Category: Book Reviews

Here are the book reivews by our review team.

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The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox

The Book

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox
Present Day. After tragedy plunges her into grief and unresolved anger, Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood home determined to finally follow her long-denied dream of running Old Depot Grocery alongside her mother and grandmother. But when she arrives, her mother, Rosemary, announces to her that the store is closing. Sarah and her grandmother, Glory Ann, make a pact to save the store, but Rosemary has worked her entire life to make sure her daughter never follows in her footsteps. She has her reasons–but she’ll certainly never reveal the real one.

1965. Glory Ann confesses to her family that she’s pregnant with her deceased fiancé’s baby. Pressured into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve the family reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises are not as easily kept as she imagined.

The Review

This book follows three generations of women as they each battle their hold on personal secrets they’ve kept hidden from society and each other. The blending of their stories, all at different ages and time periods, meld perfectly amid their changing circumstances. Will the Old Depot Grocery close or will the youngest of the three, Sarah, be able to save the one stable thing in her new, upturned life? Can Rosemary let her daughter make the one choice she’s worked her whole life to avoid? Will the eldest in the trio, Glory Ann, learn how to let go of the past and embrace an uncertain future?

This story reflects on how seeking the truth, no matter how hurtful, can be freeing and heal broken relationships.

  • Violence: none/off-screen.
  • Christianese: Moderate but presented through each character as they handle their life issues and doesn’t come off as preachy.
  • Romance: hinted at but this story is more in the women’s fiction realm than romance.

If you’re seeking a redeeming story involving the unbreakable, but sometimes fragile relationships between mothers and daughters, The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is a must read.

This review was originally shared on episode 21.

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.

The Author

Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Amanda spent her time counseling children, families, and individuals through life’s challenging moments. Now she uses those same skills to develop layered characters and stories, bringing them on a journey of hope and healing. A journey she hopes her readers experience in their own lives as they read.

A few of her favorite things are the sanctuary of the great outdoors, the feeling of pen on paper, the sound of her children’s laughter, and exploring new places with her husband of 17 years. (Oh, let’s not forget good fiction and good coffee. She’s addicted to both.).

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Bookworm Review: A Deep Divide by Kimberly Woodhouse

This review was first shared in Episode 20: Guest Liz Tolzma & a Bookworm Review of A Deep Divided

The Book

After being kidnapped as a child, heiress Emma Grace McMurray has seen firsthand the devastation that greed causes in the world, and she wants nothing to do with it—including her father’s offering her hand in a business deal. She sneaks away to be a Harvey Girl at the El Tovar Grand Canyon Hotel, planning to stay hidden even if it means always looking over her shoulder.

Ray Watkins arrives at the hotel wanting to impress his father by finding success on his own. Then maybe he can take on more of the family business and do something good with the profits.

Ray immediately admires Emma Grace, and though a friendship forms, she’s afraid he’s just like every other wealthy man she’s known. Then art and jewels go missing from El Tovar and the nearby Hopi House, a mystery that pulls them in and stirs up their worst fears. When shocking revelations come to light, they’ll have to question all they thought to be true.

The Review

The pace of the book was unlike any other romantic suspense. The author delivered mystery and romance with a large dose of intrigue in a way that was both captivating and inspiring.
The book was about an heiress Emma Grace and her quest for a life other than the one she had been born into. This same life has led her down paths she never thought she would traverse. Her grit and determination was very admirable.

The romance was sweet largely due to the hero, Ray, whose good heart and kindness shine through the story. A truly refreshing experience for the reader.

Circumstances brought them together in the most unlikely of ways. The most endearing part of this book are the Biblical principles lived out. The way the community of believers surrounds Emma Grace with caring is so heartwarming it brings one to tears. This group of characters truly reflects biblical love and hospitality.

If you’re in the mood for a sweet romantic suspense with an unforgettable storyline, then you don’t want to miss A Deep Divide by Kimberly Woodhouse.

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.

The Author

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than twenty-five books. A lover of history and research, she often gets sucked into the past and then her husband has to lure her out with chocolate and the promise of eighteen holes on the golf course. She loves music, kayaking, and her family. Her books have been awarded the Carol Award, Holt Medallion, Reader’s Choice Award, Selah Award, Spur Award, and others. A popular speaker/teacher, she’s shared with over 1,000,000 people at more than twenty-five hundred venues across the country. Married to the love of her life for three decades, she lives and writes in the Poconos where she’s traded in her hat of “craziest mom” for “coolest grandma.” Connect with Kim at KimberleyWoodhouse.com, Facebook.com, Instagram.com,
Twitter.com

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The Lines Between Us by Amy Lynn Green

This review was originally shared in Episode 19: Guest Patricia Raybon & A Review of The Lines Between Us. This review was first shared in Episode 20: Guest Liz Tolzma & a Bookworm Review of A Deep Divided

To listen to Amy’s full interview with Historical Bookworm follow the link for Episode 17.

