EVERY WORD UNSAID by KIMBERLY DUFFY

Publication date 2/11/21

In EVERY WORD UNSAID, KIMBERLY DUFFY uses her incredible command of the English language to not only describe the surroundings, but also the emotions and complexities of human nature. It is a beautiful book with an amazing story and unforgettable characters. There is also a strong Christian message woven into it, especially that of overcoming fear and rejection. It is a book that really needs to be savoured to get the most enjoyment out of it.

Augusta (Gussie) Travers’ enthusiasm for life, and wanting to live it to the full, her daring travels in order to get stories and photographs for her column in the Ladies’ Weekly as the Adventuress, causes her family, who have never taken the time to understand her, to reject her. In fact the only people who really love her for herself are her Uncle James, a former Pinkerton agent, and her childhood friends, Catherine and Gabriel (Specs).

When the identity of the Adventuress is discovered, the scandal is too much for her family and they send her to stay with her aunt in Chicago until she falls into line with their expectations. She chooses rather to take up her editor’s offer to go to India for six months and write about her travels there, managing to escape her indomitable Uncle James, who follows her there.

I really like the way  that Bimla, who also suffers from rejection by her family, relates to Gussie, and they form a strong bond. I like to see their refusal to be defined by what others say about them. One of my favourite quotations from the book, and there are many, is, “ We aren’t responsible for where we have come from.Only where we go. ” 

As we follow Gussie’s journey we see how the people she meets, the change in her relationship with Specs, Catherine and Uncle James, the horrors of the bubonic plague, the abject poverty, together with the beauty that shines through in spite of everything,  lead to her wanting to do something worthwhile with her story writing and photographic gifts.

I will leave the story here, as I do not want to spoil the read for you.

This is a novel that I will definitely read again. I cannot recommend Every Word Unsaid highly enough. 

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

THE LADY’S MINE by FRANCINE RIVERS

Publication date 8/2/22

THE LADY’S MINE by FRANCINE RIVERS is an historical romance novel with a really good Christian message of redemption. Although there are serious themes running through it, there is a great deal of lighthearted humour which is most enjoyable. The characters are so well portrayed that we can literally feel what they are feeling, and the harsh conditions in the small mining town of Calvada in the Sierra Nevada Mountains make a great backdrop for the story.

In 1875 Kathryn Walsh’s stepfather gives her a one way ticket to go to Calvada and take up the inheritance her uncle, Casey Teague (City) Walsh, has left her.

Nether her stepfather nor her mother can take what they see as her rebellion any longer. This rejection has not in any way tamed her fiery spirit nor her determination to see justice done, especially as far women are concerned.

She causes quite a stir when she arrives in the filthy mining town and of course many men want to marry her, including the incumbent mayor and owner of the Madera mine, Morgan Sanders. She takes over her uncle’s newspaper and writes articles in the Voice whch is considered an unladylike thing to do, especially as she is very like her uncle, who she has never met, and who some believe was murdered for his straight talking. It seems true that “Trouble always comes to those who fight to do what’s right”, and Kathryn is always in trouble. She will not allow anything to stop her and even reopens City’s mine.

I like to see Matthias Beck’s determination to keep her safe, the teasing way he calls her “your ladyship” and the way she makes fun of him and calls him “Bacchus” in her articles. I also like to see the effect she has on this strong man, who was rejected by his minister father and has srayed far from God, and the effect she has on the town and the hope she gives to the downtrodden.

There is a great deal more to the story, which is both exciting and inspirational, but I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling the read for you.

I cannot recommend The Lady’s Mine highly enough.

I was gven an ARC copy of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

A DEEP DIVIDE by KIMBERLEY WOODHOUSE

Publication date 5/10/21

A DEEP DIVIDE by KIMBERLEY WOODHOUSE is an historical romance novel with a strong Christian message and lots of suspense and twists and turns, all of which make for an exciting and inspirational read. The author has obviously done a great deal of research into the history of the Harvey Houses and the Grand Canyon and the description of the magnificent scenery is very well done.

Emma Grace McMurray runs away from home at the age of seventeen due to her father’s determination to literally sell her in marriage to the highest bidder. She changes her last name to Edwards and works for five years all over the country as a Harvey Girl, ending up at El Tovar on the Grand Canyon. Since her kidnapping at the age of eight, her mother’s death and her father’s unhealthy obsession with money, she lives in constant fear of being found by her father’s killer or one of the men who had paid her father for her. It is only at El Tovar  that she starts having a feeling of finally being part of a family now that she has friends. She has always felt abandoned by God as well as her father, but, as her new friends share with her what the Lord has done in their lives, she clings on to scriptures such as psalm 34:4, “I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears,.” and is gradually delivered from fear.

