The Blackout Book Club By Amy Lynn Green

The Blackout Book Club

by Amy Lynn Green

Publisher: Bethany House

ISBN: 9780764239564

I was THRILLED to receive a message from Amy Lynn Green asking me if I'd be willing to review her book. Listen, there are authors who don't even need to ask and Amy is one of them. If she popped into my Inbox saying she was sending me her book I wouldn't even bat an eye. I would wait in anticipation like a kid at Christmas. Anyone else relate? lol She sent me her book for review.

Summary:

In 1942, an impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to the European front puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian in small-town Maine. Though she has never been much of a reader, when wartime needs threaten to close the library, she invents a book club to keep its doors open. The women she convinces to attend the first meeting couldn't be more different--a wealthy spinster determined to aid the war effort, an exhausted mother looking for a fresh start, and a determined young war worker.

At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they have more in common than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.

Includes a book club discussion guide and The Blackout Book Club book list

My Review:

Once again Amy Lynn Green has hit it out of the ballpark with The Blackout Book Club. She has a gift of giving us a unique look at the world through her characters.

We get the perspective of four very different ladies. The main one we get to know is Avis. She's married to a man who can't join the military and her brother has been shipped off. With her brother gone, she takes over his work at the library. I loved her idea of starting a book club... although it just shot out of her mouth, but as a book club leader, I was all for it!

We also get to know Louise, who owns the library, Ginny, who is in Derby because her home was taken by the government, and Martina, who is hiding from her husband. While I enjoyed getting to know each of these ladies, I really liked Ginny. I think my favorites are ones I see a bit of myself in.

I thoroughly enjoyed each of the book club "minutes" that are taken because the reader gets an utterly delightful look into the characters thoughts and opinions. Their views are as diverse as they are. These minutes cracked me up most of the time. I also loved the variety of stories they read.

In a lot of stories I read, there might be a phrase here and there that catch my eye. In this story it was a page or scene that grabbed me. I have so many tabs in this book that I want to go back to. Ginny probably has the most quotes that I highlighted because she was a hoot!

While I've read stories about WWII set in the US, this story gives us a fictional perspective of living in a coastal town that joins in the war effort to keep U-boats from reaching our shores. It wasn't anything I'd read before, but gained such a new view of what it must've been like for those living there in those days.

*I received this book for review. This is my personal opinion.

About the Author:

Amy Lynn Green (www.amygreenbooks.com) has always loved history and reading, and she enjoys speaking with book clubs, writing groups, and libraries all around the country. Her debut novel, Things We Didn't Say, was nominated for a 2021 Minnesota Book Award, won two Carol Awards, and received a starred review from both Booklist and Library Journal. Amy and her family make their home in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Visit amygreenbooks.com to learn more.

In Love's Time By Kate Breslin

In Love's Time

by Kate Breslin

Publisher: Bethany House

ISBN: 9780764237492

This was my first time being part of Kate Breslin's launch team. I've read a couple of her books in the past so when she opened up her launch team for her new book I was excited to join her team. She sent me her book for being part of the launch team.

Summary:

At the height of World War I, two sweethearts face impossible odds in this powerful tale of courage, duty, and heartbreak.

In the summer of 1918, Captain Marcus Weatherford arrives in Russia on a secret mission, with a beautiful ballerina posing as his fiancée. He's there to find the Romanov tsarina and her son and glean information about a plot to assassinate Lenin. As the danger intensifies, Marcus's sense of duty battles with his desire to return home to Clare, the woman he truly loves, before it's too late.

Military hospital orderly Clare Danner still suffers from Marcus's betrayal after learning he's engaged to another woman. Clare also fears losing her daughter, Daisy, to the heartless family who took her away once before. Only Marcus can provide the critical proof needed to save Daisy, but when an injury leaves him powerless to help, Clare's fate--and the fate of the top-secret mission--hangs in the balance.

My Review:

I'm so glad there are authors like Kate Breslin who write fiction set in WWI! She does a really nice job with it.

