Review: A Passionate Hope by Jill Eileen Smith

Well, this is overdue... but here it is! I'm sorry guys. I just lost track of time.

This is the story of Hannah and Elkanah, two very interesting Biblical characters who went through a lot as they longed for and prayed for Samuel. Hannah is heartbroken over her barren state and when Elkanah finally gives into his mother's demands, well.... Peninnah is anything but what either he or Hannah needs.

I'm giving this book 4.5 stars. The Biblical story comes to life in a whole new way on these pages. Most startling to me was possibly how wicked and corrupt Hophni and Phinehas were. I mean, I knew, but I didn't know... you know??? And I just enjoyed getting to... (ugh, words are not happening!).... The story is so short in the Bible and I always wanted more to this story. And I think that Jill really does an impressive job with keeping her books fairly accurate. Also, can I say that I would have liked to strangle Peninnah! Isn't that horrid, but my goodness, she was making me angry! Seeing (what? Wow... I think I was a little bit invested in this one...) Hannah go through all this and seeing her struggles were so poignant. Poor Elkanah too, although he only gets like half a sympathy point because someone couldn't hold out against his mama.... The characters in this book were all so changing. No one ended the story where they started. I think the biggest shock was (POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT... I DON'T KNOW!) in Elkanah's mom. Overall, a delight to read, and a beautiful story of God's answers to prayer.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review from Revell.

Waiting-On-Wednesday: The Heart's Appeal by Jennifer Delamere

The Heart's Appeal is a sequel to The Captain's Daughter, which my grandma borrowed and declared a really good book, and it comes out March of 2018. Jennifer Delamere is a new-to-me author, but I really enjoy her style.

About

Strong-minded and independent Julia Bernay comes to London to study medicine and become a doctor--a profession that has only just opened up to women. She witnesses a serious accident, and through her quick actions saves the life of an ambitious young barrister named Michael Stephenson.

Coming from a family that long ago lost its money and its respectability, Michael Stephenson has achieved what many would have thought was impossible. Hard work and an aptitude for the law have enabled him to rise above his family's stigma and set him on the path to wealth and recognition. But his well-laid plans are upended when the accident brings Julia into his life.

Michael soon discovers he's met a woman every bit as stubborn and determined to make her mark on the world as he is. Sparks fly--but will they find common ground?

Waiting-On-Wednesday is hosted at Breaking The Spine

Review: Alaskan Reunion by Belle Calhoune

Here is one that I wrote back in July.... I have two new reviews that I am ready to write, but until then, here is this one!

Paige was thrown out of her Alaskan village two years ago, after her father embezzled from the town. She was deemed guilty by association, and her boyfriend told her in no uncertain terms that she needed to leave. Now she's back, and with a few surprises, including a check for part of the money her father took and Emma, her baby, who needs to be introduced to her daddy. Can she and Cameron put the past behind them to make a real family for Emma?


I'm giving this book 4.5 stars.

1: Let's start with the obvious. Alaska!!! My absolute favorite setting for books. The village is called Love, Alaska.... is there anything more perfect than that? No... the answer is no. (I mean, I have a label just for Alaska books, because eventually they will take over this blog ;) )

2: My goodness... those first couple of chapters I was very offended by the townspeople. How dare they treat Paige like that? It's a great story if it can get you up in arms that quickly.

3: This story had great highlights of trust and forgiveness throughout it, and in a really realistic way too.

4: This was the first Belle Calhoun book I've ever read, and I'm a fan. I enjoy her style and her characters.

5: All-around a prize winner. Great story, great cover, great everything. There wasn't anything about this book that I didn't like. (Well, besides the fact that I was very confused about Emma. Her birthday is December 5th, the story is late April... they keep saying 14 months, but shouldn't she be 16, almost 17, months old? Maybe my math is really bad, but last time I checked....It doesn't change the substance of the story, though.)

Meeting Tracie and Kim!!!!

I think I'm prepared for this... as I sit here in my dorm room and drink this concoction that is getting rid of my cough, eat my pepperonis, (Thanks Tiara! I love you girl!) and study my verse for the Doctrines quiz today.

It's been three days (I think... time has taken on a new, indiscernible quality that makes the week seem like Monday followed by three Thursdays) since Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse came to Bob Jones for a book signing. Which I was so excited for. Anyone who talked to me for longer than 20 seconds knew about my excitement, I think. I even talked to Chief, (The dorm supervisor who I don't approach 3 out of 5 times) and got permission to steal take the poster from the back door. And yes, it is hanging on my closet door, so that everyone who comes in our room sees it.

Here's my normal Tuesday schedule though... Work from 8-9:30, Piano at 1:25, and English 103 at 2:35. My dilemma was that the book signing was scheduled for 2. THIS DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR ME!!! AT ALL!!!! So my first thought is "Well, I'll just skip En103. No biggie!" My second thought was "Maybe just being late is better." So I talked to my professor, and shoutout to Dr. McNeely here, cause he is amazing, he actually encouraged me to take the opportunity to meet Tracie and Kim and be late.

Tuesday rolls around and I go to work. But then I leave work like fifteen minutes early so I can go take my English quiz with the 9:35 class. That works out. I rush out of my piano lesson at 1:50, hurry to the Den (which takes all of a minute and a half) and see them! But did I rush right in and say hi? Nope. NERVES! (WHat even???) So I go in one door of the Bruins Shop and out the other. Loiter in the Den for 5 or 10 minutes talking to Em. But really just wanting to go in. Eventually I did. Stood in line... explained the plot of multiple different books on the table to the girl behind me in line.... finally get up there and hand Tracie my (well-loved, as you can tell by the slightly crinkly cover) book. She asks what my name is... I say "Erica" while grinning like a Cheshire because I'm too excited for anything else... and then things happen!

Kim looks at me and asks "Are you the young lady from Twitter?" and I'm sure I was already nodding my head before she finished her question (insert eye-roll). Apparently, this gets me automatic hug privileges, and I am VERY much a hugging type of person. Over the moon.... again! (Awkward pause, since I started writing this last week and didn't have time to finish!) And so I spent 45ish minutes getting to know them and just talking to them about their books and how I want to go to Alaska. Kim new that I was going to be late for my class. About a minute after the class starts she told me I was late for class, which made me giggle. And she told me to keep in touch and email her (which I will do as soon as I figure out where her email is...) and I made so many more fun memories that I have chickened out of sharing because they are so special and I just want to keep them in my head and enjoy them there, and please don't call the crazy people, I'm not that looney!

Sorry for the rambling and the filler words. My heart was going faster than my fingers and vocabulary could keep up. Also sorry that this took so long to post! Trust me, it was not for lack of wanting!