Category: Book Review

24 February 2020

Book Review | Courting Will (Escape to the West #8) by Nerys Leigh

I’m a big fan of all Nerys Leigh’s novels, but I especially like her Escape to the West series because it’s Christian romance rather than regular clean romance.

There are three main things I like about her novels.

First, they’re funny. She has some great lines, and her characters have plenty of witty dialogue.

Second, she’s not afraid to put a spin on a popular trope. For example, a lot of historical fiction has the man attempting to court a woman who’s not interested. Courting Will reverses that trope, and has Daisy pursuing Will. Although he’s had a secret crush on Daisy for years, he has a past and doesn’t think he’s good enough for her.

Third, I like that the novels have a clear Christian message. People tell Will God has forgiven him for his past misdeeds, but it takes more than words for Will to believe this for himself. That’s familiar …

All in all, I think Courting WIll is one of the stronger novels in a series that’s already strong. Recommended for fans of Christian historical romance, especially those set in the American west.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

About Nerys Leigh

Nerys Leigh writes thoroughly romantic Christian historical love stories. She loves heroes who are strong but sweet and heroines who are willing to fight for the life they want.

She’s from the UK, which you would think puts her in a unique position to not write about mail order brides in the American west, but the old adage of writing what you know has never appealed to her. She has an actual American read each book before publishing to make sure she hasn’t gone all English on it.

No One’s Bride is the first in the Escape to the West series which tells the stories of a group of women willing to travel across America to find happiness, and the men determined to win their hearts.

You can find Nerys Leigh online relaxing and generally enjoying the view at:

Website | Facebook

About Courting Will

How can the right man be so infuriatingly wrong?

Daisy and Will have been not courting for a year.

At first, that was a good thing. When Will began spending time with her and her young son, only four months had passed since the death of Daisy’s husband, and having her childhood friend around eased her loneliness and pain.

But now, a year later, Will is still spending time with her, and they’re still not courting, and it’s beginning to feel like not such a good thing.

With his wild past, Will is convinced he shouldn’t be a husband or father, so Daisy decides to take matters into her own hands. If he won’t court her, she’ll court him.

Until Will’s past catches up with him, and threatens to tear them apart forever.

Find Courting Will online at:

Amazon | Goodreads

Read the introduction to Courting Will below:

Click here to find Courting Will and other great Christian fiction in my Amazon store!

17 February 2020

Book Review | Belinda Blake and the Birds of a Feather by Heather Day Gilbert

We’ll start with the one thing I’m not happy about with Belinda Blake and the Birds of a Feather:

This is the last book in the Belinda Blake series 🙁

Yes, it’s another great instalment in Belinda’s life as an exotic petsitter, and it wraps up well, but I’d like more.

For those who have been following the series, we do get an answer to Belinda’s little romance problem. For those who haven’t been following the series … this is the third in the series, and while it’s an excellent standalone novel, there is a little backstory that you might appreciate more if you read Snake in the Grass and Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing first

Belinda returns to her hometown after her best friend’s mother dies. While she’s there, she gets pulled into caring for the lady’s homing pigeons … and investigating a suspicious death in the neighbourhood. As you do.

Belinda is a great character—fun, intelligent, and slightly weird.

She has two jobs: she’s a video game reviewer who probably understands more of what my teenage son says than I do, and she babysits exotic pets: snakes, wolves, and pigeons, among others. The novel is written in first person, and her quirky voice works well as a narrator.

Belinda Blake and the Birds of a Feather by Heather Day Gilbert @HeatherDGilbert is a fun mystery with plenty of humour, witty dialogue, and great characters. #CozyMystery #BookReview Share on X

As with the other books in the series, this is a fun mystery with no on-the-page violence but plenty of humour, witty dialogue, and great characters. I’ve enjoyed this series, and I’m sorry to see it end (although I am hoping that hint towards the end was prepping us for more Belinda Blake books—hint, hint).

