It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Kinsale Kisses by Elizabeth Maddrey, which I picked up after listening to an episode of the Story Chats podcast.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About Kinsale Kisses

She wants stability. He wants spontaneity. What they need is each other.

Colin O’Bryan cashed out of the software company he founded and started a new life in Ireland. Content to wander from town to town as a traveling musician, he had no goals beyond healing from the betrayals that led to his career change, and finding his next gig.

After the death of her parents, Rachel Sullivan hoped her aunt’s B&B on the Southern coast of Ireland would be a place for her to settle and start a new life. Though she can’t deny the sparks in Colin’s touch, his lack of concern for hearth and home leave her torn. Can this free-spirited minstrel win her heart or will Rachel choose roots and stability over love?

This gentle inspirational romance will take you on a journey to Cork County, Ireland and give you a glimpse of Kinsale, Charles Fort, Blarney Castle, and Cobh as Rachel and Colin undergo their own journey of self-discovery as they learn that God’s plans are bigger than their own and that waiting on Him is worth the insecurity it brings.

You can find Kinsale Kisses online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

First Line Fridays hosted by Hoarding Books

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

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Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

And don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Bookish Question #171 | Do you prefer stand-alone books or a series?

by Iola Goulton

6 April 2021

Well, that depends on what you mean by a series.

I prefer books that can be read as standalone novels whether or not they’re part of a series. But I also enjoy a good series, as it’s an opportunity to see more of character I’ve enjoyed reading about.

Most of the romance series I read are about linked characters.

These are often siblings, friends, or professional colleagues, and each book will feature a different couple. I enjoy these series.

Some are about a common location e.g. Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor series. While I enjoy these as standalone stories, I prefer a series with more of a link in terms of character.

Another kind of series is the linked series, where each book follows the same main character/s through different stories. These are often mysteries or thrillers, and may have individual stories as well as an overarching plot or problem to solve across the series.

If I Run/If I’m Found/If I Live by Terri Blackstock does this well, as the main character is on the run after being accursed of murder. Another series that does this overarching plot well is the Holly series by CC Warrens, which starts with Criss Cross.

I enjoy this kind of series, as long as each book has a complete plot with no cliffhanger ending.

Yes, it’s fine for there still to be questions, but the book must contain a complete story.

Mysteries are more likely to be individual stories where the whodunit is discovered at the end of each book, and there may or bey not be an overarching plot or problem to solve. I’ve yet to read a mystery that doesn’t say whodunit, so I enjoy these books because they can easily be read as

What I don’t enjoy are books that end with a cliffhanger.

I don’t like having to read the entire series to get the overall story. I especially don’t like it if the book promises to be a standalone story but isn’t. I feel ripped off if I don’t get a complete story (unless the book has been sold as a X-part serial … in which case, I expect the price to be cheaper as I’m not getting a full story.

I read one novel a few months ago which turned out to have a cliffhanger ending. The author released each book in quick succession as a marketing tactic, but I didn’t buy or read the second book. It’s not a marketing tactic I want to encourage.

Overall, I prefer standalone books that are part of a series.

How’s that for answering an either/or question?

What about you? Do you prefer standalone books or a series?

Book Review | Is It Any Wonder by Courtney Walsh

by Iola Goulton

5 April 2021

Is It Any Wonder starts with a bang.

What should have been a short paddleboard ride turns nasty when Louisa loses her paddle and is swept out to sea in a sudden storm. Louisa thinks about the mistakes she’s made … not wearing a lifejacket today, and never sending that apology letter to Mrs. Boggs after her husband died twelve years ago.

Rescue comes in the form of ex-boyfriend Cody Boggs, her “twin”, now an Executive Petty Officer with the US Coastguard. (He’s no relation, but they grew up together and share a birthday). Cody has been posted to Nantucket, against his protests. He has no desire to return to the place where his father drowned, nor to the ex-girlfriend he blames for his father’s death.

Is It Any Wonder is a very human novel.

It uses the tragic death of Daniel Boggs to address issues of guilt and forgiveness. Cody has the all-too-human tendency to count his failures rather than his successes. Louisa and Cody both remind us how easy it is to blame the wrong person when trouble strikes, and how easy it can be to accept that blame and the associated guilt. It reminds us how hard it can be to accept forgiveness, and even harder to forgive ourselves, or accept God’s forgiveness.