We meet up again with Clare and Marcus in In Love's Time. We met them previously and they finally got their own story. The beginning will absolutely suck you and hanging on until the end.

We get to know Clare better and what she went through growing up and in more recent years with the loss & recovery of her daughter Daisy (thanks to Marcus). She and Marcus start off rather swoony, but then things take a turn just as quickly. One wrong moment and their world comes crumbling down. 

Marcus is bent on doing his job for the Admiralty, which is commendable, but when he leaves Clare out of the loop, he finds himself engaged to a woman he barely knows and on a mission in Russia. Unfortunately, the timing couldn't be worse with Daisy's grandparents wanting to take her away from Clare. When Marcus comes back from Russia, Clare learns he can't help her in her time of deepest need.

I loved getting to know Marcus's family better, especially Fannie and their grandfather. Their home is split between the side where the family currently resides and the military men who are rehabbing there.

I'll admit, there were times where I was a bit tired of Clare being so crabby and angry with everyone. I completely understand how her younger years had formed her thoughts, but at some point I just needed her to buck up and be more positive. She DID stick up for herself on a couple of occasions.

While each of these books can be read as standalone stories, I think it's good to have the backstory on the other characters.

About the Author:

A Florida girl who migrated to the Pacific Northwest, Kate Breslin was a bookseller for many years. She is a Carol Award winner and a RITA and Christy Award finalist and lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington. Find her online at www.katebreslin.com.

All The Lost Places By Amanda Dykes

All the Lost Places

by Amanda Dykes

Publisher: Bethany House

ISBN: 9780764239502

When I saw the cover of this book, I got lost in it. It's so stunning. I HAD to find out what was behind that cover and discover the story inside. I am on Amanda's launch team and she sent me the book for review.

Summary:

When all of Venice is unmasked, one man's identity remains a mystery . . . 

1807
When a baby is discovered floating in a basket along the quiet canals of Venice, a guild of artisans takes him in and raises him as a son, skilled in each of their trades. Although the boy, Sebastien Trovato, has wrestled with questions of his origins, it isn't until a woman washes ashore on his lagoon island that answers begin to emerge. In hunting down his story, Sebastien must make a choice that could alter not just his own future, but also that of the beloved floating city.

1904
Daniel Goodman is given a fresh start in life as the century turns. Hoping to redeem a past laden with regrets, he is sent on an assignment from California to Venice to procure and translate a rare book. There, he discovers a city of colliding hope and decay, much like his own life, and a mystery wrapped in the pages of that filigree-covered volume. With the help of Vittoria, a bookshop keeper, Daniel finds himself in a web of shadows, secrets, and discoveries carefully kept within the stones and canals of the ancient city . . . and in the mystery of the man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastien Trovato.

My Review:

In my mind, at various points towards the end of All the Lost Places I crafted numerous starts to my review. I hope I remember bits and pieces of them because they were all true, while all being different.

The start of the story was a bit difficult for me. It felt like high level, deep, and artistic writing. The author was weaving together the groundwork for the story to follow. I had a hard time seeing where it was going, but that's just how my brain works. None of this is negative, just how my start to the book began.

As the story began to unfold and the characters came to life, all of the pieces from the beginning began to make sense. The struggle because immersion. The only problem with that immersion was the I needed to stay there in the story. It's deep and beautiful, but you "have" to get lost in it, in Venice, to get that full experience. That meant for me that I couldn't read on a whim or when I couldn't give it my full attention.

I would suggest, when you go to read this story, that you are able to quiet yourself away. Be where you can devote yourself to the story. Trust me, you'll thank me later. Once I became invested in Daniel's story as well as Sebastian's story, I didn't want to be torn away.

Daniel is intent on making recompense for his poor choices and making his mother proud again. I felt so deeply what his character went through with his thoughts and emotions in regards to his choices. How many of us have regrets, try to "pay back" time and time again, don't feel like we deserve forgiveness, etc? Walking with Daniel through his journey to Venice was like walking alongside him with all I've carried. And don't we all need a light, someone to point us to goodness and Truth? Enter Vittoia. I absolutely adored her.