Ray Watkins has also come from a wealthy background with a father who prides himself on being one of the richest men in the country. Since giving his life to the Lord he is no longer the entitled young man he used to be. He is a keen photographer and takes many photos of the beautiful surroundings and the equally beautiful waitress that he has befriended.

The truth of being saved by grace and not by works comes out strongly in the story.

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publisherx. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

A FLICKER OF LIGHT by KATIE POWNER

Publication date 5/10/21

A FLICKER OF LIGHT by KATIE POWNER is a really lovely novel with a true to life  story and very real characters. This author has an amazing understanding of human nature and I like the way her faith in God shines through the story. 

Bea and Jeremy Michaels are an idealistic young couple who want their marriage to be centred around their faith. Their marriage is tested when they have to move to Moose Creek to live with Bea’s father Mitch Jenkins due to Jeremy being retrenched and an unexpected pregnancy.  Bea and Mitch have been estranged since Mitch’s wife Caroline died of cancer and he was too wrapped  up in his own feelings of loss to understand how his daughter was feeling. He is critical of Bea for giving up on college and getting married so young and irritatingly critical of Jeremy.  There is a clash between the two men who each want to be the most important man in Bea’s life, making things very hard for her.

Juniper Jenkins, Bea’s grandmother, tells the story of Miner McGee who is always searching for treasure, and the flicker of light on the mountain at a certain time in the evening. This story and the shiny penny she keeps in her pocket point to a secret part of her life.

I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling the read for you.

The book is based largely on the Lord “working all things together for good to those who love God” and the importance of being grateful for what one has rather than looking back to what might have been. 

I cannot recommend this inspirational romance novel highly enough.

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

LOST IN DARKNESS by MICHELLE GRIEP

Publication date 1/11/21

LOST IN DARKNESS by MICHELLE GRIEP is the heart wrenching story of Colin Balfour, a terrifying monster to look at but with a heart of gold, and his beautiful, devoted, older sister Amelia, who longs for him to be able to come out of hiding and live a normal life. Their father was overbearing and unloving and left instructions in his will for the unconventional surgeon, Mr Peckwood, to operate on his son’s brain in order to make him look normal.

Graham Lambert, a former ship’s surgeon, has become Peckwood’s partner and assistant, and as such does his best to alleviate the pain caused by the painful procedures he has to perform on Colin every day. Graham has become very close to his patient and to Colin’s sister Amelia. The day of the operation dawns at last…and I will leave you there for fear of spoiling things for you!

I like the author’s portrayal of the characters - Amelia, the successful author of travel articles with her superstitions and her need to appear perfect, Colin with his loving heart and strong faith in God, Graham with his compassion and growing faith, and the rather strange and frightening Mr Peckwood, to name a few. 

Taking place in England in 1815, there is a decided Gothic atmosphere in the novel, with strange people, strange occurrences, hallucinations, monsters and dark intrigue. 

I found Lost In Darkness fascinating and highly recommend it for the great story, well defined characters and strong Christian message.

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

AFTER SHE FALLS by CARMEN SCHOBER

AFTER SHE FALLS by CARMEN SCHOBER is a really great read, full of action, memorable characters, and a Christian message of redemption as we see how Jesus transforms those who look to Him and how reconciliation with Him “can lead to  reconciliation with people”. I like the cage fighting theme and the loyalty between the fighters and their coaches. I also like the reference to broken people being put back together.

Adri Rivera and Max Lyons are two such people, meeting again after six years during which time Adri has had a daughter and married Owen Anders, who abused her physically and emotionally, and Max has opened a training gym in their home town of Sparta, taking over from his late father. 

There are other interesting characters such as Roman Rivera, Adri’s uncle, who took her in when her mother abandoned her, saw her passion for the sport and trained her to fight from the age of eight. We also see, on the opposite side of the spectrum, bullies and manipulators amongst the fighters and coaches.

It is really a lovely read and I do not want to spoil it for you by telling you any more. I am looking forward to more novels from this author.

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

UNLIKELY FIGHTER by GREG STIER

In UNLIKELY FIGHTER, GREG STIER tells us how he grew up with his terrifying and larger than life family in the poorer part of Denver where fighting was a way of life. Being timid by nature, he never really felt he fit in with them. He was introduced to the seedier side of life with his five extremely strong uncles, who, with his mother, were more than ready to fight, even without too much provocation. Most of the time he was afraid of his family members with their "big muscles and big emotions."
The author tells the story of the radical salvation of each of his uncles and how they really fought to get people saved.
After three near death experiences and the knowledge that he was nearly aborted, he comes to salvation himself.
When he hears the truth about his father he makes it his business to see his mother let go of her guilt and come to Christ.
This is a really good read and one I highly recommend for the easy way it is written and the strength of the Christian message. It is a story of hope and encouragement, showing us that there is no one too bad to receive the Lord's touch and making it very clear that we are saved by grace and not works.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.






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