Bookworm Review Archives - Historical Bookworm

January 6, 2024December 28, 2023

Review: The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater by Jamie Jo Wright

THE BOOK

It promises beauty but steals life instead. Will the ghosts of Barlowe Theater entomb them all?

Barlowe Theater stole the life of Greta Mercy’s eldest brother during its construction. Now in 1915, the completed theater appears every bit as deadly. When Greta’s younger brother goes missing after breaking into the building, Greta engages the assistance of a local police officer to help her unveil the already ghostly secrets of the theater. But when help comes from an unlikely source, Greta decides that to save her family she must uncover the evil that haunts the theater and put its threat to rest.

Decades later, Kit Boyd’s best friend vanishes during a ghost walk at the Barlowe Theater, and old stories of mysterious disappearances and ghoulish happenings are revived. Then television ghost-hunting host and skeptic Evan Fisher joins Kit in the quest to identify the truth behind the theater’s history. Kit reluctantly agrees to work with him in hopes of finding her missing friend. As the theater’s curse unravels Kit’s life, she is determined to put an end to the evil that has marked the theater and their hometown for the last century.

THE REVIEW

Hello everyone who is listening, my name is Katie and I’m from Paperbacks and Ponytails on YouTube. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater by Jaime Jo Wright, and again thank you to Baker Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to read and share my thoughts with you.

I said in my written review that this book was a can’t put down, but shouldn’t be read at night thrilling read from the queen of creepy goodness.

In this book, we are following dual timelines that are connected through family secrets, mystery, and intrigue. In the modern timeline, we are following Kit and her best friend Madison–who wants to save the Barlowe Theater from the clutches of her grandfather who wants to tear it down. So Madison hires a ghost-hunting TV show to bring publicity to the theater. But soon things get turned upside down and Madison is discovered missing. Ghost-hunting skeptic Evan and Kit must work together to uncover what happened.

In the past timeline during the early 1900s, we follow Greta who is from the poorest part of town. She is friends with a few of the upper crust of society. Her friends take her to the Barlowe Theater which is newly built. And during the show at the theater Greta witnesses a baby being thrown from the balcony by a woman in white. But there is no baby to be found and she is presumed to be insane. Along with money troubles, her older brother is killed during the construction of the Theater, and now another brother goes missing with his friends in the Barlowe Theater. These boys are never seen coming back out. What mysteries lie in wait at Barlowe Theater?

I loved this new book by Jaime Jo! It was the perfect amount of creepy and entertaining fun. I really loved both timelines. The historical timeline is usually my favorite in dual-timeline books, which is the case in this book. I was so invested in the characters and what was going to happen to them. I loved both Greta and Kit and couldn’t wait to turn the next page. I dropped everything else to read this book. I mentioned that this book shouldn’t be read at night, it’s not over the top creepy but when you’re reading it at 1 am and you get to the point in a book where it’s a dark and creepy atmosphere and something grabs a character?

You know it’s time to either read quickly or go to bed and wait until morning to finish. It was a five-star, compelling, and highly entertaining read that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. A must read for historical mystery lovers.

Thank you to the Historical Bookworm Show for having me on their podcast to talk about The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater by Jaime Jo Wright.

THE AUTHOR

Jaime Jo Wright (JaimeWrightBooks.com) is the author of ten novels, including Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She’s also a two-time Christy Award finalist, as well as the ECPA bestselling author of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau and two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her family and felines.

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

July 12, 2023

Remember Me by Tracie Peterson

The audio version of this review was first shared in Episode 66:A Bookchat about After the Shadows with Amanda Cabot & a Review of Remember Me by Tracie Peterson

The Book

From the Yukon to Seattle, the hope of a new beginning waits just around the corner.

Addie Bryant is haunted by her past of heartbreak and betrayal. After her beau, Isaac Hanson, left the Yukon, she made a vow to wait for him. When she’s sold to a brothel owner after the death of her father, Addie manages to escape with the hope that she can forever hide her past and the belief that she will never have the future she’s always dreamed of.

Years later, Addie has found peace in her new life as a photographer, training Camera Girls to operate and sell the Brownie camera. During the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Expo in Seattle, Addie is reunited with Isaac, but after the path her life has taken, she’s afraid to expose the ugliness of her former life and to move toward the future they had pledged to each other.

When her past catches up with her, Addie must decide whether to run or to stay and face her wounds in order to embrace her life, her future, and her hope in God.

