Book Review: King's Folly

Review by Marianne

Title: King's Folly

Author: Jill Williamson

Rating: 1/5

Note: I did not complete this book so I can only give my opinion on the part that I read.

    Plot: The gods are angry. Volcanic eruptions, sinkholes, ground shakers - everything points to their unhappiness. At least that is what the king of Armania believes. His son Prince Wilek thinks his father's superstitions are nonsense, though he remains the ever dutiful First Arm of Armania. When a messenger arrives and claims the town of Farway has been swallowed by the earth, the king send Wilek to investigate. But what Wilek discovers is more catalysmic than one lost city. Even as the ground shifts beneath his feet, Wilek sets out on a desperate journey to save his people and his world. But can he do it before the entire land crumbles?

(Copied from the cover of King's Folly)

    Unfortunately, this book is the second in a row that I have reviewed without finishing. I originally chose this book to review because based on the description, I thought that the main focus would be Fantasy/Adventure and that that would mean I would not have to deal with some of the inappropriate content that often comes with reading romantic novels. Although the plot of this book seemed very interesting at first, it didn't take very long for me to realize that it was not at all what I had in mind.

Characters: This book had lots of characters and it got to the point where I felt like the author was introducing way to many of them all at once. Even with the character list in the beginning I was still unable to keep them all straight in my head, and ended up getting confused way too easily.

Emotions: Sadly, I was unable to connect to this book or the characters emotionally. I was shocked over and over with some of the content in this book, and I didn't even make it 100 pages in. I kept trying to give it more chances, but eventually had to stop reading altogether.

My Thoughts: As I said before, I originally decided to review this book because it was not labeled as a "romantic" book so I was hoping to avoid any inappropriate content that I have come to expect in pretty much all "Christian Romance" novels. I was utterly disappointed however, as I began to read this and realized that I was not going to be able to read a fantasy novel, published by a Christian company, marketed to Christian readers, without having to also deal with the inappropriate physical relationships occurring between many of the characters. Although (as far as I read), there was only one scene in which these relationships were described in detail (which was more than enough), the characters were constantly talking/gossiping about the king's and prince's many wives, concubines, and prostitutes and eventually I was becoming almost calloused to that sort of talk/behavior because it was such a frequent occurrence. This really upset me because it is not the first book I have read that was labeled "Christian" that I've had to stop reading for the same reasons. It saddens me that so many Christian teens are choosing to fill their brains with these kinds of thoughts and excusing them because the book/movie/music etc. had the word Christian on it somewhere. Our American Christian culture spends so much time chiding teens for lust, immodesty, and sexual impurity (which, by the way, I'm not saying these things are ok), but then we turn around and dig into our Christian Romance novels and dwell on those things, when we could be digging into our Bibles and dwelling on God's Word. I'm not by any means saying I've got it all figured out, that I'm perfect, or that I spend all day everyday dwelling only on holy and righteous things. I struggle with this type of thing very much as well, but I really don't think that filling my brain with books like this, are going to help that or draw me closer to my Savior in any way.

Here is a video that I watched recently that addresses this issue and I was able to relate to very much:

Disclaimer: I received a copy of  King's Folly for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions expressed above are my own.

Book Review: Love Everlasting

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Review by Marianne

Title: Love Everlasting

Author: Tracie Peterson

Rating: 2/5

Note: I did not finish this book so I can only give my opinion on the part that I read.

Plot: Growing up in a Seattle bridal finishing school never prepared Abrianna Cunningham to become one of the brides, but now Wade Ackerman, who has always been the reliable boy next door, is indicating he wants to be more than friends. And even the people closest to Abrianna believe Wade is the man she should marry. So why is she having such a hard time choosing between Wade Ackerman and Priam Welby? 

         Watching Welby's relentless pursuit of Abrianna is making Wade's blood boil. Welby can offer her wealth and security, but what about character and integrity? Surely Abrianna can see past Welby's smooth tongue and fine clothes. Can't she? Caught between the devil and the boy next door, either choice she makes will change Abrianna's life forever.
(Copied from cover of Love Everlasting)

         Usually, I don't go for books in which the only focus is romance. I tend to gravitate towards an adventure novel with a side of romance, or vice versa, so when I picked this one, I knew I was taking a bit of a risk. But I had high hopes considering I have read books by this author before and enjoyed them. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. I read over half of the book, but it felt like the story just wasn't going anywhere. I was reading the same things over and over and the author was so repetitive that I just couldn't get interested. Nothing new ever happened. I was just reading about this young woman's pre-wedding jitters for hours. Also, the plot synopsis suggested that this was to be a sort of "love-triangle." However, one of the men involved, Abrianna had absolutely no interest in. She wasn't "torn between them." She knew which one she loved she just was too scared to marry him. 

