Personal Reading
A Scheming in Parliament
by Erica Vetsch
Amazon blurb: Evil is masquerading in the halls of Parliament, and Sir Bertrand Thorndike is tasked with investigating from the inside. With his new position as a member of the House of Commons, he has access to the power brokers of English government. His tactic is to listen and learn, careful not to reveal his true motives, and he’s quickly inducted into the mysterious Theban Club.
Miss Philippa Cashel's mission, the Princess Charlotte Eleos School for Women in Need, is thriving with donations, and the students are learning skills to help them earn their livings in honorable ways. But when a dear friend's past is revealed by blackmail, Philippa must wrestle with the question, Is it ever right to do the wrong thing?
Bertie's and Philippa's missions collide when Bertie uncovers a dangerous plot involving vulnerable women. He and Philippa join forces against the corruption threatening to topple England's government, all while navigating their outward reputations and inward feelings for each other.
This is the second book in the author's "Cloaks & Daggers" series and her eighth Recency/Mystery/Christian Fiction book. I have thoroughly enjoyed them all. The author writes the characters so well that I feel like they are my friends. The dialog and interactions between characters is realistic and at times makes me laugh out loud while reading (which is not an easy feat). If you like Regency-era fiction (i.e. Jane Austen) and if you like mysteries with a little bit of clean romance sprinkled in, give this author a try! You could read this book as a standalone, but you'll get even more out of it if you read "A Thieving at Carlton House" first. This one ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger, so while you're waiting for the third book to come out next August, go back and read the rest of her Regency books, starting with the "Serendipity & Secrets" series, then the "Thorndike & Swann" series. They are all worth reading multiple times. One content consideration: this series deal with the issue of prostitution and sex-trafficking. It is handled in a sensitive and compassionate way, but if that subject bothers you, this book might not be for you.
Two of my favorite quotes from "A Scheming in Parliament":
"...like many a politician, he is accomplished at talking a lot while saying almost nothing."
"You are not defined by what you once were, but who you are now in Christ. That is the message we give to every woman who comes through our gates. We both need to embrace that truth every day."
Meet Me in the Margins
by Melissa Ferguson
The subtitle "A Rom-Com [romantic comedy] for people who love books" is what hooked me into trying this book. The witty banter, relatable characters, and glimpse into the world of a publishing house kept me devouring the story into the wee hours of the night. I listened to the audiobook from the library, then decided to buy it from libro.fm to keep and listen to again. I will be trying out some of this author's other books.
Savanah Cade is an aspiring romance author, working as an editor for a small publishing house whose CEO thinks "only highbrow works are worth printing and romance should be reserved for the lowest level of Dante's inferno." She drops her secret manuscript in a staff meeting one morning and the new boss (the CEO's son) discovers and reads one page. In desperation, she hides the manuscript in a hidden room of the company, only to come back later and finds that someone has begun reading it and made notes in the margins -- quite critical ones. She resists these comments at first but then begins to appreciate their value. As their notes in the margins fly back and forth, she realizes she is falling in love with her mystery editor. The reader can quickly guess who the mystery editor is, though the author makes you doubt your guess at one point. A sweet, clean, adult story.
My favorite quote: "Romance isn't just about attraction; it's about companionship. You don't see old married couples who've been through two world wars and five babies together making out on a bench when they're 90 and think to yourself, "Now, that's what it's all about!" You see the way they hold hands, the way they serve each other scrambled eggs on plates they got on their wedding day, the way the shuffle through the paper in the mornings together without needing to fill the space with empty conversation because they are happy, just happy, together."
Famous for a Living
by Melissa Ferguson
From the Amazon blurb: When her business partner is accused of serious financial crimes, superstar influencer Cat Cranwell—an engineered marvel of beauty, energy, and fun—falls from her penthouse perch. Desperate to get away from the online trolls and paparazzi documenting her disgrace, Cat accepts her uncle’s offer to work with him in Kannery National Park, Montana. About as far as possible from life as she’s known it....Then there’s that other tiny problem—she’s falling for Zaiah, the ruggedly handsome park ranger—and he hates anything remotely connected to social media, quite possibly her included.
A laugh-out-loud rom-com, with a serious theme -- social media addiction. I loved the characters, their interactions, and the dialog. Clean romance. The audiobook was well-narrated.
Pride and Pemberly
by Dee Garretson
From the Amazon blurb: A single woman in possession of a dilapidated mansion needs more than pride to keep it from falling down. Imagine if Jane Austen's characters had descendants living today....American Libby Darcy, a modern-day descendant of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, wants to renovate the rundown estate of Pemberley in England she’s inherited, but she’s faced with renovating her life at the same time. After failing the bar exam and breaking off her engagement with an overbearing fiancé, she’s riddled with self-doubt, not sure she can even fix a plumbing leak, much less restore a massive estate. To save the place, she has a plan to rent it out as a wedding venue, but she’ll have to keep it out of the hands of a devious hotel developer while trying not to go broke with a money pit of a house. But she's determined to make it a success, something she will eventually be able to view with pride.I heard about this book through LibraryThing.com's monthly giveaway program. I didn't win it as a giveaway, but when I had enough "no rush reward" points from Amazon, I used them to get the e-book version on Kindle, figuring if I didn't like it, at least I wouldn't have wasted any money on it.
I enjoyed this spin on Pride and Prejudice; you know the two protagonists are going to fall for each other, but the author makes you second-guess yourself. Another delightful rom-com by a new-to-me author. I will probably check out some of her other books as well. There are no overt Christian references, but it is a relatively clean, sweet romance. The conclusion seemed a bit rushed, given the antagonism between the two that prevails for most of the book.