Is It Any Wonder is another great contemporary #ChristianRomance from @Courtney_Walsh—great writing, great plot, great characters. Recommended. Share on X

As with all Courtney Walsh’s stories, everything is excellent—the writing, the characters, the plot. Sure, Cody’s attitude bugged me a few times, as did Louisa’s overwhelming sense of guilt. But they were necessary parts of the story, because they were needed to show the depth of love and forgiveness.

All in all, Is It Any Wonder is another great contemporary Christian romance from Courtney Walsh. Recommended.

Thanks to Tyndale House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About the Author

Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theater director, and playwright. Change of Heart is her fifth novel and is set in the same town as Paper Hearts. Her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. She has written two additional books in the Sweethaven series, as well as two craft books and several full-length musicals. Courtney lives in Illinois where she and her husband own a performing and visual arts studio. They have three children.

Find Courtney Walsh online at …

About Is It Any Wonder

Twelve years ago, Cody Boggs and Louisa Chambers made a pact that no matter where their lives took them, they’d return to Nantucket Island’s Brant Point Lighthouse on July 30, their shared golden birthday, and continue their tradition of exchanging birthday wishes. But that was before a tragic accident upended both of their lives, irrevocably pulling them apart.

Their worlds collide just months before that particular day when Louisa’s fledgling event planning company is hired by the local Coast Guard station, where she discovers Cody has recently returned to the island as the second in command. As they plan a regatta fundraiser, hoping to promote positive PR in the community, neither can deny the fireworks each encounter ignites. But working together also brings up memories of the day Cody’s father died, revealing secrets that have Cody and Louisa questioning everything they thought they knew and felt about their families and each other.

Find Is It Any Wonder online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

New Releases in Christian Fiction | April 2021

by Iola Goulton

3 April 2021

We are already a quarter of the way through 2021. Either I’m getting older, or time is moving faster! Here are the new releases in Christian fiction for April 2021. More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

What’s on your to-read pile this month?

Contemporary Romance

Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter — It’s finally time for Sophie Lawson to follow her own pursuits. Brother Seth has a new job, and sister Jenna is set to marry her college beau in Piper’s Cove. But the destination wedding reunites Sophie with best man Aiden Maddox, her high school sweetheart who left her without a backward glance. When an advancing hurricane strands Aiden in Piper’s Cove after the wedding, he finds the hotels booked to capacity and has to ask Sophie to put him up until the storm passes. As the two ride out the weather, old feelings rise to the surface. The delay also leaves Sophie with mere days to get her bookshop up and running. Can she trust Aiden to stick around? And will he find the courage to risk his heart? (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))

Surviving Carmelita by Susan Miura — When Josie Caruso accidentally kills her best friend’s young daughter, she runs to the Florida Keys, unaware that a trailer park pastor, a battered horse, a pregnant teen, and a mysterious beachcomber might set her on the path toward inconceivable hope and redemption. (Contemporary Womens Fiction from Crossriver Media Group)

The Amish Teacher’s Wish by Tracey Lyons — She wants her own happily-ever-after… As an Amish bachelor repairs her school… can she heal his heart? With the school damaged during a storm, teacher Sadie Fischer needs Levi Byler’s help repairing it. Levi has one condition—he won’t become a part of her search for a husband. He’s been hurt before, and love and marriage aren’t part of his plans. But Sadie might just be the perfect woman to mend his heart…and convince him forever isn’t just for fairy tales. (Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))

General Contemporary

Where Grace Appears by Heidi Chiavaroli — A contemporary twist on the well-loved classic, Little Women, readers will fall in love with the Martin family—Maggie, Josie, Lizzie, Bronson, Amie, and their mother Hannah—each trying to find their own way in the world and each discovering that love, home, and hope are closer than they appear. (General Contemporary from Hope Creek Publishers)

