Category: book review

September 3, 2021

The Son of the House Book Review

In The Son of the House, the lives of two Nigerian women divided by class and social inequality intersect when they’re kidnapped, held captive, and forced to await their fate together.

About The Son of the House

In the Nigerian city of Enugu, young Nwabulu, a housemaid since the age of ten, dreams of becoming a typist as she endures her employers’ endless chores. She is tall and beautiful and in love with a rich man’s son.

Educated and privileged, Julie is a modern woman. Living on her own, she is happy to collect the gold jewellery lovestruck Eugene brings her, but has no intention of becoming his second wife.

When a kidnapping forces Nwabulu and Julie into a dank room years later, the two women relate the stories of their lives as they await their fate.

Pulsing with vitality and intense human drama, Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia’s debut is set against four decades of vibrant Nigeria, celebrating the resilience of women as they navigate and transform what still remains a man’s world.

My Thoughts

In The Son of the House, two women who are from two classes and social walks of life are brought together by a kidnapping and as the story unravels we learn just how connected these two women really are.

The story starts in the present with the kidnapping but we are soon brought back to the beginning of their personal stories and learn the personal stories of each of the women. Reading their journey left me in awe – their stories are powerful and moving. Each journey, while different, has similar elements. The women have struggled, suffered, and despite it all keep moving forward, day by day.

Nwabulu is a bright woman, who was full of promise – she was smart, hard working and determined. She balances her role as housemaid, caregiver for her young charge with her studies. Her downfall? A young, rich man who promised her the world but left and denied her when she needed him the most. While her dreams begin to unravel, she remains her dignity, strength and courage. I was in awe of her strength and determination, despite the way she was treated by those who should have protected her.

Julie, in so many ways is the opposite – a young modern woman living on her own and infatuated with a married man. She is independent and does not want to settle down and get married. All of this changes when she loses several people close to her. She sets herself down a very dangerous path of lies in the pursuit of happiness and honouring her family.

I loved every moment of this novel – learning about the history of both women, the path their lives took, their resilience and how their lives were connected. I have to admit, I did not see the twist coming at all! But it fit perfectly in the novel. The story is full of hope, forgiveness, pain and the impact of family and cultural beliefs can have on our journey. The Son of the House is a must read novel for both young adults and adults – you will not want to put this one down.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia is a lawyer, academic, and writer. She holds a doctorate in law from Dalhousie University and works in the areas of health, gender, and violence against women and children. Cheluchi divides her time between Lagos and Halifax.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

August 29, 2021

Safe Harbour Book Review

In Safe Harbour, as far-fetched as her father’s plan sounds, sticking to it is easy for Harbour — until it isn’t.

About Safe Harbour

Fourteen-year-old Harbour is living in a tent in a Toronto ravine with her dog, a two-month supply of canned tuna, and an unconventional reading list. She’s not homeless, she tells herself. She’s merely waiting for her home — a thirty-six-foot sailboat — to arrive with her father at the helm. Why should she worry when the clouds give her signs that assure her that she’s safe and protected?

When her credit card gets declined, phone contact from her father stops, and summer slips into a frosty fall, Harbour is forced to face reality and accept the help of a homeless teen named Lise to survive on the streets. Lise shows Harbour how to panhandle and navigate the shelter system while trying to unravel Harbour’s mysterious past. But if Harbour tells her anything, the consequences could be catastrophic.

My Thoughts

Safe Harbour is a powerful book that touches on several important topics including homelessness, child welfare system and mental illness told with compassion, understanding and sensitivity.

Fourteen year old Harbour has found herself living in a Toronto ravine in a tent with her dog Tuff Stuff while she waits for her Dad to join her on his sailboat. As we learn, this is not unusual – Harbour has had a very interesting childhood. She has been homeschooled in an untraditional manner – learning more about real life application about topics close to her Father’s heart. Harbour is kind, thoughtful and independent. She is used to being on her own and making do, this time getting by on cans of tuna and crackers. But this time, something is not quite right as the days turn in to weeks waiting for her Father. She develops a friendship with a young woman named Lise, who helps show her how to survive on the streets of Toronto especially as fall is closing in quickly and the weather is changing quite quickly. She also helps her to realize and support her when it appears something bad has happened to her Father and he may not be coming.