And then there's Sebastian. There's SO much to be said about him. So much so, I couldn't begin to capture it all here. If you feel like you don't belong or you're not sure who you are, you will relate to Sebastian. But, God sees! Like Sebastian, our days were set in motion with intention and He knows how each of them are going to be spent. As with Daniel's story, Sebastian meets a woman who opens his world up in new ways. Mariana is a reminder of all that is good in the world.

There are other characters who remind us of the power of who we consider family. Sometimes family isn't created by blood, but by choice. We also have people who speak into our lives who can help or hinder. We're also reminded of the power bitterness and anger. When we hold onto something, allow it to smolder and turn us into something that isn't good, not only do we suffer, but so do others.

I honestly didn't expect to get as excited as I did as Daniel began uncovering the mysteries surrounding the story of The Book of Waters. There were some surprises that came up that made me smile. As I neared the end of the story, the beginning made more sense and I realized it was as "distant" to my mind as I initially thought. I just needed to have more of the story.

If you are looking for literary fiction, this story will fit perfectly.

About the Author:

Amanda Dykes's debut novel, Whose Waves These Are, is the winner of the prestigious 2020 Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten Romance debut, and the winner of an INSPY Award. She's also the author of Yours Is the Night and Set the Stars Alight, a 2021 Christy Award finalist. Find her online at amandadykes.com.

Emmanuel: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always By Ruth Chou Simons

Emmanuel: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always

by Ruth Chou Simons

Publisher: Harvest House

ISBN: 978-0-7369-8496-6

When I found out our women's small group was going to be going through this beautiful book for the month of December, I was tasked with putting together a group order. When I was chatting with the publisher, they agreed to send me a copy for review. Words won't do it justice!

Summary:

Let Your Christmas Hope Last All Year Long

If there’s one name for Jesus that captures the whole heart of God, it is Emmanuel—God with us. No other name similarly expresses the fullness of God’s eternal desire for His image-bearers. He’s always wanted us to be with Him.

From the bestselling author and artist behind GraceLacedand Beholding and Becoming comes this gorgeously illustrated Advent exploration of what it means to intimately experience God’s presence in our daily lives. Ruth Chou Simons welcomes you and your family to partake in a season of surrender as you discover the true miracle behind Christmas: that while we journey to grow in our relationships with Jesus, He has already come so He can be with us forever.

Christmas Day is not the end of our celebrations, but the beginning! Emmanuel is an invitation to rejoice in the everlasting fellowship and hope God extended to us on the day of His Son’s birth, guiding us to realize that having God with us all year long is Christmas’s most incredible gift.

My Review:

If you're acquainted with Ruth Chou Simons you know how incredible her art is. I was introduced to it a couple of years ago on Instagram. She is incredibly gifted. This past spring our women's small group went through her Bible study TruthFilled.

As we headed into the Christmas season our small group took a pause on the study we were doing in the book of John and transitioned to Emmanuel for the month of December. I was thrilled because I had seen the book via Ruth's Instagram. I was excited to have some of Ruth's art in our home in the form of this book.

Emmanuel, while a book set for the time of Advent, is really a book that can be read (or displayed) year round. This would/will make a great display on my long table. It's split into 

Each day starts off with Scripture. Then Ruth shares her heart for that day, giving us beautiful Truth about God's Word. Then there's a time to Ponder what we've read, Praise with a carol or worship song, and then a Prayer. What's great is, with the Praise, Ruth has created a Spotify list that you can play for each day. There's also one of her works of art with a phrase from that day's reading pulled out and highlighted.

While we've been reading this for our women's small group, I'm going to have my husband go through it with me as our evening devotional to start the year off. 