Second Helpings by Linda Wood Rondeau — Can her marriage be saved? Today is Jocelyn Johnson’s forty-fifth birthday. Unhappy with her marriage of twenty-two years, she has planned a noonday tryst with her talk-show cohost. A phone call from her college daughter, a peek into her teenaged son’s journal, a sick preschooler, a Goth daughter’s identity crisis, a middle-school son’s prank, and her husband’s inflamed suspicions, not only interfere with her hopeful birthday plans but throw her family into more chaos than a circus on steroids. (General Contemporary from Elk Lake Publishing)

Every Window Filled with Light by Shelia W. Stovall — Librarian Emma Baker, a young and childless widow, believes her dream to build a family is over. It’s been two years since a student accidentally stabbed Emma’s husband to death, and her grief has stifled any interest in romance—until she meets Pastor Luke Davis. But when Emma learns Luke is counseling her husband’s killer fresh out of jail, her temper gets in the way.

Meanwhile, Emma discovers twelve-year-old Harley, abandoned by her drug-addict mother, hiding in the library, and takes the girl in as her foster mom. Then a young mother is made homeless by an apartment fire, and Emma opens her home again. One person and one prayer at a time, Emma begins to discover hope. (General Contemporary from Elk Lake Publishing)

General Historical

The Storm Breaks Forth by Terri Wangard — World War I rages in Europe, and now the United States joins in. Peter Bloch heads to France with the Wisconsin National Guard, but his wife Maren is the one under attack. She’s German born, and anti-German hysteria is running high. Simple suggestions for coping with wartime measures lead Maren into an active role in the community, but her service doesn’t help deflect suspicion from her. Zealous patriots target her with a vengeance. Peter caught the eye of a major who seems intent on using him as a spy. He’s been fortunate to avoid injury so far, but these activities are likely to get him killed. (General Historical, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:

Biltmore Girl by Dawn Klinge — New York City, 1968. Elka Hansen, a former teen cover girl, is done with modeling. Now she’s a hostess for the Palm Court restaurant in the beautiful Biltmore Hotel. As she sees it, Elka’s other job is to watch out for her younger sister, Colleen, an idealistic but reckless college student at Barnard.

With her sister, Elka attends her first civil-rights protest, and there, she runs into Jacob Lewis, a co-worker from the Biltmore. He’s a student at Columbia University and a friend of Colleen’s. Jacob becomes an unexpected ally when rescuing her sister from trouble becomes more than Elka can handle independently. Out of this turmoil, a romance grows between Jacob and Elka, but can it last? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Bent Tree Bride by Denise Weimer — Susanna Moore can’t get him out of her mind—the learned lieutenant who delivered the commission from Andrew Jackson making her father colonel of the Cherokee Regiment. But the next time she sees Lieutenant Sam Hicks, he’s leading a string of prisoners into a frontier fort, and he’s wearing the garb of a Cherokee scout rather than the suit of a white gentleman. As both Susanna’s father and Sam’s commanding officer, Colonel Moore couldn’t have made his directive to stay away from his daughter clearer to Sam. He wants a better match for Susanna—like the stuffy doctor who escorted her to Creek Territory. Then a suspected spy forces Moore to rely on Sam for military intelligence and Susanna’s protection, making it impossible for either to guard their heart. (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

Rekindling Trust by Sandra Ardoin — Abandonment. Betrayal. Injustice. Two broken hearts given a second chance to mend. Widow Edythe Westin yearns for a peaceful home and independence from her controlling father. The goal seems within reach until her rebellious young son is suspected of arson and assault. With nowhere else to turn, she defies her father and appeals for help from the only man she ever loved—the man who once deserted her when she needed him most. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Mystery

Spring Betrayal by Sally Jo Pitts — it was supposed to be a routine investigation—catch the cheatin’ spouse of a client. And the perks weren’t bad either—set up shop at a luxury resort. So yes, Robert Grey and Jane Carson from Grey Investigations are on the job. But when they discover the suspect is a princess wrongfully accused of abdicating and her companion dies under suspicious circumstances, the investigators find themselves in the middle of a Caribbean conspiracy to overthrow a monarchy. Suddenly Jane must take the place of the princess to secure the throne of an island nation. Can Grey Investigations untangle a royal mess before a revolution overtakes paradise? (Mystery/Crime from Winged Publications)