Characters: Abrianna was very easy to relate and connect to for me considering how her personality was similar to mine, and I read well over 100 pages of her inner-struggles. However, aside from her, I just couldn't connect to any of the characters. There was very little development and I wasn't able to understand them or their feelings very well.  

Emotions: Sadly, the only thoughts going through my head as I was reading this book were, at first: "C'mon, surely this will pick up soon." And then: I'll give it a few more chapters..." And finally: "Last chance, if this doesn't get going, I'll just stop." As you can tell, it never picked up.

My Thoughts: Unfortunately, this book got to the point where it felt like a chore. It wasn't enjoyable, and I had to force myself to read it. There are a million other books on my reading list, and I felt like this one was a waste of my time. Again, I was very disappointed because I knew this author to be a good one, but she has written over 100 novels, so I guess they couldn't all be to my liking.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of  Love Everlasting for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions expressed above are my own.

Book Review: A Noble Masquerade

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Review by Marianne

Title: A Noble Masquerade

Author: Kristi Ann Hunter

Rating: 5/5

Plot: Lady Miranda Hawthorne acts every inch the lady, but inside she longs to be bold and carefree. Approaching spinsterhood in the eyes of society, she pours her innermost feelings out not in a diary but in letters to her brother's old school friend, the Duke of Marshington. Since she's never actually met the man, she has no intention of ever sending the letters and is mortified when when her brother's mysterious new valet, Marlow, mistakenly mails one of the letters to the unsuspecting duke. 

         

        Shockingly, this breach of etiquette results in a reply from the duke that soon leads to a lively correspondence. Insecurity about her previous lack of suitors soon becomes confusion as Miranda finds herself equally intrigued by Marlow, a man she has come to depend upon but whose behavior grows more suspicious by the day. As the secret goings-on at her family's estate come to light, one thing is certain: Miranda's heart is far from all that's at risk for the Hawthornes and those they love.

(Copied from the back of A Noble Masquerade)

Characters: I thought that the characters in this book were wonderfully developed. I truly felt that as every page passed I was getting to know each character better in some way. Obviously, with Miranda as the main character, she was the one I related to most, however she did remind of Elinor from time to time with her quiet temperament and lady-like manner that hid a wild and beautiful heart. Also, Marlow (the valet) was a really cool character to get to know. 

Emotions: Honestly, this book had me smiling/laughing like an idiot on more than one occasion. ;) It's been a while since I've had a book do that, so it was definitely a treat! I also loved the unpredictability of the story; I was caught by surprise over and over! It definitely kept me coming back for more!

My Thoughts: Altogether, this may very well have been my favorite of the books I've received from Bethany House Publishers. As I said before, the character development was incredible and the plot twists were superb! I would highly recommend this book and could find absolutely no faults in it! I can't wait to read more from Kristi Ann Hunter.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of  A Noble Masquerade for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions expressed above are my own.

Book Review: Success for Teens

Review by Elinor

Title: Success for Teens

Author: John Fleming

Rating: 5/5

  About the Book: This book outlined many principles and habits that, when formed during your teen years, can be some of your greatest tools when achieving your goals and dreams. One of the greatest points made was that as a teenager, one should not simply wait for your life to begin; your life has already started, and the habits that you form now can have some of the greatest impacts on your life. The book had stories from real teens and they shared things that had made big differences in their lives. Another great point made by this book was that in order to change your actions and the outcome of your actions, you have to first change yourself and your outlook on life.

  My Thoughts: This was a book I started a couple months ago, and I have read a small portion of it at the beginning of every school day. It has been very motivational as well as encouraging, and I would recommend it to anyone in their teen years. 

  As far as age recommendation goes, this book is clearly written for a teen audience just reading about it, and I would recommend it for this age group and up. There were a few brief mentions of alcohol and drugs in the stories from actual teens, but these stories were usually to make the point that you can achieve your dreams no matter where you come from or what your past looks like.

  This book really challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and truly pursue some things that I desired, and I think it will be something that I come back to in the future. This is a book that you not only read once, but just kind of rip pages out of to tape over your desk (which I really did). Definitely something that I will keep and re-read for a long time!

Book Review: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Review by Elinor

Title: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Author: John Boyne

Rating: 5/5

Plot: If you start to read this book, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy named Bruno. (Though this isn't a book for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno at a fence.

Fences like this exist all over the world. We hope you never have to encounter one.

(Taken from the back cover)

The plot of this story was absolutely fantastic. The frightening truths of World War II were told through the eyes of an innocent and normal boy, who really doesn't understand what he is witnessing. Living near one of Germany's concentration camps, he goes exploring one day and meets another boy just like him - except on the other side of the fence. Bruno doesn't know why the people are separated by a fence, or why they are treated differently, but he makes a friend and decides it best to keep it a secret. 