This was a beautifully written book that many times had me in tears over the kindness and compassion that Harbour finds in Lise. Being witness to their struggles on the streets of Toronto hurts, hearing the stories of the youth, their struggles with the system breaks your heart because you know that these stories hold true for so many of our youth. Lise approaches life with caution but with humour, getting by by trusting her instincts and the people who have been there for her judgement free. Both young women are trying to get through each day looking for food for themselves and Tuff Stuff, to keep warm and clean, and to find a way to move forward while facing extreme weather, mistrust of the system and being judged by society. While the ending may not be an ending that all youth will experience, it warmed my heart and helped bring the story full circle.

Safe Harbour was an incredible read from start to finish that I could not put down. It is perfect for all age groups and covers some very important topics with compassion. Safe Harbour is a definite must read novel this summer!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Christina Kilbourne is the author of Safe Harbour, Detached and the award-winning Dear Jo. Her writing has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Slovenian, and Ukrainian. She lives in Bracebridge, Ontario.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

August 19, 2021

On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor Book Review

In the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor, when the residents of Foxglove start sharing stories of whispers in the night, hidden treasure, and a love willing to kill, it becomes clear this home is far from a haven. She’ll have to risk it all to banish the past’s demons, including her own.

About On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor

1885.

Adria Fontaine has been sent to recover goods her father pirated on the Great Lakes during the war. But when she arrives at Foxglove Manor–a stone house on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior–Adria senses wickedness hovering over the property. The mistress of Foxglove is an eccentric and seemingly cruel old woman who has filled her house with dangerous secrets, ones that may cost Adria her life.

Present day.

Kailey Gibson is a new nurse’s aide at a senior home in a renovated old stone manor. Kidnapped as a child, she has nothing but locked-up memories of secrets and death, overshadowed by the chilling promise from her abductors that they would return. When the residents of Foxglove start sharing stories of whispers in the night, hidden treasure, and a love willing to kill, it becomes clear this home is far from a haven. She’ll have to risk it all to banish the past’s demons, including her own.

My Thoughts

Two young women separated by over a century are tied together by the mysterious Foxglove Manor, a ghost story and the secrets within its architecture, caves and those who guard its secrets.

Adria has been banished to Foxglove Manor to recover a secret treasure that was stolen from her Father. She is a young woman who has had a difficult life, with little sense of family and who suffers from depression. She can sense the dark history of the manor and those who live there, despite the warnings she still tries to uncover the secrets both for herself and her Father.

Kailey lost her parents tragically as a young child and just before this she was kidnapped but no one believed her. She now cares for her autistic brother and is determined to uncover the memories of her past and discover how the kidnapping and deaths are connected to Foxglove Manor.

I loved how the novel went back and forth between the two young woman and we were able to witness their story evolve. The plot was incredible and keeps you on the edge of your seat. We learn bit by bit the history of the manor, stolen treasures, a ghost and a story that has been carried down generation to generation. It is a well written novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat, unable to put the novel down. I loved the way the stories built up, as Jaime gives you just the right amount of information at each stage of the novel. I enjoyed the two female characters – they were vulnerable and flawed, which made them relatable and makes you want to protect them and support them.

On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor is an intense novel full of suspense that is a definite must read novel this summer.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 4.5/5

About the Author

Jaime Jo Wright is the author of six novels, including Christy Award winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She’s also the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of two novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her cat named Foo; her husband, Cap’n Hook; and their littles, Peter Pan and CoCo. To learn more, visit www.jaimewrightbooks.com.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

August 9, 2021

To Find Her Place Book Review

To Find Her Place is set in the midst of WWII and Jane is at a crossroads – can she discern the path to true happiness?

About To Find Her Place

In the midst of WWII, Jane Linder pours all her energy and dreams for a family into her career at the Toronto Children’s Aid Society. As acting directress, Jane hopes for a permanent appointment so she can continue making a difference in the lives of troubled children. But if anyone were to find out she is divorced, everything would change.

