Sarah Holman's Blog, page 92

Adventure Between the Pages: Ring of Secrets by Roseanna White

Buy it Here Age Appropriate For: 13 and up for romance, mild violence and some subject matterBest for Ages: 13 and up
Description: This exciting romantic spy novel from Roseanna M. White combines fascinating cloak-and-dagger secrets with a tale of love and intrigue during the Revolutionary War. Winter Reeves is an aristocratic Patriot forced to hide her heart amid the Loyalists of the City of New York. She has learned to keep her ears open so she can pass information on British movements to Robbie Townsend, her childhood friend, and his spy ring. If she's caught, if she's hung for espionage...well, she won't be. Robbie has taught her the tools of the trade: the wonders of invisible ink, drop locations and, most importantly, a good cover. Bennet Lane returns to New York from his Yale professorship with one goal: to find General Washington's spy hidden among the ranks of the elite. Searching for a wife was supposed to be nothing more than a convenient cover story for his mission, but when he meets Winter, with her too-intelligent eyes in her too-blank face, he finds a mystery that can't be ignored. Both believers...and both committed to a separate cause. Will their faith in God lead them to a shared destiny or lives lived apart?
When I got the email from Roseanna White saying I had won her Culper Ringseries, I was ecstatic! I love books, history, and mystery, and free things, so it couldn’t get much better. I waited for the books to come in the mail and started reading the first one as soon as I opened the package.
Winter was a fascinating character. I don’t think I have read a book about a very smart girl pretending to be stupid all the time, to get information from the enemy. The uniqueness of the plot and characters made me fall in love instantly with this book. Even in the couple of rough spots of the book, Winter kept me reading. She is one of those characters that gets stuck in your head and stays.
Bennet wasn’t as well developed as Winter, I felt. Don’t get me wrong, he made an excellent hero. His way of pursuing Winter was not only charming, it was heartwarming.  My main issue with Bennet is that I really didn’t understand why he felt the way he did about things both personally or politically. I won’t say anything else about that, because I don’t want to give away any of the book.
The story itself was so fascinating that I didn’t want to stop reading. Winter’s political and personal struggles made sure that there was never a dull moment. There were several times I ignored my siblings, because I had to find out what happened next.
The historical setting of this book was captured wonderfully. White obviously did a lot of research for this story (I loved the prayers). The details painted a rich picture of the times and the people who lived in them.I highly recommend this book for history lovers, Revolutionary War buffs, those who love spy stories, or those looking for an entertaining read.

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Other posts you might enjoy:           Book Review; The Pirate Daughters Promise           Adventure Between the Pages: The Merchant’s Daughter           Book Review; Interpreted: I Life Beyond Words        

It is here!

“Why did my life have to be full of secrets?”
After three years in England, William Landor returns to Boston in 1774, little knowing the events that are about to unfold.
England has issued an ultimatum: pay for the tea that was destroyed in the Boston Tea Party, or the Port of Boston will be closed. William knows that this will have a devastating effect on his hometown, which is so dependent on the sea. However, he finds himself in the middle of the political struggle he wanted to avoid.
William’s father is a merchant and loyal to the king and is furious at what the rebels of Boston have cost him. He would like nothing more than to rid the city of their poisonous influence. Meanwhile, William’s best friend, Dr. Joseph Warren, is one of the leaders of rebels, or Whigs as they call themselves.
As if his life was not complicated enough, he meets a fiery indentured servant who tugs at his heart as well as his loyalty. When he is confronted by the consequences of his many secrets, he has to make a choice weather or not to tell the truth. Does he have the kind of courage it will take?
You can get it on Kindle here

Adventure Between the Pages: A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin

