emileereadsbooks's reviews
1113 reviews

 

Spring 1914: Amos and Charlotte have dreamed of a life together since they were children. But, her role in society is forcing her into a loveless marriage with a future Earl. This love triangle is further complicated by the fact that both these men head off to war, but only one will return. 

Autumn 1940: Instead of living out their childhood dream of joint ownership of a bookshop, Amos and Charlotte own rival bookshops and do not interact. He is haunted by what he saw on the battlefield and the scars it left him with, and she is occupied with her daughter and upholding her husband's legacy. 

But as war swoops in and disrupts their lives, it causes them to lay aside their past and work together to face the enemy clawing at their door. 

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I have gotten to a place where I sometimes have to convince myself to read a historical fiction novel, and this one reminded me of why I still love this subset of the genre. It is filled with raw emotion, and the way the secrets are teased and unveiled throughout the novel were so masterful done, I was constantly intrigued and rooting for each of these lovely characters. 

Plus, in the hands of a non-Christian author this could have some very different plot points, but Cambron proves that good stories don't have to contend with the kind of content we want to consume. 

This was my first Cambron novel, but will not be my last! 

Content Note: Alcoholism, death, war, bombings

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for the gifted book. All opinions are my own. 

What a fun middle grade locked room mystery! I loved the empty school setting and the feeling of the storm raging outside while an emotional storm was sweeping the halls. I may have picked out the culprit from the start, but it did not dampen my enjoyment of this middle grade delight. The cooking show element was well done and a great way to get explore who each of the characters were.

I will note, sometimes it was hard to ground myself in which girl's pov we were getting, even though there were two different narrators. Maybe it's because I was listening quickly, but it kept throwing me off. 

Content Note: attempted murder, bullying, loss of a parent (past), middle grade romantic interest, female/female romantic couple

Gracie Ruth Mitchell balances the mystery and romance genres so well here. They play so well off of each other. And Soren and Heidi’s chemistry is so fun. She is so quirky and he is dialed in. 

Plus a he falls first trope will give me butterflies every time. Yes please. 

Content Note: death, murder, attempted murder, infidelity 

This was my introduction to Gracie Ruth Mitchell and I’m so glad I started my fan girldom here. She can write chemistry that is palpable and has you rooting for the characters so fully. A murder mystery full of humor and heart, plus a love story that could be a book on it’s own, this book gets all the love because it is practically perfect. 

Content Note: murder, difficult childhood, food insecurity, foster care, sexual assault, death of loved ones, alcoholism 

We love a book influencer as a character👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. Pair that with her job at a bookstore and his willingness to read a hockey rom com and discuss it at book club and you have the makings of a great book! Emmy and Dawson clearly are draw to one another, but she can’t let herself fall for him because a real relationship would be unrealistic. eve though she gets in her own way at times, I loved Emmy’s dedication to her ideal life. I also love how Dawson supported her and handled her heart with gentleness and compassion.

A fun fall hockey rom com!
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This is a closed door, kisses only rom com. It is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.

Thanks to the author for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

Jenny Proctor is a top tier author and I will continue to read everything she writes. One thing I love about her is she is nuanced. She treats the reader like they are smart. Not spoon feeding or babysitting the reader, rather letting the reader come to realize what is happening all on their own. I especially think she is skilled at weaving in Easter eggs from her other books without giving you a paragraph of explanation like some other authors I have read. 

Now to this story in particular. Jenny Proctor is an all star at grounded celebrity romance. You don't feel thrown into a fake ritzy world, it all feels so human. 

I adore Laney and Adam. Their awkward pre jitters that dissipate when they actually spend time together are so perfect. The way they handle each reveal of their pasts to one another is done with compassion and grace. I loved how tender they are with the truths that are presented to them. That's how a real relationship should be! 

This book deals with some heavier topics, but all done with compassion and all serve the story and the romance. 

Jenny Proctor is a must read. Trust me! 

Thanks to the author for the gifted title. All opinions are my own.

Caroline holds a dark secret, she lives two parallel lives. One in 1727 and one in 1927. And she doesn't have any clue why.

In 1727 she lives on a plantation in South Carolina with her grandfather who has certain expectations about how her life should turn out that don't align with her own wishes. So when she finds a letter her mother hide away years ago, she disgueses herself as a cabin boy to find some answers. Along the way she runs into pirates and her journey morphs into something completely new.

In 1927, she is the daughter of a renowned preacher. She is working to uphold her family name while sheltering her parents from her brothers' corrupt choices. 

When seeking answers in 1727 sends causes her to dive into the underworld her brothers inhabit in 1927, she has to question who to trust and what she wants out of life. 
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I LOVE THIS SERIES. These books keep getting better and better and Gabrielle Meyer keeps things fresh and my brain spinning with possibilities of what is next because each book is so unique with it's own message.

I loved discussing this with several friends already and have two book clubs I'm in that will be discussing in the future. These books are so rich and have so much you can talk about!

There is a beautiful metaphor in the book about how when you live your life outside of knowing it's purpose or guidelines, you live aimlessly and without direction, questioning our own identity. I think this is a beautiful picture showing that living outside of knowing your identity in Christ will leave you feeling lost and aimless. 

Gabrielle writes relatable Christian fiction with flawed characters that really reflects what real life Christianity looks like. 

Thanks to Bethany House for the gifted title. All opinions are my own. 

Juni has grit. Even in the dystopian world she lives in, she finds a way to buck the system, and thanks to her grandfather, is one of the few of her peers who can actually read rather than just having a book "uplinked" for her. I love her grandfather and how he raised her to live outside of societal norms so that when everything starts to happen to open her eyes to the world around her, she is able to move forward in confidence to find the truth. 

This seems to be the first book in a series. I don't see news about book 2 yet, but the ending of this one leads to a second. And because this seems to be a series opener, there are many questions about how the world came to be this way that are left unanswered. I hope we get some clarity moving forward in the series about the past.

That being said, this was a fast paced and interesting dystopian novel that I think has some good things even for a middle grade book club to discuss about the power of books and knowledge. 

Thanks to Blackstone Audio for the gifted title. All opinions are my own.

I have followed Layla on Instagram for years at this point and I can say that the Layla within these pages is the authentic, hilarious, and thoughtful person I have gotten to know through my phone screen. Her walk through anxiety and what that has done to the rhythms of her life is staggering, but her transparency and perseverance, along with the support of her family is beautiful and the way she writes about it brings the reader in and welcomes them to learn with her from what the Lord has brought her through.

 

A story about secrets, knowing who to trust, and doing what's right. This book managed to be fast paced and engaging while not dealing with content that is too mature for middle grade readers. 

Weatherby and Jack are both complex characters and the growth each of them have to do throughout this book is fantastic. Each has a lot to contend with to unravel who they are and who they want to be.

I loved the themes of no secret is ever truly safe, and you can find safe people despite the mistakes you've made. 

This is the first in a series and I cannot wait to see what happens next as more is revealed and these characters have to make more difficult decisions.