Recommended for cozy mystery fans.

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Heather Day Gilbert

Heather Day Gilbert, an ECPA Christy award finalist and Grace award winner, writes contemporary mysteries and Viking historicals. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren’t afraid to protect those they love.

Publisher’s Weekly gave Heather’s Viking historical Forest Child a starred review, saying it is “an engaging story depicting timeless human struggles with faith, love, loyalty, and leadership.”

Find Heather Day Gilbert online at:

About Belinda Blake and the Birds of a Feather

When exotic pet–sitter Belinda Blake starts pecking at the details of a suspicious accident in her sleepy hometown, she inadvertently digs up a murder case that won’t be solved without ruffling a few feathers . . .

The moment Belinda arrives in Larches Corner, her Upstate New York hometown, she’s immediately recruited to care for a deceased friend’s flock of homing pigeons. But Belinda’s plans for a swift visit scatter after a local college student is mowed down in a malicious hit-and-run that has the whole town reeling.

At first, the gruesome demise of Jackson Hait appears to be a random tragedy. But Belinda quickly uncovers connections to a tight-knit group of friends and a similar death three years earlier . . . one that wasn’t as accidental as it seemed. Now, Belinda must pluck the truth from a tangled nest of lies before a cruel killer takes wing.

Find Belinda Blake and the Birds of a Feather online at:

Amazon | Goodreads

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

10 February 2020

Book Review | Waltz in the Wilderness by Kathleen Denly

Waltz in the Wilderness is Kathleen Denly’s debut novel, and it’s excellent. It’s set in California during the Gold Rush, in the time when people referred to the East as “the States”. (That amused me.)

I found the beginning a little disjointed. I didn’t immediately realise that Eli was Eliza, or that her father had left her with her aunt and uncle. That could have been me—I wasn’t able to sit down and read the way I usually do. Instead, I was snatching a chapter here and a chapter there … not my preference.

But once I got into the story without interruptions, it flowed and flowed well. There was plenty of action (including a shipwreck and a near-drowning), a trek into the wilderness, and plenty of emotional conflict. Daniel is a great hero. He is a man of honour, choosing to do what he believes is right even when it’s hard.

My favourite character was Eliza.

She was a woman who could think and act for herself and wasn’t afraid to act outside society’s norms. She’s strong and independent, knows her own mind, and goes after what she wants … even if it doesn’t appear to make sense. But she’s also not the kind of woman who complains, no matter how bad the circumstances, and I could admire that about her (okay, so she did have a little moan at one point, but it didn’t last).

I especially liked the fact that Eliza and Daniel both developed as characters during the novel, especially in terms of their spiritual journeys. Eliza especially had some lessons to learn, and they came out naturally—which is a testament to Kathleen Denly’s writing.

Thanks to Wild Heart books for providing a free ebook for review.

About Kathleen Denly

Kathleen Denly lives in sunny Southern California with her loving husband, four young children, and two cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

Waltz in the Wilderness is Kathleen’s debut novel and the first in a series of three stand-alone historical Christian romance novels connected by secondary characters and their beautiful Southern California setting.

Find Kathleen Denly online at:

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About Waltz in the Wilderness

She’s desperate to find her missing father. His conscience demands he risk all to help.

Eliza Brooks is haunted by her role in her mother’s death, so she’ll do anything to find her missing pa—even if it means sneaking aboard a southbound ship. When those meant to protect her abandon and betray her instead, a family friend’s unexpected assistance is a blessing she can’t refuse.

Daniel Clarke came to California to make his fortune, and a stable job as a San Francisco carpenter has earned him more than most have scraped from the local goldfields. But it’s been four years since he left Massachusetts and his fiancée is impatient for his return. Bound for home at last, Daniel Clarke finds his heart and plans challenged by a tenacious young woman with haunted eyes. Though every word he utters seems to offend her, he is determined to see her safely returned to her father. Even if that means risking his fragile engagement.

