book recommendation

Book Recommendation: A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

July 31, 2017 2 Comments

I tore through A Name Unknown like I had nothing else to do but read (if only that were true). I mean, I really had a hard time putting it down, and I yearned for the moment I could pick up the book again. And I also so love working with Bethany House Publishers because they continually offer quality stories.

Book Recommendation Review of A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

On a scale of cotton candy to Brussels sprouts, A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White is Rhubarb Strawberry Crunch. This sweet dish combines an earthy root with a sun-kissed berry. Although coming from seemingly different worlds, rhubarb and strawberries compliment each other. Charged with sweetness, this dish isn’t just softness but offers a bit of crunch, too.

Rosemary Gresham, posing as a librarian but actually a skilled thief, plans to steal Peter Holstein’s house and reveal him as a traitor to England as tensions heighten between Germany and England. She’ll be in and out, leaving with exactly what she wants. But then, in the search for the right paperwork, Rosemary discovers something else. With this new information, will she be able to finish the job?

The characterization of Rosemary and Peter was stunning. I felt as though I had never met anyone quite like either of them, and yet, I also felt as though I had known them forever. Rosemary exuded brash confidence, wordiness, and hardiness while Peter exhibited those same qualities in quieter ways. I absolutely loved these characters, and they stand out as the best part of this story.

Reflecting on the story thread, I enjoyed the history and absolutely delighted in the chance to meet Prince Edward for just a moment. Although certain historical events pushed the story forward, I think the heart of the story rested with Rosemary, Peter, and the townspeople as they responded to each other and these events. Story-wise, I almost wanted the “bad guy” to be badder because the stakes never felt quite high enough. Doom hinted along the edges, but I longed for a moment where Doom left no oxygen for anyone else. In this, I don’t think the story ever reached that pause. However, I did giggle at the wit and interaction between characters, and I even shed a few tears as Rosemary grappled with her core beliefs about herself.

I really enjoyed this book, and I definitely suggest it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and a feisty heroine.

Buy A Name Unknown

Buy it on Amazon (and support this blog – no extra charge to you)

A Name Unknown Struggles

The bad guy. I struggled with the bad guy because he always seemed to be along the edges of the stories, and I guess someone might argue that the inner demons that both main characters dealt with were also the bad guys. Yes, true, but this story had a real live “bad guy,” and I just didn’t think he was that bad. He never did anything that felt like truly life-threatening.

Which brings me to that moment where the reader wonders, “Will they make it?” You know that part, where you’re about 3/4ths through the book? Yes, that part. I just didn’t believe that Rosemary and Peter were really about to lose it all. Maybe this is just me.

But hold up, I’m completely enthralled with the characters.

A Name Unknown Loves

So if you read the above review, then you know that I’m so enthralled with the characters that Roseanna M. White created for this series. Actually, I happened upon a blog post of hers where she introduced the crew of thieves that Rosemary grew up in, and I knew I had to read A Name Unknown.

Seriously, I loved the variety of personalities and characteristics that showed up throughout the story. I adored that Peter and Rosemary were so awkward and yet so fully themselves. Really, you should read A Name Unknown just so you can meet these two.

Also, I think I’m a little bit in love with Rosemary’s cohort, Barclay. Shhhhhhh. And yes, I know he’s not much in this story, but I like him. I just know it.

What are you reading right now?

Book Recommendation (and Giveaway): Hope Prevails by Dr. Michelle Bengtson

June 26, 2017 4 Comments

Depression hounds the most unlikely people. As humans, we often make rash judgments on others based on social media and other factors, but we can’t truly know what struggles are hidden under the Snapchat filters. The reality of Depression shadows my life (I have loved ones with Depression) and the lives of others.

In college, I recall a crush explaining to me that someone who had Depression just must not have enough faith in God to get better. Fury boiled through me. How dare someone judge another person’s faith by that person’s struggle? Lucky for that gentleman, someone else jumped in with good argument because I was past the ability to make conversation. Oh, and yeah, my crush was over.

When Hope Prevails by Dr. Michelle Bengtson arrived at the top of my reading pile, I was excited to see her take on Depression. I might not have too deep of a personal understanding of it, but I wanted to know more. And somehow, Hope Prevails offered me hope, too.

Book Recommendation: Hope Prevails by Dr. Michelle Bengtson

Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey through Depression incorporates medical knowledge with personal experience of Depression. In 12 chapters, Dr. Michelle Bengtson establishes an intuitive look at the symptoms, mentality, and effects of Depression on a life. At the end of each chapter, she includes a few questions or suggestions for introspection. She also includes a prayer and a list of music.

In format, I thought Hope Prevails was very easy to read, and I enjoyed the personal understanding of Depression that Dr. Bengtson offered.

“We lose our peace when we hide our brokenness.” – Dr. Michelle Bengtson

Despite not being clinically depressed, I underlined statements and dog-eared (gasp) pages. Every life has experienced difficulty that causes the question of whether or not hope actually does exist. And so, even though I picked up Hope Prevails to understand my loved ones better, I met encouragements personal to me.

About Hope Prevails

As a board-certified neuropsychologist, Dr. Michelle Bengtson believed she was prescribing the most effective treatments for her clients who struggled with depression. But when she experienced debilitating depression herself, she found that the treatments she had recommended weren’t helping her the way she expected. She was determined to find out what was missing.

