Sarah Holman's Blog, page 23
July 8, 2020
July 6, 2020
24 Days Before Christmas: A Book Review
*Post contains Amazon affiliate links*
Find it on: Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback
Age Appropriate For:13 and up for violence and mild intensityBest for Ages:13 and upDescription: God Rest Ye Missing Gentleman...Leland Bell is missing. Blood on the carpet, an absent vehicle, and vanishing fingerprints point to a sinister crime in tiny Poinsettia. The Singh and Winter families are just trying to celebrate Christmas with their friends, but their normal traditions are getting mixed up with murder investigations and police interviews. A dark shadow threatens the joy of the season and the townspeople find their trust in God shaken.Each day brings a new Christmas carol for the families to memorize and revealing new clues to what could be a double murder.Carols and crime, memories and mystery, doubters and danger – will there be a Merry Christmas after all?
I’ve wanted to read this for quite a while I finally made time in my Christmas reading binge of 2019 to read this story. I’m glad I did. It was a well-told story with lots of fun Christmas aspects, as well as a solid mystery.
First of all, I loved all the Christmas traditions that this family had. Really, I would have almost read the whole book just to enjoy the antics of a family trying to memorize all those long carols ever day, watch old Christmas movies, as well as all the other fun stuff.
The mystery was well done and took a lot of unexpected twists. Nothing was very graphic, but I would still say that younger readers or sensitive readers who usually avoid murders and death should probably skip on this story. I have to say that it kept me reading and flipping those digital pages to find out what was going to happen next.
Perhaps the only downside to this story was the number of characters. While Jones did a pretty good job with the story, there were a couple of places I was a little lost. However, the large cast was a huge and very special part of the book.
I highly recommend this story to those who love clean mysteries, stories about larger families, and Christmas novels that aren’t all fluff.
July 3, 2020
A Different Kind of Courage: Prologue
I mourn over my bleeding country… I weep at her distress, and with them deeply resent the many injuries she has received from the hands of cruel and unreasonable men. ~ Dr. Joseph Warren
March 5, 1770
Darkness cloaked Boston as surely as fear gripped my heart. My lungs burned as the cold, salty air filled them, but I could not stop. I did not know how much time I had, but I knew it was limited. I ignored the clanging of bells. As an able-bodied man, I should have rushed to see what was wrong, but tonight was not like most nights. Tonight, my only thought was to get to Doctor Warren’s house, quickly.
I was out of breath when I finally reached the doctor’s house on Hanover Street. I pounded at the door, letting my fear release itself on the rough wood. “Dr. Warren!” I pounded. “Joseph!” I called for the man who was our family physician as well as my friend. I continued to pound until the door swung inward, nearly sending me toppling.
“William, what is it?” Joseph Warren took a step forward, his concern evident in his tone.
“It is my mother and my sister-in-law. I think…” I swallowed my fears. I did not dare speak the words. Mother was the only one who understood me. Father wanted me to be just like him, but Mother had loved me for who I was. The thought of losing her was too devastating to say aloud.
“I am coming.” Joseph’s words were as comforting as his calm presence. He disappeared and came back with his coat and bag. Closing the door, he started down the street, not slowing his pace as he wiggled into his coat. He would need many layers to ward off the chill in the night air.
“Mother cannot stop coughing,” I choked, wishing the bells would stop clanging. They seemed like the echo to the fear in my own heart. The look on my mother’s face as she struggled to breathe had terrified me. My brother’s wife, Tabitha, did not look much better.
Joseph placed his hand on my arm as we hurried down the street, his warmth seeping through my sleeve. “It will be all right.”
I concentrated on picking up my pace, and did not bother to reply. I knew that Joseph meant well, but he had not seen my mother. He had not seen her pale face and blue lips. He had not heard the constant hacking in our home as my mother and Tabitha fought against this illness.
Musket fire grabbed our attention. Screams and terrified shouting greeted our ears while the bells continued to clang.
“What is happening?” I asked.
Joseph shook his head. “I do not know. Nothing good, to be sure. Come, we must make haste to your mother.” His feet continued toward my home, but his eyes searched the direction of the musket fire. The moment we reached my door, he turned his full attention toward the house.
I knew something was horribly wrong the moment we entered. I could tell that the atmosphere of the house had changed since I had left to fetch Joseph. I heard someone crying. Was it by father or brother? I could not tell.
“Mother?” I breathed.
Without waiting for an invitation Joseph bounded up the stairs to the living quarters. He visited often and knew the way.
