THE MOZART CODE by RACHEL McMILLAN

THE MOZART CODE by RACHEL McMILLAN is a very well written story which takes place from 1946 between Vienna and Prague during the Cold War, with flashbacks to war years in Britain where Simon Barrister first meets Sophie Villiers. Theirs is a beautiful but unusual romance, fraught with danger as Simon works under Marcus Brighton for the British Secret Intelligence Service, looking for double agents in war torn Vienna, and Sophie, whose code name is Starling, is employed by various rather shady people to look for valuable artifacts that disappeared during the war. Vienna has been badly damaged during the war and is now divided between four countries, who all have their own ideas how it should be rebuilt. There is a great deal of intrigue in this once beautiful city which has now become known as “the city of spies”, and where it is hard to know who to trust. 

It is a story in which chess and music, loyalty and love, and the source of true riches, play a big part.

This is a historical novel which will grip you from the start and not let go. The setting is so authentic and the character studies so well done, that I found it an exceptional read and it is one I highly recommend.

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

PROJECT SOLOMON by JENNIFER MARSHALL BLEAKLEY

Publication date 17/5/22

PROJECT SOLOMON by JENNIFER MARSHALL BLEAKLEY is a must read for any animal  lover, particularly a lover of horses. It is a true story of faith and redemption as we read about the incredible relationship between Jodi Stuber and Solomon, the lonely bay gelding who becomes leader of the herd at HopeWell Ranch. As Jodi spends time with Solomon, training him and helping him to integrate with the herd, they come to understand one another, and she pours out her heart to him, finding solace for her grief. This majestic animal, who seems to understand the special needs children who come  to HopeWell for therapy, becomes the inspiration for Project Solomon, which provides a safe place for war veterans as they interact with the horses.

I love everything about this book, especially the way the author’s faith in the Lord, together with that of Jodi and Ty Stuber and their family, shines through the story.

I cannot recommend this heartwarming and inspirational read highly enough.

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

BEAUTIFUL COURAGE by SAM WELLMAN

Publication date 1/4/22

BEAUTIFUL COURAGE by SAM WELLMAN is an in depth biography of a remarkable woman, Corrie ten Boom, who truly lived for Christ. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. As we are taken on a journey through her life, from the age of five when she gave her heart to Jesus, until she went to be with her Lord at the age of ninety one, we see what an incredible imprint this plain, yet beautiful, Dutch watchmaker made on the world.

Coming from a closely knit Christian family, who took the Bible seriously, living by its principles and showing God’s love to those in need, especially to His chosen people, the Jews, Corrie and her sister Betsie are imprisoned by the Nazis, first of all in Holland and then in the infamous women’s prison, Ravensbruck in Germany. These two were “veterans of Nazi inhumanity” who took every opportunity to bring God’s message of salvation  right where they were, to fellow inmates and guards alike, showing His love and forgiveness, all the time trusting God for deliverance from this hell on earth. As Betsie often said “There are no ‘ifs’ in God’s world”. The sisters clung together for comfort, holding on to Betsie’s vision of a large and beautiful house in which to minister to others, especially those who had suffered from the war.

I like to see Corrie’s gratitude which is shown when she is recovering on arriving back in Holland - “As she shuffled past a nurse’s room on her swollen feet, she heard an organist playing Bach! The nurse was listening to her radio. What a feasr life was now. Did it take prison to sharpen these wonderful gifts from God.” 

There is so much more to Corrie’s story - this is truly a book that will inspire each of us in our Christian walk. 

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

A ROSE FOR THE RESISTANCE by ANGELA K COUCH

Publication date 1/4/22

A ROSE FOR THE RESISTANCE by ANGELA K COUCH is the best WW11 novel I have read in a while. Not only is it a gripping story of courage in adversity, with plenty of intrigue, suspense and a poignant romance, but there is a strong Christian message of hope and redemption running through the chaos. This is the first novel I have read by this author and it most definitely will not be the last. Family dynamics and loyalty are dealt with, together with betrayal, jealousy and the ongoing problem of who to trust.

