitting book to share today, it being Memorial Day and all. My undying gratitude to everyone who has fought to protect this country - I can't even express . . . especially after reading a book like this and learning more about WWII and the many men who didn't come home. I can never say "thank you" enough. But I am so incredibly grateful to every man and woman who has risked their life to protect the freedoms I so often take for granted. Thank you!
Description:
For plucky Lillian Avery, America's entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The challenges of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg's attentions only annoy--even if he is her brother's best friend.
During the darkest days of the war, Arch's destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves--and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? The two work together to answer that question, but can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection?
About the Author:
Sarah Sundin is the author of Through Waters Deep, as well as Wings of the Nightingale and the Wings of Glory series. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force. Sarah lives in California. Visit www.sarahsundin.com for more information.
My Review: 4.5 stars
Anchor in the Storm is the second book in Sarah Sundin’s, Waves of Freedom series. It picks up shortly after the first book left off and follows Archer Vandenberg, Jim Avery’s best friend. I was very excited for this book, since I really loved Arch and can happily say that it did not disappoint in the least.
Ms. Sundin has made a name for herself in the historical genre, with the focus on WWII and the upheaval of the times. She always does a fantastic job of capturing this era and the sense of the time. This particular series is set at the beginning of the War, when America was just joining in and it was a very uncertain time for the nation. I’ve long had a fascination with history, specifically WWII, so Sarah’s books always captivate me and this one is certainly no different. She’s also begun including mysteries in her books with this series, something I immensely enjoy! This one kept me guessing for a while, though I did figure a bit of it out before the characters did, it was still fun to contemplate “whodunit” while appreciating the rest of the story.
Lillian Avery is a very unique character. She’s strong, bold, very blunt, and isn’t that sweet or soft. She has a thick barrier between herself and the world’s opinion of her and it keeps her from connecting with others. She’s also an amputee, something that isn’t mentioned much in fiction. It starts out as a touchy topic for her, but after a while she’s able to joke about it and it no longer holds her back from her dreams. I loved her resilience and determination to the right thing, no matter the cost. She has her struggles and her doubts and fears, but they don’t keep her from fighting for others.
I really enjoyed getting to know Archer Vandenberg much better in this book. I vaguely recall him being something of a rogue in the first book and he’s still a flirt here. Much of his story is heavier. He struggles with PTSD, before they were able to put a label on it. They called it nerves and told soldiers to “buck up,” or else they were discharged. I loved how real Arch is, as he worked to do his job and care for his crew, all the while struggling with something he couldn’t control. He never comes across as weak or less than because of his issues, but rather they seem to make him a better man. Both he and Lillian learn to trust God and that He truly is their only anchor in the storms of life. I loved the message that is illustrated through Arch’s character.
My only negative comment is that I thought the tension between Lillian and Arch, the issue that causes them to split for a time, seemed a bit ridiculous. I really enjoyed their relationship: how Arch teaches Lillian to see herself in a different light, how Lillian allows Arch to be “weak” and never faults him for his “nerves.” But that part of it seemed a bit overblown. I know the author was trying to stretch it out a bit further to allow time for the final climax of the mystery and the suspense, but I wish she’d handled it a bit differently. This is mostly just a nitpick of mine, though truth be told, it really didn’t detract from the story much at all.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next one! I can’t wait to find out whose story is next!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and read my review! I hope you enjoyed it. Now, get off the Internet and go hug a friend or relative! ;) And thank a veteran!
Have a delightful day!
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I'm going to be honest (when am I not, really?). I don't particularly care for this cover. It's a little weird (this from the girl who just read Steampunk) and though it does fit with the story, it isn't like Dee's other books. Which maybe was the point - I don't know. But while I loved what's between the covers, I don't much like them (I can't even remember what the back cover looks like [gets up to check] *concedes* the back cover is actually pretty cool).
Description:
Evie Blackwell loves her life as an Illinois State Police detective . . . mostly. She's very skilled at investigations and has steadily moved up through the ranks. She would like to find Mr. Right, but she has a hard time imagining how marriage could work, considering the demands of her job.
Gabriel Thane is a lifetime resident of Carin County and now its sheriff, a job he loves. Gabe is committed to upholding the law and cares deeply for the residents he's sworn to protect. He too would like to find a lifetime companion, a marriage like his parents have.
