historical fiction

Book Review: Bittersweet Rendezvous in New England

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Bittersweet Rendezvous in New England
by Diane Green

My rating: 2 / 5
Genre: Christian historical fiction

When Becky Chalmers and her new fiancé learn about a connection between their families they didn’t know existed, she reconsiders her relationship with the man. In the wake of this decision, Becky’s brother offers to take her to Boston to hopefully allow her to re-connect with man from her past, whom she’d very nearly married once upon a time.

This short read is, unfortunately, a little confusing and not quite what I had anticipated from the synopsis. The story is mostly about Becky’s various relationships during her life, past and present, including friends who have or have had crushes on her. Even though one of these men has a distinctly separate POV (and actually starts off the entire book), he’s no bigger of a character than the other man in Becky’s life at the start of this book. It all makes for some odd pacing and plot choices. There are some other questionable things that happen in the text, and I was left scratching my head a few times.

When I read a self-published book, it is my intention not to let things that a professional editor would help with affect my view too much. I’m not saying that there is no burden of responsibility here, but it’s harder for self-published authors. So while it did not affect my rating, I will at least mention that there are several mistakes throughout the text; for example, there are quite a few missing opening or ending quotation marks. It can detract from the book for some, so let that be a warning. Overall, I think this book could benefit from an editor, both in style and substance. However, taken in the right context, this could be a book that others would enjoy. For example, it appeared to be a romance from the synopsis I was originally sent, but I wouldn’t call it that. It’s more contemplative of Becky’s life and the choices she has before her. If you’re interested in the book, please don’t let my lower rating keep you from giving it a try.

I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review: Christy

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Christy
by Catherine Marshall
Read by Kellie Martin

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: Classic historical fiction

The story of the young, naïve woman who moved to a small town in the Appalachian hills to be a school teacher is one I remember a tiny bit of from watching at least a little of the show when I was younger. Reading it for the first time now, I was drawn pretty quickly into the book, immersed due to the setting, the characters, and Christy’s passion to help. I felt for her as she was up against not just the superstitions and ignorance of the locals but even the resistance of the man who runs the mission she’s part of. I really liked her openness to other viewpoints and how hungry she was to understand God and make Him more personal in her own life.

Though this book is billed as Christian, and it certainly is a heavy element, I’m concerned about some of the theology presented in the book. I don’t think the author was trying to push any kind of religious agenda forward, more like she was simply showing her character’s view of the world. Which means that other characters’ view of the world are also shown, including the pastor who runs the mission where Christy lives, who believes that the Bible can’t be taken as complete truth. It’s because this is not contradicted at any point in the book that I wouldn’t feel comfortable labeling it as Christian fiction. On the other hand, some of Christy’s conversations with ex-Quaker Miss Alice were very interesting to me.

A little past halfway through the book, I decided to switch to the audiobook. One reason for this was due to the length of the book and the fact that I was struggling to have as much time to read at the time. I didn’t want to be reading it for weeks. What clinched it was when I saw that the book was narrated by Kellie Martin (who played Christy in the same-name television show in the 90s). Though she wasn’t as great as a narrator as I hoped, I still enjoyed the book as a whole. It’s full of emotion and heart, triumph and tragedy, and even a little romance. I recommend this book for all who enjoy historical fiction set in America from around this time period (early 1900s).

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Book Review: Al Capone Does My Homework

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Al Capone Does My Homework
Tales from Alcatraz #3
by Gennifer Choldenko

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: Middle grade historical fiction

Thirteen-year-old Moose Flanagan’s life on Alcatraz we already a little odd, not to mention difficult, but when his father becomes assistant warden, he knows it’s up to him to watch his dad’s back. Then his apartment catches fire and his autistic sister is blamed, and Moose has his hands full trying to figure out who really set the fire.

I liked this book almost as much as the first in the series, which means I liked it a little more than the second. The kids on the island were a little more under control this time (they seemed to just go a little nutty in the previous book), and I really felt for poor Moose. He tends to take too much responsibility on his own shoulders, and there’s a lot to deal with here. Besides the fire, there’s another side mystery developing on the island, and I was caught up in both of these plots. I half-guessed one of the culprits, but there was more to it than I expected, and events transpired that I didn’t anticipate. 