My father met me at the top of the stairs. “Tabitha is dead.” His voice was gruff.
My heart stopped. “Mother?”
My father shook his head gravely. “She is not well. I think she will join Tabitha soon.”
I pushed past him and entered my mother’s room. Warren bent over her, his face grave. Mother looked even worse than when I had left her to get Joseph. She lay under the sheets; each breath an agonizing struggle.
“Mama! Mama!” My niece cried from in the hallway.
I looked from my mother to the door.
“Go see to your niece.” This was a gentle command from Joseph.
I reluctantly did as he asked. I went into the hallway and found my niece beating her tiny fists on the door to her mother’s room. “Mama! Mama!”
“Katherine?” I spoke my niece’s name softly.
“Uncle William?” She looked up at me with wide eyes, and then she threw herself at me.
I knelt down and pulled the girl, only four years old, into my arms. “It will be all right, Katherine.”
“Mama’s gone,” she sobbed.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to hold back my own grief. “I know, Sweetheart. I know.”
Interested it reading the rest? I'm running a sale! Get it HERE.
End of my birthday month and why I'm not reading much
*post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Thank you for using them and support this blog*No, I haven't forgotten about sharing with you what I did each day for my Birthday month. It's just that I have been some much needed time away from my computer and phone, therefore I wasn't keeping everyone up to date. Shall I finish off the month for you? Some items I forgot to take pictures of, but here it goes:
Day 14: I went to church (which is a huge blessing in these times) and I was able to finish two really amazing books.
Day 17: Yes, I realize there were a couple of skipped days there. There was some stress and I simply forgot to do things for my birthday. However, a day at the water park was just awesome.
Day 18: I spent most of the day working on a quilt. It was pretty cool.
Day 19: Our young-adults group met for the first time in a few months! It was amazing!
Day 20: I woke up to the most amazing rainbow. Which was pretty awesome and I finally got to watch the rest of The Chosen series. If you haven't seen this series about the life of Christ, please go watch it now! You can find it HERE.
Day 21 and 22: On Sunday I went out to lunch with my family (so much fun) and made myself a special meal on Monday.
Day 23: Mom has a tradition of taking each of the girls out for lunch for our birthday. We went out to one of our favorite Mexican food restaurants.
Day 24: I was very happy to be off work for the week. Even though I had a few things I needed to get done, I spent most of the day writing.
Day 25: I made tomato sauce! Yes, it was a lot of work, but I love turning things in the garden into stores for the future.
Day 26: Because of work schedules of some of my siblings, this was the evening we were all home so they gave me my gifts
Day 27 and 28: The 27th I had a couple of friends over and we played board games and had fajitas. I'm sad I forgot to take photos. 28th was a nice, relaxing Sunday with lunch at a Mexican food restaurant.
Day 29: More sauce making. We had a lot of tomatoes.
Birthday Day!!!
My sisters and I chilled at the waterpark. It was perfect weather for it. Then we came home, ate pizza, and watched Swiss Family Robinson. So there you have it my birthday month!
These last couple of weeks, I haven't read a lot of books. Some of it is that I read two spectacular fiction books and I have a book hangover. I've also listened to a lot of scripture. I've been so hungry for the word of God, that most other books just don't have much appeal to me.
Nicole Sager is a favorite author of mine. I was so excited to read this book. I read it over two days and was sad when I had to stop to sleep. Read my review on Goodreads | Amazon
This book... I love Sarah Sundin so much. She is one of my favorite authors ever! This book was another great one by her. Goodreads | Amazon
I love Kelsey's writing. While this story is for kids, I really enjoyed it. The audiobook was great.Goodreads | Amazon | Audible
I reread this book. Actually, I read it almost exactly a year ago. It was a much-needed reminder.Goodreads | Amazon
I love this series so much. This book was filled with so many needed reminders. The audiobook was great.Goodreads | AmazonWhat have you been reading?
July 2, 2020
July 1, 2020
Take part in the Christmas in July event!
Calling all bloggers and Instagramers! I and a few other authors are putting together a fun little event for July to celebrate the release of our stories that were originally part of the A Very Bookish Christmas event.Are you interested? You can review one or more of the stories or just post a premade post. If this is something you would like, go HERE.
June 30, 2020
Today I turn 30
Today, I turned 30.
