Tag: Christian Book Review

Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham//Clean Regency Romance Novel

Eliza Noel1 Comment

I’m not typically a historical fiction girly, but I’m so glad I picked up this clean Regency romance novel. Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham had me tearing up, smiling, and even laughing. Like a warm cup of tea, it was my cozy go-to novel. I was originally attracted to it because of the cute cover (shallow, I know) and the fact that I’ve enjoyed a few other Pepper Basham books (you can read my Some Like it Scot review here). It inspired me to watch Sense and Sensibility again (it’d been 10+ years) so I could get all the references.

Audience

Teen Girls and Women

Genre

Clean Regency Romance, Christian Historical Fiction

Author

Pepper Basham

Two years ago Emme Lockhart’s heart was broken by the Simon Reeves. She knew his status was way above hers, but he had given her reason to believe they had a future together. And then he called the whole thing off, with no explanation. Now Emme’s aunt is forcing her back into the social scene, determined to have Emme married well. And by well she means with good social standing and plenty of money, love plays no part in her matchmaking. Things become complicated for Emme when Simon returns to the area. Just being near him is still difficult. Yet when she finds out his family’s estate is in trouble, she wants to help him. Even if that means helping him find a bride who is not her.

A few of my favorite things…

  • The fact that Emme is an author, even though that was scandalous for women back then
  • The Jane Austen references and overall Austen feel to the story
  • Sweet, caring and mischievous little kid characters, they always brighten a story!
  • Aunt Bean. Even though her matchmaking skills were terrible she made me laugh!
  • Emme and Simon’s caring and playful friendship
  • Emme’s sweet relationship with her dad
  • Simon’s care for his younger siblings
  • Ballroom social scenes

Know that…

  • There’s a little bit of kissing, but nothing over the top
  • The book ends with a newly married couple kissing and stepping into their bedroom. Nothing else is described.

Perfect for…

Any woman looking for a cozy Jane Austen-like read!

Amazon

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Notes: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I’m also an Amazon Affiliate, so I receive a commission on anything purchased through links I share.

Where Secrets Lie by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker//Christian Suspense Review

Eliza Noel3 Comments

Where Secrets Lie by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker was a great Christian suspense novel. In some ways, it gave me National Treasure and Night at the Museum vibes because of the treasure smuggling ring. Of course, it was much more serious and heavy than those family movies.  Unfortunately, I somehow missed the fact that it was book #2 in the Tupelo Grove series, so I felt like I spent the first bit of the book trying to catch up on the storyline. I loved the book, “I Think I Was Murdered”, by the same duo of Christian suspense authors, so when I saw this one available on Netgalley I immediately requested it (with little research obviously, haha).

Audience

Older Teens & Adults

Genre

Christian Suspense

Author

Colleen Coble and Rick Acker

Savannah Webster and her ex-husband, Hez, have been through a lot together. They lost their daughter and were almost murdered by a smuggling ring, just to name a few things. Now it seems they’re finally able to process their grief together and maybe even remarry. But then things start going wrong. Something’s off at the university Savannah was recently chosen to be president of. On top of that, someone planted a wine bottle in Hez’s trash can and now Savannah’s afraid he has relapsed into alcoholism.

Read this Christian suspense novel to see what happens next!

A few of my favorite things…

  • The main couple learning to process grief together.
  • A suspenseful ending that demands another book in the series.
  • Unexpected plot twists and turns.
  • An adorable little British boy named Simon.
  • Southern culture and scenery.
  • Fun dog side characters.
  • Complex family history.

Know that…

  • There are heavy topics. Adultery is mentioned in someone’s family history, a couple who divorced but is trying to get back together, smuggling, murder, alcoholism, grief…definitely for an older crowd.

Perfect for…

Someone looking for a Christian suspense series.

Amazon

Notes: I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I’m also an Amazon Affiliate, so I receive a commission on anything purchased through links I share.

Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright//Christian Suspense Review

Eliza Noel2 Comments

Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright is another Contemporary Christian Suspense fiction new release I’ve enjoyed. Because of its elements of gothic suspense, murders, and mental health struggles, it’s a bit heavier than what I typically review, but still so good. Whenever I need a book I can’t put down, I reach for whatever Jaime Jo Wright’s newest release is.

Audience

Older Teens and Adults

Genre

Contemporary Christian Suspense Fiction, Dual-timeline Historical Fiction, Gothic Suspense, Mystery, Romance

Author

Jaime Jo Wright

Marian Arnold is a young woman facing unique challenges during the Prohibition era. Her family was once wealthy because of their brewery in Milwaukee, but now, with both of her parents gone and the brewery shut down, she’s struggling to survive. She looks to her older cousin as the one who can help her and protect her. But when a dead body turns up on the property, piles of dead butterflies are left as threats, and her cousin brings a bunch of rowdy friends and alcohol into the family manor, things just continue to go downhill.

100 years later, in the same manor, former foster kid Remy is hired as a research assistant to an eccentric old man. The old man is writing a book about the manor’s owner and the unsolved murders of the “Butterfly Butcher”. Things get a little shaken up when a relative, a very handsome one, of Marian’s shows up and doesn’t want the book written. And once again, dead bodies and butterflies start appearing. Could the Butterfly Butcher be back?

Specters in the Glass House is a suspenseful story full of family secrets and broken people helping each other heal.

A few of my favorite things…

  • The characters are going through hard things, but circling back to their hope in God
  • Remy’s coffee obsession
  • A portrayal of a character working through PTSD
  • Seeing a foster child craving familial connections
  • The Midwest setting
  • There’s the suspense and thrill of something possibly paranormal (Spoiler, though: it isn’t paranormal)
  • A sweet old man character

I didn’t care for…

  • One of the murderers was creepy, twisted, and thought of him or herself as a savior of sorts
  • Content mentioned below…

Know that…

  • A female character ends up sleeping in the same room as a male character because she’s trying to help him through his PTSD. They kiss, but nothing more.
  • Some of the murders are pretty violent and descriptive
  • There are several characters with varying mental illnesses

Overall, Jaime’s books are better for older audiences, and if you read one, go in knowing it will be heavy and dark, but have glimpses of hope.

Perfect for…

Someone looking for a Christian suspense novel with a bit of romance, history, and faith.

Amazon

Notes:

I was given a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Also, I’m an Amazon Affiliate, so I receive a commission on anything purchased through links I share at no extra cost to you.