"The Secrets Beneath" by Kathleen Fuller

About this book:

  “Rebekah Yoder loves a good mystery—that is, until she becomes a part of one.
  Rebekah Yoder has always been curious . . . or nosy depending on whom you ask. When a Yankee stranger moves into the house next door, she’s fascinated. Who is this strange old man who never waves or smiles? When Bekah sees him digging holes in his back yard, she’s sure there is a case to be solved.
  Unfortunately, when her cousin blabs the story to the whole school, rumors fly. Is he hiding something? Treasure? Victims? And worst of all, annoying Caleb Mullet is now determined to solve the mystery with her. What they don’t realize is there’s not just secrecy lurking next door—there’s danger. Will Bekah take her curiosity too far?
  Readers will love journeying with Bekah Yoder as they learn the danger of gossip, the importance of prayer, and the real story of The Secrets Beneath.”


Series: Book #2 in the “Mysteries of Middlefield” series. Review of Book #1 Here!


Spiritual Content- Prayers; Talks about God & trusting Him; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; Amanda begins to doubt that God hears her prayers; Mentions of God & His will; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches church going, & services; Mentions of Amish beliefs; A few mentions of someone not wanting to be Amish anymore; A couple mentions of Thanking God; A mention of a miracle;

             *Note: Mentions of a (rumored) haunted place & ghosts.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, two ‘shut up’s, two ‘stupid’s, and ten forms of ‘dumb’; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Amanda tries to runaway; Being kidnapped, threatened, grabbed, & pain (up to semi-detailed); A bit of jealousy; Mentions of trespassing, a fire, & a runaway (Book #1); Mentions of escaping from prison; Mentions of kidnappings; Mentions of threats; Mentions of pain & injuries; Mentions of a mother who left her family & her illness (the daughter wonders if her mother didn’t want her); Mentions of burying bones (human or animal, it’s still creepy to Bekah); Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of disobeying & tattling; Mentions of tattoos; A few mentions of breaking in; A few mentions of nightmares (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of illegal activities; A couple mentions of robbing & a thief; A couple mentions of cigarettes; A couple mentions of divorce; A couple mentions of throwing up.

Sexual Content- Mentions of liking someone/crushes & cute boys; A couple mentions of blushes;

             *Note: A mention of a miscarriage.

-Bekah Yoder, age 13

-Amanda Yoder, age 11
                                P.O.V. switches between them
                                                        266 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

This was a light mystery. It happened to also deal with some family/friendship topics that I felt might be a bit mature for the Pre-Teen age, but, as always, it depends on the reader. It was overall a decent mystery and a cute book.

See y’all on Friday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"The Weaver's Daughter" by Sarah E. Ladd

About this book:

  “Kate's loyalties bind her to the past.

  Henry's loyalties compel him to strive for a better future.

  In a landscape torn between tradition and vision, can two souls find the strength to overcome their preconceptions?
  Loyalty has been at the heart of the Dearborne family for as long as Kate can remember, but a war is brewing in their small village, one that has the power to rip families asunder --including her own. As misguided actions are brought to light, she learns how deep her father's pride and bitterness run, and she begins to wonder if her loyalty is well-placed.
  Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war seeking refuge from his haunting memories. Determined to bury the past, he embraces his grandfather's goals to modernize his family's wool mill, regardless of the grumblings from the local weavers. When tragedy strikes shortly after his arrival, Henry must sort truth from suspicion if he is to protect his family's livelihood and legacy.
  Henry has been warned about the Dearborne family. Kate, too, has been advised to stay far away from the Stocktons, but chance meetings continue to bring her to Henry's side, blurring the jagged lines between loyalty, justice, and truth. Kate ultimately finds herself with the powerful decision that will forever affect her village's future. As unlikely adversaries, Henry and Kate must come together to find a way to create peace for their families, and their village, and their souls - even if it means risking their hearts in the process.”


Series: As of now, no.


Spiritual Content- Church going; Talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of churches, church going, services, & ministers; A few mentions of prayers & thanking God; A few mentions of miracles; A mention of a prayer book; A mention of sin;

             *Note: Mentions of ghosts & a man is called one; A few mentions of a man’s demons; A couple mentions of superstitious & evil.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blast’, a ‘drat’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘what in blazes’, a ‘what in heaven’s name’, two ‘Egad’s, two ‘la’s, and two ‘stupid’s; A few mentions of curses (said, not written); A bit of sarcasm; Finding a murdered body of a family member & blood (up to semi-detailed); A carriage accident, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Fighting, gunshots, fires, vandalism, & shooting (to harm, not kill) another (semi-detailed); Seeing a fight/brawl, injuries, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of a war, horrors, battles, fighting, beatings, being shot at, being stabbed, blood/bleeding, seeing others dying, & deaths (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of fires, smoke, carriage accident, fight/brawls, being shot, injuries, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of violence, attacks, crimes, threats of killing and harm, & vandalism; Mentions of a murder, murderer, the body, how it happened, blood, stabbings, & gunshots (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of deaths through fevers; Mentions of hangings & the acts that lead to being hung; Mentions of a work accident, injuries, blood/bleeding, & pain (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of hatred; Mentions of drinking, alcohol, & drunks; Mentions of pipes, tobacco, & smoking; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of nightmares; A few mentions of duels; A few mentions of jail/prison; A couple mentions of bars.

Sexual Content- a forehead kiss, and two semi-detailed kisses; Remembering a kiss (up to semi-detailed); Thinking about kissing someone (does not happen); Touches, Warmth, & Recalling touches (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed, x2); Mentions of Henry’s sister’s pregnancy out of wedlock (no details on how it happened); Mentions of a kiss & kissing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of flirting, flirts, & people throwing themselves at the opposite gender; Mentions of scandals, reputations, & chaperones; A few mentions of a man looking at Kate with desire (it’s unsaid what kind of desire it is); A few mentions of blushes; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of men fraternizing with unmarried women; A mention of a woman using her feminine charms on a man; A mention of men ogling a woman; A mention of men staring at a woman hungerly; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;

             *Note: Mentions of childbirth pain & mothers dying in childbirth; A couple mentions of dresses accentuating a woman’s curves.

-Kate Dearborne, age 21

-Henry Stockton, age 25
                                P.O.V. switches between them & Frederica (x4)

                                              Set in 1812 (Prologue in 1801)
                                                        350 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

I’ve actually read all of this author’s other books, but I have to say I enjoyed this one the most due to the substance in it. There’s a lot more drama in this book than I was expecting, based on the cover. I found all the historical parts (the textile industry) fascinating and thought-provoking over the history of making material to later be made into clothes.

For characters: I loved Kate and her backbone. Henry is very moral, but truly both main characters were, which was very refreshing and came across well. I will admit that it was odd to see Frederica’s POV, but I’m thinking that maybe she’ll have her own book? Oooh, Mollie too, please!

I do have to mention about the writing style was different then I can recall seeing before. Chapters wouldn’t switch back-and-forth between the main couple like the majority of “romance” books do. Instead it’s a bit of his POV, then a bit of her POV, just the right amount each time. Odd to comment on, but I really liked that.

I wish that there had been more faith content shown, mainly at times when Kate & Henry could have prayed over the danger within these pages, but it was an engaging read.

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this honest review.