Plays by the Book
by Carolyn Miller
So, I guess I'm a sucker for anything that appeals to the book-lover/librarian in me. Kindle suggested this new release to me because I purchased a book of novellas that included this author (though I got the other book because of a different author). I devoured it one rare evening when I had time to read for several uninterrupted hours.
From the Amazon blurb: Britta Johnson knows she’s ordinary, and she’s totally okay with that. She’s secure in God, in her purposes on the planet, and romance is something she finds between the pages of a book. She doesn’t need that in real life. So when a hockey player asks for advice on how to woo his long-distance girlfriend, she knows her heart is safe. Until it’s not. Mitchell Reilly might be feared on the ice-rink, but even he’s intimidated by this little ninja librarian who can whip teenagers into line with a single look. She knows her books too, and seems the perfect candidate to help him find some romantic fictional heroes he can impress his girlfriend with. Until she’s not.
As always, I enjoyed the banter between characters, the realistic portrayal of the character's dilemmas and struggles, and the dual point of view. I appreciated the Christian faith aspect of it, though it's a little fuzzy on exactly how to become a Christian. I plan to read more of this author and this series.
Too Long a Stranger
by Janette Oke
This is part of Janette Oke's "Women of the West" series; each book is a standalone novel about a different woman living in an unspecified time and place, but generally in the almost-pioneer days of the "west." Sarah Perry is widowed and left with a young daughter, Rebecca. Sarah is determined to provide for her daughter and not let her grow up to be an uneducated, uncultured western woman. She takes over her late husband's freight hauling business and denies herself all luxuries and many basic necessities to be able to pay for her daughter's boarding school in the east. However, the daughter becomes a spoiled snob and the two of them have a hard time connecting after being apart for 10 years. It's a bit of a slow pace, and I found myself getting annoyed with how Sarah kept refusing all help and trying to be so independent and blind to the lack of relationship she had with her daughter. The audiobook narrator was adequate. I like Oke's "Love Comes Softly" and "When Calls the Heart" series better.
Room for Hope
by Kim Vogel Sawyer
From the Amazon blurb: Neva Shilling has a heavy load of responsibility while her husband travels to neighboring communities and sells items from his wagon. In his absence, she faithfully runs the Shilling Mercantile, working to keep their business strong as the Depression takes its toll, and caring for their twins. When a wagon pulls up after supper, Neva and her children rush out—and into the presence of the deputy driving a wagon carrying three young children. The deputy shocks her with the news that Warren and his wife have died, insisting it was their last request that the three children go live with “Aunt Neva.” Neva’s heart is shattered as she realizes that Warren’s month-long travels were excuses for visits with his secret family. She wants nothing more than to forget Warren, but can she abandon these innocent children to an orphanage? Yet if she takes them in, will she ever be able to see them as more than evidence of her husband’s betrayal and love them the way God does?
My dad recommended this author, so I picked up a couple of her books from the library. I enjoyed the multiple points of view, clearly labeled at the beginning of each chapter. The characters grow in their faith and relationship with God as they go through some incredibly difficult and traumatic situations.
Non-fiction
How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends
by Don Gabor
Contains some great practical ideas on how to, well, start conversations and make friends. Tips on how to open your body language, break the ice, remember names, and graciously end conversations. In our family, we struggle with many of these issues, so I thought it might be helpful to read a book about it. The first half was useful; the second half was more about networking in the business world, which was not as applicable to me/us right now, so I just skimmed/skipped that part. There is also an abridged audiobook version that we listened to.
Middle Grade Fiction
The Chronicles of Prydain
Book 1: The Book of Three
Book 2: The Black Cauldron
Book 3: The Castle of Llyr
Book 4: Taran Wanderer
Book 5: The High King
The Foundling and other Tales of Prydain
by Lloyd Alexander
I was made aware of this series because book 5 was a Newbery Medal book and because I heard Andrew Peterson (author of the Wingfeather saga) mention it. It is a fantasy/adventure/quest/coming of age story, with some vague similarities to Lord of the Rings. It was an ok series, but it did not capture my interest or imagination like Wingfeather did. Although some of the characters are funny at times, overall, I found the protagonists to be whiny; they just did not endear themselves to me. I had to force myself to finish these books. I don't remember anything objectionable in it, although sensitive readers might find it a bit scary or violent.
Adventures Down Under
Book 2: Captive at Kangaroo Springs
Book 3: Rescue at Boomerang Bend
Book 4: Dingo Creek Challenge
by Robert Elmer
The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson
by Glenn McCarty
From the Amazon blurb: For Eugene Appleton, the summer of 1876 in Rattlesnake Junction, Colorado promises to be just as sleepy as the ones before. Eugene's life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of Tumbleweed Thompson, a gangly, red-haired boy with a knack for spinning yarns and finding trouble. Drawn into Tumbleweed's orbit, Eugene soon finds himself chasing smugglers, firing rifles, and competing for the attention of the lovely Charlotte Scoggins. The pair's innocent mischief takes a serious turn when they stumble across a sinister plot hatched by the infamous Clean Shave Gang.
A great read for middle grades. Light-hearted and fun, while also promoting upholding justice over personal convenience. If you like books from S. D. Smith, you'll probably enjoy this one. There are more books by this author in the Tumbleweed Thompson world, which I'll be checking out soon.
