Book Recommendation - The Curse of Misty Wayfair

My very first read of 2019 was this super-creepy dual timeline novel, The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright. I discovered Ms. Wright at the beginning of 2018 when I found her debut novel, The House on Foster Hill, and LOVED it. Later in the year, she released The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. Though this one spooked me the most (I had ghostly dreams a time or two while reading this one), I think this is the best one yet! This book goes back and forth between Thea in 1908 and Heidi in present day. Both are on a quest to find themselves and for both of them, their quest has brought them to the small town of Pleasant Valley, WI. There is a curse that supposedly haunts the woods, and both characters in their respective timelines are drawn into the curse and what it means for them. In their quests, both of them also come face to face with their Creator.

Here's the back-cover blurb for those interested in learning more about the story line:

Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, in 1908. When clues lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a post-mortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death.

A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother—who is battling dementia—compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman who haunts the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns—and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.

As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, can they overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined?

Still not sure? You can find an excerpt of the book here: https://goo.gl/L49cpC

As I was on the launch team, I had the opportunity to ask some questions of the author. Here's what I learned:

1. This book was super intense and actually gave me some ghostly dreams! What prompted the story line for this one?  Or what was your inspiration? 

Well, I’ve always been intrigued by the concept of asylums as they used to be. My writing sister, Anne, often reminded me it’d be a creepy setting for a novel. But, to be honest, a lot of this novel was drawn on from personal experience. It was tough to write and a deep dive into my own emotions.

2.  Along the same vein, I saw on another launch member's post that this book drew from some personal experience and angst. Would you be willing to share any of that?

Sure! I have an autoimmune disease many are becoming more familiar with: Lyme disease. In short, it mimics a lot of other autoimmune diseases. Mine manifests itself via what the doctors term as “non-epileptic seizures, bouts of severe anxiety, and sometimes confusion and loss of memory. So, many of the emotions (specifically Heidi’s) I relate to.”

3. Do either of the main characters (or even the not-main characters) particularly resonate with you? Who and why?

Well, as I mentioned above, I relate a lot to Heidi’s personal struggles with anxiety. But, I also found myself chuckling as I wrote Heidi’s point of view. Her personal style, snarky retorts, and way of filling silence with empty chatter is not far off from my own -- ahem -- personality.

4. How much of the book is based on reality? 

Many of the asylum’s referred-to experiments and patient treatment were, in fact, based on true historical facts.Which is highly unfortunate. When Thea begins reading some of the patient records, they do loosely resemble real records unearthed from old asylums. Again, also unfortunate how patients were more like subjects than people.

5. Did anything happen during the writing of this book that impacted the trajectory of the story?  

Wow. That’s a great question! There wasn’t anything major that impacted it, however, I will admit to visiting the cemetery several times to get myself in the moment. To be surrounded by the stories of those who lay in rest. Sometimes, it’s an eerie but peaceful place to be inspired.  

6. What is the one thing you want to be sure that readers glean from this particular book?

That their identity can only be found in their Creator. I know that sounds simplistic, but I think American culture sends us on a zillion chases to “find ourselves”, when who we are is wrapped thoroughly in the One who wrote our own story.

7. What's coming up next and when can we expect it?

Echoes Among the Stones is coming this December! I’m super excited about its story. It’s also a split-time story, but this time we visit 1946, the post war American farmland, a cold case murder, and an eccentric elderly woman who hides a dollhouse with a re-created crime scene in miniature form. 

Super excited for the next one to come in December! The Curse of Misty Wayfair officially releases on January 22, 2019. If you'd like to know more about the author, you can find her here: 

Web site: www.jaimejowright.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jaimejowright

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaimejowright

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/jaimejowright

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/jaimejowright

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/13916081.Jaime_Jo_Wright

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Jaime-Jo-Wright/e/B01421H0JQ/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

And my full 5-star review of The Curse of Misty Wayfair can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2542792687?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Book Recommendation - With This Pledge

With This Pledge is the first full-length novel in Tamera Alexander's Carnton series. The series began with a novella, Christmas in Carnton. That one does not need to be read to enjoy With This Pledge, but it does set up some of the background of the area (and the main characters from that book make a cameo in this one). Unlike most of Ms. Alexander's novels (and most other historical fiction), the 2 main characters in this book were actual historical people and they did have a love story. Ms. Alexander therefore did a great deal of research, including dissecting the love letters written 150+ years ago. Going in, knowing this was not JUST a historic event, but that these were actual historic people, really brought the story-line alive.