Blue Plate Special by Susan Page Davis — Campbell McBride drives to her father’s house in Murray, Kentucky, dreading telling him she’s lost her job as an English professor. Her father, Bill McBride, isn’t there or at his office in town. His brash young employee, Nick Emerson, says Bill hasn’t come in this morning, but he did call the night before with news that he had a new case. When her dad doesn’t show up by late afternoon, Campbell and Nick decide to follow up on a phone number he’d jotted on a memo sheet. They learn who last spoke to her father, but they also find a dead body. The next day, Campbell files a missing persons report. When Bill’s car is found, locked and empty in a secluded spot, she and Nick must get past their differences and work together to find him. (Mystery from Scrivenings Press LLC)

Speculative Fiction

Traitor: Tales of the Mystics, Book 2 by Laurie Lucking — Princess Penelope has finally found a way to redeem her past mistakes-if only it didn’t require betraying her new fiancé. She has been the object of gossip and ridicule ever since she returned home in disgrace following her failed engagement to the Crown Prince of Imperia. When her father offers a new start in a country far across the sea, she has no choice but to accept. Even if it means another betrothal, this time to a total stranger. (Speculative Fiction/Romantic Fantasy from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing)

Thriller/Suspense

Long Shadows by Cathe Swanson — Mona Vickers isn’t running. Not hiding. She and the girls are just keeping a low profile until she’s done with school and gets a good job. She doesn’t need charity, especially not from Roy Strough and the Unity Plenkiss Community Center, either. But when the past catches up with her, she needs to decide who she can trust. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Present Danger by Elizabeth Goddard — Former FBI Special Agent Jack Tanner is working as a detective in Montana when he comes across a body in the national forest during a search and rescue mission. He’s committed to finding the killer, even if it means working alongside his old flame, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors. When Terra discovers that the murder victim had ties to a powerful and dangerous trafficker of archaeological artifacts, the investigation takes a deadly turn–one that hits too close to home. As Terra fears she lacks the courage to face what comes next, Jack is more determined than ever to protect her. But he’s failed her before. And if he fails this time, it will cost them far more than just their hearts. (Romantic Suspense from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Fifty Days by Katie Vorreiter — Three days ago, Maggie Lehman’s beloved mentor and friend, Jarrett Adams, was murdered on live television. Grief stricken, Maggie traverses a Washington DC under curfew, but when she arrives at the morgue, the body is missing—and her presence is recorded on the security video. As dawn breaks over the city, Maggie encounters Jarrett on the street—and he’s very much alive. Either she’s gone mad—again—or Jarrett really is back. While the US loses its grip on democracy, government thugs eager to contain what Maggie knows hound her every step, and the good intentions of a man from her past only tighten the noose. The powerless and bewildered Maggie seeks Jarrett and the return to how things were, but finds she must give up what she wants most to gain what she can hardly imagine. (Supernatural Suspense from Elk Lake Publishing)

Shielding the Amish Witness by Mary Alford — Seeking refuge in Amish country puts everyone she loves in danger. On the run after discovering her brother-in-law was behind her husband’s murder, Faith Cooper can think of only one safe place—her Amish grandmother’s home. But when danger follows Faith to the quiet Amish community, her childhood friend Eli Shetler is her only protection. And their survival depends on outlasting a relentless killer…one who has nothing left to lose. (Thriller/Suspense/Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson, After five years abroad, Charity Halliwell finally returns to Loxby Manor, the home of dear friends—and her lost love. When her friend, Seline, disappears the very night of her arrival, Charity is determined to uncover the truth. (Historical Mystery)

Dreams Rekindled by Amanda Cabot, But before romance can bloom, Dorothy and Brandon must work together to discover who’s determined to divide the town and destroy Brandon’s livelihood. (Historical Romance)

Amish Midwives by Amy Clipson, Shelley Shepherd Gray, and Kelly Long, From bestselling authors of Amish Fiction come three sweet stories about new life, hope, and romance. (Amish Romance)

Hunt for Grace by Andrew Huff, First he left the CIA. Then he left pastoral ministry. Now John Cross has been imprisoned in one of Great Britain’s most infamous prisons. Has he reached the end of his rope? Or is this another move in a dangerous spy game? (Thriller/Suspense)

