Saturday, August 26, 2023

Review: The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

"The Paris Opera is haunted—everyone knows it. Everyone, that is, except for the new managers, who spark a violent dispute with the Opera Ghost when they refuse to acknowledge his existence or submit to his demands. Sometimes surfacing as a disembodied voice in Box Five or appearing as a gentleman in evening dress with a death’s-head, the phantom is obsessed with Christine Daaé, a lovely and enigmatic novice singer endowed with an amazing voice. But impetuous Viscount Raoul de Chagny is in love with Christine, and he and his brother, Count Philippe, are swept into the phantom’s deadly illusion with horrifying consequences." (Blurb from B&N)

I'm going to be honest. I never read this when I was younger, mostly due to concerns that it would be inappropriate. Fun fact: It's not. It is written with the same class and care of other classic novels. (Which I'm hitting my classics era again. Thank you, Christina!) Is it dark? Ummm... yes. So very dark, but also light at the same time. It did take me a couple of chapters to get into it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it throughout. Christine, Raoul, and Erik were a phenomenal cast of characters, but honestly, the Persian might be my actual favorite, and I'm not even sure I could pin-point it and tell you why. What does surprise me is that I someone, like Christine, came to view Erik as a monster, but also as someone to be pitied. I don't know how Leroux did it, but he did. I sure felt some sort of way at the ending. It was an all-around fascinating tale of love and obsession and sweet sincerity and deranged madmen. There was suspense (I actually jumped out of my skin once when a sound from the real world penetrated into my very tuned out reading world.) There was humor. There was curiosity. (And praise the Lord, they gave answers instead of making me wonder till it drove me mad!) For fans of classics, for fans of gothic novels, for fans of music even, I would recommend this book.

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Review: Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin

In spring 1918, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier working with MI8 after suffering injuries on the front, receives a message by carrier pigeon. It is from Jewel Reyer, the woman he once loved and who saved his life - a woman he believed to be dead. Traveling to France to answer her urgent summons, he desperately hopes this mission will ease his guilt and restore the courage he lost on the battlefield.

Colin is stunned, however, to discover the message came from Jewel's half sister, Johanna. Johanna, who works at a dovecote for French Army Intelligence, found Jewel's diary and believes her sister is alive in the custody of a German agent. With spies everywhere, Colin is skeptical of Johanna, but as they travel across France and Spain, a tentative trust begins to grow between them.

When their pursuit leads them straight into the midst of a treacherous plot, danger and deception turn their search for answers into a battle for their lives.

This is the first book I've read by Kate Breslin, and I have to say, I am captivated! World War II is a common backdrop for Christian historical novels, but from the very beginning, I felt that Far Side of the Sea wasn't "just another WW2 book." It has a little bit of everything. It has espionage. It has romance. It has complicated characters with real emotions and human reactions. Jo fights against her past, while hoping desperately for a future with someone who can love her and belong to her. Colin's fight includes shell shock and a little bit of self-consciousness over his war injuries. I can honestly say that until the end of the book, I never could decide who I could and couldn't trust. It kept me on the edge of my seat and held me captive. From flamboyant Jo, to guarded Colin, I couldn't get enough of these characters. Especially the slow romance. I could have died every time Colin called Jo "Mrs. Mabry" as you know he meant it more and more as time passed. I dreadfully hope that Marcus gets his own story, as well. (JK, just realized he did... It's called In Love's Time and it's on my TBR now...) If you love books with intrigue, suspense, danger, romance, and hope, you will love this beautifully crafted story from a very talented author. I listened on Audible, and the narrator is honestly one of my favorites. I want her to narrate all the books. Just all of them. (Please also forgive me for any misspellings of names, as I listened to the audiobook and am therefore slightly insecure about it.)

Monday, June 19, 2023

Review: Crossfire by Lynette Eason

FBI special agent Julianna James is a top-notch negotiator who has never lost a hostage. Surely she can manage to take care of her much younger sister, Dottie, who showed up unannounced to live with Julianna while she finished her senior year of high school.

A former sniper with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Clay Snyder left the army after a tragic incident that he can't get past. Now he's working as a high school resource officer until he can figure out what to do with the rest of his life.

Their paths cross when Julianna is called in to negotiate a courtroom hostage situation involving Clay's sister. Impressed and a bit intimidated by the calm, capable woman with the dark hair and blue eyes, Clay invites her to speak at his school. Dottie's school.

