“Who knew making movies could be such a blood sport?”
I first met Vivien Lowry in Bloomsbury Girls and found her to be equal parts tragic and vibrant a“Who knew making movies could be such a blood sport?”
I first met Vivien Lowry in Bloomsbury Girls and found her to be equal parts tragic and vibrant as a character, so I was very intrigued by what kind of journey Natalie Jenner would take her on in Every Time We Say Goodbye. (Note: it’s not necessary to have read the other books in this series to follow this third book. It works just fine as a standalone, though some of its references to the other books may have you bumping them up to the top of your TBR list!
There are several plot threads that weave through the pages of Every Time We Say Goodbye, spanning a variety of personalities across two timelines a little more than ten years apart, and presenting readers with a profound study in contrasts. On the one hand you have the glitz and glory of the Italian film industry, ushered into its heyday as American directors, actors, writers, etc fled the fear-mongering of the McCarthy era for the freedom found in Italy. Freedom from the anti-Communist witch hunts, though, came with strings attached – strings held by the Vatican who kept tight control over what could & couldn’t be portrayed in movies (more than one very weighty & timeless contrast there). And then there are the WW2 Italian resistance fighters, the refugees of war, the soldiers haunted by images they can’t forget, and the families left without answers. A world away from the film industry in many respects and inseparable from it in others. I loved these contrasts – and others – that Jenner captures so vividly, and I often caught myself thinking about the poetry of them as I read this moving story.
I enjoyed seeing famed film stars of the day like a young Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner, and Gina Lollobrigida as ‘regular’ people (while still being set apart… another contrast) and getting an inside look at the workings of a movie studio in the 1950s in post-war Italy. But really this is just the canvas on which Jenner paints a poignant picture of grief, love, faith, and friendship -the means that connects the main players whose paths otherwise would not have crossed. The real story in Every Time We Say Goodbye is of brave women who dare to do courageous things. Whether they gave up their life, their love, their child, their career, their dreams, or even their regrets, I was fascinated by these vibrant characters who dared to do what was right for the sake of more than just themselves. This, to me, is the strength of Jenner’s latest novel and what kept me turning the pages.
Bottom Line: Nothing about Every Time We Say Goodbye played out the way I expected it to but the story ended up being so much more meaningful because of the unexpected turns it took. As with the other book I have read by Natalie Jenner, I closed this one with a deep sense of thoughtfulness, pondering the lessons can be gleaned as well as their continued relevance. I enjoyed reacquainting myself with Vivien and other familiar faces from Bloomsbury Girls, and I equally enjoyed the parade of new personalities that Vivien encounters in the world of Italian cinema. Some parts of the novel dragged a bit in the middle, in my opinion, overladen with more telling than showing, but not so much that I lost interest in the overall story. Mainly due to the fascinating profile of the young, female assassin for the Italian Resistance – it completely captivated me, and I loved the way that Jenner intersects this character with Vivien’s story too. Another meticulously researched and immersive novel from a rising star in historical fiction.
Reviewer’s Note: Followers of my reviews may want to be aware that there is some occasional, mild cursing (plus one profanity), innuendo, and non-explicit closed-door implications of extra-marital intimacies.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Y’all. The Road Before Us checked all the boxes for me. In fact, I would dare to call it a ‘perfect read’. It has wit, it has heart, it has depth, it Y’all. The Road Before Us checked all the boxes for me. In fact, I would dare to call it a ‘perfect read’. It has wit, it has heart, it has depth, it has Old Hollywood, it has Route 66 and a cool car, it has a swoony Samoan hero, it has KISSES!! And that’s honestly just a drop in the bucket. I picked it up, intending to read a couple of chapters before I went to sleep, and the next thing I know it’s 4am and I’ve read the whole thing. I already know my review won’t do it justice, but that’s not going to stop me from trying.
