Annie's Stories ~ Review

Annie's Stories
A Ellis Island Novel
By Cindy Thomson

Annie Gallagher has a problem with trust, but after her father's death her trust in others severely damaged at the hands of those she should have been able to put it in.  Fortunately she was rescued from the situation in which she found herself, and Ireland is far away from New York.  But home is also far away, but not just because of distance.  

Can Annie ever find "home" ever again?  After all family means home and Annie's parents are gone.

Stephen Adams works for the the Post Office, making deliveries to Hawkins House. Stephen Adams is delighted that he and Annie share a fondness for books and the new book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a delightful book that they both love. 

Before her father died, he wrote out the stories that he created for Annie.  This last act of love means the world to Annie.  These stories represent the happiness of home, family, and Ireland to Annie.  When Stephen gets a glimpse of the stories he is delighted with them and he thinks Annie should publish them.  But Annie doesn't want to share her stories, her father with the world.  But these stories could prove to be the answer to Annie's dreams.

But trouble is lurking just around the corner and Hawkins House could be shut down when accusations against the newest boarder are threatened to be exposed and Annie's prayers seem to have no affect at all. And everyone seems to be keeping secrets, secrets that are of importance to Annie.  

Annie's Stories brings to life the plight of those coming to America seeking a better life.  The characters that we were introduced to in Grace's Pictures are back in this latest offering from the pen of Cindy Thomson. As the characters work to create the lives they dream of we are drawn to America of 1901.  We often refer to "simpler times" but the struggles of living were and are the same we face today.

Prepare to be delighted as you step into Annie's world and discover with Annie the importance of trusting in others.

I was provided a copy of this book by the author/publisher in exchange for my honest review. 

About the Book:
The year is 1901, the literary sensation The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is taking New York City by storm, and everyone wonders where the next great book will come from. But to Annie Gallagher, stories are more than entertainment—they’re a sweet reminder of her storyteller father. After his death, Annie fled Ireland for the land of dreams, finding work at Hawkins House.

But when a fellow boarder with something to hide is accused of misconduct and authorities threaten to shut down the boardinghouse, Annie fears she may lose her new friends, her housekeeping job . . . and her means of funding her dream: a memorial library to honor her father. Furthermore, the friendly postman shows a little too much interest in Annie—and in her father’s unpublished stories. In fact, he suspects these tales may hold a grand secret.

About the Book:
Though the postman’s intentions seem pure, Annie wants to share her father’s stories on her own terms. Determined to prove herself, Annie must forge her own path to aid her friend and create the future she’s always envisioned . . . where dreams really do come true.

Cindy Thomson

Cindy Thomson is a writer and an avid genealogy enthusiast. 

Her love of history and her Scots-Irish heritage have inspired

 much of her writing, including her new Ellis Island series. Cindy 

is also the author of Brigid of Ireland and Celtic Wisdom: Treasures 

from Ireland. She combined her love of history and baseball to co-author 

the biography Three Finger: The Mordecai Brown Story, which was a 

finalist for the Society for American Baseball Research's Larry Ritter Book Award. 

In addition to books, Cindy has written on a regular basis for numerous online and print publications and is a 

mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. She is also a member of American Christian Fiction 

Writers and the Historical Novel Society. Cindy and her husband have three grown sons and live in central Ohio. 

Visit her online at www.cindyswriting.com.

Out of the Depths ~ Review

Out of the Depths
By Edgar Harrell, USMC
 with David Harrell

An unforgettable WWII story 
      of survival, courage, and the sinking of
                                        The USS Indianapolis

Out of the Depths is a true story.  This is one man's recollection of the events surrounding the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in July 1945.

This was a time of war, but the USS Indianapolis was assured the waters were safe and so was sailing the South Pacific unescorted.  But assurances were of little value when your ship comes under attack by a Japanese submarine.

As Edgar Harrell put it he was face-to-face with my mortality (pg 67) and he prayed because there was no one to help him, no one but the Savior of his soul.  And as the security of the ship slipped away he turned to God.  So began a 5 day struggle as he and his fellow shipmates struggle to survive the dangers of both the ocean and the elements

This is one story that will leave an impact on your life.  There are pictures from the time of the book throughout adding to the reality the author portrays with his words.  And there remarks and remembrances from other survivors every few pages.  This book will move you to tears at places it is that powerful.

Sometimes it is hard to comprehend the truth of despair those who survive might have felt, but this book helps one grasp some of these feelings.  It is amazing how many said this time of trial made them cry out to God in prayer for deliverance.

