Book Review: Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren

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Title: Keturah

Author: Lisa T. Bergren

Series: The Sugar Baron's Daughter #1

Genre: Historical

Audience: Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1772 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father's estates and know they have one option: Go to the West Indies to save what is left of their heritage.

Although it flies against all the conventions for women of the time, they're determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, proper gender roles are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined - and that's just the start of 
what their eyes are opened to in this unfamiliar world. 

Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives. 

Set on keeping her family together and saving her father's once-great plantation, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?

~ MY REVIEW ~

**3.5 stars**

Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren was an enjoyable read, with some lovely bits and interesting themes. As book one of this author's new series, THE SUGAR BARON'S DAUGHTERS, I was very much looking forward to it! It didn't end up being my favorite read, but I still am excited to read the next installment to the series and adventure more with this trio of sisters.

Keturah Banning Tomlinson is the eldest of the sisters, living in 1770s England. Upon word of her beloved father's death, she determines that she must embark on a journey to the West Indies and manage her late father's estate there. The endeavor turns out to be an imposing one, and fraught with new obstacles and dangers.

My least favorite thing about this book? Perhaps the slower pace of the plot and the fact that I wasn't as invested in the characters as I want to be when I read a novel.

But despite those things, I still managed to get into the story and must admit, am wondering what's going to happen next for Keturah and her sisters! Some scenes involving the ocean in the West Indies were so beautiful and tantalizingly authentic ... I wanted to be there! Keturah's past and her journey to emotional freedom was an interesting and touching one. Some aspects were so awful, but the healing so beautiful! Watching her learn to trust again was sweet, indeed. Though some parts seemed to be pushing the "independent woman" agenda a little, there also were scenes in Keturah that acknowledged, appreciated, and praised strong, kind, good men.

Slow pace, yes, but there was more than a couple emotion-filled, raw, authentic scenes that stirred my heart!

The romance was sweet and dear (well, in the end, at least). The faith theme very lovely (though not always clear. Though Christ was mentioned, when forgiveness and sin were addressed there was no talk of holy justice and needing to accept Jesus to have your sins forgiven).

All in all, I did like this book and enjoyed my time in the West Indies - despite the danger and drama! I really do look forward to reading Verity and Selah's stories!

I received a copy of Keturah from Litfuse Publicity Blogger Program in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Real-Life Romance: Inspiring Stories to Help You Believe in True Love by Rhonda Stoppe

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Title: Real-Life Romance: Inspiring Stories to Help You Believe in True Love

Author: Rhonda Stoppe

Series: Standalone

Genre: Christian Living/Non-Fiction

Audience: Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

Do You Believe in True Love?

In a world of broken relationships and hurting people, it can seem like all we ever see is heartache—that marriages are doomed from the start and romance isn't worth the risk.

But heart-fluttering, long-lasting love is all around us ... we just have to look for it!

This collection of beautiful, real-life accounts will bring laughter and tears as you enjoy each story of ordinary people who found extraordinary love. Page after page, you will find inspiration to

rekindle the romance in your love story
trust in God's providence and timing
faithfully hope for your own happily-ever-after
celebrate true romance
believe in life-long love

Don't let the world define romance for you! See how God is at work in the hearts of His people—knitting together hearts in a love that forever endures.

~ MY REVIEW ~

**4.5 stars**

Quite a thoughtful, fun, and inspiring read! There were a couple things I wasn't sure what to think about, so that's why this book didn't quite reach five stars. But overall, Real-Life Romance by Rhonda Stoppe is an amazing, lovely book that I hope to share with others!

"And you'll discover how God's plan is for couples to love each other so deeply with His love that their marriages become a light He can use to draw others to know Him." (Real-Life Romance pg. 9)

So basically, this book is a collaboration of twenty-five unique love stories. Each story is a little different, which is so neat to see. Real-Life Romance is about sweet romances as well as faith, friendship, redemption, loss, secret sin, and forgiveness. It was so awesome to see how God worked in these couple's lives! It was also fun hearing about the author's own love story, and those of her children! Breaking the Bro Code: Estevan & Kayla (pgs. 177-188) was especially heartfelt. I was deeply touched by how they used personal loss to keep an eternal perspective and press closer to Jesus Christ.

Some of my very favorite stories were Waiting on God's Timing: Keven & Suzanne (pgs. 33-38); The Heart's True Desire: Jason & Noelle (pgs. 39-45); Addicted to Each Other: Jeff & Jennifer (pgs. 105-113); and Connected at the Heart: Bill & Pam (pgs. 131-139). These four were particularly beautiful and powerful to me. I so loved them!