The three main characters in The Road Before Us are so beautifully layered and they continue to become all the more compelling as we dig into those layers. These backstories are revealed to us in stages as Janine Rosche’s brilliant storytelling alternates effortlessly between the present day, 1956, and 2003, and it all came together just perfectly. Jade, Benny, and Bridger are each at a critical juncture in their lives, and the intersection of these separate life-changing events (in addition to the one that connects all three of them) not only makes their shared road trip down historic Route 66 both poignant and Providential, it’s also one of my favorite aspects to this story. Rosche tackles some sensitive issues in this book, ranging from racism to elder care and a host of things in between like parental kidnapping, adoption fraud, Ponzi schemes, addiction, and sexual harassment. But wow, does she ever do a fabulous job presenting these topics with grace and insight, making us love these characters even more in the process, and balancing the ‘heavy’ with well-timed humor and romance.
My other favorite part of this story? The banter – and sparks – between Bridger & Jade. Oh my goodness. I laughed out loud several times (“He’s celibate.”), I swooned A LOT, and I even shed a few tears once or twice. They are so cute together, despite (or I should more accurately say ‘due to’) being apparent polar opposites for most of the book. There is so much more to these two, though, than his ‘doing yoga in an elevator’ free spirit and her buttoned-up heart, and I absolutely loved getting to know their true selves and watching them fall for each other. I can’t stop grinning at how much I enjoyed these two, their shared journey, and their respective relationships with precious, feisty Benny.
Bottom Line: The Road Before Us by Janine Rosche is everything I want a road trip story to be – and more. Not only did it sweep me up in a profound exploration of the complexities of love and family and life in general, it also played triumphant tribute to finding our purpose & place. I experienced all the emotions as I rode down Route 66 with Jade, Benny, and Bridger, sometimes with laughter and other times with tears but always with joy in the story itself. The same story that let me play tourist, treated me to two swoony love stories, left me pondering some newfound perspectives, and kept me thoroughly entertained! These three characters have permanently etched themselves on my heart, and I’ll be thinking about them for a long time to come.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
I grew up watching the Bruce Boxleitner/Kate Jackson spy show Scarecrow & Mrs. King which pitted the dashing spy (code name Scarecrow) and his common I grew up watching the Bruce Boxleitner/Kate Jackson spy show Scarecrow & Mrs. King which pitted the dashing spy (code name Scarecrow) and his common sense civilian sidekick (a divorced mom of two) against KGB operatives who seemed to be lurking around every corner. Ahhh the 1980s and the height of the more modern-day Cold War. Given my love for (aka slight obsession with) that TV show and growing up in the 1980s, I have a soft spot in my heart for stories that take place against this backdrop. So, needless to say, when A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay came across my book radar, I knew I had to read it.
The author seamlessly takes us back and forth between the early days of the Cold War, just after World War 2, and then to the arms race of the 1980s, both eras full of tangible tension, heart-in-your-throat intrigue, and a dash of romance. Through the engrossing narratives of Ingrid Bauer in the 1940s and Anya Kadinova in the 1980s, readers are given a behind-the-scenes look at the espionage that not only kept MI6 and the CIA a step ahead of the KGB but also took a stand against the Soviet Regime and even saved lives. For each woman there is a defining moment where they decide they are no longer content to toe the party line and choose to fight back against their oppressive government – at great personal risk. Reay beautifully captures their motivations, their emotions, their passionate quests for freedom and peace, and most importantly their courage.
I was fascinated by the cast of characters that helped tell their story, from other agents to handlers to friends and family. Besides Ingrid and Anya, I especially loved Dolores, Dimitri, Scott, Reginald, and Adam. I have a feeling you’ll love them once you meet them too. Some of the people you’ll encounter on these pages are actual historic figures – and if you know your Cold War history you may know how some of the story will play out. But I can guarantee you won’t be able to predict everything.