One of the things I like about this book, and the series in general, is that it doesn’t pander to its younger audience. Stakes and consequences are high, and though the kids and teens on the island tend to get into things a little above their heads, it’s not unrealistic or eye-rolling like some books for this age group can be. I also appreciate that the author has first-hand experience with an autistic sibling, which makes Moose’s sister Natalie come across as authentic. I recommend this book for pre-teens and young teens, as well as any adults who enjoy younger-audience books.

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Book Review: Midnight on the Scottish Shore

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Midnight on the Scottish Shore
Allegiance Under Pressure #2
by Sarah Sundin

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: Christian historical romance

When staying in the Netherlands becomes too dangerous for Cilla van der Zee, due to her connections with the Dutch resistance, she sees a way out in becoming a spy for the Nazis, who will send her to Britain, where she can disappear. But in these dangerous times, nothing is as simple or safe as she hopes, and she’s captured upon landing. Naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie believes her to be the German spy she’s portraying and turns her into the proper authorities. As thanks for his actions, Lachlan is forced to work alongside the spy when she becomes a double agent for Britain’s MI5.

There was a lot for me to like about this book. The uncommon setting of the Scottish shore during WWII was brought to life well; the storyline about double agents was exciting and well-researched; and I genuinely liked both of the main characters, their personalities, backgrounds, and dynamics. So many heroines in books like this are demure, self-conscious, uncomfortable, etc., which is the exact opposite of Cilla. Not that the other type is bad, it just seems so common. Cilla may be a bit on the silly side, but given her situation and that of the world around her, that silliness is often just what was needed. And her transformation was one of the things I loved most about the book. Lachlan has his own journey, which I also loved.

Even though the connection between Cilla and Lachlan is inevitable, given the genre, I felt that the obstacles they had to overcome were greater than usual and found the progression (mostly) natural and enjoyable. I appreciated that it wasn’t the main focus of the story. This book is the second in a series, but you really don’t need to read the first book, Embers in the London Sky, (which I liked but not quite as much as this one) before reading Midnight on the Scottish Shore. I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction from this time period in the Christian romance genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and Revell for providing me a copy of this book to review.

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Book Review: Anchor in the Storm

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Anchor in the Storm
Waves of Freedom #2
written by Sarah Sundin

My rating: 4.5 / 5
Genre: Historical Christian romance, mystery

When Lillian Avery moves to Boston to be a pharmacist in 1941, she has a long way to go to overcome her boss’s prejudices against her as both a woman and a handicapped one at that. She’s determined to win him over, but her task is made more difficult when suspicious prescriptions come in to be filled. Arch Vandenburg, naval ensign serving aboard a battleship, has some questions of his own when some of the men on his ship are acting drowsy on duty. Lillian and Arch will have to work together to get to the bottom of what’s going on in Boston.

After finding the first book in this series only okay, I was pleased to enjoy this one all the way through. Arch was in the previous book, the best friend of the male main character. He came across as a bit of a player, at least to me, but Sundin was already setting up his backstory, his baggage. As the heir to a fortune, Arch tends to attract the wrong kind of woman, which has led to trust issues. Lillian has her own version of the same, having been hurt badly in the past by a man who was controlling and at least a little abusive. The progression of their relationship is mostly natural and sweet, though it also becomes a little predictable about halfway through the book. Despite some clichés (and more kissing than I need in a romance book), the backstories and personalities are well set up, and I enjoyed the follow-through.

My preference when reading romance is that it not be the only focus of the plot, and I got my wish with this book. The mystery side, while not exactly a twisty whodunit, was intriguing and kept me engaged. When the romance went the way of cliché, the mystery sped up a bit, which evened things out for me. I was really caught up in it by the end. I also want to mention that Arch’s best friend Jim, the male MC of the previous book, is also Lillian’s brother. And there is a moment in the book where Arch does/says something really stupid and Jim reacts exactly how I wanted to react. I practically cheered! I recommend this book for fans of Christian romance, especially those set during WWII.

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Book Review: The Seaside Homecoming

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The Seaside Homecoming
On Devonshire Shores #3
by Julie Klassen

My rating: 4.5 / 5
Genre: Christian historical romance

Spoiler notice: The following review may contain spoilers for the previous books in the series, starting with The Sisters of Sea View.

