FAE LORD'S LADY

THE FAE LORD’S LADY by Lisa Kumar.

Ooh, this book is delightful!  I found Natalie highly relatable, and come on, who wouldn’t want to fall through a dimensional tear and end up with an elfin hottie?  Did I mention Lohr is a total hottie? 

Their chemistry is awesome and the setting sucks you in.  I loved that the romance is clean.  You won’t feel guilty reading this.  I loved all the mystery woven in with the romance.  Normally romances don’t have this much mystery, and I found THE FAE LORD’S LADY refreshing.

Brave Beauty

I received a copy of BRAVE BEAUTY: FINDING THE FEARLESS YOU by Lynn Cowell from ZonderKidz in exchange for an honest review.  It is from Faithgirlz. 

This book is perfect for tween girls, as well as some teen girls.  I can see myself swallowing this up when I was around 11 or 12, and just coming to terms with life.  I was starting to understand there was more to life than friends and school.  This book dives into deeper messages and sparks conversations to be had with an adult, with friends, or with a religious mentor. 

BRAVE BEAUTY consists of many short chapters.  The length is perfect for a girl to read one a day.  They aren’t long or daunting, and are perfect for even reluctant or struggling readers.  (The only thing is that the book itself is long, so it might be off-putting for some girls until they realize they can easily get through the chapters.)

This makes a great gift, especially with the holidays coming up.

Oops-A-Daisy

Oops-A-Daisy by Melody Delgado is pure awesomeness.  It’s funny for one thing, but more than that, it focuses on great morals and family values.  Other middle grade novels I’ve read (and I’ve read a lot in my career as a teacher) don’t touch on strong Christian values the way this one does.  They usually go off into a world of sex and drugs (seriously, I’ve read those for preteens), but this one is clean while still talking about real issues.  I would feel comfortable giving this to a child to read.

I can see this book working well for reluctant readers.  Even readers who aren’t strong will be able to find moments to laugh at.

Liar's Winter

I received a copy of LIAR’S WINTER by Cindy K. Sproles from Kregel in exchange for an honest review.  It is an Appalachian novel.

This is such an intense book!  I knew it was going to be action filled, but I didn’t expect so much action.  I was engrossed from the first page to the last, and then when that ending came – wow.  The journey of the main character  - Lochiel – is raw.  The story transports you to the past when superstition ruled the mountains, and it opens your eyes to God’s love.  There were some moments when I thought I would have to put the book down as I read what Lochiel had to live through, but then the ending made up for it.  You’ll have a smile on your face and a renowned trust in God.

This is a great read!  I highly recommend it if you are looking for historical Christian fiction with nonstop action.

The Master's Mind

I received a copy of THE MASTER’S MIND: THE ART OF RESHAPING YOUR THOUGHTS by Lance Hahn from Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read quite a few Biblical self-help book.  What really caught my attention with this one was the part about reshaping your thoughts.  Everyone can use a little of that, right?  It especially seemed appropriate now that I’ve lost my job and am in a career transition.

While I did find parts to help me in life, overall this struck me as more of a sermon than a regular self-help book.  The ones I’ve read in the past have been engaging.  The author relates his or her story in a way that inspires and captivates.  This book was certainly well-researched and it was filled with Biblical references; however, it didn’t really discuss the author’s personal experiences.  I found it slow going. 

It was a good book, and if you are trying to think with less negativity, then this is a great resource.

Incomplete

INCOMPLETE is the second installment of the “Insurrection” series.  I loved the first book for being an action-packed young adult novel that was clean.  It was the kind of book I would have been allowed to read back in middle and high school.  (Yes, my family was strict about what I could read and watch.)

INCOMPLETE continues the journey, and is still strong, action-packed, and – you guessed it – clean!  Saylor is an exceptional young woman.  She’s easy to look up to because of her faults and strengths.

I was excited to see more romance in this book.  Lately I’ve been reading romance novels, and I’ve been on a bit of a romantic kick.  (Note: The romance is clean, but that doesn’t mean it won’t leave you giggling and smiling.)

I was both happy and sad that this wasn’t the end.  I was sad because it was a cliffhanger.  I was happy because it meant I could get more of Saylor!  

The Proving

I received a copy of THE PROVING by Beverly Lewis from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.  This book doesn’t seem to follow any specific series, but it does include everything you’ve come to love about Beverly Lewis’s Amish fiction.

I enjoyed all of the references to Lancaster County in Pennsylvania.  My family and I vacation there a lot, so I could picture all the sites mentioned in the book.  (However, some of the references bothered me, like the cloister.  It was haphazardly mentioned as if it was only put in there to be a guidebook about things to do in the area.  The references didn’t all feel genuine.  Sometimes they jarred me.  It felt like I was reading a tourist pamphlet instead of a novel.)

I enjoyed that this wasn’t a traditional Amish story.  Usually they are about two people falling in love and that’s it.  While this did involve love, it wasn’t the focus.  The story instead focused on running a bed and breakfast, and mending a family. 

While I did enjoy reading the book, some parts were slow and I found myself zoning out when Trina was mentioned.  Once Trina reaches the inn, I was more invested.

This wasn’t my favorite novel by Beverly Lewis, but it is worth reading, especially if you are a fan of Amish fiction.