Book Review: I Can't Begin to Tell You

I Can't Begin to Tell You
Elizabeth Buchan
Penguin Books (UK)Michael Joseph
Pub Date   Aug 28 2014

This book opens up in November of 1942 in a Danish Estate.  Kay Eberstern was British born but finds herself caught up in Hitlers war.  Kay has some affections for Germany because her children have German blood flowing in them but she does not agree with Hitlers evil ways nor does she understand why they are being sold out to the Germans.

I Can't Begin to Tell You is the story of survival through World War Two of a young woman refusing to give into the way of life an evil man Hitler. This is a story about a time and place in history that was not only deadly for the Jewish but for anyone who dared to point out how wrong Hitler was or for anyone who did not fit his idea of a so called perfect Aryan life was deadly for anyone who dared to be difficult. 

I Can't Begin to Tell You is a very well written and researched novel giving us an intense read that made me feel as if I was looking in on the characters and feeling what they felt.  

Five out of five stars...

Book Review: The Secret Place

The Secret Place
Tana French
PENGUIN GROUP
Viking
Viking Adult
Pub Date   Sep 2 2014

This book opens with the police looking into a cold case the murder of a sixteen year old boy.  This is the story of a young boys murder, several girls are questioned about who put a card on Chris Harpers grave claiming to know who killed him.  Digging into the case of Chris Harpers murder they discover that he may have raped a girl.  The young woman named Selena was raped several weeks before Chris was murdered.  Deeper investigation shows that Selena was not raped by Chris, but could have someone thought she was and killed Chris in order to protect her?

If you like novels that leave you guessing until the very end then you will want to read Tana French's The Secret Place, this is a book geared towards adults though and do to the language and subject matter that needs to be kept in mind.

I give this novel four out of five stars.

Happy Reading...

Book Review: Buttermilk Sky

Buttermilk Sky
Jan Watson
Tyndale House Publishers
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Pub Date   Oct 1 2014

Mazy Pelfery moves away from her strict upbringing in the  Kentucky mountains to a more genteel life in Lexington.  Mazy discovers life in Lexington is not as easy as she suspected.  When Mazy gets sick with food poisoning she discovers that there are those that really do care as she is nursed back to health.

Mazy finds herself falling in love with a man named Loyal.  Mazy soon discovers that there are those who are dealing with tougher isssues and when a friend and her Father were evicted Mazy wants to help.  Will Mazy discover who she is and how to help others?

This is the story of a young woman trying to make it on her own in the early part of the twentieth century a young woman who is determined to build a life for herself.  

I give this novel five out of five stars...

Happy Reading...

Book Review: Breathing Room

Breathing Room
Letting Go So You Can Fully Live
Leeana Tankersley
Revell

Pub Date   Oct 7 2014

I believe Breathing Room is a must read book because not only does it show us the importance of letting go but it reminds us that if we try to pretend our pain does not exist then that allows it to control us instead of the other way around.  We are reminded too that if we let the little things build up we are likely to explode.

We are reminded too not to make everything so urgent, even if we feel the need too, because not eveything we want to make urgent is.  This book also reminds us not to  give up on our dreams.  We are also encouraged to find a room of our own to write, to pray or do what stirs our Soul.

I give Breathing room five out of five stars...

Happy Reading...

Book Review: 50 Women Every Christian Should Know

50 Women Every Christian Should Know
Michelle DeRusha Baker
Books Baker Books
Pub Date   Sep 16 2014

This book gives you a glimpse into the lives of fifty great Christian woman, and shows us a bit of how they impacted the Christian faith.  This is the brief stories of women who were willing to stand up for what they believed in some even risking their lives.

If you like reading true life stories of Women who made a difference in the Christian faith everyone from Hildegard to Ruth Bell Graham this is a book you will want to add to your library.

I give this book five out of five stars...

Happy Reading...

Book Review: To Everything There Is A Season

To Everything There is a Season
Lauraine Snelling
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Pub Date   Oct 21 2014

It's 1905 and female doctors are almost unheard of.  Astrid is a woman ahead of her time.  Astrid even finds herself taking care of a seriously injured bank robber.  Soon a friendship begins forming between Astrid and Manny the former bank robber.

To Everything There Is A Season is the story of a woman trying to make a name for herself as a doctor at a time when female doctors were almost unheard of.

If you love historical fiction that shows people making a difference then I highly recommend To Everything There is a Season will transport you back to 1905 and give you a look into the life of Astrid Bjorklund.

I give this novel Five out of Five Stars.

Happy Reading.

Book Review: Trading Secrets

Trading Secrets
Melody Carlson
Revell
Pub Date   Oct 21 2014

Micah is a teenage girl who has become pen pals with an Amish pen pal who happens to be a boy.  She turns to her best friend Lizzie for help and advise.  Zach does not know that Micah is a girl though.  When she goes to meet her pen pal in person she even disguses herself as a teenage boy.  But when Zach discovers she's been lying to him he wants nothing to do with her.

Michah and Zach had been pen pals since the fifth grade and he even helped her her through her Mother's death.  Micah wants to remain friends with Zach because he has helped her through so much.  He eventually does forgive her for her lies.  Zach is well educated for an Amish boy because he loves to read and is not sure if he wants to stay in the Amish faith or go in the way of the Englisch.  When Zach comes to visit her in her Englisch world, and soon he starts to discover who he is and what he wants in life, part of that is coming to the realization that he needs to move on from his old pen pal.

If you like coming of age stories with a positive message then Trading Secrets is a novel you will enjoy.

I give this novel five out of five stars.

Happy Reading...