When Evie arrives in Carin, Illinois, it's to help launch a new task force dedicated to reexamining unsolved crimes across the state. Spearheading this trial run, Evie will work with the sheriff's department on a couple of its most troubling missing-persons cases. As she reexamines old evidence to pull out a few tenuous new leads, she unearths a surprising connection . . . possibly to a third cold case. Evie's determined to solve the cases before she leaves Carin County, and Sheriff Thane, along with his family, will be key to those answers.
About the Author:
Dee Henderson is the author of numerous novels, including Taken, Undetected, Unspoken, Full Disclosure, and the acclaimed O'Malley series. Her books have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, such as the RITA Award, the Christy Award, and the ECPA Gold Medallion. Dee is a lifelong resident of Illinois. Learn more at www.deehenderson.com.
(Unfortunately, I couldn't find a picture of Dee. I'm certain she's a lovely lady. She's just quite private and isn't much for social media, which I'm pretty sure isn't a bad thing!)
My Review: 5 stars
This review might have a slight bias to it, because I’ve read all of Ms. Henderson’s books, and have loved every one of them! This one is definitely no exception, though I fear I may be running out of new things to say about her books. How do you find new words to describe outstanding writing that carries over from book to book? I can honestly say that Dee’s books have never disappointed me, even when the story didn’t exactly go the way I’d hoped or expected. I can never pick a favorite of her books, beyond whichever I’m currently reading. So at the moment, this one is my favorite, and I’m certain I’ll be reading it over again sometime soon.
There is something I find so incredibly captivating about this author’s writing, though I have never been able to pin it down to a single sentence or a specific something. Maybe it’s in the way that she draws me immediately into the story, or maybe how her characters become dear friends that I cheer for and mourn with, or how she weaves the mystery to keep me guessing, or how the book may have 400+ pages, but I breeze through it, then maybe tear up a smidge when I turn the final page. It’s there among the careful details and descriptions that bring every page and scene to life. It’s in the little extras that make her characters burst to brilliant life. It’s in the pieces that she so carefully fits into their places to make the story complete. It’s something that I can’t quite explain, but that I love just the same.
The first two words that come to mind when I think to describe Traces of Guilt to someone are “thoughtful” and “complex.” There are several story threads in play all at once, with differing view points and quite a few new characters. It took me a few chapters to get everyone straight and keep them that way, but I loved the layers of the story that were slowly revealed. I also really enjoyed how many of the characters got a voice here and there and that they were clearly defined so I wasn’t left trying to figure out who’s head I was in at any given moment. The thoughtful part comes from the difficult topics that are part of the main focus of the story. Dee is one of the few authors I’ve read that can take such hard things and handle them with the finesse shown in this book. The emotions behind this story are so vivid, that I often felt them along with the characters. Evie Blackwell is one of the main characters and I loved her! This book appears to the first in a series that focuses around her, which I’m super excited for. Evie is a delightful character, funny, but also intensely focused and determined. I enjoyed following her as she attempted to think outside of the box and trace all of the possibilities to solve the cases put before her. That may have actually been one of my favorite things in this book - the mystery and all of the ways the story could go. She kept me guessing and thinking, trying to figure out what had happened, right along with Evie. We also meet several new characters, that I’m hoping with be returning in the books that follow. I’d love to find out what happens with Will and Karen, and Josh and Grace, as well as finding out whether Evie and Gabe ever move beyond good friends.
If you’re looking for a quick, light read, I’m not sure I would recommend this book. It carries a weight beyond that and delves into several hard topics and emotions. I found myself laying it aside more than once to simply think and take a breath before being hit with another question to be answered. And I actually loved that about it. I love books that cause me to stop and think, to wonder and chase the question of “what if?” I did really appreciate that though this book is marked to be the first in a series, there aren’t many questions left unanswered, so it can stand alone fabulously. There is a lead-in into the next book, but not a major cliff hanger or something to make me want to yell, “no!” when the final page was turned. Dee did an excellent job of leaving a few questions undone, but also answering the most important ones. I can’t wait to see what the next book holds for Evie, and all of the other dear characters I’ve come to love!