This would be an excellent addition to any library.  It would also make for an interesting Book Club discussion title.

I was provided a copy of this book by Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

About

The Inspiring Story of a World War II Hero's Miraculous Survival at Sea
July 30, 1945--The USS Indianapolis and its 1,196-man crew is making its way toward a small island in the South Pacific. The ship is sailing unescorted, assured by headquarters the waters are safe. It is midnight, and Marine Edgar Harrell and several others have sacked out on deck rather than spend the night in their hot and muggy quarters below. Fresh off a top-secret mission to deliver uranium for the atomic bombs that would ultimately end World War II, they are unaware their ship is being watched. Minutes later, six torpedoes are slicing toward the Indy . . . 

For five horrifying days and nights after their ship went down, Harrell and his shipmates had to fend for themselves in the open seas. Plagued by dehydration, exposure, saltwater poisoning, and shark attacks, their numbers were cruelly depleted before they were miraculously rescued. This is one man's story of courage, ingenuity, and faith in God's providence in the midst of the worst naval disaster in U.S. history.

Edwin: High King of Britain ~ Review

Edwin: High King of Britain 
The Northumbrian Thrones #1
by Edoardo Albert

If you are a fan of English history you'll want to read Edwin: High King of Britain.  This book is Edwin's story from displaced king of Northumbria through the years as he becomes High King of all of Britain.  

Edwin is ready to die, he is tired of running from those he thinks of as allies.  Ready to face yet another betrayer, Edwin comes face-to-face with Paulinus, a missionary from Italy who has a message of hope and prophecy for Edwin.  And so begins Edwin's journey.

But this journey is not only a journey to power, but a journey of the soul when Edwin takes a second wife Aethelburh, the princess of Kent, who brings with her her Christian faith.  This introduction to the Christian faith brings Edwin to a new understanding and he slowly learns to embrace both the faith of his wife and her God.  But forsaking the gods of his people is not easy, but Paulinus has come back into the life of Edwin, having accompanied Aethelburh to her marriage.  With the guidance of his wife and Paulinus, Britain's High King becomes a servant of the Most High God, the Only God.

This story won't bog you down in the details or bore you.  It is well written and will keep your attention.  It kept me up into the wee small hours of the morning because I just had to know what happened.  And it was well worth the headache I had from lack of sleep the next day.  It would be a well addition to any library and would be a great supplement to any high school English History class.  For home schoolers and Christian high schools this would also be an additional resource for Church History.

I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher in conjunction with this Kregel Blog Tour in exchange for my honest review. 

About the Book:

In 604 AD, Edwin, the deposed king of Northumbria, seeks refuge at the court of King Raedwald of East Anglia. But Raedwald is urged to kill his guest by Aethelfrith, Edwin's usurper. As Edwin walks by the shore, alone and at bay, he is confronted by a mysterious figure--the missionary Paulinus--who prophesies that he will become High King of Britain. It is a turning point.

Through battles and astute political alliances Edwin rises to power, in the process marrying the Kentish princess Aethelburh. As part of the marriage contract the princess is allowed to retain her Christian faith. But, in these times, to be a king is not a recipe for a long life.

This turbulent and tormented period in British history sees the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon settlers who have forced their way on to British shores over previous centuries, arriving first to pillage, then to farm and trade--and to come to terms with the faith of the Celtic tribes they have driven out.

The dramatic story of Northumbria's Christian kings helped give birth to England as a nation, English as a language, and the adoption of Christianity as the faith of the English.





 Edwin special eBook sale 

eBook available at a reduced price in June on 
Amazon Kindle,
Google Play, 
Kobo, 
CBD, 
Apple iTunes, 
and Barnes and Noble Nook

Stolen But Not Lost ~ Review

Stolen But Not Lost
By Janet Tombow

Stolen but not Lost is one woman's journey to discover the truth behind her mother's abandonment, what she learns is not what she expected.

When her mother leaves Janet behind her father soon marries again giving Janet a new mother.  But Janet's childhood was not happy as she was frequently abused by her step-mother.  The insecurities that became part of Janet's personality kept her from seeking the truth for years.

The journey to the truth that Janet embarks on will at time bring you to tears.  This is one woman's journey to healing and freedom.