When disaster befalls them in the remote wilderness of the Southern California mountains, true feelings are revealed, and both must face heart-rending decisions. But how to decide when every choice before them leads to someone getting hurt?

Find Waltz in the Wilderness online at:

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Read the introduction to Waltz in the Wilderness below:

3 February 2020

Book Review | From Sky to Sky by Amanda G Stevens

No Less Days was one of my top reads of 2018 because of the unique premise: a group of immortals living among us. As such, I’ve been waiting to read this sequel for around eighteen months.

And that break between novels was a problem. I’ve read a lot of books in those eighteen months. So while I remembered the main premise of No Less Days, I had forgotten a lot of the smaller plot elements and some of the minor characters.

This made From Sky to Sky hard to get into.

It jumps straight into the plot with no playing catchup. As a result, the first few chapters were confusing, and I didn’t think the story really got going until around the one-quarter mark. Even then, there were a few glitches (like one character who seemed to have a personality transplant that didn’t make sense).

But From Sky to Sky was worth the effort.

This story focuses on Zac, the daredevil whose “lucky” escape was the catalyst for bookstore owner David meeting Zac and the other “longevites” in No Less Days. But they find out two longevites have just died. How? Was it natural causes … or something more sinister? Zac thinks he knows the answer, but now he has to convince his friends not to take justice into their own hands.

In No Less Days, Zac was very much the don’t-care daredevil (well, it’s probably easier to be a daredevil when you know it’s not going to kill you). In From Sky to Sky, Zac becomes more human as he has to acknowledge why he ran away from God a century ago, and face his own worst nightmare in the race to convince a newfound longevite that life is worth living.

There are a lot of good things about From Sky to Sky.

The writing is excellent. The characters are interesting and well-developed, and the story is definitely Christian fiction as Zac is challenged about his relationship with God.

If you haven’t read No Less Days, definitely read that first. If you have read No Less Days, it might be worth reading (or skimming) it again so you’re not as lost as I was. No, this isn’t an easy read, but it’s a well-written novel with a unique and intriguing premise. It’s worth the effort.

Thanks to Shiloh Run Press and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Amanda G Stevens

As a child, Amanda G. Stevens disparaged Mary Poppins and Stuart Little because they could never happen. Now, she writes speculative fiction. She is the author of the Haven Seekers series, and her debut Seek and Hide was a 2015 INSPY Award finalist. She lives in Michigan and loves trade paperbacks, folk music, the Golden Era of Hollywood, and white cheddar popcorn.

You can find Amanda G Stevens online at:

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About From Sky to Sky

Zac Wilson can’t die.

Daredevil Zac Wilson isn’t the first celebrity to keep a secret from the world, but his might be the most marvelous in history: Zac doesn’t age and injuries can’t kill him. What’s more, he’s part of a close-knit group of others just like him.

Holed up in Harbor Vale, Michigan, Zac meets two more of his kind who claim others in their circle have died. Are their lifetimes finally ending naturally, or is someone targeting them—a predator who knows what they are?

The answers Zac unearths present impossible dilemmas: whom to protect, how to seek justice, how to bring peace to turmoil. His next action could fracture forever the family he longs to unite. Now might be the time to ask for help. . .from God Himself. But Zac’s greatest fear is facing the God he has run from for more than a century.

Find From Sky to Sky online:

Amazon | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Kobo | Koorong

Read the introduction of From Sky to Sky below:

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

30 January 2020

Bok Review | No Less Days by Amanda G Stevens

It’s Throwback Thursday! Today I’m resharing one of my favourite not-romance reads from 2018, No Less Days by Amanda G Stevens. The sequel, From Sky to Sky, has just been published, and I’ll share my review next week.

This is one of those rare series you have to read in order. Also, you’ll enjoy From Sky to Sky a lot more if you’ve read No Less Days recently I haven’t read it for close to two years, and I have to say I would have enjoyed From Sky to Sky more if I had remembered more of the detail from No Less Days.

