Showing posts with label Revell Reads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Revell Reads. Show all posts
About the Book
Author: Valerie Fraser Luesse
Genre: Christian Contemporary
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: April 29, 2025
When Edie Gardner's life in New York comes crumbling down, her grandmother Adele "Punk" Cheramie urges her to return to Bayou du Chêne, a tiny hamlet in coastal Mississippi where Edie spent many happy summers growing up. Punk and her three closest friends introduce Edie to the Trove, a fascinating gallery and antique shop that seems to have appeared out of nowhere.
The Trove's proprietor, Jason Toussaint, has a gift for reading his customers' needs. He gives Edie a Victorian parlor game called Confessions, which asks players a series of ever-more-personal questions. It seems like harmless fun at first. But the game has a way of uncovering secrets--including a heartbreaking disappearance that has haunted one of the players for decades.
Banding together, these women are determined to mend each other's hurts, encourage each other's dreams, and find the answers that will bring healing.
My Thoughts
I absolutely love the way this author writes her stories. She truly captures the essence of the setting and makes you feel like you are there. If you love that Southern charm look no further because this book is it. I wanted to be in the kitchen table with Punk, Edie and the Ten Spots enjoying some shrimp and grits while feeling the cool breeze and heat from a Mississippi summer.
Oh these characters captivated me and had me giggling and crying all at the same time. The friendships between these older ladies was so deep, they were like sisters. They had been through everything together and their bond with each other was one you want to strive for. I love that this story truly touches on every character and they each go through their own separate journeys throughout the story. However, the journey that Edie and Charlotte was beautiful. Despite it being full of grief it was good to see them work through it and rely not only on the Ten Spots but also God.
Another thing that the author did a great job in was the faith thread. I do believe that angels walk amongst us and God sends people to guide us at times and Jason in this story was just the person. That part of the storyline truly touches you and makes you think of how God is always with you.
I can't forget to mention the love story. Although that is not the focus of the story it was there and it was ever so sweet.
This book had everything needed to make it an amazing read and I definitely recommend you grab it!
I received a copy of this book for review. All views expressed are my own.
About the Author
About the Book
Author: Stephenia H. McGee
Genre: Christina Historical Romance
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: May 2, 2023
A surprise inheritance. A cache of family secrets. A choice that will change her life forever.
Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away--in jail--Lillian is startled to find that the man has left a business and all of his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.
When she goes to take possession of her father's house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by another woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye--and has put a target on her back.
To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she's always dreamed of, she'll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers--especially Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.
Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away--in jail--Lillian is startled to find that the man has left a business and all of his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.
When she goes to take possession of her father's house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by another woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye--and has put a target on her back.
To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she's always dreamed of, she'll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers--especially Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.
My Thoughts
This was my second book by Stephenia and I really enjoyed it. The Swindler's Daughter definitely had me captivated and I wanted to know more about Lillian and the predicament she finds herself in. We immediately meet her and her mother as she is being read the will from her estranged father. As soon as you meet the mother you will dislike her. She is something else! Goodness I was so glad when Lillian left to find what her father had left her. She definitely needed that time to "grow" up into her own person.
All the characters in this story were entertaining but Jonah's mother was definitely the glue that held the storyline together. Despite her getting on my nerves at times I truly enjoyed her. The love interest Jonah was great but beware this romance is a slow burn. The story truly is about Lillian finding out who she is and what she wants to be.
There is mystery and action throughout the story which keeps you turning those pages! If you enjoy Christian Historical fiction set in Georgia then you will definitely enjoy this one.
My Rating: 4 Stars/ Really Liked it
I received a copy of this book through the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About the Author
About the Book
Author: Kelli Stuart
Genre: Historical Fiction
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: April 5, 2022
In 1917, Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in The House of Faberge, was charged to protect one of the greatest secrets in Russian history--an unknown Faberge Egg that Peter Karl Faberge secretly created to honor his divided allegiance to both the people of Russia and the Imperial Czar's family. When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family.
Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance--and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined.
