The Shenandoah Road-A novel of the Great Awakening

Lynne Basham Tagawa’s book, The Shenandoah Road, is an impressive story about what life was like in America during the mid-1700s.

The Shenandoah Road is about traveling through the pristine woods in order to get back home, and about encountering dangers, real life situations, and how they were resolved. Lynne Basham Tagawa does have an eye for story continuity and adding pertinent content to tie the history neatly with the fiction. 

This is also about a Scottish frontiersman, John Russell, who needs to marry again, and about a woman, Abigail Williams, who finds out her faith is not all she thinks it is.  Abigail is talented  in using natural herbs to heal people.  She reads books about botany and herbals, and makes quite a useful collection of them to keep nearby when she needs to use them.  This was an interesting detail about Abigail, and I would have liked to learn more about herbal medicines used back in that time.

John is a kenspeckle (Hi, Lynne!) Scotsman,a responsible family man, and a good provider.  He has a daughter from a previous marriage, since his wife had been killed.  A faithful Christian, he consistently does his best to do what the Lord expects from him.

This book was more of a spiritual great awakening of Abigail, and in some aspects, John. Many thought-provoking bible verses and insights.   John’s duty-bound devotion to Abigail, after he married her, and before he fell in love with her,  was refreshing, and something I think needs to be emphasized more to people today. I enjoyed each time John shared the bible with Abigail, and how the sermon from George Whitefield brought up very important questions in her mind. 

The way Mrs. Tagawa ends the book is genuinely sound and sensible!  All of it comes together nicely, and in a way that makes you glad you read her book.  I’m looking forward to reading more from her.

 

 

 

 

Product details

• Print Length: 314 pages
• Publisher: Blue Rock Press (July 11, 2018)
• Publication Date: July 11, 2018
• Language: English
• ASIN: B07FK5ZQ5Z

John 17:3 – And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

The Everlasting Flame~ a book by Linda L. Chaikin

Linda L. Chaikin’s historical fiction account of reformed Protestants working to provide the world with the bible written in English is a book EVERY Christian needs to read. 

The topic was well-researched, and her story was structured in a way that made it easy to follow.  The basic plot :

Justin Brice and Lady Regina Redford, through a series of interlinked events,  join up with William Tyndale to translate and print thousands of copies of the Holy Bible, with the help of merchants and printers who are sympathetic to the Protestant Reformation.

The account is set in the early to mid-1500s in England, Germany, and parts of the Netherlands.  The reader will meet the true heroes of the Protestant Reformation, men and women who heroically risked their very lives in going against the corrupted Catholic church. 

You will learn about Erasmus, Bishop Stokesly, Dean John Colet, Martin Luther, Thomas Poyntz, Thomas Cromwell, and other real people who were involved, either for or against, providing understandable, English-language bibles for every person.

 

 

 

 

The Everlasting Flame exceeded my expectations, and kept me interested from chapter one to the end.

Throughout this wonderful historical fiction book, the message of determination, perseverance, in spite of horrendous consequences, and above all, a love for the finished work of Jesus Christ, the holy Lamb of God, was constant and encouraging.  This is a valuable historical lesson for every born again Christian.

 

• Product details

  • Paperback: 244 pages
  • Publisher: Moody Pub (April 1, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 9780802423399
  • ISBN-13: 978-0802423399
  • ASIN: 0802423396
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces

Treasures of the North~ Yukon Quest~ book review

Treasures of the North, book 1 in the Yukon Quest series by Tracie Peterson, was well written and had a lot of variety in each character’s personality and story. This is one of the very few
series books that I actually want to read the next book from! Tracie Peterson published this in 2001, which was 19 years ago! I knew this would be one of her earlier works, and was happily surprised that her natural skill in telling a good Christian historical fiction story was already blooming profusely in Treasures of the North. 

Openly and unabashedly Christian, Mrs Peterson writes the clear and simple Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world, and how to be born again. THIS is the heart of her writings, and even on her website, she says, and I quote: Writing Christian fiction has been a ministry and joy for me. My goal is that every book I write–whether it’s a historical novel for a series, a standalone contemporary novel, a novella or a nonfiction book–would entertain, educate, and encourage each reader in whatever way God sees fit. This is my mission field and passion.  https://traciepetersonbooks.com/

God bless you, and thank you for remaining stedfast and loyal to the One Who gave you
the intelligence and perseverence to write solid, clean stories that are, indeed, a ministry and an education to your readers.
This story is about Grace, Karen, Doris, Martin, Peter, and to some extent, Jacob and Adrik. I liked all of the characters, and am looking forward to reading the next book, Ashes and Ice. I learned a lot about the gold rush, Skagway, Dyea, and how harsh the life was, of stampeders and their families in Alaska. Good research, great story.