Two years past, eldest Summers sister Claire left her family in disgrace and spent those two years as companion to an elderly relative. Now that the older woman has died, Claire can’t help but want to be near her family again, though she knows at least some of them won’t want to see her. When she ends up as a partner in a boarding house that rivals her family’s, it threatens to make the rift between her and her family worse. Meanwhile, she also has to learn to run a boarding house and deal with the secretive and suspicious man who owns it.

The wrap-up to this main series was almost everything I wanted it to be. The author did a great job of setting up certain elements to provide emotional climaxes to at least two of the story arcs contained in this book. I enjoyed this book a good deal more than the previous two in the series, I think mostly because the annoyances and pet peeves I had with them were not an issue here.

I think that a little more time could have been spent exploring the character of the boarding house owner, William Hammond, since he seemed to have a fairly deep background of which we only get glimpses. Or maybe the reason it felt shallow to me was because I didn’t fully understand his past or because things were hinted at or presumed by Claire that ended up being incorrect, and so it felt like there was more to know than there was. I don’t know for sure, but this is overall not a huge deal to the greater story. It only stands out to me because of his role in the book.

Anything I felt was still missing from the story will hopefully be part of the related Christmas book that the author mentions in the author’s note (coming out in September 2025), and I look forward to reading that next year. As for this series, though 2/3 of it was rocky for me, I think the conclusion made it all worthwhile. I suppose this book could be read as a stand-alone and only one real aspect would be harmed by a lack of past knowledge (besides the two sisters that have already found love and gotten married, there’s Sarah’s inner turmoil about a particular man she rebuffed), but I think that Claire’s homecoming wouldn’t be as emotional without the build throughout the series. Based on past experience, I have good reason to believe that most fans of Regency-era Christian romance will enjoy this book and series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bethany House for providing me a copy of this book to review.

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Book Review: An Honorable Deception

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An Honorable Deception
The Imposters #3
by Roseanna M. White

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: Christian historical romance

When a young socialite who seeks the Imposters’ help in finding her missing ayah is subsequently shot, Yates knows there’s more to this case than it first appeared. And since two of his team are semi-incapacitated, it’s easy to accept help from his old friend Lady Lavinia, who is still reeling from the betrayal uncovered in her family in a previous Imposters case.

Yates was a semi-side character in the previous two books, but there were always sections from his POV, giving us a chance to get to know him as an Imposter, brother, and earl. In this book, he’s in the forefront, and his history with Lavinia shown in the first book is expanded upon. I always liked Yates, so I was happy to see more of him. And though his sister Marigold is married now, I love their sibling relationship in this book.

Besides Yates, this book has two other POVs—Lavinia and Lady Alethia, the woman whose ayah has gone missing. Alethia has her own dark past, and the way Lavinia and Alethia help each other through their healing is one of my favorite things about this book. There was one quote in particular that I found very moving:

“‘Whoever made you think you’re not worth it— they’re wrong. So very wrong. And you let them win when you keep thinking those thoughts. You are precious….You must not take any unnecessary risks. Your life matters.’”

After reading the first book in this series, I already knew I needed to read other books by Roseanna M. White, and after reading the author’s note and finding out that some characters from another series of hers appeared in this book, I’ll definitely be starting with that one. The ending makes it seem like there’s more to come in this series, though I don’t know if that will be the case, or if it will spill into a different series like the Shadows Over England series did into this one. I’ll definitely keep an eye on White’s future books, but in the meantime, I highly recommend this book for fans of Christian historical mystery (this is set during the Edwardian era in London).

Thank you to Netgalley and Bethany House for providing me a copy of this book to review.
Publication date: November 19, 2024

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Book Review: A Thieving at Carlton House

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A Thieving at Carlton House
Of Cloaks & Daggers #1
by Erica Vetsch

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: Christian historical mystery

When a costly set of jewels goes missing from the Prince Regent’s home, suspicion falls on two young servants that were placed there by Philippa Cashel, a former courtesan who now attempts to help other women in a similar position turn their lives around. Sir Bertrand Thorndike is ready to step out from under the shadow of his older brother and lead his own team of covert agents for the Crown, but his first assignment—recovering the stolen jewels—will prove to be much more complex than it appears.