Bottom Line: A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay immerses the reader in the heart-in-your-throat, always-sweep-for-bugs world of Cold War espionage. But even more than that, it is a compelling character study of two women who have loved deeply, lost much, and decided to do their part to fight for hope. It will leave you reflecting on those throughout history who have dared to reflect Light in the darkness, who have counted the cost of doing the hard thing because it’s the right thing, and who, in so doing, have found the kind of freedom that no one can take away. The ending absolutely undid me, and the epilogue absolutely delighted me. The perfect book club read with much to discuss!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Two elements initially drew me to Deadly Summer Nights – that gorgeous cover & the fact that Vicki Delany wrote it. I’m delighted (and not surprised) Two elements initially drew me to Deadly Summer Nights – that gorgeous cover & the fact that Vicki Delany wrote it. I’m delighted (and not surprised) to report that the story inside is just as good as it looks like it would be. The author easily transports readers to a Catskills resort in the 1950s as she vividly sets the scene and the era through her descriptions and characters. The stirrings of the Red Scare (which hit close to home for Elizabeth and her eclectic band of family, friends & coworkers) further add to the atmospheric mood of the well-plotted mystery. Elizabeth’s no-nonsense approach to life, the byplay of reality vs assumptions (cleverly seen in several different areas of the book), and even a hint of romance potential kept me invested in Deadly Summer Nights from beginning to end.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)...more
“Just might be that after all the twists and turns, God’s not done writing our story yet.”
I fell in love with Grandma Rosie in Roots of Wood and Stone“Just might be that after all the twists and turns, God’s not done writing our story yet.”
I fell in love with Grandma Rosie in Roots of Wood and Stone – in many ways, she reminds me of my own grandmothers and their journey through Alzheimer’s. Her relationship with her grandchildren fed some weary places in my own heart in that first book, but in this book… oh, yall… in this book we get inside Grandma Rosie’s head and heart and soul – and it was everything beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. Wen’s grace-filled writing voice has perfectly captured the essence of a person with Alzheimer’s/dementia, and she uses that gift to elevate the story beyond what you think it will be into something so precious that I’m still thinking about it.
It was lovely to spend time with Garrett and Sloane from book one, too, but it’s Garrett’s sister Lauren who steps into the spotlight in The Songs That Could Have Been. When she stumbles into her first love in the makeup aisle (yes, you read that right – it’s such a fun way to start the story!), she can’t help but be drawn to Carter all over again, despite how his long-ago rejection set her life on a trajectory from which she’s still recovering. Yet she’s not the only one with a secret, self-destructive past, and when these two secrets collide none of us will walk away from this read unchanged. In looking at Carter & Lauren’s past and present journeys – as well as the part of her own history that Grandma Rosie has kept under lock and key – Wen gently and lyrically reminds us that all of us are broken and that only Jesus can fully bind up those broken places and break the chains that have held us captive.
Bottom Line: Against a backdrop that could be overwhelmingly sad in the wrong hands, Amanda Wen instead infuses The Songs That Could Have Been with joy, warmth, love, grace and hope. Moments of well-timed wit and sweet romance subplots will lift your heart, harmonizing exquisitely with the larger melody being sung across the pages and soothing any tender marks the story may have left on your heart (or your toes). I laughed, I swooned, and I cried a little, too – all my emotions were engaged by these layered characters, just as they were while reading book one. But even more importantly I learned some things about myself and was reminded of some things about my Savior. This is a book that will linger in my heart for days to come and should be on everyone’s TBR lists.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
I thoroughly enjoyed A Wagon Train Weekend and could not wait for another visit to The Depot B&B. This series has all the things I love – magical realI thoroughly enjoyed A Wagon Train Weekend and could not wait for another visit to The Depot B&B. This series has all the things I love – magical realism, romance, great kisses, great characters, fun settings – and Falling for the Fifties continues the enjoyment!
In the first book, Collette & Seth get zapped back in time to the Oregon Trail together so they are able to help each other adjust to all the things, which worked perfectly for the greater story McGee was telling in that book. In Falling for the Fifties, Maddie & Nathaniel are sent to 1956 at the same time too, and from the same place, but the twist in this novel is that they had never met in the present. So when they meet up in the fifties, they have no idea that the other is going through the same ‘what the heck is going on’ experiences. To say I LOVED THIS TWIST is putting it mildly. It added layers to their greater story that I wouldn’t have imagined otherwise, and I spent the majority of the novel on the edge of my seat waiting for one of them to figure it out. (Me: Hum that song a little longer, Nathaniel – you’ve almost got it! lol)
The complexities of why Maddie and Nathaniel are each transported back in time to 1956 serve as some of those marvelous layers I mentioned above. Added to their instant chemistry, their shared songs at the dance, the way they seem exactly made for each other, their kisses (swoon!), it all just makes their love story so enjoyable to root for. Knowing things as a reader that they don’t know as characters sharpened that entertainment value even more.