I was provided a copy of this book through TBCN/BookFun.org in exchange for my honest review.

~~~~~

About the Book:

"How could a Mother not love her child?" What if you thought you weren't loved or wanted your whole life...only to learn there was another shocking side to this story?!

When the deliberately hidden truths were revealed at last, would you then ask: "How can people do these hurtful things to one another?!" What if God wanted you to know the truth, but you weren't listening or obeying Him quickly enough?

What if the journey would take nearly a lifetime...over 45 years...of grief, regrets, and finally some miracles, to overcome the lies you were told?

Could you handle this plan for your life? In this heart-warming true story, see how the author discovered the truth, finally yielded to God's will, and had a whole new future opened to her...before it was too late! Learn how even the unfathomable truth...can truly set you free!

PDQ ~ Review

PDQ
By Ronald Glanz

PDQ is an interesting book.  When a series of convenience stories robberies suddenly go bad and end in murder Detectives Schultz and Finney are even more determined to find the perpetrator.

But nothing is ever simple and this story offers up a surprising twist when it comes time to charge someone with these crimes.  The characters in this book are for the most part quite pitiful in the unhappiness they seem to be stuck in.

Overall this was an attention grabbing story (except for a couple of typos that broke my reading concentration).  This book is set in Madison, Wisconsin in 1990.  Get ready for surprise.

I was provided a copy of this book by the author through TCBN/BookFun.org in exchange for my honest review.

Daisies are Forever ~ Review

Daisies are Forever
By Liz Tolsma

This is an incredibly moving story.  Set at the height of the European theater, Germany hes been closed in by the Western allies and the Russian Red Army and the Third Reich's fall is imminent.  This is the setting in which California born Gisela Crammer finds herself.  The years she has lived in Germany are not ones of happiness, but  rather sorrow and guilt.

With the Red Army mere hours away from the home of her grandfather and cousin, Gisela is forced to flee with her cousin's two young daughters.  As they flee to the west Gisela comes to the aid of an escaped British POW, claiming that she is his wife.

Mitch Edwards has been in a German prison for years and when the opportunity to escape presented itself he took it.  But he wasn't prepared for the dangers would face him starting with his accent.  When a beautiful young woman claims that they are married - Mitch is given a chance to survive in this tide of refugees.

Their journey towards freedom is fraught with dangers - air raids, SS officers, the ever approaching Red Army, the weather, and a shortage of food.  But through it all it is also a journey of faith and trust.  Gisela and Mitch have to learn to let go of their individual guilts and accept that God is in control and always had been.

Daisies are Forever is a book that should appeal to fans of the Thoenes - the characters will touch your heart as they struggle to survive in a world that is in the midst of change.  This book is not your normal historical fiction that happens to be set in World War II, but rather this is story of the lives of a small group of people trying to survive long enough to see the end of Hitler's War. This is a book you don't want to miss reading.

I was provided a copy of this book through the BookLook bloggers program in exchange for my honest review.

Book Description

Gisela must hold on to hope and love despite all odds in the midst of a war-torn country.

Gisela Cramer is an American living in eastern Germany with her cousin Ella Reinhardt. When the Red Army invades, they must leave their home to escape to safety in Berlin.

However, Ella is a nurse and refuses to leave, sending her young daughters with Gisela. During their journey, Gisela meets Mitch Edwards, an escaped British POW. She pretends she is his wife in order to preserve his safety among other Germans, especially one wounded German soldier, Kurt, who has suspicions about Mitch’s identity. Kurt also has feelings for Gisela and tries to uncover the truth about her “marriage.”

Their journey to Gisela’s mother in Berlin is riddled with tragedy and hardship, but they strive to keep Ella's daughters safe so they can reunite with their mother. During the journey Gisela and Mitch begin to develop feelings for one another beyond friendship. They reach Berlin, but their struggles are far from over. Gisela and Mitch must learn to live for the day and find hope in the darkest of circumstances.

In this moving, historically accurate portrayal of WWII Germany, the characters learn that, even with destruction all around them, some things last forever.

Castles of the Heart ~ Review

Castles of the Heart
By Hale Meserow

Starlight Evelyn O'Bannion hasn't let her southern upbringing cloud her quest to find justice in the court of law.  Star is a woman who is working to create a life for herself and her daughter in the 1940's as a lawyer when an old family friend reaches out for her help.  His grandson a teenager of color has been accused of the murder of a well-known white woman.  And in the south this is a death sentence without a trial even needing to be necessary.

But Star has to cut through deep seeded prejudices and get to the truth.  To her the evidence against Samson is obviously fabricated.  And in her opinion the true murder/thief is behind these accusations.  But can she prove it before a jury?


This was an interesting and attention grabbing story that will hold yours as well.  Star is an intriguing character whom I'd like to see in a follow-up book at some future date.

I was provided a copy of this book by the author/publisher through TBCN/BookFun.org in exchange for my honest review.