Oh, and the brief bit about Apostle Peter and his wife. Ah! Incredibly tender and soul-stirring. I'm so glad Rhonda Stoppe included that account in Real-Life Romance! It was a perfect way to conclude the book.

I have strong, personal convictions about dating and marriage, so some of the stories didn't resound with me as much as others. Particularly when couples seemed to rush ahead instead of seeking the Lord and waiting for His leading. One story it appeared that a man was a Christian when he married a woman who was an unbeliever. (She came to know the Lord and has a beautiful testimony, but I question whether his decision was Biblical. {2 Corinthians 6:14-18}) Also, there were at least four stories about divorce and remarriage. From reading the Bible, I firmly believe that God is against divorce and it's not His heart for His people! (Matthew 5:31-32; Mark 10:2-12; 1 Corinthians 7:39; Romans 7:2-3; Malachi 2:16; 1 Corinthians 7:11-13; Hebrews 13:4). So I'm always a little at loss of what to think when reading about divorce and remarriage. I don't know the whole stories - background and reason for divorce. And some (all?) of the stories were about people who married/divorced before they had become believers. Anyway, I just thought I would give a cautionary mention about that.

Even when one of the stories didn't settle with me as much, I felt Rhonda Stoppe herself was pretty spot-on throughout the whole book! After each story, she has sections called Ponder This and Ask Yourself, and I felt she spoke a lot of Biblical truths and raised important questions through those! Even with the concerns I mentioned above, I believe Rhonda Stoppe and I have quite similar thoughts, convictions, ideas, and cautions.

"How might you adjust your life to take your focus off looking for a husband and learn to find contentment in loving and serving Jesus?" (Real-Life Romance pg. 38)

All in all, I think the themes of Real-Life Romance: Inspiring Stories to Help You Believe in True Love were of finding your hope and joy in the Lord and believing that He does and will write beautiful love stories and strengthen marriages to be a light and a testimony! I was encouraged. ^_^ Besides a few things that raised questions for me, I recommend this book. Planning to have my mom and sister read at least my favorite stories! *smiles*

"When looking for a mate, it's tempting to take your eyes off the prize of Christ and focus on who might be 'the one'. But let's follow the example of the woman in Tony's unit. If you run this race of life with your focus on the One who calls you to run, and one day you look over and see a man whose eyes are fixed on Jesus and he places his hand in the small of your back to help you run your race - marry him!" (Real-Life Romance pg. 226)

I received a copy of Real-Life Romance from Litfuse Publicity Blogger Program in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: The Melody of the Soul by Liz Tolsma

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Title: The Melody of the Soul

Author: Liz Tolsma

Series: Music of Hope #1

Genre: Historical

Audience: Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

By 1943, Anna Zadok, a Jewish Christian living in Prague, has lost everything, including her career as a concert violinist and almost her entire family. The only person she has left is her beloved grandmother, and she's determined to keep her safe. But protecting Grandmother won't be easy - not with a Nazi officer billeted below them.

Anna must keep a low profile. There's one thing she refuses to give up, though. Despite instruments being declared illegal, Anna defiantly continues to practice her violin. She has to believe that the war will end someday and her career will be waiting. Fortunately for Anna, the officer, Horst Engel, enjoys her soothing music. It distracts him from his dissatisfaction with Nazi ideology and reminds him that beauty still exists in an increasingly ugly world.

When his neighbors face deportation, Horst is moved to risk everything to hide them. Anna finds herself falling in love with the handsome officer and his brave heart. But what he reveals to her might break her trust and stop the music forever.

~ MY REVIEW ~

**3 stars**

The Melody of the Soul by Liz Tolsma is set during World War II and focuses on a young, Jewish woman living in Prague. It explores some of the horrific happenings during the Holocaust and weaves a story of Jews who hid, trying to escape the horrors being forced on them.

Book one in the MUSIC OF HOPE series, this novel is filled with drama, sorrow, action, and glimmers of hope.

So, though The Melody of the Soul did keep my attention and I felt like I learned some more about this particular war, the Holocaust, Jews, etc. - it wasn't my favorite read. Perhaps because the writing style was more narrative and I couldn't really feel the emotions of the characters. I didn't feel super invested in the character's lives, though I did very much hope for Anna, her grandmother, and the rest to survive!

There were some breathless moments, wondering if they were going to make it. Because of the theme and the time and setting, this book had a pretty heavy, dark air about it. But as I mentioned above, there was hope. A little bit of romance. And a lot of faith content. I appreciated the strong, unapologetic faith theme, even if the characters didn't quite feel real to me.