With the deep compassion of someone who has been there, Dr. Bengtson blends her training and that vital missing piece she discovered to offer you a hope grounded in God’s love and grace. She helps you understand what depression is, how it affects you spiritually, and what, by God’s grace, depression cannot do. The result is an approach that offers not just the management of symptoms but the hope of true release.

Keep up Dr. Bengtson on Social Media!

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My Struggles: Hope Prevails

Honestly, as someone who does not know debilitating Depression like others, I’m not sure that I’m qualified to talk about what I struggled with in this book. For me, Dr. Bengtson seemed almost too chipper sometimes. But somehow she still included the nitty gritty parts of what her experience looked like without being to exhausting on the details. I think she hit this balance well since she wants to help with Depression and not add to it!

My LOVES: Hope Prevails

I really enjoyed the details of the questions, prayer, and music at the end of each chapter. In a way, this made the book almost a multi-sensory experience. Personally, I think music can speak much more deeply than other things. And I appreciated that Hope Prevails offered some encouragement to me as well.

Hope Prevails could possible be a good gift for some people I know with Depression. However, giving this gift would require sensitivity to their journey.

Hope Prevails Giveaway

The Blog Spot and Dr. Michelle Bengtson have made it possible for me to offer YOU a free paperback copy of Hope Prevails. At this time, this giveaway is only open to the USA. However, if you’re international and you’re willing to pay shipping, feel free to enter (but it might be cheaper to purchase a copy online). Please, one entry per individual (two comments by one person still only counts as one entry).

How To Enter:

Leave a comment below answering one of the questions: How do you foster hope in your life? What types of activities give you hope? Does something keep you from feeling hope?

Contest Closes on June 30th, Friday, at midnight, EST.

I will then randomly select a winner from the comments (with a helpful website), and I will notify the winner via email.

Book Recommendation: Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette

May 29, 2017 4 Comments

I love being a part of book reviewer groups because I meet so many new authors. Two things drew me to Wings of the Wind: the cover and the heroine. I have a soft spot for a woman who chooses to dress up like a man to fight in a battle. Basically, if that’s part of the story, I want to read it.

Does anyone else have a similar bent?

Cordially Barbara Review

On a scale of cotton candy to Brussels sprouts, Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette is a caramel covered apple dipped in peanuts. The bumpy brown exterior hides the fresh and sweet center of a natural source of wake-me-up power, whether nature’s caffeine or the crunching chew.

[Copy received from Bethany House Publishers. Opinion is my own.]

Alanah sets out to avenge the deaths of her Canaanite family when her people march against the Israelites who are rumored to be planning on taking over the land. She is wounded badly, and an Israelite man (Tobiah) saves her. Although trust grows between them, Alanah flees when she is faced with the darkness of her own soul. Will she forgive herself? Will she allow Tobiah to forgive her?

Ever since I was a young girl, I have always admired women who chose to forsake normal convention to fight for their beliefs or their family. As soon as I read the book back, I knew I had to read this story. Alanah is everything I hope to be and more with her strengths, smarts, and even weaknesses.

The thing I didn’t expect was that I walked away from a fiction book with a deeper non-fiction perspective of God’s righteousness. The God of Biblical times and that same God of Today is set apart. He is righteous. Just as he is righteous, I should strain to live a life focused on becoming more and more like him.

I would love for you to read this book and share with me your thoughts on it. Did you like it? Did you sense an over-arching then like mine? What drew you to Alanah?

About the Book

Title: Wings of the Wind (Out from Egypt #3)

Genre: Inspirational>Historical>Romance

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

(from Amazon) Alanah, a Canaanite, is no stranger to fighting and survival. When her family is killed in battle with the Hebrews, she disguises herself and sneaks onto the battlefield to avenge her family. The one thing she never counted on was surviving.

Tobiah, a Hebrew warrior, is shocked to find an unconscious, wounded woman among the Canaanite casualties. Compelled to bring her to a Hebrew healer back at their camp, he is soon confronted with a truth he can’t ignore: the only way to protect this enemy is to marry her.

Unused to being weak and vulnerable, Alanah submits to the marriage–for now. As she comes to know and respect Tobiah and his people, however, she begins to second-guess her plans of escape. But when her past has painfully unanticipated consequences, the tentative peace she’s found with Tobiah, the Hebrews, and Yahweh is shaken to the core. Can Alanah’s fierce heart and strength withstand the ensuing threats to her life and all she’s come to love?

About the Author

Connilyn Cossette is the author of the Out from Egypt Series with Bethany House Publishers. When she is not homeschooling her two sweet kiddos (with a full pot of coffee at hand), Connilyn is scribbling notes on scraps of paper, mumbling about her imaginary friends, and reading obscure out-of-print history books. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Texas where she loves the people but misses mountains, tall trees and barefoot-soft green grass. There is not much she likes better than digging into the rich, ancient world of the Bible, discovering new gems of grace that point to Jesus, and weaving them into fiction. Connect with her at www.ConnilynCossette.com

Wings of the Wind Struggles

In a book where I didn’t seem to find a single thing I didn’t like, this category feels nit-picky. However, I did notice one thing.

The book’s timeline seemed to have a haphazard pace. The first thirty days crawled (they were interesting and important) but then the next year or so sped at a much quicker pace. Although the story flowed, this still made me feel lopsided.

Wings of the Wind LOVES

The main character blew my socks off with her fierceness.
I loved the plot of the story, how the author incorporated such well known events.
I think I fell a tiny bit in love with the hero.
The theme of God’s righteousness