But as the anniversary of a school shooting from Julianna's past approaches, it becomes clear that her perfect record is about to be tested and that Dottie is at risk. If Julianna and Clay can't figure out who's behind the attacks, more innocent people will die—and Julianna just might be one of them.

Oh my, it has been a while since I have written a review for a suspense novel. I recently got a ton of books on Audible, including Lynette Eason's Crossfire. I was intrigued from the get-go by the description. Hostage negotiation is such a God-given talent, and I wanted to know more about Julianna's relationship with her sister. I enjoyed getting to know the characters throughout the story, and the suspense level was through the roof. It was one of the few that I have not been able to guess the bad guy. I thought the layers and the foreshadowing were excellently done. I will say that as a teacher, it was a bit horrifying to be reading about school shooting/hostage situations, just because it is unfortunately so real for us now, but I totally respect the way that the author approached the entire situation and the different types of people you will find in a school. It was very realistic to me, and definitely worth the read! The narrator also did a great job, although sometimes I think the sentences didn't quite flow the way they would if I were reading with my eyes instead of listening. Overall, a great experience!

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Review: In Feast or Famine by Mesu Andrews

Thrust into an arranged marriage, the daughter of ancient Egypt’s high priest plays a pivotal role in Joseph’s biblical narrative in this powerful novel from the award-winning author of Potiphar’s Wife.

After four-year-old Asenath’s mother is murdered by Egypt’s foreign rulers, the child is raised to be a priestess by her overprotective father—high priest of Egypt’s sun god. For fifteen years, Asenath is sequestered in the upper levels of Ra’s temple, convinced it is her destiny to heal the land by becoming queen to the next Egyptianpharaoh. But when Egypt’s foreign king instead gives her as a bride to the newly appointed vizier—a Hebrew named Joseph—her entire world is shaken.

Beyond the walls of her tower, Asenath discovers treachery, deceit, and conspiracy that force her to redefine her destiny and weigh where her true loyalties lie. Can she still trust the gods of Egypt? Or is Elohim, the foreign God of her husband, the one who will heal her nation during the feast and famine to come?

I loved this book. I may have even liked it better than book one, in all honesty. I found the characters compelling, and the depth given to people the Bible mentions only in passing is fascinating. I loved Asenath and her journey. I felt for her so much, and I loved getting to know her. I thought the way that this story interweaved with Potiphar's story was incredible. The rich historic detail caused me to be immersed in the land. I was fascinated by everything, though equally repulsed by other bits. (Looking at you... Crocodile-toothed priest!) The story had it's share of laughter and grief and was, I believe, a fair representation of how Genesis could have played out. I was sad to see the book end. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

"Elohim loves."

"Trusting Elohim is always a choice between doubt that sends us spiraling or faith that reveals an awe-inspiring aspect of God's character."

"Elohim meets us in our pain."

"Elohim - who is the same yesterday, today, and forever- still chooses the unlikely and those less than perfect to partake in His promises."

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Review: Potiphar's Wife by Mesu Andrews

Before she is Potiphar’s wife, Zuleika is the daughter of a king and the wife of a prince. She rules the isle of Crete alongside her mother in the absence of their seafaring husbands. But when tragedy nearly destroys Crete, Zuleika must sacrifice her future to save the Minoan people she loves.

Zuleika’s father believes his robust trade with Egypt will ensure Pharaoh’s obligation to marry his daughter, including a bride price hefty enough to save Crete. But Pharaoh refuses and gives her instead to Potiphar, the captain of his bodyguards: a crusty bachelor twice her age, who would rather have a new horse than a Minoan wife.

Abandoned by her father, rejected by Pharaoh, and humiliated by Potiphar’s indifference, Zuleika yearns for the homeland she adores. In the political hotbed of Egypt’s foreign dynasty, her obsession to return to Crete spirals into deception. When she betrays Joseph—her Hebrew servant with the face and body of the gods—she discovers only one love is worth risking everything.

This was the first book I had ever read from this author. It's been a long while since I read any biblical fiction. And to be honest, I was a little nervous to go into this one, just based on the subject matter, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. The research and details put into the story are impeccable. While the story can focus on physical desires, the story in the Bible does so as well, and it didn't go too far considering how far the Bible itself goes sometimes. I was also surprised by the fact that I didn't absolutely hate Zully. Of course, it is a work of fiction, based on the Biblical characters and on heavy, intense research. If you enjoy Biblical fiction, I think you will enjoy this story. It's so immersive that you can about feel the sand in your throat. The rich historical detail is amazing, and the characters are so well-developed. I'm not sure the ending was exactly how I had hoped it would go, but sometimes, that's better for the story. I also am anticipating book two coming out so I can see how the whole Ahira business winds out with Joseph. I know that book two will focus more on his wife from the Bible, so I just want to know how that is going to work out. The second book is releasing very soon and is available for preorder from Amazon.