I rate The Melody of the Soul three stars because it did mostly keep me turning pages. The faith content was good, and the ending satisfying. If not for that, I may have rated it less, because of the things about the book (unrealistic characters or scenarios) that bothered me.

I received a copy of The Melody of the Soul from Litfuse Publicity Blogger Program in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: Descriptions and Prescriptions by Michael R. Emlet

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Title: Descriptions and Prescriptions: A Biblical Perspective on Psychiatric Diagnoses and Medications

Author: Michael R. Emlet

Series: Helping the Helper #1

Genre: Christian Living/Self-Help

Audience: Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

OCD, ADHD, PTSD, Bipolar Disorder ... these are not just diagnoses from the DSM; they are part of our everyday vocabulary and understanding of people. As Christians, how should we think about psychiatric diagnoses and their associated treatments? We can t afford to isolate ourselves and simply dismiss these categories as unbiblical. Nor can we afford to accept the entire secular psychiatric diagnostic and treatment enterprise at face value as though Scripture is irrelevant for these complex struggles. Instead, we need a balanced, biblically (and scientifically!) informed approach that is neither too warmly embracing nor too coldly dismissive of psychiatric labels and the psychiatric medications that are often prescribed.

Biblical counselor and retired physician, Michael R. Emlet, gives readers a helpful way forward on these important issues as he guides lay and professional helpers in the church through the thicket of mental health diagnoses and treatments in a clear, thoughtful primer in which the Bible informs our understanding of psychiatric diagnoses and the medications that are often recommended based on those labels.

This first book in the Helping the Helper series will give readers biblical, gospel-formed categories that will help them understand and minister to those who are struggling with mental health issues.

~ MY REVIEW ~

**4.5 stars**

Descriptions and Prescriptions: A Biblical Perspective on Psychiatric Diagnoses and Medications by Michael R. Emlet wasn't exactly what I was expecting - especially not in the first quarter or so of the book. But it had good information to impart, and I feel like I've learned a lot. I received some things to ponder, and now have an overall more balanced view of medications and how to help those dealing with mental struggles.

For a long time, I've wanted to know more about the struggles of the mind. Helping people work through emotional/mental issues - counseling, on a small scale - has been something on my heart. On the other hand, I'm a deep thinker and I understand, to some extent, some of these mental struggles, having dealt with anxiety for many years.

So yes. This book was very interesting to me. At first, it was a little over my head, what with some of the history of psychiatric stuff and all these technical terms, in-depth diagnoses, and medications and what they do. But as I kept reading, Descriptions and Prescriptions really became engrossing to me. I started understanding things a little more. And then, toward the middle of the book, the author started talking more about the spiritual and emotional side ... and asked the question: How do we approach mental illnesses and struggles? Is medication always the answer? Where does faith factor into all this?

There were some real-life stories and situations that were very helpful in understanding people and seeing this author's points.

Overall, I felt Michael R. Emlet approached this subject with solid history and facts, wisdom, good information, grace, and some great thoughts. One thing I liked that he said, more than once, is: we are both body and spirit. To neglect one or the other when helping someone, or reaching out for help yourself, is a mistake.
I'm glad I read this book. I plan to keep it on my bookshelf for future reference, and recommend to those wanting to understand more about this subject.

I received a copy of Descriptions and Prescriptions from Litfuse Publicity Blogger Program in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: The Pretender: A Blackguard in Disguise by Ta'Mara Hanscom

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Title: The Pretender: A Blackguard in Disguise

Author: Ta'Mara Hanscom

Series: The Caselli Family #1

Genre: Historical

Audience: Young Adult/Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

My Jean-Marc’s uncle was married to an English woman, and she told us once, a very long time ago, that in this world there are men of two kinds. The one, the knight, is the man possessing only strength and quality of moral character. He will never ask a lady to compromise her honor for less than a vow, and never, ever will he consider another once he has captured her heart. A knight keeps his vow, even when it hurts, and the honor of a knight is a thing a country is built upon. A knight comes along only seldom these days.

Now, a blackguard is a man who can be found quite easily, for it is an easy thing to be a blackguard. He attempts to trick the young ladies into taking him home and caring for him, making them believe their honor can be given away as a mere trifle, offering no vow, and making only human demands. The blackguard is to be avoided at all costs, for to settle for someone like him is to settle for something less than ideal.

In the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, Tillie Caselli promises to marry Noah Hansen. Theirs’ was a love intended to last, and their promises were never to be broken. But when there’s an illusion of unfaithfulness, the result is an error in judgment—an error that changes the course of lives.