Bottom Line: Falling for the Fifties by Stephenia H. McGee is everything I want in a time travel novel! On its pages you’ll find so much to love – history, humor, romance, faith, hope, adventure, magical realism, and the breathlessness of a story well told. Engaging characters and a multi-dimensional plot strengthen it even further, and the way McGee ties all of these layers together brought pure enjoyment to my reader heart and a smile to my face. I cannot wait for book 3, and I for one would love for the series to continue beyond that. So many stories that could be told – oh the possibilities!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Brighton’s favorite secret agent turned debt collector turned amateur sleuth is back with another intriguing case! In this third Mirabelle Bevan book,Brighton’s favorite secret agent turned debt collector turned amateur sleuth is back with another intriguing case! In this third Mirabelle Bevan book, the dignified heroine continues to recover from the loss of her paramour – much the same way England continues its own postwar recovery. Clever dialog and familiar characters carry on the lighter ‘dignified cozy’ tone of the series, and Mirabelle and Vesta make a solid team. In this particular case, the number of bodies piles up – as do the suspects – and sometimes it’s difficult to keep track of them all. A few scenes do require some suspension of disbelief, and it’s a shame that Vesta’s character is not yet more developed. ...more
Not only do I get my Nancy Drew fix, but we also get to go to SCOTLAND!!! Men in kilts. Feisty landladies. Red phone booths. Wellies. Aftern4.5 stars
Not only do I get my Nancy Drew fix, but we also get to go to SCOTLAND!!! Men in kilts. Feisty landladies. Red phone booths. Wellies. Afternoon tea. History around every corner. Scotland Yard. I’m giddy! Gobsmacked, even. And the mystery is so well-written, full of twists and turns and delicious little tidbits filtered in at the perfect moment. Heather and her marvelous landlady, Mrs. K, are a dynamic duo to be sure, and Heather’s two suitors (the clobbered cad, notwithstanding) are dashing and swoonworthy. The job Heather takes introduces us to two more characters, both fabulously quirky, and I wouldn’t mind spending more time with them in future reads.
Bottom Line: The Case of the Clobbered Cad is just the right amount of campy with a dash of romance, a bit of Scottish brogue, and a delightful landlady who really needs her own series! There’s also a case – specifically about a clobbered cad, as the title would suggest – packed with intrigue and plenty of suspects. If you wished there was a Nancy Drew investigative society to join when you were younger (or was that just me…), you will fall in love with the Nosy Parkers and especially Heather Munro! Can’t wait for more from this author and this series!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
When Alice’s Notions by Tamera Lynn Kraft starts out, you may be tempted to think it will be a sweet historical story about a young woman learning to When Alice’s Notions by Tamera Lynn Kraft starts out, you may be tempted to think it will be a sweet historical story about a young woman learning to navigate life as a war widow. And while it IS an historical story about a young war widow, it’s so much more than that. It’s full of intrigue, suspense, ROMANCE, and a heartfelt plot line on overcoming prejudices and assumptions. And did I mention romance? Because that first kiss is a doozy! A couple of subsequent ones are too. Whew!
Kraft has done a great job with setting and history; the added touches throughout help readers feel immersed in the era. (Though, I have to say, from the perspective of my 21st century sensibilities, the words “doll” and “dame” for women got old real fast!) Kraft has also perfectly captured the general fear that pervaded the world – particularly the United States – during the post WW2 Cold War. In Alice’s Notions, it shows up most clearly in the struggle with prejudice that Alice and many other people in Burning Bush face when her “displaced immigrant” turns out to be a German. But Greta is too much of a help for Alice to turn her away outright, and I really loved watching their friendship develop as Alice comes to know Greta’s heart. This fear-based prejudice is so timely for our world today as well, even if it has a different face.