Buy it HereAge Appropriate For: 15 and up for romance, violence, and thematic elementsBest for Ages: 18 and up
Description: Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge--until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she carries a shameful secret that keeps her from giving her heart to any man. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways?
I was having a really rough day and didn’t feel like doing anything. I was trying to push through the mountain of work I had to do, but it just wasn’t working. Mom called to me to check my email, so I opened it up. There was an email saying she had gifted me the second book in Sarah Sundin’s Wings of Glory series. The rest of the day I spent reading this amazing story.
The only thing that kept me from loving the book as much as the last one was Ruth’s very tough past, and once scene where she is almost taken advantage of. Nothing was graphic, and for the subject matter covered, I felt Sundin handled it very well. However, those types of thing are never easy to read, no matter how well they are handled.I don’t think a fiction book has touched my heart as much as this one has in years. Jack and I have a sad trait in common; we are both very prideful, but often we can’t see it. I spent a lot of time while I was reading and afterword praying and examining myself. Sundin tackles issues in her books that Christian’s struggle with, but often paint as acceptable sins. I applaud and thank her for not shying away from the big issues.
Jack was my favorite character in this book. I wasn’t sure I was going to like the ladies-man of the family. As I said, though, he and I have some failings in common. Jack grew on me with each page. I loved watching him change and mature. I still like Walt best, but Jack also now has a special place in my heart.
Ruth was such a broken girl, my heart went out to her. I loved her loyalty to her family and her journey from doubt to faith. It seemed so realistic. My only thing I didn’t understand is why her instructors/boss’ never seemed to believe her when she said one of the men was giving her issues. She seemed very trustworthy, and they are always talking about what a good nurse she is, but for some reason they get mad if she says a guy is treating her wrong.
This story was one of those you never want to put down. I started reading, and I didn’t stop until midnight when I read the last page. The backdrop of WWII makes this story even more compelling. It was one of those rare books where faith, not romance, took the center stage, even though the romance is a huge part of the book.
I highly recommend this book to those who like compelling stories, tales of God’s grace and redemption, and books that make you think.

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Other posts you might enjoy:          Adventure Between the Pages: A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin          Adventure Between the Pages: Full Steam Ahead          Adventure Between the Pages: Just Like You

Adventure Between the Pages: A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin

Buy it Here Age Appropriate For: 13 and up for romance and violenceBest for Ages: 15 and up
Description: Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval--even marry a man she doesn't love. Lt. Walter Novak--fearless in the cockpit but hopeless with women--takes his last furlough at home in California before being shipped overseas. Walt and Allie meet at a wedding and their love of music draws them together, prompting them to begin a correspondence that will change their lives. As letters fly between Walt's muddy bomber base in England and Allie's mansion in an orange grove, their friendship binds them together. But can they untangle the secrets, commitments, and expectations that keep them apart?
I have been a bit flighty when it comes to books lately. I have read a few pages in one book before jumping to the next book. This book grabbed my attention and didn’t let go until I read the last page. I wished I could afford to go out and buy copies of all of Sundin’s books.
This book will make my top 10 books of the year list for sure. I thought it was going to be another sweet romance with a little spiritual message. I was blown away by this story. Yes the romance was wonderful, but it was dominated by the characters’ personal struggles, and faith in God took center stage.

I was reminded in some aspects of this story of one of my favorite writers of this era, Grace Livingston Hill. Sundin so captured the time and the spirit of the people, I felt I was reading a book by a contemporary of the times. She obviously researched this book, and it made the book sparkle with authenticity.
Allie tore at my heart. She and I come from opposite worlds. I have two loving parents who share my faith, she has two uncaring parents that sneer at her faith. Yet, I felt as if I was riding the roller-coaster of emotions with her, struggling alongside her as she warred within herself what she should do.
How can I even begin to describe my love for Walt. We both come from strong believing families, and we both struggle with some of the same problems. Walt was such an upstanding guy, yet he has flaws. I do not think I have seen a character with so much integrity written with such believable human failings as well as Sudin wrote Walt – not in a very long time.
One of the other things I really appreciated about this book was how it reflected the realities of World War II without being too depressing. No one in the story comes through it unscathed. Everyone loses someone they know, or knows someone who receives a life-altering injury. Some people like to whitewash history, and everyone in their stories come back healthy and whole. This book was more realistic, without leaving me depressed.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes amazing historical fiction, stories that build your faith, and tales that compel you to keep reading.