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Yay! This was such a great book! I scooped up a paper copy as soon as I could and I have plans to read it soon. Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my very long-winded review! If you'd like to check into it further, there are links below, as always!
Have a delightful day!
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Christian Book
Okay reader friends. This is my first foray into the genre of Steampunk. I've read a couple fantasy, and I honestly don't know what makes the genres different or really much of anything. Please, enlighten me in the comments of anything I need to know going forward.
Description:
What Happens When Your Soul Dies?
Kat Bloodmayne is one of the first women chosen to attend the Tower Academy of Sciences. But she carries a secret: she can twist the natural laws of science. She has no idea where this ability came from, only that every time she loses control and unleashes this power, it kills a part of her soul. If she doesn't find a cure soon, her soul will die and she will become something else entirely.
After a devastating personal loss, Stephen Grey leaves the World City Police Force to become a bounty hunter. He believes in justice and will stop at nothing to ensure criminals are caught and locked up. However, when Kat Bloodmayne shows up in his office seeking his help, his world is turned upside down.
Together they search World City and beyond for a doctor who can cure Kat. But what they discover on the way goes beyond science and into the dark sphere of magic.
About the Author: Morgan Busse
I am a wife, mother, and author. I write Christian fantasy and steampunk for the adult market. My work is published with Enclave Publishing, the premier publishing company for Christian fantasy and science fiction.
I’m married to a wonderful, wacky guy (who also happens to be a pastor) and together we are raising four monkeys…er…kids. I’m a shy introvert, but start talking geek and I’ll come out of my shell. Along with writing, I enjoy games of all sorts (including board games and video games), hiking, biking, and reading. I love rainy days, mountains, and a good cup of tea.
My Review: 4 stars
I’m honestly not sure which genre this book falls into: I’ve seen it described as “steam punk” and “fantasy.” Is it one of them? Both? I’m pretty new to the fantasy scene, having only read a few books in the genre, but I’ve come to really enjoy some of those I’ve read. Being so new to the genre, I had no idea what to expect from this book. I read the premise and was immediately fascinated by the idea. It was a bit odd for me, yes. But it sounded so intriguing that I couldn’t resist trying to scoop up a copy and I can very happily say that I was not at all disappointed! I managed to finish this book in a matter of hours, so engrossed as I was that I read for hours straight, not even noticing how quickly time was passing.
I can very honestly say that I’ve never read a book anywhere close to Tainted. It reminded me a bit of a historical novel at first: the clothing, transportation, the mindset of the people, but the further I read, the more I realized how fitting the “steam punk” generalization is to the story. There are flying ships, and mechanical birds, and a guy with a robotic arm, just to mention a few things. The author did an excellent job of creating a place that was entirely different, while still making it easily relatable for me. I really enjoyed her writing style, how she managed to bring the story to life with colorful descriptions while keeping the action and suspense going. I was on the edge of my seat for so much of this story, wanting to know what was going to happen next, and bemoaning each interruption! The only exception to this was the first few chapters that started out a tad slow, but the back story bit ended up being so important that I really can’t complain.
The characters were incredibly unique, too. Kathryn is such an interesting heroine and I very quickly fell in love with her. She is sweet and kind, but also fearful. She has a power she cannot control and is terrified of hurting others. When she gets angry, or feels almost any emotion strongly, it’s as though she becomes a completely different person. I found her to be a very compelling character and immensely enjoyed how I easily I was able to connect with it. It was almost as though I could feel her struggle and fears. Every emotion is just there, stark and bright, which fit with the themes of the story very well. I’m really curious to see where her story goes next, especially with how it ended. Not quite a terrible cliffhanger, but I definitely have lots of questions!
Steven is also a unique character and though I enjoyed getting to know him, I didn’t connect with him as easily as I did Kathryn. He is kind hearted and outwardly focused when I first met him, but them something awful happens to him and he becomes this dark and brooding person. This is actually my only really negative comment regarding the story. I found his reaction to what happened to him a bit over the top. I realize that something needed to spark a big change for the story to progress, but how he handled it just came across as a little immature, I think. Which may be part of the reason I didn’t like him quite as well as I’d hoped. He did redeem himself later with his care of Kat and how he still tries his best to be a kind person, while also protecting his heart from being broken again.