Right Cross by Andrew Huff, Heart-pounding action meets spiritual choices in this thrilling finale to John Cross’s saga. (Thriller/Suspense)

Smashing the Friend Zone: Natasha by Barbara James, She had no idea what he was feeling. (Romance/Contemporary)

Reconciled from Heartache by Cindy M. Amos, Aley Halstead laterals out of a harassment situation at work, but peril soon follows her relocation, leaving rookie rancher Hake Warren her only hope for a last-minute rescue. (Romance/Contemporary)

Inheritance by Colleen K. Snyder, Three hundred MILLION dollars. Your inheritance. Buy anything you want, go anywhere you want, do anything you want. All yours. Except… (Thriller/Suspense)

Sword of Trust by DebbieLynn Costello, The stakes are high, secrets prevail, and treason is just a kiss away. (Historical Romance)

Love and Joy by Elsie Davis, Can these two put their differences aside long enough to discover what’s really important? (Contemporary Romance)

Secondhand Sunsets by Gail Kittleson, The day’s warmth still hovered, and with it, a sense that all was well. The sky flamed for several more minutes. This beauty and my love for you are one. She hugged the message close. “Perhaps, after all, I am loved.” (Historical Romance)

The Egyptian Princess: A Story of Hagar by KD Holmberg, Torn between the silent gods of Egypt and the powerful presence that surrounds Sarai, Hagar’s world falls apart around her. She must acknowledge the terrible price of truth, and decide for herself who she will serve. (General Historical)

Dandelion Floofums by Kristen Joy Wilks, A bold chicken must save her human from kidnappers and rogue forest creatures! (Children’s/Middle-grade/Chapter Books)

Deadly Heartbreak by Marissa Shrock, Georgia discovers a limerick scrawled on the wall of her kitchen that dares her to solve a mystery designed specifically for her. A mystery that promises to be quite deadly. For her. For Cal. And for anyone who gets in the murderer’s way. (Cozy Mystery)

Amish Country Murder by Mary Alford, An Amish woman targeted by a serial killer is the only living witness… (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic)

The Secret of the 14th Room by Rebecca Hemlock, You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Or until someone wants to kill you for it. (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic)

Both Sides of the Border by Terry Overton, Two women, half a world apart, will have their lives changed for ever when a series of tragedies cause the Texas-Mexico border to vanish. (General/Contemporary)

First Line Friday | Week 179 | Aftermath by Terri Blackstock

by Iola Goulton

2 April 2021

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Aftermath by Terri Blackstock, an excellent Christian suspense author. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About Aftermath

A devastating explosion.

Three best friends are at the venue just to hear their favorite band . . . but only one of them makes it out alive.

A trunk full of planted evidence.

When police stop Dustin with a warrant to search his trunk, he knows it’s just a mistake. He’s former military and owns a security firm. But he’s horrified when they find explosives, and he can’t fathom how they got there.

An attorney who will risk it all for a friend.

Criminal attorney Jamie Powell was Dustin’s best friend growing up. They haven’t spoken since he left for basic training, but she’s the first one he thinks of when he’s arrested. Jamie knows she’s putting her career on the line by defending an accused terrorist, but she’d never abandon him. Someone is framing Dustin to take the fall for shocking acts of violence . . . but why?

Find Aftermath online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

And don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Bookish Question #170 | Have you read many Easter themed books?

by Iola Goulton

30 March 2021

Have you read many Easter themed books?

I have to admit that I have not.

Well, I’ve read the Bible. And (once upon a time) I read children’s version of the Easter story to my children (my youngest is now eighteen).

I have A Stray Drop of Blood by Roseanna M White on my Kindle, but have yet to read it. Maybe this year. After all, it will count towards my Mt TBR (to be read mountain) challenge.

What about you? Have you read many Easter themed books? What do you recommend?

First Line Friday | Week 178 | Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter

by Iola Goulton

26 March 2021

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter, one of my favourite contemporary Christian romance authors (Sweetbriar Cottage is simply brilliant!) Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About Bookshop by the Sea

After her mother was bedridden and her father bailed on the family, Sophie became a second mother to her twin brother, Seth, and younger sister, Jenna. Sophie supported her siblings through their college years, putting aside her own dream of opening a book shop in Piper’s Cove—the quaint North Carolina beach town they frequented as children.