Pre-Order Link

Saturday, April 22, 2023

CelebrateLit Tour: Review: A Match in the Making by Jen Turano

About the Book

Book: A Match in the Making

Author: Jen Turano

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: February 21, 2023

Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to spend the summer in America’s most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the employ of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond irritating.

Walter Townsend is reluctantly in search of a wife for the sake of his unruly motherless children who cannot keep a governess for long. What he wasn’t expecting was Miss Brinley, an amateur matchmaker who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle. Constantly besieged by society ladies on a mission to win his affection, Walter must find a way to overcome their inundating attention–and his unexpected attraction toward Gwendolyn.

The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her.

Review:

Once again, Jen Turano has me cracking up. This is one of my favorites by Jen, and I blame that on three little darlings. Namely, Oscar, Samuel, and Priscilla. From about the first page I was laughing out loud, and didn't stop until the very last page. This book had hilarious twists and turns, with ridiculous situations, lots of snooty characters, and unlikely friendships and confrontations behind every page. Now, have you ever watched The Lord of the Beans (VeggieTales' spoof on Lord of the Rings)? Because if you have, you might agree with me that Gwendolyn's employer bears a striking resemblance to the tree elder from that movie. (IYKYK) I absolutely recommend this story for anyone who loves a good laugh or who enjoys stories with precocious children or who enjoys a good almost-enemies-to-lovers trope.

I received a copy of this book for review, but all opinions are my own.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and at jenturano.com.

More from Jen

A Chat with Jen Turano

You’re known for writing historical romantic comedies set in the Gilded Age. What made you decide to write in that particular era?

Funny thing, when I first tried my hand at writing historical, I wrote Regency—think Jane Austen, lots of drama, dukes, and probably a few countesses in serious need of attitude adjustments. One of those books, I believe I titled it A Marriage of Inconvenience, is the book that landed me my first agent. But, as she was shopping that book around, I read this fascinating book about Alva Vanderbilt. There was so much drama involved with the New York Four Hundred during the latter part of the nineteenth century that I threw myself into researching everything I could find about high society. I’ve been writing about that fascinating moment in time ever since.

Your new series revolves around matchmaking. How did you come up with that idea, and what can we expect?

I’ve been wanting to do a matchmaker series forever, and that idea reinforced when I watched Season 4 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and there was a prevalent matchmaking thread. However, I didn’t want to do a normal matchmaker story, which is why I decided it would be hilarious to have a heroine accept a paid companion position and then, due to unforeseen circumstances, find herself turned into an assistant matchmaker even though she has absolutely no experience with matchmaking in general and is actually old enough to be considered a confirmed spinster.

How do you come up with such unusual ideas?

I think I just view life a little differently. I’ve always been rather weird, so when I think of matchmaking agencies, or lady detectives, or hat makers, I begin thinking up all these outlandish situations and then, just when my heroine or hero thinks that nothing else could go wrong, I throw something else at them. It’s a highly amusing job at times, although I’m certain my characters don’t appreciate my odd sense of humor.

Do you have a favorite character or book?

I adore Gertrude Cadwalader from Out of the Ordinary, although that’s not my favorite book. My favorite book is Diamond in the Rough because Poppy Garrison gets herself in some fabulous messes.

Your characters do seem to find themselves in some interesting mishaps and messes. Do you write these from personal experience?

You know, I have to admit that a lot of the outlandish situations I write are based on either observations I’ve made over the years or . . . yep, they’ve happened to me or my friends. I’ve definitely led an interesting life, although I do embellish the situations in some instances—creative license and all that.

How do you come up with such unusual names?

Contrary to what some may believe, I don’t make up any of my names. I scour old obituaries or shake down my friends who are into researching their ancestors for cool names. That’s how I got Mercy Miner, Temperance Flowerdew, and Lucetta Plum.

What’s coming up next?

I just finished up developmental edits for the second book in the Matchmakers series, so now I’ll go back to writing the third and final book in that series. After that? Well, I’m not positive yet. I have two ideas roaming around in my head for the next series I’ll delve into, but I simply don’t know which one I want to write quite yet.

Thanks so much for having me! Always fun being here with your readers.

All the best,

Jen