Going into this book, I was really curious as to how the author would weave a spiritual side into the story. It sounds like magic and maybe a bit of sci-fi, so I was really intrigued with the idea of how she’d explain Kathryn’s “power,” but also center it around Christian beliefs. Though I don’t quite have my answer yet, seeing as how this is the first book in the series, I did really appreciate how the author carefully wove the spiritual matters into the tale. They aren’t overt and never detracted from the action going on, but rather raised some important questions and opened the door for them to be answered in the future books. I’m still quite interested to learn what becomes of the characters and how she chooses to broach the topic of Kathryn’s power and God’s role.
Overall, despite a couple hiccups, I have to say that I really enjoyed this story. It was unique and kept me on my toes for sure. I liked the characters and getting the opportunity to visit their world for a few hours. I’m very much anticipating the next book and finding out what twists and turns will happen next! I would highly recommend this book to someone who enjoys fiction of the steam punk or fantasy genres, since I’m still undecided as to which label completely fits.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Enclave Publishing for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my review! I hope you enjoyed it and if you're really into fantasy and steampunk, please leave a comment below telling me something that I need to know about the genre! Oh, and recommend a book for me, please! I'm really curious to read more, but I have no idea where to start. :)
Also, if you haven't read this book and you're at all curious about it, there are some links below for you to check it out - I doubt you'll be disappointed!
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"A person could live a million ordinary minutes that changed nothing. Then a few tragic minutes could change everything. They could divide a life into before and after." - Gray Fowler
Description:
After ten years in the NFL, super star Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans. But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?
Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt–none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she’s determined to find Gray’s stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.
Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives — and their hearts — to one another.
About the Author:
Becky makes her home in Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children. She’s the Carol Award, INSPY Award, and Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award winning author of contemporary Christian romances, My Stubborn Heart, Undeniably Yours, Meant to Be Mine, A Love Like Ours, and Her One and Only.
My Review: 5 stars
I abhor the final book in any series that I’ve enjoyed, particularly if I’ve fallen in love with the characters. So reading this book was definitely a challenge, solely because I didn’t want it to end, but at the same time, I wanted to know how it would end. My dilemma. How to savor a book, while also reading as quickly as I can. Though I really didn’t want this book to come, the one signaling the end of The Porter Family series, I was also extremely excited to read Dru’s story! It definitely lived up to all of my expectations, while also surpassing quite a few of them.
I fell in love with Ms. Wade’s books with the very first one she published through Bethany House, My Stubborn Heart, and have immensely enjoyed all of her books, this one being no exception. Her writing is outstanding, as always. My Kindle copy has several highlighted places throughout, lines that made me laugh, or caused me to stop and think. Her writing leans just a touch toward historical, with her writing style and word choice, which I frankly love. Her characters are delightful and I’ve fell in love with all of them over the past 3 books, so this book was a little like coming home for me. I loved the opportunity to reconnect with the Porters and spend time with them once again.
Dru Porter is definitely not someone would anyone ever accuse of being a girly-girl. She is stubborn, tough, and strong. She’s an ex-Marine and now an executive protection specialist. Though her entire demeanor screams “tough girl,” we do see her softer side with her family and eventually with Gray. I loved those glimpses into her heart and the understanding of her character. Though I’ve met her in the previous books and loved the wiseacre little sister, in this book she really comes to life amid the pages. I rarely play favorites with characters, because I try to avoid comparing one book to another, but goodness! Gray Fowler might be my favorite hero of Becky’s! He is so incredibly swoony, while also being funny and unusual, and really just a perfect match for Dru! He is just as stubborn as she is, with a huge streak of determination, as well as a strong side of mischievousness. And speaking of being a wiseacre! He could give Dru a run for her money! The dialogue between them had me laughing out loud more than once! I adored their barbs and general banter as they continually poked fun at each other and tried to ignore their attraction to one another. Even though Gray would probably say that he is perfect, he does have a few flaws that make him perfectly human. While I enjoyed his fun side, I also loved his serious nature and getting to see beyond the surface of his mask.