This modern-day treasure hunt from award-winning author Kelli Stuart transports you into the opulent and treacherous world of the Russian Revolution to unearth mysteries long buried.
Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance--and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined.
This modern-day treasure hunt from award-winning author Kelli Stuart transports you into the opulent and treacherous world of the Russian Revolution to unearth mysteries long buried.
My Thoughts
This is my first book by this author and when presented to me the summary sounded amazing and it is a dual timeline which is a favorite type of read for me. Definitely a story that I could get lost in but sadly that wasn't the case for me. There is a lot to be said for this book but I will keep my thoughts brief. Let's start with the positives. I absolutely loved the historical part of this story. The timeline that takes place in Russia was definitely my favorite part of the book. You can tell that the author did extensive research on the Faberge eggs and Faberge himself which I found quite interesting. If she wrote a book solely on that time period I may take a chance on it.
I know a lot of authors are trying this concept of writing dual timelines and I must say that after reading and reviewing quite a few of them some are more successful than others. I just felt like it was disjointed. The contemporary storyline was a bit slow and hard to get into. The characters were not relatable and I must admit that Ava just grated on my nerves. Oh, and the almost uses of mild cussing was just not necessary I also felt like the ending left some things unresolved which left me in a more blah mood about this book.
This book had no faith element whatsoever. It had no mentions of anything relating to God whatsoever. I am no prude. I am no "holier than thou" person nor do I pretend to be. I do prefer to read Christian fiction or Clean Fiction that perhaps has nothing to do with religion. So I definitely don't expect every single book that I read to have some type of faith element. However, if a book is published by a Christian publisher I do expect to be some type of mention of God or anything relating to faith. Sadly, that was not the case here.
Had it not been for her impeccable historical research this book would've been a 2 star for me but that alone brought it up to an almost 3. Obviously don't go by my thoughts, this is just my review of what I feel about the book. You may completely enjoy it so if you enjoy adventure, treasure hunt type books then give it a try and let me know what you think!
My Rating: 3 Stars/Very weak 3 stars...
I received a copy of this book through the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About the Author
Kelli Stuart is a writer and a storyteller at heart. A graduate of Baylor University with a degree in English Professional Writing, and a minor in the Russian language, Kelli has honed her skills in the written word through editing, ghostwriting, blogging, and traveling the world.
Kelli is the bestselling author of the novels Like a River From Its Course (2017 Carol Award winner for Best Historical Fiction), A Silver Willow by the Shore (2020 recipient of the IPPY Award for Literary Fiction and an NIEA winner), and The Fabulous Freaks of Monsieur Beaumont. Kelli co-authored It's a Wonderful Christmas, a collection of holiday novellas inspired by favorite Christmas films. In 2022, Kelli's fourth novel, The Master Craftsman releases.
Kelli is also co-author of the nonfiction book Life Creative: Inspiration for Today's Renaissance Mom with Wendy Speake.
Kelli currently lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband and five children.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Author: Joanna Davidson Politano
Publisher: Revell
Genre: Historical Christian Romance
Release Date: October 20, 2020
Pages: 400
Focused on a career in medicine and not on romance, Willa Duvall is thrown slightly off course during the summer of 1865 when she discovers a never-opened love letter in a crack of her old writing desk. Compelled to find the passionate soul who penned it and the person who never received it, she takes a job as a nurse at the seaside estate of Crestwicke Manor.
Everyone at Crestwicke has feelings--mostly negative ones--about the man who wrote the letter, but he seems to have disappeared. With plenty of enticing clues but few answers, Willa's search becomes even more complicated when she misplaces the letter and it passes from person to person in the house, each finding a thrilling or disheartening message in its words.
Laced with mysteries large and small, this romantic Victorian-era tale of love lost, love deferred, and love found is sure to delight
Everyone at Crestwicke has feelings--mostly negative ones--about the man who wrote the letter, but he seems to have disappeared. With plenty of enticing clues but few answers, Willa's search becomes even more complicated when she misplaces the letter and it passes from person to person in the house, each finding a thrilling or disheartening message in its words.