The Review

Remember Me is a moving tale of tragic upbringing, healing, and redeeming love. With the stunning backdrop of Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Expo in Seattle, Tracie Peterson explores the question of why God allows horrible things to happen to good people. The question and the answer are expertly woven into her story that keeps the reader rooting for Addie, the heroine, who is attempting to outrun a bitter and tragic past . . . even if it means leaving behind the man she has loved since her girlhood.

With a hero’s unconditional love, a mother figure’s guiding hand, and the Lord’s redeeming love, Addie finds freedom in Christ to release the ugliness of a past that had been thrust upon her and embrace a future filled with hope and love.

My Rating: FIVE STARS! Action-packed! Great world building! Haunting! Happily Ever After! Page-turner! Romantic! Tear-jerker! Tragic! Unpredictable! Wonderful characters! Original!

Remember Me is a story that I will remember for years to come. If you love historical fiction rich in setting and voice, check out Tracie Peterson’s book today! Happy Reading, Friends!

The Author

Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over 100 novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her many bestselling series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Visit www.traciepeterson.com to learn more. Learn more about Tracie at TraciePeterson.com.

REVIEWED BY

Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in the New Orleans area with her husband, Dakota, sons, and daughter. Connect with her online at GraceHitchcockBooks.com.

July 12, 2023October 6, 2023

A Bookchat about After the Shadows with Amanda Cabot & a Review of Remember Me by Tracie Peterson

Amanda Cabot joins us for a chat about her latest release After the Shadows. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book!

For today’s Pinch of the Past, we’re looking at the largest earthquake in California’s recorded history and comparable to the 1906 San Francisco quake.

Today’s Bookworm Review is bought to you by Grace Hitchcock shares her review of Remember Me by Tracie Peterson. (Full review here.)

Connect with Amanda Cabot: Newsletter, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, her blog, and BookBub.

June 25, 2023June 27, 2023

A Bookchat about The Metropolitan Affair with Jocelyn Green & a Review of Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer.

Jocelyn Green joins us for a chat about her favorite books, Egyptomania, and her latest release The Metropolitan Affair. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book!

For today’s Pinch of the Past, we’re looking at masked heroes of television including Zorro and The Loan Ranger.

Today’s Bookworm Review features Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer. (Full review here.)

Connect with Jocelyn Green: her website, Newsletter, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

June 25, 2023June 25, 2023

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer

The audio version of this review was first shared in Episode 65: A Bookchat about The Metropolitan Affair with Jocelyn Green & a Review of Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer.

The Book

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the west, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters—and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from females and is rarely disappointed. So when a young woman found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather’s ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus investigates a robbery case tied to Penelope’s old acting troupe. The evidence points to her guilt, but Titus’s heart divines a different truth—one that might just get Penelope killed.

An enchanting Western take on the classic Snow White fairy tale, Fairest of Heart will sweep you away from once upon a time to happily ever after.

The Review

I just finished reading Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer and I absolutely loved it. This is a book that gets you tight in the throat in a good way.

The spirit of Snow White is so well captivated in sweet, strong Penelope that I found myself connecting with her on an emotional level. True, she is nearly angelic, but Karen’s portrayal of her goodness is so authentic one could hardly claim it contrived, at least—that is— if you know your Bible. Why, is this you ask? More than her personality or characteristics, what makes Penelope a princess is her kind and gentle spirit of Godly love and selflessness.

As for the Seven Dwarfs, that is seven retired ranch hands, Doc had me missing my childhood pastor while sweet Rowdy (who portrays Dopey from Disney’s classic version) had me wanting to dive into the pages and wrap my arms around him. And did I mention Grumpy. I mean Jeb. Nothing like a cantankerous, loving old man to make you want to watch a John Wayne movie.

As for the hero—Titus Kingsley (I love that name!) is a hardened man though not so much he treats Penelope, or anyone else, like a doormat. He is wise when confronted with Narcissa—the beautiful actress extraordinaire. I really enjoyed reading about a heroic man who was flawed yet didn’t turn into a complete numbskull in the face of a seductress like the female villain. This is by far, my favorite retelling of Snow White.

If you are feeling reminiscent for the old Disney we grew up on but want something wholesome and endearing with a Western spin, pick up a copy of Karen Witemeyer’s Fairest of heart!

The Author

For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes.

Voted #1 Readers’ Favorite Christian Historical Author in 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings.

She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and gospel hymn singer who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she’s on deadline.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

June 13, 2023June 13, 2023

A Bookchat about Remember Me with Tracie Peterson & a Review of The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green

Tracie Peterson joins us for a chat about the World’s Fair, Seattle, historical cameras, and her latest release REMEMBER ME. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book!

For today’s Pinch of the Past, we’re looking at Houses of Refuge with Crystal Caudill (You can read the blog version on Crystal’s website www.CrystalCaudill.com.)

Today’s Bookworm Review features The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green. “World War II, a plethora of wonderful books, and a diverse cast of characters make up the latest book from Amy Lynn Green known as The Blackout Book Club.” (Full review here.)

Connect with TRACIE PETERSON: Newsletter, Amazon, Facebook, Goodreads, and Instagram.

June 13, 2023June 13, 2023

The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green

The audio version of this review was first shared in Episode 64: A Bookchat about Remember Me with Tracie Peterson & a Review of The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green

The Book

In 1942, an impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to the European front puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian in small-town Maine. Though she has never been much of a reader, when wartime needs threaten to close the library, she invents a book club to keep its doors open. The women she convinces to attend the first meeting couldn’t be more different–a wealthy spinster determined to aid the war effort, an exhausted mother looking for a fresh start, and a determined young war worker.

At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they have more in common than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.

The Review

World War II, a plethora of wonderful books, and a diverse cast of characters make up the latest book from Amy Lynn Green known as The Blackout Book Club. Each chapter features the daily life and sometimes history of one of four main characters. Avis is the first one we meet, and she’s been thrust into the role of librarian on behalf of her brother who is enlisting in the war.

We also meet Martina and Ginny, two women who are as different as night and day, but each with their own unique struggles.

Louise is the owner of the library, though she does not intend for it to be open much longer. Avis comes up with the idea of the book club as a way to save it from being turned into a nursery school.

These four women are the founding members of The Blackout Book Club, and as time goes on, they slowly start adding more townspeople to their ranks. The “minutes” are taken at each meeting, and these are a fun glimpse into the personality of whoever steps into the roll of secretary.

As time goes by, each woman must deal with the hand life has dealt them, all while trying to do their part for the war effort and praying that all their men will return home.

For fans of World War II fiction, this is a different take on the history of that era. There is mention of victory gardens, women working in factories, and men taking on roles that would have ordinarily made them unfit for traditional military duty. Fans of Christian fiction will be disappointed not to find much faith-based content throughout, though it is a clean read.

The Author

Amy Lynn Green is a lifelong lover of books, history, and library cards. She worked in publishing for six years before writing her first historical fiction novel. She and her husband live in Minnesota, where she teaches virtual classes on marketing at writer’s conferences, engages with book clubs, and regularly encourages established and aspiring authors in their publication journeys. Connect with her on Facebook or Instagram (@amygreenbooks), or sign up for her newsletter at amygreenbooks.com to get quarterly emails filled with bookish fun.

You can read reviews by Christy by clicking here. Find Christy Janes on Instagram @blissbooksandjewels, Twitter @Blissbooksandj1, Facebook, and her website BlissBooksAndJewels.com

Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

May 29, 2023May 29, 2023

A Bookchat about The All-American with Susie Finkbeiner & a Review of Where the Last Rose Blooms by Ashley Clark

Susie Finkbeiner joins us for a chat about her beloved state of Michigan, what draws her to write stories set in the 50s and 60s, and her latest release The All-American. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book! Widow Minerva Jenkins has lived alone in her small mountain home for 40 years where she has guarded her husband’s deathbed request. When a young reporter comes calling and inquires about a rumored box of gold on her property, an unlikely friendship forms. Will she go to her grave with her husband’s secret, or will the weight of it be the death of her?

For today’s Pinch of the Past we are looking at some little-known facts about sequences. Did you know that Egyptomania thrust sequences into the fashion spotlight in the 1920s? For more, listen to the episode.

Today’s Bookworm Review is bought to you by Angela Bell. “Where the Last Rose Blooms by Ashley Clark is everything I’d hoped it would be. Poignant. Beautiful. With the warmth and southern charm of my Granny’s hand-stitched quilt.” (Full review here.)

Connect with Susie Finkbeiner: Facebook, BookBub, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, YouTube, her Newsletter, and Amazon.

May 29, 2023May 29, 2023

Where the Last Rose Blooms by Ashley Clark

The audio version of this review was first shared in Episode 63: A Bookchat about The All-American with Susie Finkbeiner & a Review of Where the Last Rose Blooms by Ashley Clark

THE BOOK

Alice runs a New Orleans flower shop alongside her aunt, but thoughts of her mother, who went missing during Hurricane Katrina, are never far from her mind. After getting off on the wrong foot with a handsome yet irritating man who comes to her shop, Alice soon realizes their worlds overlap—and the answers they both seek can be found in the same place.

In 1861 Charleston, Clara is known to be a rule follower—but the war has changed her. Unbeknownst to her father, who is heavily involved with the Confederacy, she is an abolitionist and is prepared to sacrifice everything for the cause. With assistance from a dashing Union spy, she attempts to help an enslaved woman reunite with her daughter. But things go very wrong when Clara agrees to aid the Northern cause by ferrying secret information about her father’s associates.

Faced with the unknown, both women will have to dig deep to let their courage bloom.

THE REVIEW

In 2021, I discovered The Heirloom Secrets series and fell in love with Ashley Clark’s writing. Her stories ministered to my heart in a way I hadn’t experienced with a series before, and her characters stayed with me long after I turned the final page. Both The Dress Shop on King Street and Paint and Nectar made it onto my Favorite Reads of 2021 list, so needless to say, I had high expectations going into book three. As a reader, there’s nothing quite so disappointing as falling in love with a series only to have the final book fall flat.

Dear reader, I’m ever so pleased to report that Ashley Clark stuck the landing!

Where the Last Rose Blooms is everything I’d hoped it would be. Poignant. Beautiful. With the warmth and southern charm of my Granny’s hand-stitched quilt. Clark’s pacing is masterful, perfectly balancing intense scenes with moments of levity. Once again, she’s created a diverse cast of characters and tackled relatable issues with authenticity and respect. I could see myself in Lucy’s battle with anxiety, depression, and grief. I could feel her pain, and more importantly, I could feel my hopes rising as Lucy found new hope in the midst of pain. God spoke to me through the pages of this book. He used the story to help me see my own in a new way and left me with comforting truths to ponder long after The End.

Ashley Clark’s The Heirloom Secrets series is one I will treasure and gush about for years to come. One I will read again when I need my hope restored or simply want to visit some old friends.

If you’re new to Christian fiction, read this series. If you’ve been reading Christian fiction since Love Came Softly, read this series. If you’ve never read Christian fiction or have a negative impression of the genre, please, read this series. It is not one to be missed!

THE AUTHOR

Ashley Clark is the acclaimed novelist of The Heirloom Secrets Series. She writes women’s fiction set in the South, and her stories are filled with faith, sweet romance, and lots of family secrets. She loves all things vintage and the almost-forgotten stories of the past. Ashley finds her writing interests influenced by the spaces shared between femininity + strength, loss + legacy, and beauty + memory. She is an English adjunct instructor, a wife and homeschool mama, and she adores her adopted senior Cocker Spaniel.

Read more about Ashley on her website. (www.ashleyclarkbooks.com)

Reviewed by Angela Bell.

Disclaimer: The author offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

May 13, 2023May 13, 2023

A Bookchat about Code Name Edelweiss with Stephanie Landsem & a Review of Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna M. White.

Stephanie Landsem joins us for a chat about travel, her favorite Bible stories, and her latest release Code Name Edelweiss. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book!

Stephanie Landsem writes historical fiction for women, about women. She’s traveled the world in real life and traveled through time in her research and imagination. As she’s learned about women of the past, she’s come to realize that these long-ago women were very much like us. They loved, dreamed, and made mistakes. They struggled, failed, and triumphed. She writes to honor their lives and to bring today’s women hope and encouragement. Stephanie makes her home in Minnesota with her husband, two cats and a dog, and frequent visits from her four adult children. Along with reading, writing, and research, she dreams about her next travel adventure—whether it be in person or on the page.

For today’s Pinch of the Past, Darcy brings us three interesting battle items of medieval times.

Today’s Bookworm Review is bought to you by Angela Bell. Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna M. White. (Full review here.)

Connect with Stephanie: Newsletter, her website, Amazon, Facebook, and Instagram. Plus you can get a free story set in 1930s Hollywood: All That Glitters