 

No Ocean Too Wide ~ Book review

No Ocean Too Wide, by Carrie Turansky, is a riveting story of a family in England caught up in the wretched child immigration scheme of the British Home Children,  in the early 1900s.  She includes an impressive amount of facts to make this Christian historical fiction one of the most compelling reads I’ve encountered in a while on the subject of orphans, and cold-hearted money-making schemes involving basically, the trafficking of children.

They either took them from homes under questionable pretenses, or brought them in from the streets, and then put them on a ship bound for Canada, to live as a domestic servant in someone’s home.  Ages as young as 5, and as old as 17, I believe, were forced to work as drudges, in many cases.

The characters in her book are Laura McAlister, and her siblings Garth, Katie, and Grace.  Their mother, and their father, the neighbor Mrs. Graham,  and Mrs. Palmer, the employee of Laura’s mother.

Andrew Bolton is also a key character.  He is a wealthy lawyer, and he and his friend are sent, by the British government,to  investigate the goings-on of the children’s orphanages.  Suspicion had arisen because of one Dr. Barnardo, who supposedly took in hundreds of abandoned children from the streets of England, and gave them food, shelter, and useful skills. Dr. Barnardo was constantly in and out of court.

This is a great historical lesson which helps bring awareness on one of Britain’s unsavory and repugnant chapters.  I do recommend this for reading.  Geared for adult comprehension, not really on a level that a teen or child would be able to grasp the significance of.

Refining Fire ~ Brides of Seattle book 2

This is book 2 in the Brides of Seattle series, by Tracie Peterson.  An excellent book, clean, Christian historical fiction with characters you can sympathize with and identify easily with.   Plenty of solid story line, with Militine, Abrianna, Thane, Wade, the bridal school sisters, Miss Selma, Miss Miriam, and Miss Poisie , and an evil villian who will remain anonymous in this review.  You find out for yourself! 

This book had several biblically sound explanations of how to get to Heaven, how to be born again, which is one of the best things I appreciate about Tracie Peterson’s books.  Devout, and clear to all readers, you can’t read her books without knowing how to be born again.    Romans 10:9-13.

The historical account of the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 was gripping, and tense.  Her descriptions of the city as it burned to the ground was as if you were there, experiencing a flaming inferno all around you.

 

There was also recovery, and plenty of hope and even some humor.  The research she puts into her books, the accuracy, is wonderful.

Enjoy this good read. 

 

Product details

• Series: Brides of Seattle (Book 2)
• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 7, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780764210624
• ISBN-13: 978-0764210624
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

All God’s Children~by Anna Schmidt~ book review

A good Christian historical fiction story about World War 2, set in Munich, Germany.  A German-American woman living as nanny and helper in the home of her aunt and uncle, Beth Bridgewater is caught up in some activities which test her and lead her on a path she could not have imagined.

What I liked about this book by Anna Schmidt is, the characters were believable, and easy to identify with.  I liked the descriptions of Munich, and surrounding areas, from Beth’s point of view, which is that of a person NOT being persecuted or harassed, at least not immediately.   There is a glimpse into the home life of a man in the Gestapo, which I thought to be an unusual point of view.

I really liked Anna’s introduction to The White Rose, a resistance movement which, if you haven’t read about it, you really should.

What I disliked about it was, the favorable view that was given to the Quaker doctrine,  which is, that God is in everyone, which is a blatant lie.  They also believe redemption and the Kingdom of Heaven are to be experienced now, in this world, which is also false doctrine.  So, for that reason, I don’t recommend this book.

Too many false teachings which will confuse and lead astray weak Christians, or lost people.

Here is the Truth:

Romans 10:9-13;  John 3:16-21

A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer

I received an advance reader copy of A Silken Thread from Waterbrook, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC, in exchange for an honest review.