Laced with mysteries large and small, this romantic Victorian-era tale of love lost, love deferred, and love found is sure to delight
MY THOUGHTS
Wow! What a wonderful book definitely one of those that I could not put down. There was so much going on in this book and I definitely don't want to give too much away. There are so many things going on in this book and it all starts with the Love Note that Willa finds in her desk and boy does that Love Note take us on a journey.
Willa is a strong-willed young lady. She knows what she wants and doesn't want to back down from the goals she has set for herself. She wants to become a doctor just like her father. She wants to marry, one day, but she doesn't want to succumb to what society wants her to be. She wants to prove herself especially to her dad, in hopes to find the love that she seeks from him. She is a hurt soul.
After finding the love note she is determined not only to return it to the original author but find out this love that transcribed through this letter. She returns to Crestwicke where she becomes Mrs. Gresham's nurse and that is where the "love note" truly becomes the focus of the story. You meet so many characters in the house that are affected by the note in different and unique ways. It truly represents something different to everyone the note encounters.
I thoroughly enjoyed Willa's love story and I don't want to give it away but I am so happy she ended up with who I was rooting for the whole time! I was a little worried for a few seconds but in the end it all worked out perfectly! Willa definitely goes through a journey and I really enjoyed how the author takes you in this journey and makes you feel all the emotions these characters are feeling. She is very descriptive and you can almost picture being there with them.
Overall this book was perfection to me and I highly recommend it. It has intrigue, mystery and romance. A well rounded historical fiction book.
My Rating: 5 Stars/ Loved it!
Favorite Musings/Quotes:
"I secretly craved a taste of deeply authentic love, but I also wanted the stars and open sky."
"Then I rested in the knowledge of God's immensity that could be felt here better than anywhere else and basked in who he was. This was my love. H was my sanctuary."
(I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
About the Book
Author: Irene Hannon
Series: Triple Threat Series, Book 1
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: October 6, 2020
Pages: 384
Radio talk show host Eve Reilly is used to backlash from her pot-stirring on-air commentary and interviews, but now it seems a disgruntled listener is resorting to more than angry words to express their displeasure. When a suspicious package arrives on her doorstep, Eve turns to law enforcement for help.
Police detective Brent Lange can't find any evidence to link the string of unsettling incidents that follows, but he's convinced they're connected. As the harassment grows more menacing, it becomes clear someone wants Eve's voice silenced--permanently.
But unless he can track down her foe, fast, the gutsy woman who is willing to take risks for what she believes--and who is swiftly winning his heart--may not survive.
Bestselling author and three-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon is back with a heart-stopping new series that will have you turning pages well into the night.
Police detective Brent Lange can't find any evidence to link the string of unsettling incidents that follows, but he's convinced they're connected. As the harassment grows more menacing, it becomes clear someone wants Eve's voice silenced--permanently.
But unless he can track down her foe, fast, the gutsy woman who is willing to take risks for what she believes--and who is swiftly winning his heart--may not survive.
Bestselling author and three-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon is back with a heart-stopping new series that will have you turning pages well into the night.
My Thoughts
Wow! I honestly don't even know where to begin!! There is so much to this book that writing a review without giving anything away seems rather impossible. Although many people have recommended Irene Hannon to me in the past (because of my love for suspense novels) I have never gotten any of her books although many of them are on my TBR list. So when I was asked to review the first book in her new series I jumped at the chance!
In this book we meet SO many characters but the main ones are Eve Reilly and Brent Lange. Eve is a conservative radio talk show host. She is outspoken and has no qualms whatsoever to tell it like it is. Brent is attracted to Eve but keeps his guard up as he has some issues from a past relationship that he is trying to come to terms to. He is definitely not a guy that wears his heart on his sleeve.
The relationship between them moved in a manner that I would find very realistic. This story has SO many twists and turns! Just when I think I have it all figured out something else came up. It was awesome!! Definitely kept you reading. When the mastermind was revealed I was a little shocked. I must admit by that point I had my suspicions but still was kind of shocking the way it all played out.