Much of the spiritual side of the story focused on forgiveness and trust, both of which can be difficult topics. We get to revisit Meg, from Undeniably Yours, and in doing so, get the glimpse of her continual struggle to trust God when trust is the last thing she wants to do. Gray also struggles with trust, as well as forgiveness. I loved how both of these issues were handled - the characters’ battle with these are very realistically portrayed and Becky reminds us that it isn’t a change that happens overnight. I especially appreciated that reminder.
Though I was sad to turn the final page of this book, I do have to admit that it was excellent and Becky did a fantastic job of bringing the story in full circle. There were no loose ends left and the ending gives hope for a future, while almost making me cry, because I knew that it was the end. I will definitely be rereading this book and the others in the series and reconnecting with this delightful cast of characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review! I hope you enjoyed it and that you'll consider looking into this book further! You can learn more at the sites linked below.
Have a delightful day!
Amazon
Christian Book
Barnes & Noble
Hello Everyone!
For my fellow book addicts, I have exciting news:
Today Becky Wade's Her One and Only and Dee Henderson's Traces of Guilt officially release today!! Yay! For anyone who isn't aware, these ladies are two of my favorite authors and I absolutely adore their books, so of course, celebration is in order. And, since I have a slight backlogging of reviews and I don't want to bombard my few followers with an overload, I decided a just general post was in order. That being said, I will be sharing my reviews of these two incredible books just shortly.
So, to whet your appetite a bit, here's a pretty cool graphic from Becky, telling a bit about her book:
If you still aren't convinced, here's the back cover description:
After ten years in the NFL, super star Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans. But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?
Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt–none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she’s determined to find Gray’s stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.
Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives — and their hearts — to one another.
Also, for those of you on Facebook, Becky is going to be hosting a party on her author page this Thursday (May 4, 2016) at 8pm EST. You can find it here.
Oh, and one more random thing! A portion of the profits from any copy of this book bought between the 3rd and the 9th of May will go to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund!
If you'd like to support this awesomeness and buy a fantastic book, you can find it at your usual online retailers!
And for Dee's book:
I personally think this cover looks pretty intriguing. And here are the details about it:
Evie Blackwell loves her life as an Illinois State Police detective . . . mostly. She's very skilled at investigations and has steadily moved up through the ranks. She would like to find Mr. Right, but she has a hard time imagining how marriage could work, considering the demands of her job.
Gabriel Thane is a lifetime resident of Carin County and now its sheriff, a job he loves. Gabe is committed to upholding the law and cares deeply for the residents he's sworn to protect. He too would like to find a lifetime companion, a marriage like his parents have.
When Evie arrives in Carin, Illinois, it's to help launch a new task force dedicated to reexamining unsolved crimes across the state. Spearheading this trial run, Evie will work with the sheriff's department on a couple of its most troubling missing-persons cases. As she reexamines old evidence to pull out a few tenuous new leads, she unearths a surprising connection . . . possibly to a third cold case. Evie's determined to solve the cases before she leaves Carin County, and Sheriff Thane, along with his family, will be key to those answers.
Unfortunately, I don't know of any current promotions or giveaways for this book. Dee has a pretty quiet online presence and generally just lets her work speak for itself. Which is okay, too. Us rabid fans will still shout and cheer when a new book releases!
Also, these are only two of the Christian Fiction novels releasing this month, so be sure to check on the other new releases - I have it on good authority that there are some pretty great books out there. :)
"Sometimes the evidence of our senses and the testimony of the world's wisdom are plain wrong. Sometimes the Lord is busy forging victory when the mind expects only defeat." - Elianna
I was looking through my highlights on my Kindle app and smiled at the wisdom found within the pages of this book. There are several other quotes that I'd love to share with you, but I'll just stick with this one, for now. Though I may sneak in another at the end.
Description:
Before Christ called her daughter . . .
Before she stole healing by touching the hem of his garment . . .
Elianna is a young girl crushed by guilt. After her only brother is killed while in her care, Elianna tries to earn forgiveness by working for her father’s textile trade and caring for her family. When another tragedy places Elianna in sole charge of the business, her talent for design brings enormous success, but never the absolution she longs for. As her world unravels, she breaks off her betrothal to the only man she will ever love. Then illness strikes, isolating Elianna from everyone, stripping everything she has left.