A Silken Thread was about Laurel Millard and her plans to capture a wealthy suitor who can afford care for her mother and give Laurel the life she dreams about.  She gets hired as a silk weaver at the Atlanta Cotton Exposition of 1895, and works at a loom most of the day, making lengths of silk for display and educational purposes aimed at the visitors to the Silk Room at the Exposition.

Laurel meets Willie Sharp, a security guard at the exposition,  Langdon Rochester, the son of the owner of Rochester Steam Engines company, and a few young women who work with her in the Silk Room, giving guided tours of that area.  She also meets Quincy, a friend of Willie’s, who is hired as a groundskeeper at the exposition.

The book is well written, and the characters all connect nicely with each other.  Mrs. Sawyer is skilled in blending the stories of each person into a good, solid historical fiction tale, which keeps the reader interested and engaged.   I thoroughly appreciated her use of the King James bible when she wrote Scriptures into the stories, and she placed them appropriately.  They added so much value to the whole book.    I also liked the information about the Cotton Exposition, how the grounds were described in detail, which gave me a good picture of what they must have looked like.

Mrs. Sawyer dealt with racism in the book, too.  In my opinion, she portrayed one character in particular well, and gave him insightful thought processing, which helped him overcome some things.  Each character, really, matured and became more experienced in their views of life, and how people act.  I liked the book, and do recommend it to anyone wanting a clean historical fiction story, with very little romance in it, and a LOT of substance!

Book Launching and Book Reviewing

Pretty soon, I’ll be reading these 2 new books, for Bethany House, and the other from Waterbrook and Multnomah!  One is THE TINDERBOX, by Beverly Lewis, and the other is

A SILKEN THREAD, by Kim Vogel Sawyer!  I’m really looking forward to reading both of these!  I love the storyline of Silken Thread, and I’ve almost always enjoyed Beverly Lewis’s  books.

Keep checking back for my reviews. THANKS!

Romans 10:  8-13;  John 3:16-21

 

Between Two Shores, by Jocelyn Green

Between Two Shores book review

This book was one of the best history lessons I’ve ever had. I knew almost nothing about the French and Indian war, which was a more of a war between the British colonies in America,and
the French. France eventually lost all Canadian land, and Britain got Florida and Upper Canada.
Jocelyn Green wrote about this war by introducing readers to Catherine Duval, the daughter of a
mixed race marriage, who was half French and half Mohawk. Catherine was a trader with
both the British and the French, and she managed a store on Lachine Island in Canada, along
with her abusive alcoholic father, and her sister Bright Star. A young woman named Thankful also
lived there, and her story is worth learning about, too. I won’t give it away here, though.
Catherine continues to trade and make money, until Samuel Crane, her ex-fiance shows up, and claims to have some secret information that he needs to share with a British officer. He needs Catherine to help
him deliver that information, and she is drawn to help Samuel because her people are starving
and the war is looming closer to her home.

 
This story takes you on a really intense and interesting journey through the lands and rivers
of Canada. During the trip, you almost feel as if you were part of the group, and when
a surprise turn of events happens, it’s really startling. Jocelyn Green is a talented storyteller,
weaving tons of facts into the lives of her characters, all of whom were inspired by the experiences of
real people.
This book also tells you about how God loves you, and sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, as a ransom
for many, to redeem you and set you free from sin.  That is the most important part of this book.

If you like Christian historical fiction, this would be
a good book for you to read.
I was part of Mrs. Green’s launch team, and was given a free copy of her book, in exchange for
a review and promotion of the book. My review is honest and totally my own.
Romans 10:9-13; John 3:16-21

Ribbon of Gold, by Cathy Marie Hake ~ book review

Ribbon of Gold by Cathy Marie Hake is part of a 4-novella book, called Woven Hearts.  Ribbon of Gold is about Isabel Shaw, a young woman who works at Stedman Mills in Massachusetts, weaving thirty-inch wide shirting on industrial sized looms.  She had left her family’s farm in New Hampshire to work at the textile mill so she could put money aside for her brother’s education.

Carter Stedman, the mill owner’s son, takes over running the operations, and is angered at the inhumane working conditions there.  He goes about righting the wrongs of his father, now deceased, and in the process, becomes enamored with Isabel.

The story is clean, and a comfortable read for any Christian woman.  The relationships in the story are interesting.   I liked the details Mrs. Hake included in Ribbon of Gold, which gives the reader a good picture of how it was to work in the cotton mills in 1846.