Overall this was a great story!! It also is very relevant with todays current events in our society. It did leave me wondering about some characters so I am hoping that we will get to see some of their stories in the second book, which will be about Eve's sister Cate, releasing next year!
My Rating: 4 Stars/Really Liked it!! Keeps you guessing!
I received this book from Revell. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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About the Author
A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time. To learn more about Irene and her books, visit www.irenehannon.com.
Author: Amanda Cox
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: September 8, 2020
When Ivy Rose returns to her hometown to oversee an estate sale, she soon discovers that her grandmother left behind more than trinkets and photo frames--she provided a path to the truth behind Ivy's adoption. Shocked, Ivy seeks clues to her past, but a key piece to the mystery is missing.
Twenty-four years earlier, Harvey James finds an abandoned newborn who gives him a sense of human connection for the first time in his life. His desire to care for the baby runs up against the stark fact that he is homeless. When he becomes entwined with two people seeking to help him find his way, Harvey knows he must keep the baby a secret or risk losing the only person he's ever loved.
In this dual-time story from debut novelist Amanda Cox, the truth--both the search for it and the desire to keep it from others--takes center stage as Ivy and Harvey grapple with love, loss, and letting go.
Twenty-four years earlier, Harvey James finds an abandoned newborn who gives him a sense of human connection for the first time in his life. His desire to care for the baby runs up against the stark fact that he is homeless. When he becomes entwined with two people seeking to help him find his way, Harvey knows he must keep the baby a secret or risk losing the only person he's ever loved.
In this dual-time story from debut novelist Amanda Cox, the truth--both the search for it and the desire to keep it from others--takes center stage as Ivy and Harvey grapple with love, loss, and letting go.
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My Thoughts
Wow, wow, wow!! I cannot believe this is Amanda Cox's debut book! This author truly tugs at ALL of your emotions. It was excellent. I absolutely have become a time-slip junkie so this book was right up my alley and she does both timeline so incredibly well. I didn't know which timeline I wanted to stay in more because they were equally captivating.
In this story we meet some amazing main characters but four really stood out to me. Ivy is really the main one and whom the story is about centers on. She is an orphan who was adopted and is trying to find answers about how her adoption came about. She feels like something has been missing her whole life. She is a social worker and in abusive relationship. We meet Harvey who is also a broken soul and finds Ivy and his heart opens up in a way he never thought possible. He pours his unconditional love upon her without hesitation.
I can't forget about Pearl because she truly was my favorite. She is the glue that holds all these people together. She is the person that you strive to be like in your Christian walk. She is not perfect by any means because after all she is a human but she has those godly characters that you seek after. She knows what its like to grieve and feel alone so she puts all those gifts at play when it comes to these people in her life.
I have to mention Reese because he is swoon-worthy!! And I am not going to ruin it for you because I promise you, you will swoon at his character traits.
Amanda Cox truly penned a beautiful story about acceptance, redemption, unconditional love, healing, hope and connections that come full circle. It really was an amazing story that I highly recommend. If you like dual time lines you will definitely love this story and you need to go pick it up ASAP!!
My Rating: 5 Stars/Absolutely LOVED it!!
Favorite Quotes:
"Love is love. Nurturing is nurturing. It doesn't take a blood relative. We're all adopted into God's family through Jesus."
"You are braver than you know and more loved than you realize."
(I received a copy of this book from Revell. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
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About the Author
AUTHOR: Jane Kirkpartrick
GENRE: Historical Biographical Fiction, Christian Fiction
PUBLISHER: Revell
RELEASE DATE:
PAGES: 314
In 1853, Abigail Scott was a 19-year-old school teacher in Oregon Territory when she married Ben Duniway. Marriage meant giving up on teaching, but Abigail always believed she was meant to be more than a good wife and mother. When financial mistakes and an injury force Ben to stop working, Abigail becomes the primary breadwinner for her growing family. What she sees as a working woman appalls her, and she devotes her life to fighting for the rights of women, including their right to vote.