Bottom Line: Alice’s Notions by Tamera Lynn Kraft is full of great kisses, yes, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a look at a tumultuous time in our nation’s history and how fear can strangle us if we give it a foothold. It’s also a story of courage, of intrigue, and of heroism. It surprised me in many ways, and I loved the glimpses inside an era we don’t read about much in fiction anymore. This novel reminds me of the Cary Grant/Audrey Hepburn movie “Charade”, so if you love that movie you’ll really enjoy this story as well!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Beauty and Attention is smartly written with interesting characters and a look back at a fascinating time in world history. A loose remake of Henry JaBeauty and Attention is smartly written with interesting characters and a look back at a fascinating time in world history. A loose remake of Henry James’ Portrait of a Lady, the story follows Libby Archer through grief and independence and self-discovery.
This novel started out strong for me, the characters well-defined and the plot intriguing. I liked Libby and Henrietta (Henry) and their friendship, and great possibilities awaited Libby’s journey to Ireland to visit relatives. (I did not know at the time that Beauty and Attention is an homage to Portrait of a Lady or I might have had different expectations.) However, as the novel continued – and Libby was on her own, away from Henrietta’s more vibrant personality – I found I didn’t quite see why everyone was so drawn to Libby. Other than her sweetness, she seems flat and weak. While she seemed independent at first, this either isn’t developed beyond people saying that she is … or she never really was in actuality. Perhaps this was intentional on the author’s part, but it didn’t endear me to Libby.
And really, that’s an example of my main issue overall with Beauty and Attention – just when I began to enjoy a character or an aspect of the plot, the character disappeared or the plot shifted abruptly.
Bottom Line: Overall, Beauty and Attention is a fine book. As an adaptation of Portrait of a Lady, it’s very good. It just didn’t hold my attention. But the beauty of literature is that what doesn’t appeal to me may very well be your favorite book. The author’s writing voice is engaging, and her ability to create setting is excellent.
Reviewer’s Note: Readers should be aware that there is swearing in this book, though it is a minimal amount and not excessive.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
Salina’s story is one of the natural ups and downs that come with being a 12-year-old girl. Especially a 12-year-old girl who hates change. Add to theSalina’s story is one of the natural ups and downs that come with being a 12-year-old girl. Especially a 12-year-old girl who hates change. Add to the mix that she’s a 12-year-old girl in 1949 rural Tennessee, and you have a new set of issues to deal with too. Like the rumors of a new road that might cut right through their farmland… or being torn between two friends from very different social statuses… or taking a train out of the mountain into Nashville for the very first time… or waiting with bated breath to hear back from Margaret Mitchell about whether Rhett ever returned to Scarlett.
Come Next Spring is one of those books that you can read in an evening – and you’ll want to curl up with a warm quilt and a hot beverage while you do. The characters are engaging and memorable, and it’s easy to imagine them as real people who lived and breathed and laughed and loved. Scooter is my favorite character – a little quirky, a lot different from the status quo but not so different from Salina after all. (I know this was written 25 years ago, but Scooter reminds me of Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter series!)
Sweet and inspiring, Come Next Spring is rich with a history largely undiscussed today. As the mountains become less of a home and more of a tourist destination, the effects of a world war still linger even as rumors of another loom. Though it is geared toward younger readers, adults will also enjoy it. My only complaint is that I want a sequel! I would love to know where these compelling characters end up ten, twenty years down the road.
Reviewer's Note: Readers may want to be aware that there are a couple of very minor curse words used occasionally in this book.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
The Last Relicuin is one of those books that’s difficult for me to put into a specific genre category. On the one hand it’s definitely dystopian. But The Last Relicuin is one of those books that’s difficult for me to put into a specific genre category. On the one hand it’s definitely dystopian. But while it takes place in the future, it also in a sense takes place in history. And that’s what makes it such a fascinating read. There’s also some suspense and some politics and some romance and some family drama – a little something for everyone!