This book takes place in the heart of the Civil War around the battle of Franklin. At that time, Carnton (the nearest plantation home) was used as a military hospital. Those who have recently toured the old plantation home (now a museum of sorts) say that you can still see the blood stains on the floor. Because this is a true story and because of the rich history of the plantation, this book is a bit more gritty than most I've read. It wasn't overly gory, but I did wince a time or two at some of the descriptiveness of surgeries and injuries. However, mingled in with the grit was a sweet love story, personal dilemmas, and a good dose of humor. I really loved the nuns who came to help out! Additionally, there were some intensely emotional scenes. Don't read chapter 37 without a tissue box nearby! That's all I'll say about that.

From a press statement by the author:
This novel—my 16th—is unlike any I’ve written before. Because both of the two main characters are based on real people who truly lived. Talk about intimidating to write. 

But God, who is always faithful, was with me very step of the way and directed me to the people I needed to connect with in order to write this true love story. Namely, the great-great-great grandson of the real Civil soldier who is the hero in this novel. I'm so grateful for David Doty's assistance.

Captain Roland Ward Jones, a Mississippi sharpshooter, and Miss Lizzie Clouston, the governess at the Carnton home, met on November 30, 1864 following the Battle of Franklin—the night that brought the Confederacy to its knees.

This is a true story. 

The depictions of the aftermath from battle that unfolded within the walls of Carnton are real. And to honor the memories of the thousands of men who died or were wounded that night, I wrote this novel as authentically as I could. Please remember that as you read. We must never forget what our freedom cost so many.

With This Pledge releases on January 8, 2019. To find out more, you can check out the author's website:
https://tameraalexander.com/books/carnton_novels

Additionally, after release date, there will be information on her website on what was truth and what was fiction. There will be spoilers, so be sure to read the book first!
https://tameraalexander.com/books/truth_or_fiction

And of course, my own personal review of the book:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2609062438?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1&fbclid=IwAR1hM_xE7GZYKTAsI9D_uKYjTZh6RDd78I2GS-GMAjBhLLwtS9A7M4If1Q0

Book Recommendation - Searching for You

I've really come to enjoy historical fiction lately and with my heart for orphans, Jody Hedlund's Orphan Train series was one that definitely  pulled me in. The final book in the series, Searching For You, releases December 4th and I was fortunate to get an advanced copy. This book tied up the series nicely and allowed us to see what happened with the youngest Neumann sister, Sophie. Sophie has found herself on her own after their caretaker took the 2 younger children she'd been caring for to the Children's Aid Society. Sophie could not imagine life without them, so she ran away to find them. Circumstances a couple of years later find her back at the Children's Aid Society, seeking shelter out west as an orphan herself.

It's been very interesting to learn a little more about this period in history through this series. I'd not heard much about the orphan train prior to reading this series and it was enlightening to see how the over-population of orphans was handled in the mid-1800s. Even though the sisters were all orphans, Sophie is the first to actually ride the train AS an orphan, though her sisters rode the trains in other capacity. The "placing out" process was fascinating to me as each town had a placing council who found good Christian homes for the children coming from the city. Some of those placements were fantastic, but others brought heartbreak - much like modern day foster care.

Throughout the series, the themes of grace and redemption are prominent. Sophie's story is no different. Each of the sisters in her own story learn to forgive themselves and seek forgiveness from others and learned to rely on God through their shortcomings. This story tied up the series nicely and it's beautiful to see how Sophie grew up throughout the series. In her story, she evolves from a selfish young woman to a loved sister, daughter, wife and mother. I enjoyed seeing her story unfold and the way that her sisters' stories tied in to her own.

My review of the book is below!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2379659571

Book Recommendation - Jerusalem's Queen

My most recent read was Angela Hunt's "Jerusalem's Queen: A Novel of Salome Alexandra". If you're like me, you didn't even know that Jerusalem ever had a queen, let alone what her name was. Salome Alexandra ruled Judea just before the time of Christ. Her death preceded his birth by about a generation. This book is book 3 in Ms. Hunt's series "The Silent Years", which spans the 400 years between the old and new testaments. Having not read much of anything in this time-frame, I've found this series absolutely captivating. Book 1 was the story of Cleopatra. Book 2 was the story of Judah Maccabees. While those stories did not tie in together at all, this one referenced both of them, as Salome Alexandra was a descendant of the Maccabees and was likely able to come into power because of women in the surrounding nations like Cleopatra, already in power.