Following Abigail as she bears six children, runs a millinery and a private school, helps on the farm, writes novels, gives speeches, and eventually runs a newspaper supporting women's suffrage, Something Worth Doing explores issues that will resonate strongly with modern women: the pull between career and family, finding one's place in the public sphere, and dealing with frustrations and prejudices women encounter when they compete in male-dominated spaces. Based on a true story of a pioneer for women's rights from award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick will inspire you to believe that some things are worth doing--even when the cost is great.
Following Abigail as she bears six children, runs a millinery and a private school, helps on the farm, writes novels, gives speeches, and eventually runs a newspaper supporting women's suffrage, Something Worth Doing explores issues that will resonate strongly with modern women: the pull between career and family, finding one's place in the public sphere, and dealing with frustrations and prejudices women encounter when they compete in male-dominated spaces. Based on a true story of a pioneer for women's rights from award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick will inspire you to believe that some things are worth doing--even when the cost is great.
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My Thoughts
The summary and cover of this book definitely drew me in when I first saw it. The fact that was historical fiction definitely drew me in as well. In this book we meet Abigail Scott who is the main character and who the book is all about. She is an independent woman with big ideas and big dreams. She is not interested in marriage or having someone telling her what she can and cannot do. She starts out life trying to set to map out her life but it doesn't go according to her plan.
We meet Ben who definitely falls in love with Abigail and courts her. Due to a circumstance with her father she has to move the wedding to Ben a lot sooner than she expected. He is truly the ideal mate for her. He supports her every idea and doesn't stifle that independent heart that she has.
This was my first book by Jane Kirkpatrick. She definitely does an excellent job in her research and even adding her fictional characters and fiction themes was flawless. Especially this being a historical biographical fiction she really made sure that everything was correct which I appreciate when reading this genre. But I have to admit that I did not enjoy the main character at all. I feel like she focused so much on being independent and pursuing her dreams I felt like she completely ignored her husband and children and it broke my heart for them.
If you enjoy real-life historical fiction then this is definitely the book that you may want to pick up.
My Rating: 3 Stars
(I received this book through the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required to post a review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
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GOODREADS|AMAZON|CHRISTIANBOOK
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About the Author
by Ann H. Gabhart
Publisher: Revell
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: June 30th, 2020
Is true love worth forfeiting fortune?
In 1933 Louisville, Kentucky, even the ongoing economic depression cannot keep Piper Danson's parents from insisting on a debut party. After all, their fortune came through the market crash intact, and they've picked out the perfect suitor for their daughter. Braxton Crandall can give her the kind of life she's used to. The only problem? This is not the man -- or the life -- she really wants.
When Piper gets an opportunity to volunteer as a horseback Frontier Nursing courier in the Appalachian Mountains for the summer, she jumps at the chance to be something other than a dutiful daughter or kept wife in a loveless marriage. The work is taxing, the scenery jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and the people she meets along the way open up a whole new world to her. The longer she stays, the more advantageous marriage slips from her grasp. But something much more precious-true love- is drawing her ever closer.
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First can we take a moment and just admire this gorgeous cover! I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover but I do love when they are so pretty and eye catching and this one definitely is! This was my first book by Ann H. Gabbart and it was so lovely and well written. I had never heard of the Frontier Nursing Service or the person who began it Mary Breckinridge. I was actually so intrigued I went on a search myself and found her story very interesting and selfless that because of the heartache over the loss of her own two young children caused her to devote her life to the well being of of mothers and children in the remote areas of southeastern Kentucky. I think this made me love the book even more.
The story takes place in the beginnings of the Depression Era and the after the suffragette movement where women have now begun to vocalize their wants to be more than just a trophy wife. This is where we meet Piper at her debut party and right away you can tell she is none too happy about it but wants to please her mom and not disappoint her. She feels like there is more to life and her heart definitely belongs to another.
A the debut party we meet Piper's escort and man that her father has "arranged" for her, Braxton Crandall, I mean he is okay and I am sure a catch for the time period we are immersed in but right away I knew he was not the man for Piper!