Franz Kafka is not your ordinary German soldier, as Rosalie Barrieau finds out when he helps her and her brother Marcel hide an injured British airman. He also literally has their back as they work for the Resistance.

The characters are very realistically portrayed and I like the way the author takes us through their hopes and fears as they live through such a horrific time in history.

I found A Rose for the Resistance a worthwhile and inspirational read and cannot recommend it highly enough.

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

THE ELEMENT OF LOVE by MARY CONNEALY

Publication date 1/3/22

THE ELEMENT OF LOVE by MARY CONNEALY is the first novel in The Lumber Baron’s Daughters series and it is delightful, exciting and amusing. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.

The story takes place in 1872 with the three Stiles daughters running away from their brutish stepfather who wants them to marry equally brutish men that he has chosen for them.

Michelle, Jilly and Laura are extremely well educated young women, especially in mathematics, science and chemistry, and they put their talents to good use. They know a great deal about running the lumber business which will one day be theirs. There is one thing standing in the way of them ousting their stepfather from his control before they turn twenty five and that is the stipulation that they find husbands. After their daring escape and their journey with Pastor Caleb Tillman and his missionary group to a place aptly called Purgatory, things get really interesting. Their search for husbands and going home to save their mother are two things that are top of their agenda.

I am not going to tell you any more as I do not want to spoil things for you.

I highly recommend The Element of Love as having all the elements of an enjoyable read - romance, humour, suspense, danger, a good plot, unforgettable characters and a strong Christian message. 

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

TOUCH OF INNOCENCE by ROBIN PATCHEN

TOUCH OF INNOCENCE by ROBIN PATCHEN is a Christian suspense novel which is part of the Coventry series, but which, like the others,can easily stand alone. It is a poignant story of sacrificial love and courage that will keep you enthralled as you see how Grace Mullen puts her life on hold in order to save eight year old Lily from her father, Myron Bowman, a psychopathic photographer who is selling photos of her and other children on the dark web.

Through Cassidy, who she met at the girls’ home where she spent most of her childhood, ending up working there after graduating in child psychology, she and Lily move into a condo belonging to Andrew Middleton, a troubled man who has a bad relationship with his father, largely due to his having spent six months in jail, having being set up. He is extremely afraid of falling foul of the law, as is Grace, who is living a lie, pretending to be fostering Lily. Grace is also afraid of loving anyone in case she lets them down. She tried so hard to save a young girl called Celia and failed, not realising that only God can save.

This is a story about restoration and redemption, unconditional love and the importance of walking in truth with God and with one another,. I highly recommend Touch of Innocence as an exciting, thought provoking and inspirational read.

A HUNDRED CRICKETS SINGING by CATHY GOHLKE

Publication date 5/4/22

A HUNDRED CRICKETS SINGING is an historical novel by CATHY GOHLKE which takes place in No Creek  North Carolina, in 1944, following on from Night Bird Calling,  with Celia Percy, now fifteen, and her brother Chester, coming across a secret room in the old Belvidere mansion, after a storm in which a tree crashes through the roof, revealing secrets from the 1860’s. I love to see how Celia, together with her friend Joe Rosetti, old Dr Vishy and rhe Willards, determines to make things right for their friend Marshall and the coloureds in their community by completing the work begun by Minnie, her parents and her brother Elliott. I also like the references to works by Dickens and Hugo and their influence on the story.

We see racism at its worst, in spite of two wars that should have shown mankind that all men are equal in the sight of the Lord and all men bleed the same colour red. We see the  KKK still going strong in the South, and prejudice all over the world breaking up families and nations. It is awful to see Grayson’s greed as he betrays his family and what they stand for.This cry, found in Minnie’s diary,“The persistent, conflicting voices of all those I love, spoken and not,  are deafening - a hundred crickets screeching, shouting in my brain.  The mounting tension is intolerable.Help us Lord!”  really speaks to Celia - will the cry of the crickets ever turn into a song? 

This is a beautifully written novel, with the author’s incredible way of saying things just as they are and her understanding of human nature. There is a strong Christian message, and, amongst other insights, we see that it is only the Lord who can change the human heart .

Although this book can easily stand alone, I suggest you read the fisrst book in the series for pure pleasure.

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