Characters: This story was about 200 pages long, which is shorter than most novels I read, so I'll admit that I was a little skeptical about how easily I would connect to the characters compared to what I'm used to reading. I was very pleasantly surprised, and I felt that the characters were easier to connect to than anything I have read for some time. I loved the way that the author followed the thought processes of a typical nine-year-old boy, and it endeared Bruno to me even more deeply.

Emotion: The entire story is portrayed through the eyes of a young boy, so for most of it, even though you understood what was going on for those on the other side of the fence, it wasn't paid much attention because Bruno didn't know what was truly going on. So about ninety-percent of the book is fairly light-hearted and carefree. But I must give you a fair warning, the last few chapters of this story are some of the most heart-wrenching words I have ever read. I can honestly tell you that I have never sobbed so hard over fictional characters as I did for this book.

My Thoughts: This story was truly a work of art, and something that I will surely read for years to come. There's really nothing more for me to say... it was simply amazing.

I'm really not sure about an age recommendation on this book. Nothing inappropriate for younger children was ever fully described, but even I could hardly handle the ending. Your heart will be broken, no matter your age, so I would simply suggest reading at your own risk ;). 

Thank You!

Book Review: The Princess Spy

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Review by Elinor and Marianne

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Title: The Princess Spy

Rating: 5/5

Age Recommendation: 12+

Plot: Lady Margaretha Gerstenberg has been of age to accept suitors for some time, but none of them seem worth leaving Hagenheim and her family. However, the newest one, Lord Claybrook, seems to be the most promising yet. But when a young, injured Englisher, Colin, arrives in Hagenheim, claiming that Lord Claybrook is a murderer, Margaretha attempts to discover the truth.

This book held our attention to the last page! There were so many plot twists and breakthroughs that were completely unexpected. There was never a dull moment. We loved that this book was exciting and romantic, but stayed focused on God.

Characters: We LOVE how Ms. Dickerson brings so many previous characters back (Valten!) and lets you see what happened to them after their happily-ever-after. The new characters in this book were just as easy to connect with as all of her previous ones have been. Margaretha seemed so real, and Colin was so sweet!

Emotions: The many emotions wrapped up in this book were described in a way that made you feel as though you were feeling them yourself. Although, the feelings weren't described in as much depth as we would have preferred, that may have been just because the book was so fast-paced.

Elinor's Thoughts: This book was simply amazing. Melanie Dickerson continues to please, and this book did not fall short in any way! This book stayed focused on God the entire time, and I really appreciated the character's standards in guarding their hearts. Margaretha was hilarious and just like my sister. Colin was so sweet and is somebody that I would make an amazing friend.

I think my favorite thing about this book was the suspense. I wouldn't go so far to say that it was Ms. Dickerson's most suspenseful (The Fairest Beauty and The Captive Maiden were both pretty suspenseful), but it really kept us on the edge of our seats. Thank you Ms. Dickerson for writing such beautiful, romantic, exciting, and God-honoring novels for young women!

Marianne's Thoughts: Ok, guys... I have been a BIG fan of Melanie Dickerson for a long time, and so I had really high expectations for this book. Let me just say... it did not disappoint me one bit! I enjoyed this book so, so much it was ridiculous! I love it when a romance is unique and fresh enough that it keeps you turning pages. I love it when I don't even realize how much of it I have read and I look down and have already zoomed through half of it. I love the feeling (however twisted this sounds) of seeing only a few pages left and thinking "that's not enough for everything that needs to happen", but deep down knowing that everything will turn out fine, because after all, it is a Melanie Dickerson novel, right?

    I have to be honest, one of the reasons I enjoyed The Princess Spy so much is because Margaretha reminded me so much of myself. And one of the reasons she reminded me so much of myself is because she is insanely talkative and really hopes that it's her worst fault. Like Margaretha, I can chatter on annoyingly about something without even realizing it. I talk even more when I'm nervous or stressed out and I kind of stop talking when I'm sad or mad about something. While reading the book I related with her so much that I felt almost as if I was Margaretha. That's another reason I why enjoy Dickerson's books so much, she writes it in such an understandable and easy-to-relate way. I also really loved that we finally got to see some more of the Le Wyse family again! Don't get me wrong I adore the Gerstenbergs, but I did wonder about the Le Wyse's from time to time. I loved seeing past characters or children or grandchildren of past characters.