Truda is her aunt which definitely encourages Piper to follow her heart rather than what society and her parents deem from her. I loved Truda!! She definitely tells it like it is and is not afraid to speak her mind. She definitely stands by what she believes. You also get to learn why she is single and cheer her on the entire story. I won't tell you much but she definitely has her own story within Piper's!!
When we meet Mary Breckinridge at a fundraising tea she is looking for more volunteers for her Frontier Nursing Service. She sees something in Piper and urges her to try something new. By leaving home, she leaves everything behind, including her best friend Jamie who she has loved since childhood. She learns so much about herself in the mountains and learns that she can do anything put before her.
The love story between her and Jamie is sweet and definitely one you cheer on throughout the story. There are some times when you want to bonk him upside the head but I think that's how the author meant for you to feel which I love because it means you are totally invested in the story.
If you like historical fiction I definitely recommend this book. I thought it was very well written and I can't wait to read more from this author. She has already been added to my growing list of authors to read books from!
Favorite quotes:
"Every person should be allowed one idiotic dream in her lifetime." ~ Truda
My Rating: 4 stars/ Really Liked it!
(I received a copy of this book through the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
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Visit Ann's website http://annhgabhart.com or her two blogs, One Writer's Journal, www.annhgabhart.blogspot.com, and the Hollyhill Book of the Strange, www.hollyhillbookofthestrange.blogspo.... Giveaways several times a year.
by Shawn Smucker
Publisher: Revell
Before Dan opened his door to find a wounded woman who had escaped from the tormentors in the mountain, his life had become rather quiet. He and the eight other people in the mostly abandoned town had become friends. They spent peaceful evenings around the campfire and even made vague plans to journey east one day to leave the ominous mountain behind.
But the woman's arrival changes everything. Who is she? How does she know so much about Dan's brother, who is still held captive in the mountain? Why are long-forgotten memories rising to the surface? And why does Dan feel so compelled to keep her presence in his house a secret?
This is my first book by this author and I think he did an excellent job in his writing style however it was not my cup of tea. I wanted to like it so badly because the description is so intriguing and that cover just draws you in but I just could not get into it. The story is very much allegorical.
Dan is the main character and the one mainly telling the story. He once was a captive of the mountain but now he lives with the sole purpose of guiding others who have escaped the mountain into a new life. He also struggles with the fact that his brother is still in the mountain. I am honestly not going to give you more on the story because although there were other characters but you they don't truly delve into them and you don't find out what happens to them. (Again... so many questions).
I don't know if it was my mood or just the fact that the book gives you more questions than answers but I just was not into this book at all but I never liked Dante's Inferno and this is somewhat like that. I kept reading hoping I would start to enjoy it but I never did. At the end I was very disappointed that I was left with more questions than when I started and perhaps that may be that's the feeling the author wanted you to have at the end. I personally did not like that. I also felt that there was no real explanation on the redemption theme.
This is obviously just my personal review on the book and you may think differently and I hope you do! If you enjoy allegorical, dystopian and speculative books then this is definitely the read for you. Like I said before Shawn Smucker knows his style of writing an does a superb job in it however it was just not my type of book.
My Rating: 2 stars/ It was OK, but not my favorite.
(I received a copy of this book through the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
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Shawn Smucker is an author, blogger, co-writer, and speaker who is passionate about storytelling and the importance of living an adventurous life. His book, Building a Life Out of Words, is consistently listed in Amazon’s top-rated memoirs/biographies, and How to Use a Runaway Truck Ramp details the 10,000-mile cross-country journey his family of six embarked on in a big blue bus previously owned by Willie Nelson. He received his English degree from Messiah College and currently lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with his wife and five children. You can find him on Twitter, Facebook, his Blog Site, and at shawnsmucker.com
The Key to Everything
by Valerie Fraser Luesse
Publisher: Revell
Genre: Fiction
About the Book
Peyton Cabot's fifteenth year will be a painful and transformative one. His father, the heroic but reluctant head of a moneyed Savahhah family, has come home from WWII a troubled vet, drowning his demons in bourbon and distancing himself from his son. A tragic accident shows Peyton the depths of his parents' devotion to each other but interrupts his own budding romance with the girl of his dreams.
