THE SECRETS OF PAPER AND INK by LINDSAY HARREL

Publication date 26/2/19.

THE SECRETS OF PAPER AND INK by LINDSAY HARREL takes place in Cornwall over two parallel time frames - the present, and 1856 when Emily Fairfax wrote her journal, a copy of which Sophia Barrett finds at Rosebud Books in Port Willis, where she is spending three months in order to get over a bad and abusive relationship.
An avid reader, Sophia is fascinated by Emily's story, especially as she has been advised by her best friend to write a journal herself in order to sort through her feelings and tell her story.
Ginny's brother in law, William, also an avid reader, is fascinated with Emily's story, and even more so with the beautiful Sophia, and he helps in her search.
Ginny is part owner of the book shop, but books are not really her passion - she went into it with her husband, Garrett, and has been left with a business that is not making ends meet while he is off in London "finding himself"!
It is a lovely book, with the written word playing an important role. Emily's story starts with her and Edward exchanging letters at their special tree and it is obvious that writing is very important to Emily.
I am not going to tell you any more as I don't want to spoil the read for you, except to say it is a heartwarming story, sensitively told, with a strong Christian message.






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THE PERSIAN GAMBLE by JOEL C. ROSENBERG

Publication date 12/3/19.
While THE PERSIAN GAMBLE by JOEL C. ROSENBERG is the sequel to The Kremlin Conspiracy, it can easily be read as a stand alone. Having read and enjoyed The Kremln Conspiracy, I was really pleased to have the story carry on, and am hoping there will be another novel in this series.
Joel Rosenberg is a master of the political thriller and is so knowledgeable about the Middle East and Last Days prophecy that his novels are always exciting and give us so much food for thought. Add to that a really solid Christian message and he has provided us with a worthwhile read.
Former secret service agent Marcus Ryker is helping Oleg Kraskin, code name Raven, defect from Russia after killing his father in law, President Lukanov, in order to prevent world war three. Oleg has risked his life to give information to the Americans. The two of them are on the run, with the wounded Jenny Morris, in sub zero temperatures and blizzard conditions, with both the Russians and Americans after them.
When Oleg, through his contact in North Korea, General Yong-Jin Yoon, hears that the Iranians are about to buy Russian warheads from the North Koreans, things heat up even more!
The novel is fast paced and very exciting, and full of political intrigue. It is hard to put down - in fact I have just read it straight through again, to see if I missed anything! Needless to say, I highly recommend The Persian Gamble!

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MY HEART BELONGS IN THE BLUE RIDGE by PEPPER BASHAM

Publication date 1/1/19
MY HEART BELONGS IN THE BLUE RIDGE by PEPPER BASHAM takes place in 1918 in Maple Springs in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The story is based on anecdotes told by the author's Granny Spencer about their ancestry in the area. It is a lovely book - well written, with very interesting characters and an excellent Christian message.
Laurel McAdams has lived all her life in the mountains. She is part of a large family who she loves and protects fiercely. She has always been a voracious reader and dreams of going to college and coming back to the mountains as a teacher.
Jonathan Taylor is the new teacher from England who was encouraged by his uncle Edward Anderson, the preacher for the area, also from England, to take up this position at the mission school. Uncle Edward does not see Jonathan as a failure or as being "broken" because he has a damaged leg and was turned down as an army medic.
Jonathan comes from a well to do family, and to start with he feels sorry for the people who are so poor and quite ignorant and superstitious, but he soon sees that he can learn a lot from them. Jonathan also has a dream which is to finish his medical degree. He has always been a disappointment to his father and wants to prove he is not a failure and also be independent of the overbearing man who has never shown him any affection.
I don't want to tell you any more and spoil the read for you, but I just want to say that I loved the way the characters learn a lot about themselves and their motives, and about the importance of forgiveness and trusting God to bring good out of all things.
This is the first novel I have read by this author, but it most certainly will not be the last!




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