About No Less Days

David Galloway can’t die.

How many lifetimes can God expect one man to live? Over a century old, David Galloway isolates himself from the mortal humans who die or desert him by making a quiet life as a used bookstore owner in Northern Michigan. But then he spots a news article about a man who, like him, should be dead.

Daredevil celebrity Zachary Wilson walked away unscathed from what should have been a deadly fall. David tracks the man down, needing answers. Soon David discovers a close-knit group of individuals as old as he is who offer the sort of kinship and community he hasn’t experienced for decades—but at what cost?

David finds himself keeping secrets other than his own. . .protecting more than himself alone. He’ll have to decide what’s worth the most to him—security or community. When crimes come to light that are older than any mortal, he fears the pressure is more than he can stand. What does God require of him, and is David strong enough to see it through?

My Thoughts

No Less Days is not contemporary romance, although it does have a minor romance subplot. I suspect most novels could be improved with the addition of a minor romance subplot …

David Galloway is 167 years old, but looks thirty-five, thanks to a doctor who saved his life over 130 years ago. He’s survived five major wars, and now makes a living selling second-hand and antique books. He thinks he’s the only one of his kind until he sees a news story about a daredevil who falls to his death crossing the Grand Canyon, yet miraculously survives.

David is curious. There is no way this daredevil, Zachary Wilson, could have survived that fall. Is there someone else like David? He goes to Nevada to find out the truth, and finds something unexpected: he is not alone.

Like I said, No Less Days isn’t the usual book I review.

But if there were more Christian novels like this, I’d read and review them because No Less Days was excellent. A unique hook: the man who lives forever. Great characters: David, Zac, Tiana. A moral dilemma to work through. And lots of amusing insights from a man who has lived longer than he should.

The story of No Less Days is told entirely from David’s viewpoint, and that’s one of the strengths. Learning things about the Longevites as David learns them gives the sense of being in the story. The writing is excellent, and while this story comes to a complete and satisfying end, there is certainly scope to turn No Less Days into a series.

I recommend No Less Days for fans of TV shows like Fringe and forever who’d love to see more Christian fiction delve into these areas of the unknown.

Thanks to Barbour Publishing for providing a free book for review.

About Amanda G Stevens

Book Review | Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M White

Arabelle Denler is twenty-five, and is nursing in London in 1918 while her fiance, Edmund Braxton, serves in the British Army. It’s more a match of convenience than love, but it’s a match she means to follow through with. It’s her only chance of love and family.

Phillip Camden is better known as Black Heart since he apparently killed his entire squadron. Even though the Admiralty don’t seem to blame him, someone does—if the death threats are real. But he has a more immediate problem: his younger sister needs to marry Edmund Braxton. Now.

This means Arabelle is now an unattached heiress, the target of every fortune hunter in London. Camden offers to protect her, by pretending he’s her beau. That works in terms of keeping the “gentlemen” away, but Camden’s reputation brings Arabelle problems in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Camden has his own problems—the death threats, his intelligence work, and his reputation. As such, the novel has several threads which all work together to produce an outstanding historical romantic suspense.

Roseanna M White continues to impress me.

Each novel is excellent, and each novel is better than the previous story. Her research is outstanding, yet never overpowers the story. I’ve always been fascinated with codes and codebreakers, which is part of the appeal of White’s novels. Her characters have real problems, yet always turn to God (willingly or unwillingly) for their solution. As such, her stories have a strong Christian thread I enjoy.

On the Wings of Devotion is the second book in The Codebreakers series, following The Number of Love. You’ll probably want to read that first, but it’s not necessary.

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

About Roseanna M White

Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna has a slew of historical novels available, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her new British series. She lives with her family in West Virginia.

