Book Review: Into the Whirlwind

Review by Marianne

 Title: Into the Whirlwind

Author: Elizabeth Camden

Rating: 5/5
Age Recommendation: 12+

Plot: Mollie Knox's life seems perfect. She is the owner of the 57th Illinois watch company in Chicago and is supplying watches to Hartman's department store. She has the best employees one could wish for and a respectable bank account. What more could she ask for? But when the Great Chicago fire occurs, leaving her not only without a job, but also a home, she struggles to rebuild.
Zack Kazmarek is an outstanding lawyer for Hartman's department store. He is fearless and daring, and used to getting whatever he wishes for. Then he meets Mollie Knox, an incredible businesswoman who completely changes his world and he finds himself captivated. But when a hero from her past steps into the picture, Zack discovers he has some competition for Mollie's affections.

This book was wonderful! I was entertained through the entire thing. The plot was very exiting and the author did a good job keeping it interesting. I will definitely want to read this one again soon! The one thing that I would've changed a bit was the romance. Although this was a romance story, the characters weren't very romantic and only said a few romantic things to one another. This of course isn't a big disappointment, it is just an observation and opinion.

Characters: The characters in this book were great! I found it very easy to relate to Mollie even though she wasn't very much like me. Zack was a rather stubborn man, but he made me laugh most of all. And the mysterious hero from her past was very polite and kind-hearted.

Emotion: Sometimes the beginning of a book is a bit boring, and it takes me a while to get entirely interested. This book was not one of those. I loved every minute of it and I can not wait to read more of Elizabeth Camden's books in the future.

My thoughts: Overall this was an amazing story. The author was very eloquent in how she described each and every scene and I never wanted to stop reading it. Before reading this book I didn't know too much about the Great Chicago fire. I learned a lot from this novel and I can tell the author did her research when writing it.

Favorite Quote:

"I never said it (the fire) was a jolly time, Mollie. But sometimes it is the hardest things that make us great."

(words in parentheses are mine) 

 



Encouragement and Reflections



Favorite Music #1

Hey Everyone! Today we wanted to share some of our favorite music with you. 

tobyMac - Me Without You

Matthew West - Hello, My Name Is

Britt Nicole - Headphones

Jamie Grace - Hold Me

The Afters - Every Good Thing



Book Review: Stealing the Preacher

Hello! I have a book review to share today.

Review by Marianne

Title: Stealing the Preacher

Author: Karen Witemeyer

Rating: 5/5
Age Recommendation: 12+

Plot: Crockett Archer plans to become a preacher in the Piney Woods of Texas, but on his way to be interviewed, he is abducted from the train! The outlaw responsible brings him to his daughter Joanna, unaware of the reason she wants a preacher.

Joanna Robbins has prayed for a preacher. She needs someone who is willing to help her fulfill the promise she made to her late mother, just before she died: Help her father learn to love and have faith in God. But when she believes her prayers have been answered, she discovers that the man does not wish to preach there, but somewhere else. She then must try to convince him to stay.

This book is definitely a favorite! It was sweet, touching, and exiting. The amount of humor in this book was perfect! There were several times that I found myself laughing out loud (with no one else in the room!) The mood that this book created was very fun and heartwarming, but serious when it needed to be. A book I'm sure I will read again.

Characters: I loved all of the characters in this book. Crockett was sweet and Joanna was sassy, while her father was stubborn and competitive. All of them were very well developed and easy to attach to. 

Emotion: This book was very entertaining. Overall I would call this a humorous story, but there were a few sad or serious scenes. A book I would (of course) recommend to many, many readers.

My Thoughts: I absolutely loved this book! It was one of those that I didn't want to end. There was only one part that bothered me. One of the characters got injured and a surgery was performed. The surgery got a little... descriptive and I did want that scene to end. I am easily bothered by blood and wounds though, so I don't think this would bother too many people.



   

Favorite Quote:

"'It doesn't hurt, Silas,' he told me. 'It doesn't hurt to go to heaven.'"