Struggling to cope with a young life upended, Peyton makes a daring decision: He will retrace a journey his father took at fifteen, riding his bicycle all the way to Key West, Florida. Part declaration of independence, part search for self, Peyton's journey will bring him more than he ever could have imagined -- namely, the key to his unknowable father, a longed-for reunion, and a calling that will shape the rest of his life.
My Thoughts
What an amazing story by Valerie Fraser Luesse. The way she writes just completely brings the book to life. You definitely feel transported to that time frame and location. The cover of this book completely captivated me and the fact that it was mostly set in in my home state of Florida sold me on it. This story is absolutely beautiful.
The bulk of the story although mainly about Peyton and his journey to adulthood but it also interweaves the story of his mother Kate. This was done flawlessly. There are other characters we meet and they are great in shaping the story as well but I will keep those for you to find them as you are reading and focus on mainly Peyton.
Since Peyton was young he has heard the story of his father riding his bike from St. Augustine to Key West and he tells his cousins that one day he would like to do the same. So the whole time he has this wild idea on the back of his mind. His dad has a tragic freak accident and after having surgery, he wakes up and lets Kate knows that its time for Peyton to have an actual summer and head to St. Augustine to stay with Aunt Gert. There he learns a lot more about his father's past and how his mother and dad fell in love. He learns to drive a boat, get his boating license and all the time feeling this tug of taking that bike route his dad did years ago. Unfortunately Kate (Peyton's mom) comes to St. Augustine with the news that his dad has passed on so begins the bike journey for young Peyton.
First of all it was refreshing to see a young man of almost sixteen show such maturity in everything he does. I know this something that comes with that generation and its sad we don't see it more often in this day and age so I loved that because its the way we are raising our boys to be so focused on themselves but to learn from others. Peyton does that. Every person he encounters on his trek, he learns something from them. Every challenge he faces, he learns something from it as well. He builds this incredible network of people as he travels. He also sees what his father must have seen when he was on the journey and feels like he is starting to understand him a little more. I love this part from the book when he realizes what the purpose of the trip was:
" I don't think it makes sense to spend a lotta time worryin' about what other people think as long as you do what you believe is right. Everybody has a true them that they're meant to be."
While Peyton is traveling down to Key West, his mom is coming to terms of losing the love of her life. It is heartbreaking and you feel her loss. I think the author did a great job at describing the feeling of loss.
This story is more than just his journey there is also a love interest in this story. Lisa is the girl of Peyton dreams. It was beautiful to see how their love story unfolds and how it mimics the love story between Peyton's parents. If you are like me (a greedy reader) this story has a lovely epilogue that gives you a complete ending.
The story is definitely a clean read and in no way is it overly preachy or full of faith filled moments. I am a little disappointed in that just because its a book from a Christian publishing company so you would think it would have some aspect of Christianity in it but it did not. That being said it was an excellent book and I highly recommend it!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book as part of the Revell Reads Program. I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own! I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Christian Book Affiliates program.
My Rating: 5 stars / loved it
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About the Author
Valerie Fraser Luesse is an award-winning magazine writer best known for her feature stories and essays in Southern Living, where she is currently a senior travel editor. Her work has been anthologized in the audio collection Southern Voices and in A Glimpse of Heaven, an essay collection featuring works by C. S. Lewis, Randy Alcorn, John Wesley, and others. As a freelance writer and editor, she was the lead writer for Southern Living 50 Years: A Celebration of People, Places, and Culture. Specializing in stories about unique pockets of Southern culture, Luesse has published major pieces on the Gulf Coast, the Mississippi Delta, Louisiana's Acadian Prairie, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Her editorial section on Hurricane Katrina recovery in Mississippi and Louisiana won the 2009 Writer of the Year award from the Southeast Tourism Society. Luesse earned her bachelor's degree in English at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, and her master's degree in English at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She grew up in Harpersville, Alabama, a rural community in Shelby County, and now lives in Birmingham. To know more information on her books visit her website: https://www.valeriefraserluesse.com/
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