THE REFRAIN WITHIN by LIZ TOLSMA

Publication date 29/9/20
THE REFRAIN WITHIN by LIZ TOLSMA takes place in Hungary in 1944 during World War 11. It is a poignant tale of incredible bravery, selflessness and unconditional love in the face of the gathering tide of hatred and anti Semitism during the Nazi occupation.
It is the story of the Bognar family who have been involved in music for generations. Patrik Kedves, Eva's fiance, is the conductor of the Budapest Youth Philharmonic, Eva, who plays and teaches the clarinet, and Zofia who plays the piano, have a music shop, and Erno and his father are carrying on the family tradition of making musical instruments, in particular the famous Bognar clarinet. I love the music theme running through the story and also the strong Christian message that ties everything so beautifully together.
Zofia, who is married to Erno, is Jewish, and she and Patrik are heavily involved in the underground Zionist movement. It is a time when people have to hold their secrets close to their chest, lying when necessary. It is hard to know who to trust, and Patrik, with his own secret, his work for the Zionists and protection of Zofia, stands to lose Eva as she becomes more and more sure that he is hiding something from her.
I literally could not put this book down - not only is it beautifully written with amazing characters, but I felt I had to try and see them through to the end! This is a real classic and one of the best novels I have read this year. I cannot recommend The Refrain Within highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Independent Publishers Group. The opinions in this review are completely my own.


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THE ORCHARD HOUSE by HEIDI CHIAVAROLI

Publication date 9/2/21
THE ORCHARD HOUSE by HEIDI CHIAVAROLI is a novel you do not want to miss, especially if you are like me and count "Little Women" as one of your favourite books! It is so cleverly written, with unforgettable characters and a profound message and with the past and present overlapping in such an amazing way.
We first come across Taylor in 1995 when, at the age of thirteen, she is fostered and then adopted by the Bennetts who are her best friend Victoria's parents. Although she is treated as part of the family, Taylor is afraid to hope for too much due to her sad childhood and sees herself as being "on the outside looking in".
The girls are both ardent fans of Louisa May Alcott and spend a lot of time at Orchard House, which was her family's home, where they attend the Jo March Writing Camp. Both girls are aspiring authors and I love the way they even have their own Pickwick Club.
Running parallel to Taylor and Victoria's story is that of Louisa and her friend Johanna Suhre. Johanna kept house for Louisa's parents while the author spent a year in Europe. This is another case where a young woman is longing to be independent, but also to belong.
We see the similarity between Taylor and Louisa with their attempts to help Victoria and Johanna respectively. We also see how researching Louisa and Johanna's story draws Taylor and Victoria together.
I like the way we are told so much about Louisa, her family and her writing. The author has obviously done a great deal of research into her life.
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling the read for you, excepting to say that, in spite of the difficulty of family dynamics, feelings of jealousy and inadequacy, betrayal and abusive relationships, there is a strong Christian message of hope running through the book.
I cannot recommend "The Orchard House" highly enough to anyone who enjoys inspirational historical romantic fiction.
I was given an ARC copy of the book by Tyndale House Publishers from NetGalley. The opinions in this review are completely my own.



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THE SHEPHERD'S WIFE by ANGELA HUNT

Publication date 6/10/20
THE SHEPHERD'S WIFE is the second novel in the Jerusalem Road series by ANGELA HUNT. This is a really beautiful series, giving us such insight into life in Bible days and a wonderful background to the simple, normal family life of our Saviour and King. Although the novel is a work of fiction this fact does not detract at all from the basic truths of the Word of God, which come through very strongly.
This is the story of Pheodora, who is portrayed as Yeshua's youngest sister. She is married to Chiram, a lowly shepherd, and lives happily with him and her four daughters in Bethlehem until her husband ends up in debtor's prison.
Her sister Damaris is beautiful. She is married to a very rich man, Shimon, whose ambition to become a Pharisee and refusal to help Chiram is a stumbling block in her relationship with her sister.
It is interesting to see the arrogance of the Pharisees and the complexity of their laws and rituals as opposed to the simplicity of Yeshua's teaching.
The author is very knowledgeable about biblical history, but it is her obvious faith in Christ and love of the Word of God that comes through strongly in her writing and really appeals to me.
I am not going to tell you any more of the story for fear of spoiling the read for you. All I can say is - do not miss this lovely and truly inspirational book!
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers.



