No Safe Harbor, by Elizabeth Ludwig, is the first book in the Edge of Freedom series.  I enjoyed this read, as it was not at all a cliche fiction plot, or even just your typical sweet story.  While it is definitely an easy read, this book draws you in to a story that begins at Ellis Island.  There are secrets, murders, revenge, and lies, all set in the historical time period of the late 1800s.

Before this book, I had never heard of the Fenian brotherhood….actually I knew very little at all of Irish history.  Elizabeth Ludwig intertwines the history with her story.

“Cara Hamilton had thought her brother to be dead.  Now, clutching his letter, she leaves Ireland for America, desperate to find him.  Her search leads her to a houseful of curious strangers, and one man who claims to be a friend – Rourke Walsh.  Despite her brother’s warning, Cara trusts Rourke, revealing her purpose in coming to New York.”  (taken from the back of the book)

One thing that I appreciated about this book (which, if you have read several of my reviews, you might know what’s coming) is the way that the characters held onto their Christian values.  Consciences were pricked at the lies and deceit, and revenge was shown for what it truly is: a horrible pit.  While some of those themes could have been taken farther, in my opinion, I appreciated that this book is Christian fiction that actually had characters living out things clearly spelled out in the Bible.  (So many authors give things like that up in the name of a good story.)

As I posted last week, my favorite quote from the book is one that was repeated a few times.  “God’s help is nearer than the door.”  The first time I read it, I just stopped right there to ponder it.  I love that.  God is so close that we can turn to Him in an instant!

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishing in exchange for this review.

-Bonnie

Well…..I read several more books this year than I have the past few years (due to school).  Yay!!  Usually my lists are mostly biographies or non fiction.  This year I decided to branch out and try to find some good fiction.  Now looking back on the year I’m realizing almost everything I read was fiction.  😉  In 2013 I hope to get a good mix of both fiction and non fiction.   Here is a list of the books I’ve read this year, in alphabetical order.  (Note: These are not all recommendations.  For reviews or thoughts feel free to comment and/or shoot me an email.)  Links are to books I wrote reviews for on our blog.

1. A Promise to Rememberby Kathryn Cushman
2. A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs
3. Be the Change by Zach Hunter
4. Claim by Lisa T. Bergren
5. Dashwood Avenue by Rachael Lynn Thomas
6. Everything Romance (Collection)
7. Firestorm by Lisa T. Bergren
8. For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn
9. Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex, The by Sheila Wray Gregoire
10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
11. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
12. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
13. Leaving Yesterday by Kathryn Cushman
14. Men are Like Waffles, Women are Like Spaghetti by Bill and Pam Farrel
15. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
16. Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog, The by John R. Erickson
17. Princess Bubble by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb
18. The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
19. Reach: How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God by Laura Krokos and Angi Pratt
20. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
21. Rescue, The by Nicholas Sparks
22. Scarlet Thread, The by Francine Rivers
23. Screwtape Letters, The by C.S. Lewis
24. Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married by Gary Chapman

Can’t wait to read more next year!!  I’ve always had the goal of reading through each of my shelves….and I plan to start tackling that!

-Bonnie

A new web site is being launched today!  Novel Crossing.  This site is dedicated to Christian fiction.  You can find book reviews, new releases, information on authors….in short, you can always find book recommendations using this site!  It’s a great way to find out about Christian fiction and perhaps add to your own library!

It can be hard to find good Christian fiction.  I look forward to using this web site to read reviews and hear about new (or new to me) authors and books!

Some of the authors from the site talk about what they’re reading currently..

-Bonnie

In an effort to broaden my fiction library, I requested A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs from the Blogging for Books program.  I wasn’t disappointed!

A Wreath of Snow is a light, easy read (I read most of it in one sitting), but is a delightful story about forgiveness and doing the right thing.  Set at Christmas time, this would be the perfect book to curl up with on a cold night with hot chocolate and a warm blanket.

The book takes place in Scotland in the late 1800s.  You might be hard put to not hear the voices in your head with the great Scottish brogue, or to not melt with the etiquette and grace of that time period.

But with all of that, my favorite part of the book was how the two main characters are just full of Scripture.  Their lives are saturated with God’s word such that at various times, their thoughts came to them in form of Scripture.  They knew what they ought to do, even if the situation would be hard or awkward.  And they follow through!