Find Roseanna M White online at:

About Wings of Devotion

All of England thinks Phillip Camden a monster–a man who deliberately caused the deaths of his squadron. But as nurse Arabelle Denler watches the so-dubbed “Black Heart” every day, she sees something far different: a hurting man desperate for mercy. And when their paths twist together and he declares himself her new protector, she realizes she has her own role to play in his healing.

Phillip Camden would have preferred to die that day with his squadron rather than be recruited to the Admiralty’s codebreaking division. The threats he receives daily are no great surprise and, in his opinion, well deserved. What comes as a shock is the reborn desire to truly live that Arabelle inspires in him.

But when an old acquaintance shows up and seems set on using him in a plot that has the codebreakers of Room 40 in a frenzy, new affections are put to the test.

Find Wings of Devotion online:

Amazon | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Kobo | Koorong

Read the introduction to Wings of Devotion:

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

23 January 2020

Book Review | All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner

Annie Jacobson is eighteen, the middle child with an older and a younger brother. The Vietnam War is in full swing, and her older brother, Mike, is about to enlist in the army rather than waiting to get drafted. As predicted, their mother isn’t happy with the idea because their father fought in Korea and was never the same. He abandoned them twelve years ago, when Annie was six, without saying goodbye.

All Manner of Things isn’t a typical novel.

There’s no big drama, just a lot of smaller dramas. It’s a story about life, family, and love, set against the backdrop of an idyllic version of 1960s small-town America. It’s almost too idyllic—Annie and her family watch war protests and hippies and race riots on television, but nothing like that comes to their town. Their war hero is welcomed home (although David, who has just moved into town, does experience some racism).

The story is told in first person from Annie’s point of view, interspersed with letters to and from Mike and other characters. The writing style is tight and understated. There are no excess words. And that’s the strength of the story: it’s experienced, not told.

It’s a strong and profound novel that touches on various themes: love, family, healing, reconciliation, loss.

All Manner of Things by @SusieFinkbeiner is a powerful historical novel, recommended for those interested in Vietman-era fiction. Recommended. #ChristianFiction Share on X

There’s no obvious plot, no noticeable three-act structure, no big stakes, no major conflict, no significant character change. Annie starts the story as a well-raised, hard-working, sensitive teenager, and she finishes the story the same way. She grows, but not in a way that can easily be put into words.

The writing is outstanding, but it’s not one of those books with lots of quotable lines.

There are flashes of insight, but they only make sense in the context of the story. Outside the story, they’re just words. Yet it’s compelling. It took me a while to pick up and begin All Manner of Things, but once I got to Chapter Two, I didn’t want to put it down.

I think the story is best summarised by the Julian of Norwich quote at the beginning:

All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

(Julian was a fourteenth-century mystic—a woman, despite the name.)

Recommended for those looking for a novel set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, or those looking for understated yet powerful historical fiction.

Thanks to Baker Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Susie Finkbeiner

Susie Finkbeiner is the CBA bestselling author of A Cup of Dust, A Trail of Crumbs, and A Song of Home. She serves on the Breathe Christian Writers Conference planning committee, volunteers her time at Ada Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and speaks at retreats and women’s events across the state. Susie and her husband have three children and live in West Michigan.

Find Susie Finkbeiner online at:

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About All Manner of Things

When Annie Jacobson’s brother Mike enlists as a medic in the Army in 1967, he hands her a piece of paper with the address of their long-estranged father. If anything should happen to him in Vietnam, Mike says, Annie must let their father know.

In Mike’s absence, their father returns to face tragedy at home, adding an extra measure of complication to an already tense time. As they work toward healing and pray fervently for Mike’s safety overseas, letter by letter the Jacobsons must find a way to pull together as a family, regardless of past hurts. In the tumult of this time, Annie and her family grapple with the tension of holding both hope and grief in the same hand, even as they learn to turn to the One who binds the wounds of the brokenhearted.