Garrett Wilder has been hired to overhaul operations at the Children’s Aid Society. He hopes to impress the board members with his findings and earn the vacant director’s position. A war injury ended his dream of taking over his parents’ farm, but with the security of the director’s job, he’d be able to contribute financially and help save the family business.

Despite their competing interests, feelings begin to blossom between them. But then Jane’s ex-husband returns from overseas with an unexpected proposition that could fulfill her deepest desires. Suddenly at a crossroads, can Jane discern the path to true happiness?

My Thoughts

Jane is a bright young woman who has risen quickly in the Children’s Aid Society from social worker to acting directress, especially at a time when women were not viewed as capable of handling all of this. She has balanced her Mother’s illness, her home life and hidden the secret of her divorce all in the hopes to secure the Directress position to provide her with financial security and the hopes of a family.

Garrett returned from the War with a severe injury that could end his life at any time – an injury that he refuses to speak about and one that has caused him to give up hopes on a future and happiness. His job with the Children’s Aid Society is to find where Jane has gone wrong and if someone is stealing money. This puts the two of them at odds despite the budding attraction and their both very obvious love of the children and protecting them.

I loved this well written novel. Jane is just this wonderful woman, who has a heart full of love and kindness – you can’t help but love her and want to be her friend. She has had a difficult past, and you want to continuously protect her throughout the novel but these are things that she must learn to forgive and move past, if she ever wants to have happiness in the future. Garrett has his own troubled past – one that he also has not come to peace with and while he is perfect for Jane, both of them struggle with letting go and their own insecurities in order to find happiness in the future.

This is a definite must read novel that will inspire you, give you hope and belief that we should always follow our hearts.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Susan Anne Mason’s historical novel Irish Meadows won the Fiction from the Heartland contest from the Mid-American Romance Authors Chapter of RWA as well as the Christian Retailer’s Choice Award for Debut Novel. A member of ACFW, Susan lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two children. She can be found online at www.susanannemason.net.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

August 9, 2021

Sustaining Faith Book Review

In Sustaining Faith, a white lie the sisters used to protect some orphans has resulted in an official complaint and a letter revoking the sisters’ permission to manage their little children’s home.

About Sustaining Faith

A white lie the sisters used to protect some orphans has resulted in an official complaint and a letter revoking the sisters’ permission to manage their little children’s home. And unexpectedly, Walter, the young man who has won Lillian’s heart, departs for a job in the oil industry without leaving any hope for their future, making her confused and lonely.

With more children on their way from England needing caring homes, Lillian and Grace must use every ounce of gumption to keep their mission alive. But when startling information about the past surfaces and a new arrival comes via suspicious circumstances, they’ll have to decide what is worth fighting for and what is better left in God’s hands.

My Thoughts

Sustaining Faith is a novel that touched my heart – from the young orphans whose lives were completely upturned at such a difficult time in our history, to the people who tried to do everything they could to protect them and to ensure that they felt the love and family that they deserved.

Two sisters, each with their own past and ties to the orphanage, run a small children’s home where the children come to on their way to their forever homes. Lillian and Grace show the children love and hope at such a difficult time in their lives and they are also there to protect them from those who will abuse them. It is this protective nature of theirs, that ends up potentially getting them in trouble. Further complicating matters, is the suspicious arrival of a young child and how they should handle this matter.

This is a touching novel as the characters have to make important decisions based on their personal beliefs and their own faith in God. My heart broke learning about the young children that were sent overseas from England and the struggles they faced and the adults who were not always kind to them (there is not enough time spent in school learning about this part of history). It was nice to read about some glimmers of hope and love at such a darker period of history while encouraging you to learn more. Sustaining Faith is a lovely read from start to finish.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 4.5/5

About the Author

Janette Oke is celebrated for her significant contribution to the Christian book industry. Her novels have sold more than 30 million copies, and she is the recipient of the ECPA President’s Award, the CBA Life Impact Award, the Gold Medallion, and the Christy Award. Janette and her husband, Edward, live in Alberta, Canada.

Laurel Oke Logan, daughter of Edward and Janette Oke, is the author of several books, including Janette Oke: A Heart for the Prairie, Dana’s Valley, and the Return to the Canadian West series, cowritten with her mom. Laurel has six children and seven grandchildren and lives in Illinois.