But now it’s finally time for Sophie to follow her own pursuits. Seth just got a new job, the family house is sold, and Jenna is set to marry her college beau in Piper’s Cove. But the destination wedding reunites Sophie with best man Aiden Maddox, her high school sweetheart who left her without a backward glance to run an extreme sporting business in Florida.

Much to Sophie’s chagrin, seeing Aiden again resurrects familiar feelings—which she promptly tries to bury in the tumult of the day. As soon as the wedding crowd fades, Sophie turns her focus back to establishing her beloved bookstore.

But then an advancing hurricane strands Aiden in Piper’s Cove and with the hotels booked to capacity he asks Sophie to put him up until the storm passes. As the two ride out the weather, old feelings rise to the surface. But can Sophie trust Aiden to stick around? And does daredevil Aiden have the courage to risk his heart?

You can find Bookshop by the Sea online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

And don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Bookish Question #169 | Do you read an excerpt or sample before buying a book?

by Iola Goulton

23 March 2021

Do I read an excerpt or sample before buying a book?

Before agreeing to review a book?

No.

Before buying a book?

Maybe.

I will often preorder the kindle version of books from authors I’ve read before, especially if the book is part of a series. In those cases, I already know the author and their writing (and often the characters and their stories).

But I will rarely buy a book from a new-to-me author without reading the sample first. In general, if I read the sample in one sitting and the price is right, I’ll buy the book.

So what’s the right price?

I’ll almost always buy a book if it’s 99 cents. I’ll often buy a $1.99 ebook (especially if it’s on sale and is usually $7.99 or more). I’ll never buy a book if it’s $9.99. I don’t usually pay more than $5.99 for an ebook. Instead, I’ll wait for it to come on sale.

After all, I have more than 200 unread ebooks on my Kindle. I can wait.

What about you? Do you read an excerpt or sample before buying a book?

Book Review | The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher

by Iola Goulton

22 March 2021

I listened to a podcast where Ginny Yttrup interviewed Suzanne Woods Fisher about her latest release, The Moonlight School. There were two things discussed in the interview that convinced me I had to read this book.

First, the book was about a new-to-me aspect of history.

One of my favourite aspects of historical fiction is the opportunity to learn about new people or events. This one that sounded fascinating: the moonlight schools created by Cora Wilson Stewart in Appalachia, to teach the adult residents of the “hollars” to read.

Second, Ginny Yttrup admired the use of Appalachian dialect in the book.

As a reader, I’m not always a fan of dialect in fiction, as I find it can distract from the story. As a writer and editor, I’m always intrigued to read a well-executed writing technique and to dissect how it works.

The book started with a list of characters, something I generally don’t like except in historical fiction where it’s important to know which characters are fiction and which are based on real people (something Suzanne Woods Fisher discussed in her ending Author’s Note). Done badly, a cast of characters (or family tree) can give away half the book’s plot. (I once read one where the family tree showed the main character was going to die halfway through the book. Talk about a spoiler!

Even done well, I find that a list of characters subconsciously signals bad writing—as though the author (or publisher) are worried the reader will get confused without the list. Personally, I find the opposite is true. I find a long list is more likely to confuse me because the list doesn’t say which characters are important and which are not. Good writing should introduce the characters in such a way that the reader knows who all the characters are—and how important they are—without getting lost. I don’t think the character list was necessary in The Moonlight School, as I ignored it and never felt lost.

Next, there was a Glossary, because the book used a lot of Appalachian dialect. I have a similar view on glossaries as I do character lists. If the book is well-written, then the meanings of the nonstandard words should be obvious from the context and the Glossary becomes unnecessary. Adding the glossary feels like the book is going to be hard, and it wasn’t.

Also, let’s be honest: while it’s easy to flick back to the list of characters or the glossary in a paperback, it’s almost impossible in an ebook. So it’s better to write the book in such a way that neither are needed.

In both cases, I think Suzanne Woods Fisher’s writing was strong enough that the characters, character relationships, and dialect were all easy enough to understand without the introductory lists.

Now, let’s get onto the story.

