Musings by Erin

  One of my go-to authors in Biblical fiction is Tessa Afshar. She writes with such spiritual depth and great Biblical knowledge and forms rich characters and plot lines that her books are difficult to put down. Having struggled to read as much this year as I have in past years, I was thrilled to read this one in just a couple of days. This book takes place during the Babylonian captivity of the nation of Judah. I enjoyed seeing some famous Bible characters as well as learning more about the ancient cultures in the eastern world. Here's a bit about the book: From the bestselling author of Jewel of the Nile comes the thrilling tale of a woman who feels she has no future but soon discovers the fate of nations may rest in her hands. The beloved daughter of Jewish captives in Babylon, Keren is sold into Daniel’s household to help her family survive. She becomes Daniel’s most trusted scribe, while taking lessons and swordsmanship training alongside Daniel’s sons and their best friend, J...

  Pepper Basham is a relatively new to me author, but when I saw this upcoming novel was set in epistolary style, included Lord of the Rings references and book-ish humor, I knew I had to get my hands on this one. After reading several heavier suspense novels in a row, I knew I needed a lighter pick-me-up sort of book, so I picked this one up and it was just what the doctor ordered. Here's a bit about the book: “Dear Izzy—I feel certain there’s a book-loving man living relatively nearby waiting to speak bookish to you ’til death do you part. You just haven’t met yet.” Izzy Edgewood is a wannabe bookstore owner, quote queen, and Lord of the Rings nerd who has been waiting for Prince Charming to sweep her off her sneakered feet. But it’s hard to meet people when you spend more time with fictional humans than real ones. Which is why her pragmatist cousin Josephine decides to take Izzy’s future into her own meddling hands and create an online dating profile for the hopeful romantic. To...

  When looking for a book that has literally everything in it, I know I need to look no further than Jaime Jo Wright. Since she writes dual timeline novels, you get both historical and contemporary. Since she writes romantic suspense, you get both a suspenseful mystery and a bit of romance. And as the person who writes the books with the most "creep factor" that I know of, she's in a category all her own. This is her 8th novel and she has caught me by surprise in each and every one.  Here's a little bit about The Premonition at Withers Farm: The voices of the past cannot stay silent forever. In 1910 Michigan, Perliett Van Hilton is a self-proclaimed rural healer, leaving the local doctor convinced she practices quackery. It doesn't help that her mother is a spiritualist who regularly offers her services to connect the living with their dearly departed. But when Perliett is targeted by a superstitious killer, she must rely on both the local doctor and an intriguing...