At the beginning of the year, I began participating in Hope By the Book’s 2019 Reading Challenge. Back in March, I posted reviews of some of the books I had read so far for the challenge. (If you want to see that post, you can view it here.) Today, I’ll be sharing 5 more books I’ve read for the challenge.
Predominantly Red Cover: Christmas Roses by Amanda Cabot
Christmas Roses is a beautiful story about a widow who might consider remarrying if she finds a man who gives her roses for Christmas.
Despite the short length, this story held me in its grasp from the first page. Cabot crafts such a sweet story between Celia and Mark that to me was much more than a romance. Celia is trying to be practical, running a boardinghouse to support herself and her child. Mark is trying to find the father he never knew and is so focused on his quest that he doesn’t allow himself to think of much else. The story is a great reminder that God often surprises us.
CAROL Award Winner: The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof
I heard so many good things about this book, I couldn’t wait to read it. And I have to say I agree with many of the reviews. It’s a phenomenal read!
The glimpse into the lives of circus workers was so detailed I felt like I was actually there experiencing it with Ella. And I loved how Joanne Bischof slowly chips away at Ella’s exterior to reveal her past and her inner battles.
Charlie is such a sweet hero, and I appreciated seeing his sacrifice for his niece Holland. Bischof drops hints here and there at what his secret and largest sacrifice has been, but I didn’t see the final reveal coming. When I realized what he had done, I could completely understand his motives and struggle.
Bischof also beautifully shows us the healing Ella and Charlie both have to go through. The novel provided such a sweet love story that I didn’t want to put it down until I finished it.
2019 New Release: Flights of Fancy by Jen Turano
Jen Turano always makes me laugh, and Flights of Fancy was no exception. This delightful beginning to a new series features heiress Miss Isadora Delafield posing as a housekeeper for Ian MacKenzie’s adopted parents.
An heiress who has never completed menial tasks in her life is bound to face some challenges as a housekeeper at a farmhouse. Thus begins mishaps with a pond, a washing machine, and a chicken.
Curious? You should check it out for yourself.
Turano crafts a great story with the same wit that made me fall in love with her books in the first place. The only thing I enjoyed more than Isadora and Ian’s interactions were the precocious children Ian takes into his home.
Christy Award Winner: The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green
The Mark of the King caught my attention not only because of the reviews but also the fact that I haven’t read many novels set in the French colonies. Jocelyn Green picked such an interesting premise that I was excited to read it: a midwife convicted of murder trades her sentence for exile to Louisiana. And she did not disappoint.
Green paints a vivid picture of Julianne Chevalier’s time in prison and the false accusations she faces, earning my sympathy for the heroine almost immediately. The hardships of the trip overseas, including the unexpected expectations for the new colonists, was dealt with tastefully but with enough truth that I found myself feeling uncomfortable for Julianne and what she was experiencing. I appreciated her fledgling friendship with officer Marc-Paul Girard, as well as Marc-Paul’s respect for Julianne. The first part of the novel was more focused on their friendship, and I appreciated watching that deepen before any romance was suggested. It made me root for Marc-Paul even more to watch him not only help Julianne but also the other colonists, seeing him angry and frustrated on their behalf.
So much more than a romance, The Mark of the King is an emotional journey of two people whose lives intersect in an unexpected way as they struggle with the secrets they carry and if they can trust each other to reveal them.
This was my first book by Jocelyn Green, but rest assured, it will not be my last.
By or About Someone Persecuted for Their Faith: For Such a Time by Kate Breslin
I could not get over this novel. Even while reading it, I kept telling my mother, “You’ve got to read this! It’s so good!” I think this may have been one of the best novels I’ve read this year.
For Such a Time is a re-telling of Esther set during WWII. The reason I chose it for this category was because it’s about a woman facing persecution for her Jewish faith and heritage. Her uncle Morty has created false papers stating she’s Aryan, and she’s trying her best to stay safe while her fellow Jews are put in concentration camps. She’s torn between guilt that she’s safe and fear that she’ll face what her fellow Jews are going through.
This novel gave me a look into a concentration camp that I haven’t had since reading Night by Elie Wiesel. By switching between Haddassah (who goes by the name Stella to hide her heritage), her uncle Morty (who’s currently in a concentration camp), and SS-Kommandant Colonel Aric von Schmidt (who is the commandant of the concentration camp), Breslin shows a picture of all sides of the issue and how their lies and secrets affect the others. I couldn’t help but be drawn in to see what would happen next.
Breslin did such a great job crafting an Esther-like tale without seeming redundant. For Such a Time has elements of Esther, but it still feels like its own story. I loved how Breslin includes a verse from Esther at the beginning of each chapter that gives you a hint of what’s to come without giving away any spoilers. She matches the events of Esther with such imagination that I found myself looking forward to each chapter not only to see how the plot would advance but also how she would incorporate different elements of the biblical story.
So I will say the same thing to you that I said to my mother: You have to read it! It’s so good!
Want to check out any of these books yourself? Click on the image to purchase it from Christian Book Distributors. Or, better yet, look for it at your local Christian bookstore! And if you haven’t already, I highly recommend you check out Hope By the Book’s 2019 Reading Challenge. Don’t worry that it’s almost June. You may be further along than you think!
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