After reading this book, I was intrigued enough to look up some more books by Liz Curtis Higgs.  You can read the first chapter of A Wreath of Snow here and watch the video trailer here.

-Bonnie

Note: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

One of my favorite things about taking  a trip is the book bag I get to take.  My backpack is full of books.  While we’re driving I like to have my book bag right next to me.  A) That makes the books easier to reach.  B)  It makes me happy to have them close.  😉

So what did I bring with me on this road trip?

my Bible

A Promise to Remember by Kathryn Cushman (Finished on Day 7 of our trip)

A Sweetness to the Soul by Jane Kirkpatrick (Finished on Day 33)

Cat and Dog Theology by Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robison (A book I’ve owned for several years.  I’ve heard some good recommendations and I look forward to reading it)

For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn (Pretty sure I got this book through Paperbackswap one time.  I actually read it several months ago but I brought it along to discuss parts of it with my incredible husband.  While I appreciate her book, I think that it is too generalized.  Every man and every husband is different.  You have to get to know your own man!)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (Finished on Day 14 of our trip)

Men Are Like Waffles Women are Like Spaghetti by Bill and Pam Farrel (Finished on Day 21. Saw this on a marriage blog and got it very inexpensively on amazon.  Pretty sure that it will be another one that will need the same disclaimer as For Women Only.)

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (Finished it on Day 3 of our trip.)

The Power of Words by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer (Finished Day 23)

The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers

The Spirit of Loveliness by Emilie Barnes (given to me by my sister Carrie when I got married)

I also brought a few Whodunit books.  When I was younger, my family would do some of these together.  They give you the story and clues…and you have to solve the mystery!  I thought it would be fun to do some with my love!

So there you have it!  The joys of my book bag.  😉  I’ll update this post throughout our trip with the days I finish a book!

-Bonnie

Firestorm, by Lisa T. Bergren, is an easy read with an intriguing plot.  Not knowing much about firefighting myself, I enjoyed getting a glimpse into some of what goes on during fire season.

Reyne Oldre “once led a team of courageous firefighters into a blaze that ended in unspeakable tragedy.  Now crippled by fear, she conducts fire research from a safe distance, determined not to risk that kind of pain again.  But when the flames of love begin to flicker between her and smoke jumper Logan McCabe, Reyne must face the fearsome storms from her past and battle the raging Firestorm that burns in her soul.”  (back cover)

I tend to be leery in approaching romance novels, even Christian romance, but Firestorm did not go over the top in the romance department.  While Reyne and Logan do kiss a lot, the closest it gets to being steamy is when the two of them acknowledge their physical attraction to one another, knowing that they need to guard themselves.  I found this a great approach…the author didn’t brush over or ignore an important aspect of earthly relationships (the physical)…but she dealt with it in a healthy way.

A couple critiques: Toward the beginning, Reyne came across as a bit of a feminist as she was quick to determine that some men were being sexist toward her.  (Personally, I didn’t see sexist anywhere in there.)  At the end of the book, it is mentioned a couple times that a deceased woman would always be there near her daughter.  Something else I tend to be leery about.  I don’t see in Scripture that deceased people look on the people of earth…or watch over them.  It just makes me a little uneasy when people speak of things as fact that we don’t know too much about, such as heaven.

While not the best novel I have read, Firestorm did have several great elements, such as surrender to God, trust in His plans, and love for both Him and others.  Pretty good read!

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

-Bonnie

When Borders was closing, I picked up a few Christian fiction books for only a few dollars each.  It’s so hard to find good Christian fiction…and I figured a reduced price would be a good way to check out some new titles and authors.

Which is how I came across Leaving Yesterday by Kathryn Cushman.  In this novel, the main character is faced with some serious choices.

“Her prodigal son has returned!  But has he truly left the past behind? …..as his old life refuses to stay buried, Alisa finds herself facing an impossible choice: keep silent and keep her son…or risk everything in a quest for the truth.” (From the back of the book)

As a piece of fiction, I must honestly say that I didn’t love it.  It moved at a fairly slow pace and one of the characters was (in my opinion) very poorly written.  However, there was one aspect of the book that I absolutely loved.

Alisa, the main character, is married with three children.  She and her husband are going through some serious marriage issues and decided they would separate.  While Alisa is a believer, her husband is not, and at one point in the book he brings up that he might file for divorce.