The Book

Since the attack on Pearl Harbor, Gordon Hooper and his buddy Jack Armitage have done “work of national importance” in the West as conscientious objectors: volunteering as smokejumpers, and parachuting into and extinguishing raging wildfires. But the number of winter blazes they’re called to in early 1945 seems suspiciously high, and when an accident leaves Jack badly injured, Gordon realizes the facts don’t add up.

A member of the Women’s Army Corps, Dorie Armitage has long been ashamed of her brother’s pacifism, but she’s shocked by news of his accident. Determined to find out why he was harmed, she arrives at the national forest under the guise of conducting an army report . . . and finds herself forced to work with Gordon. He believes it’s wrong to lie; she’s willing to do whatever it takes for justice to be done. As they search for clues, Gordon and Dorie must wrestle with their convictions about war and peace and decide what to do with the troubling secrets they discover.

The Review

Amy Lynn Green’s sophomore novel brings to the forefront a little known World War II event that may be eye-opening for many as it was for this reader. Based on true events, as well as the conflict between conscientious objectors and their family and friends, The Lines Between Us is a smart and engaging story.

Green has a superb handle on writing in first person. Dorie Armitage and Gordon Hooper are nearly complete opposites, and their distinct voices shine and highlight these differences. Both are eager to solve the mystery of Jack’s accident, but find themselves forced to reevaluate their beliefs and what they are willing to sacrifice to find out the truth.

The honor and tact that Green uses in her writing as she portrays the differing viewpoints in the story is to be applauded. She acknowledges the depth of sacrifice by those home and abroad during the war, those that gave their life, but also those left “remembering the ones who wouldn’t come home – but loving them enough to keep on living anyway.” The way this heartfelt sentiment entwines with dangerous task of fighting wildfires is utterly poignant and can only be truly felt by reading the book for yourself.

If you enjoy historical fiction based on a different aspect of World War II with notes of mystery, moral questions, and superb characterization, add The Lines Between Us to your fall reading list.

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.

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, based on the WWII home front of Minnesota, the state where she lives, works, and survives long winters. Because of her day job in publicity, she has taught classes on marketing at writer’s conferences and regularly encourages established and aspiring authors in their publication journeys. In her novels (and her daily life), she loves exploring the intersection of faith and fiction and searches for answers to present-day questions by looking to the past.

If she had lived in the 1940s, you would have found her writing long letters to friends and family, daydreaming about creating an original radio drama, and drinking copious amounts of non-rationed tea. (Actually, these things are fairly accurate for her modern life as well.)

Be sure to interact with her on Facebook and Instagram, and sign up for her newsletter to stay up-to-date on her latest releases.

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Bookworm Review: Carved in Stone by Elizabeth Camden

This review was first shared in episode 18 on the Historical Bookworm Show.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Her gilded world holds a deeply hidden secret.  

After years of tragedy, Gwen Kellerman now lives a quiet life as a botanist at an idyllic New York college. She largely ignores her status as heiress to the infamous Blackstone dynasty and hopes to keep her family’s heartbreak and scandal behind her.

Patrick O’Neill survived a hardscrabble youth to become a lawyer for the downtrodden Irish immigrants in his community. He’s proud of his work, even though he struggles to afford his ramshackle law office. All that changes when he accepts a case that is sure to emphasize the Blackstones’ legacy of greed and corruption by resurrecting a thirty-year-old mystery.

Little does Patrick suspect that the Blackstones will launch their most sympathetic family member to derail him. Gwen is tasked with getting Patrick to drop the case, but the old mystery takes a shocking twist neither of them saw coming. Now, as they navigate a burgeoning attraction and growing danger, Patrick and Gwen will be forced to decide if the risk to the life they’ve always held dear is worth the reward.

The Review

Elizabeth Camden continues her legacy of excellent storytelling with memorable characters who readers can root for. Underdog lawyer, Patrick, is tasked with pushing a criminal’s book through to publication despite the Blackstones trying to block it’s release as it will drag their reputation through the muck. He’s met his match in the sweet Blackstone heiress, Gwen, who is sent to change his mind. Readers will anxiously speed through chapters to see if the two will be able to breach insurmountable odds while also solving a decades old mystery that becomes deadly. Another great story from Camden with a sweet romance, ideals of acceptance, and very brief, mild violence.