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Other posts you might enjoy:         Adventure between the Pages: Against the Tide         Adventure Between the Pages: Dear Mr. Knightley         Adventure Between the Pages: Your Beautiful Purpose

A Different Kind of Courage cover

Faith to Start Your Week: What is Joy?

I finally understand what joy really is. I thought I did before, but I was wrong. I used to think that joy was the spiritual form of happiness and if I was truly joyful, I would be happy about everything that happened. That made verses like this hard:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds... James 1:2 NIV
I could I possibly be happy when bad things happen? When my dad gets a devastating diagnosis? When someone snubs me? When someone is hurtful to someone I love? How can I possibly feel happy? You know what? I can't. I cannot be feel happy, but I can be joyful.

You see, I have the joy is not a synonym of happy. Joy is a deep understanding within your soul that everything is going to work out for your greater good and for the glory of God. My suffering is not in vain, it has a purpose and value. I look to the future with anticipation of how God is going to use me and the situations he has put me in. Am I happy about everything? I would be lying to say I was. but my heart is full of joy.

Where Destiny and Faith take you: an update on me

It is almost one a.m., and I finally had one of those moments of truth with myself. I realized that I have been avoiding my blog, because I was avoiding writing this blog post. I haven’t even posted on my Facebook page about this. The reason? I have been avoiding facing the harsh reality of the truth. For me, writing something is more than putting words down, it is putting a bit of my heart and soul onto the page. Writing about something makes it more real to me.
You see, we finally found out what was wrong with my Dad, and it was hard. He has Mild Cognitive Impairment. Okay, after writing those words down, it took me a moment to start writing again. When I wrote an email about this to someone a couple of days after the diagnosis, those words didn’t mean much, now, they mean a lot. They mean my family’s life is changed and will continue to change.
Right now, those words mean he doesn’t drive (which he hasn’t’ in almost six months), he is struggling to do his job, and conversations are somewhat hard to follow for him. Sixty percent of the people who get Mild Cognitive Impairment go on to have dementia. The other forty stay about the same or take slow steps downward.
I am going to be very honest here – I am scared. I am looking into an uncertain future for my dad, one that could change my whole family. I know in my heart of hearts that God will be there for me, like he has been every time I have needed Him. However, even though I just turned twenty-four, I still feel a strong need for my daddy.
One of the hardest things I am facing right now is people that “just want to help.” I cannot tell you how many diets have been suggested, doctors recommended, and spiritual instructions that have been sent to me and my family members. All of the people who are sending them are well-meaning people, and in their own way they are trying to show they care. However, it is hard to deal with lots of people thinking they each have the magic pill/diet/prayer that will cure my dad.
“Just speak words of healing and tell the devil to leave,” on friend said.
“This diet cures everything,” says another.
“This doctor isn’t like the doctors you are going to,” says yet another, even though they have never met the awesome team of doctors that has been helping my dad.
“It is never in God’s plan for his children to be sick.” This statement shocked and made me think more than any of the others. It made me realize why I hate the advice I have been getting. It isn’t the advice itself; it is really what I am hearing between the lines.
One of my favorite verses is the one that reads: “In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world.” We live in a broken world, corrupted by sin and because of that, we will all face trouble. God never promised us an easy life. In fact, he said it would have troubles. Despite this, many Christians act as if God has lost control over their lives when something goes wrong, as if disease, heartache, and pain could not be used by and for God.
This make me think of a movie I really like (though I highly recommend a filtered version, which is the only kind I have seen). Apollo 13 is a movie that is based on the events surrounding the mission of the same name. Apollo 13 was meant to be another moon landing, but something went horribly wrong. There was an explosion and it didn’t look like astronauts were going to make it home.
One of my favorite lines in the whole movie comes when a reporter says something along the lines of this being NASA’s biggest disaster. The director of Mission Control looks the reporter in the eye and says: “I believe that this will be our finest hour.”
My parents have often told me that the light shines brightest in the darkness, and I have the strong conviction that this will be my family’s finest hour. I don’t know what the future holds for my dad, and like I said, that scares me, but I do know that God has a plan for this. This diagnosis didn’t surprise God. This wasn’t a mistake or something the devil did while God’s back was turned. God already has a plan to use this for his good.
I ask for your prayers in the weeks, months, and years ahead. It is going to be a challenge for my family; it already is. We are having to adjust our way of life, and let go of some dreams. God might choose to heal my dad, and I ask for your prayers for that. Even more, I ask for your prayers that no matter what happens, God is glorified.