While the writing was excellent, I found the story very slow going. Why? Because the title, the book description, and the podcast interview had all intrigued me with the promise of the moonlight schools—something that wasn’t mentioned at all in the first half of the book.

So if the story isn’t about the moonlight schools, what is it about? It’s about Lucy Wilson, who leaves her home in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1911, to work as assistant to her father’s cousin, Cora Wilson Stewart, the first female Superintendent of Education in Rowan County.

Lucy initially finds the move from city to country life difficult, and I found her difficult to like. She seemed like a bit of a wet blanket, and I didn’t exactly find it believable that her upper-middle class upbringing hadn’t included riding lessons. However, I warmed to Lucy as she gradually got to know and appreciate the countryside and the people, and as she comes to appreciate the benefits of the less sophisticated way of life.

Lucy is also upset by the way the lumber companies—including her father’s company—are ruining the land. She realises one of the reasons is because the local people don’t understand the logging contracts they are signing, because they can’t read. This leads into conversations about literacy and the beliefs of the time: that adults can’t learn to read.

An unexpected meeting leads Cora to question that belief, and to develop the idea of the moonlight schools.

After that, I got into the story better and enjoyed it a lot more. Parts of the story were reminiscent of Christy by Catherine Marshall, including the innocent young girl barely out of school, the crusty older woman as the mentor, and the subtle and not-so-subtle attention of two very different men.

Overall, I think I would have enjoyed the book much more if it had been described as a coming-of-age story in the style of Christy, set against the backdrop of the changes logging brought to the Appalachians—good and bad—and the subsequent motivation to improve adult literacy. I think if I’d have known that before I read the story, I would have enjoyed it more.

The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher is a coming-of-age story with a touch of mystery and romance, set in 1911 Appalachia. #BookReview #ChristianFiction Share on X

As such, my reactions to this book show the importance of setting expectations as an author, then delivering on them. The book was excellent. But it wasn’t the book the title or book description promised.

Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Suzanne Woods Fisher

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 books, including On a Summer Tide and On a Coastal Breeze, as well as the Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop’s Family, The Deacon’s Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, among other novels. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs.

Find Suzanne Woods Fisher online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

About The Moonlight School

Haunted by her sister’s mysterious disappearance, Lucy Wilson arrives in Rowan County, Kentucky, in the spring of 1911 to work for Cora Wilson Stewart, superintendent of education. When Cora sends Lucy into the hills to act as scribe for the mountain people, she is repelled by the primitive conditions and intellectual poverty she encounters. Few adults can read and write.

Born in those hills, Cora knows the plague of illiteracy. So does Brother Wyatt, a singing schoolmaster who travels through the hills. Involving Lucy and Wyatt, Cora hatches a plan to open the schoolhouses to adults on moonlit nights. The best way to combat poverty, she believes, is to eliminate illiteracy. But will the people come?

As Lucy emerges from a life in the shadows, she finds purpose; or maybe purpose finds her. With purpose comes answers to her questions, and something else she hadn’t expected: love.

Inspired by the true events of the Moonlight Schools, this standalone novel from bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings to life the story that shocked the nation into taking adult literacy seriously. You’ll finish the last page of this enthralling story with deep gratitude for the gift of reading.

Find The Moonlight School online at:

Amazon | Bookbub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

First Line Friday | Week 177 | Better Than First by Kari Trumbo

by Iola Goulton

19 March 2021

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Better Than First by Kari Trumbo, which promised to be a fun friends-to-more Christian romance … and I think it features a disabled heroine. I’m looking forward to it.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About Better Than First

A sweet romance that will leave you feeling the kisses in the falling snow and cheering for a happily ever after.

Isla won’t let anything hold her back, except telling her best friend she’s in love with him.

When Isla Florez’s coach and best friend challenges her to make a bucket list, she’s worried her dreams of a gold medal will slip away. If she agrees, won’t she miss time at the track?

The more she allows Duncan to show her, the more value she sees in everyday life…and love.

Duncan Schmitz went from homelessness to his dream job as a youth pastor, but it isn’t enough.

He’s loved Isla from afar for ten years. As a challenge, he takes it upon himself to remind her what life is like off the track. And maybe also remind her he’s not just her coach, but the friend who’s always been there for her.

You can find Better Than First online at

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

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