No physician can cure her. No end is in sight. Until she hears whispers of a man whose mere touch can heal. After so many years of suffering and disappointment, is it possible that one man could redeem the wounds of body . . . and soul?
About the Author:
Tessa Afshar was voted "New Author of the Year" by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader's Choice Awards 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand. Her book, Harvest of Rubies was nominated for the 2013 ECPA Book Award in the fiction category and World Magazine chose Harvest of Rubies as one of four notable books of the year. Her novel, Harvest of Gold was nominated for the 2014 Christy Award. Tessa was born in Iran to a nominally Muslim family, and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as cochair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She has spent the last fifteen years in full-time Christian service in New England.
Please note: I filched this bio and the author photo from Amazon.com. I own no rights to them and no infringement is intended.
My Review: 5 stars
“Beautiful” is the first word that came to mind when I was thinking of how to describe this story. Also “thought-provoking,” “brilliant,” “engrossing,” and so many others. Tessa’s books are by far always some of my favorites and this one is definitely no exception. She has this amazing way of bringing the Bible to life and making me want to dive in deeper, see the stories I overlook when reading it again. Her books are in no way meant to replace the Bible, but maybe cause the reader to stop and think, and they cause me to see things in a different light.
To be honest, aside from hearing a couple sermons on her, I’d never really given much thought to the woman I meet so briefly while reading the Bible, the woman with the issue of blood. She’s there just a moment, seeming to be an interruption, a prelude to the larger miracle still to come. But in this book, Tessa brings her to life. So little is known about this woman, so most of this book is a work of fiction, but regardless, I loved getting to meet all of these characters! This author’s words paint a broad, sweeping picture. One full of pain and beauty, fear and hope, doubt and love. The amount of research that obviously went into writing this book simply astounds me. Each page is filled with details and things I never knew or even considered. I immensely enjoyed learning about the time period and the Jewish customs, as well as the setting and the making of cloth. These details are woven in so seamlessly throughout that it never felt like a history lesson, but rather that I was getting to visit this time in history. I could almost smell the dye, see the vibrant color and designs, and feel the smooth cloth - no time machine needed!
The writing is very unique and Tessa did a fantastic job with all of the characters. The story is written as though Elianna is sitting down to tell someone her story. Despite the fact that I’m not always a huge fan of this particular writing style, it was an excellent fit for the story and I actually enjoyed it immensely. The author was able to give each main character a distinct voice and personality through how Elianna perceives them, so I felt I knew them all quite well. Reading the story from Elianna’s view point gave it another layer of sincerity, I think. It was real and sometimes heartbreaking. I felt Elianna’s pain at the many trials in her life, at the struggles as she attempted to provide for her family and the sorrow of loss. Her story felt bleak, for a time, as she worked to hold every crumbling part of her life together with two straining hands. But I loved the hope that continued to break through, reminding me that even in the bleakest moments, when everything seems lost, it isn’t over just yet.
The spiritual side of the story is a huge one, obviously. Much of it focuses on trusting God through the difficult season of life and learning to forgive, things Elianna had to learn that time and again throughout the book. As did several of the other characters. I loved the honesty found among the pages, the brokenness, but also the grace. I especially loved a particular moment when Elianna met Jesus, heard Him speak, and tried to understand how to love her enemies. There are so many more things I could say about this book, but I don’t want to take the chance of spoiling it for anyone. Suffice to say that this is a beautifully written tale that highlights a little known Bible character and illustrates God’s infinite grace. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Biblical fiction and encourage anyone who isn’t a fan to at least give it a go. I doubt you’ll regret it.
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read my review! I hope you enjoyed it and will consider looking into the book further. It is definitely one of the best books I've read so far this year and I highly recommend it to everyone!
Just in case my cheering won you over, links will be below for further investigating.
I also suggested there might be another quote awaiting anyone who bothered to read this far, so without further ado:
"God could bring meaning into all this. Bring light and hope and life into what no one could undo. He alone could breathe life into that dust and breathe meaning into the things that pass." - Elianna
Have a delightful day!
Amazon
Christian Book
Barnes & Noble
Sarah Sundin is the author of Through Waters Deep, as well as Wings of the Nightingale and the Wings of Glory series. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force. Sarah lives in California. Visit www.sarahsundin.com for more information. 
