Songbird Under a German Moon by Tricia Goyer

I’ve read several of Tricia’s books and have enjoyed them all. Songbird Under A German Moon was no exception.

Anxious to feel as if she’s done her part for the war effort, Betty signs up for the USO and is shipped overseas to sing for the soldiers.

Combat photographer Frank Witt is also sent to post-war Germany, on an unknown assignment.

Betty feels out of place among trained and talented musicians, and Frank doesn’t understand the importance of pictures of the singers or the Festspielhaus. When Betty’s roommate goes missing, everyone realizes that despite the war’s end, safety is not guaranteed.

Although I had my suspicions of the “bad guy,” his true story still surprised me when he was revealed. I was also surprised to learn how much Wagner’s music played into some of Hitler’s strong beliefs. I thought the musical aspect gave an interesting angle to this WWII era book.

Songbird Under A German Moon was an enjoyable read. Tricia maintained a good balance with history and love and mystery.

If you’re a fan of Tricia’s books, you’ll likely enjoy Songbird Under A German Moon. Oh, as a side note, I really loved the cover design!


Thank you, Tricia and litFUSE, for sending me a copy of Songbird Under a German Moon to read and review!

Also reviewed on Amazon and Christianbook.

Recommend: YES





**Disclaimer: I was given a free product for review purposes only. My reviews are not monetarily compensated and have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way, unless otherwise disclosed. Each review is based on the reactions and opinions of myself and/or family.**
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Tags: Tricia Goyer Songbird Under a German Moon Christian fiction WWII book reviews post-war Germany

Exergen Thermometer WINNER!

We have a WINNER!

Congratulations to {MELISSA} on winning a Temporal Artery Thermometer from Exergen!! I hope you love it...but, I also hope you don't have to use it very often!!

We've had a stretch of very beautiful spring-like weather the last week or so! Our family also has some (serious!) remodeling plans in the works, so blogging has definitely taken a backseat - although I'm working hard at keeping up with my stack of review books!

I don't see things slowing down in the very near future, but I hope to cook something other than pizza and hamburgers that I can blog about...soon. :-)




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Tags: exergen

Heart of Stone by Jill Marie Landis

My mailbox has been bulging with review books lately. I'm having a hard time keeping up!! This week, CFBA is introducing Heart of Stone by Jill Marie Landis.

MY THOUGHTS:

My heart couldn’t help but go out to “Widow” Laura Foster. How many children, even today, are forced into an unspeakable life? And even though Laura was able to escape, her new life built on deception is continually shadowed by her fear of the truth.

The town parson begins to fall in love with her, increasing Laura’s guilt. When two different strangers arrive in town, revealing secrets on both sides of the fence, can Brand or Laura find forgiveness, peace, and love?

It appears that Heart of Stone is the first of Jill Marie Landis’ “inspirational” novels. Meaning, I don’t believe she has authored so-called “Christian” books in the past. This was evidenced in some scenes that I found a little too edgy.

I also found it hard to believe that in the late 1800’s, the Reverend’s children (however uncontrollable and misbehaved) would have been allowed to call an adult by their first name!

However, the final straw for me: I was thoroughly appalled that Zondervan approved a swear word in the book (p. 191)! Shame on you, Zondervan!!

I thought most of Heart of Stone was okay and appreciate Jill, through CFBA, for sending me a copy to review. But, knowing that Zondervan published profanity has made me realize, once again, that finding true God-honoring fiction is becoming almost impossible.


Recommend: NO





**Disclaimer: I was given a free product for review purposes only. My reviews are not monetarily compensated and have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way, unless otherwise disclosed. Each review is based on the reactions and opinions of myself and/or family.**
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Tags: Jill Marie Landis Heart of Stone Christian fiction book reviews

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

This week, CFBA is introducing Here Burns My Candle authored by Liz Curtis Higgs and published by WaterBrook Press.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A mother who cannot face her future.

A daughter who cannot escape her past.

Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets. A Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage, she honors the auld ways, even as doubts and fears stir deep within her.

Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whispered among the town gossips.

His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor and guilt inside her heart. Though her two abiding passions are maintaining her place in society and coddling her grown sons, Marjory’s many regrets, buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, continue to plague her.

One by one the Kerr family secrets begin to surface, even as bonny Prince Charlie and his rebel army ride into Edinburgh in September 1745, intent on capturing the crown.

A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home.


MY THOUGHTS:

First of all, I have to say that I enjoyed the period setting of Here Burns My Candle. The Scottish background gives a slightly different flavor to a typical British regency era novel. My mind was given quite a workout however as Liz Curtis Higgs frequently uses unfamiliar (to me) Scottish terminology, like “ilke” and “mercat” and “cauld.” Most words I could figure out in context, but wish I’d discovered the glossary BEFORE I finished the book!

It appears that Here Burns My Candle was inspired by the story of Naomi and Ruth. Lady Marjory is the mother-in-law who has left her family, eventually loses everything, and has nowhere left to turn but home. Lady Elisabeth Kerr is the pagan daughter-in-law who begins to follow (not really, in my opinion) the God of her mother-in-law and desires to take care of her husband’s mother when all seems lost.

Although I enjoyed the setting – and even the inspiration -- of Here Burns My Candle, I was disgusted in the time spent on Lord Donald’s extramarital activities. I was equally disappointed in the detail given to Lady Elisabeth’s “auld” ways (moon worship).

Although I appreciate WaterBrook and CFBA for sending me a review copy, I’m afraid that Here Burns My Candle will not be finding a permanent place on my bookshelf.

Also reviewed on Amazon and Christianbook.

Recommend: NO





**Disclaimer: I was given a free product for review purposes only. My reviews are not monetarily compensated and have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way, unless otherwise disclosed. Each review is based on the reactions and opinions of myself and/or family.**
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Tags: Liz Curtis Higgs Here Burns My Candle Christian fiction book reviews