In the mood for a charming historical romance mixed with danger then Carved in Stone should be on the top of your to be read pile.

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.

About the Author

Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida, whose novels have won the coveted RITA and Christy Awards. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction.

Fidn out more about Elizabth on her webstie ElizabethCamden.com

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In a Far Off Land by Stephanie Landsem

This review was originally shared in episode 16. Listen to episode 13 to hear Stephanie share about all that went into writing this fantastic book.

The Book

As the Great Depression hits the Midwest, Minerva Sinclaire runs away to Hollywood, determined to make it big and save the family farm. But beauty and moxie don’t pay the bills in Tinseltown, and she’s caught in a downward spiral of poverty, desperation, and compromise. Finally, she’s about to sign with a major studio and make up for it all. Instead, she wakes up next to a dead film star and is on the run for a murder she didn’t commit.

Only two unwilling men—Oscar, a Mexican gardener in danger of deportation, and Max, a too-handsome agent battling his own demons—can help Mina escape corrupt police on the take and the studio big shots trying to frame her.

But even her quick thinking and grit can’t protect her from herself. Alone, penniless, and carrying a shameful secret, Mina faces the consequences of the heartbreaking choices that brought her to ruin . . . and just might bring her back to where she belongs.

The Review

This book is one of the most beautiful prodigal stories out there. It is an amazing story of love lost and gained, of forgiveness, second chances, grace, the beauty of family.

Mina veered off the straight path and went to Los Angeles to become an actress. Her dreams became just dreams when life threw the most dire of curve balls at her. Her journey was touching–painful to read but redemptive at the end.

If this is the first of Stephanie’s books you are reading, it definitely won’t be your last. The story is doused with love and grace given, that could never be deserved or earned even if one tried.

Love that never says “no” or “enough” is the perfect title for this book. The life-changing lessons of faith are inspiring and noteworthy.

If you love historical fiction that will keep you crying both happy and sad tears, filled with intrigue, mystery and suspense–but also inspires your heart to live a life of love–then In A Far-Off Land by Stephanie Landsem is the perfect book for you.

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.

The Author

Stephanie Landsem writes about women in history for women in history. Her latest novel, In A Far Off Land, is a story of murder, romance, and mercy set in the glamour of 1930s Hollywood. Her biblical fiction brings the unknown women of the gospels to life in The Living Water Series and the Walk In Her Sandals series. She has traveled on four continents and dozens of countries. When she can’t travel, she reads fiction and history and dreams of her next adventure whether it be in person or on the page. She makes her home in Minnesota with her husband of 30 years, occasional adult children, three cats, a dog, and a tortoise named Moe.

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The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski

This review was originally shared in episode 14 of the Historical Bookworm Show.

The Book

Amid the violent last days of the glittering Russian monarchy, a princess on the run finds her heart where she least expects it.

1917, Petrograd. Fleeing the murderous flames of the Russian Revolution, Princess Svetlana Dalsky hopes to find safety in Paris with her mother and sister. But the city is buckling under the weight of the Great War, and the Bolsheviks will not rest until they have erased every Russian aristocrat from memory. Svetlana and her family are forced into hiding in Paris’s underbelly, with little to their name but the jewels they sewed into their corsets before their terrifying escape.

Born the second son of a Scottish duke, the only title Wynn MacCallan cares for is that of surgeon. Putting his talents with a scalpel to good use in the hospitals in Paris, Wynn pushes the boundaries of medical science to give his patients the best care possible. After treating Svetlana for a minor injury, he is pulled into a world of decaying imperial glitter. Intrigued by this mysterious, cold, and beautiful woman, Wynn follows Svetlana to an underground Russian club where drink, dance, and questionable dealings collide on bubbles of vodka.

Out of money and options, Svetlana agrees to a marriage of convenience with the handsome and brilliant Wynn, who will protect her and pay off her family’s debts. It’s the right thing for a good man to do, but Wynn cannot help hoping the marriage will turn into one of true affection. When Wynn’s life takes an unexpected turn, so does Svetlana’s—and soon Paris becomes as dangerous as Petrograd. And as the Bolsheviks chase them to Scotland, Wynn and Svetlana begin to wonder if they will ever be able to outrun the love they are beginning to feel for one another.

