A detailed historical narrative with some great characters and gripping action scenes . . . but some flaws as well. No rating.

Content warnings: violence, profanity, romance, mythology and paganism | Click here to read full post

It’s rare that I review a book without rating it, and when it does happen, it’s usually because I have exceedingly mixed emotions. That’s the case with this classic. Do I recommend it? Yes . . . with caveats.

A gentle, enjoyable read that shines a light on some unfamiliar history. My rating: ★★★★☆

Content warnings: nursing/surgery, childbirth, romance (mild), violence (not graphic) | Click here to read full post

This is not a fast-paced book, and that’s a good thing. It’s a slow, gentle journey into the heart of 1940s Appalachia and a fascinating glimpse into an unfamiliar part of post-WWII history. And we have lots of lovely characters to spend time with along the way. Gabhart’s deft hand with dialect made this even more of a fun read. It’s the perfect example of portraying mountain speech without making readers trip over oodles of phonetic spelling.

A dramatic, thought-provoking adventure tale in the classic masked-hero style. My rating: ★★★★☆

Content warnings: profanity, romance (mild, between husband and wife), violence, antisemitism by villains (to their disadvantage), secular author | Click here to read full post

My second time reading, thanks to Christmas gifts, and it was just as enjoyable as the first time—if not more so, since I knew what to expect. (This is not the cover of the edition I read, but it’s such a great cover even if I don’t recommend the Broadway adaptation it’s borrowed from.) I feel as if I’ve read this book far more than twice because I’ve spent so much time in other aspects of Sir Percy’s world: sequels, movie versions, theater adaptations. But the original novel is always the gold standard. A book review cannot adequately describe how enamored I’ve become of this gallant rescuer in the guise of a fashionable idiot. Sink me, I’m quite fond of the chap!

As we look forward to 2024, look back on the centuries before with six Christian historical novels!

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Are you looking for some new reads to kick off the new year? I like to have some good books on my shelf this time of year, when life has slowed down a bit (maybe?) and the weather outside is conducive to warm fires and mugs of good coffee. So let’s see what we can do about filling up your bookshelf!

I am thrilled to partner with five outstanding Christian historical fiction authors to offer you a book giveaway exploring a variety of stories in the last several centuries, from pre-Reformation Italy to the mysterious colony at Roanoke, from the verge of the American Revolution to the Old West, from twentieth-century Canada to the home front of WWII to the turn of the twenty-first century.

A front-row view of how Christ transforms and emboldens women in the hardest places of the Muslim world. My rating: ★★★★★

Content warnings: abuse, death threats, violence, demon possession | Bible versions used: NIV, ESV, KJV | Click here to read full post

This was an especially interesting read for me because I had just finished In the Land of Blue Burqas by Kate McCord. While that one was fascinating in its own way—it really gave an inside look at Middle Eastern culture and helped me understand why Christ used parables, for instance—that book focuses on a Christian aid worker and how, in the course of her humanitarian work, she attempted to teach Muslim women to apply Christian concepts and principles whether or not they became believers in Christ as Savior. This book was much more focused on the radical, life-changing power of Christ when Muslim women put their faith in him—not just having a better life, but truly being changed from the inside out.