The museum dwellers spend years in training at a special academy, learning to live in various periods of world history. There is no time travel, per se, except in the ways each “museum” adapts to whichever era they represent. If you’ve seen one of the living history museums that continue to be popular, you have some sort of an idea of what this is like – but the museum dwellers take this to a whole other level. As readers of The Last Relicuin, we spend a lot of time at the American Farm Museum setting, right out of the 1950s – a community of people who dress, talk, eat, and live like a farming community from that era. It’s not the only museum we become acquainted with, however, and each one is equally as fascinating.
As tensions escalate between the glassers and the dwellers, the level of suspense in the book rises too and the tone of the book shifts ever so slightly. There are several of these adjustments throughout the story, and for me these shifts made it somewhat difficult to stay consistently engaged. The characters I thought were the focus end up not really being the focus. That actually happens two or three times over the course of the novel, and I felt like I was reading a story in at least three parts. If each section had been isolated/divided, it might have been less distracting.
Bottom Line: Overall, The Last Relicuin is quite compelling in its story concept, perhaps a bit less so in its execution. The idea of people who immerse themselves in an era of history is both fascinating and tempting, and the portrayal of the dystopian society is only a few believable steps away from our own present culture. Some tighter editing and a different structure (a story in parts, perhaps?) may have benefited the book in the long run, but fans of both science fiction and history will enjoy the novel on its own merits.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)...more
Romance is usually the high priority for me in a novel, and there is a lovely romantic thread in Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, but for once it wasn’t Romance is usually the high priority for me in a novel, and there is a lovely romantic thread in Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, but for once it wasn’t what makes this one of my top reads. That honor goes to two characters – Libby, an almost otherworldly character whose story alternately brought tears and laughter and the desire to just hug her, and Walter Doyle, a husband/father who wants to do the right thing but struggles to process the disappointments he’s been dealt without hurting those he loves. Today, we would say Libby is on the autism spectrum but in the 1950s/60s part of this dual timeline novel they didn’t have that much knowledge – or vocabulary – about autism. As a result, Dobson treats us to tender insight into Libby’s complex personality, highlighting what makes her so special, what makes it so difficult for her to fit in (even with her family) and what makes the world so dangerous to her.
As for Walter, the sacrifices he makes for his family (long after the reasons for those sacrifices are forgotten by most), despite the fact that life hasn’t turned out at all like he’d thought it would, is redemptive in the questions it provokes in our own hearts as well. Not only that but Walter’s choices and actions are a poignant demonstration of how God makes beauty from the ashes in our lives.
"She saw a rainbow of colors where other people saw only black and white."
The other characters besides Libby and Walter are all just as layered and clearly drawn, flawed and redemptive, their stories in turns heartbreaking and uplifting – always compelling. Maggie, possibly the most broken character in this story as she realizes that her flawed choices will chase her the rest of her life, choices that set in motion a multi-generational pattern affecting her descendants for decades. Oliver, the prized son of the aristocratic Crofts, manor-house neighbors to Walter & Maggie Doyle’s humble cottage. “….his parents treated him more like a piece of pottery – shaping and molding him into the distinguished Lord of Ladenbrooke. No one had ever asked him if he wanted to be lord.” Heather, who grounds us in the present-day timeline as she returns home to sell the family cottage, also the one who brings to light the ‘shadows’ of – stunning – family secrets. Christopher and a host of other supporting characters who add their own blend of dimension and emotion to this gorgeous story.
Finally, Dobson sets the scene so perfectly, the Cotswald countryside coming alive with her descriptions, you’ll feel as though you’re right there in the middle of either timeline. The narrative switches easily back and forth between the past and present timelines, as well as utilizing multiple voices/perspectives. It’s all done so seamlessly and smartly though, there’s no effort for the reader either in making the mental switch back and forth between characters or timelines. You just become absorbed in every page, in all the feels the story evokes.
Bottom Line: I know this review is interminably long, but I still don’t feel like I’ve done it justice. Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor is the kind of novel that you want to savor, drinking in every bit of its beautiful prose and compelling characters, yet you find yourself so caught up in the story that you can’t linger for wanting to find out what will happen next. I wept more than once, particular scenes touching my heart deeply – whether because the descriptions were so tender and vivid or because that aspect of the plot was so emotional. This isn’t a light read but it’s ultimately so redemptive that it’s a must-read.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
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