The Review

A sweeping love story that rivets the reader with narrow escapes, nefarious characters, strong family bonds, and a hero and heroine whose fragile love will be tested by lies born of pride and the troubles of the world around them.

In trying to outrun her heritage, Princess Svetlana wilts under the pressures of saving her family single-handedly. All Wynn wants is a chance to further medical science and woo the icy princess. A marriage forces Svetlana to open her heart just as Wynn’s world collapses. Can Svetlana pick up the pieces of their marriage her once stoic heart would have abandoned?

If you’re looking for a sweet, clean read with two very different characters who learn to adapt to an ever changing world then The Ice Swan is for you.

This review was originally shared in episode 14 of the Historical Bookworm Show.

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.

The Author

With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the INSPY and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle.

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Faith’s Mountain Home by Misty M. Beller

The Book

Nate Long has always watched over his identical twin brother, Aaron, even when it put him on the wrong side of the law. When Aaron is wounded in a shootout, the brothers are taken to Settler’s Fort to recover. As Nate works to make reparations for their past, he marvels at the nursing Aaron receives under the care of a woman with all the reason in the world to resent him.

Laura Hannon knows what it is to start over, and she knows Nate’s newfound faith is real. What she can’t look past is how far he allowed himself to be led astray by his brother’s weaknesses.

As a fledgling trust grows between Nate and Laura, they stumble upon a mysterious cave in the mountains that may not be as uninhabited as it seems. As they work together for a common cause, will the new lives they seek for themselves include love, or is there too much that stands between them?

The Review

Loving complex characters and multi-faceted relationships as I do, I have to say, I think the hero stole the show a little bit in this story. Nate is an ex-outlaw, with a kind heart and a lot of restitution yet to make. His brother is also interesting–the kind of character I want to see have his own book one day.

All in all, it’s a great cast. The whole town is full of people you can easily imagine meeting if you traveled back in time.

The romance is very sweet and steady. The heroine is kind and courageous; the hero, honorable and humble. There is little violence for a western. The faith element is overt, yet a natural part of the characters’ lives. And I loved the Montana setting; I would tell you about the cave, but you should probably discover that yourself.

This is the third book in the Hearts of Montana series (and from the bits I’ve seen of earlier characters in this book, I want to read the others).

If you enjoy a story about second chances–with plenty of the adventures a Montana wilderness can throw at you–definitely pick up a copy of Faith’s Mountain Home.

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

The Author

Misty M. Beller is a today’s guest is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories set on the 1800’s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love. She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close and they continue to keep that priority today. Writing is a dream come true for her. Her family, both immediate and extended, is the foundation that holds her secure in that dream. Connect with Misty at her website MistyMBeller.com

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Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin

This review was originally shared in episode 13 of the Historical Bookworm Show.

About the Book

Len-na is a wife and mother who farms alongside her husband in the tranquil countryside. Her faith has always been her compass, but can she remain steadfast when the questions grow increasingly complex and the answers could mean the difference between life and death? Len-na’ daughter Ans has recently moved to the bustling city of Leiden (Ly-den), filled with romantic notions of a new job and a young Dutch police officer. But when she is drawn into Resistance work, her idealism collides with the dangerous reality that comes with fighting the enemy. Miriam is a young Jewish violinist who immigrated for the safety she thought Holland would offer. She finds love in her new country, but as her family settles in (Ly-den), the events that follow will test them in ways she could never have imagined. The Nazi invasion propels these women onto paths that cross in unexpected, sometimes-heartbreaking ways. Yet the story that unfolds illuminates the surprising endurance of the human spirit and the power of faith and love to carry us through.

Review

This was one heart-wrenching, life-changing, and inspiring book. It is unlike any other WWII book because of the way it captured the trials, persecution, and travails of Jews and their supporters during the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands. The compelling story was about the lives of three courageous, bold, and faithful women; Lena, Miriam, and Ans as they lived through one of the most horrific seasons in human history. Their faith was admirable and commendable. They took life in stride, sacrificing, loving, and trusting God even when it was impossible. Lynn Austin wrote a really compelling, profound, and inspiring masterpiece. The lessons of faith to be gleaned from this book are endless. If you’re in the mood for a deep, captivating, and educating story with themes of love, forgiveness, and restoration–and a wonderful WWII story–you won’t want to miss Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin. 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 Historical Bookworm Review Team.