This month has been an emotional roller-coaster, most of it of my own making. There were days that I was excited that I had made it 30 years, and there were a lot of days I felt like curling in a ball and crying. There was something about the big three-zero birthday that had me. I never thought I would get to this age without a family of my own. At the same time, I saw so many things that God needed to change in me, I kinda wondered how I had any friends and why my family put up with me.
I took a week off for my birthday and spent a lot of time thinking, praying, as well as chilling and having fun. In this week off, God has brought me not only to a place of great peace but to a point that today was a day of great rejoicing for me.
We all have expectations in life. I’m no different. Now, I wasn’t one of those who had a life plan, but I did have ideas. As is often the case, God had plans for me that were very different than my ideas. While those plans are for my good, they don’t necessarily feel good. However, we all know there are many things that feel good that aren’t good for us. We can’t live on sugar and other junk food. Exercises don’t feel good a lot of the time, but they achieve a result that is good.
There is so much that God has been teaching me, it can’t all fit into this post. However, I will say that I’m so grateful for the thirty years that God has given me. As I look ahead, I have no idea what He has in store for me. I do know that I can hold on to hope because it will be for my good and for his glory.
Here is a song I’ve been listening to a lot this past week.
June 26, 2020
"The Archer will protect you."
“Bryon,” Alvin whispered again.“Yes,” Bryon sobbed, cradling his brother’s head in his lap.“Get the girls and get them away from here.” Alvin’s face contorted in pain. “Where would I take them?”“The woods outside Delmore. I have heard stories of an archer who lives in the woods. The Archer will protect you until all is safe. You must leave before she blames my death on you. Do not return until The Archer himself tells you it is safe.”“I will not leave you,” Bryon said fiercely, taking hold of his brother’s hand.Despite the pain, Alvin smiled. “Do not fear for me, I go to be with God and our mother. Take care of…of all of them. You are… are now the heir. Act worthy of this call… calling.” Alvin struggled for breath. “And take Gwendolen my… my sword with my love.”Bryon nodded, his eyes blurry with tears. “You have my word.”“Go, now,” Alvin said.Bryon hesitated for a moment, then gently lowered his brother’s head to the floor. Taking hold of his brother’s sword, he pulled himself to his feet and raced to the door. He paused for a moment to take one look back. Alvin looked up at him and gave him a nod. Through blinding tears, Bryon raced to get the girls and follow his brother’s dying instructions.
Read the rest of the story on Kindle, Paperback, or audiobook.
June 24, 2020
June 19, 2020
"What a story this will make!"
With a heavy sigh, Brianna slipped out after him. She adjusted the golden circlet on her head as she walked rapidly to catch up. Her gown of softest wool had been colored a deep blue and it set off her brown hair. She had to look her best for the ambassador to listen to her.“Ambassador,” Brianna called out, seeing that he was moving rapidly.He whipped around, his face red with anger. “What do you want?” his voice was gruff.Brianna swallowed her fear. She must have courage for the sake of her people and her father. “Ambassador, I fear a grave error has been made.” She stopped a few paces away from him.“Indeed there has,” the ambassador sneered. “The king will regret this.”Brianna swallowed again, her mouth dry. “Good sir, that is why I have sought you out. I think you and I might be able to reach an agreement that will satisfy both the needs of your country and Taelis.”“You?” the ambassador chuckled dryly. “You are a woman.”“I am also a princess, oldest daughter of the king.” She pulled herself to her full height, but still felt small. She was not tall, even for a girl, and this man was a head above most men.The ambassador crossed his arms. “I fail to see how that can help me. You are still a woman. Unless you are proposing an alliance by marriage, you have nothing to offer.”Brianna shook her head. “What I offer is help to get you the trade that our countries both desperately need.”The ambassador smiled, amusement playing over his features. “I see. Do you have a handful of grain that you want to trade for a bit of wool?”Brianna sighed. Why could she have not been a born a son, or at least taller. It took so much time to convince people she could help. “I am offering you the trade you wished. I know where there are many bags of grain ready and waiting to be loaded onto carts in exchange for a fair amount of wool.”The amusement had diminished somewhat in the ambassador’s face. He did not quite believe her yet, but he was desperate to make this trade. “How are you able to offer me this and your father was not?”“My father was able to make the trade,” Brianna said softly. “He simply did not wish to bother with it this day.” Her father never wanted to deal with anything that had to do with business. “Do you wish the grain or not?”
The ambassador threw back his head and laughed. “I have never made a trade with a princess. What a story this will make!”
Read the rest of the story on Kindle, Paperback, or audiobook.