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HER SECRET SONG by MARY CONNEALY

Publication date 6/10/20
How lovely to be back on Hope Mountain with the three delightful Nordegren sisters, this time as we follow the oldest sister Ursula's story! This series is one I have really enjoyed and I cannot recommend Her Secret Song strongly enough.
When Ursula finally gets up enough courage to leave her voluntary solitary existence to go down to the Lowlands, pushing aside the fear instilled in her by her grandmother, she comes across the badly injured Wax Mosby and literally prays and sings him back to life, as she helps him up to her cabin!
I love to see the innocence and gentle kindness in this rather unusual and fierce young woman and her strong faith in God, despite her confusion about the second bible! It is also good to see how Wax Mosby, who is feared as a killer, takes his new commitment to Christ seriously.
It is a story about courage, loneliness, overcoming fear, and in Wax Mosby's case, of doing the right thing. There are some really amusing parts, a sweet romance, and some nail biting tension when the Wardens are fighting to regain their land. It is altogether a most worthwhile read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. 


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FOREVER BY YOUR SIDE by TRACIE PETERSON

FOREVER BY YOUR SIDE is the third novel in the Williamette Brides series by TRACIE PETERSON.
The story takes place in 1880 and once again the author deals with the Indian situation and racialism in general.
When Constance Browning and her best friend Thomas Lowell are sent by the Smithsonian department of technology to catalog the Indian tribes in Oregon, so that no more of their history should be lost, they are also on the hunt for whoever is inciting the Indians to an uprising and supplying guns and alcohol to the reservation. They also want to clear Connie's parents,
Adam and Mercy Browning, from trumped up accusations against them.
I love the way the family attached to the Portland guest house, together with the delightful residents, make a reappearance. In fact, family values are strongly brought out in the story as well as Christ's admonition to love our enemies. I also like the way Adam Browning explains his faith to Tom, who has become an athiest due to his abusive upbringing. The Christian message flows beautifully through the book, with just the right Scripture verses at the right time.
This book has a bit of everything - great characters, romance, intrigue, politics and some legal drama - and it is a really enjoyable read. I recommend Forever By Your Side to anyone who enjoys Christian, historical, romance novels.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this revew are completely my own.

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BACKLASH by RACHEL DYLAN

Publication date 6/10/20
BACKLASH by RACHEL DYLAN is the second novel in the Capital Intrigue series, following after End Game, but both books can easily be read as stand alones. It is an exciting legal drama, full of roller coaster action which will keep you guessing right to the end.
When CIA agent Layla Karam is seconded to the DEA for a hit on the Mejia Cartel and Diego Mejia's younger brother is killed, she seems to become a target. To make matters worse, she is alao being investigated by the Inspector General's office on trumped up charges. Layla plays strictly by the book, is a committed Christian who lives out her faith and tends to think the best of everyone she works with, excepting for her ex boyfriend, Hunter McCoy who broke her heart. He is the PI who is working with the DEA to keep Layla and the other agents safe, and to look into some money that has gone missing since they got back from Honduras.
I love the camaraderie between Layla and her friends, some of whom have their own problems to deal with as well as also being targets.
The novel is fast paced, full of suspense and intrigue and has a strong message of hope and second chances. It is an exciting and worthwhile read and I highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers.



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WHAT YOU SAID TO ME by OLIVIA NEWPORT

Publication date 1/11/20
Having read and enjoyed the first three novels in the series, I have been looking forward to reading WHAT YOU SAID TO ME by OLIVIA NEWPORT, and am definitely not disappointed! This author has split time story telling to a fine art! It is an enjoyable book, with real depth and a subtle Christian message.
In present time we come across Nolan Duffy, the friendly family advocate and mediator, enthusiastic cook and singer of arias, and father of Jillian Parisi-Duffy, a much sought after genealogist.
Once again their professions overlap when Nolan brings a fifteen year old delinquent home to help Jillian bring order to the hundreds of valuable old documents that overflow the dining room table. Jillian has been employed by the Matthew Ryder Foundation to find children that were stolen and sold by the wicked Judd Ryder. Jillian has no idea how to relate to Tisha Crowder with her bad attitude and really bad home life, and beats herself up every time she says anything that feeds Tisha's feeling of unworthiness. It is only when Tisha gets caught up in the sad stories in the old documents that the work becomes interesting to her.
In 1893, due to the crash in the silver price, Clifford Brandt is forced to move his family from their lovely home in Denver to Canyon Mines where they run a store that they have exchanged for their house. Their family dynamics are really shaken by their change in circumstances.
When a journal is found in the old Brandt building, the past and present are brought together. That is all I am going to tell you as far as the story is concerned.
The characters are realistically drawn and we really get to understand them by the way their thoughts and feelings are described.
It is a thought provoking and inspirational read and one I can highly recommend.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing.

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