Every time the marriage came up in the book, I somewhat cringed.  Oh boy….another source that promotes divorce among believers. To make things worse, another man was introduced.  He seemed to be everything Alisa’s husband was not…a good listener, someone who truly “got” her and someone who was interested in her life.  I hoped it wasn’t true…but I figured with the way the story was going, the characters would definitely end up divorced and Alisa might end up with the other man.

Imagine my surprise when in two separate scenes, the author described Alisa’s thoughts about this second man…and it was described as a battle.  Alisa was attracted to the man but she knew her feelings were wrong.  She couldn’t entertain such thoughts.  She must tell him to leave.  And yet it was a struggle.

How often do you see such thoughts portrayed as a battle against sin?  It seems like everywhere I look, whether it’s books or movies or songs, the message is that “true love” should conquer regardless of right or wrong.  It’s okay to divorce or break up, etc, as long as it is right for you, or it makes you happier, or you are really in love with the new person.  Even in Christian media!

I was so pleasantly surprised to see a book take a firm stand on marriage and the lifetime commitment it is…for better or for worse…as long as the husband and wife both shall live.  So refreshing!

Even though I didn’t love the entire story line (and, I might add…the marriage aspect was only a side plot), it is a decent piece of Christian fiction.  And it is phenomenal in upholding what real marriage is!

-Bonnie

Booking Through Thursday asked this question last week: Are there any fictional characters you have emulated (or tried to)?  Who and why?

When I think of my favorite fictional characters, two immediately come to mind.

One is Elinor Dashwood, from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.  Her character really appeals to me because in some ways she is the exact opposite of me.  I so admire aspects of her character.  In some ways she is also quite like me.  Best quote ever:

Elinor, to Marianne:

What do you know of my heart? What do you know of anything but your own suffering. For weeks, Marianne, I’ve had this pressing on me without being at liberty to speak of it to a single creature. It was forced on me by the very person whose prior claims ruined all my hope. I have endured her exultations again and again whilst knowing myself to be divided from Edward forever. Believe me, Marianne, had I not been bound to silence I could have provided proof enough of a broken heart, even for you.

(Taken from the 1995 movie adaptation.  I have read the book, but it’s been almost six years.  If I recall correctly, this quote is straight from the book.  Anyone who has read it recently, feel free to correct me.  🙂 )

Elinor was so mindful of others that she was willing to keep her own pain to herself in order to serve others.

The second character I think of is Amy Dorrit, from Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens.   Little Dorrit is by far my favorite Dickens novel ever and Amy is an incredible person.  She truly embodies a gracious servant.  She has a lovely spirit and is totally selfless.  I must say that the 2008 TV version disappointed me.  They did not do justice to her amazing character!

A quote from the book that helps explain why I like her so much…

She had gained a reputation for beauty, and (which is often another thing) was beautiful.

Amy was beautiful because even though her life revolved around debtor’s prison, she was the one person who worked hard for her family.  Giving up her own desires, she was the family provider and mentor.  Her love for her family motivated her to always be there to pick up everyone else’s pieces.

If only Elinor and Amy were real people. 🙂 🙂

Which fictional character is your favorite?  Let me know in a comment!

-Bonnie

When I signed up for the Blogging for Books program and saw the title Everything Romance, I was instantly intrigued.  The back cover states, “Romance is always in season when you’re in love.”  This book reminds couples that love and romance is for every day, not just Valentine’s Day or anniversaries.

“Everything Romance,” by Todd Hafer, is a compilation of love letters, love quotes, love stories, love facts, and more.  My favorite quote had to be the one from Dan P. Herod…”Love is like a tennis match; you’ll never win consistently until you learn to serve well.”  I enjoyed the trivia (did you know that the average couple spends about two weeks of their life kissing?), the real life love stories (like how Jack Benny made a provision in his will so that after his death,his wife, Mary, would receive red roses for the rest of her life), the date ideas (Drive-In movie theater…if only there were one close to us!), and the great list of things you can text your spouse during the day (“My favorite place to be is in your heart.”)

With all that, there were some elements that I did not like about the book.  Some of the quotes seemed to make love seem more flippant…or narcissistic.  In addition, some of the short stories were fictional accounts of love following a divorce.  I was concerned with the fact that divorce just seemed to be okay even though it was Christian fiction.

Overall, it was a cute, fun read for a person who loves romance.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

-Bonnie