 I loved this story, which was told from the viewpoint of both Salome Alexandra and her lady's maid, Kissa. It was fascinating to see how she might have come into power and her reign was actually described later as "Judea's Golden Age.". I love how Ms. Hunt used real people and real circumstances and inserted fiction where fact was not known. Having read Mark Batterson's "The Circle Maker", it was exciting to see Honi make an appearance in this book. I felt like I knew something other people might now know. Since he did his circle drawing in that time frame, it would make sense that the queen and the circle drawer may have crossed paths.

Having done the Christian fiction scavenger hunt last week, which this book was a part of, I got a bit of an inside scoop from Angela Hunt:

Q. I must confess, I’d never heard of Salome Alexandra, Queen of Jerusalem, before encountering your book. Who was she?

A. I’d never heard of her, either, until one of my theology professors mentioned her. Not much information is available on her, and what little information there is often contradicts itself. For instance, most Jewish history books say that she was the widow of Judah Aristobulus, who then married his brother, Alexander Jannaeus, but that couldn’t be possible because the high priest had to marry a virgin. And we know that Judah Aristobulus married Salina, not Salome. Most people assume they were one and the same, but they were not.

Q. What made this woman worthy of a book? What did she do that was so unusual?
A. She was a good queen, and honestly followed God. Her husband, Alexander Jannaeus, was high priest and king, and he was horrible. He had purges, he crucified hundreds of Law-following Pharisees and made his victims watch their families being murdered, he kept concubines—in short, he was not a righteous man. But Salome Alexandra was a righteous woman, and after her husband died she reigned in his place and cleaned things up. She made sure girls were educated as well as boys, she changed the way marriage contracts were negotiated (so women were provided for), and she blessed her people. The Jews said the years of her reign were golden years, when God blessed Judea.

Q. Why didn’t those golden years continue after her death?
A. Because she had two sons—one who was like her, the other very much like her husband. The wild one attacked her heir right after her death, and their bloody war caused the Romans to invade, establishing, in the long run, Roman rule. Judea became a Roman province, the Romans named Herod king, and the last kings from the Hasmonean dynasty were killed.

Q. What surprised you most as you researched this period? What was it, fifty years before Christ’s birth?
A. Salome Alexandra died in 67 B.C., and the thing I found most fascinating was that many of the Jews of that time professed a real interest in studying Bible prophecy. The Torah scholars had a sense that one epoch had concluded with the return from Babylonian exile, and a new one was about to begin. The Essenes, in particular, were looking for a messiah—or two, since they saw clear signs that God was getting ready to send a king and a high priest. They were looking for Christ, but they hadn’t quite figured out that the king/priest would be one person, and that God would send him as a tiny baby who was born to die . . . so we might be born again.

Q. Why should a modern Christian care about a Jewish queen? 
A. Because we Christians have been adopted by God into His chosen family, and our Messiah was Jewish! Studying the four hundred years between the Old and New Testaments—the intertestamental period—will help you better understand the situation of the Gospels. And Salome Alexandra is a fascinating woman! I think you’ll enjoy learning about her as much as I did.

This book releases November 6th and is available for pre-order wherever you buy books. Coming up next to finish out this series is "The King's Shadow", which will release sometime in 2019.

My review is included below:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2575336799

Book Recommendation - Legacy of Mercy

One of my go-to authors for "women's fiction" is Lynn Austin. She writes amazing character-driven novels with relateable and likeable characters, compelling story lines and usually an element of both mystery and romance. Her latest release, Legacy of Mercy, is no exception to this rule. Legacy of Mercy is a sequel to Waves of Mercy, which released 2 years prior (almost to the date). When penning Waves of Mercy, Ms. Austin intended for it to be a stand-alone, but fans clamored for a sequel. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to find out what happened next as well, and so the sequel was born.