   So at this point, you can probably tell I enjoyed this novel quite extensively. There is, however, one con in The Princess Spy. In a section of their journey, Margaretha and Colin are traveling alone. They sleep alone in the same vicinity. Of course they always slept with the fire between them, and nothing inappropriate occurred, but it did make me the slightest bit uncomfortable. Like, if he hadn't been a good dude, he could have easily taken advantage of her because she was kind of stuck alone in the dark in the woods with him. But aside from that, this book was the bomb and I would highly recommend it! If you are a fan of Medieval Romance, this is right up your alley! If you are a fan of even just Christian Fiction in general I would tell you to read this and all of Dickerson's other books, they are all so worth it!
(I do apologize for the length of my thoughts... I just had a lot to say about this book! And I didn't even get started on Colin! :) Any dude who can say "My life is more cheerful when you're talking to me" steals my heart like that!)

Wordless Wednesday #4

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Throw Back Thursday #1

Hey, y'all! I'm re-reading my favorite parts of Elizabeth Camden's Into The Whirlwind. Definitely one of my all-time favorite novels! It is the perfect mixture of romantic suspense, and realistic scenarios. It was one of the first book reviews on our blog. I can hardly believe it's been almost a year since I last read this book! I still get the same contentment from reading it that I did then!

If you want to read my book review on Into The Whirlwind, you can do so HERE!

Book Review: The Old Man and the Sea

Review by Elinor

Title: The Old Man and the Sea

Author: Earnest Hemingway

Rating: 4/5

Plot: Santiago is a Cuban fisherman who lives in the hope that he will soon catch a great marlin that will provide the money for food that he often does without. When he finally hooks one, he spends several tiring days at sea in a constant battle with it over who will survive. During this time, he longs for the companionship of a boy he taught to fish, but who was made by his parents to fish with someone else.

Characters; In the beginning and end of the book you get to know "the boy" (as he is often called) whom Santiago taught to fish. His loyalty to Santiago is so sweet and is shown in the way that he cares for him. In the time at sea though, it is only Santiago and the fish, so you don't really get to see any development for other characters.

Emotion: This book mostly had a heavy sort of sorrow to it. It really captured the feeling of being all alone. The book is really an account of the man's thoughts while hoping to catch this giant fish, who he has a true respect for. I think the point that the author was trying to get across was that bad things happen to everyone, no matter how hard you try to avoid them. But your choice is whether or not you will let them defeat you.

My Thoughts: This book was very emotional, but what I really found beautiful about the story was that Santiago endured so much hardship, but he still was never going to give up. He was going to do his best, and if that wasn't enough, he would try harder next time. His love for the boy, and the boy's love for him nearly brought me to tears several times. The ending was what I really felt made the story, it really showed that something horrible can happen, and life can still go on, and something good can come of it. I think this is one of those books that everyone should read at some point, but it wasn't one that I absolutely loved, so I probably won't be reading it again. I would also recommend it for an older audience, because there was a small amount of language.

Thanks for reading!

Book, books, books!

    Hello! Today we'd like to show you some pictures of our books. These are the books that we haven't read yet, and they are in order (top to bottom) of how we plan to read them.
*The order of the books could be changed, this is simply how we plan to read them.

Elinor's Books:

Reached by Allie Condie

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Get Lost by Dannah Gresh

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Crater by Homer Hickham

Crescent by Homer Hickham

The Shunning by Beverly Lewis

The Confession by Beverly Lewis

The Reckoning by Beverly Lewis

Cinder's Midnight by Jeffrey Overstreet

The Reluctant Heiress by Eva Ibbotson

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Miss Fortune by Sara Mills

Watcher in the Woods by Robert Liparulo

Marianne's Books:

Just Jane by Nancy Moser

Maid to Match by Deeane Gist

The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen 

When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke

Found in Translation by Roger and Kristi Rae Bruner 

Beauty Secrets by Deborah and Rachel Newman

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The Soul of Prince Caspian by Gene Veith

Answers Book for Teens by Bodie Hodge, Tommy Mitchell and Ken Ham

Mary Magdalene by Diana Wallis Taylor

Fiction to Read Together:

Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma

The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan

The Long Way Home by Andrew Klavan

The Truth of the Matter by Andrew Klavan

The Final Hour by Andrew Klavan

Veiled Rose by Anne Elizabeth Stengl

Moonblood by Anne Elizabeth Stengl

Kingdom's Hope by Chuck Black

Devotionals to Read Together:

Dating Mr. Darcy by Sarah Arthur

Live to Give by Austin Gutwein 

Escaping the Vampire by Kimberly Powers

Success for Teens

Girlfriend, You are a B.A.B.E by Andrea Stephens

Boyland by Andrea Stephens

Wild Grace by Max Lucado

Green's Not Your Best Color by Mieka Phillips

The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel

The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel

Destination Unknown by Gordon S. Jackson

Bible B.A.B.E.S by Andrea Stephens

True Images Devotional