Author Susie Finkbeiner invites you into the Jacobson family’s home and hearts during a time in which the chaos of the outside world touched their small community in ways they never imagined.

Find All Manner of Things online at:

Amazon | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Kobo | Koorong

Read the introduction to All Manner of Things below:

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

20 January 2020

Book Review | Star Rising (Coastal Hearts #4) by Janet W Ferguson

Star Youngblood is rebuilding her life.

A horrible childhood sent her into alcoholism and addiction. She’s now a Christian, has been sober for a year, and is supporting herself by working as an aide and housekeeper for the elderly Mrs. Kelly, who has become surrogate mother. Star’s troubles start when Mrs. Kelly has a heart attack. Her son, Paul, returns and takes an instant dislike to Star.

Then Mrs. Kelly decides she wants to complete the trip she’d planned to take with her husband—to Ireland. She invites Star along as her caregiver, a move which raises Paul’s ire and suspicion. He ends up tagging along, more to keep an eye on Star than to care for his mother.

Star has problems, but she has identified them, is working on them, and most are a direct or indirect result of her childhood mistreatment. While I couldn’t Star’s background from personal knowledge (thankfully), I could respect and admire her progress into becoming the woman God created her to be. Paul Kelly? Not so much.

I will admit that I had a lot of unChristian feelings for Paul.

Sure, he’d given up on Christianity, but he’d also turned into an unkind and suspicious person. I also suspected he never had a deep Christian faith to begin with, as the event that caused him to lose his faith didn’t seem a big enough deal to abandon faith in God. (Abandon the church, sure. But not God.) That low baseline meant Paul had a lot of room to grow and improve— and he had a lot of improving to do if he was going to be worthy of Star.

Janet Ferguson did a brilliant job of redeeming Paul.

By the end I was convinced that he and Star would make a great couple. This is a credit to the excellent writing. Overall, Star Rising is an excellent example of Christian romance, with an emphasis on the “Christian”. The Christian elements are well integrated into the plot so they’re essential, but never preachy.

Recommended.

Note that Star Rising is the third novel in the Coast Hearts series, but can easily be read as a standalone story.

Star Rising by @JanetwFerguson is another excellent example of Christian fiction showing the challenges new Christians face, and their victory over their pasts. #BookReview #ChristianRomance Share on X

About Janet W Ferguson

Janet W. Ferguson grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served her church as a children’s minister and a youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a few cats that allow them to share the space.

Click here to read my interview with Janet W Ferguson.

Find Janet W Ferguson online at:

About Star Rising

Star Youngblood has always been a fighter–a necessity after her mother married a monster of a man. Now, she’s finally on the path to the stable life she’s always wanted. Her employer, Priscilla Kelly, is a sweet woman ravaged by rheumatoid arthritis, and Star will do anything to help her. Even if that means going toe to toe with Mrs. Kelly’s neglectful son.

After being betrayed on the mission field and devastated by the tragic death of his father, Paul Kelly gave up on God. He lives life on his own terms, biding his time as a corporate pilot until he can save enough money to begin his own flight school closer to home. His mother is all he has left, and he wants to be near her. He just didn’t expect her health to decline so quickly. When he discovers his mother has taken in a stray—a woman he’s not at all sure can be trusted—his protective instincts kick into high gear. Paul’s handled a lot of turbulence, but he’s never gone up against a force like Star.

As Paul and Star strive to protect his mother in their own ways, they soon find their own hearts are at the greatest risk.

Find Star Rising online at:

Amazon | Goodreads

Read the introduction to Star Rising below:

16 January 2020

#ThrowbackThursday | Book Review | The Camera Never Lies by David Rawlings

Australian author David Rawlings has just won a 2019 Christy Award for his debut novel, The Baggage Handler, so I wanted to find out how his second novel fared in comparison.

Personally, I think it’s even better.