The first book follows young Anneke (Anna) who is smarting from a broken engagement. Her mother takes her on holiday to Michigan where she can nurse her wounds privately, away from the prying eyes and gossip of Chicago's upper echelon. While there, she meets some interesting people who change her life in the most remarkable way. We also follow Geesje, who was a dutch immigrant to the US 50 years ago. She has been tasked with writing down her story for the city of Holland's 50th anniversary. As she dwells on the times past, we travel back and forth between time periods as well. The connection between Anna and Geesje is a startling one! And was, in part, what made readers want more. Legacy of Mercy picks up with Anna back in Chicago. Her engagement is back on and as she plans a wedding and attempts to do all of the social activities planned for her, she struggles to live out the faith that seemed so clear in Michigan with Geesje. Geesje finds herself taking in a young immigrant as she is one of the few in town who still speaks Dutch fluently. The lessons that she came about in the hardships of book 1 make her an excellent surrogate for this young hurting girl. I loved seeing her growth and how she passed along the spiritual lessons she learned to the next generation.

I pulled some fun details from Ms. Austin's web-page to further entice reading this one:

The novel is a sequel to “Waves of Mercy” and features the same main characters. Geesje DeJonge is a 67-year-old widow who told her story of immigrating from the Netherlands in 1847 in the first book. Anna Nicholson is a wealthy 23-year-old woman from Chicago who is engaged to a wealthy banker, and is just beginning her walk of faith under Geesje’s guidance.

I never planned to write this sequel. Aside from my biblical fiction, my books have all been stand-alone novels. But since Anna is only 23, readers of the first book begged me to write about what happens next in her life. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to find out what happens next, too.

So, how do I entice you to want to read “Legacy of Mercy” without giving away the plot? Well, there’s a mystery that Anna will be trying to solve with a little help from the Pinkerton detectives—a real agency founded in 1850. You may enjoy solving it along with her.

The story takes place in the Gilded Age when society women wore beautiful gowns like these and the one shown on the book cover.
The Gibson Girl hairstyle was a popular look.
And wealthy Chicagoans were building over-the-top mansions to replace the homes destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire.
And staffing them with servants at their back and call.
Every good novel needs a love story, and I hope readers will enjoy the one I’ve created in “Legacy.” Sorry, I can’t tell you who the lucky lovers are, but I hope you’ll be surprised.

I doubt if many of us share Anna’s extravagant lifestyle, but many of us have shared her journey to find God’s purpose for our lives. It’s a theme that’s very dear to me because it also took me a long time to discover my purpose. I love to share my story whenever I’m invited to speak at events because it’s the story of God’s faithfulness. I don’t have the time or space to share it here, but I hope that Anna’s journey will inspire readers who are still seeking.

Legacy of Mercy released on October 2nd and is available at all major book retailers. My review is below:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2567145755

Book Recommendation - An Hour Unspent

When it comes to historical romance fiction, Roseanna M. White is one of my go-to authors. The romances are never cheesy or too fast, the characters are loveable and the history is very well researched. You feel like you're transported back in time. Such was the case with this book/series. An Hour Unspent is book 3 in the Shadows Over England series, but the story holds its own. This series takes place during WWI, which is a time period I don't often see in historical fiction. It's interesting to think of a time when cars were uncommon, planes couldn't cross the English Channel, and wristwatches were a new design. In this book, we meet (or see at a deeper level if you've read the other books in the series) Barclay Pearce, one of London's best thieves. He's reforming his ways as he learns more about God as his Father. Having spent a majority of his years as an orphan, this is a foreign concept to him. It was interesting to see his growth in this area as the book progressed. Barclay is the leader of his "family", a group of 12 other orphans who have banded together, looked out for one another and become true family in the face of adversity. Barclay's latest assignment is to connect with the local clockmaker, who may have some designs on a device that could help sway the tide of the war. Before he has a chance to meet Mr. Manning himself, though, he has an interesting run-in with the man's daughter, Evelina Manning. The book alternates between Barclay's and Evelina's viewpoints, though the novel is solely in third person voice.

Some things I enjoyed about this book:

1. Evelina's not-so-subtle rebellions against an overbearing mother. Their interchanges had me literally laughing out loud at times. I could totally see myself doing the same thing in Evelina's shoes.

2. The character growth of all of the main characters. I loved seeing how they evolved as the story went on and considered things differently when circumstances dictated.

3. Learning about history - things such as German bombings in England through the use of zeppelins because their planes couldn't cross the Channel, the start of the Rolex brand and Daylight Savings Time (I always thought it was the farmers who started that!).