About the Author:

Ruth Chou Simons is a bestselling and award-winning author of several books—including GraceLaced, Beholding and Becoming, and Foundations. She is an artist, entrepreneur, and speaker, using each of these platforms to spiritually sow the Word of God into people's hearts. Through her online shoppe at GraceLaced.com and her social media community, Simons shares her journey of God's grace intersecting daily life with word and art. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are grateful parents to six boys—their greatest adventure.

www.gracelaced.com

The Sisters Of Sea View By Julie Klassen

The Sisters of Sea View

by Julie Klassen

Publisher: Bethany House

Series: On Devonshire Shores

ISBN: 9780764234262

Let me first say that you can't go wrong with any book by Julie Klassen! And after reading her newest release, I'm going to say that even more emphatically. She's such an incredible author. When she asked if I would review her newest release, I was elated! She sent me her book for review.

Summary:

Some guests have come for a holiday, others for hidden reasons of their own . . .

When their father's death leaves them impoverished, Sarah Summers and her genteel sisters fear they will be forced to sell the house and separate to earn livelihoods as governesses or companions. Determined to stay together, Sarah convinces them to open their seaside home to guests to make ends meet and provide for their ailing mother. Instead of the elderly invalids they expect to receive, however, they find themselves hosting eligible gentlemen. Sarah is soon torn between a growing attraction to a mysterious Scottish widower and duty to her family. 

Viola Summers wears a veil to cover her scar. When forced to choose between helping in her family's new guest house and earning money to hire a maid to do her share, she chooses the latter. She reluctantly agrees to read to some of Sidmouth's many invalids, preferring the company of a few elders with failing eyesight to the fashionable guests staying in their home. But when her first client turns out to be a wounded officer in his thirties, Viola soon wishes she had chosen differently. Her new situation exposes her scars--both visible and those hidden deep within--and her cloistered heart will never be the same.

Join the Summers sisters on the Devonshire coast, where they discover the power of friendship, loyalty, love, and new beginnings.

My Review:

I want to start this review off with a warning. Clear your calendar. If you have anything on your calendar when you decide to read The Sisters Of Sea View, you'll want to cancel because this story is so good you will be loathe to put it down. 

I felt so completely apart of this story though I wouldn't be able to tell you if I felt like one of the sisters or one of their guests. I was a little afraid that this would give me too much of a Little Women vibe, but that wasn't the case at all. There was a bit of a feel to it, but not to the extent that I thought the author was trying to recreate that story. It felt like Sanditon, Little Women, and Pride & Predjudice all wrapped up in a story all it's own. Now would be the time to give an adoring sigh.

The characters, ahhhh so many I wish we could talk about each one individually! Cranky neighbors, odd guests, alluring visitors, quaint elderly people, and the list goes on. I would love to do a break down of my thoughts on each one and then we could discuss, but then that would take all of the fun out of you getting to know each of them.

Let's talk about the sisters. While I thought this story was going to be focused on Sarah, the eldest sister at home, it really focused on the oldest three in equal measure. Georgiana is the youngest, and though she was in the story plenty, she wasn't really the focus. Sarah takes on the responsibility of keeping the family afloat after their father passes. The sisters aren't keen on opening a guest house, but they have little choice. They each have to play a part. Twins Emily and Viola are oil and water. Emily speaks her mind and talks so fast it's hard to keep up. Viola wants nothing to do with the running and upkeep of the guest house because she's reclusive so she has to find a different way to pitch in.

The way the author wrote the story, you are immersed in Sidmouth life and it's surroundings. So much so, you can almost picture it. She goes into a lot of detail to bring it to life. Typically that much detail would deter me from reading so intently, but because of her gifted writing, it gave me this odd sense of familiarity.

Needless to say, this story was fantastic. Having to wait for book two isn't going to be easy, but these characters are going to stay tucked away in my heart until book 2 shows up!

About the Author:

Julie Klassen (www.julieklassen.com) loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold over a million copies, and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing's BEST Award and has been a finalist in the RITA and Carol Awards. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com.