“May” I Entice You…with these New Releases?!
I’m delighted to share my reviews of these books, available now on all major retail sites and places! Add to your stack and enjoy!
Thanks to the following for providing me with advance digital review copies. I am so thankful for this privilege!
NetGalley
Rachel’s Random Resources for Blog Tour opportunities
and generous Publishers Convergent Books, HarperCollins, Counterpoint Books, and Berkley Publishing Group.
A Memoir of a Young Clergy
For All Who Hunger: Searching for Communion in a Shattered World by Emily M.D. Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As the author tells us at the beginning of this book, “this is a memoir: a story about memories”. The author shares her journey of “searching for communion in a shattered world”. A young woman, she becomes a Lutheran minister, moves to New York and grows her vision of bringing people together. She’s a church planter. Her seed of an idea- Dinner Church.
Dinner church is my kind church. It’s what our world needs, fellowship, conversation, shared food, and shared stories, open to all. Author Scott is a Lutheran pastor. (If she had been a Baptist pastor, she would have known about covered dish or potluck suppers at church!)
To me, this book is at it’s best when we are with the author as she seeks a place for her church, as she awaits her first church “service”- will anyone come?- and as she tends to her fledgling group. She has a creative flair which brings together her congregation and also enriches the surrounding community. St. Lydia’s is the “right seed planted in the right soil at the right time.”
The memoir veers off into social issues and and politics and this part of the book loses its “memories” and becomes more “preachy”. While this may be important, it did not speak to me as much as the scenes of friends gathering to break bread together. I look forward to more stories from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Convergent Books for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
A Dual Timeline Historical Fiction
The Secret of the Chateau: Gripping and heartbreaking historical fiction with a mystery at its heart by Kathleen McGurl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A run-down chateau was the landholding of titled French Aristocrats and now it’s the home of five friends who are seeking a fresh start in retirement. Author McGurl weaves a lovely tapestry that connects the past and the present.
The story takes place in the Alpes-Maritime and it was entertaining to read about a province in France that I do not know too much about. The author writes beautiful word pictures of the setting and when I googled to see some photos, it turns out that she did a marvelous job of describing the mountains, rivers and small villages.
This European Historical Fiction shares the story of two families, in alternating chapters. Pierre and Catherine Aubert, the Comte and Comtesse de Verais lived as part of the Court in Versailles, until 1789, when the fires of the French Revolution forced them to escape to the family chateau. Who can they trust? Will they be safe?
The modern-day British family is composed of two couples, and a single guy, all close friends since college and now looking to start a new life together in retirement. They pool their resources and buy a chateau. A chateau with a ghost. Will the family settle in and will they uncover the secrets of their new place?
From the charming cover to the end of the story, this book is a lovely read. The history of the French Revolution is well-presented and will hold your interest. The process of setting up home in an old chateau is interesting, because it’s a dream of many people.
Readers will guess the secret almost immediately, but that won’t prevent them from getting attached to the characters. What surprised me was how little the modern family involved themselves in village life.
Author McGurl is a prolific write of historical fiction and her latest book will be another hit. Thanks to NetGalley, Rachel’s Random Resources and HarperCollins for a review copy. This is my honest review.
A Travel Memoir and so much More!
Braver Than You Think: Around the World on the Trip of My (Mother’s) Lifetime by Maggie Downs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I looked forward to reading this book. This is the author’s memoir of the trips she took, trips that she and her mother had dreamed of experiencing. Before I started the book I imagined, “Oh how splendid. I will get to be an arm-chair traveler. I hope we go to Paris, Florence, Sydney, maybe even Moscow or Budapest. Little did I know…”
Turns out that Ms. Down’s adventures were amazing. She went to places I would never have dream of going. She began in South America with a hike (not a bus ride) to Machu Picchu, and then on to Bolivia and Venezuela. Then, all on her own, she was off to Africa, South Africa, Rwanda and Uganda. Then she followed the Nile to Egypt and Jordan. India beckoned next, which led the author to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam Nam, and Korea including the DMZ where she could see N.Korea. She stayed in hostels, and had incredible experiences with people whoever she went. She also volunteered and worked with elephants, monkeys, as well as tutoring young women. She even hiked to see the Mountain Apes in Rwanda. I’m not a brave traveler like she was, but I would love to see those families of apes.
Ms. Downs had a successful career in journalism. Why did she leave her job, and new husband to travel the world? Because of her mother. She and her mother were close, and when she was a young girl, they would both read the National Geographic from cover to cover each month and dream of all the wonderful places. Tragically, her mother suffered from early-onset Alzheimer’s for ten years. Ms. Down’s journey was in honor of her mother. She would see and experience what her mother could not.
The book is beautifully written and balanced. There is enough detail about each locale- the sights, sounds, colors, tastes…but not too much. There are flashbacks to her mother’s story- just the right amount. We learn and feel the author’s pain, worries, sorrows, joys, but are not overwhelmed. We are inspired, but not lectured to.
Ms. Down learns from her adventures. In a beautiful moment, she sees that perhaps her mother had lived a fulfilling life after all. That the journey was for herself and her future. A mesmerizing and emotional story that I highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and Counterpoint Books for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
Women’s Fiction- Oh this Book is Amazing
Happy and You Know It by Laura Hankin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Clap your hands for this book! And I hope to surely show you how much I enjoyed this novel.
I savored every page because each one is filled with heart and understanding. Yes, there are plenty of closeups of our current times, and snapshots of what it’s like to be mother of a baby when you were used to being an independent woman. In an Instagram world, are we still real?
We meet a playgroup of Mom and their babies, the lifestyles of the rich in New York City. We also get know Claire, a young musician who entertains the playgroup. Their worlds aren’t as disparate as they first believe. Each Mom in the playgroup is a well-developed character, as is Claire.
At the beginning of the story, we are part of a wild scene which is not resolved until the end. Even though we know that there is some kind of problem, there are more twists and turns in this tale than a Chutes and Ladders game, as the wheels on the bus come off.
Engaging, insightful, fun exciting- I highly recommend this book. And I’m also glad that my kids are adults and fine! Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.
And from May, 2019…
Now this is a bit unusual- here’s a book I chose to read, rather than reading for a blog tour or requested review. I had forgotten about Kindle Lending Library- you get one book a month for free. I had heard the buzz about this book and I liked the cover and title, so I picked it. What did I think…
Hmmm…let’s just say I would love to discuss this book with you. Please let me know what You though of it!!
Looking for more books to read? Please visit my Book Promotions page and explore all the latest releases. Extracts, blurbs, reviews, author info, books links- all waiting for you!
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