Epic romance, global adventure, ethnic passion, and Christian values inspire this new series.

~ MY REVIEW ~

**2.5 stars**

The Pretender: A Blackguard in Disguise by Ta'Mara Hanscom was not what I expected. It was rather slow-paced where I was thinking there would be lots of action and excitement. However, it did have some redeeming qualities.

Mostly, this book follows the life of seventeen-year-old Tillie Caselli and various other members of the Caselli family. School trips. Unexpected escapades. Elopements. Heartbreak. Weddings. Babies. Prom. Graduation. Family life - with a bit a drama sprinkled in here and there.

Though the story did seem to drag a little, I still was interested in how The Pretender was going to turn out. I was a little bothered by how far-fetched and absurd Tillie and Noah's romance was. And not to mention, reckless and fool-hardy! Their actions send kind of a dangerous message, I think ... that instant, thoughtless romances are true love and bad boys change completely in order to win a Christian girl's heart. It was a little disconcerting for me - especially since the underlying theme of the book seems to be that Noah and Tillie are "meant for each other".

Nevertheless, there were redeeming qualities, as I mentioned above. Some good thoughts and little lessons sprinkled throughout. Sometimes novels centered on family life can be really nice and sweet, if you take the time for them. Perhaps some affection grows for the characters as you journey through daily life with them. I quite enjoyed the last part of The Pretender. Beautiful weddings and sweet babies! ^_^ I really actually like how Noah's story ended up ... It was crazy, unique, sacrificial, and slowly became something tender and beautiful. Though maybe that's all going to change in the next book in this series ...

It was interesting to see the connection between certain characters and events. There was a tad bit of mystery/suspense swirling through the pages of this book.

Overall, this book wasn't so much for me. But I'm still wondering about the characters. So who knows? Maybe someday I will pick up the second book in the series and see what happens next for Noah and the Caselli family.

I received a copy of The Pretender from the Litfuse Blogger Program in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

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Title: A Name Unknown

Author: Roseanna M. White

Series: Shadows over England #1

Genre: Historical

Audience: Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

Edwardian Romance and History Gains a Twist of Suspense

Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?

Peter Holstein, given his family's German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered. 

But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors' scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he's more than his name?

~ MY REVIEW ~

**5 stars**

Oh my goodness, gracious! I'm crying...

Roseanna M. White is one of my new favorite authors, I think. She pens historical fiction with such grace and unique-ness. A Name Unknown, book one in the SHADOWS OVER ENGLAND series, is an interesting, humorous, and heart-touching tale - with a nice amount of suspense.

Set in the Edwardian era, this novel follows the adventure of Rosemary Gresham, who's been a thief nearly all her life. In order to care for her mismatched family, she must prove that Peter Holstein is guilty. She must uncover his secrets and steal his good name.
... But what happens when he proves a friend? When happens if he steals her heart?

A Name Unknown was a thick book, a little slow at points. But ultimately, so lovely! Rosemary is posing as a librarian. Peter is a novelist. It's simply grand. ^_^ I loved watching their friendship develop and grow. Laughing with them in their banter. Learning to trust. To love. To have faith.
Peter is a completely endearing character. His stutter and how he deals with it makes him both admirable and sweet. He has a tender strength that I adore. He isn't perfect by any means, but he is a godly man with a heart that is true. Watching a studious, gentlemanly, dear man such as himself fall for the broken thief that is Rosemary was utterly precious. *smiles*
And Rosemary! I quite liked her. And had such a grand time with her on this adventure. The lessons. The growing. The danger and drama. Rosemary is a feisty thing, but ultimately longs for what we all long for - love.
Her family. ^_^ I believe the second book in this series is to be about Rosemary's "sister", Willa, and I'm ever so excited for that!

It was just a well-done book! Had me guessing and wondering. Chills prickling over my skin because of the nefarious characters lurking around. Trying to figure out how this could work out alright. Loving journeying with these lovely people, even as World War I looms on the horizon. And THAT ENDING. It all came to a conclusion so dramatically, beautifully, and sweetly. And I just wanted to cry. *happy tears* It made my heart ache in a sweet way. Oh, such a tender tale of faith and love.
A Name Unknown was a wonderful book, all around, but the ending truly made it for me. I eagerly await the next book in the SHADOWS OVER ENGLAND, A Song Unheard!

I received a copy of A Name Unknown from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my honest review.

Learn more about Litfuse Publicity and A Name Unknown on the Litfuse Publicity group site.