Adventure Between the Pages: A Match of Wits by Jen Turano

Buy it HereDescription: After his departure from New York two years ago to meet up with his almost-fiancee, Zayne Beckett is the last person Agatha Watson wanted to stumble upon in her travels as a reporter with the New York Tribune. Quite pathetically bedraggled, he clearly needs to be taken in hand and sent back East to his family. Although she no longer has feelings for him, Agatha realizes--by hook or by crook--she'll have to be the one to get the obstinate man home. Zayne has no desire to be taken anywhere and is prepared to drag his heels all the way home . . . until he finds himself slipping back into the familiar banter of his former friendship with Agatha. Once they arrive in New York, Zayne realizes Agatha's determined nose for news has earned her a few enemies, and he hopes to repay her help with some help of his own. When she rebuffs all his attempts to prove himself a knight in shining armor, the lengths to which they'll go to win this battle of wills lead to some memorable antics. Everyone else may think them a match, but nothing could be further from the truth--until Agatha finds herself in real trouble. Have these two stubborn, too-smart-for-their-own-good people been meant for each other all along?
This is one of the hardest reviews I have had to write since I started writing reviews. I normally finish a book before passing judgment, but I just couldn’t with this book. This will be my first book from Bethany House that I have written a negative review on in a long time (they are one of my favorite publishers) as well as the first review I have ever written on a book I didn’t finish.
The first chapter of the book had me laughing. I mean, who wouldn’t laugh at chasing a pig through a hotel? Agatha also seemed like a funny character whom I would love. After all, she was spirited and was always causing trouble. How much better could it get?
Sadly for me, this book quickly went from funny to ridiculous. Agatha went from being sprinted to being over the top. I might have been able to accept this book as a comedy (as I like over the top shows like Gilligan’s Island), but then they introduced a serious character, and that ruined it.
I would be willing to try this author again, as I can tell she has some talent, and I have heard some of her other books are better.Was this helpful? Please vote it up on Amazon.
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
Other posts you might enjoy:         Adventure Between the Pages: When Courage Calls         Adventure Between the Pages: A February Bride         Adventure Between the Pages: Silenced

Independence Day

What does Independence Day really mean? After spending over a year studying and writing about the early revolution, it is about so much more than declaring ourselves independent from England, it is all the men and women who declared for years that they would not buy taxed goods without representation, It isn't just about the Declaration of Independence, it is about the Suffulk Resolves and all the other documents that came before. It is about more than barbecue and soda's, it is about the soldiers who suffered and went hungry to win the War of Independence.


Think about it and enjoy a very happy Independence Day!

Writing Saturday: Within my book

I am still editing A Different Kind of Courage. Yes, I am discouraged about how long it is taking. However, today I am here to share with you some of the quotes found within the book. These quotes are from the main historical character that I followed, Dr. Joseph Warren.



Other posts you might enjoy         Writing Saturday: Video update         Writing Saturday: Research Resources         Everything You Didn't Need to Know