Now, not everyone will agree with me. One of the strengths of The Baggage Handler was that so many readers could find themselves in one of the three characters: the ambitious businessman, the harried housewife, the teen trying to find his own definition of success. The Camera Never Lies has a narrower set of characters, but I found them just as relateable. And they’re still asking a universal question:

What would you do if your secrets were revealed to those around you?

The Camera Never Lies is the story of a successful marriage counsellor who refuses to face up to the issues in his own marriage, despite his “No Secrets” tagline. Daniel Whiteley inherits his grandfather’s camera, an old-fashioned film model, the kind where the pictures are true and can’t be manipulated with filters or PhotoShop.

As Simon in the photo shop says, the camera never lies.

Or so he thinks. Because when Daniel looks at the photographs, he’s sure they’re not the photos he took. So what are these photos? This is where the slight speculative element comes in, as we discover the camera is a little magical. It captures truth, but not the truth we see …

The Camera Never Lies isn’t overt Christian fiction.

It never mentions God or Jesus or church or prayer. But it is definitely a story built on Christian principles—honesty, integrity, and the importance of internal character over the external trappings of success. As such, it’s both a great story, and a great gift … especially for people who would never pick up a Christian novel.

Recommended.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About David Rawlings

David Rawlings is an Australian author, and a sports-mad father-of-three who loves humor and a clever turn-of-phrase.

Over a 25-year career he has put words on the page to put food on the table, developing from sports journalism and copywriting to corporate communication.

Now in fiction, he entices readers to look deeper into life with stories that combine the everyday with a sense of the speculative, addressing the fundamental questions we all face. That starts with his debut novel – The Baggage Handler – a contemporary story that explores one question: What baggage are you carrying?

Find David Rawlings online at:

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About The Camera Never Lies

Daniel, Kelly, and Milly appear to be the perfect family. But an old camera will expose secrets no one wants developed.

Daniel Whitely is a successful marriage counselor and bestselling author, yet his own marriage is in crisis and his daughter is drifting further away each day. To make matters worse, the deadline for his second book has come and gone, and he still hasn’t written a single word.

When Daniel inherits an old camera from his grandfather, he notices an inscription on the bottom: “No matter what you think you might see, the camera never lies.”

Daniel begins using the camera, but every time he develops his photos, they threaten to reveal secrets that could sabotage both his marriage and his career—exposing him as a fraud and destroying the life he has worked so hard to build.

He’s faced with a choice: keep his secrets and save his career or come clean and possibly save his family. Which will he choose? Which would you choose?

Find The Camera Never Lies online:

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26 December 2019

#ThrowbackThursday | Carry Me Away by Dorothy Adamek

Miss Ada Carmichael and her family are immigrating to Australia on the Black Swallow. Tom Darley is a member of the crew. They are about to become the only two survivors of a tragic shipwreck, and turns them into national darlings.

But Ada doesn’t want to be a national darling.

She wants to escape, hide, and stay hidden. She’s had bad experiences with the press, and knows how the newspapers twist the truth for their own ends. Tom Pearce has ambitions that mean he wants to court the press—especially when someone offers him his dream.

It’s an original and well-plotted story, with twists, turns, and hidden depths.

There are also hidden depths in the characters, and it’s wonderful to see Ada change and mature as the story progresses. This is definitely Ada’s story: she is the one with the most hurts in her past, and she is the one who has to find the strength to move past those hurts and transform … much like the silkworms she nurtures.

I’m always a fan of well-researched historical fiction that’s true to the timeframe and has a link to a historical event. As the Author Note at the end of Carry Me Away shows, Dorothy Adamek has done her research, and has seamlessly incorporated several real-live events into her story. There really was a shipwreck and ther really were only two survivors. There really was a court case about a betrothal, a local lady did raise silkworms, and and there a Chinese hawker supplied the residents of Phillip Island with tea and spices.