About the Author

Lynn Austin has sold more than one and a half million copies of her books worldwide. A former teacher who now writes and speaks full-time, she has won eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction and was one of the first inductees into the Christy Award Hall of Fame. One of her novels, Hidden Places, was made into a Hallmark Channel Original Movie. Lynn and her husband have three grown children and make their home in western Michigan. Visit her online at www.lynnaustin.org.
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The Curator’s Daughter by Melanie Dobson

About the Book

1940. Hanna Tillich cherishes her work as an archaeologist for the Third Reich, searching for the Holy Grail and other artifacts to bolster evidence of a master Aryan race. But when she is reassigned to work as a museum curator in Nuremberg, then forced to marry an SS officer and adopt a young girl, Hanna begins to see behind the Nazi facade. A prayer labyrinth becomes a storehouse for Hanna’s secrets, but as she comes to love Lilly as her own daughter, she fears that what she’s hiding–and what she begins to uncover–could put them both in mortal danger,

Eighty years later, Ember Ellis is a Holocaust researcher intent on confronting hatred toward the Jewish people and other minorities. She reconnects with a former teacher on Martha’s Vineyard after she learns that Mrs. Kiehl’s mother once worked with the Nazi Ahnenerbe. And yet, Mrs. Kiehl describes her mother as “a friend to the Jewish people.” Wondering how both could be true, Ember helps Mrs. Kiehl regain her fractured childhood memories of World War II while at the same time confronting the heartache of her own secret past–and the person who wants to silence Ember forever.

The Review

Melanie Dobson’s book The Curator’s Daughter is a heart wrenching yet inspiring read.

The modern day character Ember is shrouded in mystery so the unraveling of her traumatic past as well as that of her past romance, is fascinating. 

Hannah, the main female character in WW2 Germany is troubled–typical of one living in war time. Her struggle to do what is right amidst the ravishment of her country and the expulsion and murder of Jewish people is heart wrenching to read.

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

About the Author

Melanie is the award-winning author of more than twenty historical romance, suspense, and time-slip novels. Five of her novels, Memories of Glass, Chateau of Secrets, Catching the Wind, The Silent Order and Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa, have received Carol Awards. Catching the Wind received the Inspirational Fiction Audie Award in 2018 and was nominated for a Christy Award in historical fiction. The Black Cloister, her novel about a dangerous cult, was named the ForeWord Religious Fiction Book of the Year.


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Braced for Love by Mary Connealy

About the Book

Left with little back in Missouri, Kevin Hunt takes his younger siblings on a journey to Wyoming when he receives news that he’s inheriting part of a ranch. The catch is that the ranch is also being given to a half brother he never knew existed. Turns out, Kevin’s supposedly dead father led a secret and scandalous life.

But danger seems to track Kevin along the way, and he wonders if his half brother, Wyatt, is behind the attacks. Finally arriving at the ranch, everyone

is at each other’s throats and the only one willing to stand in between is Winona Hawkins, a nearby schoolmarm.

Despite being a long-time friend to Wyatt, Winona can’t help but be drawn to the earnest, kind Kevin–and that puts her in the cross hairs of somebody’s dangerous plot. Will they all be able to put aside their differences long enough to keep anyone from getting truly hurt?

The Review

I’m glad to have the opportunity to tell you about Mary Connealy’s latest release, Braced for Love. for years I read Mary’s books because her works always promised me a safe, fun historical read.

In her usual fashion, Mary spins a fun western tale; and while the series is centered around a family of brothers, like many of her other series, this one is different because these brothers appear to be enemies. My favorite thing about this book was the setting. The terrain is described beautifully as frontier life on a cattle ranch. From the ranch to the cattle, the hills, rivers, and a waterfall. I also enjoyed seeing the other minor characters interact and wonder who would end up with whom. Mary always gives hints as to who might star in the next book as the romantic couple.

For our more conservative listeners, you will be happy to know that kisses are sweet not steamy, and the violence is neither gory nor unnecessary.

If you enjoy reading clean, western romance with a little danger, family values, and a marriage of convenience, you won’t want to miss Braced for Love, book 1 in Mary Connealy’s Brothers in Arms Series.

This review was originally shared in episode 6 of the Historical Bookworm Show.

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

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.
She is the bestselling author of 48 books and novellas.
Her most recent three book series are: Cimarron Legacy, Wild at Heart, Trouble in Texas, Kincaid Bride for Bethany House Publishing. She’s also written four other series for Barbour Publishing and many novellas and several stand-alone books for multiple publishers.
Mary will be a published author for ten years in 2017 with nearly a million books in print. She has a degree in broadcast communications with an emphasis in journalism and has worked at her local newspaper.