4. Learning some English vocabulary, such as "brolly". I already was aware of "pram" and "boot" (as in car trunk). I also found it amusing that any time there was a frustration, the character would say "Blast!". I think I need to start using that one!

5. Getting some additional closure from the last book. As well as seeing a good end to this particular story-line.

6. Having a mystery that took over much of the story so that the sole point of the book was not the romance aspect.

All in all, this was a great way to end the series! Next from this author is "Number of Love", which will be the first in the Codebreakers series. This will actually be a continuation of this series as well as it focuses on Margot De Wilde, a major character in "A Song Unheard" (book 2 of the Shadows Over England Series) and who made some appearances in this one as well. I look forward to learning more about her story in June of next year!

My review for An Hour Unspent is below!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2305015671

Book Recommendation - Defiant Joy: Taking Hold of Hope, Beauty and Life in a Hurting World

While a vast majority of what I read is Christian fiction, there are a few Christian non-fiction authors that I follow as well. Stasi Eldredge (and her husband John) are among those that I read everything that they put out. Stasi's latest release, Defiant Joy, is one of the best books I've read. In a time when the news is so readily available and we're therefore more aware of all of the suffering in the world (including our own), it is very poignant to have a book on being not only joyful, but defiantly so.

 I went through this book with a highlighter in hand. There were so many wonderful statements that needed to not only be read, but re-read again and again. Here are a few of them in "meme form".

 Stasi pours out her heart and bares the pain of losing loved ones, chronic physical pain, chemical depression, and the feeling of "not fitting in". She doesn't mince words or avoid the tough topics of loss and depression, but instead delves into how we can have joy in the midst of our sorrow. Joy is not the same thing as happiness, but it stems from the hope that we have in Christ. We can have joy regardless of our circumstances because of what Jesus did for us at Calvary. And because He loves us still. He loves us in our pain and in our mess. He is our Father. He is our Savior. And because of that, we can have joy. Defiant joy that stands up to our Enemy and death and pain and suffering, and says "You do NOT have the final say in my life!" Stasi did an interview for the Christian Post, some of which I've included below:

To achieve true and lasting joy in this broken world, one must come to know God's character and hold to the unwavering belief that sorrow and loss do not have the final say. We live in a society defined by heartbreak, loss, and hopelessness. But amid this dark reality, Christians have the opportunity to choose love over fear and experience a joy rooted in the hope found in Christ, Stasi Eldredge, author of Defiant Joy, told The Christian Post.

"Every day, you get on Facebook and you watch the news and your heart breaks for what is going on in people's lives," she said. "We seem so rooted in hopelessness, and that's the antithesis of Christianity."

"Every moment, we are faced with the choice to either be buried by what we see and have that be the canopy under which we live, or to choose to actually obey what we are instructed to in the Word of God: To fix our eyes on Jesus, to choose to ask Him for grace in the face of suffering."

Eldredge, who is also the director of the women's ministry at Ransomed Heart and author of Captivating, told CP that choosing joy doesn't mean denying that pain exists or diminishing the reality of pain and loss. Instead, it means understanding that suffering and joy can coexist.

"Joy isn't about singing in the garden all day; it's not even about a feeling," she explained. "It's about coming to know God more deeply and understanding His character, goodness, and immeasurable love. Joy is the heartbeat of Heaven. It's about acknowledging the reality of the world we live in, but understanding that death doesn't have the final say. It's a shift of gaze. It's holding to the deepest reality that God reigns over the universe and that nothing is up for grabs."

Eldredge speaks from experience; she told CP Defiant Joy was written in "one of the most difficult years" of her life."We lost a brother, we lost our first grandson, we lost our best friend," she said. "I was also in the worst physical pain I'd ever felt in my life due to a hip replacement and struggling with depression."

She continued, "In the midst of my pain, God began to speak to me about my heart being tethered to His in such a way that the reality of my life wasn't something that should bury me, but someplace for me to come to know that He is unwavering, that He isn't thrown by loss, and that loss doesn't have the final say."

In her book, the Kansas native shares personal stories, deep vulnerability, and practical steps readers can take to have the kind of joy that is present in both goodness and grief.

Defiant Joy debuted on October 16, 2018 and is available anywhere books are sold. My review is below.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38915943-defiant-joy