As such, Carry Me Away is a treat for fans of authentic historical fiction, with an original plot, likeable characters, and beautiful writing.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

About Dorothy Adamek

Australian author, Dorothy Adamek, writes Displacement Fiction ~ the stories of people upended by trauma and tragedy, and the struggle to belong in their new worlds. Couched in romance, her fiction is set in the late Victorian era.

Author of the Blue Wren Shallows trilogy, she lives at Crabapple House in Melbourne with her Beloved and their three children, twenty fruit trees and Gilbert the Cat.

A graduate of La Trobe University, Dorothy studied Literature, History and Education. She taught secondary school English and English As A Second Language. She loves black and white floors, collects blue and white china, and makes apricot jam every summer.

Her favourite holiday destination is Phillip Island, the real life setting of the Blue Wren Shallows trilogy.

Find Dorothy Adamek online at:

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About Carry Me Away

Inspired by the incredible true story of an Australian shipwreck and those who survived to tell the tale.

When the Black Swallow sinks off the Australian coast in 1877, Australian midshipman Tom Darley rescues English passenger Ada Carmichael from the disaster that claims her entire family. News of the only two survivors enchants the world, but Ada needs to hide before secrets and old foes find her. Tom is chasing big dreams of a crumbling house he will convert into a small hotel ~ but the promising start he’s acquired now sits at the bottom of the sea.

Inexplicably entangled, Ada and Tom lean upon each other to make sense of the tragedy that’s displaced them. But when scheming journalists observe their affection they drag Tom into life-altering riches and a news-worthy romance he cannot resist. So he arranges for Ada’s protection where only he might find her ~ the quiet Phillip Island farm of his friends Shadrach and Finella Jones.

And that’s where real trouble finds them. When heroic promises fail to shelter, and love refuses to be silenced, only surrender will pluck Ada and Tom from where life has wrecked them.

There are three main things I like about her novels.

About Nerys Leigh

You can find Nerys Leigh online relaxing and generally enjoying the view at:

About Courting Will

How can the right man be so infuriatingly wrong?

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This is the last book in the Belinda Blake series 🙁

Belinda is a great character—fun, intelligent, and slightly weird.

Recommended for cozy mystery fans.

About Heather Day Gilbert

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About Belinda Blake and the Birds of a Feather

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My favourite character was Eliza.

Recommended.

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About Waltz in the Wilderness

She’s desperate to find her missing father. His conscience demands he risk all to help.

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This made From Sky to Sky hard to get into.

But From Sky to Sky was worth the effort.

There are a lot of good things about From Sky to Sky.

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About From Sky to Sky

Zac Wilson can’t die.

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About No Less Days

David Galloway can’t die.

My Thoughts

Like I said, No Less Days isn’t the usual book I review.

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Roseanna M White continues to impress me.

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About Wings of Devotion

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All Manner of Things isn’t a typical novel.

It’s a strong and profound novel that touches on various themes: love, family, healing, reconciliation, loss.

The writing is outstanding, but it’s not one of those books with lots of quotable lines.

All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

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About All Manner of Things

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Star Youngblood is rebuilding her life.

I will admit that I had a lot of unChristian feelings for Paul.

Janet Ferguson did a brilliant job of redeeming Paul.

Recommended.

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About Star Rising

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What would you do if your secrets were revealed to those around you?

As Simon in the photo shop says, the camera never lies.

The Camera Never Lies isn’t overt Christian fiction.

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About The Camera Never Lies

Daniel, Kelly, and Milly appear to be the perfect family. But an old camera will expose secrets no one wants developed.

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But Ada doesn’t want to be a national darling.

It’s an original and well-plotted story, with twists, turns, and hidden depths.

As such, Carry Me Away is a treat for fans of authentic historical fiction, with an original plot, likeable characters, and beautiful writing.

About Dorothy Adamek

Find Dorothy Adamek online at:

About Carry Me Away

Inspired by the incredible true story of an Australian shipwreck and those who survived to tell the tale.

Read the introduction to Carry Me Away below: