Her Hidden Hope

Her Hidden Hope by Jill Lynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Her Hidden Hope is the fourth book in a series titled The Colorado Grooms. It's a nice, light breezy read, but I really enjoyed that the characters are imperfect, flawed people. Without going into details, the main characters had messed up but moved on as well and put their lives back together. All in all an enjoyable read demonstrating grace, mercy, and love.

I received a complementary copy and was not required to write a positive review.

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Becoming Mrs. Lewis

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan has just been released in an expanded edition which includes discussion questions, a timeline, and several other "extras." Originally published in 2018, Becoming Mrs. Lewis was awarded the 2019 Christy Award. Knowing this, when the opportunity came about to read this book, I grabbed it because it's C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman.

A large part of this books consists of letters written back and forth between Lewis and Davidman while she was still married to her first husband. As Davidman had recently become a believer and was introduced to C.S. Lewis' non-fiction works, it was natural for her write as she was a published author herself. As their friendship grew, life circumstances took her to England where she met Lewis in person. Later returning to England with her two young sons, she continued her friendship with Lewis who also helped her to find a school for her sons and introduced her to others. During this time frame their relationship was very platonic but Callahan's version of the story definitely shows how Joy was finding herself falling for him.

One of the first things to remember when reading this book is that while based on the true story of Lewis and Davidman's exchange of letters and then marriage,it is fiction and Callahan emphasizes that she imagined the letters based on the research she did. I did find reading these imagined letters and the story which is written from Joy Davidman's point of view a bit uncomfortable as it definitely plays up a physical attraction that Joy felt for Lewis. However, it also demonstrates the humanity of someone whom we are prone to put on a pedestal. After reading Becoming Mrs. Lewis, I want to go back and re-read Lewis's work and in some cases read for the first time. I also want to reacquaint myself with Davidman's work which I had previously studied as an English major.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Becoming Mrs. Lewis from Thomas Nelson Publishing via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

That Time of Life

If you say "Hot Flashes!" around anyone, their mind automatically heads to menopause. While not quite there yet, that time of life is certainly sneaking up on me, so the book Seven Transforming Gifts of Menopause seemed like an appropriate title to read. Unfortunately, menopause or "the change" carries a lot of baggage and is often used to demean and put down women.

Author Cheryl Bridges Johns is Chair of Spiritual Renewal at Pentecostal Theological Seminary. For each chapter, she emphasizes that women may have been taught one thing, such as women should be quiet and not have a voice, but that the Bible doesn't teach that. Johns then shares how menopause is a wonderful time to transform that area or aspect of your life by embracing your true self or finding the voice that you may have hidden or not felt comfortable using. Cheryl Bridges Johns does marvelous job of combining spiritual teaching and stories from her own life and those of other women. Some of the stories such as that of a woman being asked to leave a women's retreat for asking questions and being disruptive rather than being quiet and simply a container to be filled will make you angry and wonder what would happen in your church setting. Johns pulls in other scholarly research as well to back up her points. She writes as an older, wiser friend who has already experienced these gifts and wishes to help others experience menopause as transforming gifts rather than closing the door on possibilities.

I would encourage any woman regardless of their age or their proximity to this time period to read Seven Transforming Gifts of Menopause. If you are currently in this phase, it will be encouraging and help you to embrace your future years with gusto. If this phase is in your near future, reading this book will help you to begin thinking about these gifts and how you can embrace them fully. If either of these categories describe you, Johns also includes wonderful questions for both person reflection and group reflection which makes this perfect for a study or book group. If menopause is far in the future, you still might find this a useful book. Many of the gifts described, as the title suggests, focus on transforming a viewpoint or action that you may find useful to implement now. All in all, no matter your age, Johns helps you to become more comfortable with the life changes we all go through and with who you are and the unique gifts God has given to you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Seven Transforming Gifts of Menopause from Brazos Press/Baker Publishing Group via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

World War II, French Resistance, Woman Spy!

Code Name Helene is the most recent addition to World War II books that focus on the important work of women in the war effort. Not only is Code Name Helene a delightful peak into the French resistance, but it is based on the true story of "la souris blanche." I won't go into this true story much as I don't want to spoil the plot but know that author Ariel Lawhon did her research!

Code Name Helene tells the exciting story of Nancy Wake from her first interactions with Nazis in the mid-1903s to her first innocent involvement in the Reistance to becoming a full-fledged British SOE working with the French Resistance and helping to end the war. Nancy, who goes by several different code names throughout the book, is a truly enjoyable and likeable character. She has definite flaws but is also a "girl next door" type who does whatever it takes to get the job done. Lawhon does a wonderful job of creating several contrasting characters who act as foils to Nancy. Lawhon also employs flashbacks to gradually unfold the back story of how Nancy became part of the Resistance and what happens to her beloved husband while simultaneously telling the story of her work with the French Resistance during the last year of World War II.

There is so much to enjoy about this book! As it is set in the middle of the war and in France, there is certainly a good deal of cursing (Merdre!) and drinking, but it's war. Reading about the deprivations and hardships of Resistance fighters and everyday people during the war made our minor quarantine issues seem minute in comparison. Code Name Helene definitely deserves to be added to your to read pile.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Code Name Helene from Doubleday via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The Mountains Sing

The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Mountains Sing tells the story of a Vietnamese family over several generations. This story moves from when Viet Nam was a French colony prior to World War II through the Viet Nam conflict and then ends in the present day. Not being very familiar with the history of Viet Nam, The Mountains Sing provides an up close look at the horrific experiences of the Tran family throughout several generations. Told primarily from the grandmother's point of view, the story follow them as their family rises to a place of influence, is brought down to the depths of poverty and despair, and cycles through everything between and in particular highlights societal conflict among the Vietnamese people.

The Mountains Sing is not a fast or easy read. The story is a bit slow-paced as the narrator changes from the grandmother to the granddaughter frequently. Their experiences are frequently horrific and not easy to read. The story also provides a first-hand look at the customs and beliefs of the primarily Buddhist characters. Readers who enjoy reading diverse books or family sagas may enjoy The Mountains Sing.

I received a complementary copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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A Cozy Mystery

Death on the Page by Essie Lang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Death on the Page is the second book in The Castle Bookshop Mystery Series by Essie Lang. This was a quick, enjoyable read. I found that the book while a mystery was not gruesome at all but simply a nice "who did it." Lang kept my attention until the end and wanting to find out who committed the crime. While I had my suspicions from the long list of potential suspects, I was not completely sure until the end.

I had not read the first book in this series. I found that Death on the Page can be read as a stand-alone book. However, Lang does include frequent allusions to the first book. As such, being familiar with the first book and thus knowing more about the main character would make Death on the Page that much more enjoyable.

I received a complementary copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley.

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Children of the Stars

Children of the Stars by Mario Escobar is an incredibly well-researched novel that pulls back the curtains on a lesser-told story of World War II involving Jews who escaped to Argentina. This novel, originally written and published in Spain, has just been released in English.

As the title suggest, this novel focuses on children--particularly Jacob and Moses Stein. Their story begins the day that Parisian Jews were rounded up to the Velodrome where these boys outsmart the Nazis and French Gendarmes. Knowing they want to find their parents who had already left Paris in hopes of finding their way to safety, Jacob and Moses embark on a trip throughout France. Following the trail of their parents, they encounter numerous kind individuals who assist them on their journey as well as numerous incidents where they out-maneuver individuals set on capturing them. Their journey takes them through the little known Le Chambon-Sur-Lignon, a French village where Protestant Christians actively hid many Jewish refugees and helped them to safety. Jacob and Moses' journey extends beyond France to reunite with their parents in Argentina.

Children of the Stars is told primarily from the viewpoint of Jacob Stein, the older brother. In addition to their harrowing journey, the story depicts his growth from a child to becoming a young adult. The responsibilities he took on of caring for his younger brother and seeking his parents, combined with the travesties of war, forced him to grow up quickly. While not hiding the atrocities of war, Children of the Stars does not include gratuitous adult situations.

Most of the time when I spy a World War II book, I'm going to read it although I often find the writing and coverage to be inconsistent and some topics to be overdone. Children of the Stars by Mario Escobar definitely does not fall into this category and needs to find a place on your to-be-read list. Appropriate for teens and could even be used as a read-aloud for middle-school students.

I was provided a complementary digital copy from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers. I am not required to give a positive opinion and all opinions are my own.