Here Vetsch brings us another engaging story set in Regency England with a Christian worldview. The network of family, friends, and spies she has built in this world provides a perfect backdrop for a seemingly simple theft that gives Bertie Thorndike a run for his money. At the same time, Philippa is attempting to get a school off the ground for girls and women who want to escape their life on the streets, and she runs into obstacles and irritations that leave her questioning if she’s in over her head. Bertie has some development, but Philippa’s characterization arc is the highlight here, and we’re left with a hint of more to come for Bertie. I love the way Vetsch weaves themes of faith and forgiveness into the book without being preachy.

Erica Vetsch has created some of my favorite characters, large and small, so the fact that we get to continue seeing these characters makes me so happy. All good things must come to an end, but that doesn’t mean the end has to come quickly. I’m glad Vetsch has managed to buck the tradition of trilogies in this genre and keeps connecting the various trilogies to the same world. Yet at the same time, a new reader could start with this book and not be lost, since relevant things from the past are explained when/as needed. Of course, I would still recommend starting at the beginning for the full, rich experience, but diving in here is fine too. Either way, I highly recommend this book for fans of this genre and time period, whether you like romance or not, because there is some, but it’s not the focus of the book.

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Book Review: Al Capone Shines My Shoes

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Al Capone Shines My Shoes
Tales from Alcatraz #2
by Gennifer Choldenko

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Middle grade historical fiction

Spoiler notice: The following review contains some spoilers for the previous book in the series, Al Capone Does My Shirts.

Moose Flanagan’s life on Alcatraz may never be normal, but after his autistic sister gets into a special school, at least it may be calm for a while. That is, until he gets a note from notorious gangster Al Capone, whose help Moose enlisted in getting his sister into that school, asking him for a favor in return.

I knew this book couldn’t quite have the same punch as the first one, considering that the note from Capone at the end really blew me away. But there’s still quite a bit of intrigue when it comes to Capone and the prison, including a prison break that adds some excitement. Knowing that the author’s sister was autistic and was used as a basis for Moose’s sister, I appreciated the way she treats Natalie in the book as well. And the author’s notes after the book show that her research about Alcatraz and Al Capone were extensive, and she included plenty of that in interesting ways in the story.

My only gripe about this book is that it seems like all of the kids went a little nutty in it. Suddenly all of Moose’s friends treat him like crap, some for reasons I don’t think are ever even explained, even while one of them maintains that “everyone likes Moose.” In some ways, it might be completely normal for a group of kids at their age spending a lot of time in close proximity to behave this way toward each other, and some stressors are made clear, but it just made me scratch my head a lot and wait for everyone to start making sense again. Still, the story overall is enjoyable, and I recommend this book for pre-teens and young teens, as well as any adults who enjoy younger-audience books.

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Book Review: Through Waters Deep

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Through Waters Deep
Waves of Freedom #1
written by Sarah Sundin

My rating: 3 / 5
Genre: Historical Christian romance, mystery

Mary Stirling enjoys her job as Boston Navy Yard secretary, as long as it never puts her in the spotlight. When she encounters Jim Avery, an old friend who is now an naval officer, the two renew their friendship, bonding over some curious incidents that happen in the shipyard and aboard Avery’s ship, acts of sabotage that escalate in severity.

After reading and enjoying all of Sarah Sundin’s most recent works, I wanted to go back to some of her older books. This was not my favorite, for multiple reasons, though I did still enjoy Sundin’s style and the research and history she puts into her writing. However, the romance is heavily focused in the physical department for a while. There’s nothing graphic, but I don’t personally care for a lot of leering and pointing out of muscles and curves in Christian fiction. It’s always felt like a crutch, to me, a way to push the romance without having to put too much thought into what would attract two people to each other mentally or emotionally.

Also, both of these characters had some kind of major (maybe not so major in Mary’s case) trauma in their past that affected their lives so heavily, they both have a sort of mantra that they live by—”don’t hoist your sails.” For her, this means not to make too much of herself and become prideful. For him, this means not to stick his neck out or make a bold choice, but instead to “float” through life. They both have taken this to an extreme by this point in their lives, and while this does give both characters a chance to be dynamic throughout the story, it becomes a bit ridiculous and repetitive. Add to that the mystery that had way too many names involved and became convoluted and a bit far-fetched in the end, and this book was just okay. Fans of WWII stories, especially in the Christian romance genre, might enjoy this, especially if you’re not bothered by my complaints.

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